Who is Riley in The Last of Us​?

Last Modified May 2, 2025 03:46 EDT
Who is Riley in The Last of Us​?
Storm Reid as Riley (Source: Screengrab from the show)


Riley Abel is a fictional character in the American post-apocalyptic drama television series, The Last of Us. She is portrayed by the American actress Storm Reid in the series. Riley is a survivor who became friends with Ellie.


The Last of Us is an American series made by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for HBO. It is based on the video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog.


Riley’s background in The Last of Us


Storm Reid as Riley, Who is Riley in The Last of Us​
Storm Reid as Riley (Source: Screengrab from the show)


Riley had a family and was born in October or November 2006. She was raised in the Boston quarantine zone at the FEDRA military preparation school because her parents passed away at some point. She made friends with Ellie Williams while she was there under Captain Kwong's leadership. She was fiercely protective of the girl and frequently fought with Bethany and other girls at the school who attempted to harm her.


Riley frequently slipped out at night to explore different parts of the city because she loathed her time at school. Kwong disclosed a month before Riley's seventeenth birthday that he intended for her to graduate as a FEDRA grunt, condemning her to a life of menial sewer work and subservience to officers. Marlene therefore caught sight of Ellie during her subsequent outing in the summer of 2023, while she was in military confinement for disobedience.


Marlene came up to Riley and complimented her skill in navigating the city and staying out of FEDRA's sight. Riley said that she hated FEDRA because she saw them as fascists when she was asked what she thought of them. Riley was then invited to join the Fireflies by Marlene. Riley accepted Marlene's offer because she wanted to achieve more with her life than be a FEDRA grunt.


For the next three weeks, Marlene placed Riley in the Liberty Gardens mall, which FEDRA had incorrectly identified as having a large number of sick people, to create homemade explosives to use at FEDRA checkpoints. Riley was also given a weapon by Marlene to carry with her. She spent an entire day cracking open the money dispensers in Raja's Arcade so they could play the arcade games together, since she wanted Ellie to join the Fireflies and was getting the mall ready for her arrival.


Marlene, however, dismissed that proposal aside and eventually told Riley that she planned to relocate her to the Atlanta zone with a Firefly squad. Riley left the mall to head back to the FEDRA school, worried that she might never see Ellie again.


Also Read: Who is Joel in the last of us?


Riley’s character in the video game The Last of Us


Riley in The Last of Us​ video game, Riley in The Last of Us​
Riley in The Last of Us​ video game (Source: Screengrab from the game)


Riley Abel is mentioned in The Last of Us Part I and is the deuteragonist of The Last of Us: American Dreams and The Last of Us: Left Behind. Riley was a 16-year-old survivor from Boston who detested the military and frequently defended the Fireflies' allegedly extreme activities. She made friends with Ellie while she was living in Boston, and the two soon became close friends. In the game, she is voiced by Yaani King.


Who plays Riley Abel in The Last of Us series?


Riley Abel, who is Riley in The series
Storm Reid (Source: Storm Reid's Instagram)


Storm Reid plays Riley in The Last of Us season one. Reid made her acting debut in the 2012 television movie "A Cross To Bear," marking the beginning of her professional acting career at an early age. In the episode "Left Behind" of the HBO series The Last of Us, she played Riley Abel.


Also Read: Who is tommy in the last of us?

FAQs about Riley in The Last of Us

A. Riley was shot at by Ellie after the former contracted the Cordyceps infection. 

A. Yes, Ellie has a crush on Riley in The Last of Us.

A. Riley is two years older than Ellie.

Related Stories

IT: Welcome to Derry’s Francis has a special connection to Ginny & Georgia that fans might have missed IT: Welcome to Derry’s Francis has a special connection to Ginny & Georgia that fans might have missed
IT: Welcome to Derry’s Francis has a special connection to Ginny & Georgia that fans might have missed
1d
Game of Thrones used very little CGI to film the iconic Battle of Bastards - Kit Harrington actually had to face 40 galloping horses Game of Thrones used very little CGI to film the iconic Battle of Bastards - Kit Harrington actually had to face 40 galloping horses
Game of Thrones used very little CGI to film the iconic Battle of Bastards - Kit Harrington actually had to face 40 galloping horses
1d
Industry Season 1 Episode 7 recap: The graduates scramble for survival as reduction in Force looms Industry Season 1 Episode 7 recap: The graduates scramble for survival as reduction in Force looms
Industry Season 1 Episode 7 recap: The graduates scramble for survival as reduction in Force looms
15h
Missing: Dead or Alive parents guide - What you should know before letting your teen watch the Netflix docuseries Missing: Dead or Alive parents guide - What you should know before letting your teen watch the Netflix docuseries
Missing: Dead or Alive parents guide - What you should know before letting your teen watch the Netflix docuseries
1d
Typhoon Family ending explained: Tae-poong's final plan to save the company and build a promising future Typhoon Family ending explained: Tae-poong's final plan to save the company and build a promising future
Typhoon Family ending explained: Tae-poong's final plan to save the company and build a promising future
1d
Is Kristin Chenoweth in Stumble? All about the actress' role in the NBC sitcom Is Kristin Chenoweth in Stumble? All about the actress' role in the NBC sitcom
Is Kristin Chenoweth in Stumble? All about the actress' role in the NBC sitcom
1d
Big Little Lies Season 1 cast and characters: Here’s who brought the HBO drama to life Big Little Lies Season 1 cast and characters: Here’s who brought the HBO drama to life
Big Little Lies Season 1 cast and characters: Here’s who brought the HBO drama to life
1d
The Dream Life of Mr. Kim ending explained: The profoundness of Nak-su's mundane story The Dream Life of Mr. Kim ending explained: The profoundness of Nak-su's mundane story
The Dream Life of Mr. Kim ending explained: The profoundness of Nak-su's mundane story
1d
Tomb Raider live action series has just cast an actor in a brand new role Tomb Raider live action series has just cast an actor in a brand new role
Tomb Raider live action series has just cast an actor in a brand new role
1d
IT: Welcome to Derry star Stephen Rider opens up about how the Hollywood strike helped him and his co-star to bond IT: Welcome to Derry star Stephen Rider opens up about how the Hollywood strike helped him and his co-star to bond
IT: Welcome to Derry star Stephen Rider opens up about how the Hollywood strike helped him and his co-star to bond
1d