True Detective Season 1 cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the first chapter of the crime drama?

True Detective is an anthology with each of its episodes introducing a fresh story.

In anthologies, each story has different characters and settings but shares similar themes, like in True Detective, as the name suggests, it's crime and morality.

In season 1, the show explores the human psyche through the lens of two detectives, Rustin “Rust” Cohle and Martin “Marty” Hart, who investigate a series of ritualistic murders in rural Louisiana.

The narrative of season 1 jumps between 3 timelines. One is 1995, when the original investigation took place, another is 2002, when some crucial case developments occurred, and 2012, when the detectives were being re-interviewed about the old case. The truth is revealed eventually with the characters, especially Rust and Marty, appearing in all three timelines.

The show boasts a brilliant cast and their performances, who have pulled off such challenging characters effortlessly. Here is the complete guide of who played whom in True Detective.

---

True Detective Season 1 cast and character guide: Who plays whom

Matthew McConaughey as Rustin “Rust” Cohle

Rust is portrayed as a brooding and philosophical detective with a dark past and deeply committed to his profession. He is known for his unconventional methods, and his existential monologues would come like truth bombs to the viewers.

Rust and Martin have contrasting personalities. This gets evident in the early phase of their partnership, during the 1990s investigation, when Rust is completely absorbed in the case, drinking alone, disrupting his life, and philosophizing about human nature, while Marty tries to maintain a normal life with his family and social circle.

Matthew has previously worked in films like Interstellar and even won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club.

Woody Harrelson as Martin “Marty” Hart

Marty is Rust's partner in the investigation and the one also appearing for the interview in the 2012 timeline, recalling the case.

As mentioned, Marty's personality contrasts with Rust as he goes by more conventional rules and doesn't want to disrupt his life behind a murder case. He believes in maintaining a work-life balance, but ends up betraying his wife, Maggie Hart. This infidelity and anger keep coming between cases, mixing his personal life with his professional life.

Marty is played by Woody Harrelson. Notable work of the actor includes Zombieland and The Hunger Games series.

Michelle Monaghan as Maggie Hart

Maggie Hart is Marty’s strong-willed wife who is dealing with infidelity and navigating the fallout of Marty's betrayal throughout their marriage, along with the dangerous investigation he is leading. She eventually decides to hurt Marty back by sleeping with Rust Cohle.

Michelle Monaghan plays Maggie Hart in True Detective, and Monaghan's notable works include Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Mission: Impossible III.

Michael Potts as Detective Maynard Gilbough

Michael Potts appears as Detective Maynard Gilbough, who joins the investigation at a later stage when a new development comes to light. Gilbough was responsible for re-examining the unsolved murder case during the 2012 interviews and questioning Rust and Marty. His character is the major framing device that helps the story switch between the three timelines smoothly.

Wondering where you have seen Michael Potts? Potts has worked on The Wire, Boardwalk Empire.

Alongside them in True Detective are Tory Kittles as Detective Thomas Papania, with whom Gilbough is investigating old cases. The actor recently appeared in The Chi.

Elizabeth Reaser appears in the show as Laurie Perkins, a supporting character to the investigation, accompanied by Kevin Dunn as Major Ken Quesada, a police authority figure who is overseeing the investigation and putting pressure on Rust and Marty to resolve the case.

---

True Detective has been renewed for season 5 after season 4 premiered in 2024.