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| Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector in "The Gilded Age." HBO |
HBO’s historical drama “The Gilded Age” has enthralled viewers with its lavish depiction of wealth, power, and social ambition in late 19th-century New York. As the show heads into its fourth season, set to premiere after the season three finale on August 10, its intricate blend of fictional characters and real historical figures continues to spark fascination among history buffs and television fans alike.
Set in a time marked by massive fortunes, dramatic societal divides, and sweeping innovation, “The Gilded Age” populates its universe with both invented personalities and those pulled straight from history books. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the actual historical figures who have made appearances on the show, and how they’re portrayed.
1. Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell – Inspired by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont
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| Alva was a Vanderbilt until her divorce in 1895. She then became Alva Belmont in 1896. HBO; Heritage Art/Heritage Images/Getty Images |
Bertha Russell is not an exact replica of Alva Vanderbilt, but her storyline closely mirrors that of the real-life Gilded Age socialite. Alva was a force in New York society, known for her determination to earn respect among the elite and her willingness to use wealth to secure her position. She married into the Vanderbilt fortune and built a sprawling Fifth Avenue mansion in 1882, much like Bertha’s opulent home in the show. Both women share a deep love for the opera and a no-nonsense attitude toward social climbing.
2. Vera Farmiga as Gladys Russell – Modeled after Consuelo Vanderbilt
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| Gladys and Consuelo were both ruled over by domineering mothers. HBO; Gilliam Press Syndicate/PhotoQuest/Getty Images |
Gladys, Bertha’s daughter, is based on Consuelo Vanderbilt, Alva’s real-life daughter. Much like her fictional counterpart, Consuelo was married off to British nobility against her wishes in a strategic alliance to boost her family’s social standing. Though Gladys' storyline diverges slightly, the echoes of Consuelo’s unhappy marriage to the Duke of Marlborough are clearly present.
3. Morgan Spector as George Russell – Loosely Based on Jay Gould
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| They even rocked similar facial hair. HBO; Bettmann/Getty Images |
Though Bertha is inspired by a Vanderbilt, her husband George is not. Instead, his cutthroat business sense and aggressive tactics are drawn largely from the life of Jay Gould, one of the most notorious railroad barons of the time. Known for his ruthlessness and lack of scruples, Gould was feared in the business world but also deeply loyal to his family traits mirrored in George's character.
4. Denée Benton as Peggy Scott – A Composite Inspired by Julia C. Collins
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| Benton was nominated for a Tony Award in 2017. HBO |
Peggy Scott’s character is a powerful representation of early Black female authorship and ambition. Her story takes cues from Julia C. Collins, one of the first Black women to publish a novel in the U.S. Like Collins, Peggy is deeply committed to her craft and her identity, pushing back against societal limitations. Her storyline adds much-needed depth and diversity to the era’s portrayal.
5. Donna Murphy as Caroline Schermerhorn Astor – The Real Queen of Society
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| Caroline's son, John Jacob Astor IV, died on the Titanic in 1914. HBO; Heritage Art/Heritage Images/Getty Images |
Known as “The Mrs. Astor,” Caroline Schermerhorn Astor was the de facto ruler of New York’s high society. With old money and a prestigious family lineage, she defined who was “in” and “out.” The show portrays her as a gatekeeper, famously curating the Four Hundred a list of socially acceptable elites, so named for the number of guests that could fit in her ballroom.
6. Amy Forsyth as Carrie Astor – Caroline’s Strong-Willed Daughter
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| Carrie became a powerful socialite in her own right as an adult. HBO; Public domain |
Carrie Astor plays a smaller but important role, representing the younger generation’s struggle against rigid societal expectations. In real life, Carrie famously battled her mother’s disapproval over her romantic relationship with Marshall Orme Wilson. Her real-life story includes struggles with mental health brought on by the tension a storyline hinted at subtly in the show.
7. Ashlie Atkinson as Mamie Fish – A Party-Throwing Powerhouse
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| Mamie Fish's full name was Marion Graves Anthon Fish. HBO; Bettman/Getty Images |
Mamie Fish, who appears early in the series, was a real socialite known for her wild parties and sense of humor. In real life, she stood alongside Alva Vanderbilt and Tessie Fair as part of the “Triumvirate” of elite hostesses after Astor’s reign. Her character provides levity and color, while also demonstrating how social power could be wielded with wit and flair.
8. Nathan Lane as Ward McAllister – The Listmaker of the Elite
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| McAllister was a socialite in his time. HBO; Bettman/Getty Images |
Ward McAllister, a confidant of Caroline Astor, helped shape the New York social scene by defining its parameters. He famously dictated the list of the Four Hundred to the New York Times, a move that cemented the social hierarchy. On the show, he plays a vital role in deciding who gains access to high society.
9. Sullivan Jones as Timothy Thomas Fortune – A Black Press Pioneer
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| Fortune moved to New York City in the 1870s. HBO; Heritage Art/Heritage Images/Getty Images |
Fortune was the real editor of The New York Age, a major African American newspaper. In “The Gilded Age,” his relationship with Peggy highlights both professional collaboration and romantic tension. His appearance underlines the importance of Black journalism and the political engagement of the Black middle class during the period.
10. John Sanders as Stanford White – Brilliant and Notorious Architect
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| White designed some of NYC's most famous landmarks. HBO; Hulton Archive/Getty Images |
White, architect of many iconic New York buildings, including the Washington Square Arch, is featured as the designer of the Russell home. However, his real-life legacy is tarnished by scandal he was murdered by the jealous husband of Evelyn Nesbit, a former model who accused White of sexually assaulting her. The show hints at his darker history subtly while highlighting his architectural genius.
11. Linda Emond as Clara Barton – Humanitarian and Red Cross Founder
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| Barton was a nurse during the Civil War. HBO; Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images |
Season one includes a cameo by Barton, who gives a public lecture attended by Marian and her aunts. Barton’s role as a nurse, suffragist, and co-founder of the American Red Cross is portrayed with reverence, offering a glimpse into the humanitarian movements of the time.
12. Bill Camp as J. P. Morgan – The Banking Titan
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| Morgan is somewhat of an ally to George. HBO; Bettman/Getty Images |
Morgan, often regarded as America’s most powerful banker, appears in season three as George seeks financing. His presence reinforces the vast power wielded by financiers and their influence on industrial expansion.
13. Jordan Waller as Oscar Wilde – The Flamboyant Playwright
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| Wilde is perhaps the most famous celebrity to appear on "The Gilded Age." HBO; Universal History Archive/Getty Images |
Wilde’s brief appearance in season two during a theater premiere adds color to the cultural scene of the time. Known for his wit and flamboyant persona, Wilde’s flirtation with John Adams is in character, adding a touch of historical humor and insight.
14. Liz Wisan as Emily Warren Roebling – Unsung Bridge Engineer
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| Roebling's contributions to the Brooklyn Bridge cannot be overstated. HBO; Library of Congress |
Roebling, who played a critical role in finishing the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband fell ill, is shown leading a meeting of the trustees. Her inclusion spotlights women’s contributions to infrastructure often erased from official histories.
15. Melanie Nicholls-King as Sarah J. Garnet – Suffrage Pioneer
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| Garnet had a small role to play. HBO; Public domain |
Garnet appears in several episodes as a powerful voice in the fight for Black women’s suffrage. A real educator and founder of the Equal Suffrage League, Garnet was one of the most influential Black women of her time.
16. Michael Braugher as Booker T. Washington – Educational Trailblazer
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| Michael Braugher is the son of actor Andre Braugher, who died in 2023. HBO; Universal History Archive/Getty Images |
Washington appears during a subplot in which Peggy and Fortune travel to the South. As the founder of the Tuskegee Institute, his character reflects the importance of education in empowering the Black community post-Civil War.
17. Bobby Steggert as John Singer Sargent – Master Portraitist
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| Sargent was a famous artist of the time. HBO; Bettman/Getty Images |
Sargent paints Gladys’ portrait in season three, just before his own rise to scandal and fame with “Portrait of Madame X.” His conversation with Bertha about controversy increasing his value offers a knowing wink to art history buffs.
18. Ben Lamb as Hector Vere, Duke of Buckingham – Based on the Duke of Marlborough
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| There was a real Duke of Buckingham at the time of the show, but his name was Richard. HBO; Hulton Archive/Getty Images |
The fictional Duke of Buckingham stands in for Charles Spencer-Churchill, who married Consuelo Vanderbilt for her dowry. While the show offers a possibly kinder portrayal of Hector, the real marriage was troubled and ultimately dissolved.
19. LisaGay Hamilton as Frances Ellen Watkins Harper – Literary and Political Leader
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| Harper was one of the first Black women to be published in the US. HBO; Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images |
Harper joins Peggy’s suffrage gathering in season three, bringing her legacy as an early Black female writer and activist to the forefront. Her presence demonstrates the overlapping movements for racial and gender equality.
20. Peter McRobbie as Russell Sage – Ruthless Financier
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| The characters in the show called him Risley, not Russell, probably to avoid confusion with George Russell. HBO; Hulton Archive/Getty Images |
Sage, another real-life titan of industry, appears in a meeting with J. P. Morgan. Known for working with Jay Gould and for surviving an assassination attempt by using his assistant as a human shield, Sage adds depth to the portrayal of unscrupulous capitalists.
“The Gilded Age” succeeds not only in dramatizing one of the most intriguing periods in American history but also in threading real people and events into its fictional tapestry. With season four on the way, fans can expect more history to come alive onscreen opulence, scandal, ambition, and all.
