One of the most influential shows on television in the 1990s, HBO's Sex and the City was a groundbreaking portrayal of female sexuality and friendships. The series followed four single women in their thirties navigating the dating scene in New York City. Central to the show was their shared love for the city, fashion, and unwavering support for one another, despite their divergent views on sex and love. Although the actors had some degree of fame prior to the show, the immense success of Sex and the City propelled them into the realm of A-list celebrities.
Sex and the City received widespread acclaim, garnering numerous Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards throughout its run. While the writing and themes undoubtedly contributed to its appeal, it was the talented main cast that truly brought the beloved characters to life. Viewers' strong emotional connection with these characters paved the way for two Sex and the City movies and a revival series titled And Just Like That. Despite their various roles throughout the years, the Sex and the City cast members remain instantly recognizable due to their iconic portrayal in the '90s show.
Sarah Jessica Parker As Carrie Bradshaw
Kim Cattrall As Samantha Jones
Sarah Jessica Parker, known for her iconic portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, brings to life the witty sex columnist and fashion enthusiast. Recognized globally for her performance, Parker earned five Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Awards for her exceptional work on the series. Post the show's conclusion, she captivated audiences in romantic comedies like Failure to Launch, where she portrayed Paula, and Did You Hear About the Morgans?, where she portrayed Meryl. Additionally, she graced the screen in New Year's Eve, portraying the character Kate. Recently, Parker delighted fans by reprising her beloved roles in the Max series And Just Like That as Carrie Bradshaw and in the upcoming Disney+ film Hocus Pocus 2 as Sarah Sanderson.
Kim Cattrall skyrocketed to fame with her bold and fearless portrayal of Samantha Jones in the Sex and the City cast. Samantha's character has been hailed as the standout in the beloved series. Since then, Cattrall has capitalized on her stardom and taken on leading roles in various TV shows. In the Hulu series How I Met Your Father, she effortlessly embodies the character of future Sophie and lends her captivating narration. Moreover, she graces the screen as the glamorous makeup mogul Madolyn Addison in the exciting new Netflix series, Glamorous. Though initially hesitant to reprise her role, fans can rejoice as Cattrall will be making a special appearance as Samantha in the highly anticipated second season of And Just Like That.
Kristin Davis As Charlotte York
In Sex and the City, Kristin Davis portrays the character of Charlotte York, a hopelessly romantic member of the group. Following her appearance on the popular HBO series, Davis has taken on supporting roles in various feature films. Some of these films include Couples Retreat, where she played the character Lucy, Jack and Jill, where she portrayed Delilah, and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, where she took on the role of Elizabeth. While playing Charlotte remains one of Davis' most well-known roles, she has also lent her voice to the character of Miss Spider on the beloved children's animated show Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends. In addition to her acting career, Davis is recognized for her philanthropic endeavors, particularly in the areas of wildlife conservation and women's rights. In 2021, she reprised her role as Charlotte in the highly anticipated series And Just Like That.
Cynthia Nixon As Miranda Hobbes
Known for her portrayal of Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City, Cynthia Nixon is a talented and ambitious lawyer. Nixon has received critical acclaim, winning two Emmy Awards. One for her role as Miranda in Sex and the City, and the other for her guest appearance as Janis Donovan in Law & Order: Special Victim Unit. As an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, Nixon is outspoken about important social issues. In 2018, she made headlines when she ran for Governor of New York. Returning to her iconic character in And Just Like That, Nixon continues to captivate audiences. Additionally, she showcases her acting prowess in the HBO series The Gilded Age, playing Ada Brook, the sister of a prominent socialite.
Chris Noth As John James "Mr. Big" Preston
As the main love interest of Carrie, John James "Mr. Big" Preston has a significant presence in Sex and the City, with actor Chris Noth bringing the character to life. It isn't until the series finale that Mr. Big's full name is revealed, symbolizing his emotional availability to Carrie. Noth is also recognized for his portrayal of Peter Florrick in the series The Good Wife. While he reprised his role as Mr. Big in the premiere of And Just Like That, his character met an untimely demise. However, due to allegations of sexual assault surfacing in 2021, Noth's appearance in the season 1 finale of And Just Like That was canceled, and he was written off the show The Equalizer.
David Eigenberg As Steve Brady
David Eigenberg joins the Sex and the City cast as Steve Brady, Miranda's on-again, off-again love interest who eventually becomes her husband. Following the conclusion of Sex and the City, Eigenberg makes guest appearances on various anthology series, such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Gavin, NCIS as Ted, and Criminal Minds as Russel. He later secures the role of Lieutenant Christopher Herrmann on the television show Chicago P.D. Eigenberg has been a leading figure in Chicago Fire since 2014, and he also portrays the same character in other Chicago franchise shows. In addition to Herrmann, he currently portrays Steve on And Just Like That.
Willie Garson As Stanford Blatch
Stanford Blatch, portrayed by actor Willie Garson throughout all six seasons of Sex and the City, served as one of Carrie's closest companions. Garson continued to make notable television appearances after his passing in 2021. He took on the roles of Dick in Pushing Daisies, Harrison in Girl Meets World, Steve in Supergirl, and various characters in Big Mouth. However, his portrayal of Mozzie on the USA Network series White Collar garnered him the most recognition. Although the release of And Just Like That featured Garson's posthumous return as Stanford, the character was subsequently written out of the show following his demise.
Kyle MacLachlan As Trey MacDougal
Charlotte's first husband, Trey MacDougal, played by Kyle MacLachlan, taught her that being perfect on paper does not guarantee a perfect relationship. Prior to his appearance on Sex and the City, MacLachlan won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Dale Cooper in the television series Twin Peaks. He returned to play Dale again in 2017 for the show's third season. MacLachlan has also taken on significant television roles such as Orson in Desperate Housewives, George "The Captain" Van Smoot in How I Met Your Mother, and the Mayor of Portland in Portlandia. In 2022, he reprised his role as the Captain in How I Met Your Father.
John Corbett As Aidan Shaw
In Sex and the City, John Corbett portrays Aidan Shaw, Carrie's other significant love interest alongside Mr. Big. Corbett is widely recognized for his portrayal of Ian Miller in the film series My Big Fat Greek Wedding, as well as his role as Dr. Dan Covey in Netflix's To All the Boys film trilogy and the TV series XO, Kitty. Fans will be delighted to know that Corbett will reprise his iconic role as Ian in the highly anticipated My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, scheduled to be released in movie theaters on September 8, 2023. Additionally, for the enjoyment of Sex and the City fans, Corbett will also make an appearance as Aidan in Season 2 of the new series And Just Like That.
Evan Handler As Harry Goldenblatt
Evan Handler portrayed the character of Harry Goldenblatt, Charlotte's divorce attorney and eventual spouse, in the renowned TV series Sex and the City. Alongside his notable role as Harry, Handler also featured as Charlie Runkie in the Showtime show Californication. Post his appearance in Sex and the City, he showcased his talent in various television series such as American Crime Story, where he played Alan Dershowitz, Fosse/Verdon, where he portrayed Hal Prince, and Power, where he took on the role of Jacob Warner. In 2021, Handler reprised the character of Harry in And Just Like That, where he joined the main cast.
Sex And The City Supporting Cast & Characters
Mario Cantone, known for his extensive theatre career and appearance on The Masked Singer season 8, portrays Anthony Marentino, Charlotte's close friend who later marries Stanford in Sex and the City 2. He reprised his role as Anthony in the 2021 series And Just Like That.
Jason Lewis stars as Jerry "Smith" Jerrod, Samantha's enduring boyfriend in both the Sex and the City series and the initial Sex and the City movie. Lewis is also recognized for his portrayal of Joe Strong in the NBC series Midnight, Texas.
Lynn Cohen played the role of Magda, Miranda's housekeeper in Sex and the City. She is best known for her portrayal of Mags in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Sadly, Cohen passed away in 2020 at the age of 86.
James Remar portrayed Richard Wright, Samantha's adulterous great love interest before she met Smith. Remar has appeared in popular films like X-Men: First Class and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He also played the lead role of Peter Gambi in the TV series Black Lightning.
Frances Sternhagen portrayed the character Bunny MacDougal, Trey's domineering mother, in the popular series Sex and the City. With an extensive background in film, television, and theater, Sternhagen has built an impressive repertoire. In recent years, she has portrayed notable characters such as Willie in The Closer and Blanche in Parenthood.
Mikhail Barishnikov took on the role of Aleksandr Petrovsky, an artist and Carrie's love interest before she reunited with Mr. Big in Sex and the City. Barishnikov is internationally recognized for his exceptional ballet dancing career, which has been his main focus since the early 2000s.
Ron Livingston portrays Jack Berger, Carrie's notorious ex-boyfriend who famously ended their relationship with a Post-It note. In the cast of Sex and the City, Livingston brings this character to life. Additionally, he recently appeared as Henry Allen, Barry Allen's father, in the 2023 film adaptation of The Flash.