Unveiling the Extraordinary Talents Portraying Young Roderick & Madeline in The House of Usher

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The Fall of the House of Usher!

Summary

In the show, titled The Fall of the House of Usher, various timelines are depicted, which include flashbacks to the years 1953, 1962, and 1979. These flashbacks showcase crucial moments in the lives of Roderick and Madeline Usher. Notably, Zach Gilford and Willa Fitzgerald portray the younger versions of Roderick and Madeline, respectively, with considerable presence on screen during the 1979 flashbacks.

In a flashback to 1953, the roles of "tiny" Roderick and Madeline Usher are portrayed by Lincoln Russo and Kate Whiddington. Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher showcases the various important moments in the lives of Roderick and Madeline Usher, with four sets of actors taking on the characters. The cast of the show includes several actors from Flanagan’s previous TV shows and movies, including some recognizable faces who play the different ages of twins Roderick and Madeline Usher. While Bruce Greenwood and Mary McDonnell portray Roderick and Madeline in the present, younger actors also depict these characters during the show's flashbacks.

The Fall of the House of Usher is predominantly set in the present day of 2023, yet it also explores the lives of the Usher family members in three additional time periods. As Roderick shares his narrative with Auguste C. Dupine, he transports the attorney to a significant moment in 1953 with his sister, a memorable event in 1962 involving their mother, and frequently to 1979 – the year when Roderick and Madeline struck a deal that would forever alter their own lives and the lives of their descendants. Throughout their childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, Roderick and Madeline undergo transformative experiences that ultimately culminate in the shocking climax of The Fall of the House of Usher.

Zach Gilford & Willa Fitzgerald Play Young Roderick & Madeline

In The Fall of the House of Usher, there are numerous flashbacks to 1979 that prominently feature young Roderick and Madeline. Zach Gilford, a familiar face in Mike Flanagan's works, takes on the role of young Roderick Usher. Previously known for his portrayal of Riley Flynn in the 2021 series Midnight Mass and Mark in the 2022 Netflix show The Midnight Club, Gilford brings his talent to this horror show once again. Joining him is Willa Fitzgerald, who plays young Madeline Usher in the 1979 flashbacks. This marks Fitzgerald's first collaboration with Mike Flanagan, following her appearances in MTV's Scream series and Amazon's Reacher show.

While Gilford and Fitzgerald are intended to portray the characters of Roderick and Madeline Usher, both aged 29, there is a discrepancy in the actors' actual ages. Gilford, who played Roderick, was 40 years old during the filming of The Fall of the House of Usher, whereas Fitzgerald, who played Madeline, was 31 years old. Furthermore, it is somewhat ironic that Gilford's portrayal of the younger Roderick Usher contrasts with his role as the father of Henry Thomas' character, Frederick Usher, in the Flanaverse. It is worth mentioning that Thomas had previously played the father of Gilford's character in Midnight Mass.

Graham Verchere & Lulu Wilson Play Younger Roderick & Madeline In 1962

Prior to striking a damaging deal with Verna, the character played by Carla Gugino, Roderick and Madeline Usher, credited as "younger," experienced a life-altering event over a decade ago. In episode 1 of The Fall of the House of Usher, set in 1962, a flashback reveals Roderick and Madeline as teenagers tending to their ailing mother who eventually passes away at home. As a result, the twins prematurely lay her to rest in their backyard. However, that very night, their deceased mother, Eliza, emerges from her grave, strangles Roderick, and proceeds to the residence of her former employer, who also happens to be the biological father of Roderick and Madeline. There, she murders William Longfellow before succumbing to her own demise.

While their appearances in the 1962 flashbacks may be brief, the younger versions of Madeline and Roderick Usher leave a lasting impression on the TV show's narrative, shedding light on the intricacies of their relationship. Portraying teenage Madeline Usher is the talented Lulu Wilson, known for her noteworthy performance as young Shirley Crain in Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House series. On the other hand, teenage Roderick Usher is brought to life by Graham Verchere, who makes his debut in a Mike Flanagan show with The Fall of the House of Usher. Noteworthy roles of Verchere's include his appearances in Summer of '84, Stargirl, and Supergirl.

Lincoln Russo & Kate Whiddington Play Tiny Roderick & Madeline In 1953

In episode 1 of "The Fall of the House of Usher," there is a brief flashback to 1953 featuring young Roderick and Madeline Usher. The twins are shown in the care of their mother, Eliza, who worked as a personal secretary for William Longfellow, the CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals and the true father of Roderick and Madeline. These flashbacks uncover the fact that William Longfellow never acknowledged Roderick and Madeline as his own children, and they were forbidden from entering his mansion despite living in close proximity. However, one night in 1953, the twins defied this rule.

Lincoln Russo, known for his role in Schmigadoon! on Apple TV+, takes on the role of the young Roderick Usher in The Fall of the House of Usher. Kate Whiddington, who has appeared in BH90210 and Virgin River, portrays the small but important character of Madeline Usher. Joining the cast in the flashback scenes as Roderick and Madeline's parents are Annabeth Gish and Robert Longstreet, notable for their roles as the Dudley couple in Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House series.