List of this is Us characters - wikipedia List of this is Us characters This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. ( Learn how and when to remove these template messages ) This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable, independent, third - party sources. ( March 2017 ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2017 ) This Is Us is an American television series created by Dan Fogelman that premiered on NBC on September 20, 2016. The ensemble cast stars Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, and Ron Cephas Jones. Contents 1 Main characters 1.1 Jack Pearson 1.2 Rebecca Pearson 1.3 Randall Pearson 1.4 Kate Pearson 1.5 Kevin Pearson 1.6 Beth Pearson 1.7 Toby Damon 1.8 William Hill 1.9 Miguel Rivas 1.10 Sophie 2 Recurring characters 2.1 Introduced in season one 3 Guest stars 3.1 Introduced in season one 4 References Main characters Jack Pearson Jack Pearson ( born August 31, 1944 ; death between 1996 - 1997 ) portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia as Rebecca 's husband, and Kate, Kevin, & Randall 's father. Jack has a brother named Nick. Jack had a rough childhood because of his abusive father, causing them to have a strained relationship. His father did not know that he was married, so when Jack found out that he and Rebecca were expecting triplets, he went to his father asking for money, citing gambling debts, rather than telling him that he intended to buy a house for his family. He also approached his boss and got a raise to $17,000 a year ( Over 49,000 in 2016 dollars. ), making him the highest paid foreman. Jack is revealed to have served in the Vietnam War as an Army mechanic before taking work as a manual laborer. The triplets and Randall were all born on Jack 's 36th birthday. He struggled with alcoholism while the children were young, but he stopped drinking to focus more on his family. Jack always wanted to find out who Randall 's biological father was, and never knew that Rebecca had found him. He was a construction foreman, who dreamed of opening his own firm, `` Big Three Homes '', but put his dreams on hold in order to provide a steady income for his children by getting a desk job. Jack died during his children 's teenage years, and Kate keeps his ashes with her. Rebecca Pearson Rebecca Pearson née Malone ( born 1950 - 1951 ) portrayed by Mandy Moore. Rebecca is Jack 's wife, and Kate, Kevin, & Randall 's mother Rebecca strives to be a better mother to her children, and has issues with Jack 's alcoholism. She has always known that William is Randall 's father, but kept them apart as she was afraid that he would try and take Randall back. Rebecca always wanted to be a singer, but gave up on her dreams in order to focus on her family. In the mid 1990s, she had a chance to become a singer again by joining a band with her ex-boyfriend. Jack was upset after finding out about their history, which causes a rift between Rebecca and Jack. After Jack 's death, Rebecca marries his best friend, Miguel. Randall Pearson Randall Pearson ( born August 31, 1980 ) portrayed by Sterling K. Brown ( current day ), Niles Fitch ( age 15 ) and Lonnie Chavis ( ages 8 -- 10 ). Randall is Jack & Rebecca 's son, and Kate & Kevin 's brother. On his 36th birthday, he finds his biological father, William, and invites him to his northern New Jersey home. Randall sells commodity futures based on weather patterns, and is shown to be very wealthy. On the day that Randall was born, he was dropped off in front of a firehouse by his biological father, William, and then taken to the hospital, where he was adopted by Jack and Rebecca. Jack and Rebecca originally named him Kyle, but at the advice of William, Rebecca decides to give him his own name, naming him after William 's favorite poet, Dudley Randall. At age nine, Randall 's teacher informed Jack and Rebecca that Randall was a gifted child who was not being challenged enough at his current school. They decided to remove him from public school and send him to Hanes Academy. In high school Randall played football, wearing number 36. Randall and Kevin have an estranged relationship and did n't reconnect until they were 36 years old. This is because, as children, Kevin openly despised Randall. Contrarily, Kevin is hurt that Randall does n't seem to care about his acting career. They begin to reconnect when Kevin needs Randall 's advice, but Randall coldly tells him he should n't care what he thinks. Eventually, Kevin moves to Randall 's house in New Jersey but they still have some work to do on building their relationship. He loves Thanksgiving and has his family recreate a specific childhood Thanksgiving every year, including : a 3.4 mile hike, watching Police Academy 3 : Back in Training, and imitating a hotel owner known as `` Pilgrim Rick ''. Kate Pearson Kate Pearson ( born August 31, 1980 ) portrayed by Chrissy Metz ( current day ), Hannah Zeile ( age 15 ) and Mackenzie Hancsicsak ( ages 8 -- 10 ). Kate is Jack & Rebecca 's daughter, and Kevin & Randall 's sister. Kate is obese and has struggled with issues of self - esteem her entire life, which she greatly attributes to her strained relationship with her mother and the death of her father. Her relationship with her mother led to depression and eventually led to her taking Prozac, which she stopped taking due to the weight gain. Kate lives in Los Angeles and was her brother, Kevin 's, personal assistant. When Kevin decides to move to New York, he fires her in order for her to try to build her own life, apart from him. Kate is an ardent Pittsburgh Steelers fan and has a routine, where she watches the games with her dad 's ashes. At nine years old, she had her appendix removed on Christmas Eve. Kate decides to join an weight - loss support group, where she meets Toby. Despite saying that she was not going to get involved with a fat person, she falls for Toby. When Toby decides to not continue with his diet, Kate breaks up with him and decides to go to Randall 's for Thanksgiving. During a turbulent plane ride to New Jersey, Kate has an epiphany and decides that she is going to have gastric bypass surgery. After meeting with a doctor, she instead decides to enter a fat camp to attempt to lose the weight without surgery. When Toby surprises Kate by showing up at Randall 's house for Christmas, he tells her that he can live without pizza and junk food, but that he can not live without her. After Toby 's heart surgery, Kate and Toby decide to get engaged. The penultimate episode of season one ( `` What Now ? '' ) reveals that Kate blames herself for her father 's death. Kevin Pearson Kevin Pearson ( born August 31, 1980 ) portrayed by Justin Hartley ( current day ), Logan Shroyer ( age 15 ) and Parker Bates ( ages 8 -- 10 ). Kevin is Jack & Rebecca 's son, and Kate & Randall 's brother. Shortly before his tenth birthday, Kevin became attracted to Kate 's best friend, Sophie, whom he later marries. Kevin and Sophie decided that she would stay in New York and he would move to California to pursue acting, believing that their marriage could handle the distance. Kevin and Sophie later divorce, 12 years prior to season 1, due to the distance and Kevin cheating on her. Kevin has always struggled with worrying about what people think of him, which caused Randall and him to have a strained relationship growing up. Kevin is visibly envious of Randall, who has always excelled in everything and receives more attention from their parents, but he does n't realize that Randall has longed for the same attention from him. In high school he played football, wearing number twelve. Kevin was an actor in Los Angeles, starring as the lead on a long - running sitcom called The Manny. He abruptly quits that show on his 36th birthday, criticizing the script quality and the producer 's reluctance to add nuance to the show. After quitting his job, Kevin decides to move to New York to pursue a career as a serious stage actor on Broadway. Upon arriving in New York, he gets hired as the lead role, David, in Back of an Egg, opposite a cynical actress named Olivia Maine. When Kevin has trouble connecting with the emotions needed for his role, he begins spending time with Olivia, who tries to get him to connect with his feelings. Kevin and Olivia briefly date, but break up after she brings her ex-boyfriend to his family cabin. After his breakup with Olivia, Kevin began dating the writer of the play, Sloane Sandburg, attending Hanukkah with her family and inviting her the Christmas Eve party at Randall 's house. Sloane takes over as the lead of the play when Kevin decides to self - fund the performance, when Olivia disappears and the play is going to be shut down. After Kevin and Sloane break up, he reconnects with Sophie and begins a relationship with her again. Beth Pearson Beth Pearson portrayed by Susan Kelechi Watson. Beth is Randall 's wife, whom he met in college and later married circa 1999. Randall and Beth have two daughters together, Annie and Tess. Their marriage is based on honesty where they do not want any secrets from one another. After William reveals his connection to Rebecca, she gives Rebecca an ultimatum, to either tell Randall or she would. Growing up, Beth lived in a three - bedroom house with 14 other people. Toby Damon Toby Damon portrayed by Chris Sullivan. Toby is Kate 's fiancé Toby was born in Palm Springs, California. Toby begins dating Kate, whom he meets at a weight - loss support group. Toby is confident with his own obese image, and encourages Kate to have better self - esteem. He was previously married to a woman whom Kate views as beautiful and successful, but who actually treated him like garbage. Toby gained 90 pounds in the first year after his divorce. Refusing to take Kate 's hesitance about the relationship lightly, Toby continually comes up with sweet gestures to win Kate over. In the beginning, he felt that he had to compete with Kevin for Kate 's relationship. Despite breaking his weight - loss goals, Toby decides dieting is not for him and goes off his diet, resulting in Kate breaking up with him. He surprises Kate by showing up at Randall 's house for Christmas Eve, stating that he can live without pizza and junk food, but that he can not live without her. On Christmas Eve, Toby collapses and ends up in the hospital with an arrhythmia. After Toby 's heart surgery, he and Kate decide to get engaged. William Hill William H. Hill ( died 2017 ), portrayed by Ron Cephas Jones ( current day ) and Jermel Nakia ( as a youth ), nicknamed Shakespeare. William was Randall 's biological father. William was a recovering drug addict who was suffering from stage - four stomach cancer. He grew up in Memphis, and after his mother moved to Pittsburgh he stayed in Memphis to play in his cousin Ricky 's band, where he played piano, wrote, and sang. William left the band, with the intention of returning, to take care of his dying mother. However, after meeting Randall 's mother and becoming a drug addict, he never returned. William got clean after he thought he saw a monkey on the streets, realizing that nothing good comes from a person being on the street at 3 : 30 am. William returned to Philadelphia to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, in hopes of bumping into Jessie O'Hare to reconnect. After leaving Randall at the firehouse, he waits outside the hospital to see him being taken home by Jack and Rebecca. Rebecca realized that William was Randall 's father, after seeing him getting onto the bus as she left the hospital. She eventually tracked him down, a secret she kept from everyone, including Randall and Jack. William always wanted to have a relationship with his child, but promised Rebecca that he would stay away for Randall 's benefit. He accidentally revealed this secret to Beth one night when they got high together, and Randall accidentally finds out himself, when he finds a letter and photo in William 's apartment, from Rebecca, while looking for cassette tapes. William was bisexual, previously having a relationship with a man named Jessie. He never officially broke up with Jessie, who assumed that he had died when he vanished one night to move to Randall 's. William eventually succumbed to his cancer during a road trip back to Memphis with Randall. Prior to his death he leaves a letter to Randall 's girls, asking them to plan a fun memorial for him. He also sends Beth a postcard from Memphis, saying goodbye and calling her the daughter he never had. Miguel rivas Miguel portrayed by Jon Huertas as Miguel, is Jack 's best friend and Rebecca 's second husband. Miguel was originally married to Shelly, before they divorce. While it was originally believed that his marriage to Rebecca happened shortly after Jack 's death, in season 2, it is clarified that the two did not get together until at least eight years after Jack 's passing. Miguel is initially disliked by Kevin, until Miguel tells Kevin how much he is like his father. Sophie Sophie portrayed by Alexandra Breckenridge ( modern day, Amanda Leighton ( age 15 ) and Sophia Coto ( age 10 ), is Kate 's childhood best friend and Kevin 's childhood love and ex-wife. Kevin moves to New York and reconciles with her, after his relationships with Olivia and Sloane end. Recurring characters Introduced in season one Eris Baker as Tess Pearson : Randall and Beth 's older daughter. Faithe Herman as Annie Pearson : Randall and Beth 's younger daughter. Gerald McRaney as Dr. Nathan Katowski aka Dr. K : An elderly widower, who delivers Kate and Kevin. Dr. K was married to his wife, Caroline, for 53 years before she passed away in 1979. He and Caroline had five children, the first of which was stillborn. Dr. K worked as an obstetrician, and became a last - minute substitute for Rebecca 's regular doctor, whose appendix burst. After one of the triplets is stillborn, he gave Jack some fatherly advice, and unknowingly convinced Jack to adopt Randall. Janet Montgomery as Olivia Maine : Kevin 's former stage partner and ex-girlfriend. Olivia is very cynical and does not commit to relationships. She attends Thanksgiving at Randall 's house and begins dating Kevin. After breaking up with Kevin, Olivia vanishes and stops showing up for the show rehearsals. After her return, she finds that Kevin is dating Sloane. Milana Vayntrub as Sloane Sandburg : Kevin 's stage partner and ex-girlfriend. Sloane is the writer of Kevin 's play, and she begins dating him after his breakup with Olivia. She brings Kevin to her family 's Hanukkah dinner and goes with him to Randall 's house for Christmas Eve. Kevin convinces her to take over the starring role of the play after Olivia vanishes. After Olivia suddenly returns, Sloane overhears Kevin telling Olivia that he can not take her back and that he is staying with Sloane, because it is the `` right thing '' to do. She breaks up with Kevin, but continues to work on the play with him as friends. Ryan Michelle Bathe as Yvette : A family friend of the Pearsons. Yvette becomes friends with the Pearsons, after meeting them at the local pool. She becomes their initial conduit into black life for Randall 's sake. Denis O'Hare as Jessie : William 's friend and former romantic partner. Adam Bartley as Duke : The stable worker at the weight - loss camp Kate attends. Duke works at a horse stable of the weight - loss camp his family owns and continuously hits on Kate, even though she is engaged. Jill Johnson as Laurie : A member of Toby and Kate 's weight - loss support group. Guest stars The following is a supplementary list of guest stars, some recurring, who appear in lesser roles. The characters are listed, in alphabetical order by actor, by the season in which they first appeared. Introduced in season one Wynn Everett as Shelly : Miguel 's wife. Brad Garrett as Wes Manning : A television network president tasked with negotiating Kevin 's exit from The Manny. Jami Gertz as Marin Rosenthal : A woman who hires Kate to be an event coordinator. Ron Howard as himself : After Howard sees Kevin 's play, he calls Kevin to praise his performance and offers to send him a script for a new movie he is producing. Mario Lopez as himself : Lopez is hosting a talk show that discusses Kevin 's on - set meltdown. Seth Meyers as himself : Meyers sees Kevin and Randall fighting on a New York City sidewalk and approaches the pair, recognizing Kevin as a showbiz colleague. Elizabeth Perkins as Janet Malone : Rebecca 's overbearing mother. Katey Sagal as Lanie Schulz : Kevin 's Hollywood agent. Jimmi Simpson as Andy Fannan : A co-worker whom Randall talks out of committing suicide on Christmas Eve. Alan Thicke as himself : Thicke is guest - starring on The Manny as Kevin has his on - set meltdown. References Jump up ^ Bianco, Robert ( September 20, 2016 ), `` Review : ' This is Us ' is heartfelt ( if sweet - toothed ) family drama '', USA Today ^ Jump up to : `` Pilot ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 1. September 20, 2016. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` The Right Thing to Do ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 11. January 10, 2017. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` The Big Three ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 2. September 27, 2016. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` The Trip ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 9. November 29, 2016. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` Career Days ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 6. November 1, 2016. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` The Game Plan ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 5. October 25, 2016. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` Three Sentences ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 13. January 24, 2017. NBC. Jump up ^ `` All hail the rise of the reasonably competent TV heroine ''. Toronto Star, November 5, 2016, Sophie Van Bastelaer. ^ Jump up to : `` The Best Washing Machine in the World ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 7. November 15, 2016. NBC. Jump up ^ `` Jack Pearson 's Son ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 15. February 14, 2017. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` Kyle ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 3. October 11, 2016. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` The Pool ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 4. October 18, 2016. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` Pilgrim Rick ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 8. November 22, 2016. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` What Now ? ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 17. March 7, 2017. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` Last Christmas ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 10. December 6, 2016. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` The Big Day ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 12. January 17, 2017. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` I Call Marriage ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 14. February 7, 2017. NBC. ^ Jump up to : `` Memphis ''. This is Us. Season 1. Episode 16. February 21, 2017. NBC. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_This_Is_Us_characters&oldid=808526923 '' Categories : Lists of American television series characters Lists of American sitcom television characters This Is Us ( TV series ) Hidden categories : Articles lacking reliable references from March 2017 All articles lacking reliable references Articles needing additional references from March 2017 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 3 November 2017, at 11 : 37. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: what is the family name on this is us
Answer: Pearson