The lead actors in Empire are Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, and Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon.
Main cast
- Lucious LyonTerrence Howard1–6Main
- Cookie LyonTaraji P. Henson1–6Main
- Jamal LyonJussie Smollett1–5Main
- Hakeem LyonBryshere Y. Gray1–6Main
- Andre LyonTrai Byers1–6Main
- Anika CalhounGrace Gealey1–4, 6Main
Supporting cast
- Becky BrooksGabourey Sidibe1–6Supp
- Rhonda LyonKaitlin Doubleday1–4Supp
- Tiana BrownSerayah McNeill1–6Supp
- Shine JohnsonTyrese Gibson4–6Supp
- Giselle BarkerRumer Willis5–6Supp
- Warren HallAntonio J. Bell1–6Supp
Guest & voice
- Frank GathersChris Rock2–3Guest
- Leah WalkerLeslie Uggams1, 3Guest
- MingusSnoop Dogg5Guest
- Kelly PatelPhylicia Rashad4Guest
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About this cast
Empire is a musical drama television series that follows the Lyon family as they navigate the music industry and personal betrayals. The show centres on Lucious Lyon, the CEO of Empire Entertainment, his ex-wife Cookie, and their three ambitious sons.
FAQs
Who plays Lucious Lyon in Empire?
Lucious Lyon is played by Terrence Howard.
How many seasons of Empire are there?
Empire has six seasons, airing from 2015 to 2020.
Is Empire based on a true story?
No, Empire is a fictional drama, though it draws inspiration from real-life music industry figures.
Who plays Cookie Lyon?
Cookie Lyon is played by Taraji P. Henson.
Did Jussie Smollett return for season 6?
No, Jussie Smollett’s character Jamal was written out after season 5 and he did not appear in season 6.
Sources & where to watch: IMDb · Wikipedia · Where to watch (JustWatch UK) · Updated June 2026