John Simm plays Sam Tyler, Philip Glenister plays Gene Hunt, and Liz White plays Annie Cartwright in the BBC time-travel crime drama Life on Mars.
Main cast
- Sam TylerJohn Simm1–2Main
- Gene HuntPhilip Glenister1–2Main
- Annie CartwrightLiz White1–2Main
- Chris SkeltonMarshall Lancaster1–2Main
- Ray CarlingDean Andrews1–2Main
Supporting cast
- DCI Harry WoolfTony Marshall1–2Supp
- Phyllis DobbsNoreen Kershaw1–2Supp
- NelsonGeoff Bell1–2Supp
- Ruth TylerAmelia Bullmore1–2Supp
- Maya RoyArchie Panjabi2Supp
Guest & voice
- Vic TylerLee Boardman1Guest
- Colin RawnsleyDavid Walliams1Guest
- LaylaJoanne Froggatt1Guest
- Tony CraneJohn Henshaw2Guest
- Frank MorganRalph Brown2Guest
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About this cast
Life on Mars is a British television series that aired on BBC One from 2006 to 2007, blending crime drama with science fiction. It follows Sam Tyler, a modern-day police officer who, after a car accident, wakes up in 1973, where he must navigate the brutal policing methods of the era while working under the charismatic but unorthodox DCI Gene Hunt.
FAQs
Who plays Sam Tyler in Life on Mars?
John Simm plays Sam Tyler, the modern-day police officer transported back to 1973.
Who plays Gene Hunt in Life on Mars?
Philip Glenister plays DCI Gene Hunt, the tough and politically incorrect detective in 1973.
Who plays Annie Cartwright in Life on Mars?
Liz White plays WPC Annie Cartwright, a sympathetic colleague in the 1973 police station.
How many seasons of Life on Mars are there?
Life on Mars has two seasons, airing from 2006 to 2007.
Is Life on Mars a TV series or a film?
Life on Mars is a TV series, produced by the BBC.
Sources & where to watch: IMDb · Wikipedia · Where to watch (JustWatch UK) · Updated June 2026