Only Murders in the Building is back with its fifth season, bringing yet another murder case (in the building) for the trio of amateur sleuths to solve. As with every season, this season welcomes a long list of new guest actors, including multiple Academy Award winners. Meanwhile, many from the main and recurring cast are returning as well. Who can you expect to see? There are some impressive A-listers you won’t want to miss.
Returning Characters for ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5
Of course, the three main actors, Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez, return to reprise their roles as Oliver, Charles, and Mabel, respectively, in the series. Meryl Streep returns as Oliver’s now-wife, Loretta, following their romantic wedding at the end of Season 4.
Other Arconia residents returning include Michael Cyril Creighton as the quirky, cat-loving Arconia resident Howard, Jackie Hoffman as the surly Uma Heller, Nathan Lane as Theodore “Teddy” Dimas, James Caverly as Theo’s son, and Russell G. Jones as therapist and long-time building resident Dr. Grover Stanley. Vanessa Aspillaga will be back as Ursula, the building manager. Also coming back is Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Donna Williams.
While long-time doorman Lester is the subject of the season, having been found dead in the fountain outside the Arconia at the end of Season 4, Teddy Coluca returns to reprise the role in flashbacks.
Some of the impressive guest stars from Season 4 will be returning as well. Richard Kind will reprise his role as Vince Fish, a west tower resident with a perpetually recurring case of pink eye that causes him to wear an eye patch. Téa Leoni had a short cameo in the final episode of Season 4 as Sofia Caccimelio, a wealthy woman who approaches Charles and Mabel the morning after the wedding, desperate for help to find her missing husband. She has a larger role in Season 5.
New Cast Members For Season 5
Bobby Cannavale (Nicky Caccimelio)
Bobby Cannavale is Nicky, Sofia’s missing husband, a mobster who was up to no good. He had some dirty dealings with Lester relating to a secret basement casino in the building that ran for wealthy billionaires at night. While Nicky is an initial suspect in Lester’s death, a major reveal in the first episode suggests that there’s something much bigger at play.
Cannavale is a prolific actor, having appeared in numerous movies and shows, including Mr. Robot, Blue Bloods, Homecoming, Nine Perfect Strangers, and The Watcher. His role as Nicky is almost like a parody of his terrifying gangster role as Gyp Rosetti in Boardwalk Empire.
Renée Zellweger (Camilla White)
The A-lister and Oscar winner Renée Zellweger plays a wealthy billionaire hotel magnate and entrepreneurial designer who Charles describes as a “human incarnation of a Nancy Meyers kitchen.” She finds herself in the crosshairs of the trio as they investigate Lester’s murder.
The long-time actor with two Academy Awards, of course, needs no introduction. Some of Zellweger’s most memorable projects include the Bridget Jones movies, Jerry Maguire, Chicago, Cold Mountain, and Judy. Acting since the ‘90s, she most recently starred in the fourth Bridget Jones movie, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, which earned glowing reviews.
Logan Lerman (Jay Pflug)
The young billionaire is the heir of a pharmaceutical magnate. Like the others, he captures the attention of the trio as they move forward with the investigation. There’s a specific detail about Jay, however, that instantly makes the trio especially suspicious of him. He’s either guilty or he knows something about what happened that fateful night.
Viewers may recognize Logan Lerman from his starring role as the title character in the Percy Jackson movies from 2010 through 2013. He also appeared in the 2011 movie The Three Musketeers and the coming-of-age drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He also has TV credits on his resume, including the series Hunters from 2020 through 2023 and in We Were The Lucky Ones.
Christoph Waltz (Sebastian “Bash” Steed)
The third of three key billionaires who become suspects in the case, “Bash,” works in the tech field. His remarkable advancements in the field of longevity have made him both rich and powerful.
Christoph Waltz has two Academy Awards and an Emmy nomination among his many accolades. Most known for serious and gripping TV roles, his breakthrough was in Inglourious Basterds, which earned him his first Academy Award. He also starred in Django Unchained, bringing in his second Oscar, and in the James Bond movies Spectre and No Time to Die. Waltz is next tapped to appear in Luc Besson’s Dracula: A Love Tale and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.
Keegan-Michael Key (Mayor Tillman)
The Mayor is a stereotypical politician, attending Lester’s funeral even though he doesn’t know him, mostly for the attention as he works his angles with voters. He also reveals to Charles that he’s a huge fan of the podcast and was hoping to get on it one day. It’s likely for exposure and to gain popularity with voters should he be planning for re-election.
A tremendous comedic talent, Keegan-Michael Key first rose to fame as a cast member of Mad TV, after which he and co-star Jordan Peele launched their own wildly successful sketch comedy show Key & Peele. Known for creating memorable characters and sketches, and for his physical comedy, Key has taken on more serious roles, too. He was in the first season of Fargo, had a recurring role on Parks and Recreation, and most recently starred in the Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon! He’ll be reprising the voice of Toad for the upcoming The Super Mario World Movie.
Dianne Wiest (Mrs. Coluca)
Lester often spoke of his wife through the first four seasons of the series, but she had never been seen. Now, Mrs. Coluca appears in the flesh at her husband’s funeral, where she’s clearly distraught about the loss of her long-time love.
She’s played by Dianne Wiest, a veteran actor who has been in the business since the ‘80s and earned two Academy Awards. Her notable roles include Hannah and Her Sisters, Bullets Over Broadway, In Treatment, and Parenthood.
Jermaine Fowler (Randall)
The new doorman of the Arconia is clearly out of his element. He was promoted long before he was ready to take over, but was thrust into the position due to unfortunate circumstances. He is trying to do his best, getting help from Lester’s old ledger that Mrs. Coluca gifted to him, insisting her husband would want him to have it. In the ledger is tons of useful information about each resident.
Comedian, actor, producer, and writer Jermaine Fowler rose to fame playing King Akeem Joffer, the long-lost son of Prince Lavelle Junson, in the 2021 movie Coming 2 America, sequel to the Eddie Murphy classic Coming to America. He also starred in the sitcom Superior Donuts.
Tony Plana (George)
In a surprise cameo that wasn’t confirmed prior to the first episode, Tony Plana plays George, the doorman who worked at the Arconia before Lester. He’s seen in flashbacks with a young Lester, showing him the ropes and giving him all the tips and tricks he needs to do the job well. But this mentor also introduces Lester to the big secret that keeps him tied to the building in a way he never expected to be.
Tony Plana became a recognizable face after playing Betty’s father in the ABC sitcom Ugly Betty. A stage actor as well as a director, he also appeared in Bakersfield, P.D., 24, Desperate Housewives, and Mayans M.C.
Beanie Feldstein (Althea)
Althea is first seen in a brief flashback as Mabel’s friend, and later in Episode 3 as a newly minted pop star who arrives at the Arconia to move into the penthouse. Mabel is clearly jealous of her old friend with whom she presumably had a falling out at some point. Althea now goes by the name Thé, a switch she largely attributes to her success in becoming the number one searched music artist on Wondify.
Beanie Feldstein is best known for her roles in Booksmart, American Crime Story, and Lady Bird. She has also appeared on Broadway.
Only Murders in the Building returns for its fifth season on September 9, 2025, debuting with the first three episodes. This will be followed by an episode per week through October 28 for a total of 10 episodes in the season.
Only Murders in the Building
4
/5
- Release Date
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August 31, 2021
- Network
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Hulu
- Showrunner
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John Hoffman
- Directors
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Jamie Babbit, John Hoffman, Cherien Dabis, Chris Koch, Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman, Adam Shankman, Don Scardino, Jesse Peretz, Jessica Yu, Jude Weng, Chris Teague
- Writers
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Ben Smith, Matteo Borghese, Rob Turbovsky, Kristin Newman, Madeleine George, J. J. Philbin, Ben Philippe, Kirker Butler, Jake Schnesel, Peter Swanson, Stephen Markley, Rachel Burger, Kenny Schwartz, Rick Wiener, Valentina Garza, Elaine Ko, Tess Morris, Kim Rosenstock, Sas Goldberg, Thembi Banks
