Summary
Only Murders in the Buildingseason 4 continues from its predecessors by sporting a sprawling cast of characters revolving around a murderous mystery. In light of season 4’s more personal story,recapping the story details ofOnly Murders in the Building’s prior installments is not only beneficial for uncovering the central mystery this time around but also refamiliarizing audiences with the show’s many cast members. Since season 1, the Hulu comedy series has contained huge guest stars, main actors, and cameo roles, withOnly Murders in the Building’s season 4 episodesproving no different.
Aside from its new faces, another big difference finds its way into the show for Charles, Mabel, and Oliver to reckon with. This comes in the form ofOnly Murders in the Building’s setting change, taking the trio between New York and California as a big LA producer wishes to turn their titular podcast into a movie. Naturally, this location change has not seemed to impactOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 4’s review scores, despite offering a shift in the status quo for audiences, the crime-hunting trio, and the cast of characters surrounding them.
Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage
Date of Birth: August 04, 2025
Actor:Steve Martin is an American actor born in Waco, Texas. Early in his career, Martin was primarily known for his writing and presenting efforts.Martin first came into the public eye for writingThe Smother Brothers Comedy Hour, before going on to frequently hostSaturday Night Live.After this, Martin became renowned as a stand-up comedian, before starring in several films in the 1970s and 80s, includingThe Jerk, ¡Three Amigos!, Planes, Trains and Automobiles,andDirty Rotten Scoundrels.In the 2000s, Martin starred in family films likeLooney Tunes: Back in Actionand theCheaper by the Dozenfilm series.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Cheaper by the Dozen
Only Murders in the Building
Charles-Haden Savage
Character:Steve Martin plays Charles-Haden Savage inOnly Murders in the Building, one of the three main characters. Charles lives in the Arconia, an old New York building, after having a somewhat successful acting career early in his life. After discovering a shared love of true-crime podcasts with two other residents, Charles and his friends discover several murders within their New York abode, leading them down a hilarious, often dark path of deceit and death. InOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 4’s story, Charles' close friend Sazz is the murder victim, yet he may have been the target.
Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora
Date of Birth: August 20, 2025
Actor:Selena Gomez is an American actor born in Grand Prairie, Texas. Gomez’s career began as a child actor on the TV showBarney & Friendsbefore she gained more recognition in the late 2000s.Gomez’s breakout role came as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel showThe Wizards of Waverly Place, a role she will reprise in theupcomingWizards Beyond Waverly Placesequel. Gomez’s popularity led to her launching a successful singing career alongside her acting, the latter leading to roles in movies likeAnother Cinderella Story, Spring Breakers,Hotel Transylvania,and, of course,Only Murders in the Building.
Mabel Mora
Character:Gomez plays Mabel Mora inOnly Murders in the Building, another of the show’s three main characters. Mabel lives in the Arconia and begins the titular true-crime podcast alongside Charles and another resident, investigating several murders. Mabel is a much more unsure character, given that she often feels she does not know what her purpose is. This extends to her lack of a home, her troubled family life, and her regular self-doubt. Hopefully,Only Murders in the Buildingseason 4 will give Mabel more agency going forward.
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Martin Short as Oliver Putnam
Date of Birth: July 28, 2025
Actor:Martin Short is a Canadian actor born in Hamilton, Ontario. Short is a longtime friend and collaborator with Steve Martin, and earned his recognition in a similar way by doing comedic work early in his career. Aside from early sketch work and presenting onSaturday Night Live,Martin is known for his breakout movie roles in¡Three Amigos!,Three Fugitives, Mars Attacks!, Jungle 2 Jungle,andThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.Regarding TV work, Short is best known forThe Martin Short Show, Mulaney,andOnly Murders in the Building.
Oliver Putnam
Character:The third and final main character inOnly Murders in the Buildingis Oliver Putnam. Oliver is a showbiz legend who has worked on Broadway and within the film industry before retiring to the Arconia. Oliver shares his love of true-crime podcasts with Mabel and Charles, completing the trio who investigate several murders within their building. Oliver is the eccentric, exaggerated, often outwardly hilarious character of the trio. However, his energetic self took a hit in season 3 when he suffered from heart attacks, likely meaning big things for the potentialfinal season ofOnly Murders in the Building.
Michael Cyril Creighton as Howard Morris
Date of Birth: July 28, 2025
Actor:Michael Cyril Creighton is an American actor born in Long Island, New York. Creighton’s earlier work included guest appearances in TV shows like30 Rock, Orange is the New Black,andPerson of Interest.Creighton’s breakout role was arguably as a recurring role and writer forHigh Maintenance, leading to other recurring roles in big shows likeGraves, Dash & Lily,Dexter: New Blood,andThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.Some of Creighton’s movie roles includeSleeping with Other People, Spotlight, The Post, andGame Night.
Game Night
Bill
Character:Michael Cyril Creighton portrays Howard Morris inOnly Murders in the Building. Howard served in a recurring role in the first two seasons of the show before switching to a main role for seasons 3 and 4. Howard is another resident of the Arconia who was a suspect in the murder of Tim Kono in season 1. In season 2, Howard aided Mabel with some internal investigation elements, before becoming Oliver’s assistant duringOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 3’s Broadway excursion. In season 4, Howard’s new dog, Gravey, proves important to figuring out early details of Sazz’s murder.
Jane Lynch as Sazz Pataki
Date of Birth: June 05, 2025
Actor:Jane Lynch is an American actor born in Evergreen Park, Illinois.Lynch is best known for her role inGleewhich she held between 2009 and 2015, despite appearing in the public eye before this point. Lynch’s notable work in the 2000s saw her collaborate with Christopher Guest in several mockumentary films,Best in Show, A Mighty Wind,andFor Your Consideration.Other recurring TV roles includeTwo and a Half Men, Criminal Minds, The Good Fight,andThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.Other film appearances includeThe 40-Year-Old Virgin, Role Models, Paul,andThe Three Stooges.
Two and a Half Men
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Sophie Lennon
Character:InOnly Murders in the Building, Lynch plays Sazz Pataki, a close friend of Charles. Sazz worked as Charles' stunt double during his Hollywood days, meaning the two have a unique quirk of often wearing the same clothes forged by their close bond. Sazz served as a minor recurring role in the show before becoming the murder victim of season 4, shown inOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 3’s ending. Sazz reappeared telling Charles that she had something sensitive to talk about before being shot in his apartment wearing similar clothes to him, hinting Charles was the intended target.
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Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin
Date of Birth: August 09, 2025
Actor:Meryl Streep is an American actor born in Summit, New Jersey. Streep is one of the most famous actors of her generation, having received critical acclaim since her breakout roles in the 1970s. Streep’s career began on stage before her film debut inJulia.Streep’s breakout role then came in 1978’sThe Deer Hunter, for which she received an Academy Award nomination. Streep then won two Academy Awards, for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress respectively, inKramer vs. KramerandSophie’s Choice.More recent roles includeThe Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!, The Iron Lady,andThe Post.
Into the Woods
The Witch
Character:Meryl Streep plays Loretta Durkin inOnly Murders in the Building. Loretta was introduced in season 3 of the show as the lead actor hired for Oliver’s Broadway play,Death Rattle Dazzle. Loretta was initially a suspect in the murder of Ben Glenroy before being revealed as the mother of the latter’s assistant, Dickie. Loretta struck up a romantic relationship with Oliver in the show before moving to LA for her career, meaning she reunites with the trio when they travel to the West Coast inOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 4.
Zach Galifianakis as Himself
Date of Birth: August 01, 2025
Actor:Zach Galifianakis is an American actor born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Galifianakis' early career centered around comedy shows, both stand-up and on TV, with the latter includingLate World with Zach. Some other TV appearances early in the actor’s career includedTrue Calling, before the more mainstream comedy showBetween Two Ferns with Zack Galifianakis.Galifianakis' breakout role came in 2009’sThe Hangoverwhich led to two sequels and appearances in movies likeBirdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Keeping Up with the Joneses,andA Wrinkle in Time.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Himself
Character:InOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 4, Galifianakis plays a fictionalized version of himself. The premise of the new season sees a Hollywood studio offer to adapt the titular podcast into a movie, leading three actors to be cast as Mabel, Charles, and Oliver. Zach Galifianakis is chosen as the actor to portray Oscar, drawing humor from the age gap between the two and the more eccentric, over-the-top personality of Oscar in comparison to Galifianakis' trademark deadpan humor.
Eugene Levy as Himself
Date of Birth: July 18, 2025
Actor:Eugene Levy is a Canadian actor born in Hamilton, Ontario. The actor’s early work involved work on sketch shows and other comedic-based projects beforeLevy’s breakout roles came in movies likeNation Lampoon’s Vacation, Splash,andMultiplicity.Levy also gained recognition for his role inAmerican Piebefore he appeared alongside Lynch in Christopher Guest’s aforementioned movies,Best in Show, A Mighty Wind,andFor Your Consideration,all of which Levy co-wrote. Levy’s most recognizable TV role of late came inSchitt’s Creekwhich he co-created alongside his son, Dan Levy.
Levy also co-starred alongside Steve Martin inCheaper by the Dozen 2as Jimmy Murtaugh.
Schitt’s Creek
Johnny Rose
Character:Like Galifianakis, Levy plays a fictionalized version of himself inOnly Murders in the Building. Where Galifianakis was chosen to portray Oliver in the movie adaptation of the central trio’s podcast, Levy was chosen to portray Charles. This casting will play off the long-time collaborative history between Levy and Martin - alongside Short - such as onSaturday Night Liveand movies likeBringing Down the HouseandCheaper by the Dozen 2.
Eva Longoria as Herself
Date of Birth: July 07, 2025
Actor:Eva Longoria is an American actress born in Corpus Christi, Texas. After lesser-known TV roles, Longoria received recognition for her role as Isabella Braña inThe Young and the Restless.Longoria’s breakout role then came inDesperate Housewivesas Gabrielle Solis, a role she played between 2004 and 2012. These roles led to several film appearances, including credits inThe Sentinel, Over Her Dead Body, For Greater Glory,andOverboard.
The Young and the Restless
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Herself
Character:Alongside Levy and Galifianakis, Longoria is the third of the actors playing fictionalized versions of themselves inOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 4. Longoria is tasked with playing the last of the trio, Mabel, in the film adaptation of the podcast. This dynamic plays on the humor of Longoria being older than Mabel, with the former often making jokes about how she is only a few years older, as opposed to the real almost 20-year age gap.
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Molly Shannon as Bev Melon
Date of Birth: July 07, 2025
Actor:Molly Shannon is an American actor born in Cleveland, Ohio.Shannon is primarily known for her comedic work as a cast member ofSaturday Night Live, a role she held for six years. Shannon’s work onSaturday Night Liveled her to be cast in myriad films, includingHappiness, A Night at the Roxbury, How the Grinch Stole Christmas,andWet Hot American Summer. Her well-known TV roles includeKath & Kim, Divorce, The Other Two,andI Love That for You.
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl
Bev Melon
Character:InOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 4, Shannon plays Bev Melon. Bev is the character who serves as the catalyst for the show’s location change, given that she is the producer from Hollywood who wants to turn the titular podcast into a movie. Bev naturally will spend a lot of time among Charles, Mabel, and Oliver inOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 4, potentially even tying to the dark, central mystery at hand and leading to other major cast members being introduced, from intriguing guest stars to hilarious cameos.
Cast
Only Murders in the Building is a mystery-comedy series following three strangers, portrayed by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who bond over their shared obsession with true crime. Set in a Manhattan apartment building, the trio becomes embroiled in a real murder mystery within their residence.
