Night Sky: Cast & Character Guide

Night Sky is Prime Video’s science fiction drama with a character-driven focus. Here’s a guide to the Night Sky cast and where you’ve seen the actors.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Night Sky season 1.

The Prime Video series Night Sky has a relatively small cast of characters, but that plays to the character-focused science fiction drama’s strengths. While the idea at the core of Night Sky season 1 is distinctly science-fiction based, the story primarily focuses on the journey of well-drawn characters and the stellar actors behind the roles. Rather than allowing a science fiction setting to define the story, the narrative is much more about loss, grief, and trauma than it ever really is about the ability to teleport.

In Night Sky, Irene and Franklin York found a strange metal construction buried in their yard twenty years ago, shortly after their son took his own life. As the couple struggle to find meaning and larger answers, they find themselves using the contraption to teleport to another planet that they keep secret for many years. But when they discover Jude on the planet, covered in blood, their understanding of the contraption and its meaning begins to change.

For such a character-driven narrative as Night Sky, the acting is crucial and there’s little chance to lean on special effects. Fortunately, the Night Sky cast pulls this off with great performances from seasoned, award-winning actors and relatively new faces alike. Here’s a guide to all of Night Sky’s main and recurring characters, and the actors that play them in season 1.

Sissy Spacek as Irene York

Irene York is played by Sissy Spacek in Night Sky. After the death of their son, Michael, Irene became particularly obsessed with their pathway to the stars. A fall that took place sometime before the events of Night Sky season 1 has left Irene in a wheelchair and she has struggled to find the motivation to make the health changes necessary to recover. However, the intrigue of Jude’s arrival gives Irene a new lease on life. Sissy Spacek has been a household name since her eponymous appearance in the 1976 Stephen King adaptation Carrie. Among many other roles, Spacek has played Mae Tuck in Tuck Everlasting and Missus Walters in The Help.

J.K. Simmons as Franklin York

In Night Sky, Franklin York is played by J.K. Simmons. Franklin, Irene’s wife, has moved on more from their son’s death than Irene and is prepared to leave the stars behind and move away. While he is cantankerous and resistant to aiding Jude when he arrives, he ultimately wants to make Irene happy. Like Spacek, Simmons has an extensive acting history and the two make a perfect pairing. J.K. Simmons most famous roles include Fletcher in Whiplash, the voice of Nolan Grayson in Invincible, and of course as J. Jonah Jameson in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films and more recently in the MCU.

Chai Hansen as Jude

Night Sky’s Jude is played by Chai Hansen. While the ability to teleport to the stars is normal for the Yorks by the time of the TV series, and even has become boring for Franklin, Jude’s appearance on the planet changes that. The mystery of who Jude is permeates Night Sky season 1 as he removes a tracker from his leg and has strange fantastical possessions. Chai Hansen is known for his roles as Ilian in The 100, Zac Blakely in Mako Mermaids, and Monkey in The New Legends of Monkey.

Adam Bartley as Byron Albemarle

Byron, the York’s nosey neighbor in Night Sky, is played by Adam Bartley. Intent on proving that he is special, Byron is keen to come up with new schemes. After one is stymied he turns his attention on the mysterious Yorks as he seeks to befriend Franklin and uncover their secret. Adam Bartley is known for his role as The Ferg in Longmire and was recently cast as Richard in Candy.

Julieta Zylberberg as Stella

Night Sky’s Stella is played by Julieta Zylberberg. A Guardian, Stella protects one of the network of teleporters that is located in Argentina. Stella is sent on a mission by Cornelius to track down and eliminate Jude for having deserted the cult of Caerul. Julieta Zylberberg has extensive acting credits in primarily Spanish-language productions, such as her recurring role as Pilar in Impuros and as Detective Blanco in The Bronze Garden.

Rocío Hernández as Toni

Toni is played by Rocío Hernández in Prime Video’s Night Sky. First seen alongside her mother, Stella, in Night Sky episode 2, Toni originally knows nothing about the cult of Caerul or her mother’s colorful past. Having been kept away from the world, she still has a lot to learn. Rocío Hernández has previously appeared as Poli in Las Estrellas and as Young Renata in Separadas.

Kiah McKirnan as Denise

In Night Sky, Denise is played by Kia McKirnan. Denise is Franklin and Irene York’s granddaughter, the daughter of their son, Michael. She has a career and education taking place in the city but comes out to check on her grandparents. Concerned to find Jude as their new caretaker, she hangs around to keep an eye on things while she struggles with her own depression and fears. Kiah McKirnan is known for her role as Anne Harris in 2021’s The Mare of Easttown.

Night Sky’s Support Cast & Characters

Angus O’Brien as Michael: Michael York only appears in flashbacks, both as a baby and a young child, but also as an adult played by Angus O’Brien as he becomes a part of his own family and struggles with depression. Angus O’Brien previously appeared as Mark Williams in The Kitchen.

Beth Lacke as Chandre: Chandre is a care worker and a former student of Irene York, but she has a penchant for stealing things throughout Night Sky. Chandre is played by Beth Lacke who is known for playing Lynne in High School Musical: The Musical – The Series.

Stephen Louis Grush as Nick: Stephen Louis Grush plays Nick, a Guardian, like Stella, for the cult of Caerul. Stephen Louis Grush is known for his role as Jesse Pomeroy in The Alienist and as Daryl in Palmer.

Piotr Adamczyk as Cornelius: In charge of sending Stella and Nick on missions in Night Sky, the mysterious Cornelius is played by Piotr Adamczyk who played Tomas in Hawkeye and Sergei Orestovich Nikulov in For All Mankind

Sonya Walger as Hannah: Hannah runs a bed and breakfast that Jude’s father, Gabe, stayed at, but also hides a connection to the Falle World. Hannah is played by Sonya Walger who is known for her roles as Kristen in Anon and Penelope “Penny” Hume in Lost.

Cass Buggé as Jeanine Albemarle: Cass Buggé plays Jeanine Albermarle, the frustrated wife of Byron. Cass Buggé played Sabine in Disjointed and Patty Doyle in For All Mankind.

Lily Cardone as Young Irene: In flashbacks to their youth, including her first appearance, Irene is played by Lily Cardone who played Sidney Simms in the Bernie The Dolphin movies.

Lowrey Brown as Young Franklin: In Night Sky, the young Franklin York is played by Lowrey Brown who has appeared as a counselor in Dopesick and as Louis Zablocki in Hillbilly Elegy.