The Gilded Age is an American historical drama television series created and written by Julian Fellowes for HBO that is set in the United States during the Gilded Age, the boom years of the 1880s, in New York City. Originally announced in 2018 for NBC, it was later announced in May 2019 that the show had been moved to HBO. The first season premiered on January 24, 2022. In July 2025, the series was renewed for a fourth season, which was announced to premiere on November 1st, 2026.'The Gilded Age' Season 4 starts Nov. 1. Here's a sneak peek. In Yahoo.com https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/gilded-age-season-4-starts-160432435.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMiF7YgSVLMYHseyjG5O4_jAscsfthyWDacTmcpDdQC_6CAlSoP0cvhBnnp8S2aupOGg3OlsMpFfXL2QwEZ0lyKl3uUDzpSwXxoqKxEOSpNmH-avRAn3mnZP9qqGcqWcx-fh_hrk7OuNgQCqDFxL8-bEtijYE_xWDlcspE6u0hIz The series has received positive reviews, with particular praise for the costumes and performances of lead actors Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon, and Christine Baranski. At the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, the second season received six nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nods for Coon and Baranski.
Synopsis Set in the 1880s, The Gilded Age is a period drama that depicts the cultural and technological changes that took place in the late-19th century United States. The show "highlights the tension between New York City's old and new monied elite," with the van Rhijn family representing the former and the Russell family representing the latter. The Gilded Age focuses on the efforts made by the character Bertha Russell (the wife of robber baron George Russell) to ascend to the top of Manhattan's social ladder. Brian Phillips of The Ringer describes the show this way: "The new-money Russells, fresh from robber-baroning their way to untold piles of lucre, move in across the street from the old-money Mrs. van Rhijn. Mrs. Russell, played by the brilliant Carrie Coon, is determined to gate-crash the opera boxes of the elite; Mrs. van Rhijn, played by the brilliant Christine Baranski, is determined to look down her nose at anyone whose family fortune is younger than the Declaration of Independence".
Cast and characters Main Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell, the matriarch of the Russell family. Morgan Spector as George Russell, Bertha's husband, and a classic robber baron. Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook, the orphaned niece of Agnes van Rhijn and Ada (Brook) Forte, who comes to live with her estranged aunts at East 61st Street following the death of her father. Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Vere, Duchess of Buckingham (née Russell), the younger child and only daughter of the Russell family. Harry Richardson as Larry Russell, son of Bertha and George Russell. Thomas Cocquerel as Tom Raikes (season 1), a young attorney. Jack Gilpin as Mr. Church, the Russell family's butler. Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn (née Brook), is the widowed matriarch of the van Rhijn Family. Cynthia Nixon as Ada Forte (née Brook), the younger sister of Agnes van Rhijn. Blake Ritson as Oscar van Rhijn, son of Agnes van Rhijn. Denée Benton as Peggy Scott, an African American woman who works as Agnes van Rhijn's secretary. Simon Jones as Mr. Alfred Bannister, the van Rhijns' English butler. Ben Ahlers as John "Jack" Trotter (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), a footman and a jack-of-all trades in the van Rhijn household. Michael Cerveris as Mr. Watson (season 2; recurring: season 1), George Russell's valet. Celia Keenan-Bolger as Mrs. Bruce (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), the Russells' housekeeper. Debra Monk as Mrs. Armstrong (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), Mrs. van Rhijn's lady's maid. Donna Murphy as Caroline Schermerhorn Astor (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), a prominent American socialite. Kristine Nielsen as Mrs. Bauer (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), Agnes van Rhijn's cook. Kelli O'Hara as Aurora Fane (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), Agnes van Rhijn's niece by marriage. Patrick Page as Richard Clay (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), George Russell's secretary. Taylor Richardson as Bridget (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), the van Rhijns' housemaid. Douglas Sills as Monsieur Baudin (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), the French chef to the Russell household. He is later revealed as Josh Borden, an American from Kansas. John Douglas Thompson as Arthur Scott (season 2–present; recurring: season 1), pharmacist and father of Peggy Scott. Erin Wilhelmi as Adelheid Weber (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), Gladys Russell's lady's maid. Kelley Curran as Mrs Enid Winterton (née Turner) (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), Bertha Russell's former lady's maid, who has big plans for herself and society. Sullivan Jones as T. Thomas Fortune (seasons 2–present; recurring: season 1), publisher of the weekly New York Globe. Ben Lamb as Hector Vere, 5th Duke of Buckingham (season 3; recurring: season 2), a member of the British aristocracy. Jordan Donica as Dr. William Kirkland (season 4; recurring: season 3), an African American doctor from the prominent Kirkland family.
Recurring Audra McDonald as Dorothy Scott, Peggy Scott's mother and a skilled pianist. Jeanne Tripplehorn as Sylvia Chamberlain (season 1), a woman with a scandalous past. Ashlie Atkinson as Mamie Fish, American socialite. Claybourne Elder as John Adams (seasons 1–3), a descendant of President John Adams and Oscar van Rhijn's former lover. Katie Finneran as Anne Morris (season 1), a socialite who makes herself an enemy to the Russells. Amy Forsyth as Carrie Astor (seasons 1 and 3; guest: season 2), the fourth daughter of Mrs. Astor, who befriends Gladys. John Sanders as Stanford White (season 1), an architect. Zuzanna Szadkowski as Mabel Ainsley (season 1), George Russell's stenographer. Linda Emond as Clara Barton (season 1), founder of the American Red Cross. Ward Horton as Charles Fane (seasons 1–2; guest: season 3), husband of Aurora Fane and one of the city's aldermen. Rebecca Haden as Flora McNeil (season 1; guest: season 2), a wealthy socialite. Nathan Lane as Ward McAllister. Robert Sean Leonard as Luke Forte (season 2), an unmarried clergyman from Massachusetts. Christopher Denham as Robert McNeil (season 2), a wealthy banker. David Furr as Dashiell Montgomery (season 2), a widowed cousin of the van Rhijns and Aurora Fane. Matilda Lawler as Frances Montgomery (season 2), Dashiell Montgomery's adolescent daughter. Jeremy Shamos as Mr. Gilbert (season 2), a financier working to open the new Metropolitan Opera House. Laura Benanti as Susan Blane (season 2), a widow. Nicole Brydon Bloom as Maud Beaton (season 2; guest: season 3), a young and wealthy socialite. Dakin Matthews as Joshua Winterton (season 2), a wealthy, elderly widower. Rachel Pickup as Miss André (season 3; guest: season 2), Bertha Russell's new lady's maid. Bill Camp as J. P. Morgan (season 3), a businessman. Paul Alexander Nolan as Alfred Merrick (season 3), a wealthy New York businessman. Hannah Shealy as Charlotte Drayton (née Astor) (season 3), the third daughter of Mrs. Astor. Phylicia Rashad as Elizabeth Kirkland (season 3), Dr. Kirkland's mother. Jessica Frances Dukes as Athena Trumbo (season 3), Dorothy Scott's cousin. Brian Stokes Mitchell as Frederick Kirkland (season 3), patriarch of the Kirkland family. Andrea Martin as Madame Dashkova (season 3), a medium. Hattie Morahan as Lady Sarah Vere (season 3), Duke Hector's sister.
Guest Michel Gill as Patrick Morris (season 1), Anne Morris' husband and one of the city's aldermen. Bill Irwin as Cornelius Eckhard (season 1), Ada Forte's childhood acquaintance. Sandra Caldwell as Ellen (seasons 1 and 3), the Scotts’ maid. Tom Blyth as Archie Baldwin (season 1), a young investment banker. Stephen Spinella as Julius Cuyper (season 1), a banker. Jordan Waller as Oscar Wilde (season 2). Michael Braugher as Booker T. Washington (season 2). Amber Gray as Bea Sturt (season 2), a restaurant owner in Alabama. Liz Wisan as Emily Warren Roebling (season 2). Melanie Nicholls-King as Sarah J. Garnet (season 2). Matt Walker as Billy Carlton (seasons 2–3), a young man from a wealthy family. Victoria Clark as Joan Carlton (season 3), Billy's Carlton's mother. Bobby Steggert as John Singer Sargent (season 3). Merritt Wever as Monica O'Brien (season 3), Bertha Russell's estranged sister. Michael Cumpsty as Lord Mildmay (season 3), a British nobleman. LisaGay Hamilton as Frances Watkins Harper (season 3). Peter McRobbie as Risley Sage (season 3). Kate Baldwin as Nancy Adams Bell (season 3), John Adams' sister. Marceline Hugot as Mrs. Foster (season 3), member of the New York Heritage Society. Leslie Uggams as Ernestine Brown (season 3), a friend of Elizabeth Kirkland. Dylan Baker as Dr. Logan (season 3), the Russell family doctor.
Episodes
Season 1 (2022)
Season 2 (2023)
Season 3 (2025)
Production Development In September 2012, The Daily Telegraph reported Julian Fellowes as saying that he was working on a spin-off prequel of Downton Abbey. Initially conceived as a book, it was then planned for pick-up by ITV. At the time, Fellowes planned to focus the show around Lord Grantham and Cora's romance and eventual marriage as the Earl and Countess of Grantham.
Production and writing for The Gilded Age was updated in January 2016. Asked whether he'd written the script yet, Fellowes said, 'No I haven't, no. I'm doing that this year', before adding: 'And then hopefully shooting at the end of the year.'"
On June 4, 2016, Fellowes was asked by the Los Angeles Times, "Where does The Gilded Age stand?" Fellowes replied, "It stands really with me up to my neck in research, and I'm clearing the decks, so that when I start Gilded Age, I'm only doing Gilded Age. These people were extraordinary. You can see why they frightened the old guard, because they saw no boundaries. They wanted to build a palace, they built a palace. They wanted to buy a yacht, they bought a yacht. And the old guard in New York weren't like that at all, and suddenly this whirlwind of couture descended on their heads. They redesigned being rich. They created a rich culture that we still have—people who are rich are rich in a way that was established in America in the 1880s, '90s, 1900s. It was different from Europe. Something like Newport would never have happened in any other country, where you have huge palaces, and then about 20 yards away, another huge palace, and 20 yards beyond that another huge palace. In England right up to the 1930s, when people made good money, they would buy an estate of 5,000 acres and they'd have to look after Nanny. The Americans of the 1880s and '90s didn't want too much of that."
The final confirmation the show would be produced was announced by NBC in January 2018. NBC originally announced that the show would consist of ten episodes and premiere in 2019. About the show, Fellowes stated: "To write The Gilded Age is the fulfillment of a personal dream, I have been fascinated by this period of American history for many years and now NBC has given me the chance to bring it to a modern audience. I could not be more excited and thrilled. The truth is, America is a wonderful country with a rich and varied history, and nothing could give me more pleasure than be the person to bring that compelling history to the screen."
In May 2019, the series moved from NBC to HBO, with a straight to series order. The series premiered on January 24, 2022, and consists of nine episodes.
On February 14, 2022, HBO renewed the series for a second season.
On December 21, 2023, HBO renewed the series for a third season.
On July 28, 2025, HBO renewed the series for a fourth season.
Casting