The first plot and characters of Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story: Hotel” was revealed by the creator and his cast Friday at the Television Critics’ Association’s summer press tour Friday.
Pop star Lady Gaga, will play Elizabeth, the wealthy socialite owner of the hotel, which is located in downtown Los Angeles, Murphy revealed.
The rest of the cast, most of whom were present on stage, also revealed who they would play.
Finn Wittrock will play Tristan Duffy. The actor describes his character as a male model, always looking for the next high. “He finds his biggest high in Lady Gaga,” he said. “We have lot to do together. She’s all of me.”
Cheyenne Jackson takes on the role of “fashion icon Will Drake. He needs to creatively reestablish himself, moves from New York to Los Angeles. He’s also a father and the actor described him as ” little desperate.”
Dennis O’Hare shaved his head to play a character named Liz Taylor, who is obviously inspired by “the awesomeness of things like Cleopatra, that eye makeup.” The actor shaved his head for the part. This Elizabeth Taylor works in the hotel with Kathy Bates’ character.
Wes Bentley and Chloe Sevigny play married couple John and Alex Lowe. Alex is a mother and doctor, while John is a police detective investigating some grisly murders. They’re both dealing with a great loss in the family.
Matt Bomer plays Donovan, a denizen of the hotel quartet. The actor described the character as closely associated with the characters played by Gaga, Bates and Wittrock.
Angela Bassett takes on Ramona Rowell, who she said has a very strong, real, lasting relationship with Gaga’s character. Ramona is also a “fabulous actress,” who doesn’t live at the hotel, but frequently visits.
Kathy Bates plays Iris, who runs the hotel and gets entangled in relationships with Bomer and Bentley and has a contentious relationship with Sarah Paulson.
Paulson, for her part, plays Sally, a dark, sexy drug addict who lives at the hotel.
Murphy also revealed the storyline for “Hotel” was inspired, in 2013, by a hotel surveillance video from the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, featuring tourist Elise Lam acting strangely, before her body was discovered in the hotel’s water tank.
“American Horror Story: Hotel” will premiere on Oct 17 on FX.