Dennis Quaid and Annaleigh Ashford star in the Paramount+ true-crime series “Happy Face,” about the real-life Happy Face killer Keith Jesperson, which premieres with two episodes this week.
Some of the names and details have been changed from the actual people — his daughter, Melissa Moore, who is an executive producer on the show is now Melissa Reed — but the story is essentially the same.
Here is who plays who in the cast and where you might have seen them before.
Annaleigh Ashford as Melissa Reed
The actress, who is known for “Masters of Sex” and “American Crime Story,” plays the lead character, Melissa Reed, a makeup artist who decides to come forward as the daughter of the Happy Face killer to save a man who is on death row for one of the crimes her father actually committed.
Dennis Quaid as Keith Hunter Jesperson
The actor, last seen playing the 40th president in “Reagan” and Harvey in the Oscar-nominated film “The Substance,” takes on the role of Keith Hunter Jesperson, a serial killer who takes pride in his body count and enjoys manipulating people from his jail cell.
David Harewood as Dr. Greg
The British actor, whose previous work includes “Blood Diamond,” “Supergirl” and “The Night Manager,” plays the fictitious Dr. Greg, an amalgam of real-life figures like Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz. He eagerly embraces the ratings boost when Melissa decides to go public with her family history on his show.
Tamera Tomakili as Ivy Campbell
Ivy is a producer for Dr. Greg who is initially wary of Melissa joining her in the field as they try to establish whether Keith’s claim about a ninth victim is true. Tomakili previously starred opposite Michael B. Jordan in “Fruitvale Station,” and played Cookie Keely, the wife of former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson in “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”
James Wolk as Ben Reed
The actor, who played Bob “Not great, Bob” Benson on “Mad Men,” costars as Melissa’s husband Ben. He’s one of the few people who knows the truth about her father and tries to talk her out of going public about Keith.
Khiyla Aynne as Hazel Reed
The 16-year-old actress, who is known for the Netflix movie “Nightbooks” and the “Ponysitters Club” series, stars as Melissa’s daughter, who becomes obsessed with true crime when she learns who her grandfather is.
Benjamin Mackey from “The Morning Show” costars as Hazel’s younger brother, Max.
Damon Gupton as Elijah
Gupton played SSA Stephen Walker on “Criminal Minds” and Coydog in “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.” In “Happy Face,” he plays Elijah, a Texas death row inmate who was convicted of killing a woman that may have actually been one of Keith’s victims.
Philip Ettinger as Shane
Ettinger has appeared in the films “First Reformed” and “Compliance” as well as the TV series “A Friend of the Family” and “Bupkis.” He costars as Melissa’s older brother Shane, a firefighter whom she has not seen in a few years.
Kate Maree as Young Melissa
Maree plays teenage Melissa in flashbacks. She previously appeared on the Brat TV series “Mani” and “Bizaardvark” on the Disney Channel.
The first two episodes of “Happy Face” are now streaming on Paramount+. New episodes premiere on Thursdays.
