See how the ‘True Blood’ cast has changed since Bon Temps

Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse)

As the telepathic waitress Sookie, Anna Paquin was at the center of True Blood‘s supernatural storylines. Her perky protagonist notably navigated a romantic relationship with vampire Bill Compton and explored the roots of her own fairy ancestry. 

But while the New Zealander won a Golden Globe for her portrayal in 2009, Paquin broke out long before Sookie was slinging drinks and slaying bloodsuckers. She made her debut in Jane Campion’s The Piano (1993), and promptly took home an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at only 11 years old.

Suddenly in high demand, she went on to play the young version of the title character in Jane Eyre (1996), the Queen of Spain in Amistad (1997), and one of the groupies — or, rather, “Band-Aids” — in Almost Famous (2000). Younger audiences, however, may not have discovered her until she donned the superhero spandex as Rogue in X-Men (2000).

In addition to the X-sequels, the young star delivered standout supporting performances in Spike Lee’s 25th Hour (2002) and Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale (2005). She sank her teeth into horror with the seasonal cult classic Trick ‘r Treat (2007) and Scream 4 (2011) and took the lead in Kenneth Lonergan’s tragic Margaret (2011).

When not cranking out films, she helped forge peace between True Blood‘s humans and vamps for all seven seasons of the Southern Goth hit. Since the show’s finale in 2014, the veteran actress has appeared in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman (2019) and a string of TV roles, including Alias Grace (2017) and A Friend of the Family (2022).

Paquin has been married to her True Blood costar Stephen Moyer since 2010. The couple has twins, Charlie and Poppy, born in 2012.

Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton)

As the smoldering former Civil War soldier who steals Sookie’s heart, Stephen Moyer’s 174-year-old Bill was True Blood‘s „good guy“ vampire. The series helped fuel the sexy, romantic bloodsucker trend, making Moyer a heartthrob.

It was the British actor’s breakout role. But long before baring his fangs on HBO, he was a small-screen vet with more than a decade as a regular presence on British TV — not to mention bit parts in Hollywood productions like Quills (2000) and 88 Minutes (2007).

Once True Blood raised his profile, Moyer appeared on the big screen in the West Memphis Three-based Devil’s Knot (2013) and the Will Smith drama Concussion (2015). More recurring and starring TV roles followed, including on The Bastard Executioner (2015), Safe House (2017), and The Gifted (2017–2019).

The actor recently starred in the prequel series Sexy Beast (2024) as a younger version of the character portrayed by Ian McShane in the film. He is currently the lead in Acorn TV’s crime drama Art Detectives (2025–present).

Moyer married Paquin in 2010, and they share twins. He also has a son and a daughter from a previous marriage.

Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman)

True Blood‘s biggest breakout star, Alexander Skarsgård played baddie Eric, a 1000-year-old Viking/vampire sheriff, and the owner of erotic bloodsucker bar Fangtasia. 

The eldest of Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård’s eight children, Alexander was paying his dues in his native country until HBO came calling. He soon had back-to-back success with True Blood and David Simon’s acclaimed miniseries Generation Kill (2008).

Those hits paved the way for his ascension to action star, namely on Battleship (2012), The Legend of Tarzan (2016), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), and Robert Eggers’ Viking epic The Northman (2022). The actor also became a regular presence in indie, arthouse, and prestige fare. He appeared in acclaimed films like The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015), Hold the Dark (2018), Passing (2021), Infinity Pool (2023), and starred alongside his father in Lars von Trier’s Melancholia (2011).

Back on the small screen, Skarsgård seduced a militant Florence Pugh in Park Chan-wook’s The Little Drummer Girl (2018), played supernatural baddie Randall Flagg in The Stand (2020–2021), and gave the Roy dynasty a worthy foe on Succession (2021–2023). And that’s to say nothing of his Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning performance on Big Little Lies (2017–2019).

He currently stars as the titular, troublemaking cyborg in Murderbot (2025–present).

Skarsgård shares a child with Swedish actress Tuva Novotny, with whom he’s been in a relationship since 2022.

Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte)

More than a hunky bar owner with a heart of gold, Sam Merlotte held a shapeshifting secret that often put him in the thick of True Blood‘s supernatural shenanigans.

Two years before topping off patrons’ pints on True Blood, Sam Trammell played one of Dexter Morgan’s victims, a drunk driver who almost got away with murder. His single-episode stint on Dexter (2006) was par for the course for the busy actor.

Outside of his lead role on Showtime’s Going to California (2001–2002), the New Orleans native popped up on everything from House (2004) and Judging Amy (2005) to Bones (2005) and Numb3rs (2006). He followed a similar path on the big screen, scoring small parts in Autumn in New York (2000) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).

Following his seven-season run as Sam, the actor landed roles in movies, like The Fault in Our Stars (2014), and remained a small-screen staple. Trammell soon occupied the White House on Homeland (2020), played sleazy blues bandleader Ben on This Is Us (2016–2017), and took the lead on Reckoning (2019–2020).

The actor has twin sons with his ex-girlfriend, actress Missy Yager, and is currently in a relationship with actress Emmanuelle Chriqui.

Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton)

Rutina Wesley’s Tara was introduced as Sookie’s loyal, fiery best friend with some serious family problems. As the series progressed, however, the Merlotte’s waitress-with-a-troubled past became embroiled in some supernatural shenanigans of her own, eventually becoming a bloodsucker.

Since checking out of Bon Temps, the actress has continued to appear in pulpy genre work, including season 3 of Hannibal (2015). Her other credits include episodes of Arrow (2015–2017) and The Walking Dead (2019).

One of her biggest roles in recent years was as Nova Bordelon, the protagonist of Ava DuVernay’s small-screen drama Queen Sugar (2016–2022). The Las Vegas native has since returned to scarier fare, playing Maria Miller, Joel’s sister-in-law on The Last of Us (2023–present). 

Wesley wed her Juilliard classmate Jacob Fishel in 2005. The couple later divorced, and she began a relationship with New Orleans chef Shonda. The pair parted ways in 2019.

Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse)

Sporting ripped abs and a simple mind, Jason was Sookie’s sexually adventurous older brother. 

But long before his Louisiana lotharia was bedding — or „fangbanging“ — Bon Temps’ females, Ryan Kwanten was playing a similar bro-dude on the soap opera Home and Away in Australia. His stateside breakthrough soon came with Summerland (2004–2005).

From Flicka (2006) and Dead Silence (2007) through his True Blood run and beyond, Kwanten appeared in dozens of movies, including Red Hill (2010) and Flight 7500 (2014). While his work in lower-profile films didn’t generate much buzz, the busy actor has seen more success on the small screen.

In addition to guest spots on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2008), New Girl (2012), and Creepshow (2021), he starred in and produced crime drama The Oath (2018–2019), and was a lead in the sci-fi series Kindred (2022). 

The Aussie actor has been married to Ashley Sisino since 2022. The couple recently welcomed their first child.

Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette Reynolds)

Nelsan Ellis played Tara’s cousin Lafayette, the short-order cook who also moonlighted as a medium. 

It was the Juilliard graduate’s most notable role, but Ellis also secured small parts in a handful of high-profile films — namely The Soloist (2009), The Help (2011), Get On Up (2014), and The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015). He portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in The Butler (2013) and later booked a recurring role on Elementary (2016–2017).

Ellis died at age 39 from heart failure due to alcohol withdrawal syndrome following an ongoing struggle with substance abuse.

Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby)

Forced to become a bloodsucker as part of Bill’s punishment for vanquishing another, Deborah Ann Woll’s Jessica struggles with her new, flesh-craving lifestyle.

The Brooklyn native’s performance led to appearances in the Bruce Willis actioner Catch .44 (2011) and the acclaimed meta rom-com Ruby Sparks (2012).

Once Woll’s bratty vamp was through draining jugulars, the actress found a second signature role as Karen Page on Marvel’s Daredevil (2015–2018). She appeared in a handful of connected series and later returned for Disney’s revival, Daredevil: Born Again (2025–present).

Her film credits include Escape Room (2019) and its 2021 sequel, as well as an appearance as real-life wrestler Gladys Gillem in the drama Queen of the Ring (2024).

In 2018, Woll married E.J. Scott, whom she began dating in 2007.

Joe Manganiello (Alcide Herveaux)

Joining the series in its third season, Joe Manganiello played hunky, kind-hearted werewolf Alcide.

Before baring his claws in Bon Temps, the actor was Peter Parker’s bully, football star Flash Thompson, in Spider-Man (2002). He also had recurring roles on One Tree Hill (2008–2010) and How I Met Your Mother (2006–2012). More substantial gigs followed, most famously Big Dick Richie in Magic Mike (2012) and Magic Mike XXL (2015). He had a brief cameo in the third installment.

After True Blood ended, the Pittsburgh native teamed up with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the cop thriller Sabotage (2014) and Dwayne Johnson in the video game adaptation Rampage (2018). He notably had a short-lived DCEU role as Deathstroke.

Most recently, he appeared in Netflix’s comedy Nonnas (2025) alongside Vince Vaughn and hosted the game show Deal or No Deal Island.

Manganiello was married to Sofia Vergara from 2015 to 2024.