During its six-year run,Power’s cast delivered captivating, dramatic performances that made the show what it is, and they’ve also lent their talents to a variety of other movies and TV series. The Starz series is produced by Courtney A. Kemp, in collaboration with famous rapper and star ofPower, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Like Jackson, many of the series' stars are best known for their role on the show, though they’ve appeared in other notable projects that are just as entertaining. These movies and TV shows make for a great watch for audiences missing their favoritePoweractors.
The series, which premiered in the summer of 2014, revolves around James St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), nicknamed “Ghost.” Ghost is a drug dealer who wishes to move on from the criminal world and pursue his dreams of owning a nightclub instead. Much of the series sees Ghost balance both worlds while avoiding the law.Powerearned a mostly positive response from critics during its run, with the series' writing, character development, and actors' performances being its greatest triumphs.
Omari Hardwick plays Vanderohe
AsPower’s first protagonist and one of its best, James St. Patrick, also known as Ghost, is incredibly flawed.Yet, Ghost remains an enticing figure throughoutPower’s run as the character cleverly balances his business persona with his ruthless drug-dealing activity. For his performance as Ghost, Omari Hardwick earned a BET Award nomination for Best Actor in 2017. Following his time on the show, Hardwick appeared in the thriller seriesPieces of Herand the abandoned Netflix filmThe Mothership.
Hardwick’s character, Vanderohe, is one of the individuals recruited by Dave Bautista’s Scott Ward for the mission.
Hardwick also starred inZack Snyder’sArmy of the Dead, which follows a group of mercenaries as they enter a quarantined Las Vegas to retrieve money from a casino before the city is destroyed.Hardwick’s character, Vanderohe, is one of the individuals recruited by Dave Bautista’s Scott Ward for the mission. While it could benefit from a shorter runtime,Army of the Deadis still a fun, standard zombie film that makes for an easy and amusing watch.
Altered Carbon (2018-2020)
Lela Loren plays Danica Harlan
Just like otherPowercharacters, Angela Valdes led a complicated life. Portrayed by Lela Loren, Angela is a federal prosecutor determined to catch the mysterious Ghost before discovering he’s the man she’s been in love with for years, James St. Patrick.Angela is put in a difficult situation, and her tendency to make poor choices makes her a character fans either love or hate. Loren has more TV credits to her name than film, including Netflix’sAltered Carbon.
The series is set 360 years in the future, where people’s consciousnesses are uploaded to a disk-like device and can be transferred from one body to another, eliminating the guarantee of death.Loren joined the series in season 2 as Danica Harlan, the governor of Harlan’s World and the daughter of its founder, Konrad.Like Angela, Danica is quite ambitious. To remain on top, Danica is willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means murdering those close to her.
Ozark (2017-2022)
Joseph Sikora plays Frank Cosgrove Jr.
Tommy Egan, played by Joseph Sikora, is one ofthe best characters onPower, and the actor would eventually go on to play a similar character inOzark.The Netflix series follows the Byrde family as they move to the Lake of the Ozarks to grow their money laundering operation.
Sikora has a recurring role beginning in season 3 as Frank Cosgrove Jr., an impulsive heir to the mob who is similar in many ways to Tommy.
Being Ghost’s partner in crime and close friend,Tommy eventually makes a name for himself and becomes a fascinating figure with impulsive instincts and a willingness to kill.Despite his high body count, Sikora has turned Tommy into a character thatPowerfans can’t get enough of. Sikora has a knack for playing aggressive, shady figures who elevate the darker elements of their respective series.
Queens (2021-2022)
Naturi Naughton plays Jill “Da Thrill” Sumpter
Naturi Naughton began her career in entertainment as a singer in the girl group 3LW and started acting in 2009, where she played rapper Lil' Kim in the biopicNotorious.InPower, Naughton plays Tasha St. Patrick, Ghost’s wife, who helps him cover up his criminal activities and will do whatever it takes to protect herself and her family.While Naughton played the same role inPower Book II: Ghost, she also took on another job at the same time.
Starring alongside Nadine Velazquez and music icons Eve and Brandy Norwood, Naughton played one of the four members ofQueens' fictional hip-hop group.Queensfollows the women, now in their 40s, as they reunite years later in hopes of reviving their former group and gaining the fame they once had. Though the series was canceled after its first season, it still earned a positive response as it invites longtime fans of the real-life singers and newcomers alike to enjoy the women’s fun adventures.
Orange Is The New Black (2013-2019)
Michael Rainey Jr. plays Michael Burset
Ghost’s affair and constant lying about being involved in the drug game split the St. Patrick family apart, with Ghost’s son Tariq being greatly impacted.Michael Rainey Jr. plays Tariq in the series and provides audiences with one last major shock in the final season.Rainey Jr. also had a recurring role inOrange Is the New Blackas Michael Burset, the son of Sophia and Crystal (Laverne Cox and Tanya Wright).
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Michael’s complicated feelings toward his parents are similar in each series.Tariq’s animosity toward his dad built up throughout the show, and these harsh feelings combined with his involvement in criminal activity were reason enough for Tariq to make such a drastic move in season 6. Though Michael isn’t inOrange Is the New Blackfor long, he does play a significant role in Sophia’s arrest, as he has trouble accepting her transition.
Power Book II: Ghost (2020-2024)
Shane Johnson plays Cooper Saxe
There are several characters inPowerwho wish to take Ghost down, one of which is the determined attorney, Cooper Saxe.Portrayed by Shane Johnson, Cooper plays an important role in some ofPower’s best episodes, as he carries out investigations and hopes to gain a confession from anyone. By season 6, audiences see Cooper at possibly his most desperate when he’s willing to cross numerous lines to apprehend Ghost.
BeforePower, Johnson had minor roles in episodes of popular shows likeNCIS,ER, andPrivate Practice.However, it’s in the Starz series where the actor truly gets to show off his dramatic acting.In the spin-off series,Power Book II: Ghost, Johnson returns as Cooper Saxe, whose goals have shifted, and this time, he’s after Tasha and Tariq. Cooper is still determined to get justice by any means necessary but finds himself in greater trouble along the way.
Den Of Thieves (2018)
50 Cent plays Enson Levoux
Both an executive producer and star inPower, Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, got his breakout role in the crime drama series.Jackson plays Kanan Starkin the show, a drug dealer and former mentor to Ghost.Before his role inPower, Jackson starred in several dramatic thrillers and comedies, namely as himself in the latter genre.
One notable film where Jackson was allowed to play someone else wasDen of Thieves. The film sees Los Angeles officer Nick O’Brien (Gerard Butler) and his team attempt to stop a robbery of the Federal Reserve Bank.Jackson stars in the film as Enson Levoux, a Marine veteran involved in the bank robbery. Enson isn’t the brains behind the operation, but he does play an important role, and Jackson sits comfortably among the film’s high-stakes chaos.
The Chi (2018-Present)
Rotimi plays Charles
Several famous singers appear inPowerand its spin-off series, including Rotimi. The Nigerian-American actor and singer plays Dre Coleman in the show, who is a fellow drug dealer who works with Ghost and Kanan before making a name for himself in the Jiménez cartel. Throughout the show, Dre’s alliances shift, making him an unpredictable and unlikable character that contributes heavily to the series' engrossing conflict.
FollowingPower’s final season, Rotimi became a recurring character, Charles, in Showtime’sThe Chi. The series takes place in the South Side of Chicago and sees a tragic event connecting the lives of four individuals. Rotimi’s Charles is a former assistant to Pastor Zeke, who returns to the church and wishes to reclaim his previous position. Though Charles isn’t an extremely crucial character yet, his actions do allow for drama to unfold within the local church community.
Think Like A Man (2012)
La La Anthony plays Sonia
Alani “La La” Anthony is best known as a TV personality, but she made a name for herself as an actor when she joined the cast ofPoweras Lakeisha Grant.Lakeisha is friends with Tasha St. Patrick, but their connection, and Lakeisha’s eventual connection to Tommy, push her further into a criminal lifestyle and made her an equally frustrating and captivating character for audiences.
Since the 2000s, Anthony has worked predominately as a TV host for series likeFlavor of Love.However, she’s also starred in a handful of films, most notablyThink Like a Man. The romantic comedy film is centered around four couples, with the women in each pairingtaking advice from a Steve Harvey bookto fix their relationships. One of these women is Mya (Meagan Good), and Anthony plays her best friend in the film, Sonia. Though it didn’t receive love from critics, the rom-com has continued to be a hit with audiences.
Entourage (2004-2011)
Jerry Ferrara plays Turtle
Jerry Ferrara joined the main cast ofPowerin season 3 after playing a recurring part in the previous season. Ferrara’s Joseph Proctor is an attorney who often helps get Ghost and Tommy out of trouble. Joe wasn’t without his flaws, but he wasone of the best characters inPowerand earned respect from audiences. BeforePower, Ferrara was best known for starring in the HBO seriesEntourage, with Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, and Kevin Dillon.
The series, loosely inspired by Mark Wahlberg’s early career, follows Grenier’s character Vincent Chase as he and his childhood friends attempt to advance their budding acting careers in Los Angeles. Ferrara plays Turtle Assante in the series, who is one of Vince’s friends and his driver.Entourageran for eight seasons and spawned a comedy film of the same name in 2015, with Ferrara returning as his character.
