Showtime’sEscape at Dannemorautilizes an exceptional cast to tell its true-crime story. The 2018 limited series is based on the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape, which saw two men, Richard Matt and David Sweat, successfully break out thanks to the help of their shared prison-employee girlfriend, Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell. Showtime neededactors like Benicio del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt, and moreto bring these and other real-world characters to life.
Escape at Dannemoraoriginally premiered on Showtime in 2018, but it has since come to Netflix, claiming a spot on the Top 10 In October 2024. The series, which was created by Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin, was directed byactor Ben Stillerand explores the true events leading up to, during, and after the infamous 2015 prison break. Of course, any “based on reality” TV series requires some creative liberties, but with such an exceptional cast inEscape at Dannemora, it’s easy to believe this is precisely how this true-crime event played out.
Benicio del Toro As Richard Matt
Date Of Birth: June 09, 2025
Benicio del Toro is a Puerto Rican-born actor who firstbroke into his career playing thugs in 1980sTV shows likeMiami Vice. His career gained traction with his performance inThe Usual Suspectsin 1995, in which he played the crook Fred Fenster. This established Del Toro as a character actor, leading to projects likeThe Funeral(1996),Basquiat(1996), andThe Fan(1996). Some of his other most notable roles were in series likeTraffic(2000),21 Grams(2003), and more recent films likeSicario: Day of the Soldado(2018) andReptile(2023).
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Del Toro plays Richard Matt inEscape At Dannemora, a convicted murderer and career criminal with a history of prison escapes. The real Matt was sentenced to 25 to life for second-degree murder at the Clinton Correctional Facility before he escaped in June 2015 along with fellow prisoner David Sweat. Matt escaped with the help of Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell, a prison employee with whom he was engaged in a sexual affair.
Patricia Arquette As Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell
Date Of Birth: July 13, 2025
Chicago-born actor Patricia Arquette first gained prominence playing Kristen Parker inA Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors(1987), which led to further prominent projects likeThe Hi-Lo Country(1998),Bringing Out the Dead(1999), andHoles(2003). Arquette alsonotably starred as Allison DuBois in the dramaMedium, which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 2005, an honor which was repeated for her performance asDee Dee Blanchard in the 2019 miniseriesThe Act.
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Harmony Cobel/Mrs. Selvig
Arquette plays Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell inEscape at Dannemora, a prison employee who was part of the three-way sex affair with prisoners Richard Matt and David Sweat (despite the fact that she was married herself). Mitchell was an industrial training supervisor with the Clinton Correctional Facility and aided Sweat and Matt in their infamous prison escape in 2015.
Arquette plays Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell in Escape at Dannemora, a prison employee who was part of the three-way sex affair with prisoners Richard Matt and David Sweat.
Paul Dano As David Sweat
Date Of Birth: June 30, 2025
Paul Dano, born and raised in New York City, New York, stepped into the spotlight in 2001 with his role inL.I.E.andgained further notoriety playing teenager Dwayne in 2006’sLittle Miss Sunshine. From there, Dano claimed roles in projects likeThere Will Be Blood(2007),Gigantic(2008),12 Years a Slave(2013), andThe Batman(2022). Dano’s TV roles include Pierre Bezukhov in 2016’sWar & Peace, Caspian Keyes inPantheon(2022 - 2023), and Harris Materbach inMr. & Mrs. Smith(2024).
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Caspian Keyes
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Dano plays David Sweat inEscape At Dannemora, another felon with whom Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell begins a sexual affair and ultimately helps escape. The real Sweat had been imprisoned for first-degree murder after a New York City weapons deal resulted in the death of Broome County sheriff’s deputy Kevin Tarsia. Sweat was serving life without parole before his 2015 escape from Clinton Correctional Facility.
Though Richard Matt was shot and killed following his escape, David Sweat was arrested and brought back to prison.
Bonnie Hunt As Catherine Leahy Scott
Date Of Birth: July 04, 2025
Bonnie Hunt, born in Chicago, Illinois, claimed her first movie role in the 1988 hitRain Main, where she played waitress Sally Dibbs. From there,Hunt appeared in a variety of popular 1990s/2000s family movies, such asBeethoven(1992),Jumanji(1995), andCheaper by the Dozen(2003). Hunt also hostedThe Bonnie HuntShowfrom 2008 to 2010 and claimed a handful of voice roles in popular Disney franchises likeA Bug’s Life,Monsters Inc,Toy Story,Zootopia, andCars.
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Hunt plays Catherine Leahy Scott inEscape at Dannemora, the New York State Inspector General who led the investigation into Matt and Sweat’s big escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility. Scott’s own report on the event, published a year after the escape took place, helped Stiller gather enough facts (viaTimes Union) to makeEscape at Dannemoraa reality.
Escape At Dannemora Supporting Cast & Characters
Meet The Supporting Cast Of Escape At Dannemora
Eric Lange as Lyle Mitchell- Eric Lange, best known forDay Shift(2022) andBrand New Cherry Flavor(2021 - present), plays Lyle Mitchell inEscape at Dannemora, Tilly’s husband who also works at the Clinton Correctional Facility.
David Morse as Gene Palmer- Actor David Morse is best known for playing Dr. Jack “Boomer” Morrison inSt. Elsewhere(1982 - 1988). He plays Gene Palmer inEscape at Dannemora, an inmate escort guard at Clinton Correctional Facility.
Jeremy Bobb as Dennis Lambert- Jeremy Bobb is best known for his roles inGodless(2017),Russian Doll(2019), andThe Continental(2023). InEscape at Dannemora, Bobb plays Dennis Lambert, one of Clinton’s corrections officers.
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Michael Beasley as Murder- Michal Beasley, best known as Uncle Calvin in HBO’sRap Shit, plays Murder inEscape at Dannemora, an inmate alongside Sweat and Matt.
Joshua Rivera as Angel- Joshua Rivera, known forThe Last O.G.andMonsters and Men,plays Angel inEscape at Dannemora.
Carolyn Mignini as Ilene Mulvaney- Carolyn Mignini is known for her roles on Broadway, as well as appearances in projects likeHouse of Cards,Blue Bloods, andMad About You. Magnini plays Ilene Mulvaney inEscape at Dannemora, Tilly’s supervisor.
Gregory Dann as Albert Boyd- Gregory Dann, known forBirth(2004),Inside Man(2006), andMichael Clayton(2007), joins the cast ofEscape at Dannemoraplaying Albert Boyd, Sweat, and Matt’s least favorite CO.
Escape At Dannemora
Cast
Escape at Dannemora is a crime drama based on a real-life prison break in upstate New York. The series explores the complex relationships and manipulations among two convicted murderers and the facility’s staff member who becomes entangled in their escape plan, revealing underlying themes of desperation and vulnerability.
