As the fifth season of The Good Doctor airs, it remains one of ABC’s most popular TV shows. This isn’t surprising, considering that the medical drama has continued to provide viewers with compelling stories about the characters and their complex relationships over the years. But these stories would not be as believable and intriguing without the talented ensemble cast.
Even with the exits of season regulars Nicholas Gonzalez and Antonia Thomas, whose characters were foundational to the show, the new characters have already meaningfully left their own marks on the narrative.
Rachel Bay Jones – Dear Evan Hansen, Modern Family, God Friended Me
As a recent addition to the recurring cast of The Good Doctor, actress Rachel Bay Jones is best known for her many roles on stage. Her evocative performance as the mother in the musical Dear Evan Hansen, a popular coming-of-age musical, earned her a Daytime Emmy Award, Grammy Award, and Tony Award.
Jones also had a recurring role on Modern Family as Dylan’s unconventional, formerly estranged mother, Farrah Marshall, who immediately tries to dictate how and where Haley should be giving birth after arriving at the Dunphy’s home. She also appeared as Susan Levine in God Friended Me, a show about a man named Miles who receives a Facebook friend request from an account with the name “God” who connects him with other people on Facebook that need his help.
Noah Galvin – Les Miserables, The Real O’Neals, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Like his co-star Rachel Bay Jones, Noah Galvin has had a prolific career on stage. His first stage role was in the national tour of Les Misérables as Gavroche, a young boy whose heroism is on display when he goes to help the other revolutionaries during the uprising against the French monarchy and is heinously murdered.
Galvin portrayed Kenny O’Neal in the ABC sitcom The Real O’Neals, which follows the Catholic O’Neal family whose lives are changed when Kenny comes out to them. This prompts his siblings and even his parents to make revelations of their own, going against the grain of what is expected of them, however, this is what ultimately brings their family closer together. Galvin guest starred on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and took part in the powerful opening musical number, “Overwhelmed” by Royal & The Serpent, which was about anxiety.
Bria Samoné Henderson – Mrs. America, Prepared
While Bria Samoné Henderson’s breakout role was playing resident Dr. Jordan Allen on The Good Doctor, she has previously been seen in several smaller roles in noteworthy projects.
Henderson had a recurring role in the miniseries Mrs. America, set in the 1970s, where she played Margaret Sloan-Hunter, who was a real-life, staunch civil rights activist and LGBTQ+ advocate, as well as an editor of the feminist Ms. Magazine. She also played Mia in Prepared, a short film focusing on Black female empowerment through the act of self-love. Fans of Henderson’s performances thus far will be excited to see what the future has in store for her.
Will Yun Lee – Elektra, The Wolverine, Hawaii Five-O, Altered Carbon
Will Yun Lee’s acting career began in the late ’90s, and since then he’s acted in a wide range of roles. He expertly played the nefarious assassin Kirigi in Elektra and the adroit archer Kenuichio Harada, leader of the Black Clan, who becomes Logan’s unexpected ally in The Wolverine. Additionally, he played the recurring antagonist Sang Min in Hawaii Five-O and the original Takeshi Kovacs, the main protagonist in Altered Carbon.
Yun Lee recently voiced Joseph in the English dubbed version of the highly anticipated upcoming anime, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, which is set in the world of the Blade Runner franchise. He also lent his voice to several video games, including Mortal Kombat X and Yazuka: Like A Dragon.
