Cast and characters
Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, né Dwight Walker
A former drug dealer turned hip-hop mogul and the founder and long-time CEO of Empire Entertainment, his life begins to cave in around him after his past sins come back to haunt him when he is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Besides Cookie, Lucious' other lovers are Anika (seasons 1 & 3), Giulana (season 4) and Yana (season 6).
Taraji P. Henson as Loretha "Cookie" Lyon, née Holloway
Lucious' outspoken wife and mother of their three sons. She serves a 17-year prison sentence for drug dealing and sees herself as the sacrificial lamb for Empire Entertainment, which she built with Lucious, but then took the fall for him while running the very drugs that financed Lucious' early career. Upon her return from prison, she is determined to bring the Lyon family back together and reclaim her share of Empire Entertainment. In the second season, Cookie leaves the Empire group and starts her own record label, Lyon Dynasty. After allowing Empire Entertainment to acquire Lyon Dynasty, she returns to Empire as co-CEO and Head of A&R.
Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon
Lucious' fame-obsessed youngest son and his favorite child, who is a hip-hop star on the rise. Initially combative towards his mother Cookie, Hakeem starts to become friendlier towards her, and has a great relationship with his older brother Jamal. He has had romantic relationships with Tiana, Camilla, Anika, Valentina, Laura and Maya (the former & latter who become his wives in the fourth & sixth season).
Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon (seasons 1–5)
The middle son of the Lyon family, he is a talented gay singer-songwriter who despises the corporate aspect of the music industry. Jamal is estranged from his father, who considers him the black sheep of the family. Jamal is Cookie's favorite and has a strong relationship with his brother Hakeem. Lucious appoints Jamal as his successor at the end of the first season, and later as interim CEO when Lucious is arrested. Jamal later relinquishes control of Empire back to Lucious. After being accidentally shot by Freda Gatz in Season 2, Jamal begins to present symptoms of PTSD and a reliance on painkillers. His addiction ultimately leads to a visit to rehab. Smollett's character was removed from the last two episodes of the fifth season after Smollett was indicted on charges of staging an assault against himself. Smollett's character does not return for the sixth and final season, but he is mentioned with him and his new husband Kai moving to London and adopting a baby boy. Despite not appearing in the sixth season, nor being credited, the option in Smollett's contract for the sixth season was picked up.
Trai Byers as Andre Lyon
The eldest son of the Lyon family and CFO of Empire Entertainment. He is Wharton educated, power hungry, and has bipolar disorder. He is married to his college sweetheart, Rhonda. He plans to run Empire, but is in a battle for the head chair with his younger brothers. In the second season, Andre initially helps Cookie and Hakeem set up Lyon Dynasty, but returns to Empire. Lucious later promotes Andre to President of Gutter Life Records, a sub-division of Empire Entertainment consisting of mainly urban rappers, such as Freda Gatz. In Season 3, 4 & 5, he loses his wife and becomes involved with Nessa, Charlotte, Pamela and Teri (the latter who becomes his new wife in the season 5 finale).
Grace Byers as Anika Calhoun (seasons 1–4)
Initially the ambitious head of Empire Entertainment's A&R department, she becomes engaged to Lucious though they will eventually separate. After leaving Empire, Anika has sex with Hakeem and becomes pregnant. Fearful of Rhonda's pregnancy, as Rhonda's unborn child has claim to being the heir of Empire, Anika pushes Rhonda down a set of stairs, leading to the death of Rhonda's unborn child. Cookie and Anika share an extreme dislike for one another, with Cookie referring to Anika by the derisive nickname "Boo Boo Kitty". She gives birth to her and Hakeem's daughter Bella. Andre later drugs Anika's drink and she starts to have hallucinations of Rhonda down the stairs to her death. She then falls over the balcony, plummets, and lands on a glass champagne table, and dies in the season 4 finale.
Malik Yoba as Vernon Turner (season 1; dead guest in Season 2)
Lucious's longtime friend and business partner, and chairman of Empire Entertainment. In the season one finale, Vernon is struck and killed by Rhonda when he attacks Andre, and both end up hiding the body.
Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon (seasons 1–2; recurring in season 3; guest in season 4)
Andre's wife is a "ride-or-die chick" who is extremely fierce and loyal, and sticks by Andre's side as he tries to gain control of Empire. In the first-season finale she finds out that she is pregnant, but Anika pushes her down the stairs in the second season fall finale, and the baby dies in the second-season spring premiere. After her recovery, Rhonda begins to work for Empire's fashion label, "Antony and Cleopatra", initially run by Camilla Marks-Whiteman. After Camilla's suicide, Rhonda is appointed Creative Director of Antony and Cleopatra. In the third-season premiere, she attacks Anika due to finding out Anika had pushed her down the stairs earlier in the season, causing her to lose her unborn son. As a result, she falls off the building she and Anika were fighting on, lands on a car, and dies. She makes numerous appearances to Andre as a ghost during his hallucinations in the third season.
Gabourey Sidibe as Rebecca "Becky" Williams (season 2–6; recurring in season 1)
Executive assistant to Lucious at Empire Entertainment. After Jamal's promotion to Vice Chairman, Jamal promotes Becky to A&R at Empire and its sub-label, Gutter Life Records. In season 4, she had taken Anika's position as Head of A&R at Cookie's request.
Ta'Rhonda Jones as Porsha Taylor (season 2–6; recurring in season 1)
Cookie's executive assistant. She is extremely loyal to Cookie and the Lyon family having rejected Anika's offer to spy on her. She is shown to have some music skills and performed alongside Tiana at BossyFest.
Serayah as Tiana Brown (seasons 2–6; recurring in season 1)
An artist at Empire Entertainment who becomes Hakeem's girlfriend for some time. Following an off-and-on again relationship, Tiana and Hakeem get married, and Tiana becomes pregnant with twins, although only one child survives. Tiana's lovers were Gram, Blake, Carlito, Devon and most significantly, Hakeem Lyon (her ex-husband).
Bre-Z as Freda Gathers/"Freda Gatz" (guest in season 6; season 3; recurring in season 2)
A female rapper, who becomes a surrogate daughter to Lucious after the murder of her father, Frank Gathers. Lucious later sets up Freda to become Hakeem's rival.
Morocco Omari as Tariq Cousins (season 3; recurring in season 2)
An FBI Agent, who is also Lucious' half-brother.
Alvin 'Xzibit' Joiner as Leslie "Shyne" Johnson (season 3–4; guest in season 2 & 5)
A former rival of Lucious Lyon that soon becomes a close ally, described as "100 percent wolf and 100 percent gangsta".
Andre Royo as Thurston "Thirsty" Rawlings, (seasons 4–5; seasons 2−3 recurring)
Lucious' lawyer/confidant/right-hand man.
Rumer Willis as Tory Ash, (season 4; season 3 guest)
A singer who fell off as an addict then becomes close friends with Jamal. She later betrays him to work with Lucious.
Terrell Carter as Warren Hall, (season 4)
An attorney, Diana Dubois' nephew, Angelo's cousin and Jamal's ex.
Nicole Ari Parker as Giselle Sims-Barker, (season 5–6; season 4 recurring)
Eddie Barker's trophy ex-wife.
Chet Hanks as Blake Sterling, (season 5; season 4 recurring)
A rapper and Hakeem's friend.
Rhyon Nicole Brown as Maya Landry-Lyon (seasons 5–6; season 4 recurring)
The daughter of Cookie's fellow inmate Poundcake and Hakeem Lyon's current wife. She and Tiana share an extreme dislike towards one another with the former being jealous of Tiana's success and the latter feeling bitter about Maya's relationship with Hakeem.
A.Z. Kelsey as Jeff Kingsley (seasons 5–6)
Hotshot, Silicon Valley genius turned interim leader of Empire Entertainment. He is Ivy League educated with an edge and is Lucious' illegitimate son. In the season five finale, Jeff commits suicide in front of Lucious, and his heart is given to Andre for a heart transplant.
Vivica A. Fox as Candace Holloway-Mason (season 6; seasons 2–5 recurring)
Cookie's well-behaved but snobby and judgmental older sister. She is a realtor.
Mario as Devon (season 6; season 5 recurring): Lucious' new artist and Tiana's new love interest.
Meta Golding as Teri Brooks-Lyon (season 6; season 5 recurring)
Andre's second wife and Quincy's mother.
Katlynn Simone as Treasure (season 6; season 5 recurring)
Formerly a prison social worker, but now an artist at Empire and Tiana's main rival.
Wood Harris as Damon Cross (season 6; season 5 recurring)
Lucious' rival and Cookie's new love interest.