True Blood quickly became one of the biggest TV shows of the noughties when it premiered in 2008.
The horror-themed TV series, which was based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris, debuted on HBO in September of that year and ran through August 2014 across seven seasons and 80 episodes.
The series centers around Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress living in Louisiana, and the emergence of vampires thanks to a synthetic blood product called “Tru Blood,” which allows them to come out of their coffins and integrate into society. The series follows the vampires’ fight for equality amid anti-vampire sentiments, as Sookie falls in love with vampire Bill Compton.
The show won both a Golden Globe and an Emmy, and its stars have since gone on to accomplish major things in their careers, earning a significant amount of money and acclaim.
We’ve rounded up the main cast to see what they’ve been up to ever since.
William Sanderson (Bud Dearborne)
William has since retired from acting since 2020, but appeared on shows like American Gods and Deadwood, as well as Deadwood: The Movie before his formal retirement. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, and has a son and two grandkids.
Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur)
Chris went on to appear in movies like 3 Days With Dad and The Little Things, and took on TV roles on shows like Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Homeland and Gaslit. He is set to star in 2025′s Thunderbolts and the upcoming heist thriller Eenie Meanie.
Michael McMillian (Reverend Steve Newlin)
Michael went on to appear in movies like Banshee Chapter and The Tiger Hunter, as well as shows like Silicon Valley, NCIS and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend as Tim. He more recently starred in 9-1-1: Lone Star as Vic in the episode “A House Divided.”
Jim Parrack (Hoyt Fortenberry)
Jim‘s gone on to appear in Silo and F9, as well as TV shows like 9-1-1: Lone Star as Judd Ryder. He married Ciera Danielle in 2008, and they divorced in 2014. He then entered a relationship with Leven Rambin, and they married in 2015 before splitting in 2017. He has been dating ballet dancer Hayley Walters since 2018.
Adina Porter (Lettie Mae Daniels)
Adina has become a regular in the American Horror Story franchise, appearing in several seasons of the FX hit, as well as The CW’s The 100. She more recently starred in Sitting in Bars With Cake as Trisha and will play Brenda Cephus in the upcoming series Firebug, which will star another True Blood alum on this list!
Todd Lowe (Terry Bellefleur)
Todd went on to appear in shows like Bunheads, Criminal Minds and Shooter, as well as films like The Remains.
Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby)
Deborah went on to appear in Daredevil as Karen Page, as well as The Punisher, Escape Room and its sequel, and Ida Red, as well as Quantum Leap. She’s also done voice work, including God of War: Ragnarok. She co-hosts the Truest Blood podcast with Kristin Bauer van Straten. She married E. J. Scott in 2018 after many years of dating.
Nathan Parsons (James Kent)
Since starring in True Blood, Nathan has appeared in shows like The Originals, Once Upon a Time and Roswell, New Mexico, as well as films like Pet, Late Bloomer, Justice, Heart of Texas and I Still Believe.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Nicole Wright)
After True Blood, Jurnee appeared in Lovecraft Country, as well as playing Black Canary in Birds of Prey. She also starred in Underground as Rosalee, and The Twilight Zone in 2020. She most recently starred in The Order as Joanne Carney and is set to appear in the miniseries Firebug as Michelle, reuniting her with co-star Adina Porter. She married Josiah Bell in 2010 and welcomed a son in 2016, and the couple divorced by 2021.
Lauren Bowles (Holly Cleary)
Lauren made many appearances on TV since True Blood, including Veep as Monica, Modern Family, and How to Get Away With Murder. She married Patrick Fischler in 2004 and welcomed a daughter in 2009.
Carrie Preston (Arlene Fowler Bellefleur)
Carrie starred in films like 30 Miles from Nowhere, Space Oddity and They/Them, as well as TV shows like Claws and The Good Fight. She won acclaim for her role in The Good Fight, which led to spinoff Elsbeth. The series was renewed for a second season in 2024, and her real-life husband Michael Emerson, whom she’s collaborated with on projects over the years, also appears on the show.
Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte)
Sam went on to star in The Fault in Our Stars and Netflix’s The Order, as well as Homeland, The Tiger Rising and American Refugee. In 2023, he starred in Organ Trail as Logan and The Rookie: Feds as Neal Wizaro. He welcomed twin sons with Missy Yager in 2011, and has been with Emmanuelle Chiqui since 2020.
Kristin Bauer van Straten (Pam Swynford de Beaufort)
Kristin starred as Maleficent in Once Upon a Time, as well as appearing on Sacred Lies and films like Happy Anniversary and The Boy Behind the Door. She co-hosts the Truest Blood podcast with Deborah Ann Wolf. She married musician Abri van Straten in 2009.
Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton)
The actress later took on roles including Nova Bordelon on Queen Sugar, as well as Jocelyn in The Walking Dead and Maria in The Last of Us. She also voiced Venus McFlytrap in Monster High. She married her former classmate Jacob Fishel in 2005 before they split in 2013, and then dated a chef from New Orleans from around 2017 until 2019.
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse)
Ryan went on to star in The Oath and Them, as well as movies like Expired, 2067, Glorious and Section Eight. He starred as Alex in 2023′s The Portrait, and Tom Weylin in 2022′s Kindred as well.
Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton)
Beyond True Blood, Stephen starred in Fox’s The Gifted, as well as Fortunate Son. He also starred in movies like After We Fell and After Ever Happy as Christian Vance. More recently, he starred in Sexy Beast and Elsbeth. In 2009, he got engaged to co-star Anna Paquin after they started dating since filming the pilot. They married in 2010, and welcomed twins in 2012.
Joe Manganiello (Alcide Herveaux)
After True Blood, Joe went on to star in some huge TV and movie roles, including the Magic Mike movie franchise, as well as How I Met Your Mother. He also appears as Deathstroke in Justice League. He’s set to direct and produce the first official documentary about the history of Dungeons & Dragons. He married Sofia Vergara in 2015, and the couple split in 2023. He is currently dating Caitlin O’Connor.
Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse)
After True Blood, Anna went on to star in shows like Bellevue, The Affair and Modern Love, as well as films like The Irishman and True Spirit. In 2009, she got engaged to co-star Stephen Moyer, after they started dating since filming the pilot. They married in 2010, and welcomed twins in 2012. She also came out as bisexual in 2010.
Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman)
The Swedish actor went on to star in major projects like the critically acclaimed Big Little Lies, as well as movies like The Northman and Passing. He also plays Lukas Matsson in Succession. He welcomed his first child with partner Tuva Novotny in 2022.
