The Complete Cast Breakdown for Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Netflix’s highly anticipated Monster: The Ed Gein Story, developed by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, premiered with all episodes dropping on the streaming platform just after midnight on Friday. This third installment in the Monster anthology series—following 2022’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and 2024’s Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story—features an impressive lineup of actors bringing the dark true crime narrative to life.

The Lead Role: Charlie Hunnam’s Portrayal of Ed Gein

Charlie Hunnam takes center stage as Ed Gein, the infamous “Butcher of Plainfield” whose horrific crimes shocked Wisconsin in 1957. The reclusive farmer was arrested after authorities discovered a headless corpse of a missing store clerk on his property. The investigation later revealed the remains of 10 women exhumed from graves in his farmhouse, with human skin and bones fashioned into macabre trophies.

Hunnam brings considerable cinematic experience to the role, having appeared in films such as Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, Triple Frontier, Papillon, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, The Gentlemen, Children of Men, and Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire. On the television side, his acclaimed performances in Sons of Anarchy and Queer as Folk demonstrate his depth as a dramatic actor.

Supporting Cast and Historical Figures

Laurie Metcalf portrays Augusta Gein, Ed’s psychologically controlling mother whose influence shaped his disturbed worldview. Metcalf’s distinguished career spans iconic films like Desperately Seeking Susan, Uncle Buck, JFK, Scream 2, Bulworth, and the critically acclaimed Lady Bird. Her television work includes leading roles in Roseanne, The Conners, and Norm, alongside guest appearances on The Big Bang Theory, Desperate Housewives, The Dropout, and other series.

Tom Hollander embodies legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, whose 1960 masterpiece Psycho was directly inspired by Gein’s crimes. Hollander’s filmography includes Gosford Park, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Pride and Prejudice, Hanna, About Time, Bird Box, and Bohemian Rhapsody. Recent television credits include the acclaimed miniseries The Night Manager, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, and Season 2 of The White Lotus.

Olivia Williams co-stars as Alma Reville, Hitchcock’s wife and creative partner. Williams’ own impressive film resume includes The Sixth Sense, An Education, Rushmore, Hanna, Anna Karenina, and The Father. Her television appearances span series such as Dollhouse, Manhattan, The Nevers, The Crown, and the recently released Dune: Prophecy.

Joey Pollari portrays Anthony Perkins, the actor cast by Hitchcock to play the disturbed protagonist Norman Bates in Psycho. Pollari’s own screen credits include the film Love, Simon and television appearances in The Inbetweeners, American Crime, and recurring roles in Saint George, Sugar, and SEAL Team.

The Broader Ensemble

Suzanna Son plays Adeline Watkins, an acquaintance of Ed Gein who reportedly shared a romantic connection with him. Son’s film work includes Red Rocket and Fear Street: Prom Queen, while her television credits feature a supporting role in the HBO series The Idol.

Vicky Krieps assumes the controversial role of Ilse Koch, a Nazi war criminal whose atrocities served as dark inspiration for Gein’s twisted psychology. Krieps’ filmography includes Phantom Thread, Old, Bergman Island, and Hot Milk, with television work on the German series Das Boot.

Lesley Manville portrays Bernice Worden, one of Gein’s confirmed murder victims. Manville’s expansive career includes films such as Topsy-Turvy, Another Year, the Maleficent films, Let Him Go, Vera Drake, A Christmas Carol, Queer, and Phantom Thread. Her television presence spans Emmerdale Farm, Mum, Harlots, World on Fire, The Crown, Disclaimer, Sherwood, and Grotesquerie.

Addison Rae, the TikTok influencer and recording artist, takes on the role of Evelyn Hartley, a Wisconsin woman who vanished in 1953 and became connected to Gein’s suspected crimes. Rae’s film appearances include He’s All That and Thanksgiving.

Law Enforcement and Victim Representation

Tyler Jacob Moore portrays Sheriff Arthur Schley, one of the law enforcement officials central to Gein’s investigation and capture. Moore has established himself through recurring and guest roles across numerous television series, including Shameless, Once Upon a Time, Barry, and Perry Mason.

Charlie Hall appears as Deputy Frank Worden, the son of one of Gein’s victims. Hall’s television credits include Bel Air, Single Drunk Female, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Big Shot, and Love, Victor. He also played Craig Cignarelli in Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story.

The Historical Context Behind the Stories

Gein’s gruesome story has left an indelible mark on horror cinema. His crimes directly inspired some of cinema’s most disturbing and influential films: Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs. These films transformed real-world horror into cultural touchstones, demonstrating how Gein’s legacy continues to influence entertainment decades after his 1957 arrest in Plainfield, Wisconsin.

The Monster anthology series continues its mission to examine the psychology and circumstances surrounding history’s most notorious criminals through meticulously researched storytelling and stellar cast performances.