‘Death by Lightning’ Cast & Character Guide

New to Netflix on November 6, 2025, Death by Lightning is a historical drama miniseries tracing the assassination of U.S. President James A. Garfield (Michael Shannon) in 1881. Directed by talented actor and filmmaker Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic) and executive produced by Game of Thrones veterans David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the four-part series is based on Candice Millard’s 2011 book Destiny of the Republic.

Death by Lightning boasts a magnificent ensemble cast of performers portraying real-life historical figures from the 19th century, including Matthew Macfadyen as Garfield’s obsessive admirer and stalker-turned-assassin, Charles J. Guiteau. Before the show bows this November, it’s time to become familiar with the stellar cast and the real-life counterparts they play in Death by Lightning.

What Is ‘Death by Lightning’ About?

Guiteau clutches a pamphlet in a crowd in Death by Lightning

Based on the acclaimed 2011 historical book Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard, Death by Lightning is a four-episode limited series premiering on Netflix on November 6, 2025. The Netflix historical drama takes place in 1880-81, when the 20th U.S. President, James A. Garfield, was shot by the infatuated admirer Charles Guiteau.

Ultimately succumbing to his gunshot wounds two months later at age 49, Death by Lightning focuses on the odd public relationship forged between Garfield and Guiteau that ended in tragic bloodshed. Hopefully, the show does not cling to Netflix’s recent trend of glamorizing and glorifying infamous murderers (looking at you, Monster), and instead aims to highlight the good Garfield did during his time in office.

Michael Shannon as President James A. Garfield

James stands in a crowd in Death by Lightning

The supremely talented and ever-unpredictable Michael Shannon (Take Shelter, The Shape of Water) plays James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. President, in Death by Lightning. Before being elected President, Garfield was a lawyer, preacher, Civil War General, and a nine-term member of the House of Representatives. In the miniseries, Garfield tries to lead the country to better days, but is stopped when an unstable admirer takes his obsession to murderous lengths. Garfield was shot in 1881 and died two months later.

Matthew Macfadyen as Charles J. Guiteau

Charles is caught in a crowd in Death by Lightning

British actor Matthew Macfadyen (Pride & Prejudice, Succession) portrays Charles J. Guiteau, the man who assassinated President Garfield in 1881. An unsuccessful lawyer who developed severe mental health issues, Guiteau formed an unhealthy obsession with President Garfield. Deluded into thinking he was responsible for Garfield’s election, Guiteau felt he deserved an ambassadorial role in Garfield’s administration. Once rejected, Guiteau shot President Garfield, who died 79 days later.

Nick Offerman as Chester A. Arthur

Chester stands by a wall in Death by Lightning

Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation, Civil War) plays Chester A. Arthur, the 21st U.S. President who succeeded James A. Garfield after his death. A Republican from New York, Arthur served as the U.S. Vice President under Garfield until Garfield’s assassination. Death by Lightning depicts Arthur and Garfield’s personal and professional relationship, and the measures Arthur took after assuming the Presidency just four months into Garfield’s term, including expanding the U.S. Navy.

Betty Gilpin as Lucretia Garfield

Crete stands in a field in Death by Lightning

Betty Gilpin (GLOW, Gaslit) plays Lucretia “Crete” Garfield in Death by Lightning. Crete Garfield was a dutiful teacher and the wife of U.S. President James A. Garfield, who famously stayed at her husband’s bedside for 11 weeks as he fought for his life. Upon her husband’s death, Crete returned to her Ohio hometown and built an unofficial library dedicated to preserving Garfield’s documents. Crete also encouraged Garfield to enlist James Blaine in his presidential cabinet.

Bradley Whitford as James Blaine

James sits at a desk in Death by Lightning

Bradley Whitford (The West Wing, Get Out) portrays James G. Blaine, who was the Republican Speaker of the House during Garfield’s assassination. Also serving as Secretary of State under Presidents Garfield and Arthur, Blaine was nominated for President in 1884 but lost to Grover Cleveland. Blaine was also a prominent figure in the formation of the “Half-Breeds,” a moderate contingent in the Republican Party.

Shae Whigham as Roscoe Conkling

Conkling raises an arm in Death by Lightning

Criminally underrated actor Shea Whigham (Fargo, Gaslit) plays Roscoe Conkling in Death by Lightning. A long-time rival of James Blaine, Conkling became the leader of the Republican Stalwarts faction. A representative from New York, Conkling was an adversary of President Garfield and an ally of Ulysses S. Grant. Conkling also helped draft the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protected the rights of natural-born citizens.

Additional Characters in ‘Death By Lightning’

Aside from the main cast of characters outlined above, Death by Lightning features an array of recurring characters. They include:

Vondie Curtis-Hall as Frederick Douglass (Daredevil, Chicago Hope), an escaped slave who became a staunch abolitionist and the most influential leader of the African-American civil rights movement in the 1800s.
Barry Shabaka Henley (Luck, Life) as Blanche Bruce, the first African-American politician elected to the U.S. Senate to complete a full term. Born into slavery, Bruce was a Republican who represented Mississippi.
Laura Marcus (Bad Education, The Serpent Queen) as Mollie Garfield, the daughter of James and Lucretia Garfield.
Tuppence Middleton (Sense8, Dickensian) as Kate Chase Sprague, a socialite in Washington who hosted parties for politicians during the Civil War.
Kyle Soller (Andor, Bounty Hunters) as Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. Robert served as both the U.S. Secretary of War and the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain.
Zeljko Ivanek (Dogville, Argo) as Dr. Willard Bliss, the primary physician who attended Garfield’s gunshot wounds after being shot by Guiteau
Shaun Parkes (Small Axe, Lost in Space) as Dr. Charles Purvis, the first African-American physician to treat a sitting U.S. President (Garfield) and later help found the medical school at Howard University.
Archie Fisher (Last Days, Boarders) as Joe Brown, President James A. Garfield’s personal secretary, who later married Mollie Garfield