Friday Night Lights was a sports drama TV show that premiered in 2006 and ran for five seasons, ending in 2011. It was created by Pedro Berg and was inspired by HG Bissinger's 1990 book of the same name and the 2004 movie. This project was initially aired on NBC and then moved to The 101 Network. It also won several awards, including a Peabody and a few Emmys.
The plot revolves around a high school football team, where the players will have problems both on and off the field, addressing topics such as family values, racism, abortion, substances, economic deficiencies, and more. The series is set in Dillon, a fictional city, which is located next to rural West Texas, and has an excellent cast, which you can see below.
Tamara Jolaine as Erin Street
Tamara Jolaine brings to life Erin Street, who is a waitress, who was introduced in the second season of the series. She meets Jason after her failed date, taking him home. That same night they have sex and she gets pregnant, and later wants to have an abortion, although she ends up having the baby. Erin becomes Noah's mother, and although she does not live with Jason, he offers her all his support.
Tamara's last appearance on screen was in 2014 with Boyhood. She was in other productions, such as Chase, The Tree of Life, and Play Time.
Blue Deckert as Mac MacGill
Mac MacGill is played by Blue Deckert, who was introduced as a secondary character in Season 1. He was the offensive coordinator of the Dillon Panthers and got along badly with Eric. He is a character who would have problems with the Black players on the team due to his racist comments. Subsequently, he suffers a heart attack, but later recovers and continues as a coach.
Among the most notable appearances of this actor are the films Bad Girls, The Stepfather, and Envy. As for other shows the actor has been in, The Event, Dallas, and Walker, Texas Ranger stand out.
Stacey Oristano as Mindy Collette-Riggins
Mindy Collete-Riggins is played by Stacey Oristano and is introduced in Season 1. She works as a stripper at a local tavern, and her husband is Billy Riggins. During the development of her character in the following seasons, it can be observed that she possesses an empathetic quality with the strong situations of those close to her. She also has a child with Billy and later becomes pregnant with twins.
Stacey Oristano has guest-starred in several series, including Grey's Anatomy, Shameless, and Ghost Hunt. She was also in the main cast of Bunheads.
Derek Phillips as Billy Riggins
Derek Phillips brings to life Billy Riggins, who is Tim's older brother and guardian. He is introduced in the first season and is married to Mindy Colette. Over the next few seasons, this character would go on to start his own auto repair business and chop store. In the end, after his brother takes the fall and goes to jail, he becomes someone who is expecting twins and becomes the new coach of Dillon Panthers.
Phillips has appeared in several films, such as Injustice, Looking: The Movie, and Ritual. He has also guest-starred in Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Longmire.
Brad Leland as Buddy Garrity
Brad Leland plays Buddy Garrity. He owns a Chevrolet dealership, is Lyla's father, and is introduced in Season 1. He is divorced from Pam, due to an affair with Tyra's mother. He was a quarterback for the Dillon Panthers and then ends up opening a bar. During the series, he is always supporting the school and the football team he played for in high school.
Brad Leland has appeared in several series, such as The Bureau, Veep, and Walker, Texas Ranger. He was also in the films The Last Whistle, The Song, and Mobius. He also played John Aubrey in the 2004 film Friday Night Lights.
Grey Damon as Hastings Ruckle
Grey Damon plays Hastings Ruckle and is introduced in the fifth season of the series. He is recruited by Vince and Luke to play on the East Dillon football team, making him change his mind about playing basketball. He is someone who has a laid-back personality and has a very powerful jumping ability. He fills in as wide receiver and helps win the state championship.
Grey has appeared in several series, such as The Nine Lives of Chloe King, Twisted, and Star-Crossed. He was also on Grey's Anatomy and is a regular character on Station 19, as well as co-starring on Aquarius.
Madison Burge as Becky Sproles
Becky Sproles is played by Madison Burge, who is introduced in the fourth season as a recurring character and in the fifth season as a main character. She is initially an aspiring beauty queen who takes a romantic interest in Tim, only to later have sex with Luke and undergo an abortion. She maintains a relationship with Luke while living with Mindy and Billy, although she later returns to live with her mother.
Madison Burge has participated in several series, taking on recurring and lead roles. Among them are What Would Diplo Do?, Chicago Fire, Star-Crossed, and Dexter.
Matt Lauria as Luke Cafferty
Matt Lauria plays Luke Cafferty on Friday Night Lights, being introduced in the fourth season of the series. He takes Tim Riggins' place as the team's runner and is described as someone who likes to collaborate and be hardworking. He lives in the East Dillon district, although he lies that he lives in West Dillon in order to keep playing for West Dillon. He becomes involved with Becky, getting her pregnant to later maintain a relationship with her. Eventually, this character enlists in the army.
Matt Lauria has had a resounding success in television, due to the fact that he has been in the main cast of several series. These include CSI: Vegas, Little Birds, Tell Me A Story, Traitors, and Kingdom.
Jurnee Smollett as Jess Meriweather
Jess Meriweather is played by Jurnee Smollett and is introduced in the fourth season of the series. She is a student from East Dillon and works at her family's restaurant. She becomes Vince's girlfriend after becoming involved with Landry. Eventually, Jess ends up moving to Dallas with her family.
Smollett has worked mainly in series, playing regular roles mostly. Some of her projects have been Sofia the First, Underground, True Blood, The Defenders, and Wanda at Large.
Michael B. Jordan as Vince Howard
Michael B. Jordan brings Vince Howard to life in the series, being introduced in the fourth season. He joins the East Dillon football team unprepared with the intention of not stopping in juvenile detention and becomes a quarterback. This character becomes arrogant because of the team's victories, although he later changes his perspective and becomes someone more mature.
Jordan has an overly broad background in the industry. He has been in series such as The Assistants, The Wire, All My Children, and Parenthood. Also, he participated in the films Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and Blackout. He is mainly recognized for his roles in Black Panther and Creed. He has won several awards, including a Teen Choice, an Emmy, and two NAACP Image.
Gaius Charles as Brian “Smash” Williams
Brian Williams, known as "Smash" is a character introduced in the first season of the series, and is played by Gaius Charles. He was a running back for the Dillon Panthers and has aspirations of making it in the NFL. He is a character who is very confident and appears to be very laid back. However, he makes the mistake of using steroids and ends up enduring racist comments, fights, and injuries. In the end, he ends up going to Texas A&M University and leaves the cast in the third season.
Gaius is known for having participated in several series, such as Necessary Roughness, Queens, Aquarius, and Six Guys One Car. He also played Dr. Shane Ross on Grey's Anatomy and was in the main casts of Taken and God Friended Me. He is currently starring in The Walking Dead: Dead City.
Scott Porter as Jason Street
Scott Porter brings to life Jason Street, who is a character introduced in the first season. He was a former quarterback for the Dillon Panthers and was engaged to Lyla. Unfortunately, he becomes paralyzed from the chest down, although he ends up playing quad rugby. He eventually moves to New Jersey with Erin and their son, and serves as a sports agent, leaving the cast in Season 3, and appearing briefly in Season 5.
Scott Porter has performed in series primarily, being in projects such as Caprica, The Good Wife, and Scorpion. He is also in the main cast of Ginny & Georgia, and starred in Hart of Dixie, playing George Tucker.
Adrianne Palicki as Tyra Collette
Adrianne Palicki brings Tyra Colette to life on Friday Night Lights. This character is a bad girl at Dillon High at first. So, much of her plot revolves around no longer being seen as the girl who is always looking to have sex with anyone at Dillon. Due to her high desire to leave Dillon, she ends up studying at the University of Texas at Austin, wanting to get involved in the world of politics, leaving the cast in the third season, although she appears as a guest in the fifth.
Adrianne Palicki has participated in several films, such as Quasi, John Wick, and Dr. Cabbie. Also, she was present in the series South Beach and About a Boy. She is mainly known for being Barbara Morse in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Kelly Grayson in The Orville.
Minka Kelly as Lyla Garrity
Lyla Garrity is played by Minka Kelly in the series, who is seen as a "good girl." She is Jason's ex-fiancée but did cheat on him with Tim after his accident. She ends up leaving her position as a cheerleader, as well as getting involved in the world of religion. She is admitted to Vanderbilt University, leaving the cast in the third season. She appears as a guest in the fourth season.
Minka Kelly appears in several films, such as 500 Days of Summer and The Butler. She also appeared in the series Euphoria and What I Like About You, and was part of the main casts of Almost Human and Charlie's Angels.
Zach Gilford as Matt Saracen
Matt Saracen is played by Zach Gilford, who was the quarterback and wide receiver for the Dillon Panthers. During his story, we see how he copes with abandonment, as he was abandoned by his coach, his girlfriend, his father, and also his mother in various aspects of his life. In Season 3 he graduates, but after the death of his father in Season 4, he moves to Chicago and dedicates himself to art. He also marries Julie.
Gilford has participated in films such as The Last Winter, Post Grad, and Dare. As for other series, he was in The Mob Doctor, This Close, Good Girls and was part of the main cast of L.A.'s Finest.
Jesse Plemons as Landry Clarke
Landry Clarke is played by Jesse Plemons, who is characterized by being very studious and polite. He ends up joining the team and becomes Matt's best friend. He has his own band, being the guitarist of it, and Tyra is his romantic interest. In Season 4 he moves to East Dillon High and in the last season, he is admitted to Rice University in Houston.
Plemons has had a successful career, appearing in the films Battleship, Other People, and Vice. He also appeared in Fargo, No Activity, and Breaking Bad.
Taylor Kitsch as Tim Riggins
Tim Riggins is played by Taylor Kitsch, who is the Panthers' fullback. He is Tyra's ex-boyfriend, and then dates Lyla, although their relationship is quite unstable. Also, this character has problems with sex and alcohol, being a big party animal, and having problems with his parents. Unfortunately, he ends up in jail when he turns himself in to protect Billy when his chop shop is discovered, although he is later released.
Kitsch was in Battleship, Savages, and played Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. He was also in True Detective and was part of the main cast of The Terminal List.
Aimee Teegarden as Julie Taylor
Aimee Teegarden plays Julie Taylor on Friday Night Lights, Matt Saracen's girlfriend in the first season, although they break up in the last season. Her personality is quite liberal and she is always reading. She decides to stay in Dillon, though she later visits Matt in Chicago. In the end, they decide to get married and live in Chicago.
Teegarden is known for having been in movies like Scream 4, Love and Honor, and A Change of Heart. She has also been part of the main casts of Star-Crossed, Notorious, and Aim High.
Connie Britton as Tami Taylor
Connie Britton plays Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights. Her personality is quite connected to young people, plus she is very compassionate. She is Julie's mother and Eric's wife, as well as being the guidance counselor at Dillon High School, though she later becomes the principal.
She resigns from this position, due to abortion gossip, has a second daughter, and then moves to East Dillon. At the end of the series, she decides to move to Philadelphia to become Dean of Admissions at Braemore College.
Britton is well known in the industry, getting to work in films such as The Last Winter and The Brothers McMullen. She was in the sitcoms Lost at Home and The Fighting Fitzgeralds, as well as appearing in American Horror Story and American Crime Story. She has been nominated for Emmy and Golden Globe awards.
Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor
Kyle Chandler plays Eric Taylor in the series, being the main character from the first to the last season. He is the varsity football coach for the Dillon Panthers, and his character is based on real-life coach Gary Gaines. Eric ends up losing his job and moves to East Dillon High.
He comes to be considered one of the best coaches in Texas, as he has managed to lead several teams to state championships. Finally, he moves to Philadelphia for his wife's new job and is now the coach of the Pemberton Pioneers.
Chandler has had a very extensive career, participating in films such as King Kong, Super 8, Broken City, and Godzilla vs. Kong. As for other series, he was in Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story, Early Edition, and Homefront. He also participated in The Lyon's Den, Bloodline, Mayor of Kingstown, and What About Joan?, although Friday Night Lights is one of his best performances so far.