The Unforgettable Cast Of Grace And Frankie Season 3: Where Are They Now And The Shocking New Business Venture

The third season of Grace and Frankie, which premiered on March 24, 2017, cemented the Netflix series as a cultural phenomenon, moving past the initial shock of the husbands' coming out and diving deep into the main characters' reinvention. This season was a pivotal moment, shifting the focus from the fallout of divorce to the hilarious and often poignant challenges of starting a business in your 70s.

The core of the show’s success lies in its stellar ensemble cast, a blend of Hollywood legends and sharp comedic talent. The casting for Season 3 not only brought back the beloved main players but also introduced key recurring figures who helped drive the season's central plot: the launch of Grace and Frankie's elderly-focused sex toy company, "Vybrant." This article offers a deep dive into the full cast, the dynamic character arcs, and the lasting impact of this groundbreaking season.

The Legendary Ensemble: Main Grace and Frankie Season 3 Cast and Biographies

The heart of Grace and Frankie is its four powerhouse leads, all veterans of stage and screen. Season 3 saw them continue to explore the complexities of late-life change, new relationships, and the deep, often messy bonds of unconventional family.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

• Jane Fonda as Grace Hanson: An Oscar-winning actress, political activist, and fitness guru, Jane Fonda has had a career spanning over six decades. In Season 3, Grace is driven, pragmatic, and determined to secure a financial future, leading the charge on the "Vybrant" business. Her arc focuses on overcoming her deep-seated fear of vulnerability and financial dependence.
• Lily Tomlin as Frankie Bergstein: A comedy icon and a Kennedy Center Honoree, Lily Tomlin is celebrated for her diverse roles and comedic timing. As the free-spirited, eccentric artist Frankie, she provides the creative vision for the new business. Season 3 explores her struggles with Grace's pragmatism and her evolving, long-distance relationship with Jacob.
• Martin Sheen as Robert Hanson: Known for his iconic roles in Apocalypse Now and The West Wing, Sheen brings gravitas to the role of the newly-out lawyer. In Season 3, Robert and Sol navigate the challenges of their new marriage, including Robert's growing involvement in a local theatre group and the financial realities of their combined lives.
• Sam Waterston as Sol Bergstein: A distinguished actor famous for his long run on Law & Order, Waterston plays the sensitive, sweet-natured Sol. This season sees Sol grapple with his identity as a newly-married gay man and his complex emotional ties to Frankie, often struggling to assert himself in his relationship with Robert.

The Children: The Next Generation of Chaos

The supporting cast of the four adult children provides much of the show’s comedic friction and emotional grounding. Their own lives—career changes, relationship woes, and existential crises—mirror the central themes of the series.

• June Diane Raphael as Brianna Hanson: Grace's eldest daughter and the CEO of Say & Sell, the company Grace founded. Brianna is sharp, cynical, and emotionally distant. Season 3 sees her facing a major relationship challenge and struggling with her own version of control and success.
• Brooklyn Decker as Mallory Hanson: Grace's younger, more conventional daughter. Mallory is often the voice of reason and the one who tries to mediate family conflicts. Her character provides a contrast to Brianna's ambition and Grace's rigidity.
• Ethan Embry as Coyote Bergstein: Frankie's adopted, recovering-addict son. Coyote’s journey in Season 3 involves navigating sobriety and attempting to build a stable life, often with Frankie’s over-the-top support.
• Baron Vaughn as Nwabudike "Bud" Bergstein: Frankie's other adopted son and a successful lawyer. Bud is the most grounded of the children, often acting as the family anchor. His relationship with his girlfriend, Allison, continues to develop in this season.

The Groundbreaking Season 3 Plot: The Rise of Vybrant

Season 3 is arguably the most dynamic in terms of plot, as it introduces the central conflict that drives the rest of the series: the creation of a business. The story picks up directly after Grace and Frankie realize that the sex toys they use are not designed for the specific physical needs of older women. This realization sparks a brilliant, if utterly chaotic, entrepreneurial venture.

The season’s twelve episodes chronicle the duo’s journey from a backyard idea to a fully-fledged, albeit unlicensed, business. The first major hurdle is securing capital. After being repeatedly rejected by traditional banks due to their age and the nature of their product—a plot point that highlights real-world ageism—they decide to use the money Grace had secretly saved for a rainy day. This decision creates a deep rift between the two, as Frankie views the money as Grace’s safety net, while Grace sees it as the necessary risk for their future.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

The product itself, a discreet line of vibrators designed to alleviate the discomfort of late-life intimacy, is named "Vybrant." The launch is fraught with hilarious technical difficulties, including a website crash that forces them to confront a demanding man from Walden Villas to get back online.

Character Development and Relationship Dynamics

Beyond the business venture, Season 3 delves deeper into the main characters' personal lives, focusing on themes of independence, self-acceptance, and the search for love later in life.

• Grace’s Financial Independence: Grace, who has always relied on a man for financial security, takes the biggest leap of faith by investing her personal savings. This act is a profound step toward true independence, a major theme for her character throughout the series. Her conflict with Frankie over a gun also highlights her enduring need for control.
• Frankie and Jacob: The season continues the beautiful, unconventional romance between Frankie and Jacob (Ernie Hudson), the "Yam Man." Jacob's grounded, gentle presence provides a perfect foil to Frankie's chaos, and their relationship is a touching example of finding love unexpectedly.
• Robert and Sol’s Marriage: Robert and Sol, having finally married, face the mundane realities of married life, which are often more challenging than the drama of their coming out. Robert’s commitment to a community theater production and Sol’s attempts to be more assertive—sometimes successful, sometimes not—provide both comedy and emotional depth.
• Brianna’s Career and Love Life: Brianna’s arc is particularly poignant, as her emotionally distant nature causes her boyfriend to leave, forcing her to confront the ways she pushes people away. This mirrors Grace's own past struggles and shows the generational impact of emotional repression.

Key Recurring and Guest Stars Who Defined Season 3

A show with such topical authority relies on a strong bench of recurring characters and guest stars to populate the world of Grace and Frankie. Season 3 brought back several fan favorites and introduced new faces who were instrumental to the plot, particularly in the episodes focused on the "Vybrant" business and the women's social lives.

• The Surprise Vegas Wedding And Shared Grief 5 Shocking Details Of John Schneider And Dee Dee Sorvinos Whirlwind Romance Ohirf

The ensemble’s depth is a testament to the show’s creators, Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris, who managed to attract top talent for even minor roles.

• Ernie Hudson as Jacob: Frankie’s warm, steady boyfriend who sells yams. His appearances are always a grounding force for Frankie's more erratic tendencies.
• Estelle Parsons as Babe: A recurring friend of Grace and Frankie, Babe’s appearances often involve insightful, boundary-pushing commentary on their lives.
• Ed Begley Jr. as Mark: Begley Jr. appeared in the episode "The Musical," adding to the star power.
• Joanne Baron as Cheryl: Baron appeared in "The Other Vibrator," an episode central to the business plot.
• Natalie Morales as Melissa: Morales was part of the cast for "The Musical," showcasing the show's ability to draw in recognizable talent for single episodes.

The success of the third season, with its focus on female entrepreneurship and late-life sexuality, resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike. It proved that the series was more than just a comedy about two divorcées; it was a powerful statement on aging, friendship, and starting over. The cast's chemistry, particularly between Fonda and Tomlin, was at its peak as they navigated the hilarious and often frustrating world of small business ownership, making Season 3 a defining chapter in the entire Grace and Frankie saga.