The Real Cast Of Murdaugh: Death In The Family—Where Are They Now And The Shocking 2024 Case Updates

The Murdaugh family saga, a labyrinth of power, privilege, and devastating tragedy in the South Carolina Lowcountry, continues to captivate the public, especially with the Hulu limited series, Murdaugh: Death in the Family. Unlike other documentaries, this series uses a cast of high-profile actors to dramatically re-enact the events, bringing a new layer of intensity to the true-crime narrative.

As of December 2025, the real-life case remains a source of constant legal updates and intense media scrutiny, particularly surrounding Alex Murdaugh’s attempts to appeal his conviction and his surviving son's ongoing legal battles. This article dives deep into the acclaimed cast who brought the tragic figures to life and provides the most current details on the real people central to this American tragedy.

The Cast & Characters: Actors Who Portrayed the Murdaugh Family

The Hulu series distinguishes itself by casting well-known actors to embody the key figures in the Murdaugh scandal. This is a complete look at the main cast and the real-life individuals they portrayed, along with their professional biographies.

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• Jason Clarke as Alex Murdaugh: Clarke, an Australian actor known for roles in films like Zero Dark Thirty and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, took on the role of the disgraced legal scion, Alex Murdaugh. His portrayal captures the former attorney's decline from a prominent figure in the 14th Judicial Circuit to a convicted murderer and financial criminal.
• Patricia Arquette as Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh: Arquette, an Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe winner for her role in Boyhood, plays Maggie Murdaugh. Maggie was Alex's wife and mother to Paul and Buster, whose life ended tragically on June 7, 2021, at the family's Moselle Road hunting lodge.
• Johnny Berchtold as Paul Murdaugh: Berchtold, an actor known for his work in *The Reacher*, portrays the Murdaugh's younger son, Paul. Paul's life was marred by controversy, most notably his involvement in the fatal 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach.
• Will Harrison as Buster Murdaugh: Harrison steps into the role of the Murdaugh's surviving son, Buster. The series explores the pressure and scrutiny Buster faced as the family's legal woes and alleged cover-ups came to light.
• Brittany Snow as Mandy Matney: Snow, famous for her work in the Pitch Perfect and The Night Agent, portrays journalist Mandy Matney. Matney is the South Carolina-based reporter who, through her *Murdaugh Murders Podcast*, was instrumental in breaking the story and keeping the investigation in the public eye.
• Gerald McRaney as Randolph Murdaugh III: Veteran actor Gerald McRaney portrays the family patriarch, Randolph Murdaugh III, who was Alex’s father and a powerful former 14th Circuit Solicitor.

The Real Murdaugh Saga: A Timeline of Tragedy and Corruption

The Murdaugh family was one of the most powerful legal dynasties in South Carolina for over a century, with three generations serving as the elected prosecutor, or Circuit Solicitor, for a five-county region. This prominence granted them immense influence, which the series meticulously documents as the foundation for the ensuing scandals.

The series explores several key tragedies that unraveled the family's power:

The 2015 Death of Stephen Smith

In July 2015, 19-year-old Stephen Smith was found dead in the middle of a rural road in Hampton County. His death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, but the Murdaugh name appeared multiple times in the South Carolina Highway Patrol investigation notes. The case was officially reopened as a homicide investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in the wake of the 2021 murders, drawing a direct line between the family's history and the current events. Smith's body was exhumed in April 2023 as part of the renewed investigation.

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The 2019 Boat Crash and Mallory Beach’s Death

The most immediate precursor to the Murdaugh downfall was the fatal boat crash on February 24, 2019. Paul Murdaugh, allegedly intoxicated, crashed his family's boat into the Archers Creek Bridge near Beaufort, killing 19-year-old Mallory Beach. Paul was charged with three felony counts related to the crash, including boating under the influence. The series highlights the Murdaugh family’s alleged attempts to influence the investigation and cover up Paul’s responsibility, further exposing the family's long-held sense of immunity.

Latest 2024 Updates on Alex and Buster Murdaugh’s Legal Battles

The series and documentaries often conclude with Alex Murdaugh’s conviction in 2023, but the legal saga is far from over. The most recent developments in 2024 continue to shape the narrative and the lives of the surviving parties.

Alex Murdaugh: Life in Prison and Denied Appeal

Alex Murdaugh is currently serving two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at their Moselle property. In a separate federal case, Murdaugh also pleaded guilty to 22 financial crimes, including money laundering and wire fraud, receiving an additional 40-year prison sentence in September 2023.

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A significant update occurred in January 2024 when a new trial court judge formally denied Murdaugh's motion for a new murder trial. The motion was based on allegations that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill tampered with the jury. Despite the denial, Murdaugh's legal team is continuing its appeal process, keeping the case active in the courts.

Buster Murdaugh’s Ongoing Libel Lawsuit

Buster Murdaugh, the surviving son, is engaged in his own high-stakes legal battle. In February 2024, a federal judge made a key ruling in his libel lawsuit against several media companies, including those involved in Murdaugh-related documentaries.

Buster alleges that these media outlets falsely linked him to the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, a claim he vehemently denies. The judge split the case, meaning the libel suit will proceed in two separate trials—one in state court and one in federal court—against the various defendants. This ongoing legal action underscores the lasting impact of the Murdaugh scandal, as Buster fights to clear his name from the damaging accusations documented in the media.

The Journalists and Entities That Exposed the Murdaugh Dynasty

The Hulu series highlights the critical role of independent journalism in exposing the Murdaugh family's alleged corruption. The character of Mandy Matney, portrayed by Brittany Snow, represents the relentless pursuit of truth that ultimately brought the powerful family down.

• Mandy Matney: Matney, a former reporter for the *Island Packet*, launched the *Murdaugh Murders Podcast* in 2021 after the murders of Maggie and Paul. Her investigative reporting was crucial in bringing to light the family's history of alleged cover-ups, financial misconduct, and their influence over the 14th Judicial Circuit. Her podcast quickly became a national phenomenon, providing the foundation for many subsequent documentaries and dramatizations.
• FITSNews: This South Carolina-based news outlet, particularly the work of journalist Will Folks, was also instrumental in covering the scandal from its earliest stages, focusing on the 2019 boat crash and the family's legal maneuvering.
• SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division): SLED was the primary agency responsible for investigating the double homicide at Moselle Road and later reopened the Stephen Smith death investigation, demonstrating the state's eventual commitment to an impartial pursuit of justice.

The Murdaugh case is a cautionary tale about unchecked power in a small community. The Hulu series, Murdaugh: Death in the Family, serves as a dramatized, high-production retelling of the events, while the real-life consequences continue to unfold in the courtrooms of South Carolina, with 2024 proving to be a year of continued legal appeals and new trials.