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East of Eden cast: Where you've seen them before
Florence Pugh leads Zoe Kazan's adaptation.
Geoffrey Short/Netflix
- James Hibbs
Published: Monday, 5 October 2026 at 12:14 pm
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Netflix's latest big-budget classic novel adaptation is upon us in the form of East of Eden – and it's led by a starry cast.
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The series, which is adapted from John Steinbeck's novel of the same name by Zoe Kazan, reimagines the multigenerational saga about the Trask family from the perspective of Cathy Ames (Florence Pugh).
It marks a slight departure from Steinbeck's original book, which focused on two families – the Trasks and the Hamiltons.
But while the Hamilton family has a smaller role in the new series, Kazan's adaptation still features a large cast list, with Pugh joined in the ensemble cast by the likes of Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Hoon Lee and Tracy Letts, alongside rising stars Joseph Zada and Joe Anders.
Wondering who they all play? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of the Netflix show.
East of Eden cast list
- Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames
- Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask
- Hoon Lee as Lee
- Tracy Letts as Cyrus Trask
- Mike Faist as Charles Trask
- Ciarán Hinds as Samuel Hamilton
- Joseph Zada as Cal Trask
- Joe Anders as Aron Trask
- Martha Plimpton as Faye
Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames
Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames in East of Eden. Netflix
About the character: Cathy Ames is an antihero, who becomes entangled with Adam Trask and his brother Charles.
Where you've seen Florence Pugh before: Pugh is one of Britain's most in-demand actors, with an Oscar nomination for Little Women and acclaimed lead roles in Midsommar, Lady Macbeth and The Wonder. She has moved between prestige drama and blockbusters, playing Yelena Belova in the MCU and starring in Oppenheimer, Don't Worry Darling and Dune: Part Two.
Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask
Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask in East of Eden. Kirsty Griffin/Netflix
About the character: Adam Trask is the idealistic brother of Charles who falls for Cathy.
Where you've seen Christopher Abbott before: Abbott broke through as Charlie in HBO's Girls and made his film debut in Martha Marcy May Marlene. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for Catch-22 and has built a strong body of independent work including James White, It Comes at Night, Possessor, Black Bear and The Testament of Ann Lee, alongside roles in bigger films such as Poor Things and Kraven the Hunter. He will soon be seen playing Charles Xavier in the upcoming X-Men reboot film.
Hoon Lee as Lee
Hoon Lee as Lee in East of Eden. Netflix
About the character: Lee is a Chinese American and friend of the Trask family with a huge intellect and sense of care to those who need it.
Where you've seen Hoon Lee before: Lee is best known for playing Job in Banshee and Wang Chao in the martial-arts drama Warrior. His other screen work includes roles in the Apple TV shows See and Your Friends and Neighbours.
Tracy Letts as Cyrus Trask
Costa D' Angelo as Adolescent Adam and Tracy Letts as Cyrus Trask in East of Eden. Netflix
About the character: Cyrus Trask is the patriarch of the Trask family and a Civil War veteran.
Where you've seen Tracy Letts before: Letts is both an acclaimed actor and playwright. His play August: Osage County won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award, and he won a Tony as an actor for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. His screen work includes roles in Homeland, Lady Bird, Ford v Ferrari and more recently The Lowdown, The Paper and A House of Dynamite.
Mike Faist as Charles Trask
Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames, Mike Faist as Charles Trask in East of Eden. Netflix.
About the character: Charles is Adam's volatile brother, with whom he has a rivalry.
Where you've seen Mike Faist before: Faist first drew attention on stage as Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen, earning a Tony nomination and a Grammy. He broke through on screen as Riff in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, for which he received a BAFTA supporting-actor nomination, while he later starred opposite Zendaya and Josh O'Connor in Challengers.
Ciarán Hinds as Samuel Hamilton
Ciarán Hinds. Hoda Davaine/Getty Images
About the character: Samuel Hamilton is an Irishman who made his way to California and raised a family there.
Where you've seen Ciarán Hinds before: The Belfast-born actor has had a distinguished stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, while on screen he has played Mance Rayder in Game of Thrones and earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor as Pop in Kenneth Branagh's Belfast. Most recently he has starred in Is This Thing On? and The Dry.
Joseph Zada as Cal Trask
Joseph Zada as Cal Trask in East of Eden. Netflix
About the character: Cal is one of Cathy and Adam's twin sons, and the darker and more troubled of the pair.
Where you've seen Joseph Zada before: Zada is an Australian actor whose credits include Total Control, Invisible Boys and We Were Liars. He is also set to play a young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
Joe Anders as Aron Trask
Joe Anders as Aaron Trask and Joseph Zada as Cal Trask in East of Eden. Netflix
About the character: Aron is the gentler of Cathy and Adam's twin sons.
Where you've seen Joe Anders before: Anders, the son of Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes, has previously had roles in the films 1917, Bonus Track and Lee, as well as the Channel 4 drama I Am Ruth. He also starred in Apple TV's adaptation of Cape Fear, and wrote the screenplay for his mother's directorial debut, Goodbye June.
Martha Plimpton as Faye
Martha Plimpton as Faye and Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames in East of Eden. Netflix
About the character: Faye is a brothel owner with an open heart.
Where you've seen Martha Plimpton before: Plimpton broke through as Stef in The Goonies and has since worked widely across film, television and theatre. She earned an Emmy nomination for the sitcom Raising Hope and has been nominated for multiple Tony Awards for her stage work, with recent TV roles in The Regime, Prime Target and Task.
East of Eden is available to stream on Netflix now. You can sign up to Netflix from £7.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky TV and Virgin Media.
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Authors
James HibbsDrama Writer
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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