Background cast
From Lostpedia
The background cast (or extras) of Lost are those actors and actresses who portray the roles of minor background characters (i.e. nonspeaking). The beach background extras for Lost are, generally, inexperienced actors or non-actors.
Lost is notable in that the background cast for roles on the island (beach camp, Others' camp and so on) remain relatively constant, as recurring roles. The most commonly known extras are listed in the sections below, separated in groups (middle section, tail section, and the Others).
The background cast for the flashbacks off the island, on the other hand, do not recur across episodes in their same roles, with the exception of the recurring island Flight 815 survivor background who appear at the Sydney Airport or local hotels prior to boarding the flight.
Background characters should not be mistaken for the stock character type known as "redshirts", for which actors are usually hired specifically. For more detailed information on this distinction, see the "Further clarification" section below.
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Further clarification
- "Redshirt" is not the same as background actor. "Redshirt" is a fan term for minor characters (not the actors) who are often introduced in an episode or scene for the purpose of being killed by the plot, and may be either a speaking or nonspeaking role. "Background actor" is a term for the actors (not the characters) who portray non-speaking roles, roles which may or may not be redshirt characters. Some guest actors and even part of the main cast on Lost played Flight 815 redshirts; these are by definition not background roles.
- To actors, "background roles" are not considered actual acting roles, and would never appear on an acting resume-- specifically "background" is strictly a non-speaking acting role, the actor is not credited, and the pay scale is different (no residuals). If an actor is filmed with a line (or lines), by definition it is not an extra role.
- In the very rare case (in terms of Lost) that a true background actor is given a line, then they have been "upgraded" that day (in pay scale and acting status) to a credited guest actor, even if their lines are cut in editing. However, in subsequent episodes, they become background again.
- Speaking does not always guarantee credited guest status. For example, general chatter (such as heard in Live Together, Die Alone just before Jack tells everyone to calm down) does not qualify for speaking-part status, nor does a volunteered line that the director did not request.
- The characters of Scott, Steve, Ivan, Jason, and Matthew have been given lines as credited actors in some ABCmedianet press releases, but otherwise again appear as uncredited background in subsequent episodes. (In the case of Ivan, Jason, and Matthew, note that they were credited even when their lines have were cut during editing).
- As the background pool in Hawaii where Lost is filmed is limited in size, occasionally the off-island flashback background cast will be identified recurring in different roles. However, any such coincidences are accidents of the background casting, rather than mandated by the writers of the storyline, despite fan-theories of DHARMA recruiters.
- If non-speaking characters are simply to be considered "background", then, technically The DeGroots and Carole Littleton are extras.
Middle section background
The middle section background was originally cast as 7 survivors in addition to the main cast, but Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams eventually convinced ABC to allow them to expand the background cast to 33, to have a total of 48 survivors [1]. Therefore the recurring middle section background pool was later expanded to encompass several dozen. These background characters recur on the island across episodes, and even appear in flashbacks to the Sydney Airport before boarding Flight 815. Due to availability of the actors (such as moving away from Hawaii, where Lost is filmed), there has been some turnover in the middle section background cast, but overall any additions and changes have been minimal. The background cast featured in the interior of the plane in the Pilot episode were from the pool of actors in Los Angeles (rather than Hawaii), so are different that the recurring survivor cast, although in some cases wardrobe appears to be matched.
The following are the background cast who play recurring roles of the minor or nonspeaking survivors of the middle section:
Click on each image for a larger version.
Lost-TV Forums member "clayseason1" has meticulously compiled the identities of the middle section background cast in a continuously updated forum thread, as well as other related threads. Nearly all of the known identities of the middle section background cast on the internet and this article are from this source, with some additional information from Paul Edney's Lostsurvivors.com website.
Others background
Like the middle section survivor background cast, those that comprise the background Others are also recurring roles.
Two of the Others background was formerly background from the tail section survivors (in addition to the named "Tailie" roles of Emma, Zack, and the guest character Cindy, who also joined the Others); see #8 and #9 below. This list is for background actors only, and does not include guest actors recruited and cast for specific roles, who are always credited for their appearances such as Mikhail, Bea Klugh, Karl, Isabel, Ryan Pryce, Amelia, Adam, etc. Also, the named Others characters of Ivan, Jason, Matthew, and Luke also appear as recurring background cast in episodes where they are not credited; these characters are listed in the next table.
The table also lists only recurring roles, since a minority of the background slots have occasionally been filled by one-time background workers, rather than the main recurring Others cast. Some of the one-time actors who are omitted here (because they do not recur) include one individual in the book club, several on the Pala Ferry pier scene, the Staff station OR scene in "Maternity Leave", and all of the identifiable people from the Other's boat during Walt's abduction including the ones often referred to as "Molotov Woman" and "The Twins" by fans. Appearances before the crash of Flight 815 are denoted by the word "flashback".
- Recurring Others background cast
- The following are the background cast who play the minor or nonspeaking Others on a recurring basis:
- Click on each image for a larger version.
| Number | Appearance | Recurrence | Recurrence | Recurrence | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Bobby Juarez |  ("A Tale of Two Cities") |  ("The Glass Ballerina") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") |  |
| #2 Katherine Cleveland [14] |  ("Live Together, Die Alone") |  ("The Man from Tallahassee") |  ("Left Behind") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") ABC promotional still detail |  |
| #3 |  ("A Tale of Two Cities") |  ("The Man from Tallahassee") |  ("Left Behind") |  ("The Brig") | Appeared in the book club, the Barracks, and at the Ruins. |
| #4 |  ("Live Together, Die Alone") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") Flashback |  ("Greatest Hits") | Appeared on the Pala Ferry dock, outside the cages, and at the second camp. Also appeared in the flashback to the Purge in the same wardrobe as at the Pala Ferry. Identifiable by pigtail braids. Is fourth from the left, front row in the Minor Others image. |
| #5 "Kelly" |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("Live Together, Die Alone") |  ("The Glass Ballerina") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") ABC promotional still detail |  |
| #6 "Robyn R." [15] |  ("Not in Portland") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("One of Us") flashback |  ("The Brig") |  |
| #7 Dee Montgomery [16] |  ("A Tale of Two Cities") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("The Brig") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") ABC promotional still detail |  |
| #8 Michael deYcaza [17] |  ("The Other 48 Days") as one of the Tailies. |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("Live Together, Die Alone") |  ("The Glass Ballerina") | Formerly appeared in "The Other 48 Days" as as a Tailie (Tailie #8 below). Also known as "Mr. Squinty" by some unofficial podcasts [18]. Along with #9, is one of two Tailies background cast that became an Other. As an Other, has appeared at the decoy village, Pala Ferry dock, quarry, the Ruins, and the second camp. Is fifth from the left, rear row in the Minor Others image. |
| #9 "Bob G." [19] |  ("The Other 48 Days") as one of the Tailies See also image detail from ABC promotional still |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("The Glass Ballerina") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") |  Formerly appeared in "The Other 48 Days" as as a Tailie (Tailie #9 below). Along with #8, is one of two Tailies background cast that became an Other. As an Other, has appeared in the decoy village and the quarry, by the Cages (Image), and at the Ruins and second camp. |
| #10 "Stephanie" |  ("Live Together, Die Alone") |  ("A Tale of Two Cities") |  ("The Man from Tallahassee") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") | Appeared in the book club, the quarry, the Pala Ferry dock, and the Cages. She was dubbed as "Ms. Dreadlocks" by some unofficial podcasts, including in the JoshMeister's LOST Blog and Podcast [20] and the Generally Speaking Weekly Lost Podcast. However, these podcasts are incorrect in claiming that this background actress may be the same as the Tailie background #10 (above), aka Nancy, who also sports dreadlocks-- the "Ms. Dreadlocks" of the Others is younger and of a slimmer build than Nancy of the Tailies. |
| #11 |  ("A Tale of Two Cities") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") ABC promotional still detail | Appeared in the Barracks, outside the cages, as the Others left Hydra island, at the Ruins, and second camp. |
| #12 |  ("A Tale of Two Cities") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("The Man from Tallahassee") |  ("The Brig") | Appeared in the Barracks in two separate episodes, as well as outside the cages, as the Others left Hydra island, and at the Ruins.(Image). |
| #13 Terren Zorne [21],[22] |  ("The Glass Ballerina") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("The Man from Tallahassee") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") |  Appeared outside the cages, and as the Others left Hydra island. Also apprehended Kate at Jack's room in the Barracks, and was visible in the submarine that brought Juliet to the island, and at the Ruins and second camp. |
| #14 |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("A Tale of Two Cities") |  ("The Glass Ballerina") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") | Appeared at the decoy village, Pala Ferry dock, outside the cages escorting Kate, at the quarry, and as the Others left Hydra island; easily identifiable by his ponytail or long hair. |
| #15 Sandra Le Bat |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("I Do") |  ("Left Behind") |  ("The Brig") |  Appeared outside the cages, at the quarry, as the Others left the Barracks, and at the Ruins. Sandra Le Bat also portrayed Dominique in a deleted (and therefore non-Canon) flashback of Shannon. |
| #16 |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") ABC promotional still detail |  ("One of Us") Flashback |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") | Appeared escorting Michael, at the Pala Ferry dock, and outside the cages transporting the hooded Jack, as well as Colleen's stretcher. Also appeared escorting Alex, as well as in the submarine transporting Juliet to the island, and at the Ruins and second camp. |
| #17 |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("The Brig") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") ABC promotional still detail | Appeared in the decoy village, outside the cages, and at the Ruins and second campsite. Is third from the right, front row in the Minor Others image. |
| #18 Dustin Geiger [23] |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("Live Together, Die Alone") |  Appeared escorting Michael, and on the Pala Ferry pier. This actor is Dustin Geiger, aka the Other known as Matthew (see below), prior to dying his hair, although it could be argued that here he portrays a different and unnamed Other who has not appeared since the end of Season 2. | ||
| #19 Patrick "Pat" McLane [24] |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("The Glass Ballerina") |  ("The Brig") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") | "Captain" Appeared piloting The Elizabeth when the Others stole it from Sayid, Jin, and Sun, and also appeared outside the cages, and at the Ruins and second camp. This background actor is the real-life captain of the The Elizabeth, which is known as the Mowee in real life. |
| #20 Marc McClellan [25] |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("The Brig") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") ABC promotional still detail |  Appeared at the decoy village, the camp at ruins, and second campsite. | |
| #21 |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("Live Together, Die Alone") | This Other has not appeared in Season 3. | ||
| #22 "Mitchell" [26] |  ("A Tale of Two Cities") |  ("The Glass Ballerina") |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  Appeared at the Barracks, quarry, and cages. | |
| #23 |  ("A Tale of Two Cities") |  ("I Do") |  ("The Brig") | Appeared at the Barracks, the Quarry, and at the Ruins. | |
| #24 James Hadde [27] |  ("Three Minutes") |  ("Live Together, Die Alone") | Appeared guarding the false hatch in the decoy village, as well as on the Pala Ferry pier during the discharge This Other has not appeared in Season 3. | ||
| #25 |  ("The Brig") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") ABC promotional still detail |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") Flashback |  ("Through the Looking Glass") | Appeared at the ruins and second camp, as well as in the flashback of the purge. |
| #26 |  ("The Brig") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") | Appeared at the ruins and second camp. | ||
| #27 |  ("The Brig") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") | Appeared at the ruins and second camp. | ||
| #28 |  ("The Brig") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") ABC promotional still detail | Appeared at the ruins and second camp. | ||
| #29 Thomas Hannsz |  ("Stranger in a Strange Land") |  ("The Man Behind the Curtain") ABC promotional still detail |  ("Greatest Hits") |  ("Through the Looking Glass") ABC promotional still detail |  |
