12 Best TV Shows Starring The Cast Of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Like many Quentin Tarantino movies, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood had a large ensemble cast that was a mix of proven box office juggernauts and relative newcomers on the rise. Many of the actors who cameoed as members of the Manson family were about to break out as major stars. For example, Austin Butler was Academy Award nominated for his role as the King of Rock and Roll in Elvis, while Mikey Madison won an Oscar for her titular role in Anora.

While there are many great movies starring the cast of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, you might be surprised how many of the actors you’ve already seen on the small screen in many of your favorite TV shows. From streaming anchor shows to 90s teen dramas to auteur-driven horror limited series, now is a great time to revisit some of the hit series starring the cast ahead of the Brad Pitt-David Fincher-Netflix Once Upon a Time in Hollywood quasi-sequel.

12 Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000)

Luke Perry As Dylan McKay

Beverly Hills, 90210 redefined teen dramas in the 1990s, blending soap-style storytelling with real-world issues. Luke Perry's character Dylan McKay was a huge part of the show’s appeal, playing a brooding, misunderstood bad boy.

Why Luke Perry Left Beverly Hills, 90210 (& Why He Came Back)

Luke Perry played Dylan McKay on the iconic teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210 before exiting in season 6, only to return three years later in season 9.

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Dylan brought unexpected emotional depth to the series, demonstrated in many of Luke Perry’s best episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210. Decades later, Perry’s role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood served as a quiet tribute to his legacy.

Playing the aging actor Wayne Maunder, Perry brought warmth, charisma, and a sense of lived-in history, mirroring his own journey from teen idol to respected character actor. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was a poignant final film released posthumously for Perry, dedicated to his memory, reminding audiences of his lasting impact on television and film.

11 The Carrie Diaries (2013-2014)

Austin Butler As Sebastian Kydd

The Carrie Diaries was an ambitious attempt to explore the early life of Sex and the City's iconic Carrie Bradshaw. While it never reached the cultural heights of its predecessor, the series had charm, a strong visual style, and standout performances from teen stars like Austin Butler, who played Carrie's love interest Sebastian Kydd, a teen heartthrob.

Butler was a teen star, but it’s still surprising in retrospect that this CW actor was soon plucked for more prestige projects. Butler’s small but memorable role as Tex in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood signaled a turning point in his career. Butler was allowed to show more of his range, leading to his starring roles in Elvis and Dune: Part 2.

10 The First Lady (2022)

Dakota Fanning As Susan Ford

Showtime’s historical series The First Lady explored the lives of prominent wives to American presidents in a This Is Us-style interwoven narrative across different time periods. The show had high-profile talent, but never found its audience and sadly, The First Lady was canceled after just one season. Dakota Fanning played Susan Ford, the daughter of Gerald and Betty Ford, delivering a poised and thoughtful performance.

Susan Ford is a notable contrast to Fanning’s brief but impactful role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, where she played the unsettling Manson girl Squeaky Fromme. Fanning’s impressive range, even as a young actor, continues to elevate every project she joins.

9 Pan Am (2011-2012)

Margot Robbie As Pan Am Stewardess Laura Cameron

Pan Am was a short-lived but stylish drama that followed the glamorous, globe-trotting lives of Pan Am stewardesses in the 1960s, a time when air travel symbolized sophistication and women’s opportunities were still deeply limited.

Margot Robbie stood out as Laura Cameron, a beauty queen escaping a sheltered life in search of independence and purpose, one of Robbie’s first major roles in the U.S.

The show revisited gender politics, spotlighting women who wanted more than what society expected. Margot Robbie stood out as Laura Cameron, a beauty queen escaping a sheltered life in search of independence and purpose, one of Robbie’s first major roles in the U.S.

Robbie actually reprised her Pan Am role as a stewardess (though her face isn’t seen) in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, where Robbie famously played Sharon Tate with a controversial alternate ending. Robbie excels at bringing a depth beneath her breathtaking looks in every role.

8 Better Things (2016-2022)

Mikey Madison As Max Fox

Better Things was a groundbreaking, creator-driven dramedy from Pamela Adlon that redefined what personal storytelling could look like on TV. Loosely based on Adlon’s life, the series followed a single mother raising three daughters in Los Angeles, blending comedy, melancholy, and emotional realism.

An edited image of Mikey Madison with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in the background.

Mikey Madison Went Full Manson Auditioning For Tarantino, And She Knew He’d Cast Her In OUATIH Before She Got The Role

Rising star Mikey Madison recounts her Once Upon a Time in Hollywood audition to prove to Quentin Tarantino that she was right for the Manson role.

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The series was critically acclaimed for its authenticity and innovative style, earning a prestigious Peabody Award in 2016. Mikey Madison played Max in Better Things, the volatile eldest daughter, who brought a mix of vulnerability and teenage rebellion.

She later brought the same unpredictable energy to Madison’s role of Sadie, a member of the Manson cult, although Max’s emotional complexity is even more in line with Madison's nuanced performance in Anora.

7 Euphoria (2019-present)

Sydney Sweeney As Cassie Howard

Euphoria became a cultural phenomenon for its bold, stylized, and emotionally gritty portrayal of modern teen life. With its hypnotic visuals and unflinching honesty, the HBO series launched a new wave of Gen Z storytelling. The show catapulted a fresh generation of actors into stardom, including Zendaya (who won an Emmy for her role,) Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney.

Sweeney’s breakout turn as Cassie Howard, a deeply insecure girl chasing love and identity, showcased her dramatic range and emotional depth. That same year, Sweeney played a Manson girl in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, proving her versatility and helping cement her place as one of Hollywood’s most compelling rising stars, with her role in The White Lotus’ acclaimed first season coming just two years later.

6 Maid (2021)

Margaret Qualley As Alex Russell

Maid was a breakout hit for Netflix culturally and critically, becoming one of the streamer’s most-watched limited series of the year. Adapted from Stephanie Land’s memoir, the show delivered a raw and empathetic portrayal of poverty, domestic abuse, and resilience through the eyes of a young mother trying to rebuild her life.

Margaret Qualley’s deeply affecting performance as Alex earned her widespread acclaim and an Emmy nomination, cementing her as a major talent capable of anchoring a project. Maid was a significant leap from Qualley’s small supporting role as a Manson girl in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, proving she could carry a series and channel emotional complexity with subtlety, grit, and vulnerability.

5 Billions (2016-2023)

Damian Lewis As Bobby Axelrod

Billions made a major cultural splash with its sharp writing, high-stakes power plays, and morally complex characters, helping pave the way for prestige dramas centered on wealthy, self-serving elites like Succession and The White Lotus.

Billions’ exploration of ego, power, and loyalty elevated Lewis’s already formidable screen presence.

Lewis brought ruthless charisma to Bobby Axelrod, a brilliant hedge fund king constantly clashing with Paul Giamatti’s relentless district attorney in Billions. Billions’ exploration of ego, power, and loyalty elevated Lewis’s already formidable screen presence.

The same confidence and swagger carried into Lewis’ role as Steve McQueen in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a part that demanded not just movie-star looks, but the cool, magnetic gravitas of someone who could command a room with a glance.

4 Girls (2012-2017)

Lena Dunham As Hannah Horvath

Girls was a lightning rod of a series that shook up the TV landscape with itsraw, unfiltered look at millennial womanhood. Created by and starring Lena Dunham, Girls ran for six seasons, tackling taboo subjects and flawed characters with honesty and humor while launching the careers of actors including Adam Driver and Allison Williams.

Its success helped pave the way for similarly voice-driven comedies like Broad City, Insecure, and Fleabag, expanding the scope of who could tell stories. Dunham’s casting in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was one of Tarantino’s more unexpected choices. Her role as a Manson Family member fit Tarantino’s knack for turning unconventional actors into compelling figures in his revisionist world.

3 Deadwood (2004-2006)

Timothy Olyphant As Sheriff Seth Bullock

Deadwood left an indelible mark on television with its gritty, poetic portrayal of the American West. With Deadwood’s historical accuracy and complex characters, the HBO series earned eight Emmy Awards and inspired years of fan demand, eventually leading to a TV movie more than a decade after the original run ended.

Timothy Olyphant’s Sheriff Seth Bullock stood out as one of the few principled men in a town ruled by vice, adding a moral core to the chaos. The show influenced modern TV westerns like Yellowstone and Justified. Olyphant’s history as a stoic, rugged leading man gave added gravitas to his turn as actor James Stacy in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

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