“Scandal” solid: What the celebrities of Shonda Rhimes’ political thriller have been as much as for the reason that sequence’ ultimate twist

• Scandal, which ran for seven seasons from 2012 to 2018, adopted D.C. fixer Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) as she navigated a corruption-laden political panorama.
• Tony Goldwyn, Katie Lowes, and Darby Stanchfield costarred on the Shonda Rhimes-created sequence.
• All seven seasons of Scandal are actually streaming on Netflix.

It's been greater than seven years since Scandal's bow in 2018, and we're nonetheless reeling. Sorry, M. Night time Shyamalan, however you'll by no means contact these twists.

Created by Shonda Rhimes, the ABC sequence centered on Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), a D.C. fixer at a disaster administration agency, and her brushes with a White Home steeped in corruption. All through its seven-season, 124-episode run, Rhimes volleyed shocker after shocker at audiences, from tawdry affairs, secret identities, and rigged elections to homicide after homicide after homicide.

“It’s all the time been my intention that the Oval Workplace is a spot that corrupted anyone who got here close to it, and the nearer you got here, the extra corrupt it made you, the extra it broken you,” Rhimes informed Entertainment Weekly forward of the sequence' 2018 finale.

That corruption contaminated almost each character in Scandal's huge ensemble. With the sequence' now streaming on Netflix, we thought it will be an excellent time to see what the Scandal solid has been as much as within the years since that explosive finale.

01 of 12

Kerry Washington as Liv Carolyn Pope

Kerry Washington led Scandal throughout seven seasons as Olivia Pope, the Olivia Pope & Associates disaster supervisor with a knack for turning scandals into shrugs. The character was primarily based partly on Judy Smith, a former staffer within the George H.W. Bush administration who served as a co-executive producer and technical advisor for the sequence. For her efficiency, Washington acquired two Emmy nominations, in addition to a Golden Globe nomination.

Rhimes mentioned the character's legacy with EW following the finale. "I really feel like she’s been a really three-dimensional, impartial girl who was, at a time when feminine characters actually weren’t antiheroes, an antihero," she mentioned. "I hope that that’s one thing that has occurred. And now it feels very regular and apparent that feminine characters will be antiheroes, and it feels regular and apparent that girls of colour can lead reveals. So hopefully that’s one thing that this present has carried out."

Might Olivia Pope return? Rhimes is contemplating it.

From acting to producing and activism, Kerry Washington is firing on all cylinders 27 of the Best 'Scandal' Guest Stars

Washington served as a producer on Scandal, and within the years since she's centered as a lot on producing and directing as she has appearing. For instance, she served as each star and govt producer on Little Fires Everywhere (2020) and Unprisoned (2023–2024), and received an Emmy as an govt producer on Dwell In Entrance of a Studio Viewers: "All within the Household" and "Good Instances." She additionally directed episodes of SMILF (2019) and Insecure (2020).

Washington has additionally produced and starred in movies reminiscent of The Six Triple Eight (2024) and Shadow Drive (2025), and can subsequent lead the star-studded solid of Rian Johnson's Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery alongside Glenn Shut, Andrew Scott, and Cailee Spaeny.

She's additionally within the means of rebooting Desperate Housewives for ABC.

02 of 12

Tony Goldwyn as Fitzgerald Grant III

One in all Scandal's many pleasures was its central romance between Washington's Olivia and Tony Goldwyn's Fitzgerald Grant III, none apart from the president of america.

"When [Rhimes] mentioned it was with Kerry, I used to be like, 'Oh my God, I've been dying to work along with her,'" Goldwyn informed EW in March 2025. "It was shocking after we began working collectively. We simply vibed as actors. So I feel we had been like, 'Wow, this works.' It had that magical high quality to it."

Goldwyn had already loved a protracted profession previous to Scandal, with memorable roles in hits like Ghost (1990) and From the Earth to the Moon (1998), in addition to a number one voice function in Disney's Tarzan (1999).

Within the years since Scandal wrapped, the actor's appeared in a variety of well-liked initiatives, from Oscar-winning movies like King Richard (2021) and Oppenheimer (2023) to a number one function as DA Nicholas Baxter on Regulation & Order (2024–current).

03 of 12

Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan

Darby Stanchfield starred in all seven seasons of Scandal as Abby Whelan, a Pope & Associates fixer who finally ends up changing into President Grant's press secretary.

Stanchfield mentioned the tears she shed whereas studying Scandal's ultimate episode previous to capturing in a postmortem interview with EW. "There was part of me that was like, 'Darby, rein it in, get your self collectively, it's only a story," she mentioned, talking particularly to the demise of a serious character. "However pay attention, once you play a personality for seven years, it seeps in there and it's like a second pores and skin and second life that I lived, so it affected me fairly deeply."

Following Scandal, Stanchfield appeared in movies reminiscent of Stargirl (2020) and Willie and Me (2023), and performed a lead function as Locke household matriarch Nina on ABC's Locke & Key (2020–2022).

After Joe Biden turned the U.S. president in 2021, Stanchfield made headlines by providing tricks to incoming press secretary Jen Psaki, who she kinda-sorta resembles. "Don't get energy hungry & attempt to get your pal killed," she suggested in a Twitter submit.

04 of 12

Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beene

Jeff Perry, a co-founder of Chicago's influential Steppenwolf Theatre Firm, starred on all seven seasons of Scandal as political operator Cyrus Beene, a mover and shaker till the bitter finish.

"Shonda creates the stress of simultaneous, dichotomous truths of what’s amoral technique meets an idealism and an actual perception," Perry informed EW in a 2013 chat in regards to the sequence.

Rhimes is simply as complimentary about Perry. "It’s all the time a lot enjoyable to put in writing for Cyrus Beene, as a result of you may have Jeff Perry to put in writing for and you recognize that something you write goes to be delivered and glib and be so fascinating," she beforehand informed EW.

Does anybody on 'Scandal' deserve a cheerful ending?

Perry reunited with Rhimes in 2022 for the creator's Inventing Anna miniseries for Netflix. He additionally appeared in sequence reminiscent of Soiled John (2018), Alaska Day by day (2022), and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024).

05 of 12

Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins

Katie Lowes performed Quinn Perkins, who started her journey working at Olivia’s agency and ultimately took the reins as its head after Olivia handed it over to her. Earlier than entering into management, although, Quinn had a quick stint as a junior operative at B613.

Quinn is among the uncommon characters to get a cheerful ending, seeing as within the sequence finale, she and Charlie (George Newbern) get married and ease into dwelling a extra regular life after his launch from jail.

"I beloved it," Lowes informed EW of her character’s ending. "I used to be utterly happy. It's actually bizarre, I've by no means performed a task for seven years, and I used to be strolling to the desk learn actually nervous. I used to be so relieved to know that she's okay. She has her greatest pal Huck, she's acquired her husband Charlie, she has her child, and he or she's acquired Quinn Perkins & Associates. Howdy? What? I by no means even knew Quinn Perkins was able to a cheerful ending."

Within the years since saying goodbye to Scandal, Lowes has continued to thrive in her appearing profession. She portrayed Rachel DeLoache Williams in Rhimes’ Inventing Anna (2022), guested on This Is Us (2022), and lent her voice to initiatives reminiscent of Vivo (2021), Zootopia+ (2022) and Unusual World (2022).

Subsequent up for Lowes is the Netflix drama The Searching Wives, starring Malin Akerman, Brittany Snow, and Dermot Mulroney. You may as well hear her and costar Guillermo Diaz focus on Scandal on their rewatch podcast, Unpacking the Toolbox.

06 of 12

Guillermo Diaz as Huck

A prolific movie and TV actor, Guillermo Diaz appeared in initiatives like Half Baked (1998), Chappelle's Present (2003–2006), and Weeds (2007–2012) earlier than becoming a member of Scandal as Huck, an assassin-turned-tech whiz.

"What I really like that I took away from the [finale], and what individuals will take away from it’s that the reality will set you free and the reality will prevail," Diaz informed EW in a 2018 chat following the finale. "That's one thing that our present administration within the White Home might study quite a bit from."

Guillermo Diaz on working with Britney Spears, intense Scandal scenes, the upcoming Bros, and more

The actor chased his function on the sequence with visitor spots on Broad City (2019), Excessive Upkeep (2019), and The Good Physician (2024), in addition to a recurring function as Sergeant Invoice Brewster on Regulation & Order: Organized Crime (2021). He additionally costarred with Billy Eichner within the 2022 LGBTQ comedy Bros.

He additionally cohosts the Unpacking the Toolbox podcast, a Scandal recap sequence, with Lowes.

07 of 12

Columbus Brief as Harrison Wright

Columbus Brief starred as litigator Harrison Wright within the first three seasons of Scandal, working alongside Olivia at her disaster administration agency. He even recruited Quinn (Katie Lowes), famously dubbing them "gladiators in fits."

In April 2014, followers had been hit with stunning information that Brief wouldn’t be returning for season 4 after a regarding home incident. In consequence, his character met a tragic finish — Harrison was killed by B613 agent Tom Larsen (Brian Letscher) after discovering out the black-ops workforce was chargeable for the homicide of Jerry Grant Jr. (Dylan Minnette).

In keeping with Brief, that wasn’t all the time meant to be the top of Harrison’s story. On a 2024 episode of Unpacking The Toolbox, the Scandal rewatch podcast hosted by Katie Lowes and Guillermo Diaz, Brief shared that he as soon as envisioned a unique destiny for his character.

"I’d have favored Harrison to ultimately have been with Katie, how we began," he mentioned, referencing Lowes’ character, Quinn. "That might have been superb."

Lowes chimed in, recalling the unique spark between their characters within the pilot episode. "Properly, keep in mind the top of the pilot? There was alleged to be one thing."

Certainly, Harrison and Quinn first met on a blind date — a meet-cute that rapidly was a job supply and thus, put any romance on maintain.

Since his Scandal days, Brief has stored busy on the small display screen, showing in episodes of Casting the Internet (2020), Black Ink Crew: Compton (2022), and Depraved Metropolis (2022).

His film credit embrace The Lady Is in Bother (2015), True to the Sport (2017), and Bear in mind Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (2022).

08 of 12

Bellamy Younger as Mellie Grant

Bellamy Younger's Mellie Grant had one of many wilder arcs on Scandal, evolving from the spurned First Woman to the primary feminine U.S. president.

In a 2016 interview with EW, Younger mentioned the strangeness of appearing on a political present in an period of political turmoil. "Shonda [Rhimes] and our writers are undoubtedly having fun with this uncommon alternative to actually reply to what’s occurring in life with the right synergy in what’s occurring in artwork," she mentioned. "It’s lots of enjoyable to return house at night time and watch a Republican debate and go [to work] the following day and determine learn how to be a Republican candidate."

The actress has been a constant presence on TV since Scandal ended, main sequence reminiscent of Prodigal Son (2019–2021), Promised Land (2020), and The Other Black Girl (2023).

Younger, a longtime animal advocate, continues to make use of her profile to advertise shelter adoptions.

In 2025, she began a podcast sequence, She Leads With CARE, which goals to spotlight the significance of overseas support for these in impoverished international locations.

09 of 12

Joshua Malina as David Rosen

Joshua Malina portrayed David Rosen, who ultimately turns into america Lawyer Basic beneath President Grant. However in a stunning twist through the sequence finale, David is poisoned by none apart from Perry's Cyrus, making him the present’s ultimate main casualty.

On the time the finale aired, Malina was touring along with his hit podcast The West Wing Weekly (2016–2020), and located it more and more difficult to maintain his character’s destiny beneath wraps.

"All over the place we've gone, persons are consistently asking me, attempting to get me to remain stuff," Malina informed EWin a 2018 interview. "I've virtually, a pair occasions, erred not by revealing that he died, however being too [over the top]. Individuals could be like, 'Properly, perhaps a by-product,' and I'd be like, 'Yeah, oh yeah, perhaps he'll be within the spinoff for positive.' I went too far the opposite method. I needed to simply shut up.”

Since bidding farewell to Scandal, Malina has stored his TV streak alive with recurring appearances on Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017), Shameless (2020–2021), and American Auto (2022–2023).

10 of 12

Joe Morton as Elijah "Rowan" Pope

Emmy winner Joe Morton joined the Scandal household in season 2 as Olivia’s father, Elijah "Eli" Pope (higher referred to as Rowan). He served because the ruthless commander of B613 till President Grant fired him and appointed Jake in his place. After a quick absence, Rowan reclaimed his place as head of B613, holding it till Olivia and her workforce dismantled the shadowy group and in the end put him behind bars.

Morton informed EW that Rowan’s testimony within the sequence finale supplied “the right ending for his character,” particularly “in what he says, how he says it, and who he says it to.”

In a post-show Q&A, Rhimes admitted to EW that writing for Morton was “heaven on earth, truthfully,” including, “To actually have someone that you can write issues that had been so excessive for, and to know that they had been going to return out and all the time really feel like Shakespeare, simply because they got here out of his mouth, is superb."

A seasoned actor earlier than Scandal, Morton has continued to search out success with roles on reveals like God Friended Me (2018–2020), The Politician (2019–2020), Our Form of Individuals (2021–2022), and Going Dutch (2025–current).

On the large display screen, you would possibly’ve seen him in Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), Trinity's Triumph Monsignor Heck (2020), and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021).

11 of 12

Scott Foley as Jake Ballard

Scott Foley joined Scandal in its second season and caught round till the final episode. He portrayed Jake Ballard, a U.S. Navy intelligence officer tasked with spying on Olivia on the private request of President Grant.

Over the course of the present, Jake rose by way of the ranks, changing into director of the Nationwide Safety Company in season 5. To not point out, he additionally took command of B613 for a time, stepping in for Rowan (Joe Morton) earlier than Rowan reclaimed management. By the sequence finale, Jake’s previous catches up with him, and he’s arrested and thrown in jail.

"I want I might say I used to be shocked by Jake's ending," Foley informed EW. "I feel he acquired an acceptable comeuppance for all the pieces he's carried out over the previous nevertheless lengthy. Irrespective of how a lot he rectified his crimes in his thoughts as doing good for the Republic, they had been crimes nonetheless."

Although Foley was already a well-established actor earlier than Scandal, he’s added only a few credit to his resume for the reason that present ended, together with The Massive Leap (2021), The Girls on the Bus (2024), La Dolce Villa (2025), and Will Trent (2025).

Foley’s upcoming schedule appears to be like packed, as he's (by some means) slated to return to the Scream franchise in Scream 7. He's additionally producing the horror comedy Slay, directed by Jimmi Simpson.

12 of 12

George Newbern as Charlie

George Newbern appeared on all seven seasons of Scandal as Charlie, a B613 murderer who loved a surprisingly comfortable ending after getting married to Quinn.

"[The finale] was satisfying in a way that it's the one factor that Charlie needed was a little bit of actual life, as a result of he lived like a cockroach his complete existence." the actor informed EW in 2018.

Newbern stays a well-recognized face on TV due to his recurring function as Dr. Al Pollack on Regulation & Order: SVU (2018–current). His voice, after all, is simply as acquainted, with the actor having lent it to movies reminiscent of Justice League vs. the Deadly 5 (2019) and video video games like Dissidia Remaining Fantasy NT (2018) and MultiVersus (2022).

The place can I watch Scandal?

All seven seasons of Scandal are presently streaming on Netflix.

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