Best Guest Stars in Only Murders in the Building

Hulu’s murder mystery comedy series Only Murders in the Building recently concluded its fourth season, continuing its hot streak of critical acclaim. The latest season sees the trio of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel navigate the world of filmmaking while solving another murder in the Arconia building. Since Season 4 has a heavy emphasis on Hollywood and its celebrities, there have been some more spectacular guest stars.

Having big-name celebrities appear on Only Murders in the Building has been a notorious part of the series since it first premiered. With well-known stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez headlining the series, these guest actors add plenty of entertainment and don’t overshadow the central trio. With each passing season, the show has gotten more famous names to appear on occasion, including Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd, and Tina Fey. Even better, some get to play exaggerated versions of themselves.

10 Sting Was One of The Show’s First Unexpected Guest Stars

Role: Himself

• He is most known for being the lead singer of The Police.

Season 1 of Only Murders in the Building came out swinging when presenting the guest star lineup. One of the show’s earliest and best guest stars was Sting, who was allowed to be more laid-back. The English singer and activist has been an icon in the music industry for decades, most renowned for being the lead vocalist and bassist for the rock band The Police. Hits like “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” and “Every Breath You Take” defined Sting’s career.

When he appeared in the Season 1 episode “How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?” it caught viewers and music fans off-guard. As Charles, Oliver, and Mabel investigate Tim Kono’s murder in the Arconia, they are surprised that Sting is residing in one of the building’s top rooms. While Sting has acted a few times, this recurring appearance was special since he played himself and held his own with the trio. Sting interacted with Tim before he was murdered, which briefly led the trio to believe he killed Tim. This wasn’t the case, and the theory proved too outlandish. Though only in two episodes, Sting’s time on the show hasn’t been forgotten.

9 Matthew Broderick Makes a Memorable Appearance in Season 3

Role: Himself

• He is most known for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Lion King.

Since Season 3 centered on a Broadway production, Only Murders in the Building ensured a few stage icons and famous actors got to guest star. One of the lucky people selected to be a part of the season was Matthew Broderick. The actor was prominent in the 1980s, starring in hits like Wargames and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. His momentum continued into the 1990s with a dramatic performance in Glory and the memorable role of Simba in The Lion King.

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Matthew Broderick shows up in the Season 3 episode “CoBro,” playing a fictionalized version of himself. When Oliver believes Charles can’t keep up with the musical moments in his production Death Rattle Dazzle, he sadly lets him go and replaces him with Matthew. Compared to Charles, Matthew nails the song line for line. However, Matthew gets too obsessed with the character he is playing, almost going full method acting. Because Matthew strives to perfect the character, Oliver fires him and rehires Charles. As one last zinger, Charles quotes the famous “It’s over. Go home.” line from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to Matthew. In the Season 3 finale, Matthew returns for the opening night of Death Rattle Dazzle, although he is grateful he was not involved in the chaotic production.

8 Nathan Lane Was a Recurring Enemy Of Oliver

Role: Teddy Dimas

• He is most known for The Lion King, The Producers, and The Birdcage.

Throughout the first two seasons of Only Murders in the Building, one of the core story elements was Arconian resident Teddy Dimas, played by Nathan Lane. Lane has been famous on both stage and screen for years. On Broadway, he worked on multiple stage shows, including Guys and Dolls and Angels in America. In film, he starred in The Birdcage, The Producers, and The Lion King. The latter two also starred Matthew Broderick.

Throughout Season 1, Teddy and his deaf son Theo, played by James Caverly, are suspected of Tim Kono’s murder. Owner of a deli store and sponsor of the trio’s murder mystery podcast, Teddy may appear innocent, but he harbors dark secrets. One of them is that he helped Theo cover up the accidental death of Tim’s friend, Zoe Cassidy. Teddy tries to be a good role model and communicator for Theo, yet he only digs deeper holes that make him an enemy of the trio. After Season 1, Teddy gets more bitter towards the trio, specifically Oliver. In Season 2, Teddy is placed on house arrest and continues his feud with Oliver, which leads to the revelation that Oliver’s son, Will, is Teddy’s biological child. Bouncing between threatening and comedic, Lane made Teddy a highlight of the show’s first two seasons and his performance won him an Emmy.

7 Amy Ryan Contributed to Season 1’s Big Reveal

Role: Jan Bellows

• She is most known for The Office and Gone Baby Gone.

For many, Amy Ryan was known for her role as HR representative Holly Flax on the U.S. version of The Office. She was also award-nominated for her performance in Gone Baby Gone. Other notable movies on her resume include Birdman, Beautiful Boy, and Beau is Afraid, in which she co-starred alongside Nathan Lane. With Only Murders in the Building, Ryan found another successful addition to her career. She plays Jan Bellows, who gets introduced early in Season 1.

Through a chance encounter with Charles, Jan, a bassoonist residing in the Arconia, forms a romantic connection after talking about the instrument she plays. As Season 1 progresses, the two go on a few dates, and she even volunteers to help with the Tim Kono murder investigation. At the end of Season 1, Jan is revealed to be the killer as she poisoned Tim due to fears of him being disloyal in their relationship. Once the truth is out, Ryan lets loose to portray Jan as a jealous and unstable character. Although Jan got arrested in the Season 1 finale, she still returned in Season 2 as a prisoner and in Season 4 as a fugitive hiding in the Arconia passageways. With every appearance after Season 1’s big twist, Ryan has tons of fun playing the evil side of Jan.

6 Da’Vine Joy Randolph Has Been Involved in Every Season So Far

Role: Detective Donna Williams

• She is most known for The Holdovers and Dolemite Is My Name.

Besides the trio of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, a few recurring characters have been a part of every season of Only Murders in the Building so far. One crucial guest character is Detective Donna Williams, played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph. In addition to appearing on the show, Randolph has been busy appearing in movies like Dolemite Is My Name and The Lost City. However, her Oscar-winning supporting performance in The Holdovers has catapulted her further into the spotlight.

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Appearing in twelve of the show’s forty episodes thus far, Randolph has consistently brought plenty of personality to Donna. Every season, she is in charge of investigating the central murder, which causes plenty of chaos when she has to deal with Charles, Oliver, and Mabel also solving the crime. Her hardened, stressful, and sarcastic persona makes her a perfect contrast to the trio’s dysfunctional antics. When she is not dealing with constant setbacks at work, Donna reveals herself as an honest woman trying to maintain a steady family life. Because she is always heading the investigation, Donna gets a standout moment or two every season. One recent example is in Season 4 where she fangirls over Zach Galifianakis. With the show renewed for a fifth season, fans expect Donna to return with her hard-working and angry traits once more.

5 Tina Fey Fit Right Into The Show as a Rival Podcaster

Role: Cinda Canning

• She is most known for Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock.

Since working on Saturday Night Live from the late ’90s to the mid-2000s, Tina Fey has been a trailblazer for female comedians. After that, she continued presenting her witty comedy on 30 Rock, a sitcom inspired by her experience on SNL, for seven seasons. In terms of movies, Fey has been in many comedy hits like Mean Girls and Date Night, as well as animated films like Soul and Megamind. With her comedy background, she was a perfect fit to be a guest star for Only Murders in the Building.

Fey plays Cinda Canning, a podcast host who crosses paths with the Only Murders in the Building trio on several occasions. After hearing the trio’s murder mystery podcast, she wanted to jump onto the bandwagon. By the end of Season 1, Cinda gets her wish when the trio gets framed for Bunny Folger’s murder. She then creates the podcast Only Murderers in the Building and takes full credit for the idea. Then, in Season 2, viewers see how much Cinda loves to spin any given narrative. Therefore, her podcasts can have false facts. She may appear successful, but she uses arrogant tactics in the workplace, especially towards her assistant, Poppy. Because Cinda lies and only cares about what benefits her, she is not the typical character Fey is known for playing.

4 Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis Were an Unlikely Grouping in Season 4

Role: Themselves

• Eugene is most known for Schitt’s Creek.
• Eva is most known for Desperate Housewives.
• Zach is most known for The Hangover franchise.

With Season 4, Only Murders in the Building continued finding new plots and celebrities to ensure the series stays exciting. This season was the show’s most star-studded because it is about the trio’s podcast getting turned into a feature film. So, the show brought in three high-profile actors as fictionalized versions of themselves. In the Only Murders in the Building film within the show, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis are hired to play Charles, Mabel, and Oliver.

Eugene is best known for his comedy films like American Pie and Best in Show, as well as the Emmy-winning comedy show Schitt’s Creek. Eva rose to fame thanks to her role as Gabrielle on the drama series Desperate Housewives. Lastly, Zach is most famous for the Hangover movies. Much like the trio of Charles, Mabel, and Oliver, the grouping of Eugene, Eva, and Zach are equally dysfunctional. As the characters investigate Season 4’s murder, they must deal with their actor counterparts joining them. The plot doesn’t feel overstuffed and gives way to some new and refreshing banter. Between Eugene trying to mimic Charles to a tee, Eva showing off her products, and Zach just there for the money, these three made great contributions to Season 4.

3 Jane Lynch Stole The Show as Charles’ Stunt Double

Role: Sazz Pataki

• She is most known for Glee and Wreck-It Ralph.

Another character who has been a part of every season of Only Murders in the Building so far is Charles’ stunt double Sazz Pataki, played by Jane Lynch. Like Tina Fey, Lynch is a female comedian with a stacked resume. To many, Lynch is famous for her Emmy-winning performance as Sue Sylvester on Glee. In addition, she has had recurring roles in Two and a Half Men and Criminal Minds. She has also been in several comedies and animated films in the 2000s and 2010s.

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Lynch made several noteworthy guest appearances as Sazz in Only Murders in the Building‘s current four-season run. As Charles’ stunt double, Sazz was amusing to viewers over the fact the two share similarities in hairstyle and fashion. Sazz and Charles have an inseparable friendship that began when she did his stunts on the fictional cop show Brazzos. Kindhearted and willing to comfort others when needed, Sazz stole every scene she was in, thanks to Lynch’s comedic timing. In Season 4, Sazz becomes the latest murder victim, yet she still returns in flashbacks and, occasionally, a ghost to Charles. Season 4 puts Sazz more front and center, revealing more about her past and dedication to her stuntwork profession. The show may have closed the door on her story, but the name Sazz Pataki will live on.

2 Paul Rudd Played a Murder Victim And an Irish Stuntman

Roles: Ben Glenroy & Glen Stubbins

• He is most known for the Ant-Man franchise and Clueless.

In the last minutes of the Season 2 finale, fans were surprised to see Paul Rudd appear on the show. However, this surprise is elevated when his character, Ben Glenroy, bites the dust while performing onstage. Season 3 pivoted the show towards the world of theatre as the trio tried to figure out who killed Ben. Ben survived being poisoned in the Season 2 finale but was officially killed in the Season 3 premiere after his body was found in an elevator shaft.

By now, everyone knows Paul Rudd mainly for his role as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Along with this superhero role, he has appeared in many comedies, like Clueless, Anchorman, Knocked Up, and I Love You, Man. Rudd has an excellent filmography, so his brief appearance in Season 2 and more central role in Season 3 delighted the show’s fans. Rudd portrays Ben as an antagonistic character who doesn’t get along with most people, especially Charles. Ben makes enemies of many people, making his murder puzzling to solve. While Ben is rude, it’s hard to deny his charming presence because it is Rudd playing him. Rudd’s involvement in Only Murders in the Building didn’t stop there. He also played Glen Stubbins, Ben’s clumsy Irish stunt double, in Season 4.

1 Meryl Streep is Delightful as Oliver’s Love Interest

Role: Loretta Durkin

• She is most known for The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!, and several other acclaimed films.

Meryl Streep is one of the greatest actresses of all time, so it must have felt like a dream come true for the people working on Only Murders in the Building. She has been nominated for many accolades across her long career and won three Oscars for Kramer vs Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, and The Iron Lady. She is also versatile in many genres, including drama, comedy, and musical. From Little Women to The Devil Wears Prada to Mamma Mia!, Streep’s career is incredibly diverse.

Streep made her mark in Season 3 as Loretta Durkin, an actress in Oliver’s production of Death Rattle, later the musical Death Rattle Dazzle. Unlike Streep’s thriving real-life career, Loretta was a struggling actress waiting for her big break. Not only did Oliver cast Loretta, but he also developed feelings for her, thus beginning one of the show’s most endearing romances. She remained a suspect because of her association and feud with Ben Glenroy, but she was innocent. Furthermore, Streep further showcased her singing prowess during one of Death Rattle Dazzle‘s biggest musical numbers. In Season 4, Streep returns as Loretta, whose relationship with Oliver reaches the point where they get engaged and married within a few episodes.Streep and Martin Short’s chemistry was so believable that people speculated they were dating in real life. Overall, Streep was a welcoming addition to the cast and the best guest star the show has had.

Three strangers, obsessed with true crime, find themselves entangled in a murder case within their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building. As amateur sleuths, they collaborate to uncover the truth, navigating hidden secrets and clues while documenting their investigation through podcasts.

Release Date

August 31, 2021

Creator(s)

Steve Martin , John Hoffman

Cast

Michael Cyril Creighton , Aaron Dominguez , Ryan Broussard , Selena Gomez , Martin Short , Vanessa Aspillaga , Steve Martin , Amy Ryan , Jeena Yi

Seasons

4

Creator

Story By

steve martin

Writers

Steve Martin , John Hoffman

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Disney+

Directors

Cherien Dabis

Showrunner

Steve Martin , John Hoffman

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