There's the Airforce, the Navy, and even the Coastal Guard. But to this day, there's still no such thing as the Space Force. Maybe not for long. Netflix's brand-new comedy series takes on this premise to build an exciting, hilarious, and often surprising new show. And the best part? It comes with arguably one of the best comedy casts we have seen in a while!
Developed by funnyman Steve Carell and experienced comedy writer Greg Daniels, Space Force is an engaging new series that explores what would happen if the world's greatest superpowers decided to start fighting for space territory. And since a great show is not possible without great characters, as well as the actors who play them, let's get to know all of the stars involved in this 2020 comedy constellation.
Steve Carell as General Mark R. Naird
In Space Force, the one-and-only Steve Carell plays the 4-star general Mark R. Naird, who's in charge of running the whole operation. Best-known for his role as Michael Scott in The Office, Carell is no stranger when it comes to being the insecure man at the top of the hierarchy. But Space Force's man in charge is nothing like The Office's boss.
Somewhat blindsided when it comes to space science, Naird is nonetheless a great leader. Unlike Michael Scott, Carell's new character understands people's emotions and knows how to play them. Things don't always go according to plan, but in the end, General Naird is a compassionate, talented, and dedicated boss/family-man.
John Malkovich as Dr. Adrian Mallory
From fringe European dramas to mainstream comedy productions, John Malkovich is the kind of actor who's able to excel at anything he does. Space Force is no exception. Playing Dr. Adrian Mallory, Malkovich is Steve Carell's right-arm man and the character in charge of all science-related topics at the Space Force.
Naturally, there's a lot of friction between the highly-rational Mallory and the overly-emotional Naird. But in the end, the two fit better as friends than they do as rivals. Mallory often finds himself surprised by how effective Naird's seemingly mindless decisions prove to be.
Ben Schwartz as F. Tony Scarapiducci
You probably know him from Parks & Rec, a show in which he played the hilarious Jean-Ralphio. But now Ben Schwartz is back with another millennial-inspired role as the loud-mouthed F. Tony Scarapiducci. And Scarapiducci is so funny that he may end up eclipsing Schwartz's past performances.
Employed as Space Force's social media manager, Scarapiducci is an exaggerated portrayal of the over-frivolous Internet-raised young man of today. He likes to keep things trendy around the space base, to show some disrespect for the older characters around, and to get himself in all kinds of trouble. And yes, it will make you laugh yourself silly!
Jimmy O. Yang as Dr. Chan Kaifang
An accomplished stand-up comedian, Jimmy O. Yang is becoming more and more popular as an actor since he played the hilarious Jian Yang in the Silicon Valley comedy series. Now given a place in the star-filled cast of Space Force, Yang performs as Dr. Chan Kaifang, a scientist whose plans are often jeopardized by General Naird's scientifically-clueless management.
Leading a crew of international scientists, Kaifang's expertise is not always fully recognized by the people in charge. Still, he is one of the most prestigious doctors working at the Space Force. He eventually develops a liking for Angela Ali, Tawny Newsome's character.
Diana Silvers as Erin Naird
In the star-filled cast of Space Force, there's also room for Diana Silvers, a young upcoming actress. Known for her role in the coming-of-age comedy Booksmart, Silvers plays Steve Carell's teenage daughter, Erin Naird.
Forced to leave her trendy friends in Washington, Erin finds herself out-of-place in the American countryside, in a small town in which his colleagues seem to care more about hunting and motocross than anything else. Eventually, she finds a job selling açaí at the Space Force, where her malicious Russian "boyfriend" also works.
Tawny Newsome as Captain Angela Ali
Charged with flying the Space Force helicopter, Captain Angela Ali dreams of one-day becoming more than General Naird's personal chauffeur. Arguably the show's most reasonable character, she is a compassionate and professional young woman with a lot to teach to Naird's daughter Erin.
Played by Tawny Newsome, Ali is the kind of woman who doesn't listen to any type of nonsense, not even when it comes from the men in charge. Before joining the cast of Space Force, Newsome was known for shows such as The Comedy Get Down and for being the singer of the band Four Lost Souls.
Noah Emmerich as General Kick Grabaston
The world's finest characters always need a nemesis, and Kick Grabaston is undoubtedly General Naird's greatest rival. Grabaston believes the Space Force should be annexed to the Air Force, which he leads, and is for that reason always trying to undermine Naird's reputation with the Congress. However, he often fails.
Unlike Naird, who is a kind man who loves to connect with his staff, Grabaston is a manipulative general who's not afraid of using dirty tricks to get his way. He's beautifully played by Noah Emmerich, an experienced actor best-known for The Truman Show and The Americans.
Lisa Kudrow as Maggie Naird
In the opening scenes of Space Force, Lisa Kudrow plays the role of the loving general's wife, Maggie Naird. But in the following scenes, Maggie is shown locked away in prison and wearing a trademark orange jumpsuit. What happened? Nobody is sure...
As Maggie Naird's crime seems to be the Space Force's greatest mystery, all we can do is enjoy the comedic comeback of Kudrow, who will always be associated with her classic role as Phoebe Buffay in Friends.
Dan Bakkedahl as John Blandsmith
In Space Force, the President of the United States is depicted as a somewhat clueless, social-media-addicted kind of guy. For that reason, the job of delegating real orders is at the hands of John Blandsmith, the Secretary of Defense. The top supervisor of all military branches, he's the man in charge of making the ultimate call, and some of his decisions may prove to be crucial for the unwinding of the second season.
But spoilers apart, you know you're going to love John Blandsmith because he's played by Dan Bakkedahl. A remarkable actor in both dramatic and comedic productions, some of his best work can be seen in the shows Veep, Life in Pieces, and Tales from the Loop.
Fred Willard as Fred Naird
It's hard to say if the legendary Fred Willard is pulling out a convincing performance as Fred, the fragile father of General Naird, or if Willard himself was genuinely struggling to play the role. Either way, Willard's final on-screen performance is as funny as anything the man did throughout his 7-decades career.
With over 300 credits in his filmography, Willard was one of the hardest-working comedy actors in America before passing away on May 15, 2020. Fred Naird, Carell's clueless retired father, will stay in history as the very last character ever played by the one-and-only Fred Willard.
Don Lake as General Brad Gregory
Although General Brad Gregory is not your typical war-minded military man, he is a loyal servant of the Space Force whose main task seems to be to work as General Naird's secretary. Kind and sensitive, Gregory is not very good at doing his job, but Don Lake beautifully plays him.
With over 100 credits as an actor, Lake has been in everything from Zootopia to Dumb and Dumber To. In Space Force, he plays an easy-to-love 1-star general, but his performance is worthy of a 5-stars rating.
Jessica St. Clair as Kelly King
Working as a Space Force contractor, Kelly King is the woman who's going to put General Naird's honorable reputation to the test. With his wife in prison, Carell's character will have to resist the feelings growing between him and Kelly. But will he be able to do so?
King is played by Jessica St. Clair, an experienced actress best-known for her appearance in movies such as Bridesmaids, She's Out of My League, Life as We Know It, and Wanderlust.
Alex Sparrow as Yuri Telatovich
Back in the days of the Cold War, Russian spies were smooth and tough to spot. But in Space Force, Alex Sparrow plays Yuri Telatovich, arguably the most blatant Russian spy ever caught on camera. Insisting on being called "Bobby," he gets involved with General Naird's daughter. Yuri doesn't have to work hard at all to gain access to valuable secret military documents...
Known for the show UnREAL and the movie Sin City, Alex Sparrow is a real-life Russian with a lot of experience working in European productions.
Spencer House as Duncan Tabner
Duncan Tabner is a Space Force soldier who is first introduced in a scene in which he denies Dr. Adrian Mallory from entering General Naird's office. Initially depicted as a dedicated soldier ready to follow the protocol no matter what, Tabner soon enough proves to be more than a mindless servant.
In the show, his character is especially important due to his liking for Erin, Naird's daughter. Tabner is played by Spencer House, an upcoming actor famous for his roles in The Big Sick, Blue Bloods, and Madam Secretary.
Ginger Gonzaga as Anabela Ysidro-Campos
Space Force has its depiction of the U.S. Congress, and Anabela Ysidro-Campos is the most vocal character in the group. Beautifully portrayed by Ginger Gonzaga, she's a left-minded, strong woman who will not be making General Naird's life any easier. And in case you're already thinking it, yes, she was most likely inspired by real-life politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Ginger Gonzaga is an experienced TV actress who was in all kinds of shows, from Togetherness to Legit, from American Dad to I'm Dying Up Here.
Jane Lynch as Chief of the Navy
The only woman sitting at the Generals table, the Chief of the Navy, doesn't like her gender to be acknowledged, as proved by a hilarious scene in one of Space Force's first episodes. She's fearless, extremely confident, and slightly sadistic. But the best part is that Jane Lynch plays her.
Comedy is relative, but we don't think anyone is ever capable of watching Lynch doing her thing without laughing out loud. She's hilarious and talented, as seen in productions such as Glee, A Mighty Wind, and Role Models.
Diedrich Bader as Chief of the Army
Also, at the Generals table, there's the chief of the army, a nameless character played by Diedrich Bader. From his short interventions, Bader's character seems to be a great fan of one and one thing only: war! Always trying to find an excuse to bomb and invade, he's presented as a somewhat twisted character who's always thirsty for blood.
Behind the chief of the army, there's the talent of Diedrich Bader. A veteran actor with over 200 credits, he appeared in all kinds of productions, from comedy classics such as Napoleon Dynamite to animation shows such as BoJack Horseman and Tangled: The Series.
Chris Gethard as Eddie
Funnyman actor/writer Chris Gethard is used to excel at playing the odd, socially-awkward character. In Space Force, he's given once again a chance to get inside the shoes of a man who finds himself in an uncomfortable situation. In the series, he plays a contractor who gets unexpectedly drafted to be part of a manned mission to the Moon... And the rest is laughs!
Gethard's unique comedic talent is in popular movies such as The Dictator, Don't Think Twice, The Other Guys, and The Heat.
Patrick Warburton as General Dabney Stramm
The table of the Generals wouldn't be complete without General Dabney Stramm, the head of the Marine Corps. In Space Force, the Generals' meetings make for some of the funniest, most memorable scenes. Generally characterized by a fast-cut editing style, these satirize the toughest men in the U.S. as a sort of war-headed, ultra-competitive bunch.
Patrick Warburton's character is no exception. And, as expected, it's portrayed to perfection by the actor. A renowned voice actor, Warburton is probably famous for his role as Agent Tee in the Men in Black II movie.
Kaitlin Olson as Edison Jaymes
Portrayed as a sort of female version of the real-life billionaire Elon Musk, Edison Jaymes is the kind of character who promises more than she can deliver. Spoilers apart, let's just say that there's no good reason to trust James's claim that she's invented the world's best rocket fuel...
Playing this deceptive character is the beautiful Kaitlin Olson, an actress whose most famous role to date is probably the one of Dee Reynolds in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She did other things, though, from a small role in Coyote Bar to a voice-acting part in Finding Dory.