The Righteous Gemstones


The Righteous Gemstones is an American crime comedy-drama television series created by Danny McBride that premiered on August 18, 2019, on HBO. The series follows a famous and dysfunctional family of televangelists. McBride also stars in the series, alongside Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, Tony Cavalero, Cassidy Freeman, Gregory Alan Williams, Tim Baltz, and John Goodman. The series concluded on May 4, 2025, after airing four seasons and 36 episodes. It received positive reviews from critics.

Premise

The Righteous Gemstones depicts a family of South Carolina-based televangelists and megachurch pastors led by widowed patriarch Eli Gemstone. Eli and his immature adult children, Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin, lead opulent lives funded by the church.
In the first season, Eli's estranged brother-in-law, Baby Billy Freeman, is brought in to lead the Gemstones' new shopping-mall-based satellite church, which leads to a conflict with Rev. John Wesley Seasons, whose smaller, neighboring church is threatened. Concurrently, a trio of masked figures blackmail Jesse with a scandalous video documenting the lewd behavior of him and his best friends.
In the second season, Jesse and Amber partner with Texas megachurch leaders Lyle and Lindy Lissons to develop a Christian timeshare resort. The family faces threats, including investigative journalist Thaniel Block, an old friend from Eli's past, and a mysterious group of motorcycle-riding assassins.
In the third season, Eli scales back his involvement in the church, handing over greater control to his children. Eli's impoverished sister, May–May, resurfaces, asking for his assistance in keeping her family safe from her ex-husband, Peter, a vengeful Christian militia leader who holds a decades-long grudge against the Gemstones. Meanwhile, betrayals threaten to end the relationships of Judy and BJ and Kelvin and Keefe.
In the fourth and final season, the Gemstone children continue to lead the church amidst their turbulent personal lives: Jesse struggles to leave a lasting legacy and keep control of his rebelling sons, while Judy must care for a depressed BJ after he is injured in a pole-dancing accident. Having entered into a romantic relationship with Keefe, Kelvin gains prominence after creating PRISM, an LGBT-friendly ministry. However, things spiral completely out of control for the Gemstones when a lonely Eli enters into a relationship with Lori Milsap, a close friend of Aimee-Leigh. The origins of the Gemstone empire, led by outlaw-turned-reluctant preacher Elijah Gemstone, are likewise explored.

Cast and characters

Main

  • Danny McBride as Jesse Gemstone, Eli's oldest son and associate pastor of the Gemstone Salvation Center. Although appearing to be a faithful father and husband, Jesse barely conceals a crude and arrogant personality and a debauched lifestyle, which he often partakes in with his "gang" of friends and subordinates.
  • Adam DeVine as Kelvin Gemstone, Eli's youngest son and youth pastor of the Gemstone Salvation Center. Kelvin strives to prove himself as a leader, despite his immaturity and impulsiveness.
  • Edi Patterson as Judy Gemstone, Eli's daughter. Judy, the middle child, often feels underestimated by her family as she tries to follow in her mother's footsteps as a singer and star of the church's services. She is prone to inappropriate behavior and angry outbursts.
  • Tony Cavalero as Keefe Chambers, Kelvin's assistant, an ex-Satanist who helps with the youth ministry.
  • Cassidy Freeman as Amber Gemstone, Jesse's wife who projects the image of a supportive and loving spouse. She encourages Jesse's ambitions to take more control of the church while privately struggling with his negative qualities. She is an Olympic markswoman.
  • Greg Alan Williams as Martin Imari, Eli's right-hand-man and the Gemstones' accountant who is often entrusted with the day-to-day operations of the church and cleaning up after the family's scandals.
  • Tim Baltz as Benjamin Jason "BJ" Barnes, Judy's sensitive and mediocre fiancé, and later, husband. He is often intimidated by Judy, although it's apparent that he really loves her. BJ works in an optometrist's office in a local grocery store. He's looked down on by the rest of the family for his odd actions and for being raised by liberal atheists.
  • John Goodman as Dr. Elijah "Eli" Gemstone II, the patriarch of the Gemstone family and lead pastor of the Gemstone Salvation Center. Eli is a widower, having lost his wife, Aimee-Leigh, one year prior to the start of the series. Although not as openly greedy and vulgar as his children, Eli often prioritizes his own wealth and status ahead of spirituality.
  • Skyler Gisondo as Gideon Gemstone, Jesse's oldest son, who moved to California to be a stunt performer, an act that Jesse considered to be a betrayal. Gideon later reconciles with his family and returns to work for the church. He is a skilled martial artist and stunt driver.
  • Dermot Mulroney as Rev. John Wesley Seasons, a pastor of a much smaller congregation, forced to compete with the Gemstones' new church in Locust Grove
  • Walton Goggins as Baby Billy Freeman, Eli's brother-in-law and brother of the deceased Aimee-Leigh Gemstone. A faded child star who was once part of a Gospel song-and-dance double-act with his sister, Baby Billy is a habitual liar whose financial dependence, bad influence on Jesse and Judy, and tendency to abandon his loved ones strained his relationship with the Gemstones. Baby Billy resides at Freeman's Gap, his and Aimee-Leigh's childhood home in the Appalachian Mountains, with his much younger wife Tiffany.
  • Jennifer Nettles as Aimee-Leigh Gemstone, Eli's deceased wife and the mother of Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin. She appears in flashbacks, hallucinations, and as a ghost.
  • M. Emmet Walsh as Grandaddy Roy Gemstone, Eli's father

    Recurring

  • Valyn Hall as Tiffany Freeman, Baby Billy's much younger and childish wife, later the mother of their children, Lionel and Aimee-Leigh Jr.
  • Jody Hill as Levi, a member of Jesse's "gang" and guitarist at the Gemstone Salvation Center
  • James DuMont as Chad, a member of Jesse's "gang" whose marriage falls apart after the revelation of his scandalous behavior.
  • Troy Anthony Hogan as Matthew, a member of Jesse's "gang"
  • J. LaRose as Gregory, a member of Jesse's "gang"
  • Kelton DuMont as Pontius Gemstone, Jesse's ill-mannered second son
  • Gavin Munn as Abraham Gemstone, Jesse's youngest son
  • Scott MacArthur as Scotty Steele, Gideon's friend from Los Angeles. He appears later as a ghost.
  • Mary Hollis Inboden as Mandy, wife, and later, ex-wife of Chad
  • Cullen Moss as Brock, a security guard at the Gemstones' family compound
  • Jade Pettyjohn as Dot Nancy, Dale and Gay Nancy's rebellious teenage daughter
  • Jason Schwartzman as Thaniel Block, an investigative reporter writing about the Gemstone family
  • Eric Roberts as Glendon "Junior" Marsh Jr., a professional wrestling promoter who shares a criminal past with Eli.
  • Eric André as Lyle Lissons, a prominent Texas televangelist who wants to work with Jesse
  • Jessica Lowe as Lindy Lissons, Lyle's wife and business partner
  • Crystal Coney as Angie
  • Steve Zahn as Peter Montgomery, a militia leader, and Eli's estranged brother-in-law.
  • Kristen Johnston as Mary "May–May" Montgomery, Eli's younger sister, Peter's ex-wife, and mother of Chuck and Karl
  • Stephen Dorff as Vance Simkins, Jesse's rival who leads a competing church alongside his siblings.
  • Shea Whigham as Dusty Daniels, an aging NASCAR driver and prominent donor to the Gemstones' church.
  • Lukas Haas as Chuck Montgomery, Peter and May–May's son, Eli's nephew, and cousin to the Gemstone siblings.
  • Robert Oberst as Karl Montgomery, Peter and May–May's son, Eli's nephew, and cousin to the Gemstone siblings.
  • Stephen Schneider as Stephen, a musician with whom Judy has a brief affair while on tour.
  • Iliza Shlesinger as Shay Marigold, Vance Simkins' sister.
  • Gogo Lomo-David as Craig Simkins, Vance Simkins' brother.
  • Sturgill Simpson as Marshall, a member of Peter's militia.
  • Casey Wilson as Kristy, Stephen's wife.
  • Maggie Winters as Taryn, Kelvin's assistant after Keefe breaks up with him and quits his job.
  • Megan Mullally as Lori Milsap, Aimee-Leigh's long-time musical partner and family friend of the Gemstones.
  • Michael Rooker as Cobb Milsap, Lori's ex-husband and a former family-friend of the Gemstones.
  • Seann William Scott as Corey Milsap, Lori's son and family friend of the Gemstone siblings.
  • Arden Myrin as Jana Milsap, Corey's wife.
  • Jennifer R. Blake as Deena Milsap
  • Kerstin Schulze as Sola, the Freemans' nanny.

    Guest

  • Virginia Gardner as Lucy, Scotty's girlfriend and Gideon's friend
  • Toby Huss as Dale Nancy, a loose parody of Dan Cathy, and a congregant and donor to the Gemstones' church
  • Marla Maples as Gay Nancy, Dale Nancy's wife
  • Joe Jonas as himself, a co-investor in Zion's Landing
  • Wayne Duvall as Glendon Marsh Sr., a professional wrestling promoter and organized crime figure
  • Macaulay Culkin as Harmon Freeman, Baby Billy Freeman's estranged son from a previous marriage, whom he abandoned in 1993. Jeremy T. Thomas portrays a younger Harmon in flashbacks.
  • John Amos as Buddy Lissons, Lyle's father. This would be Amos' final television appearance prior to his death in 2024.
  • Bradley Cooper as Elijah Gemstone, Eli's ancestor
  • Josh McDermitt as Abel Grieves, a minister Elijah murdered and took his name
  • James Landry Hébert as Major McFall
  • Steve Little as Jacob Jones, host of "Top Christ Following Man Of The Year"
  • Regan Burns as Big Dick Mitch, a car dealer who Lori dated briefly

    Episodes

Season 1 (2019)

Season 2 (2022)

Season 3 (2023)

Season 4 (2025)