Pretty Little Liars: Cast And Character Guide (2024)

Adapted from the YA book series by Sara Shepard, Pretty Little Liars is one of the most gripping teen mysteries, and that is thanks to the large, talented cast. While the spotlight is on the five actors playing Alison DiLaurentis and the four friends looking into her disappearance from Rosewood, there are many main and supporting players who contribute to the show's fast-paced and powerful plot - from relatives, romantic partners and acquaintances who seem trustworthy but end up being suspicious.

Pretty Little Liars helped propel many young actors to fame, who have gone on to star on other popular TV shows or explore their film careers. Several main characters were also played by stars with notable roles on their resumes already. From every character who played A on Pretty Little Liars to those wondering who is stalking teenagers in this otherwise perfect small town, the cast of the teen drama is recognizable and noteworthy.

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Lucy Hale As Aria Montgomery

Lucy Hale played Aria Montgomery on PLL, Alison's free-spirited, artistic friend who has a serious relationship with Ezra Fitz, her older English teacher, which is one of the most controversial aspects of the series. Hale has starred on other TV series, including the short-lived Privileged and Life Sentence, but is most known for her portrayal of the charming and stylish title character in the Riverdale spin-off Katy Keene. The actor has branched out into horror content as well, starring in Blumhouse's Truth Or Dare alongside Tyler Posey and as Lake Edmunds on the dark detective series Ragdoll.

Troian Bellisario As Spencer Hastings & Alex Drake

Troian Bellisario's portrayal of intelligent and studious Spencer Hastings was impressive. The actor also impressively played Spencer's evil twin Alex Drake. While she played Claire Bowden in two episodes of Suits, Bellisario has mostly stuck to a variety of film genres since PLL ended. She played a quirky pregnant woman in Doula, Becky in Where'd You Go Bernadette? and has also worked behind the camera, writing and producing the movie Feed, a movie that discusses the struggles of eating disorder.

Ashley Benson As Hanna Marin

Ashley Benson played Hanna Marin, a strong-willed character known for her sense of humor, fashion sense, and love for Caleb Rivers. From Benson's How I Met Your Mother guest role as Barney Stinson's (Neil Patrick Harris) half-sister to playing rebellious and tough Brit in Spring Breakers, the actor has ensured that she isn't typecast and has strayed from teen content. She also starred in the 2022 thriller Private Property, the 2021 crime movie The Birthday Cake, and 2016's Chronically Metropolitan about a writer dealing with personal problems.

Shay Mitchell As Emily Fields

Shay Mitchell gave a strong performance Emily Fields, a talented and kind-hearted swimmer who has notable romances with Paige McCullers and Ali. Mitchell has become one of the most recognized PLL stars thanks to her bold and confident TV roles as Beck's (Elizabeth Lail) wealthy friend, Peach Salinger, in You and Stella Cole in Dollface. The actor starred in the horror film, The Possession of Hannah Grace, and appeared as Vanessa, a woman wondering if she should get engaged in Prime Video's charming Something From Tiffany's.

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Sasha Pieterse As Alison DiLaurentis

Ali can be seen as PLL's main character, and Sasha Pieterse is most known for her portrayal of the mean girl who goes missing, becomes caught up in a dangerous game involving several stalkers, and has to save herself and her friends. She has had minor parts, such as Amanda Strazzulla on Heroes, but is most recognizable for light-hearted roles such as Amy Loubalu in Geek Charming and Isabella Walker in The Honor List, characters that deal with the same friendship themes as PLL. Pieterse has also appeared on reality shows, from competing on season 25 of Dancing With The Stars to judging an episode of Beat Bobby Flay.

Keegan Allen As Toby Cavanaugh

Keegan Allen's first main role was Toby Cavanaugh, and while Toby and Spencer's PLL relationship is flawed and complex, he's a loyal character who does what he can to protect her, joining the Rosewood police and the A Team. Throughout his career, Allen has appeared in movies about teenagers and college students, from Gia Coppola's Palo Alto to the TV movie The Hazing Secret. He then changed genres entirely and played his most recognized role, Cordell Walker's (Jared Padalecki) younger brother, Liam, on Walker.

Tyler Blackburn As Caleb Rivers

Tyler Blackburn made an impression as Caleb Rivers, Hanna's partner who becomes an active part of the investigation of A and who starred on the spin-off Ravenswood. While he has a few film credits, including the 2017 adaptation of the Off-Broadway musical Hello Again, Blackburn is most known for another major TV role. Roswell, New Mexico made several changes from the original series, with Blackburn's character, Alex Manes (a new version of Colin Hanks' Alex Whitman) in a relationship with Michael instead of Isobel. As Alex struggles with his relationship with his father, this role is similar to Caleb, whose family's abandonment makes him feel lost and confused.

Ian Harding As Ezra Fitz

Ian Harding played Ezra Fitz, a former English teacher, who makes some hugely controversial decisions on the series, including writing a book about Ali and starting a relationship with Aria while she was still in school. Harding doesn't have any notable film roles other than the romantic lead Peter in Ghosts of Christmas Always, but he has appeared in a few TV shows since PLL. He moved away from teen dramas, playing Phillip Davis in several episodes of Chicago Med and assistant coach Eddie Hagan on Long Slow Exhale, a series that examines an abuse scandal in women's college basketball.

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Janel Parrish As Mona Vanderwaal

Given she reprised her role as Mona Vanderwaal in the canceled spin-off Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, Janel Parrish is most associated with this bold, memorable, and intelligent character. While Mona has her evil moments as the first A, she is also Hanna's old friend who can be caring and helpful. Parrish has appeared in heartwarming movies, from playing Margot Covey in Netflix's To All The Boys I've Loved Before trilogy (adapted from Jenny Han's YA novels) to Brandy Barnes in the 2021 film Christmas Is Cancelled. Still, Mona remains her most famous part.

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Pretty Little Liars Supporting Cast

Holly Marie Combs as Ella Montgomery - Combs played Aria and Mike's compassionate mother Ella Montgomery, who tries to maintain her family unit after her husband's affair. She became famous for playing the powerful Halliwell sister Piper on Charmed.

Laura Leighton as Ashley Marin - Leighton played Hanna's kind mother on PLL parent and is famous for playing free spirit Sydney Andrews on Melrose Place and appeared on reboots of classic dramatic series Fantasy Island and Dynasty.

Chad Lowe as Byron Montgomery - Lowe played Aria and Mike's unlikable father Byron Montgomery, who appears unsure how to repair his family and who makes several questionable PLL parenting decisions. He is also known for playing Carter Gallvan on Melrose Place and Jesse McKenna on Life Goes On.

Andrea Parker As Jessica DiLaurentis and Mary Drake - Andrea Parker's most impressive role is appearing as twins: Ali's mother Jessica and Spencer and Alex's mother Mary. The actor played the more likable Linda Farrell on E.R. who falls in love with Doug Ross (George Clooney) and Jane Carlson on Desperate Housewives.

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Nia Peeples As Pam Fields - Besides playing one of the best parents on PLL, Pam Fields, Nia Peeples has a soap opera background, appearing as Carla Escobar on General Hospital. She also played another compassionate mother, Susan Mullen, on teen drama The Fosters

Bianca Lawson As Maya St. Germain - Along with her role as Emily's first love Maya St. Germain on PLL, Bianca Lawson has stuck to teen series. She played fellow slayer Kendra Young on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, tough witch Emily Bennett on The Vampire Diaries, and aspiring filmmaker Nikki Green on Dawson's Creek.

Brant Daugherty As Noel Kahn - Along with his portrayal of the villain Noel Kahn, who at one point seems like a PLL character who could be A, Brant Daughtery has branched out from teen dramas, appearing as Lt. Patrick Clarke on Army Wives and Brian on Days Of Our Lives.

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Bryce Johnson As Darren Wilden - Before playing mean-spirited detective Darren Wilden on PLL, Bryce Johnson played sweet high school athlete Josh Ford on Ryan Murphy's Popular, and after, he has appeared on various series, from Glee to Masters of Sex and Supernatural.

Lesley Fera As Veronica Hastings - Lesley Fera's TV characters are as tough and no-nonsense as her portrayal of Spencer and Melissa's mother Veronica Hastings. She portrayed Sergeant Waters on Southland, press secretary Angela Nelson on 24, and Dr. Joyce Carmel on CSI: Miami.

Torrey DeVitto As Melissa Hastings - Along with her performance as Spencer's secretive older sister Melissa Hastings, Torrey DeVitto has appeared on other fast-paced teen dramas. She played Nanny Carrie, part of one of the wildest and most over-the-top One Tree Hill storylines and Dr. Meredith Fell on The Vampire Diaries.

Brendan Robinson As Lucas Gottesman - Robinson played Hanna's close friend, Lucas Gottesman. He also played a college student named Ned on How I Met Your Mother.

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Amanda Schull As Meredith Sorenson - Schull played Meredith, a woman who has an affair with Byron and manipulates Aria throughout her brief arc. Her other roles also include Katrina Bennett on Suits

Cody Christian As Mike Montgomery - Cody Christian appeared briefly as Aria's brother Mike. He also played Theo Raeken on Teen Wolf and Asher Adams on All-American.

Julian Morris As Wren Kingston - Morris's Wren Kingston is the former love interest of Spencer and Melissa Hastings. Morris has also played Prince Phillip on Once Upon A Time.

Ryan Merriman As Ian Thomas - While Melissa is a memorable PLL side character, her husband Ian Thomas's sneaky nature is more confusing than compelling. He is most recognized for Young Jarod / Gemini on the action series The Pretender.

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Lindsay Shaw As Paige McCullers - With roles in other teen series, such as Kat Stratford on 10 Things I Hate About You and Sasha Harvey on Faking It, Lindsay Shaw has played high schoolers struggling with love and family issues. But her turn as Emily's love interest Paige McCullers is her most impressive.

Chuck Hittinger As Sean Ackard - Sean Ackard is Hanna's unlikable boyfriend in season 1 of PLL. He is recognized as Matt Shepard in 2013's Sharknado and 2018's Sharknado: It's About Time.

Eric Steinberg As Wayne Fields - Famous for playing Lieutenant Paul Porter in the underrated movie Star Trek: First Contact, Eric Steinberg played Emily's tough father Wayne Fields on PLL. While he played Professor Kim on The Fosters, he has stuck to genre content like Mortal Kombat Legacy and Stargate SG-1.

Roark Critchlow As Tom Marin - Besides playing Hanna's absent father on PLL, Roark Critchlow is another cast member famous for portraying a soap opera character. He portrayed Dr. Mike Horton on Days Of Our Lives and reprised the role in an episode of Friends.

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Claire Holt As Samara Cook - Claire Holt played Emily's love interest Samara Cook, but her most famous character is Rebekah Mikaelson on TVD and the spin-off The Originals. She also played the main role Charmain Tully on Aquarius and played Kate in the shark horror movie 47 Meters Down.

Yani Gellman As Garrett Reynolds - Yani Gellman played questionable Rosewood police department member Garrett Reynolds and also appeared as Diego Flores on another teen drama, the 90210 spin-off.

Nolan North As Peter Hastings - While he played Spencer's father Peter Hastings, Nolan North has done voice work, including Terence in The Angry Birds Movie 2 and Raphael/Nightwatcher in TMNT. He also portrayed video game characters such as Nathan Drake in Uncharted.

Vanessa Ray As CeCe Drake/Charlotte DiLaurentis - Along with playing one of the A characters on PLL, Vanessa Ray played love interest Jenny Griffith on Suits and Tessa Marchetti, a woman whose parents die on Damages.

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Dre Davis As Sara Harvey - Portraying the secretive Sara Harvey, who is revealed as the mysterious "Red Coat," on Pretty Little Liars is Dre Davis's most famous role. She played Diane Tobin on one episode of Blue Bloods and appeared in various short films.

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