Scandals, riches and royalty: The real people behind The Gilded Age season 4 characters

The Gilded Age season 4 is here, and with it comes political scandals, relationship drama and countless extravagant hats. The HBO show has always blended history with fiction, and the same can be said for its cast of characters. 

Julian Fellowes’ series returned on November 1, picking up after the events of season 3. Yes, that means Bertha (Carrie Coon) and George Russell (Morgan Spector) are still dealing with the fallout from their marriage troubles. 

As for Marian (Louisa Jacobson), we’re just hoping she can finally make things work with Larry (Harry Richardson) – although after the events of season 4 episode 1, there’s still a long road ahead. 

Her aunt Agnes (Christine Baranski) is attempting to reclaim her place in society, while Peggy (Denée Benton) has her own relationship to navigate alongside her career as a published writer.

As you’ll know, The Gilded Age is far from being a docudrama. But some of the show’s biggest personalities are inspired by real people – and others have walked straight out of the history books.

And with the latest chapter introducing everyone from an American president to one of the richest men in history, here’s how The Gilded Age season 4 cast compares to their real-life counterparts.

Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell – Alva Vanderbilt

Bertha Russell might be fictional, but she’s heavily inspired by Alva Vanderbilt, one of New York’s most influential socialites during the real-life Gilded Age.

Much like Bertha, Alva married into an enormously wealthy family but initially struggled to win over the city’s old-money crowd run by socialite Caroline Astor.

This all changed in 1883, when she threw an extravagant ball at the family’s Fifth Avenue mansion. The event helped secure the Vanderbilts’ position in New York society, with Astor eventually accepting Alva into her circle. Sound familiar?

There are also some interesting parallels between their marriages too. Alva married railroad heir William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1875, but the couple divorced in 1895 (it was quite the scandal at the time).

She later married another very rich man, Oliver Belmont, and became a prominent campaigner for women’s suffrage, helping to establish the National Woman’s Party. 

Whether Bertha follows the same path remains to be seen, but given the state of her marriage right now, the similarities are certainly interesting.

Morgan Spector as George Russell – Jay Gould

You might assume George Russell is based on Alva Vanderbilt’s husband, William, but that’s not actually the case. Instead, his character is primarily inspired by Jay Gould.

Gould was a controversial railroad tycoon who became one of America’s wealthiest businessmen during the 19th century. He made his fortune through railroads and financial speculation, earning a reputation as one of the era’s notorious ‘robber barons’.

Like George, he faced massive opposition from workers. In 1886, employees of railroads controlled by Gould went on strike during the Great Southwest railroad strike. And this event helped inspire George’s labour troubles in The Gilded Age season 2. 

Even though there are similarities in their work, their personal lives were rather different. Gould married Helen Day Miller in 1863, and the couple had six children. Unlike the Russells, there’s no potential breakup to speak of. 

Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell – Consuelo Vanderbilt

If there’s one character whose storyline has followed history particularly closely, it’s Gladys Russell. She’s widely believed to be inspired by Consuelo Vanderbilt, the daughter of Alva and William Kissam Vanderbilt.

Much like Gladys, Consuelo wanted to marry for love – but her mother had other ideas. In 1895, Consuelo married Charles Spencer-Churchill, the ninth Duke of Marlborough, in a match that brought together American money and British aristocracy. Again, sound familiar?

The marriage was reportedly deeply unhappy, and Consuelo later described how she had been pressured into it. The couple had two sons before separating in 1906 and eventually divorcing in 1921.

In The Gilded Age, Gladys marries the Duke of Buckingham, played by Ben Lamb, despite her feelings for another man. And given how things turned out for the real Consuelo, there’s certainly plenty of historical material for the writers to work with.

Harry Richardson as Larry Russell – Cornelius Vanderbilt III

Although Marian isn’t based on a real historical figure, it’s believed Larry Russell is loosely inspired by Cornelius Vanderbilt III, another member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family.

Born in 1873, Cornelius was the son of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and Alice Claypoole Gwynne, making him William Kissam Vanderbilt’s nephew. Confused? All you need to know is there were a lot of Vanderbilts and they were all very rich. 

This one trained as an engineer and developed a particular interest in inventions, eventually holding numerous patents for mechanical innovations to improve railroads. 

This is where the similarities with Larry come in. In The Gilded Age, George and Bertha’s son is passionate about architecture and determined to have a career rather than simply live off the bank of mum and dad. 

Denée Benton as Peggy Scott – Ida B. Wells, Susan McKinney Steward and other pioneering Black women

Peggy Scott isn’t based on one specific woman. Instead, her character draws inspiration from several pioneering Black women who worked in literature, journalism, healthcare and education during the 1800s. 

One inspiration is Ida B. Wells, an investigative journalist and early leader in the civil rights movement. She led a national anti-lynching campaign that involved deep, investigative work, directly challenging racist violence – even when it put her own life at risk. 

Another inspiration is Susan McKinney Steward, an American physician and author. She was the third African American woman to earn a medical degree, and the first in New York state. 

Peggy’s character also draws from Julia C. Collins, an educator and writer whose novel The Curse of Caste, or the Slave Bride, was serialised in 1865. 

Historical consultant Erica Armstrong Dunbar helped to shape Peggy’s character. Speaking to the New York Times, Peggy’s actress, Denée Benton, praised Dunbar’s impact in enriching Peggy and other Black characters.

“It makes me emotional to think about how far we’ve come since 2019 with the show. Originally, we were going to watch Peggy walk a very narrow path and see her parents sometimes,” she said. 

“And Dr. Erica Dunbar and I were able to be like: ‘We have an opportunity to show something that’s never been onscreen. We have to widen this lens.’ And now we have a robust Black cast on this show. We have Black writers; we have so much richness.”

So, while Peggy’s relationships and personal experiences are fictional, her career reflects the opportunities and challenges faced by real Black women during the Gilded Age.

Donna Murphy as Caroline Astor – Caroline Schermerhorn Astor

Unlike the Russells, Caroline Astor was very much a real person. Born Caroline Webster Schermerhorn in 1830, she married William Backhouse Astor Jr. and became one of the most powerful figures in New York high society.

She was famously known as ‘the Mrs. Astor’, and her approval could make or break someone’s social standing. Alongside Ward McAllister, she helped establish the idea of New York’s ‘The Four Hundred’ – the select group considered worthy of belonging to the city’s elite.

Her rivalry with newcomers like Alva Vanderbilt is also rooted in history, although the show of course adds its own drama. And here’s another fact: Caroline’s son, John Jacob Astor IV, later died aboard the Titanic in 1912.

Bill Camp as J.P. Morgan – John Pierpont Morgan 

Another real historical figure is J.P. Morgan, played by Bill Camp. The American financier was born in 1837 and became one of the most powerful businessmen in the country.

In 1871, he co-founded the banking firm Drexel Morgan & Co. alongside Anthony Drexel. It was renamed J.P. Morgan & Co. in 1895. But you’ll no doubt recognise the name it eventually became: JPMorgan Chase, one of the world’s largest banks today.

He also played a major role in reorganising railroads and financing industrial businesses, helping to establish U.S. Steel in 1901.

In The Gilded Age, Morgan becomes involved in George’s business dealings, which makes sense given his ties to the American railroad industry. However, George himself is fictional, so don’t take their specific conversations and dealings as fact. 

Neal Huff as John D. Rockefeller – John D. Rockefeller

The Gilded Age season 4 also introduces John D. Rockefeller, portrayed by Neal Huff. And unlike many of the show’s other businessmen, Rockefeller’s fortune wasn’t built on railroads.

He co-founded Standard Oil in 1870, eventually becoming one of the richest people in modern history. Rockefeller was also a devout Baptist and philanthropist. He went on to donate nearly half of his fortune on education, medicine and other causes.

In the HBO series, he’s introduced as another powerful businessman. And his interests don’t particularly align with those of George Russell. In season 4 episode 1, George grows frustrated due to Rockefeller’s oil prices. 

Jim Gaffigan as President Grover Cleveland – Grover Cleveland

Yes, the president himself is joining The Gilded Age. Comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan plays Grover Cleveland, who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States.

Cleveland first took office in 1885 and served until 1889, before returning for a second term between 1893 and 1897. He was the first American president to serve two non-consecutive terms.

In season 4, Cleveland visits New York to meet members of the city’s wealthy elite, with Agnes van Rhijn hosting a dinner in his honour.

Of course, Agnes is fictional. So, that particular gathering is made up for the show rather than a historical event. But Peggy’s concerns about Cleveland’s attitude towards Black Americans are drawn from history. 

In real life, he opposed efforts to protect Black voting rights and did not believe African Americans should be treated as social or political equals. It’s why Ada refuses to continue bankrolling the party after finding this out. 

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Featured image credit: HBO