Snowfall is an American crime drama television series, created by John Singleton, Eric Amadio, and Dave Andron for FX. The series premiered on July 5, 2017, and concluded on April 19, 2023, after six seasons consisting of 60 episodes.
Comprising an ensemble cast, the series follows the lives of an African American crime family, led by budding drug dealer Franklin Saint (portrayed by Damson Idris), as they navigate ways to make money selling crack cocaine during the 1980s crack epidemic in South Central Los Angeles. The series also explores the CIA's involvement in the fight against communism in Nicaragua through CIA operative Teddy McDonald (portrayed by Carter Hudson), Mexican luchador Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata (portrayed by Sergio Peris-Mencheta), and a Mexican cartel boss's daughter, Lucia Villanueva (portrayed by Emily Rios).
The series, which first began development at Showtime in 2014, was picked up by FX for a ten-episode first season in September 2016. In August 2017, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on July 19, 2018. In September 2018, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on July 10, 2019. In August 2019, the series was renewed for a fourth season, which premiered on February 24, 2021. In March 2021, the series was renewed for a fifth season, which premiered on February 23, 2022. In April 2022, the series was renewed for a sixth and final season, which premiered on February 22, 2023, with the series finale airing on April 19, 2023.
A spin-off series titled The Drop: A Snowfall Saga, with Gail Bean and Isaiah John reprising their respective roles as Wanda Bell-Simmons and Leon Simmons, premiered on September 8, 2026.
Premise Primarily set in Los Angeles between 1983 and 1986, the series revolves around the first crack epidemic and its impact on the city, and the stories of several characters whose lives are fated to intersect: 20-year-old drug dealer Franklin Saint, CIA operative Teddy McDonald, Mexican luchador Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata, and a Mexican crime boss's daughter, Lucia Villanueva.
Cast and characters Main Damson Idris as Franklin Saint, a young drug kingpin and patriarch of The Family, a crew of crack cocaine producers/dealers based in South Central Los Angeles. Carter Hudson as Theodore "Teddy" McDonald / Reed Thompson, a CIA operative working undercover for the American government in the war against communism in Nicaragua. Emily Rios as Lucia Villanueva (seasons 1–2), the daughter of a Mexican crime boss and heiress to the Villanueva Cartel, a Mexican drug cartel. Sergio Peris-Mencheta as Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata, a former Mexican luchador employed as an enforcer for the Villanueva Cartel. Michael Hyatt as Sharon "Cissy" Saint, Franklin's mother and a veteran real estate agent. Amin Joseph as Jerome Saint, Franklin's OG uncle and a member of The Family and teaches his nephew the ins and outs of drug dealing and gangster life. Angela Lewis as Louanne "Louie" Saint (née Jones), Jerome's girlfriend (and later wife), a former hustler, and member of The Family. Juan Javier Cardenas as Alejandro Usteves (season 1), a Nicaraguan Contra soldier and pilot who works with Teddy as a CIA asset by smuggling cocaine. Isaiah John as Leon Simmons, Franklin's best friend and second-in-command of the Family who is affiliated with the PJ Watts Crips. Filipe Valle Costa as Pedro Nava (seasons 1–2), Lucia's cousin and a member of The Villanueva Cartel. Alon Aboutboul as Avi Drexler (Hebrew: אבי דרכסלר) (seasons 1–5), an Israeli drug lord and the head of a powerful Israeli crime syndicate with connections to Mossad. Malcolm Mays as Kevin Hamilton (seasons 1–2), Franklin and Leon's childhood friend and a member of The Family. Marcus Henderson as Andre Wright (season 3; recurring season 1; guest season 2), a sergeant in the LAPD, Melody's father and Franklin's neighbor. Kevin Carroll as Alton Williams (season 4; recurring seasons 2–3; guest season 1), Franklin's estranged recovering alcoholic father and a former member of the Black Panthers. Devyn A. Tyler as Veronique Turner (seasons 5–6), Franklin's girlfriend and a non-practicing lawyer who uses her real estate firm to establish drug fronts for The Family. Gail Bean as Wanda Bell-Simmons (season 6; recurring seasons 2–5), Leon's girlfriend, and later wife, who develops a strong addiction to crack cocaine and later was detoxed. Alejandro Edda as Rubén (season 6; recurring season 5), a Cuban spy affiliated with the KGB who works with the Saints as part of a plan to eliminate Teddy.
Recurring
Reign Edwards as Melody Wright (seasons 1–3; guest season 4), Franklin's on/off girlfriend and Andre's daughter. Peta Sergeant as Julia (seasons 1, 3; guest seasons 2, 5–6), Teddy's ex-wife, mother of their son Paul, and a CIA agent. Jonathan Avigdori as Yuda (seasons 1, 3; guest season 2), one of Avi's two bodyguards. Nic Bishop as James Ballard (season 1; guest season 2), Teddy's first CIA handler. Judith Scott as Claudia Crane (seasons 1–2; guest season 3), the owner of a local nightclub and Louie's former lover. Moe Irvin as Santos (season 1; guest season 3), Claudia's head of security. Taylor Kowalski as Rob Volpe (seasons 1–3; guest seasons 4–5), Franklin's friend from high school, a crack bagger, and a member of The Family. Carlos Linares as Mauricio Villanueva (season 1), Lucia's father and the patriarch of the Villanueva Cartel. José Zúñiga as Ramiro Nava (season 1), Lucia's maternal uncle, Pedro's father, and the second-in-command of the Villanueva Cartel. Tony Sancho as Eduardo "Stomper" Castillo (season 1; guest season 2), the leader of Los Monarcas, a Mexican street gang. Markice Moore as Ray-Ray (season 1; guest season 2), a reckless thief from Compton. Craig Tate as Lenny (season 1), a violent thief from Compton and Ray-Ray's friend. Justine Lupe as Victoria Grelli (season 1), a young woman who befriends Teddy whilst looking for her missing sister Kristen. Michael Ray Escamilla as Hernan Zapata (seasons 1, 3–4; guest season 2), Gustavo's brother who is a wheelchair user. Wade Allain-Marcus as Diego (season 2; guest seasons 1, 4), a co-leader of the Cali Cartel, a Colombian crime syndicate. Izzy Diaz as Danilo (season 2; guest seasons 1, 4), Diego's brother and a co-leader of the Cali Cartel. Jonathan Tucker as Matt McDonald (season 2; guest season 3), Teddy's younger brother, a Vietnam War veteran and a pilot. DeRay Davis as DeJohn "Peaches" Hill (seasons 2–5; guest season 6), a Vietnam War veteran and enforcer for The Family. Adriana DeGirolami as Lorena Cardenas / Soledad Caro (seasons 2–3), Pedro's fiancée and an undercover DEA agent from Texas. Marcelo Olivas as Santiago "Conejo" Estrada (season 2), an OG soldado who works with Los Manarcas. Scott Subiono as Tony Marino (seasons 2–3, 6; guest seasons 4–5), a DEA Agent and Lorena's handler who works to stop the crack cocaine trade in Los Angeles. Matthew Alan as Stephen Havemeyer (seasons 3–4, 6; guest seasons 2, 5), Teddy's second CIA handler. Jordan Coleman as Thaddeus "Fatback" Barber (seasons 3–4), Leon's bodyguard and a member of The Family. Bentley Green as C.J. (seasons 3–4), an up-and-coming member of The Family. Melvin Gregg as Drew "Manboy" Miller (seasons 3–4), Franklin's associate and the leader of the Compton Crips. Calvin Clausell Jr. as Bootsy (season 3; guest season 4), the second-in-command of the Compton Crips. Christian Tappan as Rigo Vasco (season 3), a drug lord associated with the Medellín Cartel, a Colombian crime syndicate. Asjha Cooper as Eva Walker (season 3), one of Melody's best friends, and Leon's fling. Nate' Jones as Shon-Shon (season 3), A former friend-turned-rival of Melody and Eva. Jesse Luken as Herb "Nix" Nixon (season 3; guest season 4), a rogue corporal in the LAPD and Andre's friend. Evan Allen-Gessesse as Renny (seasons 4–6; guest seasons 2–3), an enforcer for The Family. De'Aundre Bonds as Terrence "Skully" Brown (seasons 3–6), the OG Leader of the Inglewood Bloods. Suzy Nakamura as Irene Abe (season 4), a journalist working for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner who investigates the ongoing drug trade in Los Angeles. Stephen Ruffin as Wilson (season 4), Irene's assistant at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. Kwame Patterson as Lurp (season 4), a freelancer, Vietnam War Veteran, Franklin's bodyguard, and a member of The Family. Geffri Maya as Khadijah Brown (season 4), Skully's wife, the mother of his daughter, Tianna Brown, and the sister of Manboy. Adrianna Mitchell as Tanosse (season 4), Franklin's ex-girlfriend from high school whom he reconnects with. Ezana Alem as Dimehead (season 4), a reckless member of the Compton Crips. Joey Marie Urbina as Xiamara (seasons 4–6), Nuvia's sister and later Gustavo's girlfriend. Christine Horn as Beverly "Black Diamond" Young (seasons 4–5; guest season 6), a bounty hunter and later an enforcer for The Family. Taylor Polidore as Dallas Ali (seasons 4–5; guest season 6), a bounty hunter, Black Diamond's partner, and later an enforcer for The Family. Cordaro Kendricks as Cornrows (season 4; guest seasons 3 and 5), Skully's right-hand man. Quincy Chad as Deon "Big D" Barber (seasons 5–6; guest season 4), Fatback's cousin and the OG leader of the PJ Watts Crips. Kamron Alexander as Einstein (seasons 5–6; guest season 4), the brains behind Deon's Crip set. Brandon Jay McLaren as Beau Buckley (seasons 5–6), a dirty cop on Louie's payroll and a leading detective in the LAPD involved in the C.R.A.S.H. unit, later became Louie's enforcer after being fired. DeLaRosa Rivera as Eddie Perez (season 5), a detective in the LAPD and Buckley's partner. Tiffany Lonsdale as Parissa (seasons 5–6), an Iranian surgeon and old acquaintance of Teddy. DeVaughn Nixon as Kane Hamilton (seasons 5–6), Kevin's OG older brother and a former shot caller for the Hoover Crips who, after being released from prison, plots revenge against The Family. Nupeir L. Garret as Ricky (seasons 5–6), Kane's second-in-command. Damien D. Smith as Top Notch (season 6; guest seasons 3–4), an old friend of Alton's and a private investigator with criminal connections. Danielle Larracuente as Amanda Guerrero (season 6), a DEA agent and part of Marino's team. Arsenio Castellanos as Oscar (season 6), a DEA agent and another member of Marino's team. Tamara Taylor as Cassandra Turner (season 6), Veronique's estranged mother and a con-artist who works with her daughter to recover Franklin's stolen money.
Guest
Eric Mitro as Logan Miller (season 1), Alejandro's previous CIA connection who overdoses on cocaine. Taylor Kowald as Kristen Grelli (season 1), Victoria's sister who is killed by Alejandro to cover loose ends. Adam Karst as Muir (seasons 1–3, 5), another of Avi's two bodyguards. Becky O'Donohue as Mrs. Volpe (season 1), Rob's attractive mother. Mark Harelik as Arnold Tulfowitz (seasons 1, 3), Cissy's former employer and a corrupt real estate tycoon. Sheaun McKinney as Karvel (seasons 1, 3), a sadist, ruthless gangster and member of The HTB Western Tribe. Zabryna Guevara as Elena Usteves (seasons 1–2), Alejandro's wife and the leader of a Contra cell in Nicaragua. Bokeem Woodbine as Knees (season 1), an old friend of Jerome's and a former drug dealer. Frank Merino as Guillermo "Memo" Mendoza (seasons 1–2), an enforcer for Los Monarcas. RZA as Swim (season 1), a drug dealer in Oakland who teaches Franklin how to turn cocaine into crack. Red Grant as Devon Hamilton (season 1), Kevin's cousin in Oakland and a member of an Outlaw Biker Club. Billy Boyd as Jim Stewart (season 1), a man Teddy and Victoria approach for his information about Kristen. Stephanie Nash as Gladys Warren (seasons 1–2), Teddy's assistant at the CIA. Saundra Santiago (season 1) and Adriana Barraza (season 3) as Mariela Villanueva, Lucia's mother and the matriarch of the Villanueva Cartel.