The Bluth family returned final time in Arrested Development season 5, which is available to watch on Netflix, and the huge Arrested Development cast amazingly remained intact. Arrested Development season 1 arrived in 2003 and while the show struggled somewhat in the ratings, it was acclaimed for its impeccable comic writing and ensemble cast. When the show ended with Arrested Development season 3 the cast, particularly Jason Bateman, began to pop up in multiple TV series and movies.
Netflix brought Arrested Development back for a fourth season in 2013, but while fans were initially glad to see the show return, season 4 received mixed reviews. Scheduling issues led to a strange structure where several episodes focused on a single Bluth family member (via Buzzfeed). The show later again returned for Arrested Development season 5, which was split into two eight-episode parts. While season 5 was polarizing too, it hilariously ends in the only way it could, with fantastic performances from the sitcom's sprawling cast.
Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth
Seemingly the only functioning adult in the Bluth family, Michael is often tasked with keeping his dysfunctional clan together. At the end of season 5, Michael finally escapes his wild family and flees with his son, George Michael, though even they end up resenting each other. Bateman’s hilariously straight-faced portrayal of Michael made him a star, and he’s since had leading roles in Horrible Bosses, Game Night and The Gift, and the Netflix thriller Ozark, of which he directed several episodes. In 2023, Bateman had a ing role in cast of Air, and he'll star in the Netflix action movie Carry-On with Taron Egerton.
Jessica Walter as Lucille Bluth
The overbearing, alcoholic matriarch of the Bluth family, Lucille Bluth can be extremely cruel and manipulative to her children. At the end of season 5, It's revealed that Lucille isn't just Lindsay's mother, but also her half-sister and Lucille adopted her to give her the best upbringing possible. Jessica Walter is a veteran actress, having starred in Clint Eastwood’s Play Misty For Me, and is also known for voicing Malory Archer in Archer. However, out of the Arrested Development cast, Walter seems to have taken a hiatus from acting or just hasn't found the right project, as her most recent acting credit is an episode of American Housewife in 2021.
Jeffrey Tambor as George Bluth
The amoral, corrupt Bluth patriarch's arrest in season 1 kicks off the show. At the end of season 5, George simply stands in the middle of all the mania that's happening in the family around him only to realize that nothing has changed and that he's forever stuck in arrested development. Outside of Arrested Development, Tambor is known for his roles in Hellboy I & II, The Hangover trilogy, and the TV series Transparent. Starting in 2017, serious abuse allegations were made against Tambor, and the actor hasn't done much after parting ways with the Arrested Development cast, as his last role was in 2020's Disney movie Magic Camp.
Will Arnett as Gob Bluth
Gob is a sleazy part-time magician with flexible moral values and he's openly disliked by his parents. At the end of season 5, Gob is with his father and in disbelief that the rest of his life will likely see him attempting more of the same failed schemes until he dies. Arnett is a prolific voice actor, playing both the main character in BoJack Horseman and Batman in The LEGO Movie. In 2023, he'll feature in the Taika Waititi-directed movie Next Goal Wins and star in the Peacock series, Twisted Metal, based on the video game. Arnett also co-hosts the SmartLess podcast with co-star Bateman and Sean Hayes.
Portia de Rossi as Lindsay Bluth Funke
Michael’s narcissistic and vain adopted sister Lindsay is unhappily married to Tobias. At the end of Arrested Development season 5, Lindsay embraces the fact that Lucille is her half-sister as well as her mother and attempts to reignite their relationship, though it quickly becomes just as toxic as it ever was. Prior to playing Lindsay, de Rossi was known for a co-starring role in Ally McBeal, and she later appeared on Scandal and Santa Clarita Diet. She featured in an episode of The Kardashians in 2022 but hasn't starred in any major TV shows or movies since.
Tony Hale as Buster Bluth
The meek, socially awkward youngest son of George and Lucille, Buster famously lost his left hand when a seal bit it off. At the end of Arrested Development season 5, Buster confesses to killing Lucille 2, which both pays off a two-season-long mystery and reveals the most innocent character to really be the most cold-blooded. Tony Hale has featured in The Heat, Transformers: The Last Knight, and voiced the Joker in Batman Ninja. But more than any other member of the Arrested Development cast, Hale continued his sitcom legacy with another long-running hit show, VEEP, and will star in the drama The Dating Game with Anna Kendrick.
David Cross as Tobias Funke
The well-meaning, dimwitted husband of Lindsay, Tobias' many careers have included being a therapist and actor. At the end of season 5, Tobias stays married to Lindsay, despite them wanting totally different things in life and their marriage being completely toxic, further cementing the idea of arrested development. Cross is a well-known stand-up and is famous for his sketch series with Bob Odenkirk, Mr. Show. In film, Cross supplied his talents for the role of Cash's White Voice in surrealist comedy Sorry to Bother You, and he appeared in the instantly beloved 2023 dramedy You Hurt My Feelings opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Alia Shawkat as Maeby Funke
Neglected by her self-absorbed parents, Maeby learned to be independent from an early age, but she can be manipulative and cunning too. At the end of Arrested Development season 5, Maeby is kicked out of a retirement home when she's caught posing as an elderly woman, and she's then forced to watch her family tear themselves apart once again. Shawkat has also appeared on TV shows Transparent and Search Party, in addition to movies like Green Room. The actor will be starring in Severance season 2 and the Zoë Kravitz-directed thriller movie Pussy Island.
Michael Cera As George Michael Bluth
Michael’s socially awkward son, George Michael, has a massive crush on his cousin Maeby. However, by the end of Arrested Development season 5, he's over the relationship and is focused on mending his troubled relationship with his father, even if it seems like things are only going to get worse. Michael Cera's star quickly rose after first being in the Arrested Development cast, as he's also known for teen comedies such as Super Bad, Juno, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Cera will star in the Barbie movie, not as one of the many versions of Ken but as a character called Allan.
Arrested Development Season 5 Guest Stars
Ron Howard as The Narrator/Himself: In addition to his hilariously dry narration, Howard has appeared as himself on the show more than once. Howard's real-life wife Cheryl, father Rance, and daughters Paige and Bryce Dallas also play themselves in the series. Howard is best known as an actor from TV show Happy Days and as the director of Solo, The Da Vinci Code, and the The Shrinking of Treehorn.
Isla Fisher as Rebel Alley: Fisher ed the Arrested Development cast as the fictional daughter of Ron Howard and love interest to both Michael and George Michael. Fisher broke into the Hollywood mainstream with her role in Wedding Crashers and has since appeared in Now You See Me and Nocturnal Animals, and will feature in the Will Ferrell comedy Strays.
Ben Stiller as Tony Wonder: Tony Wonder is a magician Gob idolizes and the two later seduce each other. Stiller is best known for the Zoolander movies, the Meet The Parents trilogy and There’s Something About Mary. Stiller also had a cameo in 2022's Bros.
s Conroy as Lottie Dottie: Lottie Dottie is the district attorney that the Bluths need to please to keep out of jail. Veteran performer Conroy is best ed for her roles in Six Feet Under and nearly every season of American Horror Story.
Kyle Mooney as Murphy Brown Funke: Murphy is Tobias’ quasi-adoptive son and reluctant actor in the Arrested Development cast. Mooney is best known for his appearances on Saturday Night Live and roles in movies like Zoolander 2 and Neighbors 2. He is directing an comedy called Y2K and will feature in the 2023 Jennifer Lawrence comedy No Hard Feelings.
Taran Killam and Cobie Smulders as Young George and Lucille: Killam and Smulders play younger versions of George and Lucille Bluth in Arrested Development season 5. Smulders is best known for her role in the long-running sitcom How I Met Your Mother and for playing Maria Hill in The Avengers and other MCU projects. Taran Killam is a comedian who has appeared in Ted 2 and The Heat and starred in and directed the Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy Killing Gunther.
