Created by Steve Martin, John Hoffman.
Only Murders in the Building premiered on August 31, 2021 in the United States.
Only Murders in the Building is distributed by 20th Television under Disney Television Studios. It streams on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ internationally through the Star hub.
Series Review
‘Only Murders in the Building’ is a fun and clever mystery series that mixes comedy with heartfelt moments.
Season 1 introduces Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, three neighbors who start a podcast after a murder in their building.
Season 2 raises the stakes with scandals and secrets, keeping the laughs and twists coming.
Season 3 takes the story to Broadway, adding drama and new characters that shake things up.
Season 4 digs deeper into the main characters’ pasts and shows more emotional sides while still keeping the mystery exciting.
Season 5 gives answers to big questions, some touching goodbyes, and the same sharp humor that made the show special from the start.
Across all seasons, it’s a mix of mystery, comedy, and real connection between the characters, making it a perfect watch for anyone who loves puzzles with a lot of heart.
Ratings
• IMDb: 8.1/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
• Google Audience Score: 88% liked this TV show.
Only Murders in the Building Actors
Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage
DOB: August 14, 1945.
Bio: American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician whose career spans stand-up, film, literature, and music.
He rose to fame in the 1970s with his groundbreaking stand-up comedy before transitioning to a hugely successful film career.
Beyond acting, Martin is a bestselling author and Grammy-winning banjo player, showcasing his versatility across creative disciplines.
Role: Charles-Haden Savage is a once-famous television actor best known for his detective role on a hit 1990s series.
Now semi-retired and living at the Arconia, he is quirky, socially awkward, and somewhat lonely until murder and a podcast give his life renewed purpose.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-5 (50 episodes).
What to Expect: Dry wit, world-weary observations, and a character who grows gentler with each case.
Favorite Things: Martin frequently shares his passion for bluegrass music (he plays with the Steep Canyon Rangers), writing (novels, plays, and essays), and art collecting.
Notable Works: The Jerk, Father of the Bride, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, bestselling books like Born Standing Up.
Martin Short as Oliver Putnam
DOB: March 26, 1950.
Bio: Canadian comedian, actor, and writer celebrated for his work on SCTV and Saturday Night Live, where he created some of television’s most memorable comic characters.
Known for his high-energy style, impeccable timing, and chameleon-like performances, Short has enjoyed success across sketch, film, and stage.
Role: Oliver Putnam is a flamboyant, ever-optimistic Broadway director whose career has seen better days.
When murder strikes at the Arconia, Oliver’s flair for drama fuels both the trio’s podcast and their unconventional detective work.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-5 (50 episodes).
What to Expect: Big feelings, frantic scheming, and delightfully awkward showbiz moments.
Favorite Things: In interviews, Short often highlights his love for theatre, improvisation, and the joy of collaborating with close friends like Steve Martin.
Notable Works: Three Amigos, SCTV, Saturday Night Live, Innerspace, Father of the Bride.
Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora
DOB: July 22, 1992.
Bio: American actress, singer, and producer who began her career on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place before transitioning into a successful music career with chart-topping pop albums.
Beyond performance, she has established herself as a producer (13 Reasons Why, Only Murders in the Building) and a leading advocate for mental health awareness.
Role: Mabel Mora is a sharp-witted young artist whose past connects her personally to the murders at the Arconia.
She often serves as the trio’s emotional core, balancing Charles’s caution and Oliver’s theatrics with her dry humor and quiet resilience.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-5 (50 episodes).
What to Expect: Quiet strength, vulnerability, and scenes that balance pathos with dry humor.
Favorite Things: Gomez often speaks about music, producing, fashion, and her dedication to mental health advocacy, including her work with the Rare Impact Fund.
Notable Works: Wizards of Waverly Place, pop albums, and producing projects like 13 Reasons Why.
Michael Cyril Creighton as Howard Morris
DOB: January 1, 1979
Bio: American actor and writer with a strong background in theatre, television, and web series.
He gained early acclaim with his WGA Award-winning web series Jack in a Box (2009–2012) and has since built a reputation for quirky yet heartfelt character work.
Role: Howard Morris is a cat-loving Arconia resident whose awkward charm evolves into genuine friendship with the core trio.
Initially comic relief, Howard gradually takes on more significance, especially in Oliver’s life and in the behind-the-scenes podcast dynamics.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-5 (4- episodes).
What to Expect: Warmly oddball lines, dry comedic reactions and sincere loyalty to the trio.
Favorite Things: Creighton often highlights his love of theatre, collaboration, and writing as central to his creative process.
Notable Works: High Maintenance, Spotlight, his WGA-winning web series Jack in a Box.
Amy Ryan as Jan Bellows
DOB: May 3, 1968.
Bio: American actress acclaimed for her work on stage and screen. She built a distinguished theatre career before breaking out in film and television.
Ryan earned an Academy Award nomination for Gone Baby Gone (2007) and has been praised for her ability to portray layered, morally complex characters with emotional depth and restraint.
Role: Jan Bellows is a sophisticated bassoonist who becomes romantically involved with Charles-Haden Savage in Season 1.
Initially charming, her role twists into darker territory as her connection to the central murder case is revealed.
Jan returns in later seasons in recurring and guest appearances, adding tension and dramatic weight to Charles’s storyline.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1,2,4 (15 episodes).
What to Expect: Quiet, grounded performances that reveal character through small, telling moments.
Favorite Things: Ryan often emphasizes her love of theatre, her respect for ensemble storytelling, and her attraction to roles that balance vulnerability with complexity.
Notable Works: Gone Baby Gone, Escape Plan, Birdman, Win Win.
Aaron Dominguez as Oscar Torres
DOB: June 24, 1994.
Bio: American actor of Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, Spanish heritage, and of Caribbean descent.. He grew up in Miami, Florida, and comes from a performing family, with his father working in theatre.
Dominguez trained in acting and gradually built his career through independent films and guest TV appearances before landing his breakout role in Only Murders in the Building.
Role: Oscar Torres is Mabel Mora’s childhood friend and one-time love interest.
Fresh out of prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Oscar becomes entangled in the Arconia’s first murder mystery and helps drive Season 1’s emotional core.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1 (10 episodes).
What to Expect: Warmth mixed with secrets, with a performance that grounds the early season’s emotional stakes.
Favorite Things: In interviews, Dominguez often highlights his cultural roots, passion for representation, and his commitment to versatile, challenging roles.
Notable Works: Shaft, Words on Bathroom Walls.
Cara Delevingne as Alice Banks
DOB: August 12, 1992.
Bio: English model, actress, and singer who rose to international fame as one of the most sought-after fashion models of the 2010s.
She transitioned successfully into acting, taking on film roles that showcase her edgy screen presence and bold charisma.
Role: Alice Banks is introduced in Season 2 of Only Murders in the Building as a London-based artist who runs a chic gallery collective.
She quickly becomes romantically involved with Mabel, offering a relationship that tests Mabel’s trust and vulnerability.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2 (10 episodes).
What to Expect: Stylish, magnetic performances that mix charm with emotional ambiguity, bringing both tension and allure to Mabel’s storyline.
Favorite Things: Delevingne often speaks about fashion as self-expression, her love of music and art, and her activism surrounding mental health.
Notable Works: Paper Towns, Suicide Squad, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Carnival Row.
Adina Verson as Poppy White / Becky Butler
DOB: c. 1983.
Bio: American actress with a strong background in theater and television.
She has built a reputation for her versatility and layered character portrayals, often moving seamlessly between quirky comedy and dramatic intensity.
Role: Poppy White is introduced in Season 2 as the seemingly mild-mannered and eager assistant to true-crime podcaster Cinda Canning.
However, her character takes a dramatic turn when it’s revealed that she is actually Becky Butler, a woman with a dark history who becomes central to the season’s shocking mystery twist.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-2 (8 episodes).
What to Expect: A performance that starts small and then opens up into something unexpected.
Favorite Things: In interviews, Verson has highlighted her love for live theater and character-driven storytelling, often gravitating toward roles that explore identity and human vulnerability.
Notable Works: The Kitchen, Mozart in the Jungle, Indecent (Broadway).
Paul Rudd as Ben Glenroy
DOB: April 6, 1969.
Bio: American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Known for his easygoing charisma and impeccable comic timing, he has built a career that spans rom-coms, indie dramas, and blockbuster franchises.
A longtime favorite in Hollywood, Rudd was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2021 and has starred in both cult classics and global hits.
Role: Ben Glenroy is a famous television actor whose shocking death on opening night of a Broadway play becomes the driving mystery of Season 3.
His character offers biting commentary on ego, stardom, and the fragility of reputation in the entertainment industry.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2-4 (14 episodes).
What to Expect: Self-aware charm, comedic beats that play on celebrity culture and surprising dramatic notes.
Favorite Things: Rudd often speaks about his love of theatre, his Kansas roots, and the importance of keeping comedy grounded in sincerity.
Notable Works: Clueless, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, This Is 40, Ant-Man and Marvel Cinematic Universe films, Living With Yourself.
Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin
DOB: June 22, 1949.
Bio: Meryl Streep is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time, celebrated for her extraordinary versatility and emotional depth.
With a career spanning five decades, she has earned a record number of Academy Award nominations and multiple wins.
Streep trained at Yale School of Drama and built her reputation on stage before becoming a dominant force in film.
Role: Loretta Durkin is a seasoned but overlooked actress who finds her long-awaited breakthrough in Oliver’s Broadway play.
Her story intertwines with Oliver’s professional and personal life, adding romance, pathos, and a window into the sacrifices of a performer’s journey.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 3-5 (14 episodes).
What to Expect: Nuanced character work that elevates the Broadway-and-Hollywood threads.
Favorite Things: Streep is famously private but often highlights her love of theatre, literature, and family, emphasizing the value of craft over celebrity.
Notable Works: Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, The Devil Wears Prada, The Iron Lady, Doubt, Mamma Mia!, and more than 20 Oscar-nominated performances.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Donna Williams
DOB: May 21, 1986.
Bio: An award-winning actress and singer with a strong foundation in theatre, having earned a Tony nomination early in her career for Ghost: The Musical.
A graduate of Yale School of Drama, she has since built a reputation in film and television for her emotional range, warmth, and sharp comedic instincts.
Role: Detective Donna Williams is the seasoned NYPD investigator assigned to the Arconia murders.
Initially skeptical of the trio’s meddling, she evolves into a recurring presence who balances tough professionalism with flashes of dry humor and empathy.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-5 (15 episodes).
What to Expect: Tough but empathetic detective work, a grounded foil to the amateur sleuthing.
Favorite Things: Randolph often highlights her deep love of theatre, musical performance, and the craft of building layered, authentic characters.
Notable Works: The Idol, The Lost City, High Fidelity (TV), Dolemite Is My Name, and her Academy Award-winning role in The Holdovers.
Nathan Lane as Teddy Dimas Sr.
DOB: February 3, 1956
Bio: A Tony, Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actor celebrated for his unmatched comedic timing and commanding stage presence.
With a career spanning Broadway, film, and television, Lane is widely regarded as one of the great modern American stage actors, blending vaudevillian humor with emotional depth.
Role: Teddy Dimas Sr. is a deli owner and Arconia resident whose business dealings and family entanglements draw him into the central mysteries.
His character adds layers of moral complexity while providing both humor and dramatic tension.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1,2,5 (11 episodes).
What to Expect: Scene-stealing comedy and heartfelt showbiz moments.
Favorite Things: Lane often speaks about his love for theatre, musical comedy, and the tradition of live stage performance as the foundation of his career.
Notable Works: The Producers, The Birdcage, The Lion King (voice of Timon).
More Actors
Season 1 (2021)
• Julian Cihi as Tim Kono.
• Jayne Houdyshell as Bunny Folger.
• Jackie Hoffman as Uma Heller.
• James Caverly as Theodore “Theo” Dimas Jr.
• Ryan Broussard as Will Putnam.
• Teddy Coluca as Lester Coluca.
• Vanessa Aspillaga as Ursula.
• Russell G. Jones as Dr. Grover Stanley.
• Jaboukie Young-White as Sam.
• Daniel Oreskes as Marv.
• Ali Stroker as Paulette.
• Orson Hong as Grant.
• Zainab Jah as Ndidi Idoko.
• Maulik Pancholy as Arnav Kapoor.
• Olivia Reis as Zoe Cassidy.
Season 2 (2022)
• Tina Fey as Cinda Canning.
• Michael Rapaport as Detective Daniel Kreps.
• Christine Ko as Nina Lin.
• Zoe Colletti as Lucy.
• Ariel Shafir as Ivan.
Season 3 (2023)
• Andrea Martin as Joy Payne.
• Jason Veasey as Jonathan Bridgecroft.
• Linda Emond as Donna DeMeo.
• Ashley Park as Kimber Min.
• Jeremy Shamos as Dickie Glenroy.
• Wesley Taylor as Clifford “Cliff” DeMeo.
• Jesse Williams as Tobert.
• Don Darryl Rivera as Bobo Malone.
• Gerald Caesar as Ty Wessex.
• Allison Guinn as K. T. Knoblauer.
Season 4 (2024)
• Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy and Eva Longoria appear as fictionalized versions of themselves.
• Jane Lynch as Sazz Pataki (recurring and guest across seasons).
• Molly Shannon, Catherine Cohen, Jin Ha and others appear in the film adaptation storyline and west tower arc.
Season 5 (2025)
• Renée Zellweger as Camila White.
• Christoph Waltz as Bash Steed.
• Logan Lerman as Jay Pflug.
• Keegan-Michael Key as Mayor Tillman.
• Bobby Cannavale as Nicky Caccimelio.
• Beanie Feldstein as Althea.
• Dianne Wiest as Lorraine Coluca.
• Jermaine Fowler as Randall.
FAQ – Only Murders in the Building TV Series
Is there going to be a Season 6?
Nothing official is confirmed yet.
creators and cast have hinted they would like to continue, and talks about future seasons are ongoing, but Season 6 has not been formally greenlit at this time. More on ElleDecor
What is the plot hook for Season 5?
Season 5 centers on the mysterious death of Lester, the Arconia’s longtime doorman.
While his death is initially ruled an accident, Charles, Oliver and Mabel suspect foul play and uncover ties to mobsters and billionaires.
How many episodes are in Season 5?
Season 5 has 10 episodes total.
When did Season 5 premiere?
Season 5 premiered on September 9, 2025 with the first three episodes available at launch.
Who are some of the big guest stars in Season 5?
Notable new additions include Renée Zellweger, Christoph Waltz, Logan Lerman, Keegan-Michael Key, Téa Leoni, Bobby Cannavale, and others.
Where can I stream Only Murders in the Building?
In the U.S., the show is available exclusively on Hulu.
Internationally, it streams via Disney+ under the Star hub (or relevant region-equivalent service).
Conclusion
Only Murders in the Building has become one of the most refreshing shows of recent years, blending murder mystery, sharp comedy, and heartfelt storytelling.
What makes it stand out is not just the clever twists and shocking reveals but the genuine friendship between Charles, Oliver, and Mabel.
Each season raises the stakes while keeping the humor and heart that fans love.
With its unique mix of podcast culture, witty writing, and star-studded cast, the series proves that solving crimes can be as funny as it is thrilling.
Whether you’re a longtime mystery fan or simply enjoy smart comedy, this show is a must-watch.
It’s charming, unpredictable, and keeps viewers hooked from start to finish.