Monday, February 16, 2026

Cast of Cross – Meet the Detectives and Key Figures

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Created by Ben Watkins.

Cross first premiered on November 14, 2024.

Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios.

Cross TV Series Review

Cross is a crime drama on Prime Video based on books by James Patterson.

It follows detective Alex Cross, played by Aldis Hodge, as he solves dangerous crimes while caring for his family.

Season 1 shows Cross hunting a brutal serial killer in Washington, D.C. The story mixes police work with emotional family moments.

Season 2 becomes darker and more intense. Cross faces a smart vigilante who targets powerful and corrupt people.

The cases feel bigger, and the tension is stronger.

Overall, Cross is gripping, emotional, and perfect for fans of serious crime dramas.

CR Rating: 7.2/10.

Cross Actors

Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross

Aldis Hodge - Cross

DOB: September 20, 1986.  

Bio: Aldis Hodge was born in Onslow County, North Carolina, and raised in New Jersey in a creative family.

He began acting as a child and steadily built a respected career across television and film.

Over the years, Hodge has balanced prestige dramas with major studio projects, earning praise for his grounded intensity and emotional range.

Role: Hodge plays Alex Cross, a Washington, D.C.-based homicide detective and forensic psychologist adapted from James Patterson’s bestselling novels.

Cross is deeply analytical, using psychology to understand and anticipate killers, yet he is also a devoted father still carrying personal grief and emotional scars.

Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (16 eps).

Interesting facts: Offscreen, Hodge designs watches (A. Hodge Atelier), paints and speaks about representation in creative crafts, details he has said inform his calm, tactile approach to playing Cross.  

Notable Works: Leverage, Hidden Figures, One Night in Miami….

Isaiah Mustafa as Detective John Sampson

Isaiah Mustafa - Cross

DOB: February 11, 1974.

Bio: Born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Mission Viejo, California.

Before acting, he pursued a career in professional football and had brief stints on NFL practice squads.

He later transitioned into entertainment and became a pop-culture sensation as the face of the iconic Old Spice advertising campaign.

Role: Mustafa plays Detective John Sampson, Alex Cross’s longtime friend and trusted partner in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

Sampson serves as the pragmatic counterbalance to Cross’s psychologically intense and often obsessive investigative style.

Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (11 eps).

Interesting facts: Before acting he pursued pro football; many viewers first recognised him from the Old Spice commercials that made him a pop-culture figure.  

Notable Works: Shadowhunters, It Chapter Two.  

Juanita Jennings as Regina “Nana Mama” Cross

Juanita Jennings - Cross

DOB: September 12, 1952.

Bio: A veteran American actress with a career spanning television, film, and theatre.

She has long been respected for portraying strong, grounded maternal figures with warmth and authority.

Role: Jennings plays Regina “Nana Mama” Cross, the heart of the Cross family.

She is the protective and wise matriarch who helps hold the household together while Alex Cross navigates dangerous investigations. 

Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (16 eps).

Interesting facts: Jennings has a long theatre background and won a CableACE Award early in her career; reviewers praise her ability to carry scenes that demand both tenderness and steel.  

Notable Works: Meet the Browns, Basic Instinct, various TV dramas.

Alona Tal as Kayla Craig

Alona Tal - Cross

DOB: October 20, 1983.  

Bio: Israeli actress who began her career in television and film in Israel before moving to the United States to expand her opportunities.

She gained international recognition through roles in American television, building a steady career in both procedural dramas and genre series.

Role: Tal plays Kayla Craig, a skilled FBI agent who works alongside Alex Cross on complex homicide investigations.

Kayla brings federal oversight and procedural precision to cases that often become deeply personal for Cross.

Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (16 eps).

Interesting facts: Tal is fluent in Hebrew and English and transitioned successfully from Israeli productions to major U.S. television roles.

Notable Works: Veronica Mars, Supernatural, SEAL Team.

Samantha Walkes as Elle Monteiro

Samantha Walkes - Cross

DOB: N/A.

Bio: A Canadian actress with a strong background in theatre, film, and television.

Trained in performance with a focus on stage work, she built her early career across Canadian productions before moving into larger international projects.

Role: Walkes plays Elle Monteiro, a key figure in Alex Cross’s personal life.

Elle is an accomplished and socially conscious professional who provides emotional stability amid the chaos of Cross’s dangerous investigations.

Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (16 eps).

Interesting facts: Walkes was cast after work across Canadian film/TV and has used the role to broaden into higher-profile U.S. streaming dramas.  

Notable Works: Orphan: First Kill and Canadian TV roles.

Caleb Elijah as Damon Cross

Caleb Elijah - Cross

DOB: N/A.

Bio: A young actor who gained wider attention through his role in a major streaming crime drama.

While still early in his career, he has demonstrated a natural screen presence and emotional sensitivity beyond his years.

Role: Caleb plays Damon Cross, the intelligent and perceptive son of Alex Cross.

Damon represents the emotional core of the Cross family, reminding viewers of what is at stake whenever his father’s dangerous work bleeds into home life.

Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (16 eps).

Interesting facts: As a young performer, Caleb has been noted by viewers for his emotional maturity on screen.

Notable Works: Cross is his breakout series credit.  

Melody Hurd as Janelle “Jannie” Cross

Melody Hurd - Cross

DOB: October 28, 2011.

Bio: American child actress who began her career at a very young age and quickly built an impressive résumé in film and television.

She gained early recognition for her emotionally resonant performances in dramatic roles, showing maturity and screen presence well beyond her years.

Role: Hurd plays Janelle “Jannie” Cross, the young daughter of Alex Cross.

Jannie represents innocence and emotional grounding within the series’ dark investigative world. 

Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (16 eps).

Interesting facts: Hurd was nominated for youth acting awards for her work and has been praised for bringing emotional intelligence to difficult family scenes.  

Notable Works: Fatherhood, Them.  

Jennifer Wigmore as Chief April Anderson

Jennifer Wigmore - Cross

DOB: November 14, 1967.

Bio: Canadian actress and multidisciplinary artist with extensive experience across theatre, film, and television.

Known for her grounded performances and strong screen presence, she often portrays intelligent, composed authority figures. 

Role: Wigmore plays Chief April Anderson, the D.C. Metro Police chief.

As the head of the department, Anderson must balance political pressure, public optics, and the urgency of solving high-profile crimes.

Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (12 eps).

Interesting facts: Wigmore is also a painter/writer; interviews show she approaches authority figures with nuance, making Chief Anderson less of an archetype and more of a constrained human leader.  

Notable Works: Y: The Last Man, Malory Towers.

Ryan Eggold as Ed Ramsey

Ryan Eggold - Cross

DOB: August 10, 1984.  

Bio: American actor, writer, and musician best known for leading roles in network television dramas.

He first gained wide recognition as Ryan Matthews on 90210 before portraying Tom Keen on The Blacklist. 

Role: Eggold plays Ed Ramsey, a wealthy and influential figure whose power and connections intersect with high-level corruption.

Ramsey’s resources and secrecy create major obstacles for Alex Cross’s investigation, positioning him as a central antagonist in Season 1.

Seasons & Episodes: S1 (8 eps).

Interesting facts: Eggold writes and produces music and has a production company; he often brings creative input to the characters he plays.  

Notable Works: New Amsterdam, The Blacklist.  

Eloise Mumford as Shannon Witmer

DOB: September 24, 1986.

Bio: American actress known for her work across film and television.

She gained mainstream recognition portraying Kate Kavanagh in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.

Role: Mumford plays Shannon Witmer, a woman entangled in the elite social circles surrounding Ed Ramsey.

Her storyline explores themes of trust, intimacy, and manipulation within high-powered environments.

Seasons & Episodes: S1 (8 eps).

Interesting facts: Mumford has worked across independent films, studio features, and network dramas, building a versatile career.

Notable Works: Fifty Shades of Grey, various TV titles.  

Johnny Ray Gill as Bobby Trey

DOB: August 26, 1984.

Bio: American actor with a strong theatre background and a versatile screen career spanning film and television.

He trained in theatre and built his early reputation on stage before transitioning to TV roles.

Role: Gill plays Bobby Trey, a street-connected figure whose actions intersect with Alex Cross’s investigations.

Bobby’s presence in the underworld adds tension and unpredictability to the series.

Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (15 eps).

Interesting facts: Gill’s versatile stage background helps him switch between sympathetic and threatening in an instant, a useful trait in ensemble crime drama.  

Notable Works: Rectify, True Blood, BrainDead.  

Jeanine Mason as Luce

DOB: January 14, 1991.

Bio: American actress and trained dancer who rose to prominence as the winner of So You Think You Can Dance.

Transitioning from dance to acting, Mason has built a career in television dramas, showcasing a talent for layered, emotionally nuanced performances.

Role: Mason portrays Luce, introduced in Season 2 as a morally complex anti-hero and vigilante.

Luce’s actions drive the season’s central conflict, challenging Alex Cross’s perception of justice.

Seasons & Episodes: S2 (3 eps).

Interesting facts: Mason described Luce as “an infuriated woman” in interviews, and critics have noted how Season 2 uses her to test the show’s moral compass.  

Notable Works: Roswell, New Mexico, Grey’s Anatomy.

More Actors

Season 1 (premiered Nov 14, 2024)

• Sharon Taylor as Oracene Massey.

• Ashley Rios as Malika Goodspeed.

• Stacie Greenwell as Shawna De Lackner.

• Karen Robinson as Miss Nancy.

Season 2 (premiered Feb 11, 2026)

• Matthew Lillard as billionaire Lance Durand.

• Wes Chatham as Donnie.

• Jeanine Mason as Rebecca.

• Michelle C. Bonilla as Claire.

FAQ – Cross TV Series

What is Cross (TV series) about?

Cross is a crime thriller on Amazon Prime Video that follows homicide detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross as he investigates brutal killers and complex crimes in Washington, D.C. It blends procedural cases with psychological suspense and family drama.

Is Cross based on a book?

Yes. Cross is based on the character Alex Cross from bestselling novels by James Patterson, though the TV adaptation uses new storylines rather than directly adapting the book plots.

Does Cross follow the books closely?

The TV series is inspired by Patterson’s Alex Cross character but uses original storylines rather than direct book adaptations. More on CBR

How many seasons does Cross have?

Cross has two seasons available, with Season 2 premiering on February 11, 2026.

Where can I watch Cross?

You can stream Cross exclusively on Prime Video with an Amazon Prime membership. 

Conclusion

Cross delivers a strong and emotional crime story that grows better each season.

With Aldis Hodge leading the cast, the series balances intense investigations with real family struggles.

Season 1 builds a solid foundation with a gripping serial killer case, while Season 2 raises the stakes with deeper conflicts and smarter twists.

The show combines suspense, drama, and heart in a way that keeps viewers invested.

If you enjoy thoughtful crime thrillers with strong characters and steady tension, Cross is definitely worth watching.

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