Critically acclaimed horror novelistStephen King is one of the most adapted authors of our time- no surprise, considering his outstanding catalog of work dates back an incredible five decades. From much-loved classics like 1974’sCarrieto modern gems like 2013’sDoctor Sleep, many of King’s books have made it to the big screen. The latest to get the movie treatment isSalem’s Lot, King’s second-ever novel published in 1975. Adapted byThe Conjuring Universe’sGary Dauberman,Salem’s Lotfollows the residents of a small town whose lives are plunged into terror when a bloodthirsty vampire and his assistant move into the legendary Marsten House on the hill. If you’re already familiar with King, you’ll know that most of his stories take place in long-established towns filled with many fleshed-out, eccentric characters, meaning sometimes it can be difficult to keep track of who’s who.Salem’s Lotis no exception. But worry not, because we’ve got you covered here at Collider. Read on below to get yourself familiar with the key characters ofSalem’s Lotbefore it lands exclusively on Max on October 3.
Keep reading to get to know the cast and characters ofSalem’s Lot.
Lewis Pullman
The protagonist ofSalem’s Lot, author Ben Mears, returns to his childhood town of Jerusalem’s Lot for the first time in years following a personal tragedy. Suffering a bad case of writer’s block, Ben hopes to take inspiration for his next book from the creepy house on the hill - a house he had a terrifying experience in as a child. As Ben becomes reacquainted with the town and catches the eye of resident Susan Norton, he soon finds himself battling an ancient, powerful vampire.
Ben Mears is played byLewis Pullman. Pullman is best known for his roles in the television seriesOuter RangeandLessons in Chemistry, and appeared alongsideTom Cruisein 2022’sTop Gun: Maverick. Horror fans will recognize Pullman from his lead role in 2018’sThe Strangers: Prey at Night. Next year,Pullman will star opposite Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stanin the Marvel Studios' filmThunderbolts.
Makenzie Leigh
Susan Norton
A lifelong resident of the Lot, Susan Norton is a college graduate with big dreams. When Ben arrives in town, Susan quickly strikes up a friendship with him, and as they bond over his work, they soon develop feelings. Brave to a fault, Susan joins up with a fellow resident in an attempt to track down the vengeful vampire.
Susan Norton is played byMakenzie Leigh. Leigh is best known for her roles in the television seriesGothamandThe Slap. In 2016, she starred as Faison in the dark comedy action-dramaBilly Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.
Alfre Woodard
Doctor Cody
Doctor Cody is Ben’s closest confidant in Salem’s Lot, with an uncanny intelligence perfect for tracking down the supernatural creatures of the night. Cody meets Ben at the hospital and is one of the first people Ben trusts with his otherworldly burden. The two team up to save the townspeople, placing themselves in grave danger.
Doctor Cody is played by the award-winningAlfre Woodard, whose incredible career began in the 1970s. With over one hundred projects on stage and screen, Woodard is best known for her roles inStar Trek: First Contact,12 Years a Slave, andThe Conjuring Universe’sAnnabelle, written bySalem’s Lot’swriter and director Gary Dauberman.
Matthew Burke
A mild-mannered school teacher, Matthew Burke strikes up a firm friendship with Ben Mears. Like Ben, Matthew had an unforgettable experience at the Marsten House as a young child and wholeheartedly believes it’s a magnet for evil. Booksmart and well-versed in the occult, Matthew throws himself into vampire research. But when he extends kindness to a sick former student, he realizes he might have made the worst mistake of his life.
Matthew Burke is played byBill Camp, best known for his roles in critically acclaimed movies such asSound of Freedom,12 Years a Slave, andThe Killing of a Sacred Deer. His upcoming projects include the miniseriesZero Dayand the medical thrillerTransplant.
John Benjamin Hickey
Father Callahan
Serving as Jerusalem’s Lot’s priest, Father Callahan suffers a crisis of faith as the town’s residents face unprecedented dangers. While trying to help in the fight against the vampires, Father Callahan finds he’s their number one target as they try to destroy the little faith he has left.
Father Callahan is played byJohn Benjamin Hickey, known for his roles inTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen,Flags of Our Fathers,The Taking of Pelham 123, andThe General’s Daughter. His next project sees him star oppositePatricia Clarksonin the suspense dramaLilly.
Jordan Preston Carter
Mark Petrie
Despite being somewhat of a social outcast among his peers, youngster Mark Petrie is one of the bravest vampire slayers in town. It doesn’t take Mark long to realize what’s going on when disappearances and strange occurrences begin to plague Jerusalem’s Lot, and he soon proves himself to be a formidable ally to Ben and the group in the fight for survival.
Mark Petrie is played byJordan Preston Carter. Carter starred as Quincy Jr. from 2015 to 2021 in the television seriesThe Haves and the Have Notsand has appeared in the 2019 movieShaft, and the 2022 miniseriesDMZandMs. Marvel.
Pilou Asbaek
Richard Straker
The vampire’s “familiar”, Richard Straker is the unflinching assistant responsible for being somewhat of a middleman between the townspeople and Kurt Barlow. Handling the day-to-day running of Marsten House and the antique business - with Barlow unable to stray from his crypt during daylight - Straker is charming and agreeable on the surface. Get on the wrong side of him, however, and you might find yourself meeting his boss.
Richard Straker is played byPilou Asbaek, best known for his role as Euron Greyjoy in theGame of Thronesseries. He also starred in 2017’sGhost in the Shell, 2018’sOverlord, and 2012’sA Hijacking.
Spencer Treat Clark
Mike Ryerson
A blue-collar laborer in Salem’s Lot, Mike Ryerson often works late into the night while the rest of the town sleeps. Under the cover of darkness, Mike has an unnerving experience during a grave-digging shift and falls inexplicably ill, setting in motion a strange chain of events.
Mike Ryerson is played bySpencer Treat Clarke, best known for his roles as Adrian Dolan inAnimal Kingdomand Werner von Strucker inAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as appearing in the moviesMystic RiverandGladiator.
Alexander Ward
Kurt Barlow
The antagonist ofSalem’s Lot, the ancient and powerful vampire Kurt Barlow moves into the Marsten House with his human familiar Richard Straker. Never seen in public, Barlow sneaks around the Lot in the darkness of night, hunting for his next victim. Virtually indestructible, Barlow quickly transforms the small town into a place of pure terror. Can a small group of residents finally destroy the evil creature once and for all, or is this a battle that can never be won?
Kurt Barlow is played byAlexander Ward. Ahorror veteran, Ward is best known for his roles inAmerican Horror StoryandAnnabelle Comes Home, written and directed bySalem’s Lot’sGary Dauberman. Next, Ward will appear in the thrillerThe Descendant, with a release date yet to be announced.
William Sadler
Parkins Gillespie
Police Officer Parkins Gillespie isn’t the kind of guy you’d want to rely on in a crisis. Apathetic and not exactly quick off the mark, Gillespie’s idea of dealing with a supernatural creature and nightly disappearances is to hope it all blows over. Gillespie’s laid-back attitude means the residents must save themselves - and if they can’t, well, bad luck.
Parkins Gillespie is played byWilliam Sadler, best known for his roles inBill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,The Shawshank Redemption, and the Stephen King book-to-big-screen adaptation ofThe Mist, in which he starred as Jim.
Salem’s Lot
In Salem’s Lot (2024), writer Ben Mears returns to his childhood town to craft a novel, only to find that its residents are being transformed into vampires. As the sinister forces grow, Ben and a group of allies must confront the malevolent presence threatening to consume the entire community.
