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Not only has the show become a pop culture phenomenon over the years, inspiring many memes due to its wild plots and storylines, but it also jumpstarted the careers of several of its stars as it marked many of their breakout roles.
“It’s been a wild ride,” Cole Sprouse toldEntertainment Tonightahead of the show’s 100th episode back in December 2021. “I think I’m very lucky that people took to the show, and it’s created an absolutely stellar platform for all of the young actors on the show to — when the show eventually wraps itself — go, ‘My God, that was a huge opportunity,’ and it served as a huge opportunity for us.”
From their dating lives to the roles they’re set to take on afterRiverdaleends, here’s everything to know about the cast.
KJ Apa as Archie
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Apa’s early acting career started in 2013 when he starred on the New Zealand primetime soap operaShortland Street. At one point,he shared a scene with singer Ed Sheeran, who made a cameo on the show.
His breakout role came in 2016 when he was cast as Archie Andrews onRiverdale, after a worldwide talent search for the role. Throughout his time on The CW series, Apa has starred in several other projects, includingA Dog’s Purpose,The Hate U Give,I Still Believeand most recently,Songbird. After singing onRiverdaleon various occasions, Apa independently released his debut album,Clocks, in 2021.
Cole Sprouse as Jughead
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Cole Sprouse, alongside his twin brother Dylan Sprouse, first got his start as a child actor with notable roles inBig DaddyandFriends. The twins' breakout roles were on Disney Channel’sThe Suite Life of Zack & Codyin 2005.
After college, Sprouse returned to acting with his role as Jughead onRiverdale. In 2019, Sprouse returned to film inFive Feet Apartalongside Haley Lu Richardson, marking his second lead role in a major theatrical film almost two decades after starring inBig Daddy. In 2022, he starred in the HBO Max original filmMoonshotalongside Lana Condor.
On the personal front, Sprouse was previously ina relationship with his costar Lili Reinhart. After meeting on the show, the two dated off and on until March 2020.Sprouse spoke about their splitduring hisCall Her Daddypodcast interview, saying “it was really hard for both of us.” However, he went on to say that he and Reinhart are “good friends now,” adding that they “work really well together.”
Currently,Sprouse is dating model Ari Fournier. The couple was first linked in 2021 and celebrated two years together in January 2023.
Lili Reinhart as Betty
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Lili Reinhart grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where she developed a love for acting at a young age. At 18 years old, Reinhart moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting full-time butreturned home after five months. After about half a year of debating whether she wanted to continue acting, she decided to move back to the West Coast. A few days later, she got a call from her agent about the role of Betty Cooper onRiverdale.
The CW series marked her breakout role as an actress. Since its debut, Reinhart has booked various notable roles, includingHustlersandChemical Hearts, the latter also marking her first executive producer credit. In 2021, she starred in the Netflix original film,Look Both Ways, which she also executive produced.
That same year, Reinhart’s production company,Small Victory Productions, signed a deal with Amazon Studiosto develop original and adapted content for film and television with a “focus on developing modern young adult content that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, in addition to championing new voices and bringing their stories to life,” perDeadline.
Speaking with Buzzfeed in 2022, Reinhart noted that she had a few projects in the works with her production company post-Riverdale, including “a very exciting LGBTQ+ period piece.” “That is so exciting for me because I’ve always been in love with period pieces,” she told the publication. “I grew up being so drawn to them likeMarie Antoinette,Memoirs of a Geisha, andDangerous Liaisons. I’ve always just loved the drama of period pieces, and adding that queer element is very exciting for me. So, that’s something that’s on the horizon.”
In addition to acting, Reinhart released a book of poetry titledSwimming Lessons: Poems, which debuted at No. 2 onThe New York TimesBest Seller list for paperback trade fiction.
Reinhart was previously in an off- and on-again relationship with her costar Sprouse, however, they ultimately split in March 2020. That same year,Reinhart publicly came out as bisexual, writing that she was a “proud bisexual woman” on social media.
After briefly being linked to actor Spencer Neville in 2022,Reinhart sparked romance rumors with actor Jack Martinin April 2023 when they were photographed kissing outside LAX Airport. They later made their relationship Instagram official in July.
Camila Mendes as Veronica
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That same year, she booked the role of Veronica onRiverdale. In 2018, Mendes made her feature film debut inThe New Romantic, which premiered at the SXSW Festival. In between filmingRiverdale, Mendes has continued to act in other projects, includingThe Perfect Date,Palm Springs,Dangerous LiesandDo Revenge, which received critical acclaim for reviving the teen drama genre.
Post-Riverdale, Mendes is slated to star in and executive produce two separate projects: therom-comMúsicawith Rudy Mancuso and therom-comUpgradedwith Archie Renaux.
As for her personal life, Mendes was previously in a relationship with herRiverdalecostar Charles Melton, who also played her boyfriend on the show. However, after one year of dating, they parted ways in December 2019.
Most recently,Mendes has been linked to herMúsicacostar Mancuso. The two sparked romance rumors in late 2022, and eventually confirmed their relationship on Valentine’s Day in 2023.
Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl
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Madelaine Petsch was born in Port Orchard, Washington, and spent much of her early childhood living there and in South Africa, where her parents are from. She later attended the Tacoma School of the Arts, before moving to Los Angeles after graduation.
In 2016, she was cast as Cheryl inRiverdale, marking her breakout role. She has been in a variety of other movies and shows since then, includingF the Prom,Polaroid,SightlessandHotel for the Holidays.
In addition to her acting roles, Petsch has a YouTube channel with more than 6 million subscribers, where she regularly posts about her life.
Petsch was previously in a relationship with rapper Travis Millsbefore they split in 2020after three years of dating. Recently,she has been linked to Halsey’s manager Anthony Liafter sparking romance rumors in November 2022. In August 2023,Petsch celebrated their one-year anniversaryon her Instagram Story.
Vanessa Morgan as Toni
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Born in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada, Vanessa Morgan started performing at a young age, including in community events and telethons. In 2000, she made her acting debut in the VH1 filmA Diva’s Christmas Carol, but her breakout role came in 2007 when she was cast in the Canadian seriesThe Latest Buzz.
That same year, she joined the cast ofRiverdaleseason 2 in a recurring role as Toni Topaz, and she was eventually moved up to a series regular the following season.
In real life, Morgan shares a close friendship with her costar Petsch, who has also played her girlfriend throughout various seasons. “She kind of brought me to set and showed me around. So I instantly felt at home,“Morgan told POPSUGAR about bonding with Petsch. “It’s like I won the lottery. Not only am I going to be on the same show as my best friend, but now we get to be girlfriends. Instead of kissing one of the actors on the show, it might as well be your best friend.”
Charles Melton as Reggie
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Charles Melton was born in Juneau, Alaska, but moved frequently because his father worked for the military. Eventually, the family settled down in Kansas, where Melton attended high school and later Kansas State University, where he played on the football team. However, he left school to pursue a career in acting.
After small roles inGleeandAmerican Horror Story, Melton got his breakout role when he was cast as Reggie onRiverdale, replacing Ross Butler who left the series after season 1 to film13 Reasons Why. In 2019, he starred in his first feature film,The Sun Is Also a Star, alongside Yara Shahidi. He has since appeared inBad Boys for Life,Heart of ChampionsandSecret Headquarters. He also starred inAriana Grande’s music video for “Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored.”
From October 2018 to December 2019, Melton was in a relationship with his costar Mendes. The two made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2018GQMen of the Year Party and Mendes supported the actor at the premiere ofThe Sun Is Also a Star.
In July 2022,he sparked romance rumors with Chase Sui Wondersafter they went Instagram official, however,the actress has since been linked to Pete Davidson.
Casey Cott as Kevin
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Casey Cott was born in Born in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where he participated in many local theater productions. After graduating high school, he attended Boston University for two years before transferring to Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, where he graduated in 2016. His brother, Broadway actor Corey Cott, also graduated from the prestigious drama school.
During his last year of school, he was cast as Kevin Keller onRiverdale, marking his breakout role. In addition to starring onRiverdale, Cott played Kevin Keller on the spinoff seriesKaty Keenestarring Lucy Hale and Ashleigh Murray. He has also had roles in various films, includingAll the Things We KillandAsking for It.
In April, PEOPLE exclusively revealed thatCott and Basara are expecting their first child together. “It was a life-changing moment, and one we will never forget,” Basara told PEOPLE.
In August, Cott made his Broadway debut as he took on the role of Christian inMoulin Rouge!. Cott had thesupport of hisRiverdalecostarsfor the big milestone, including Sprouse and Petsch who posted tributes after attending the show.
Drew Ray Tanner as Fangs
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Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Drew Ray Tanner first fell in love with performing afterwatching his grandfather do magic tricks. While in school, Tanner participated in a variety of extracurriculars, joining a local improv group and doing local theater productions at his school. After graduation,he got a job at a local tire retread plantso that he could support himself and travel for auditions.
In between filmingRiverdale, he has appeared in a variety of other shows and films, includingWork It,The OrderandLegends of Tomorrow. Additionally, he formed a group, These Girls These Boys, with his costar Morgan,releasing their debut single “Sleep When I’m Dead"in May 2020.
Erinn Westbrook as Tabitha
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Erinn Westbrook was born on Long Island, New York, but grew up in Missouri. After graduating from high school in 2006, where she was captain of the cheerleading squad,she attended Harvard University, where she majored in English, American Literature and Language, with a secondary concentration in Dramatic Arts and an advanced certification in Spanish.
Before bookingRiverdale, Westbrook starred on Netflix’sInsatiable, which ran for two seasons from 2018 to 2019. In 2021, Westbrook was cast as Tabitha Tate, the granddaughter of Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe owner Pop Tate who eventually dates Jughead on the series.
As for her personal life, Westbrook got married in 2019 to her husband Andrew. The wedding took place in her hometown andwas featured on Martha Stewart Weddings.
source: people.com
