When it comes to long-running animated tv comedies, most people tend to think of shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and South Park. It's understandable why, as between them, they've racked up an astonishing 76 seasons and counting. That's not to say that there aren't plenty of other great animated series on television though, with FX's secret agent-themed masterpiece Archer serving as a prime and pertinent example of this.
Having first debuted back in late 2009, the show is currently gearing up for its twelfth (and possibly final) season. It's centered around an arrogant yet lovable secret agent known as Sterling Archer and features a fantastic cast that's full of interesting and well-developed supporting characters. For those who are new to the series or are simply looking for a recap ahead of Archer's Season 12 premiere, this who's who contains everything one needs to know about the show's main cast.
Sterling Archer
Age: 36
Height: 6'2"
Voice Actor: H. Jon Benjamin
Model: Jason Fitzgerald
Sterling Malory Archer likes to think of himself as the world's best agent, and while he certainly has the skills to back up that claim, his short attention span and overbearing ego often get in the way of him fulfilling his true potential. That said, he still has his moments and has racked up quite the body count during his time in the field.
Archer is responsible for many of the show's funniest moments, but is also a tragic character in many ways. His relationships with women - both platonic and romantic - all tend to be incredibly unhealthy, particularly the one that he shares with his mother, Malory. He recently awoke having spent years in a coma and, for the most part, has picked up right where he left off.
Lana Kane
Age: 32
Height: 5'8"
Voice Actor: Aisha Tyler
Model: Kynyetta Lester
Despite Archer's occasional misogynism, the show does an excellent job of empowering the fairer sex. Several examples of strong, independent women can be found throughout the main cast, but none more so than Lana Kane. She flat-out refuses to tolerate Archer's antics and regularly puts him in his place when he steps out of line.
Like Archer, Lana is an incredibly capable agent and is regularly placed in charge of ISIS operations. Though there are times when she truly despises Archer, the pair do share strong feelings for one another and also have a child together. Whether or not they'll end up together is anybody's guess, although many of the show's fans seem to be hoping for this outcome once all is said and done.
Malory Archer
Age: 64
Height: 5'8"
Voice Actor: Jessica Walter
Model: Unknown
Voiced by the late, great Jessica Walter, Malory is another strong female character, although her weakness for alcohol can sometimes lead to her making some questionable decisions. Though she cares deeply for her son, she's always been an incredibly neglectful mother, as evidenced by the show's many flashback scenes.
Following Walter's death in early 2021, many assumed that the character would be written out of the show as a mark of respect. The actress had already recorded some of her lines for Season 12 prior to her passing, however, meaning that Malory will be returning to the silver screen for one final hurrah.
Cyril Figgis
Age: 45
Height: 5'10"
Voice Actor: Chris Parnell
Model: Stuart Fierman
Confidence can make a huge difference to a person's demeanor, as evidenced by the long-suffering ISIS operative, Cyril Figgis. He's constantly being browbeaten by Archer and the rest of his coworkers and is rarely taken seriously even when he has something insightful or important to say.
Despite years of criticism though, there are still times when Cyril manages to be assertive and even show real leadership qualities. These instances usually correlate to Archer's prolonged absences, however, so with ISIS' leading man now out of his coma, it seems safe to assume that the old Cyril will soon be returning.
Cheryl Tunt
Age: 27
Height: 5'4"
Voice Actor: Judy Greer
Model: Unknown
Heiress to the Tunt family fortune, Cheryl is one of the hidden gems in Archer's cast. She provides humor not just through her razor-sharp insults, but also her bizarre and unpredictable antics. Few secretaries are worse at their jobs than she is, with the ocelot-owning masochist regularly abandoning her post in favor of adventure.
Cheryl's kinks and fetishes often take center stage in the show, as too does her country-singer alter ego, Cherlene. She's had relationships with several of her coworkers over the years, though these tend not to last for too long due to her crazy outbursts, which, according to her brother Cecil, have become far more frequent over time.
Pam Poovey
Age: 38
Height: 5'7"
Voice Actor: Amber Nash
Model: Unknown
Pam is one of the most interesting and honest characters in Archer. In a past life, she was a champion bare-knuckle boxer and was also highly skilled in the art of street racing. It's through the latter pursuit that she became associated with the Yakuza, and this connection is explored and referenced at numerous points throughout the series.
In some of the show's later seasons, Pam expressed an interest in becoming a bonafide field agent, something that she eventually achieves in Season 8. She's not half bad either, thanks in large to her immense strength and no-nonsense approach. The latter can also be seen in the way that she conducts herself around the office, with the former H.R. Director showing very little regard for the way in which her coworkers perceive her.
Doctor Algernop Krieger
Age: 43
Height: 6'1"
Voice Actor: Lucky Yates
Model: Unknown
Krieger may or may not be a clone of an infamous German fascist, which would certainly explain his unhinged and unpredictable antics. His insane experiments have provided plenty of memorable moments over the years, although they do actually come in useful every now and again as well.
Insane though he may be, Krieger is also incredibly intelligent, as evidenced by some of his high-tech inventions. When not in his lab, he can typically be found hanging out in his custom panel van with his anime girlfriend Mitsuko, who he brought to life with the help of a special holographic projector.
Ray Gillette
Age: 39
Height: 5'8"
Voice Actor: Adam Reed
Model: Unknown
Ray is a very capable agent when he wants to be, but jumps at every opportunity he gets to slack off. It's perhaps understandable why though, as his luck in the field really isn't great. He's been shot countless times and has broken his legs on multiple occasions, leading to Krieger fitting him with a pair of bionic replacements.
Due to his robotic parts, his coworkers often joke about him being a cyborg and this only got worse in Season 6 when his right arm is bitten off by a carnivorous plant; leading to it being replaced with yet another bionic limb. This doesn't seem to have affected his skills as a pilot, however, nor has it his impressive abilities as an artist.
Arthur Woodhouse
Age: 66 (Deceased)
Height: 6'0"
Voice Actors: George Coe, Tom Kane & Roy McCrerey
Model: Unknown
Prior to his death, Archer treated Woodhouse more like a slave than a valet; often forcing him to eat dirt or big bowls of spider-webs for making even the tiniest of mistakes. Despite this, however, Woodhouse cared deeply for Archer and worked hard to fill the void left by his neglectful mother and absentee father.
For all his bravado and spiteful antics though, Archer really did value Woodhouse's services. This can be seen through his reaction and subsequent struggles to replace the valet after he was finally written out of the show in Season 8 following the death of the character's original voice actor, George Coe.
Barry Dylan
Age: 36
Height: 6'2"
Voice Actor: Dave Willis
Model: Unknown
Barry starts life as Archer's arch-nemesis and the top field agent for ISIS' rival organization, ODIN. After a terrible accident caused by Archer's incompetence, however, he's transformed into an unstoppable Cyborg by the KGB. This only intensifies the rivalry between the pair and leads to them butting heads on countless occasions.
While Archer was in a coma, Barry sought help from a therapist and reconnected with his mother, which seemingly led to him turning over a new leaf. After a little uneasiness, he and Archer were able to put their differences aside, with the pair even teaming up together for several ISIS field missions towards the tail end of Season 11.