Adapted from the 2007 movie of the same name, Shooter is a riveting action series that aired on the USA network from 2016 to 2018. While currently available for free viewing on Tubi, the must-watch series follows Bob Lee Swagger, a retired military sniper who is pulled back into the line of duty to prevent the assassination of the U.S. President.
Over the course of three seasons and 31 episodes, Swagger’s personal and professional life becomes more complicated as he tries to fulfill his obligations. Aside from the visceral action scenes, Shooter is bolstered by a stellar ensemble cast that many viewers will recognize from many popular movies and TV shows.
Ryan Phillippe as Bob Lee Swagger
Ryan Phillippe portrays Bob Lee Swagger, picking up the mantle left behind by Mark Wahlberg in the movie. Swagger is a retired and highly decorated U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper and Gunnery Sergeant who lives in seclusion when the series begins. However, when a plot to assassinate the U.S. president is uncovered, Swagger is reluctantly pressed back into action. Swagger is also recovering from the PTSD that resulted from being shot during his time in the war.
Phillippe is an esteemed actor who has starred in many popular movies and TV shows. After starring in the ABC drama One Life to Live to begin his career, Philippe notably starred in such iconic ’90s movies as I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions. While Shooter has provided Phillippe with his most well-rounded TV character, he also made a lasting impression in the acclaimed FX original TV Show, Damages and Secrets and Lies.
Shantel VanSanten as Julie Swagger
Shantel VanSanten plays Julie Swagger. Julie is Bob Lee’s wife and the mother of their daughter, Mary. Although Julie was not a member of the Marines, she grew up in Texas and is familiar with how to use a gun. Julie is also smart, strong, and supportive of her husband and goes out of her way to protect him in public when he is framed for attempting to kill the president.
VanSanten is a talented actress who got her big break in 2009 when she starred in the popular horror movie The Final Destination and the hit teen drama One Tree Hill. Since then, she has gone on to become one of the hottest TV stars around by appearing in everything from The Boys and The Flash to For All Mankind to FBI and its various spinoffs.
Omar Epps as Isaac Johnson
Omar Epps portrays Isaac Johnson in Shooter. Isaac was Bob’s commanding officer during their tour of duty in the war and has gone on to work as a Secret Service agent. Despite their past together and working for the Department of Homeland Security, Isaac becomes the de facto antagonist of the series when he decides to frame Bob for attempting to kill the U.S. President.
Epps is a terrific actor who turned in one of the all-time greatest teenage performances in Juice, his feature film debut. His best movie credits include The Program, Love & Basketball, and The Wood. However, most fans will recognize Epps from his long-term stint on House M.D., in which he played Dr. Eric Foreman for more than 170 episodes.
Most recently, Epps starred in the beloved Starz original TV show, Power Book III: Raising Kanan.
Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Nadine Memphis
Cynthia Addai-Robinson depicts Nadine Memphis. Nadine is an FBI agent assigned to investigate Bob Lee after he is framed and arrested for plotting to assassinate the President. Nadine is highly intelligent and keenly observant, using her high-powered intuition to discover the truth regarding Swagger’s innocence. Nadine also has a traumatic event in her past that helps her relate to Swagger.
With 20 years of acting experience, Addai-Robinson has worked mostly on television. Her most prominent credits include playing Amanda Waller in The CW’s Arrow, and Queen Regent Miril in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. However, it’s worth noting that she has experience with assassination thrillers after starring in the movies Colombiana and The Accountant.
Lexy Kolker as Mary Swagger
Lexy Kolker plays Mary Swagger, the young daughter of Bob Lee and Julie. When Bob Lee is framed and put in legal jeopardy, he and Julie do everything in their power to protect Mary from being influenced by the court of public opinion. As such, Mary increases the dramatic stakes of the central conflict. Anytime Mary is put in danger, the tension and suspense ramp up to a new level.
Kolker has made quite the impression so far in her young career. While Shooter marks her most substantial character, fans may recognize her from her portrayal as young Robin Hinton in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Kolker has also made guest-starring appearances on Netflix’s psychological thriller series You and the long-running legal drama Criminal Minds.
Jesse Bradford as Harris Downey
Jesse Bradford portrays Harris Downey in the bingeable crime show. Harris is an FBI employee who works alongside Nadine in Washington, D.C. While he was romantically involved with Nadine for a brief time, Harris’ role expands dramatically in Season 3 when he goes on the road with Bob and becomes entangled with the nefarious plots orchestrated by Isaac. Over time, he earns the trust the of main characters.
Bradford began his career as a child actor by giving precocious performances in Presumed Innocent and My Blue Heaven before breaking out in the 1995 techno-thriller Hackers. He went on to star in the popular cheerleader comedy Bring It On and the stalker movie Swimfan. Beyond starring in Shooter, Bradford’s notable TV credits include The West Wing, Sequestered, and Guys with Kids.
Josh Stewart as Solotov
Josh Stewart adds terror to the show as Solotov, an expert sniper from Chechnya who has a complicated history with Bob Lee. Solotov is the man responsible for injuring Bob Lee during wartime, causing him immense trauma that resulted in him living in isolation. When Bob Lee learns that Solotov was hired by a shady sect called The Atlas, he is forced to reconsider their past.
After beginning his career on the TV shows Third Watch and Dirt, Stewart began starring in such horror movies as The Collector and The Collection. He has also voiced roles in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and Tenet. However, most fans will recognize Stewart from the TV shows The Punisher (as John Pilgrim) and Criminal Minds (as William LaMontagne Jr.).
Delaina Micthell as Anna Wallingford
Delaina Micthell plays Anna Wallingford. Anna is Julie’s sister and Mary’s aunt who vows to protect her family when Bob Lee and Nadine are forced to go on the run. While a supporting character who is absent for Season 2, Anna makes a rousing return in Season 3 and plays a key role in the dramatic arc of the overarching storyline.
Also credited as Delaina Hlavin, Mitchell made her screen debut in the 1995 drama Waiting to Exhale. Although she has guest-starred in Scandal and The Young Pope, Mitchell has made her biggest mark on TV by starring in Shooter. Fans can also see her in Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed movies, Inherent Vice and Licorice Pizza, perhaps hinting at more film projects in the future.
Eddie McClintock as Jack Payne
Eddie McClintock depicts Jack Payne. Jack is an ex-military soldier who now works for the CIA as a mercenary. Along with Isaac, Jack is one of Bob Lee’s archenemies who are hired to eliminate the titular sniper. Unafraid of doing the dirty work and getting his hands bloody, Jack is rough, gruff, and downright terrifying. Alas, he finally meets his match when Bob Lee discovers his involvement.
While best known for his role as Secret Service agent Pete Lattimer in the SyFy series Warehouse 13, McClintock has amassed over 80 credits in his career. He notably starred in the TV series Stark Raving Mad, Holding the Baby, and Crumbs. Most recently, McClintock was added to the cast of the Netflix original series No Good Nick, and guest-starred in The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.
Gerald McRaney as Red Bama Sr.
Gerald McRaney adds mystery and intrigue to Season 3 as Red Bama Sr. Red is the Undersecretary for the Department of Agriculture and owns a massive cattle ranch that plays a crucial role in the final season of Shooter. Given his vast connections and political influence, Red works with Atlas to bring Bob Lee and Isaac down after the two reconcile their differences.
With 150 credits since the late 1960s, McRaney is arguably the most seasoned actor in the show and brings an unforgettable wealth of experience to Shooter. While he most recently wrapped his long-running role as Hollace Kilbride in NCIS: Los Angeles, McRaney’s most famous credits include the popular Netflix original series, House of Cards and HBO’s Deadwood. He also famously played Rick Simon in the ’80s detective show Simon & Simon.
