Seventh grade is difficult for everyone, save for a select few fortunate students. Being 13 can be a genuinely painful experience, from the pimples to the classes to the bullies at school to the meanderings of understanding our own sexuality. The early phases of adolescence were accompanied by other nightmares specific to that time, such dial-up internet and considerably more socially acceptable misogyny and homophobia, for those whose puberty coincided with the Y2K fear – the much derided millennials. Many of us would want to forget about it. Fortunately, Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle have vivid memories of it.
The makers of Hulu’s PEN15, which showcases the best, worst, and worst of being a middle schooler in the early 2000s, are Erskine and Konkle in addition to Sam Zvibleman. Erskine and Konkle, who are both in their 30s, co-star as fictionalised versions of their 13-year-old selves on-screen with actual children who portray their friends and classmates. It’s a decision that both supports the show’s unusual style of cringe comedy and permits it to address subjects like racism and masturbation that could be too delicate or potentially hazardous for younger actors. The programme employs camera techniques and body doubles for more intimate sequences, such Anna’s first kiss. PEN15 has been nominated for three Emmy Awards in 2021, including Outstanding Comedy Series, despite the fact that it may seem like an unconventional manner to produce a TV show.
Here is a guide better than any middle school yearbook to the key cast and characters of the show, whether you have never seen PEN15 and want to catch up with the series or you are an old fan seeking a refresher before Season 2, Part 2 is slated to reach Hulu on December 3.
Alex (Lincoln Jolly)
a popular, laconic boy who Anna has a crush on.
In addition to the Snapchat original series Solve and the Russian programme Chernobyl: Zone of Exclusion, Jolly has had appearances in the films A Lover Betrayed and The Nowhere Inn.
Anna Kone (Anna Konkle)
Anna Kone, a seventh-grader who is Maya’s best friend, is also an outcast. She performed a solo in the school musical and is an incredibly talented singer. The decision to divorce Anna’s parents came after a protracted marital crisis. Their daughter has developed a more mature, and at times stoic, outlook on life as a result of the entire circumstance. She is seen to be in love with both Alex, a classmate, and Shuji, Maya’s brother.
In addition to her roles as Corinne in the film Escort and as Tara in the Fox crime thriller Rosewood, Anna Konkle has made appearances on television shows like New Girl, Shameless, Maron, Baskets, and Betas. She and Erskine voiced characters in Big Mouth after the debut of Pen15.
Becca (Sami Rappoport)
Becca (second from left), who isn’t exactly a popular girl, is certainly a cruel one who enjoys things like informing Maya the true meaning of the acronym UGIS.
Rappoport’s sole other acting credit is for the Sunnyside Up episode of the Brat TV YouTube series.
Brandt (Jonah Beres)
a cruel boy who is Alex’s best friend and who Maya has a crush on.
Beres is well-known for his modest roles in the TruTV series Those Who Can’t and the ABC dramas Splitting Up Together and Stephanie, as well as the horror films Strange Nature and Stephanie.
Brendan (Brady Allen)
Anna spends some time with this school band member, who has impossible-small handwriting.
Allen has only appeared in Paranormal Activity 4 and PEN15.
Curtis Kone (Taylor Nichols)
Compared to Kathy, Anna’s father appears to be more supportive of his daughter. Following the divorce, Curtis immediately undergoes a mid-life crisis, getting an ear piercing, and purchasing a used convertible.
For his work in films from the 1990s and the early 2000s, notably Metropolitan and The Boiler Room, Nichols is most recognised. He has recently made appearances in episodes of The Walking Dead, Animal Kingdom, The Rookie, and Perry Mason on HBO.
Fred Peters (Richard Karn)
Maya’s father is a drummer who frequently travels with his Steely Dan tribute band and only returns for significant occasions like Maya’s big drum solo.
Even if you can’t remember where, Richard Karn is one of those performers you have seen before. He has appeared in a variety of television shows and motion pictures, including The Bold and the Beautiful and the fourth entry in the Air Bud series. He is best recognised, though, for playing Tim (Tim Allen) and Al’s co-host in the ABC sitcom Home Improvement.
Gabe (Dylan Gage)
Gabe, one of Sam’s closest pals, is portrayed as a gay boy who is unsure of his sexual orientation. He co-stars with Maya in the school play in Season 2, and he briefly proposes to her.
Dylan Gage has made guest appearances on This Is Us and Stranger Things. He most recently appeared in Fear Street: 1978 and Hillbilly Elegy.
Greg Rosso (Michael Angarano)
The theatrical instructor at the school and the playwright.
For his part as Nick Pearson in This is Us, Angarano is well-known. Additionally, he has acted in films including The Stanford Prison Experiment and Empire State. In Will and Grace as a young child, he portrayed Elliot, Jack’s (Sean Hayes) estranged son, and in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous as little William Miller (Patrick Fugit).
Heather (Anna Pniowsky)
Heather is the school’s resident popular girl and may be seen in this photo on the far right. She occasionally dates Alex.
Pniowsky has appeared in the motion pictures He’s Out There, Light of My Life, and Bad Therapy. She has additionally appeared in The Hot Zone, a National Geographic programme.
Ian (Ivan Mallon)
A classmate of Maya’s and Anna’s who plays a supporting part in the school play. The other kids make fun of him because they think he’s queer.
The School of Rock television series character Clark O’Shannon is Mallon’s most well-known role. He has also made appearances in episodes of Young Sheldon and Game Shakers.
Jafeer (Tony Espinosa)
Gabe and Sam’s closest associate.
Espinosa has appeared in films like Suburbicon and American Skin in addition to episodes of the television shows Criminal Minds, Sydney to the Max, and Diary of a Future President.
Jan (Diane Delano)
Maya and Anna frequently receive assistance from the school’s janitor.
Delano is most known for her roles as Sister Beech in the 2006 adaptation of The Wicker Man, Hilda Van Beno in Days of Our Lives, Stella Willis in E.R., Bunny Hopstetter on The Ellen Show, Bobbi Glass in Popular, and Hilda Van Beno in Days of Our Lives. She performs as Tuba in Cartoon Network’s Infinity Train as a voice actress.
Kathy Kone (Melora Walters)
The mother of Anna, who has a rocky marriage, is quite interested crystals and complementary medicine.
Walters is well-known for playing Wanda Henrickson in the HBO drama series Big Love as well as for roles in The Butterfly Effect, Dead Poets Society, Magnolia, and Boogie Nights.
Maura (Ashlee Grubbs)
In addition to verbally abusing her mother, Maura is a troubled youngster who thinks she can buy friends with money and treats. She puts herself in the way of Maya and Anna in Season 2 until the girls accept her as their new best friend. However, Maya picks up on the problem right away.
In films like The Immortal Wars, The Radiant One, and Guard Dog, Ashlee Grubbs has small roles. She has additionally appeared in Disney’s Andy Mack companion commentary programme Mack Chat as one of the youngsters.
Maya Ishii-Peters (Maya Erskine)
Maya Ishii-Peters, a seventh-grader who is best friends with Anna, is from a Japanese-American household. Despite having a flair for acting and drumming, she frequently feels embarrassed about both her skills and appearance, especially after being called the “UGIS,” or Ugliest Girl in School. Maya is the class clown and an exceptional Ace Ventura impersonator, although her popularity isn’t enhanced by this.
Among other animated programmes, Maya Erskine has provided voice acting for Crossing Swords, Bob’s Burgers, Bojack Horseman, Robot Chicken, and most recently, Big Mouth. She had a starring role in the Silicon Valley comedy Betas on Amazon Prime from 2013 to 2014 and recurring parts in the HBO series Insecure and the Hulu series Casual. Erskine will also make an appearance in the upcoming Disney+ Obi-Wan Kenobi drama.
Mr. Wyzell (Tim Russ)
The composition used by the school band and taught to the girls by Mr. Wyzell is both.
Russ is most known for his role as Lt. Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager, but he also has a long list of acting accomplishments, including roles in soap operas, science fiction TV series, and voiceover work. He reprises his role as the school principle from Nickelodeon’s iCarly in Paramount+’s resurrection of the show, which will likely be recognisable to those who grew up between the late 2000s and the early 2010s.
Sam Zablowski (Taj Cross)
Classmate and the girls’ carpool buddy who has a crush on Maya. Sam is modelled from Zvibleman’s teenage years.
Cross has also appeared in the NBC programme Young Rock, which is based on the life of Dwayne Johnson, in addition to Pen15.
Shuji Ishii-Peters (Dallas Liu)
Although Maya’s eighth-grade brother frequently treats her badly, he is always there for her when she needs someone to brainstorm insults to use on a bully, among other big brother duties. Even though Shuji is actually Maya’s half-brother, the family doesn’t treat the two children any differently. This is revealed in Season 2.
Dallas Liu made his acting debut in the 2010 film Tekken at the age of nine. In Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, he most recently played Ruihua. In the next live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series, he will also play Prince Zuko.
Steve (Chau Long)
A high school freshman who is Bruce Lee-obsessed serves as the tech department’s manager. He is said to have a crush on Anna, and the couple can be seen dating in the Season 2 Part 2 trailer.
The television series Grey’s Anatomy, Lucifer, Vice, Silicon Valley, Euphoria, Atypical, Days of Our Lives, and Young Sheldon are just a few that Long has been in briefly. He participates in the Snapchat original series Total Badass Wrestling.
Yuki Ishii-Peters (Mutsuko Erskine)
Maya’s mother is both affectionate and severe at times. Yuki treasures her Japanese heritage and works hard to instil her language and culture in her kids. She frequently serves as a voice of reason in the face of Maya’s outbursts.
The real mother of Maya Erskine is Mutsuko Erskine. Although she has starred in numerous of her daughter’s NYU film school productions, PEN15 marks her professional acting debut.
