The Good Place: Cast, Roles, Net Worth, Height, Families, and Relationships

The Good Place (2016–2020) is an American fantasy comedy series created by Michael Schur, produced by Fremulon, 3 Arts Entertainment, and distributed by NBC.

Inspired by philosophical thought experiments, it follows Eleanor Shellstrop, a self-centered woman who wakes up in the afterlife’s “Good Place” by mistake and enlists her soulmate, a silent monk, a socialite, and an ethics professor to hide her flawed life and learn morality.

Blending existential humor, twisty plots, and ethical dilemmas with ensemble wit, the series explores redemption, friendship, and what makes a “good” person.

Filmed in Los Angeles (with afterlife sets at Warner Bros. Studios), the four-season run (53 episodes) premiered September 19, 2016, and concluded January 30, 2020.

With an estimated $1–2 million per episode budget (totaling ~$60–100 million), it featured practical sets, VFX for the afterlife, and philosophy consultants like Todd May.

No box-office as a TV series, but it generated $50 million+ in syndication (Netflix exclusive since 2020) and merch (e.g., “The Good Place” apparel).

Main Cast and Their Roles

Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop

• Role: Eleanor, a foul-mouthed Arizona sales rep who lands in the Good Place by bureaucratic error, fakes goodness while grappling with ethics and growth. Bell’s “sassy antihero” breakout fused sarcasm and vulnerability; appeared in all 53 episodes.
• Net Worth: $40 million–$60 million.
• Height: 5’1″ (1.55 m).
• Family: Born July 18, 1980, in Huntington Woods, Michigan, to nurse Lorelei (Polish descent) and news director Tom Bell (German/English/Irish/Scottish). Only child. Attended New York University (musical theater).
• Relationships: Married actor Dax Shepard (since 2013; met 2007 on When in Rome set). Daughters: Lincoln (b. 2013), Delta (b. 2014). Previously dated Kevin Mann (2002–2007).
• Post-Film: Voiced Anna in Frozen (2013–2019); starred in Nobody Wants This (2024 Netflix). Recent: Hosted 2025 SAG Awards; The Woman in the House (2022); The People We Hate at the Wedding (2022).

Ted Danson as Michael

• Role: Michael, the cheerful architect of the Good Place neighborhood (revealed as a demon torturing humans), evolves from villain to ally. Danson’s “layered everyman” earned three Emmy noms; appeared in all 53 episodes.
• Net Worth: $80 million.
• Height: 6’2″ (1.88 m).
• Family: Born December 29, 1947, in San Diego, California, to archaeologist Edward Danson Jr. and Jessica (Scottish-English). Siblings: undisclosed. Attended Stanford University (English).
• Relationships: Married actress Mary Steenburgen (since 1995; met 1983 on Cross Creek). Stepfather to her children: Charlie and Lilly McDowell. Previously married Casey Coates (1977–1993, daughters Kate b. 1979, Alexis b. 1985 adopted); Randi Oakes (1970, annulled).
• Post-Film: Starred in Mr. Mayor (2021–2022); A Man on the Inside (2024 Netflix). Recent: Fargo S5 (2023–2024); Bob Hope Humanitarian Award (2025 Emmys with Steenburgen).

William Jackson Harper as Chidi Anagonye

• Role: Chidi, Eleanor’s indecisive ethics professor soulmate, whose overthinking aids (and hinders) the group’s moral quests. Harper’s “neurotic philosopher” shone in emotional arcs; appeared in all 53 episodes.
• Net Worth: $2 million–$3 million.
• Height: 5’10” (1.78 m).
• Family: Born February 8, 1980, in Dallas, Texas, to working-class parents (details private). No siblings reported. Attended College of Santa Fe (theater).
• Relationships: In relationship with actress Ali Ahn (since ~2012; met in NYC theater). No children; private but supportive (e.g., red carpets).
• Post-Film: Starred in Love Life S2 (2021 HBO Max). Recent: The Bear S3 (2024); Midsommar (2019); American Hostage (2025 MGM+).

Jameela Jamil as Tahani Al-Jamil

• Role: Tahani, a glamorous socialite whose “good” deeds mask sibling rivalry, grows into a selfless force. Jamil’s “posh comic” debut (no prior acting) sparkled; appeared in all 53 episodes.
• Net Worth: $2 million–$5 million.
• Height: 5’11” (1.80 m).
• Family: Born February 25, 1986, in London, England, to Pakistani businessman Ali and British-Pakistani Shireen Jamil. Younger brother: Atal (b. 2002). Estranged from parents (divorced; cited fatphobia amid her health struggles).
• Relationships: In relationship with musician James Blake (since 2015; private, met via friends). No children; child-free by choice (2025 interview).
• Post-Film: Voiced Titania in She-Hulk (2022 MCU); Star Trek: Prodigy (2022–present). Recent: I Weigh podcast (ended 2024); Love at First Sight (2023).

Manny Jacinto as Jason Mendoza

• Role: Jason, a dim-witted DJ mistaken for a monk, brings chaos and heart to the group. Jacinto’s “goofy wildcard” stole laughs; appeared in all 53 episodes.
• Net Worth: $2 million–$4 million.
• Height: 5’11” (1.80 m).
• Family: Born August 19, 1987, in Manila, Philippines, to Filipino-Chinese parents (names private). Emigrated to Richmond, British Columbia, at age 3. No siblings reported. University of British Columbia (civil engineering).
• Relationships: Married actress Dianne Doan (engaged 2019; wed 2021; met in Vancouver dance class ~2011). No children.
• Post-Film: Played Fritz in Top Gun: Maverick (2022); Qimir in The Acolyte (2024). Recent: Freakier Friday (2025 Disney); Hailey’s On It! (2023–2024 voice).

Marc Evan Jackson as Shawn

• Role: Shawn, Michael’s smug demon boss, embodies bureaucratic cruelty with dry menace. Jackson’s “smarmy foil” amplified Bad Place antics; appeared in 28 episodes (recurring).
• Net Worth: $1.5 million.
• Height: 5’11” (1.80 m).
• Family: Born August 21, 1970, in Buffalo, New York, to undisclosed parents. No siblings reported. Attended Northwestern University (theater).
• Relationships: Married actress Beth Hagenlocker (since 2002; met in improv). Daughters: London (b. 2007), Avalon (b. 2010).
• Post-Film: Recurred in Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021). Recent: A Man on the Inside (2024); Red One (2024); Transformers: EarthSpark (2025 voice).

D’Arcy Carden as Janet

• Role: Janet, the omniscient AI assistant who glitches into humanity, evolving from glitchy helper to flawed friend. Carden’s “robotic ingenue” earned an Emmy nom; appeared in all 53 episodes (also Bad Janet).
• Net Worth: $2 million.
• Height: 5’7″ (1.70 m).
• Family: Born January 4, 1980 (as Darcy Beth Erokan), in Danville, California, to Dennis (Turkish-American, BAM magazine founder) and Kerry Erokan. Siblings: sisters Miranda, Laney; brother Will.
• Relationships: Married producer Jason Carden (since 2010; met in NYC improv ~2005). No children (child-free, per 2025 interviews).
• Post-Film: Starred in Barry (2018–2023); A League of Their Own (2022 Amazon). Recent: The Rookie S7 (2025); Elio (2025 Pixar voice).

Additional Notes

• Salaries: Leads like Bell/Danson earned $200,000–$300,000 per episode by S4 (total ~$10–15M each); ensemble ~$50,000–$150,000. The $60–100M budget covered afterlife VFX, philosophy advisors, and L.A. shoots. Netflix residuals and merch (e.g., Janet database toys) add $500K+ yearly for top cast.
• Casting Insights: Schur prioritized chemistry via improv tests; Bell (36) locked Eleanor after Veronica Mars tape beat 100+ for her “relatable jerk.” Danson (68) channeled Cheers charm; Harper (36) nailed Chidi’s angst post-This Is Us. Jamil (30, non-actor) won Tahani via bold lies in auditions; Jacinto (29) brought DJ energy. Carden (36) aced Janet’s deadpan; Jackson (45) added Parks snark. Boot camp included ethics seminars for depth.
• Impact and Legacy: Peaking at 10M viewers, it popularized ethics (philosophy majors up 20% post-finale) and inspired Upload (2020). Fans on Reddit/X adore twists (e.g., S1 reveal) but debate S4’s density; 97% RT cements genius status. Influenced The Afterparty; 2025 SAG reunion (Bell/Danson/Harper) trended. Streaming on Netflix sustains discourse.
• Post-Film Careers: Bell/Danson anchor prestige TV; Harper/Jamil/MJacinto pivot to MCU/Disney; Carden/Jackson thrive in comedy. Bonds endure via cons (e.g., 2025 Good Place Fest); Schur’s humanism echoes in activism.
• Cultural Influence: Revolutionized afterlife tropes post-The Good Place, with “forking” memes and ethics primers viral on TikTok (200M+ views). Diversity (Jamil’s Pakistani roots, Jacinto’s Filipino rep) praised, though X notes “white savior” undertones. Frozen yogurt “good place” trends; 2025 5-year finale anniversary sparked ethics panels.

Conclusion

The Good Place’s transcendent ensemble, sparked by Bell’s flawed Eleanor and Danson’s multifaceted Michael, forked comedy into profound philosophy with heart and hilarity.

Net worths from $1.5 million (Jackson) to $80 million (Danson) chart ascents from afterlife auditions to Emmy gold.

Personal harmonies—from Harper’s theater-rooted bond to Jamil’s activist fire—resonate with the show’s redemption riff.

Its viewer vortex, ethical ripple, and reunion glow affirm it as NBC’s forked masterpiece, where even bad people can find their good place.