From Forest Whitaker as Eddie Barker to Phylicia Rashad as Diana DuBois, Empire continues to make excellent casting choices. Some of the show’s other new cast members include:
Taye Diggs as Angelo DuBois
Demi Moore as Nurse Claudia
Teyonah Parris as Pamela Rose
Kierra Bunch as Tamara
Ptosha Storey as Chyna
Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Poundcake
Raj Bond as Calvin Moore
Reilly Nelson as White Stacy
Charles Clark as Shyne’s Enforcer
This article presents the cast of Empire season 4 and it also discusses the show’s record breaking first season. The article will also take a look back at some unforgettable Empire moments!
What Is The Show Empire About? The Empire TV show’s cast includes numerous talented actors that have shown broadcast networks the power of appealing directly to African American viewers. Empire is a drama that explores the hip hop music industry through the Lyon family as they fight for control of the company.
Lucious Lyon, former drug dealer who has since become a musical mogul, is on a mission to appoint one of his sons successor of Empire Entertainment after he finds out about his terminal illness. In the show’s first season Lucious’ sons, Andre, Jamal and Hakeem each try to prove that they are fit to lead the company.
While Lucious and his sons plan Empire’s future, Lucious’ ex-wife Cookie is released from prison. Cookie served 17 years in prison for selling drugs. She was sent to prison for her role in a drug deal worth $400,000, the money that was used to start Empire Entertainment.
Empire Season One Ratings Empire’s first season was simply amazing as the show shattered numerous records. In its initial season Empire became the first show to increase viewers every week during its freshman season since at least the 1990s when Nielsen began tracking such information. Empire’s season finale drew 16.5 million viewers and averaged a 6.5 rating among the adult under 50 demographic.
USA Today named Taraji P. Henson Entertainer of the Year for her role as Cookie Lyon. Henson spent years in numerous one-dimensional roles that did not allow her to show off her talent. From Cookie’s one-liners to her one-of-a-kind wardrobe the world has never experienced a character as unique and unpredictable.
In the show’s first season we watched Cookie and Lucious nearly get back together and we also saw Cookie and Malcom’s brief relationship. Empire season 2 has been crazy for Cookie! Her boyfriend Laz (Adam Rodriguez) turned out to be a member of the 125th St. Bulls so Lucious had to take care of him!
When the show returns Lucious will have yet another opponent, rapper Xzibit has been added to Empire’s cast. The former host of West Coast Customs will play Leslie ‘Shyne’ Johnson, a gangster who hates Lucious.
The TV show Empire is always surprising viewers with plot twists and unpredictable moments. In the show’s midseason finale Hakeem’s ex-girlfriend Camilla returns and we find out that she is actually Mimi’s wife!? Mimi convinces Empire’s board of directors to vote to boot Lucious from the company and Camilla appoints Hakeem as Empire’s new leader.
Empire 2016 Premiere Hakeem
Hakeem, Leader of the New School Hakeem has made such a major impact on hip-hop that rumors have suggested that he is Jay-Z’s son. These rumors were false of course yet similar to Jay-Z, Hakeem works with Timbaland in order to deliver classic tracks. In the show’s first season Hakeem delivered the track “Drip Drop”, helping the show become more popular as we couldn’t stop singing the song!
TV Show Empire Hakeem Freda Rap Battle
Freda and Hakeem’s rap battle was one of Empire season 2’s best moments, as Hakeem showed off his lyrical arsenal and ultimately gave Lucious back his last name. As Empire’s new leader Hakeem may not be able to find time for anymore battles. Hakeem’s older brother Jamal experienced major difficulties in his attempt to lead Empire and create music. It will be interesting to see how Hakeem treats Jamal now that he is his boss.
Empire 2016 Premiere Jamal
Jamal, Ready to Go! Jamal Lyon went from recording music at “Ghetto Ass Studios” to being featured in epic commercials as the new face of Pepsi. In one of the most enjoyable Empire-moments to date Jamal Lyon has a coming-out moment while he is performing a song and Lucious’ reaction is pure comedy:
Lucious Lyon Empire
While Jamal is performing, flashbacks of Lucious putting him in a trashcan are shown. The powerful scene emphasizes the fact that Jamal has moved forward with his life despite Lucious being stuck in the past.
The Empire TV show’s second season began with Jamal as Empire’s CEO struggling to balance his career as an artist and leading the company. Jamal and Michael break up and Hakeem is now in charge of Empire creating the perfect opportunity for Jamal to focus on what he does best: creating unforgettable music.
Now that Hakeem is Empire’s CEO Andre is the only Lyon brother that has never led the company. Andre Lyon is a business savvy professional that we watch overcome health conditions, bury his uncle and we even get to see Lucious and Cookie’s oldest son get served with a bib!
TV Show Empire Rhonda Bib Andre
Andre is baptized in the show’s second season yet his desire to transform his life may be delayed with his wife Rhonda being pushed down the stairs of their home at the end of the Empire TV show’s midseason finale.
When we first meet Anika Calhoun she is Lucious Lyon’s lover and they are both very anxious to get married. After she catches Lucious having sex with Cookie, Anika leaves Lucious, hooks up with Hakeem and even joins Creedmoor Records.
Empire TV Show Fight
From fighting Cookie to having sex with Mimi, Empire’s Boo Boo Kitty has shown that she will do whatever it takes to accomplish her goals. While the new CEO of Empire, Hakeem, has assured Anika that she will never be a Lyon he was not aware of the fact that she was pregnant with their baby!
Black Girl Named Becky Becky Williams (Gabourey Sidibe) was Lucious’ assistant during his time at Empire Entertainment. After Lucious names Jamal his successor Jamal promote Becky to A&R.
Becky Empire Fox
When Lucious creates Gutter Life Records Becky works in the A&R department of the new label. The position is perfect for Becky allowing her to work alongside her love interest J Poppa.
Porsha, Taxes!? Porsha Taylor (Ta’Rhonda Jones) is Cookie’s assistant. In Empire’s first season, Anika pays Porsha to spy on Cookie but Porsha makes it clear that she wasn’t having it: “And I spied right back on your ass!”
Porsha Empire Fox
Cookie fires Porsha for telling cops that her name is “Cookie Lyon” when she is caught jumping a subway turnstile. Then, Porsha shows up to Cookie’s office with her Grandma’s mut, Whoopty Whoo and is able to convince Cookie to give her another chance.
Blame It On Tiana Tiana Brown (Serayah McNeill) is an artist that was previously signed to Empire Entertainment and is currently signed to Lyon Dynasty. Tiana and Hakeem are a couple in the show’s first season but the two part ways after Hakeem finds out that Tiana has a girlfriend.
Tiana Empire Fox
Hakeem and Tiana have remained good friends. Hakeem reaches out to Tiana when he needs help transforming his girlfriend (Laura Calleros) into a star and Tiana is happy to assist. We wonder if Tiana will end up back at Empire Entertainment with Hakeem.
#WhoPushedRhonda Rhonda Lyon (Kaitlin Doubleday) is Andre’s wife. At one point everything seemed to be perfect between Lucious, Andre and Rhonda. Despite Lucious making
Empire Season 2 Rhonda Pushed Down Stairs
While many Empire fans believe Anika pushed Rhonda down the stairs the show is always delivering surprises making it more difficult to guess #WhoPushedRhonda.
A Star Attraction While some have complained about the Empire’s large number of guest stars I absolutely love it! The first season featured some of the industry’s most familiar faces, including Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Cuba Gooding Jr. and even Gladys Knight!
Alicia Keys Empire’s second season has also included numerous unforgettable guest stars. Alicia Keys appeared on Empire as singer, Skye Summers. Summers teamed up with Jamal Lyon for the song “Powerful”:
Jussie Smollett Secretly Filmed Taraji P. Henson On The Empire Set Repeatedly! Taraji P. Henson and Jussie Smollett’s chemistry on Empire is amazing and their chemistry in real life is very similar. The following video shows some of their most hilarious moments:
Empire 2016 Premiere Jamal Cookie
Empire 2016 Premiere Empire’s 2016 premiere date is September 21! Empire season 2 included 18-episodes total which Fox has split into two halves. The first season of the Empire TV show was 12 episodes. Here are some screenshots from the show’s 2016 premiere episode, “Death Will Have His Day”:
Empire 2016 Premiere Camilla
Empire 2016 Premiere Hakeem Camilla
Empire 2016 Premiere Hakeem
Empire 2016 Premiere Cookie
Empire 2016 Premiere Camilla
Empire 2016 Premiere Hakeem
Empire 2016 Premiere Camilla Lucious
Empire 2016 Premiere Andre Thirsty Lucious
Empire 2016 Premiere Hakeem
Empire 2016 Premiere Jamal Cookie Andre
Empire 2016 Premiere Hakeem Camilla
Jimpire
Last year, Jimmy Fallon delivered the following Empire parody which featured Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard:
