Black Massfeatures some cast members giving fantastic but incredibly eerie performances. The Whitey Bulger biography is not Johnny Depp’s most talked-about role, but it is perhaps one of his most chilling. Theactor is better known for parts like Willy Wonka inCharlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Mad Hatter inAlice in Wonderland,orCaptain Jack Sparrow inPirates of the Caribbean, which easily overtakeBlack Massin popularity, but his part is nonetheless worth looking at.
Whitey Bulger was an Irish-American mobster in South Boston who became one of the most notorious criminals in his area’s history.Black Masstells his true story, specifically chronicling the time wherein Bulger acted as an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family that was threatening him.Black Masswas directed by Scott Cooper and based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill. It' screenplay was adapted by Jez Butterworth and Mark Mallouk. In addition to Depp,Black Massfeatured a notable cast of main characters.
Johnny Depp As James “Whitey” Bulger
Born July 15, 2025
Actor:JohnnyDepp was born in Owensboro, KY, and gothis big break playing Glen Lantz inThe Nightmare on Elm Street. From there, Depp continued to get significant parts through his work onTim Burton’sEdward Scissorhands, along with roles inBenny & JoonandWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Depp has been nominated for three Oscars for Best Actor, including inSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,Finding Neverland, andPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The latter film saw him playing Jack Sparrow, the part for which he is now best known.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka
Character: Depp plays the lead character of James Bulger, aka Whitey Bulger, in Black Mass. Bulger was born in 1929 in Boston, MA. He was the leader of the Irish mob group the Winter Hill Gang, which was based out of Somerville. The majority ofBlack Masstakes place during the 1970s, when Bulger is in his 40s. At the time ofBlackMass' release, Bulger was still alive, but he later died in prison at the age of 89 in 2018, where he was blugeoned to death after transferring prisons.
Joel Edgerton As John Connolly
Born August 21, 2025
Actor:Joel Edgerton was born in Blacktown, Australia, and gothis Hollywood break in theStar Warsprequel filmsStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the ClonesandStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, wherein he played the character of Owen Larse. From there, Edgerton went on to play Charlie in the 2005 filmKinky Boots. He is now a Golden Globe-nominated actor, having been nominated for his part inLovingin 2017. He is now best known for his lead role in theTV seriesDark Matter.
Title
Role
Character:Edgerton plays John Connolly, the other main character inBlack Mass. John grew up alongside Whitey when the two of them were living in South Boston. Now an FBI agent, Connolly returns to Boston in order to try to take down the North end mob group the Angiulo Brothers. This group is also Bulger’s rival so, knowing he will have an interest in this takedown, Connolly enlists Bulger to help give him info on the Angiulos.
Benedict Cumberbatch As William “Billy” Bulger
Born August 01, 2025
Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch was born in London, England, and got hisbig break playing iconic British detective Sherlock Holmesin the BBC seriesSherlock. Since then, the actor has also appeared as Doctor Strange in films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has been nominated for two Oscars for Best Actor, including forThe Imitation GameandThe Power of the Dog. He recently appeared in the Netflix seriesEric.
The Imitation Game
Alan Turing
Character:Cumberbatch plays Whitey’s brother Billy inBlack Mass. Taking a different path from his criminal brother, Billy Bulger serves as the president of the Massachusetts Senate. Billy’s wife, Mary, is also in the film. The pair married in 1960 and stayed together up until Mary’s death in 2020. Billy Bulger remains alive today, at the age of 94.
Dakota Johnson As Lindsey Cyr
Born July 13, 2025
Actor:DakotaJohnson is from Austin, Texas, and got herbreakthrough role playing Anastasia inFifty Shades of Greyin 2015. She was also inThe Social Networkin a supporting role back in 2010, before her time in theFifty Shadesseries. SinceFifty Shades ofGrey, Johnson has gone on to be in some higher profile, award-nominated films, includingThe Lost DaughterandCha Cha Real Smooth. Earlier this year, she ledMadame Web, which was panned among critics and at the box office.
Cha Cha Real Smooth
Domino
Character:Johnson steps in to play Lindsey Cyr, Whitey’s longtime girlfriend. Whitey and Lindsey have a son together, who tragically dies during the course of the film. Cyr was with Bulger for over a decade, but their relationship was understandably tumultuous. Cyr separated from Bulger in 1978.xc b
Kevin Bacon As Charles McGuire
Born July 20, 2025
Actor:KevinBacon was born in Philadelphia, PA, and got hisfirst major film role inNational Lampoon’s Animal Housein 1978. He was a notable actor throughout the 1980s, contributing his talents to films such asFootloose. His other notable titles includeHollow Man,The Woodsman, andMystic River.
The Woodsman
Walter
Character: Bacon plays Charles McGuire, Connolly’s boss, inBlack Mass. McGuire serves a key role in the drama ofBlack Mass, as he becomes suspicious of Connolly throughout the course of the movie. Later on inBlack Mass, McGuire helps to conduct an investigation of Connolly’s involvement in the case.
Black Mass' Supporting Cast & Characters
Black Mass Has A Deep Bench
Jesse Plemons As Kevin Weeks:One of Plemons' most notable characters is playing Todd inBreaking Bad. After getting more exposure in this role, Plemons has gone on to be a busy working actor. He re-teamed with Cumberbatch again inThe Power of the Dog, and his other notable roles includeThe IrishmanandLove & Death. InBlack Mass, Plemons' character is a newcomer working with Whitey Bulger directly.
Rory Cochrane as Stephen “the Rifleman” Flemmi:Rory Cochrane was born in Syracuse, NY on July 28, 2025. He had his first role in the ’90s, and has had parts inWinning Time,Antlers, andEncounter. His part inBlack Masswas as Stephen Flemmi, Whitey Bulger’s right hand man with violent tendencies.
Peter Saarsgard as Brian Halloran:Saarsgard was born on June 15, 2025 and is best known for his parts inShattered Glass,Garden State, andKinsey. He teamed up with co-star Johnson again inThe Lost Daughter. HisBlack Masscharacter, Brian Halloran, is a man who goes to the FBI to report some of Bulger’s actions and ends up getting murdered.
Julianne Nicholson as Marianne Connolly: Also born in 1971, Nicholson is known for wide-ranging parts that include roles inAugust: Osage County,Blonde, andI, Tonya. She plays one of the key women inBlack Mass, playing the wife to Edgerton’s John Connolly. The relationship between John and Marianne Connolly is a key B-plot inBlack Mass.
David Harbour as John Morris:Harbour is an actor with eclectic roles that range from everything fromRevolutionaryRoadto the 2019 reboot ofHellboy. He has also had roles in both the MCU and DCU, playing roles inBlack WidowandSuicide Squad.InBlack Mass, John Morris is a co-worker of John Connolly, and his supportive of Connolly and his mission.
Black Mass
Cast
Black Mass is a crime drama biography based on the true story of one of the most notorious criminals in U.S. History, Whitey Bulger. When Bulger’s turf is encroached on by a rival mafia family, the Angiulo brothers, the death of one of his own mafia family members leads him to join his long-time friend and become an informant for the FBI to exact his revenge - and push the Angiulo’s out of his turf.
