Ted Prequel Show Cast & Character Guide

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Ted prequel show.

From Seth MacFarlane regulars like American Dad!’s Scott Grimes to newcomers like Euphoria’s Alanna Ubach, the cast of Peacock’s Ted prequel show is full of great actors, each bringing their own colorful character to life. Set in a Massachusetts suburb in 1993, the Ted prequel series goes back to Ted’s childhood as he attends school with his best friend John Bennett. Originally played by Mark Wahlberg in the movies, John is 16 years old in the TV show. The series finds Ted and John dealing with adolescent curiosities like drug use, pornography, and underage drinking.

To round out the ensemble of his latest NSFW family sitcom, MacFarlane recruited a handful of his old cohorts from Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Orville. Patrick Stewart, the narrator of the Ted movies, has been replaced by one of his X-Men co-stars. The Ted cast includes actors from the main casts of such hit shows as Parenthood, The Practice, and Never Have I Ever. Almost every actor in this ensemble is recognizable from a few other high-profile projects.

Seth MacFarlane As Ted

Series creator Seth MacFarlane provides the voice and motion capture for the titular role of Ted. MacFarlane also directed the series and wrote some of its episodes after directing and co-writing both Ted films. MacFarlane is best known as the creator of Family Guy, in which he voices Peter, Brian, Stewie, and Quagmire, among others, and the co-creator of American Dad!, in which he voices Stan and Roger, among others. He also directed, co-wrote, and starred as Albert Stark in the western spoof A Million Ways to Die in the West, and voiced Mike the crooning mouse in Sing.

Max Burkholder As John Bennett

Ted’s best friend John Bennett, the boy who wished him to life, is played by Max Burkholder. The character was previously played by Mark Wahlberg, Colton Shires, and Bretton Manley in the Ted movies. Burkholder is best known for playing the main role of Max Braverman in the TV adaptation of Parenthood. He also played Charlie Sandin in The Purge and voiced Matt in Invincible. Burkholder first worked with MacFarlane when he played various guest roles on Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Orville.

Alanna Ubach As Susan Bennett

Alanna Ubach plays John’s softly spoken, mild-mannered mother, Susan Bennett. In the original Ted movie, John’s mom was called Helen and she was played by Alex Borstein. Ubach is best known for playing a very different TV mom: Cassie and Lexi’s mom Suze Howard in HBO’s Euphoria. She also played Serena McGuire in the Legally Blonde movies, Isabel Villalobos in Meet the Fockers, and Roxy, the sex worker Frank Reynolds wanted to marry, in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 7, episode 1, “Frank’s Pretty Woman.”

Scott Grimes As Matty Bennett

John’s grumpy, loudmouthed father, Matty Bennett, is played by Scott Grimes. John’s dad was previously called Steve in the first Ted movie and he was played by Ralph Garman. Grimes is a regular collaborator of MacFarlane’s, having voiced Steve Smith in American Dad! and played Gordon Malloy in The Orville. He also played Dr. Archie Morris in ER, Will McCorkle in Party of Five, and Technical Sergeant Donald Malarkey in Band of Brothers.

Giorgia Whigham As Blaire Bennett

Giorgia Whigham plays Blaire Bennett, John’s cousin who’s staying with the family while she attends a college nearby. Whigham’s previous TV roles include Kat in 13 Reasons Why season 1, Amy Bendix in The Punisher season 2, and Beth in Scream season 3. She also played Chrissy in Sierra Burgess is a Loser, Becca Whitsett in Waco: The Aftermath, and Jade in Legacies, and previously worked with MacFarlane when she played Lysella in The Orville.

Ted Supporting Cast & Characters

Marissa Shankar as Sarah: Blaire’s girlfriend, Sarah, is played by Marissa Shankar. Shankar previously appeared in a couple of small movies; she played Lolo in the 2021 film Nighthawk and another character named Sarah in the 2022 film Expunged: A Harold Hall.

Ian McKellen as the narrator: The Ted prequel series is narrated by Ian McKellen. McKellen is best known for playing Magneto in the X-Men movies. He replaces his X-Men co-star Patrick Stewart, who narrated both of the Ted movies.

Liz Richman as Polly: Polly, one of John and Ted’s only friends at school, is played by Liz Richman. Richman previously played Shira in Little America season 2, episode 2, “The Bra Whisperer,” and Stephanie in Rusty Camel season 1, episode 3, “New Neighbors.”

Ara Hollyday as Andrew: John and Ted’s other friend, Andrew, is played by Ara Hollyday. Hollyday’s only other acting credit is the role of Skip Weatherford in Wes Anderson’s sci-fi comedy Asteroid City.

Jack Seavor McDonald as Clive: John and Ted’s school bully, Clive, is played by Jack Seavor McDonald. McDonald is best known for playing Eric in 18 episodes of Never Have I Ever. He also played Duncan in Modern Family season 9, episode 20, “Mother!,” and young Bertram in Why Women Kill season 2, episode 2, “The Woman in the Window.”

Charlotte Fountain-Jardim as Betheny Borgwort: John’s love interest, Betheny Borgwort, is played by Charlotte Fountain-Jardim. Before joining the cast of Ted, Fountain-Jardim’s highest-profile role was Sister Clementine in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 5, episode 5, “The Pirate Queen.”

Gail Goldberg as Mrs. Fechko: Gail Goldberg plays the Bennetts’ nosy, nervous neighbor, Mrs. Fechko. Goldberg primarily works as a casting director, and worked on the casting for Ted. She previously worked with MacFarlane as the casting director for his sci-fi series The Orville.

Penny Johnson Jerald as the principal: The principal of John and Ted’s school is played by Penny Johnson Jerald. Jerald has played major roles on several iconic TV shows, including Beverly Barnes in The Larry Sanders Show, Kasidy Yates in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Sherry Palmer in 24.

Julius Sharpe as Mr. George: Julius Sharpe plays Ted and John’s teacher, Mr. George. Sharpe is best known for his work as a writer and voice actor on MacFarlane’s first show, Family Guy. He also wrote for the Ted series.

Francesca Xuereb as Erin: The mean cheerleader who picks on the teachers, Erin, is played by Francesca Xuereb. Xeureb is best known for her role as Quinn in The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Don Lake as Bert: Don Lake plays Bert, the security guard hung up on his performance in an amateur production of Pippin. Lake is a frequent collaborator of Christopher Guest, having played Phil Burgess in Waiting for Guffman, Graham Chissolm in Best in Show, and the “Love It” critic in For Your Consideration. He also played Brad Gregory in Space Force and the director of HBO in the original Curb Your Enthusiasm pilot.

Josh Stamberg as Professor Lucas Damon: Blaire’s college professor, Lucas Damon, a famed novelist who turns out to be attracted to Ted, is played by Josh Stamberg. Stamberg is best known for other TV roles like Jay Parker in Drop Dead Diva, Max in The Affair, and S.W.O.R.D. Director Tyler Hayward in WandaVision.

Danny Jolles as Will: Will, the creepy middle-aged man with whom John reluctantly spends Halloween night, is played by Danny Jolles. Jolles played George in 19 episodes of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and has performed standup comedy on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Jason Kravits as the sex ed teacher: The teacher of Ted and John’s sex ed class is played by Jason Kravits. Kravits is best known for playing A.D.A. Richard Bay in The Practice and also played guest roles like Ron Solotaroff in Curb Your Enthusiasm season 8, episode 3, “Palestinian Chicken.”

Bobby Strom as Dennis the Dump Truck: The voice of Matty’s own magical living toy, Dennis the Dump Truck, is provided by Bobby Strom. Dennis’ voice sounds like MacFarlane, and since there’s nothing online about an actor named Bobby Strom, it’s possible this is a pseudonym for the Ted creator himself.