‘We Were Liars’ Cast Guide: Full Breakdown Of The Sinclair Family Tree

Taylor Swift certainly did not write “The Last Great American Dynasty” about the fictional Sinclair family from We Were Liars, but hey, if the shoe fits.

In Prime Video‘s brand new thriller series — an eight-episode adaptation of E. Lockhart’s bestselling young adult novel — money, class, and family all weave one tangled web supported by hushed tones and outright lies. At the center of the spun narrative is the affluent and self-righteous Sinclair family, just about the closest thing to American royalty as there is.

Add in a story set on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts (think Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket but only accessible to this one family) and the scene is set for an unfolding mystery where no one can be trusted and everyone has something to hide.

But with that Kennedy family-esque vibe also comes a Kennedy family-esque number of characters, which can be hard to keep track of. If you’re anything like me and did not read the book the show is based on, you will absolutely be pausing and asking yourself, “Wait which parent does this child go with?!” That’s what happens when it’s an ensemble and all of the characters are various shades of blonde… can you blame me?

Well, if that’s the case for you, no worries. Here is a full breakdown of the Sinclair family tree to help you navigate the ins and outs of this complex cast of characters…

The Original Sinclairs:

• Harris Sinclair (David Morse): The patriarch of the Sinclair family and the husband of Tipper. Harris and Tipper share three daughters; Penny Sinclair Eastman, Carrie Sinclair Dennis, and Bess Sinclair Sheffield, although the two also had a daughter, Rose, who died in childhood.
• Tipper Sinclair (Wendy Crewson): The matriarch of the Sinclair family and wife of Harris. Tipper is charming and down-to-earth and would do anything for her three daughters and a slew of grandchildren.

Sinclair-Dennis Family

• Carrie Sinclair Dennis (Mamie Gummer): The eldest of the Sinclair daughters and the mother of Johnny and Will, both from her ex. Carrie is a recovering drug addict who has been sober for nearly a decade and with her partner, Ed Patil, for roughly the same amount of time.
• Johnathan “Johnny” Sinclair Dennis (Joseph Zada): The eldest grandson of Tipper and Harris and the second oldest grandchild in general. Johnny is the privileged son of Carrie and one of the four “Liars” as their family calls them.
• William “Will” Sinclair Dennis (Brady Droulis): Carrie’s younger son and Johnny’s younger brother.
• Ed Patil (Rahul Kohli)**: The longtime partner of Carrie whose Indian heritage is a point of contention with Harris, whose entire family is white.
• Gat Patil (Shubham Maheshwari)**: Ed’s nephew and another member of the “The Liars” crew alongside Johnny. Gat first came to Beechwood with his uncle as a child after his father’s death and has spent every summer since on the island.

Sinclair-Eastman Family

• Penny Sinclair Eastman (Caitlin Fitzgerald): The middle daughter of Harris and Tipper and mother to Cadence, the story’s protagonist and narrator. When we first meet Penny, she is going through a nasty divorce from Cadence’s father who allegedly cheated on her.
• Cadence “Cady” Sinclair Eastman (Emily Alyn Lind): The daughter of Penny and the story’s narrator. During “Summer 16,” Cady sustained head trauma that led to complete amnesia and a search to regain her memories in “Summer 17.” Cady is also one of “The Liars” and has a close bond with Gat, much to the dismay of her grandfather.

The Sinclair-Sheffield Family

• Bess Sinclair-Sheffield (Candice King): The youngest of the living Sinclair daughters, Bess is the “perfect child” who stuck around Boston while her sisters went off into the world. A homemaker, Bess strives to exceed her parents’ expectations and even has refused to touch her trust fund out of principle, making her a clear leader for the favorite daughter. She is the mother to Mirren, Bonnie, and Liberty.
• Brody Sheffield (Dylan Bruce): The workaholic husband of Bess whose absence from Beechwood is cause for a fight with his wife and their children. Given his career in private equity finances and his so-called perfect family, Brody is the presumed favorite significant other of Tipper and Harris.
• Mirren Sinclair-Sheffield (Esther McGregor): The oldest of Bess and Brody’s daughters and the third oldest grandchild for Harris and Tipper. Mirren is also a member of “The Liars” and a gifted artist who feels as though she is overlooked in the family given her status as neither the eldest grandchild nor the eldest grandson.
• Bonnie Sinclair Sheffield (Emerson MacNeil): One of Bess and Brody’s twin daughters and the younger sister of Mirren.
• Liberty Sinclair-Sheffield (Manaia Wall): One of Bess and Brody’s twin daughters and Mirren’s youngest sister.

**Not a blood relative

How To Watch We Were Liars

All eight episodes of We Were Liars Season 1 are now streaming on Prime Video.

If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six years and get all the perks.