Why The Cast Of Doctor Sleep Looks So Familiar

Stephen King's The Shining is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror novels ever written, and Stanley Kubrick's adaptation is often hailed as one of the best fright flicks ever made. And in 2013, King returned to the eerie world of the Overlook Hotel with Doctor Sleep, a Shining sequel that got its own movie in 2019.

If you're unfamiliar with Doctor Sleep, here's a brief summary. The now-adult Daniel Torrance still coping with the horrors he experienced at the Overlook. He's tried to suppress his "Shine," but one day, a group called the True Knot comes calling. The members of the True Knot torture and murder people with the Shine in order to live forever. Soon, Daniel and a young girl who possesses the Shine have to fight for their lives against this horrible cult.

Like many of King's works, Doctor Sleep deals with how trauma sticks with us throughout our lives and the different ways we deal with it. And Mike Flanagan's adaptation features a strong cast of recognizable actors — both major stars and supporting players we've definitely seen before. So today, things are going to get eerie as we figure out why the cast of Doctor Sleep looks so familiar.

One of Danny's allies against the True Knot is Billy Freeman, a man who helps our hero cope with his alcoholism and fight against his inner demons. He takes on a similar role to Dick Hallorann from The Shining, serving as an older mentor striving to help Danny with his trauma. And that eventually turns into actually helping Danny fight against the True Knot and their leader, Rose the Hat.

In Doctor Sleep, veteran actor Cliff Curtis portrays Billy Freeman. Curtis got his big break in 1999's Three Kings, where he played Amir Abdulah. Since then, he's appeared in several movies and shows, where he's played roles like Pablo Escobar in Blow, Smiley in Training Day, Travis in Fear the Walking Dead, and Jonah in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbes & Shaw. He's also set to appear in the next four Avatar films, which the world clearly needs, and James Cameron is happy to deliver.

One of Danny's allies and close friends in Doctor Sleep, Dr. John knows more about Danny than pretty much anyone. He's aware that Danny possesses an extraordinary ability, and he also knows that Danny isn't the only one with the Shine. In the film, Dr. John is played by Bruce Greenwood, and Greenwood is no stranger to playing roles that require a commanding on-screen presence.

Greenwood has played roles like John F. Kennedy in Thirteen Days, the president of the United States in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and Pike in the more recent Star Trek films. He's also no stranger to Stephen King adaptations, as he played the title character in Gerald's Game. Greenwood often appears as characters in positions of authority, like politicians or military men, since he has the look and voice required to portray a powerful calm.

Speaking of voices, you may also recognize Greenwood's, as he's an extremely successful voice actor. He voiced Overlord in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and has played Batman/Bruce Wayne in several DC cartoons, including Batman: Under the Red Hood, Young Justice, and Batman: Gotham by Gaslight.

Another member of the True Knot, Grampa Flick kicks off the events of Doctor Sleep in a lot of ways. Since the group strives to be immortal by stealing the Shine from children, watching a member of their cult grow older frightens and infuriates the other members of the group. And you've surely seen the man who plays Grampa Flick in something, as Duct actor Carel Struycken has a unique facial structure that's seen him cast in many memorable roles.

Struycken has played monsters and odd characters in many things, including the Giant in Twin Peaks, Mr. Homn on Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Moonlight Man in Gerald's Game, and the bald Arquillian from Men in Black. Easily his most memorable role, however, was as Lurch in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values. Despite his very quiet role in the bizarre family, Struycken displayed some pretty impressive acting skills with his various looks and reactions to what was happening around him. But no matter the show, the seven-foot-tall Dutchman always makes an impression when he strides onto the screen.

Silent Sarey is perhaps the most frightening member of the True Knot due to her impressive psychic gift. Sarey can essentially make people not realize she's there. As long as they don't see her moving, she's basically invisible. This makes her perfect for kidnapping and scouting. Sarey gets her nickname due to a speech impediment. She rarely talks because she's embarrassed by it.

Silent Sarey is portrayed by Catherine Parker, who certainly possesses the right combination of charisma and threat to play the character. Early in her career, Parker found a good deal of acclaim in the role of Callie in Absentia, which led to memorable roles on shows like Halt and Catch Fire and Masters of Sex. Recently, horror fans saw her as Poppy Hill, the creepy flapper woman on Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House. Go back and watch the episode "Screaming Meemies" if you want to see the kind of intensity that Parker can bring to a role.

Ah, Barry, the character in Stephen King's novel with an unfortunately racist nickname, courtesy of his slanted eyes. Barry is a member of the True Knot, and he's a reminder to the group of why it's so important that they continue to feed off the Shine of others. He's played in Doctor Sleep by Robert Longstreet, who film fans have assuredly seen in something over the years.

Longstreet has been in around 80 roles in his many years as an actor, but he's only started to garner mainstream attention recently. He played Anderson in Boots Riley's bizarre satire Sorry to Bother You, and he played Professor James in Aquaman. The man also has credits like Take Shelter, The Old Man and the Gun, and Mohawk. Plus, horror hounds will recognize him as Mr. Dudley from Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House, the kindly caretaker harboring a terrifying secret. And we should probably mention that Hill House was directed by Mike Flanagan, the same guy behind Doctor Sleep.

Another member of the True Knot, Apron Annie has a very small role in Doctor Sleep. That said, you'll probably be snapping your fingers and wracking your brain when you see the actress who plays her, Selena Anduze, up on the screen. But hey, don't irritate the other theater-goers. You've definitely seen her in at least one thing, and it's a place you've seen several of the other actors in Doctor Sleep.

Selena Anduze was in Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House. She only appeared in one episode, "The Twin Thing," as a worker at the rehab facility. In fact, Anduze seems to almost exclusively play doctors and detectives. She has that air about her, apparently. You may also have seen Anduze in small roles in movies like Venom (as "bistro manager") or A Madea Family Funeral (as, surprise, the doctor). 

Andruze was supposed to have a fairly meaty role in the DC series Swamp Thing as Caroline Woodrue, but that show's swift cancellation put the kibosh on that role.

The True Knot in Doctor Sleep mostly preys on children, a fact that Jacob Tremblay finds out the hard way. The young actor plays the unfortunate Baseball Boy, who suffers a horrible fate after running across the psychic vampires.

Tremblay is fantastic in the role, and you've definitely seen the young star in other projects. He's actually done quite a bit of voice work, but one of his biggest (and earliest) roles was alongside Brie Larson in the critically acclaimed film Room. Tremblay has some other impressive credits, as well. He voiced the title character on Pete the Cat, he was Cody in Before I Wake (his prior collaboration with Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan), and he played Rory McKenna in The Predator. Tremblay was born in 2006, so if his career path continues, the sky is the limit for the young talent.