Netflix’s latest buzzy drama The Waterfront has taken viewers by storm — and at the center of its stormy seas lies the complicated, crumbling empire of the Buckley family. Set in the fictional coastal town of Havenport, the series blends family drama, organized crime, and slow-burning emotional trauma into one of the most addictive streaming hits of the summer.
If you’re just diving in (or need a refresher before Season 2), here’s a full guide to who’s who in The Waterfront — from brooding patriarchs to wayward daughters, secretive siblings, and more.
🔑 SEO Keywords: The Waterfront Netflix cast, The Buckley family explained, Meet the characters in The Waterfront, Who plays Belle Buckley
⚓ HOLT McCALLANY as HARLAN BUCKLEY
Role: The Patriarch
Occupation: Founder of Buckley Fisheries and family figurehead
Vibe: Broken king with a bottle in one hand and a secret in the other
Best known for his intense performances in Mindhunter and Shot Caller, Holt McCallany delivers a powerhouse turn as Harlan Buckley, the grizzled patriarch whose health — and grip on the family empire — is failing. Recovering from a heart attack and living with a defibrillator, Harlan is often caught between nostalgia and nihilism. Whether he’s confronting his past crimes or drowning in bourbon, he remains the complicated heart of the Buckley clan.
🧭 MARIA BELLO as BELLE BUCKLEY
Role: The Matriarch and Silent Strategist
Occupation: Co-owner of the Buckley businesses
Vibe: Ruthless, tired, always ten steps ahead
As Belle Buckley, Maria Bello (NCIS, A History of Violence) brings equal parts steel and sorrow. She’s not just Harlan’s wife — she’s the real power behind the throne. From running the restaurant to managing criminal fallout, Belle’s arc in Season 1 turns her from reluctant fixer to calculating queenpin. She’s the most dangerous Buckley — because she’s the smartest.
🧨 DYLAN O’BRIEN as CANE BUCKLEY
Role: The Ambitious Son
Occupation: Operations manager (and secret smuggler)
Vibe: Loyal, volatile, desperate to prove himself
Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf, American Assassin) plays Cane, the Buckleys’ only son. He’s determined to modernize the family business — and save it — even if it means making a deal with local drug trafficker Hoyt Piper. Cane’s journey is a slow descent from eager heir to reluctant criminal, making him one of the most compelling characters in the show.
🔥 RILEY KEOUGH as BREE BUCKLEY
Role: The Wayward Daughter
Occupation: Estranged from the business (for now)
Vibe: Wild, wounded, dangerously impulsive
Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & The Six) portrays Bree, the Buckleys’ black sheep — a woman with a criminal record, a damaged relationship with her teenage son, and a trail of fire in her wake. Literally. Bree is suspected of arson and has been legally separated from her child. But behind the recklessness lies trauma and pain that may finally come to light.
🧒 TYLER ALVAREZ as DILLER
Role: Bree’s teenage son
Occupation: High school student, court-monitored
Vibe: Angry, guarded, trying to find his own path
Caught in the crossfire of his mother’s legacy and the Buckley name, Diller is played with quiet intensity by Tyler Alvarez (Never Have I Ever). His relationship with Bree is strained — but he’s more like her than he wants to admit. His growing curiosity about the family business may pull him into the very world Belle is trying to clean up.
💼 JOSH HOLLOWAY as HOYT PIPER
Role: Local drug kingpin
Occupation: Smuggler and dock baron
Vibe: Charismatic, cruel, all business
Josh Holloway (Lost, Yellowstone) brings grit and swagger to Hoyt Piper, the local drug runner who recruits Cane to help move product through Buckley boats. As the season unfolds, Piper becomes less of a partner and more of a threat. His ties to Havenport run deep, and so do his grudges.
👮 CCH POUNDER as AGENT MARLENE BISHOP
Role: Lead DEA investigator
Occupation: Federal agent
Vibe: Patient, methodical, always closing in
CCH Pounder (The Shield, NCIS: New Orleans) plays Marlene Bishop, the no-nonsense DEA agent tasked with unraveling Havenport’s drug trade. With quiet persistence and sharp instincts, Bishop becomes a looming presence throughout Season 1 — watching the Buckleys from afar and waiting for one of them to slip.
🔚 Final Thoughts: A Cast Built for Depth and Damage
What makes The Waterfront so effective isn’t just its writing — it’s the way this top-tier ensemble cast breathes life into a family on the edge of collapse. Every actor brings gravitas, history, and heartbreak to their role, giving Havenport a lived-in realism that feels like small-town America twisted through a noir lens.
Whether it’s Bree’s breakdowns, Belle’s silent strategy, or Harlan’s weary wisdom, this cast carries every stormy wave that crashes into the Buckley shore.
🔔 Streaming Now:
The Waterfront – Season 1
Now available on Netflix
Episodes: 8
Genre: Crime Drama / Family Saga
Rated: TV-MA
For more cast interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive news on The Waterfront Season 2, follow The Hollywood Weekly online.
