A Complete Breakdown Of 'The Gilded Age' Characters Who Were Real People

1. Oscar Wilde

I think it goes without saying that the character of Oscar Wilde (Jordan Waller) is based on the real-life Oscar Wilde, best known for his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. The novel is famous for criticizing individuals who only care about outward appearance, as opposed to the substance and moral character within (Sound familiar? Because IMO a lot of these high society characters might need to crack open his novel and remind themselves there’s more to people than their outward appearances. I’m looking at you, Agnes).

2. Ward McAllister

My personal favorite character, aka full-time gossip Ward McAllister, is actually based on the real-life tea-spiller, Ward McAllister! Nathan Lane perfects the role of the new money diva disguised in old money’s clothing. Everyone automatically believes he’s a high-society individual who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, yet the truth is quite different.

3. Caroline Astor

Caroline Astor (played on The Gilded Age by Donna Murphy) was the queen of elite New York City in real life as well as the show, and she played a massive role in leading “The Four Hundred," a group of 400 New Yorkers who "truly mattered." As a traditionalist and a woman of pride, she kept the gates of high society closed shut to anyone without old money in their blood. While she passed away in 1908, her son tragically died aboard the Titanic, which sank in 1912.

4. Carrie Astor

We also meet Caroline's daughter Carrie Astor (played by Amy Forsyth).

5. Clara Barton

Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross in 1881, makes an appearance in The Gilded Age as well. She's played by Linda Emond.

6. T. Thomas Fortune

Timothy Thomas Fortune (Sullivan Jones) was a civil rights leader and journalist behind The New York Age (also called The New York Globe). He was also one of Booker T. Washington's advisers and friends.

7. Booker T. Washington

And we see Michael Braugher in the show as Booker T. Washington, an educator and proponent of Black businesses.

8. Mamie Fish

Socialite Mamie Fish (Ashlie Atkinson) also appears in the show.

9. J.P. Morgan

J. P. Morgan (played by Bill Camp), was a banker and financier in real life, and in The Gilded Age, he's also one of George Russell's biggest competitors.

10. Stanford White

You can see architect Stanford White (John Sanders), in season 1.

11. Frances Watkins Harper

And LisaGay Hamilton as writer Frances Watkins Harper, an activist for abolition, suffrage, and temperance, also appears.

12. Bertha Russell

Don’t you just love seeing Carrie Coon on your screen? I adore her as Bertha Russell, the ambitious socialite who won’t let her new money status be frowned upon by high society. No, Bertha will do literally whatever it takes to belong within the in-crowd, including throwing some killer parties in the process. Even the stuffiest of old money types can’t help but admit Bertha sure knows how to throw an opulent party.

To add to the intrigue, Bertha is based on the real-life new-money socialite, Alva Vanderbilt. Alva proves that sometimes it’s more rewarding to have to earn your respect than simply being born with it. How very American.

13. George Russell

Additionally, Bertha’s husband, George, is an essential figure in the railroad industry. He is based on the historical figure Jay Gould, aka the founder of the Gould Business Dynasty. Unlike his old-money neighbors, Jay grew up in poverty and had to build his way up the social ladder in order to earn his elite status. He is labeled as one of the richest men to live through the 1800s, but despite his riches, he was notorious during his lifetime. This was mainly due to his cut-throat business strategies and his willingness to step on as many toes as possible in order to bring in the cash flow.