Season 13 of American Horror Story is bringing back many popular actors from previous seasons. The show, which premiered in 2011, quickly became known for its compelling stories and strong performances.
The show really hit its stride in season two, becoming known for its exciting, self-contained stories. It brought back many of the original actors, but as completely different characters in a new location. Since then, each season has offered fresh stories, though more recent ones haven’t quite captured the same magic as the first few.
The latest season of American Horror Story seems to be gaining momentum. Creator Ryan Murphy has announced the return of several beloved actors, and fans have noticed a possible connection between all the returning cast members, sparking excitement about the new season.
Most seasons of American Horror Story (AHS) feature completely new stories and settings. However, the show has subtly linked some past characters across seasons. This is especially true for characters from season 3, Coven, who have reappeared in later seasons, most prominently in season 8, Apocalypse.
Many of the actors returning have also appeared in season 3, leading fans to think the new season will be a continuation of that storyline. However, with the addition of new cast members like Ariana Grande and no official word on the season’s theme, it’s still unclear exactly what to expect.
Sarah Paulson
Sarah Paulson, a founding cast member of American Horror Story, is coming back to the show, which will likely excite many viewers. She hasn’t appeared in the last two seasons, making her return particularly noteworthy. Throughout the series, Paulson has played a remarkable number of different characters, sometimes even multiple roles in a single season. Her return also fuels speculation about a continuation of the ‘Coven’ storyline.
| Previous AHS Appearances | |
|---|---|
| Season | Character Name |
| 1. Murder House | Billie Dean Howard |
| 2. Asylum | Lana Winters |
| 3. Coven | Cordelia Foxx |
| 4. Freak Show | Bette Tattler / Dot Tattler |
| 5. Hotel | Sally McKenna |
| 6. Roanoke | Shelby Miller / Audrey Tindall |
| 7. Cult | Ally Mayfair-Richards |
| 8. Apocalypse | Ms. Wilhemina Venable |
| 10. Double Feature | Tuberculosis Karen / Mamie Eisenhower |
In the third season of the show, Sarah Paulson portrayed Cordelia Foxx, the headmistress of Miss Robichaux Academy and a very powerful witch. Surprisingly, Cordelia ultimately becomes the Supreme herself, gaining the magical abilities previously held by her mother.
Evan Peters
Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson both have the most appearances on American Horror Story, each appearing in 100 episodes. Even though Peters hasn’t been in AHS since season 10, he continues to work with creator Ryan Murphy, most recently on the series The Beauty and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
| Previous AHS Appearances | |
|---|---|
| Season | Character Name |
| 1. Murder House | Tate Langdon |
| 2. Asylum | Kit Walker |
| 3. Coven | Kyle Spencer |
| 4. Freak Show | Jimmy Darling |
| 5. Hotel | James Patrick March |
| 6. Roanoke | Edward Phillipe Mott |
| 7. Cult | Kai Anderson |
| 8. Apocalypse | Malcolm Gallant / Jeff Pfister |
| 10. Double Feature | Austin Sommers |
Beyond his collaborations with Murphy, Peters has achieved significant success, including leading roles in Fox’s Marvel movies and a recent appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s widely considered one of the strongest performers from the original cast, making his return especially anticipated.
Angela Basset
Angela Bassett has been nominated for an Oscar twice before, and she’s also been a regular cast member on the show American Horror Story for multiple seasons.
| Previous AHS Appearances | |
|---|---|
| Season | Character Name |
| 3. Coven | Marie Laveau |
| 4. Freak Show | Desiree Dupree |
| 5. Hotel | Ramona Royale |
| 6. Roanoke | Monet Tumusiime |
| 8. Apocalypse | Marie Laveau |
Angela Bassett portrayed Marie Leveau, a powerful Voodoo Queen who opposes the series’ main witch, in season 3. She returned to the same role in season 8 and is expected to play her again in season 13.
Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates is a highly respected actress with a long and successful career, starting in the 1970s, and is well-known for her work on American Horror Story. She famously won an Oscar for her performance in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery.
| Previous AHS Appearances | |
|---|---|
| Season | Character Name |
| 3. Coven | Madame Delphine LaLaurie |
| 4. Freak Show | Ethel Darling |
| 5. Hotel | Iris Holloway |
| 6. Roanoke | Agnes Mary Winstead |
| 8. Apocalypse | Ms. Miriam Mead |
Although Bates received three more Oscar nominations after her first, she also became a consistent cast member on American Horror Story from seasons 3 through 8.
Emma Roberts
Emma Roberts joined the cast of American Horror Story in its third season, playing a spoiled witch vying to become the next Supreme. She’s been back for several seasons since, and most recently starred in season 12, Delicate, as a Hollywood actress struggling with unsettling issues during her pregnancy.
| Previous AHS Appearances | |
|---|---|
| Season | Character Name |
| 3. Coven | Madison Montgomery |
| 4. Freak Show | Maggie Esmerelda |
| 7. Cult | Serena Belinda |
| 8. Apocalypse | Madison Montgomery |
| 9. 1984 | Brooke Thompson |
| 12. Delicate | Anna Victoria Alcott |
Although Roberts was in the most recent season before season 13, with so many familiar faces returning, she probably won’t be the main focus as much as she was last season.
Billie Lourd
Billie Lourd joined the cast of American Horror Story relatively recently, but she’s become a consistent presence, appearing in every season since her debut in season 7. Although she wasn’t part of the story in season 3, her character in season 8, Apocalypse, connected with the characters from the Coven season.
| Previous AHS Appearances | |
|---|---|
| Season | Character Name |
| 7. Cult | Winter Anderson |
| 8. Apocalypse | Mallory |
| 9. 1984 | Montana Duke |
| 10. Double Feature | Leslie ‘Lark’ Feldman |
| 11. NYC | Dr. Hannah Wells |
| 12. Delicate | Ashley |
Lily Rabe is a remarkably talented actress, particularly well-suited for horror roles. During her time on American Horror Story, she’s played a diverse array of characters, ranging from sympathetic figures to truly terrifying villains. Fans are now curious about her role in season 13 – will she revisit her character from season 8, or will she take on a completely new one?
Gabourey Sidibe
Gabourey Sidibe appeared in fewer seasons of American Horror Story than anyone else on this list. She played the same character, Queenie, across three different seasons, initially as a member of the Coven in season 3.
| Previous AHS Appearances | |
|---|---|
| Season | Character Name |
| 3. Coven | Queenie |
| 4. Freak Show | Regina Ross |
| 5. Hotel | Queenie |
| 8. Apocalypse | Queenie |
She was connected to both a group of witches and practitioners of Voodoo, and was killed during the third season. But she was brought back to life before the season ended and became a member of the Witches’ Council.
Leslie Grossman
Leslie Grossman became a regular on the show alongside Billie Lourd and has been in every season since. While she’s become one of the best performers on recent seasons of American Horror Story, she hasn’t yet been the main character.
| Previous AHS Appearances | |
|---|---|
| Season | Character Name |
| 7. Cult | Meadow Wilton |
| 8. Apocalypse | Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt |
| 9. 1984 | Margaret Booth |
| 10. Double Feature | Ursula Khan / Calico |
| 11. NYC | Barbara Read |
| 12. Delicate | Ashleigh |
Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt was an engaging character in season 8, but fans are hoping to see Alyssa Grossman play a more significant and challenging role in season 13.
Jessica Lange
Jessica Lange, a two-time Oscar winner, was a major star during the first four seasons of American Horror Story, earning widespread acclaim for her powerful performances. She hasn’t been a regular on the show since then, though she did make a short appearance in season 8, briefly revisiting her role as Constance Langdon from the first season.
| Previous AHS Appearances | |
|---|---|
| Season | Character Name |
| 1. Murder House | Constance Langdon |
| 2. Asylum | Sister Jude Martin |
| 3. Coven | Fiona Goode |
| 4. Freak Show | Elsa Mars |
| 8. Apocalypse | Constance Langdon |
I loved Jessica Lange as Fiona Goode in season 3, but it was so sad when her character died! That’s what really kicked things off for her daughter, Cordelia, to step up and take charge. Now, everyone’s speculating she might come back for season 13, maybe even as Constance Langdon again, or a totally new character who’s going to be a big deal. I’m so excited to see what they do with her – she always brings something amazing to American Horror Story!
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2026-05-19 21:47