Tika Sumpter didn't just walk onto the screen as Candace Young; she tore into it. When The Have and the Have Nots premiered on OWN back in 2013, nobody—honestly, not even Tyler Perry—could have fully predicted the absolute stranglehold it would have on Tuesday night cable ratings. It was soap opera chaos at its finest. The show was a lightning rod for the network, pitting the wealthy, morally bankrupt Cryer family against the struggling but resilient Young family. But the real story isn't just the plot twists. It’s about the Have and Have Nots actors who turned a low-budget production into a cultural phenomenon that lasted eight seasons.
Some of these performers were seasoned vets. Others were complete unknowns.
People always ask if the cast got along or if the "Tyler Perry work ethic" (shooting an entire season in about three weeks) was actually as intense as the rumors suggest. It was. The sheer volume of dialogue these actors had to memorize is staggering. If you’ve ever wondered why certain scenes felt like a stage play, that’s why. They were essentially filming a marathon at a sprint's pace.
The Power Players: Tika Sumpter and Angela Robinson
You can't talk about the show without Candace. Tika Sumpter brought a certain kind of "prestige TV" energy to a show that was often criticized for being over-the-top. Before she was a household name, she was honing her craft on One Life to Live. After The Have and the Have Nots, her career trajectory went vertical. Think about it. She transitioned from the manipulative "Candy" to playing Michelle Robinson (future Obama) in Southside with You. She also anchored the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Sumpter is the ultimate success story of the cast, proving that the "Tyler Perry Actor" label isn't a box—it's a springboard.
Then there is Angela Robinson.
As Veronica Harrington, she was the villain we all loved to despise. Her performance was Shakespearean. Seriously. Every arched eyebrow and calculated drink sip was masterclass-level camp. Robinson came from a heavy theater background, including a run as Shug Avery in The Color Purple on Broadway. That’s why she felt so much more "weighty" than your average soap villain. She brought gravity to the absurdity. Post-show, she’s remained a staple in the Perry universe but has also focused heavily on mentoring and acting workshops. She knows how the industry works.
The Men of the Cryer and Harrington Estates
John Schneider was already a legend. Long before he played Jim Cryer, he was Bo Duke. He’s one of the few Have and Have Nots actors who didn't need the show for a "break," but rather for a reinvention. He played Jim with a greasy, charming entitlement that was perfect. However, Schneider’s life off-screen has been a rollercoaster. From legal battles over alimony to the tragic loss of his wife, Alicia, his personal narrative has often overshadowed his acting lately. He’s remained prolific, though, churning out independent films and country music albums.
And what about Peter Parros?
David Harrington was the moral compass—well, as much of a compass as you can have in Savannah. Parros had that "Knight Rider" pedigree, but this show gave him a second act. He and Robinson had such electric chemistry that fans still post "Veravid" edits on TikTok. It’s wild how long-lived that fandom is.
The "Haves" Who Found New Life on Other Networks
It’s easy to get lost in the main cast, but several supporting players used the show to jump into the mainstream.
- Tyler Lepley (Benny Young): Lepley was basically the breakout heartthrob. He wasn't even a professional actor when he started—he was a trainer. Perry saw him, liked his look, and the rest is history. Now? He’s a lead on Starz’s P-Valley. He’s a legitimate star.
- Crystal Fox (Hanna Young): She was the soul of the show. Fox is a veteran. She was in In the Heat of the Night back in the day. But The Have and the Have Nots reminded Hollywood she could carry a heavy dramatic load. She parlayed that into a role in Big Little Lies Season 2, acting right alongside Meryl Streep. Imagine that jump.
The Grind: What It’s Really Like on a Tyler Perry Set
Let's get real for a second.
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The Have and Have Nots actors didn't have the luxury of 12-hour days spent in a trailer. Perry is famous for his efficiency. We are talking 60 to 100 pages of script a day. For context, a standard Hollywood film might shoot 3 pages a day. This environment is a pressure cooker. Some actors thrived; others looked a bit like deer in headlights during the later seasons.
There’s a specific "Perry Style" of acting that emerged—heightened, loud, and very physical. It’s polarizing. Critics hated it. The audience? They couldn't get enough of it. The ratings were consistently the highest on OWN, often beating out major network shows in the key demographics. This success gave the actors massive leverage, though many stayed for the duration of the series because of the job security.
Where is the Cast in 2026?
It has been several years since the series finale "The Final Verdict" aired in 2021. The landscape has changed.
Gavin Houston (Jeffrey Harrington) has been working steadily in TV movies and smaller indie projects. He’s maintained a very low profile, mostly focusing on fitness and his daughter. Aaron O'Connell (Wyatt Cryer) basically lives the quintessential leading-man life now, appearing in a string of Hallmark and holiday movies. He’s found his niche.
Interestingly, a lot of the Have and Have Nots actors have stayed within the "Black Hollywood" ecosystem. You’ll see them pop up in Sistas, Bruh, or the various All the Queen's Men spin-offs. There is a loyalty there. Perry tends to hire the same people because he knows they can handle his pace.
The Complicated Legacy of the Show
Was it high art? Probably not.
But it was essential. It provided hundreds of jobs for Black actors, crew members, and writers in Atlanta. When we look at the careers of Lepley, Sumpter, and Fox, we see a direct line from this soapy drama to the more "prestige" roles they hold now.
There are definitely misconceptions. People think the actors are "set for life" because the show was a hit. In reality, cable TV residuals are notoriously lower than network ones. Most of these actors are still out there auditioning every single week. They are working actors. They aren't sitting on a beach in Malibu; they are in the trenches of the Atlanta and LA casting circuits.
What You Should Do Next
If you are a fan of these performers, the best way to support them isn't just rewatching the show on Max or Discovery+. Look for their current projects.
- Follow the "Post-Perry" Career Paths: If you liked Tyler Lepley, you have to watch P-Valley. It shows a completely different range.
- Watch the Theater Credits: Angela Robinson often returns to the stage. If you’re in New York or catching a touring company, check the playbill.
- Understand the Industry: Realize that for many of these actors, The Have and the Have Nots was a grueling, high-speed training camp that taught them how to be professionals under extreme pressure.
The show might be over, but the impact of that cast is still being felt across television. They weren't just characters in a soap; they were the foundation of a media empire that changed how Atlanta's film industry operates.
Keep an eye on Tika Sumpter’s production company, Sumpter Townsend Productions. She’s moved behind the camera now, looking to create the kind of roles she used to have to fight for. That’s the real "Have" in this story—the power to create your own lane.