New Girl Cast (2011–2018)
Fox | Sitcom / Romantic Comedy | 7 Seasons, 146 Episodes | Created by Elizabeth Meriwether
New Girl is an American sitcom that aired on Fox from 2011 to 2018, centered on the unlikely living arrangement that develops when Jess Day, a quirky and optimistic schoolteacher, moves into a Los Angeles loft with three male roommates after discovering her boyfriend has been unfaithful. Created by Elizabeth Meriwether, the show balanced broad physical comedy with genuine emotional warmth, and its ensemble developed one of the most believable platonic and romantic dynamic of any sitcom of its era. The show's blend of character comedy, romantic storylines, and affectionate ensemble dynamics earned it a loyal audience across seven seasons.
The New Girl cast is anchored by Zooey Deschanel, whose portrayal of Jess Day — cheerful, slightly odd, and frequently the catalyst for the episode's central crisis — defined a particular cultural moment in early-2010s American comedy. Alongside her, Jake Johnson's Nick Miller evolved from a sullen bartender into one of the decade's most fully realized sitcom co-leads, and Max Greenfield's Schmidt developed from what appeared to be a one-note douchebag into a surprisingly tender and complex figure. Lamorne Morris's Winston Bishop and Hannah Simone's Cece Parekh filled out an ensemble that was remarkably good at playing relationships across seasons without the chemistry fraying. Damon Wayans Jr.'s return as Coach in season three added a performer whose own comedic instincts and chemistry with Morris generated some of the show's best ensemble moments. Knowing who plays each character in New Girl is the foundation for understanding why the show has endured as a comfort rewatch for millions of viewers.
Main Cast
Zooey Deschanel
Jessica "Jess" Day
A quirky, exuberant schoolteacher who moves into a Los Angeles loft after a breakup, bringing her unapologetic enthusiasm for life into constant conflict with and eventual harmony with her three male roommates.
Jake Johnson
Nick Miller
A gruff, perpetually underachieving bartender and law school dropout whose deep cynicism and hidden warmth make him the perfect romantic foil for Jess, culminating in a will-they-won't-they storyline that pays off across the series.
Max Greenfield
Schmidt
A meticulous, fashion-obsessed marketing executive and former overweight kid whose aggressive self-confidence masks genuine insecurity and an enormous capacity for romantic devotion, particularly toward Cece.
Lamorne Morris
Winston Bishop
A former minor-league basketball player turned radio producer and eventually police officer, whose increasing eccentricity — particularly his habit of taking pranks to extreme and unrelated conclusions — became the show's most distinctive running joke.
Hannah Simone
Cece Parekh
Jess's best friend and a professional model whose grounded pragmatism contrasts with Jess's enthusiastic idealism; Cece's long-running relationship arc with Schmidt provides the show with one of its central romantic storylines.
Damon Wayans Jr.
Coach
An intense personal trainer and one of Nick's best friends who appeared in the pilot before leaving when Happy Endings was renewed; returned as a series regular in season three and remained through season five.
Megan Fox
Reagan Lucas
A confident and mysterious pharmaceutical sales representative who temporarily moves into the loft during Jess's absence in season five, developing a romantic storyline with Nick before Jess returns.
Supporting & Recurring Cast
| Actor | Character | Role | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Reiner | Bob Day | Jess's supportive and well-meaning father | 2–7 |
| Jamie Lee Curtis | Joan Day | Jess's free-spirited, occasionally boundary-challenging mother | 2–7 |
| Nasim Pedrad | Aly Nelson | Winston's police partner and eventual love interest | 5–7 |
| Nelson Franklin | Robby | Jess's cousin who briefly dates Cece, creating awkward loft dynamics | 6 |
| Dreama Walker | Holly | One of Schmidt's love interests in early seasons | 2 |
| Merritt Wever | Bearclaw | A nurse who dates Winston briefly | 3 |
| Brooklyn Decker | Cassidy | Nick's love interest after his initial breakup with Jess | 5 |
| Olivia Munn | Angie | Nick's free-spirited girlfriend in season two who challenges the loft's dynamics | 2 |
| Justin Long | Paul Genzlinger | Jess's sweet-natured fellow teacher boyfriend in season one | 1–2 |
| Nick Kroll | Berkley | Cece's potential arranged-marriage suitor and recurring comic foil | 2 |
| Dermot Mulroney | Russell Schiller | Jess's older, wealthy boyfriend whose maturity and stability force her to reflect on what she wants | 1–2 |
Creators & Production
Elizabeth Meriwether
Creator & Showrunner — A playwright who adapted her comedic voice for television; Meriwether wrote many of the show's most emotionally grounded episodes and guided the series' tone throughout its seven seasons.
Jake Kasdan
Executive Producer & Director — Directed the pilot and several other key episodes, establishing the visual and comedic tone of the series.
Brennan Shroff
Co-Executive Producer — Part of the writers' room team throughout the show's run, contributing to character development and storyline structure.
20th Century Fox Television
Production Company — Produced New Girl in partnership with Chernin Entertainment and Happy Ending Productions across all seven seasons on Fox.
Chernin Entertainment
Production Company — Peter Chernin's banner co-produced the series and provided the infrastructure for its long run on Fox.
About the New Girl Cast
New Girl premiered in 2011 with unusually strong ratings for a Fox comedy, driven by Zooey Deschanel's existing profile from indie films and the broad appeal of the premise. The show's first season required some recalibration as it worked out the balance between Jess's eccentricity and the ensemble's response to her. By season two, the writers had found a formula that allowed Max Greenfield's Schmidt to develop genuine romantic depth, Jake Johnson's Nick to anchor the show's emotional center, and Lamorne Morris's Winston to become increasingly and wonderfully absurd. The on-screen chemistry between Deschanel and Johnson proved so naturally compelling that the show wisely accelerated their romantic arc rather than prolonging the will-they-won't-they tension indefinitely, a structural choice that allowed the remaining seasons to explore what a relationship between the two actually looked like.
The casting of Megan Fox as Reagan during Deschanel's maternity leave in season five was a notable production decision that generated significant attention. Fox's character was deliberately written as Jess's antithesis — cool, sardonic, and self-sufficient where Jess is warm, enthusiastic, and occasionally chaotic — and her dynamic with Johnson generated enough fan interest that Reagan returned for additional appearances in season six. The show's final season, which aired in 2018, brought the ensemble to a satisfying conclusion with flash-forwards to the characters' futures, a structural choice that acknowledged both the show's long run and its genuine investment in where each character ended up. New Girl's continued popularity on streaming platforms has introduced it to a new generation of viewers who find its warmth and ensemble chemistry as appealing as its original audience did.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in New Girl?
New Girl stars Zooey Deschanel as Jessica "Jess" Day, Jake Johnson as Nick Miller, Max Greenfield as Schmidt, Lamorne Morris as Winston Bishop, Hannah Simone as Cece Parekh, and Damon Wayans Jr. as Coach. The ensemble lives together in a Los Angeles loft across the show's seven seasons.
Who plays Jess in New Girl?
Zooey Deschanel plays Jessica "Jess" Day, a quirky, optimistic schoolteacher who moves into a loft with three male roommates after a difficult breakup. Deschanel's performance earned a Golden Globe Award nomination and helped define the "adorkable" cultural moment of the early 2010s.
How many seasons of New Girl are there?
New Girl ran for seven seasons on Fox, from September 20, 2011 to May 15, 2018, totaling 146 episodes.
Who created New Girl?
New Girl was created by Elizabeth Meriwether, a playwright and television writer. Meriwether served as the show's primary creative voice throughout its run, writing many of the series' most celebrated episodes.
Why did Zooey Deschanel leave New Girl in season 5?
Zooey Deschanel took maternity leave during season five, leading to Jess being written out temporarily via a jury duty storyline. Megan Fox joined the cast as Reagan Lucas during this period to fill Jess's absence in the loft before Deschanel returned later in the season.
Was Coach in New Girl from the beginning?
Damon Wayans Jr. appeared as Coach in the pilot episode but left after one episode because his show Happy Endings was renewed. He returned as a series regular in season three when Happy Endings was cancelled, and remained with the show through season five.
How we build these cast lists
For background on how Cast.biz compiles and orders cast credits, see understanding billing order, how TV show casts are built, and our glossary of cast credits.