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The Righteous Gemstones is currently one of the most popular television series on HBO. It’s a series filled with larger-than-life characters that include scheming siblings, spoiled children, and, of course, no shortage of greedy pastors. The Gemstone family is one of TV’s funniest and endearing families and, with its fourth and final season rumored to be its best, it’s an excellent time to revisit its cast of unforgettable characters.
Its ensemble cast of hilarious actors, which includes Danny McBride as the hot-headed Jesse Gemstone, and John Goodman as the Stoic patriarch of the Gemstone family, is filled with unforgettable characters and hysterical performances. This list ranks the best of The Righteous Gemstones characters.
10
Martin Imari
Played by Gregory Alan Williams
Martin Emiri (Gregory Alan Williams) is Eli Gemstones’ right-hand-man and the accountant and fixer of the Gemstone family. Martin is calm, collected, and efficient at his job. Williams imbues Martin’s character with a powerful, yet understated onscreen presence.
Martin is a great character because he’s easily one of the most level-headed members in the Gemstone family, which consists of lunatics. The only character that seems to match his reasonable nature and cool demeanor is Eli, so it would make sense that the two would have such a stable and powerful alliance. Without Martin’s committed and trustworthy assistance, it’s difficult to determine how successful the Gemstone family would be.
9
Keefe Chambers
Played by Tony Cavalero
Keefe Chambers (Tony Cavalero) is Kelvin’s best friend, and later his romantic interest. Keefe lives with Kelvin after having been converted following a period in his life during which he practiced Satanism. Keefe is mild-mannered, quietly polite, and profoundly devoted to Kelvin throughout the series.
Keefe’s one of the kindest characters in The Righteous Gemstones. Despite the constant criticism he’s subjected to, he remains devoted and loyal to Kelvin, whom he loves almost unconditionally. Cavalero plays Keefe with delicate shyness and remarkable vulnerability that makes his character instantly likable. Keefe’s blossoming romance with Kelvin contributes to the wholesomeness of the Gemstone saga.
8
Amber Gemstone
Played by Cassidy Freeman
Amber Gemstone (Cassidy Freeman) is Jesse’s devoted wife. Amber is a loving and reserved partner with a heart of gold who encourages her husband to take more control of the church. In many ways, her personality is the perfect counterbalance to his hot-tempered nature.
Amber is level-headed, profoundly loving, and also an undercover badass. Her incredible shooting skills make her one of the most dangerous characters in the series, and she keeps her and Jesse’s home in order while also providing him with the support and encouragement to be the best version of himself (which he seldom is, but audiences can only imagine how much worse he’d be without her). Although she’s one of the more understated characters of the series, she manages to command a powerful onscreen presence, especially if there’s a gun involved.
7
Benjamin Jason “BJ” Barnes
Played by Tim Baltz
BJ (Tim Baltz) is Judy’s timid and sensitive partner, and later husband, who is constantly the butt of the rest of the Gemstone family’s jokes. He’s not particularly respected due to his own family’s atheist background and his soft nature. Like Keefe, BJ’s a bit of an outsider, but he remains unwavering in his loyalty to his partner.
BJ is always getting ranked on by the Gemstones, but despite this, he’s always showing up for Judy. Throughout the series, he’s one of the characters treated the worst, but there’s something deeply admirable and touching about his commitment to Judy. At the height of season three, he finally asserts himself by fighting the guy Judy’s been hooking up with in what’s easily one of the best moments in the series’ history.
6
Gideon Gemstone
Played by Skyler Gisondo
Gideon Gemstone (Skyler Gisondo) is Jesse and Amber’s son. Gideon takes off to Los Angeles to become a stunt performer, an act which makes him a persona non grata to his hot-headed father. Although Gideon gets involved with the wrong group and attempts to steal money from the Gemstones, he ultimately realizes the error in his ways and reconciles with his family. He’s a skilled martial artist and talented stunt driver.
When audiences first encounter Gideon, he’s running with a group of criminals and trying to squeeze money out of his own family. Not a great look. But Gideon’s evolution and redemption arc is one of the best parts of the entire series. His kung-fu takedown of Scotty (Scotty MacArthur) and his killer stunt driving skills demonstrate his value as an essential member of the family. The series also suggests he might be the rightful successor to Eli.
5
Judy Gemstone
Played by Edi Patterson
Judy Gemstone (Edi Patterson) is the hot-blooded middle child of Eli Gemstone. Judy aspires to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a church singer and performer, but her explosive temper and wild behavior constantly problematize her life. Patterson gives audiences a frenetic performance as Judy, whose manic energy always makes the character seem like she’s about to go off the rails.
Judy Gemstone begins as one of the most difficult characters to like in the series due to her constant explosive temper and intense neurosis. But as the series progresses, audiences are exposed to another side of Judy through flashbacks that reveal the wellspring of her insecurities and the origins of her temperamental personality. She’s layered and surprisingly sympathetic, making her one of the greatest characters in the series.
4
Jesse Gemstone
Played by Danny McBride
Jesse Gemstone is the hot-headed elder son of Eli Gemstone. Jesse’s central ambition is to take the reins from Eli and bring the Gemstones into a new era. He’s a shoot first, ask questions later kind of guy who postures as a faithful pastor. However, Jesse is arrogant and lives a secretly decadent lifestyle that imperils his entire family.
While Jesse isn’t pastor of the year, he does his best to be the person he thinks his family needs. As the eldest child of the Gemstones, Jesse assumes a certain responsibility that naturally comes with the territory. Despite his shortcomings, he genuinely tries to do right by his family and take care of everyone. Beneath his arrogant tough-guy facade is a character with a big heart. McBride not only stars as Jesse, but is also the showrunner of The Righteous Gemstones. With a long track record of stellar acting and directing credits, he continues to surprise audiences with yet another impressive performance as the eldest of the Gemstone children.
3
Kelvin Gemstone
Played by Adam Devine
Kelvin Gemstone (Adam Devine) is Eli’s youngest son and youth pastor to the Gemstone Salvation Center. As the youngest of his siblings, Kelvin struggles to earn the respect and admiration he craves, and he’s often looked down upon due to his impulsive nature and immaturity. Kelvin also has a strong relationship with Keefe that takes a romantic turn at the end of the series.
Adam plays Kelvin with remarkable humor and vulnerability and his ongoing struggle to acknowledge his feelings for Keefe is one of the most significant plot threads of The Righteous Gemstones. Unlike his older siblings, who are more self-centered and hot-headed, Kelvin is a sensitive character who struggles with being the odd one out of the group. Unlike his siblings, Kelvin seems to grow from his mistakes, as audiences see happen after having both his thumbs broken by Eli. His capacity for growth and his authentic struggle as the youngest sibling and odd one out of his group make him one of the most sympathetic characters.
2
Eli Gemstone
Dr. Elijah “Eli” Gemstone
Dr. Elijah “Eli” Gemstone, played by Goodman, is the patriarch and lead pastor of the Gemstone family. He’s a powerful character who keeps his spoiled children in order as he leads and manages the Gemstone businesses. In contrast to his more selfish children, Eli is less rapacious and more understated. Throughout the series, Eli struggles to balance his grief over losing his wife Aimee-Leigh Gemstone (Jennifer Nettles) while also managing the family business.
Eli Gemstone is easily the toughest and smartest character in the series. With his Stoic demeanor and calculated moves, it’s easy to see how he managed to elevate the Gemstone Salvation Center to such soaring heights. While he clearly places his wealth and success above spirituality, Eli does display a genuine commitment to helping others, more so than his own children, who struggle to follow in his footsteps. Goodman plays this character with incredible vulnerability and a dominating screen presence. It’s difficult to imagine any other actor playing the role of Eli Gemstone this well.
1
Baby Billy Freeman
Played by Walton Goggins
Baby Billy Freeman (Walton Goggins) is brother-in-law to Eli and the brother to Aimee-Leigh Gemstone. In his childhood, Baby Billy was in a gospel song-and-dance duo with his sister, but his sister eventually moved on from the act and found success alongside Eli. Baby Billy’s notorious for being a lying, cheating, plotting mooch who’s constantly looking for a quick buck. He’s a character who has no shortage of schemes, but he remains an essential part of the family.
Goggins steals every scene he’s in as Baby Billy. In terms of charisma and comedy, Baby Billy has no equal. With his compelling Southern drawl, and his signature stuttering gait, Baby Billy is undoubtedly the most dominating presence in the series. Although he’s always scheming to make a quick buck, he’s not a villain by any means. He’s like that one eccentric relative in everyone’s family who’s always trying to get everyone involved in some over-the-top plan, making him immensely relatable to viewers. With his incredible line delivery and excellent comedic timing, Goggins makes Baby Billy the best character of The Righteous Gemstones.
