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Meet the Cast of NBC's New Series The Irrational, Starring Law & Order Favorite Jesse L. Martin
Many will remember Jesse L. Martin as Law & Order's Detective Green, but he's not the only immensely talented one in the cast.
The Irrational is a new and edgy series premiering as part of NBC’s fall lineup, and it’s bursting at the seams with an incredibly talented cast.
With former Law & Order star Jesse L. Martin front and center, The Irrational follows world-renowned behavioral science professor Alec Mercer (Martin). Mercer lends his “unique and unexpected approach to understanding human behavior” when tackling a wide range of crime cases, according to the show’s official description.
Of course, what is a successful man without a few of his trusted companions? Learn who's who in the cast for The Irrational before you catch the show's premiere, airing September 25 on NBC.
Jesse L. Martin is Alec Mercer on The Irrational
Mercer, often called on by entities such as the FBI, says that “understanding human nature can be a superpower,” as seen in a series clip. Mercer knows all too well that the human mind is imperfect and (you guessed it) irrational, and that understanding these flaws is essential for cutting through even the most complex of cases.
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'He is given direct access to individuals in the thick of hostage crises and homicide investigations, bringing audiences into psychological and thought-provoking action. However, he is also carrying the weight of a past incident. Mercer was injured in a horrific criminal act, but unfortunately, his memory was affected by it and he cannot recall who the perpetrator was. As he helps investigate other cases, he also tries to remember what exactly happened to him.
Many will recognize the actor who plays Mercer: Jesse L. Martin, famous for portraying Detective Edward Green on NBC’s Law & Order from Seasons 10 through 18. He also made a handful of guest appearances in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and a few other L&O spinoffs during his career, appearing in more than 200 episodes across the franchise.
Martin left Law & Order to return to his stage-acting roots and has since seen success across several platforms. Having played Tom Collins on the stage in the Broadway musical Rent, he reprised the role in the film adaptation in 2005.
Martin also played Captain Joe Walsh in The Flash for all nine seasons.
Maahra Hill is Marisa on The Irrational
The Irrational’s Alec Mercer wouldn’t have gotten where he is without the care and support of Marisa, a level-headed FBI agent who just so happens to be Mercer’s ex-wife. While Marisa knows Mercer well — perhaps even better than Mercer knows himself — the duo’s strong bond only further cements the main character’s drive to continue his work in psychology.
Marisa also knows what secrets Mercer has, including what initially led Mercer down the path of understanding the human mind.
Maahra Hill is best known for playing the title role in the 2021 series Delilah. She has also had more minor roles in a handful of successful television series, including Black-ish, How to Get Away with Murder, and The L Word: Generation Q.
Travina Springer is Kylie on The Irrational
Another strong female figure in Mercer’s life is his younger sister, Kylie, with whom Mercer lives. More in tune with the times than her older sibling, the witty Kylie is a positive influence as Mercer tries to navigate matters in his personal life.
Like Marisa, Kylie is also well-acquainted with Mercer’s past, becoming Mercer’s pillar of emotional strength as time goes on.
Audiences might recognize Kylie as actress Travina Springer, notable for playing Tyesha Hillman on Ms. Marvel. She is also known for having a smaller role in the 2018 Clint Eastwood film, The Mule, with other acting credits including her voiceover work in We Bare Bears: The Movie and for portraying Alice in the series Strange Angel.
Molly Kunz is Phoebe on The Irrational
Many in The Irrational will look up to Alec Mercer, given his uncanny ability to solve the brain’s inner workings, including his zealous and devoted research assistant, Phoebe. Bright-eyed and ready to learn, Phoebe goes above and beyond to follow in Mercer’s footsteps, all while taking brand new research assistant, Rizwan, under her wing.
RELATED: Why Did Jesse L. Martin Leave Law & Order?
Mercer’s trusted sidekick in The Irrational is played by Molly Kunz, who’s already appeared in multiple episodes of NBC’s Chicago Fire. While other TV credits include Gone, Colony, and The Resident, Kunz is best known for acting in the 2018 film Widows, alongside Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, and Liam Neeson.
Arash DeMaxi is Rizwan on The Irrational
Joining Phoebe on the research assistant team is Rizwan, who shows much promise with Mercer as his mentor. As Mercer’s studious protege, Rizwan knows how to turn a blind eye when Mercer slightly bends the rules to get to the bottom of things, trusting that the ends of Mercer’s unorthodox methods will justify the means.
The man behind Rizwan, Arash DeMaxi, has had several one-off appearances in other NBC series, including The Blacklist, New Amsterdam, and Chicago Med. Other popular series in which DeMaxi has had roles include Modern Love and The Equalizer.
The Irrational premieres Monday, September 25, at 10/9c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
