Main cast and characters
Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) deputy chief, Major Crimes Division. Originally a CIA-trained police detective from Atlanta, Georgia, she is the interrogation specialist Will Pope calls a "closer".
J. K. Simmons as Will Pope, LAPD assistant chief for operations, acting chief of police during season six and interim chief of police during season seven. His office is sometimes sarcastically referred to as "The Vatican".
Corey Reynolds as David Gabriel, LAPD sergeant, is a laterally appointed detective sergeant from season five onward.
Robert Gossett as Russell Taylor, LAPD captain, is initially assigned to Robbery-Homicide Division, promoted to commander in season two, and appointed LAPD interdepartmental liaison in season four.
G. W. Bailey as Louie Provenza, LAPD detective lieutenant, is second-in-command of MCD.
Tony Denison as Andy Flynn, LAPD detective lieutenant, is transferred from Robbery-Homicide to MCD during season one.
Jon Tenney as Fritz Howard, Senior Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is the FBI-LAPD liaison from season six onwards.
Michael Paul Chan as Michael Tao, LAPD detective lieutenant, is the scientific investigation specialist (regular: seasons 3–7; recurring: seasons 1–2)
Raymond Cruz as Julio Sanchez, LAPD detective, is the guns and gangs specialist (regular: seasons 3–7; recurring: seasons 1–2)
Gina Ravera as Irene Daniels, LAPD detective, is the forensic accounting specialist (regular: seasons 3–4; recurring: seasons 1–2)
Phillip P. Keene as Buzz Watson, LAPD civilian surveillance coordinator, handles video and audio tasks (regular: seasons 4–7; recurring: seasons 1–3)
Mary McDonnell as Sharon Raydor, LAPD captain, Force Investigation Division, is also Women's Coordinator for the LAPD (regular: season 7; recurring: seasons 5–6)
