The Gilded Age is filled with fictional drama, but many of its characters are connected to real people from New York’s high society and America’s history.

The HBO period drama returned for Season 4 on Nov. 1, continuing its stories about wealth, power and social status in late 19th-century New York. While Julian Fellowes created several of the show’s main characters, others are based on people who actually lived during the Gilded Age.

Historical consultant and co-executive producer Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar previously explained that keeping the series grounded in history was important, even though the story itself is fictional.

“We want viewers to feel and see a landscape that is from the past yet believable and accurate,” Dunbar told Entertainment Weekly in 2021. She added that the series aims to show both the progress of the era and the real challenges many Americans faced.

Here are some of the real people who inspired or appeared as characters on The Gilded Age.

Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell

Taissa Farmiga plays Gladys Russell, a fictional character who appears to be loosely inspired by Consuelo Vanderbilt.

Like Gladys, Consuelo was the daughter of a wealthy railroad baron and a prominent Manhattan socialite. Both women hoped to marry for love, but their mothers arranged marriages to dukes instead.

On the show, Gladys marries the Duke of Buckingham. In real life, Consuelo married Charles Spencer-Churchill, the ninth Duke of Marlborough, becoming the first American woman to hold the title of Duchess.

Consuelo and the Duke had two sons before separating in 1906 and divorcing in 1921. That same year, Consuelo married her second husband, Jacques Balsan.

Ben Lamb as the Duke of Buckingham

Ben Lamb plays the Duke of Buckingham, the man who marries Gladys in the series.

Although the Duke of Buckingham is not a real historical figure, his storyline appears to draw from Consuelo Vanderbilt’s marriage to Charles Spencer-Churchill.

The title itself has been used by several real members of British history, but Fellowes created this particular character for The Gilded Age.

Ashlie Atkinson as Mamie Fish

Ashlie Atkinson plays Mamie Fish, one of the show’s most entertaining characters and a real New York socialite.

Mamie was married to railroad tycoon Stuyvesant Fish and became famous for her sharp humor and extravagant dinner parties. She was described as a society “fun maker” and became known for breaking the rules of high society.

Her parties and personality made her a memorable figure during the Gilded Age, where she often kept New York’s more traditional society women on their toes.

Nathan Lane as Ward McAllister

Nathan Lane portrays Ward McAllister, a real figure who played an important role in New York society.

The real McAllister served as a social guide for people who had recently gained wealth, similar to Bertha Russell on the show. At the same time, he had close ties to established members of New York’s elite, including Mrs. Astor.

In 1890, McAllister published Society As I Have Found It. The book eventually caused him to be pushed out of the same social circles where he had once been an important figure.

Donna Murphy as Caroline Schermerhorn Astor

Donna Murphy plays Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, better known as Mrs. Astor.

The real Mrs. Astor was one of the most powerful figures in New York high society. She hosted lavish parties and helped lead the group known as the “Four Hundred,” a list of people considered to be the city’s social elite.

Ward McAllister was part of her circle and was responsible for the roster that became associated with the exclusive group.

Bobby Steggert as John Singer Sargent

Bobby Steggert portrays famous portrait painter John Singer Sargent.

Sargent was known for paintings including Portrait of Madame X and Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. In Season 3 of The Gilded Age, Bertha hires him to paint her daughter, Gladys.

Steggert said he admired the way Sargent portrayed women and viewed them as complicated and powerful people rather than simply objects in a painting.

The actor also said he noticed similarities between himself and Sargent after looking at the artist’s early self-portraits and photographs.

Bill Camp as J.P. Morgan

Bill Camp plays J.P. Morgan, one of the most powerful businessmen of the Gilded Age.

The real Morgan was a wealthy investment banker and railroad financier who became one of America’s richest men. He was introduced in Season 3 as a potential business partner for George Russell.

Morgan’s appearance adds another real historical figure to the show’s fictional world of New York’s wealthy families.

Sullivan Jones as T. Thomas Fortune

Sullivan Jones portrays T. Thomas Fortune, Peggy Scott’s editor.

The real Fortune was a pioneering Black journalist, writer and civil rights leader. He was born into slavery in Florida and was freed after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

He later studied law and journalism at Howard University and became the editor and co-owner of several influential Black newspapers in New York, including The New York Globe.

Jordan Waller as Oscar Wilde

Jordan Waller appeared as Oscar Wilde in Season 2.

The famous Irish writer, playwright and poet visited New York in 1883 when his play Vera; or, The Nihilists opened at the Union Square Theater.

The production did not become a success. It received a poor response and closed after only one week.

Linda Emond as Clara Barton

Linda Emond played Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross.

Barton was an important humanitarian figure in American history, and Emond said it was an honor to portray her.

In a 2022 video message to the American Red Cross, Emond praised Barton’s strength and passion and said she was honored to play such an influential American woman.

With Season 4 now underway, The Gilded Age continues to mix fictional characters with real people and events, giving its dramatic stories a connection to the history of New York’s Gilded Age.