Cast | Beyond The Rush

Bill Barrett as Samuel Grievess

Samuel is a high-functioning addict in the throws of developing what he fears is mental illness, inherited from his institutionalized mother (Leah) whom he desperately wants to reconnect with after decades apart. He's an intelligent, ambitious journalist working for a top newspaper in New York City. Samuel has a beautiful, strong wife (Tristan, his childhood sweetheart) with whom he's reluctantly trying to have a baby and an older detective brother (Peter) who’s trying to help him resolve an issue from his past. At both a personal and professional crossroads, Samuel is a tightly-wound, fragile soul in pursuit of higher moral ground. Against the wishes of his Editor-in-Chief (Edward Clayborn) he goes rogue and undercover to expose the corrupt Judge Joy from his old neighborhood. When his mission shifts from a pursuit of justice to vengeance, he puts everything at risk, which leads to a frenzied crescendo that’s beyond the rush and, possibly, beyond repair.

Mena Suvari as Leah Grievess - Emmy® Nominated

Leah is Samuel’s mother who fights her mental illness with pills and alcohol. She loves her son more than anything and wants him to fulfill the dreams she always had but never had the competency to fulfill. Her husband left the family a long time ago and now she and her mother-in-
law try to raise the kids themselves. Deep down, she has always felt like she was to blame for the devastation of the family, but never could deal with the depression and emptiness her husband triggered by abandoning them. She is wounded both spiritually and mentally, and
her illness is the cause of a catastrophic incident that leaves an unwavering imprint on Samuel’s psyche and his entire life moving forward.

Eric Roberts as Judge Martin Joy - Oscar® Nominated

Judge Joy is anything but a joy to the younger characters in this film. He is a predator and uses his power to manipulate everyone. A longtime nemesis of Samuel’s, the Judge has made an unexpected reappearance into his life becoming the crux of Samuel’s motivation to redeem not only his career, but also his life.

Cathy Moriarty as Grandma Judy - Oscar® Nominated

Grandma Judy (also known as BABCI, pronounced Bop-Chi, which means Grandma in Polish) is the steady rock of this small, troubled family, whom her son has abandoned. Despite having issues with Leah’s choices and parenting skills, she stays - becoming a surrogate mother to her grandsons, Samuel, and his brother, Peter — especially
when their mother is committed to a mental institution.

John Savage as Edward Clayborn - Oscar® Nominated

Edward is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the prominent New York City media company, The Clayborn Times. He’s a seasoned veteran of the industry and Samuel Grievess’ boss and mentor, who’s groomed Samuel since hiring him fresh out of college. He believes in Samuel’s journalistic talents, but gets frustrated when he doesn’t listen or follow
the rules. Like any father figure, Clayborn gives Samuel tough love, as he genuinely cares about him and wants him to succeed. But Samuel’s addictions, radical behavior and carelessness when chasing a “story” based solely on rumors of sexual abuse by a prominent, church-going
judge threaten to keep his protégé from reaching his full potential, as well as put the media company at risk. When Samuel desperately needs support, which side of Clayborn will show up — the cut-throat boss, the nurturing father figure . . . or both?

Frankie Faison as ArthurYearwood

Arthur is a preacher at the parish where the main character, Samuel Grievess, used to attend as a child. Arthur hasn’t always been a minister, but he takes those who come to his services very seriously and expects his “flock” to do the same. His commitment to the truth and justice trump all else, and he will not accept anything less. These doctrines lead him to a surprising union with Samuel, which tests his resolve to a breaking point that is beyond his wildest imagination.

Amanda Clayton as Tristan Grievess

Tristan is Samuel’s childhood sweetheart and now his wife. Her love for Samuel has no bounds and as we come to find out, she’ll do anything for him, which unfortunately has dire consequences. She knows his addiction well and along the way wants to be enveloped in his world, where the fate of her life and their unborn baby hangs in the balance.

Jayce Bartok as Teddy

Teddy is a childhood “frenemy” of Samuel’s whose reappearance drives Samuel to face old demons and seek justice. Teddy — a strong athlete and bully in their youth — has been reduced to a shell of his former self. His drug use masks memories and unresolved wounds from childhood. As Teddy confides in Samuel, suppressed memories from Samuel’s own childhood resurface. Teddy’s broken spirit further motivates Samuel to choose action — at any cost — over denial of their mutually traumatic pasts.

Christopher Egan as Peter Grievess

Peter Grievess – the older brother of
Samuel who has always looked out for him -
even when they were children. Peter is
sarcastic, funny and will do anything for his
younger brother, even risk his own career as a
Detective for the NYPD to help Samuel get
back on top at at his job and battle his
addiction, even if It means sometimes enabling
him.

Landon Moss as Kenny

Kenny – is Samuel’s good friend and cubicle neighbor at The Clayborn Times. Ever since Sam’s demotion to the “gossip column”, Kenny’s been losing his mind in this new “reality”. He needs his buddy to get sober and make it back out on the “Beat” with him.

Jann Ellis as Althea Yearwood

Althea is the “special” sister of preacher Arthur
Yearwood. Her insight, advice and vision when speaking to Samuel, help him to try and understand his own meaning of life and maybe what really happened to his mentally ill mother…