Hudson and Rex Cast: Every Main Actor & Character Guide

Quick Answer: Who Are the Main Cast Members?

The main cast of hudson and rex cast includes John Reardon as Detective Charlie Hudson (Seasons 1–7), Mayko Nguyen as Sarah Truong, Kevin Hanchard as Superintendent Joseph Donovan, Justin Kelly as Jesse Mills, and Diesel vom Burgimwald as Rex the German Shepherd.

For Season 8, the lineup shifted significantly. John Reardon did not return for Season 8 due to a battle with tonsil cancer during the previous season. Although he recovered and was ready to work again, producers chose to move the show in a new direction. Actor Luke Roberts was introduced as Mark Hudson, taking over as Rex’s new partner. Mayko Nguyen, Kevin Hanchard, and Justin Kelly all remained on board.

Hudson & Rex — Show at a Glance

Full Main Cast — Quick Reference Table

Main Cast — Deep Dive Profiles

John Reardon as Detective Charlie Hudson

John Henry Reardon was born on July 30, 1975, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He studied Theatre Arts at the Lir Academy of Dramatic Arts in Dublin, Ireland, and later trained in improv at The Second City in both Los Angeles and Toronto. At Mount Allison University, he played Canadian football as a “Mountie” from 1993 to 1997, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biology.

Before Hudson & Rex, Reardon starred as Blake Laviolette on the CBC series Arctic Air and had a recurring role as Greg Cameron on the Showcase series Continuum.

From 2019 to 2025, Reardon starred as Detective Charlie Hudson on Hudson & Rex, and acted as an executive producer on the show from Season 4 until midway through Season 7.

Charlie Hudson is one of those TV detectives you actually root for — not just because he solves crimes, but because of how he carries his personal baggage. Freshly divorced, estranged from family, and quietly building a new life through his bond with Rex. That emotional core was a big reason the show connected with so many viewers.

In 2008, Reardon married actress Meghan Ory. Their first child was born in 2018, their second in 2019, and their third in 2023. Meghan Ory also appeared on several episodes of Hudson & Rex, playing the supervisor of Hudson’s boss.

Diesel vom Burgimwald as Rex

This is the name most fans don’t know but should. Rex isn’t just “a dog.” Diesel vom Burgimwald was a pedigreed German Shepherd with serious credentials — and a lineage directly connected to the original Austrian series.

Diesel vom Burgimwald was the original canine star who played Rex in Canada in Seasons 1–6, and episodes 1 and 2 of Season 7, until his unexpected death in August 2024. His nephews, Dillon and Dante, and a cousin, Dreamer, took over the leading role of Rex starting in Season 7, Episode 3. German Shepherds Izzy and Iko, also nephews of Diesel, had already been acting as stunt doubles for Rex’s action scenes, and will continue to do so in Season 8.

The news of Diesel’s passing hit the fanbase hard — genuinely hard. This wasn’t just a TV prop or a background animal. He was the co-star. Kevin Hanchard himself once said: “Diesel brings it every single time he’s on set. He hits his mark better than any of us do, he picks up his cues and he’s happy. He puts us in a good place, and although he does upstage us in the best way, we’re really happy for that because he’s golden.”

Diesel was also made an honorary firefighter with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department — a small detail that says a lot about the affection the city of St. John’s had for him.

Mayko Nguyen as Sarah Truong

Mayko Nguyen grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, and currently lives in Toronto. She has had lead and recurring roles on a variety of television series, including Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, Cracked, and Slasher.

Sarah Truong starts the series as the Chief of Forensics — the brains behind the lab. Over the seasons, her role evolves into a full detective, and her relationship with Charlie Hudson deepens from professional to personal. She’s arguably the heart of the human team.

Nguyen was nominated for “Best Lead in a Drama Series” at the Canadian Screen Awards consecutively in 2023 and 2024 for her role as Sarah in Hudson & Rex. Those nominations weren’t a surprise to anyone who watched her carry some of the show’s most emotionally demanding episodes.

Nguyen has appeared in 122 episodes of Hudson & Rex, making her the most consistent presence across the entire run of the show.

Kevin Hanchard as Superintendent Joseph “Joe” Donovan

Kevin Hanchard plays Joe Donovan, the superintendent who oversees the Major Crimes Division. He’s the boss — but not the distant, paper-pushing kind. Donovan is present, involved, and has a personal stake in many of the cases the team handles. His daughter Camilla (played by Amanda Arcuri) also appears in several episodes, giving his character more texture than the typical police chief archetype.

Hanchard has been candid about what makes the show work behind the scenes: “The biggest challenge we face is getting through scenes without laughing. That’s a testament to each of my castmates because they’re all truly a joy to work with, and we have great chemistry.”

Hanchard has appeared in 122 episodes across all seasons, matching Nguyen as one of the show’s most consistent performers.

Justin Kelly as Jesse Mills

Jesse Mills is the team’s IT specialist who gradually works his way up to detective status across the seasons. He brings a lighter energy to the show — quick with tech, sometimes awkward, always likeable. Justin Kelly brings a natural, unforced quality to the role that makes Jesse feel like a real person rather than just the “tech guy” trope.

Kelly has appeared in 122 episodes, meaning he has been present for essentially the entire run of the show — every season, every arc.That kind of continuity matters. It’s part of why the team chemistry feels so natural.

Luke Roberts as Detective Mark Hudson (Season 8)

Luke Roberts officially joined the cast as Detective Mark Hudson for Season 8. He is known for his previous work on Game of Thrones and Ransom.

Mark Hudson is Charlie’s brother — introduced as a new lead after Charlie’s apparent death at the end of Season 7. The orange muscle car that belonged to Charlie Hudson is replaced in Season 8 by a turquoise EV version driven by Mark.  Small detail. Big symbolism.

Roberts appeared in 16 episodes across Season 7 (as a guest) and Season 8 (as lead).

Recurring & Supporting Cast

Dr. Karma Poole deserves a special mention. Showrunner Peter Mitchell explained her addition by saying that Sarah didn’t really get to talk to other women much. “Female relationships are really important in life,” he noted, “so that was a big part of the motivation for me in terms of getting another character onto our regular roster.” It was a thoughtful creative decision — and Bridget Wareham delivered.

Season 8 Cast Changes: The Full Story

Season 8 is the most talked-about shift in the show’s history — and not entirely for positive reasons.

What Happened to John Reardon?

Reardon had tonsil cancer and had to take a leave of absence for treatment. During his recovery, the Hudson & Rex production team cast Luke Roberts in the role of a character named “Detective Mark.” For most of Season 7, Reardon appeared in episodes by phone, where Hudson calls from South America while searching for his lost brother.

After Reardon’s recovery, the producers decided to keep Roberts as Detective Mark Hudson, effectively ending Reardon’s employment on the show.

In September 2025, John Reardon let fans know through his personal Instagram account that he would not be returning, writing: “After taking a couple months to go through cancer treatment, I was given a clean bill of health and cleared and ready to return to work.”

How Did Fans React?

When Hudson & Rex Season 8 premiered without John Reardon, fans were shocked. Many expressed disappointment online, saying that the bond between Charlie and Rex was irreplaceable. Social media flooded with petitions, posts, and even ads calling for Reardon’s return.

One fan even purchased a full-page advertisement in The Toronto Star asking why Reardon was let go. In response, Shaftesbury, the show’s production company, issued a statement through The Toronto Star saying: “Given the uncertainty around John’s ability and timing to return to work on the series, producers agreed that the show would move forward without him.”

That response confirmed what many fans already suspected — and it didn’t exactly win the production company any goodwill.

Season-by-Season Cast Highlights

---

Where Is Hudson and Rex Filmed?

Filming began in October 2018 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The city is practically a character in itself — rocky coastlines, colourful row houses, Atlantic fog, and that distinct Maritime atmosphere that no studio backlot could ever replicate.

Season 8 was filmed in St. John’s, Newfoundland, from May to July 2025.

For viewers who’ve never been to Newfoundland, the show is genuinely a love letter to the place. The crew clearly takes pride in showcasing the landscape and community. It’s one of the things that sets the show apart from generic crime procedurals shot on interchangeable city streets.

Is Hudson and Rex Based on a True Story?

No — but it is based on a real show. Hudson & Rex is a Canadian police procedural television series based on the Austrian–Italian drama Kommissar Rex. The original ran for over two decades across Austria and Italy, and its core premise — a detective and his highly intelligent German Shepherd solving crimes together — translated beautifully to the Canadian setting.

The St. John’s location, the Canadian characters, and the updated tone are all original. But the DNA of a beloved European series runs through every episode.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)