"Finding Joy "cast: Meet the actors bringing Tyler Perry's hit holiday melodrama to life Allison DeGrusheNovember 14, 2025 at 3:49 AM 0 Prive Video Shannon Thornton as Joy and Tosin Morohunfola as Ridge in 'Finding Joy'Key Points Tyler Perry's Finding Joy follows a fashion designer whose Colorado getaway upends her outlook on her career, love, and life itself. Shannon Thornton and Tosin Morohunfola lead the small cast. Finding Joy is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Tyler Perry is showing no signs of slowing down.
- - "Finding Joy "cast: Meet the actors bringing Tyler Perry's hit holiday melodrama to life
Allison DeGrusheNovember 14, 2025 at 3:49 AM
0
Prive Video
Shannon Thornton as Joy and Tosin Morohunfola as Ridge in 'Finding Joy'Key Points -
Tyler Perry's Finding Joy follows a fashion designer whose Colorado getaway upends her outlook on her career, love, and life itself.
Shannon Thornton and Tosin Morohunfola lead the small cast.
Finding Joy is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Tyler Perry is showing no signs of slowing down. In 2025 alone, the actor and filmmaker has released four films, the latest being Finding Joy.
The melodrama, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on Nov. 5, centers on Joy (Shannon Thornton), a New York-based fashion designer who's struggling to get ahead at work and in love. With a little push from her friends, though, Joy heads to Colorado hoping to win over her crush, Colton (Aaron O'Connell), but shocking twists and an unexpected companion force her to see things differently.
Below, we take a closer look at the cast of Finding Joy and where you might've seen them before.
01 of 09
Shannon Thornton as Joy
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Shannon Thornton as Joy in 'Finding Joy'
Shannon Thornton first appeared on screen in 2010 on Blue Bloods, and since then, she's been landing roles left and right. Fans might recognize her from the musical drama Rise (2018), the Dynasty reboot (2020–2021), or the Starz drama P-Valley (2020–present). She's also lent her talents to Netflix, popping up in the comedy The Week Of (2018) and Perry's legal thriller Mea Culpa (2024).
Now, Thornton steps into the lead role in Finding Joy, playing the titular fashion designer whose professional and romantic life leaves much to be desired. Speaking about her character, Thornton recently described Joy as "a very impulsive person."
"When she's hurting… she's like, 'I have to get out of here.' Fight or flight response; she flies," the actress added. "She gets uncomfortable and doesn't know how to face it, and she wants to flee."
02 of 09
Tosin Morohunfola as Ridge
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Tosin Morohunfola as Ridge in 'Finding Joy'
Tosin Morohunfola has become a familiar face on TV, most notably on Chicago Med (2016–2018) and The Chi (2018). He also starred on the Starz comedy Run the World (2021–2023) and appeared on Taylor Sheridan's acclaimed miniseries Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023).
In Finding Joy, Morohunfola stars as Ridge, a rugged country boy and Joy's love interest. After rescuing her from a life-threatening snowstorm, sparks begin to fly between them.
Morohunfola recently admitted to Variety that holiday movies aren't his thing, but Ridge's complexity made this one different.
"Not every holiday movie has depth, and that's something that drew me to this one," he explains. "When I saw Ridge, I immediately saw somebody more than two-dimensional. On the outside, he has a rough exterior, but underneath that, you've got a vulnerable, loving and caring person who needs the help of the right person to bring that out."
03 of 09
Brittany S. Hall as Ashley
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Brittany S. Hall as Ashley in 'Finding Joy'
Many of us remember Brittany S. Hall from Ballers (2017–2019), where she played Ricky's (John David Washington) girlfriend, Amber. She's since popped up on shows like David Makes Man (2021) and Dear Edward (2023). Offscreen, she founded the Actors Play Studio.
Hall plays Ashley, one of Joy's best friends. The actress took to Instagram on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to celebrate the success of Finding Joy. "It truly was a joyful experience making it and I am so happy that joy reached so many people," she wrote. "Thanks for watching, we hope you enjoyed it."
04 of 09
Inayah as Littia
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Inayah as Littia in 'Finding Joy'
Inayah is an R&B singer and songwriter whose soulful twist on Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up" went viral. Since then, she's dropped three albums, the latest being 2024's Wait, There's More. Along the way, Inayah has also released singles like "Fallin," "Best Thing," and "For the Streets."
Inayah makes her acting debut in Finding Joy as Littia, Joy's best friend who has a knack for tough love.
"I feel truly HONORED and what a riiiide it's been getting to act alongside my two very BEAUTIFUL movie star sisters... who were so patient and kind to me!" she recently shared on Instagram. "Huge thanks again to [Tyler Perry] for taking a chance on me and believing that I could even bring LITTIA to life."
05 of 09
Eric Stanton Betts as Pat-Treek
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Eric Stanton Betts as Pat-Treek in 'Finding Joy'
Eric Stanton Betts has appeared in several films, but Finding Joy is shaping up to be his biggest project yet. He portrays Pat-Treek, Joy's boss, who swoops in and takes all the credit for her hard work.
Betts revealed on Instagram that he initially auditioned for a character named Gildon, but then read for the boss instead — and that's when Perry reshaped the role just for him. "Tyler rewrote the character of Patra as Pat-Treek for me after seeing my self-tape; changing her from a white woman in her 50s…to, well, me!" he disclosed.
06 of 09
Aaron O'Connell as Colton
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Aaron O'Connell as Colton in 'Finding Joy'
Aaron O'Connell is a familiar presence in Perry's world, and his journey to the filmmaker's set is pretty bizarre. He first caught Perry's eye through a Liquid Plumr commercial.
"It was hilarious, but it got picked up on late-night TV. [Perry] was watching it one night and saw me on it," O'Connell said on the Studio 22 podcast. Soon after, Perry's team reached out, and the actor was cast as Wyatt on the crime soap The Haves and the Have Nots (2013–2021).
He's since carved out a niche in holiday movies, starring in 12 Gifts of Christmas (2015), With Love, Christmas (2017), and Blending Christmas (2021). Now, he continues his streak with Finding Joy, where he plays Joy's crush, Colton.
07 of 09
Natalie O'Connell as Heather
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Natalie O'Connell as Heather in 'Finding Joy'
O'Connell's real-life wife, Natalie, is now part of the Perry cinematic universe. A model and former America's Next Top Model contestant, Natalie also took home the crown as Miss California USA 2012. As of writing, she works as a portrait photographer and as a real estate agent with The Carrie Holle Group.
In Finding Joy, Natalie briefly appears as Heather, Colton's fiancée (who Joy had no idea existed until Colton asked her to be his best man at their wedding).
08 of 09
Jeffery Thomas Johnson as David
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Jeffery Thomas Johnson as David in 'Finding Joy'
Jeffery Thomas Johnson has popped up in a variety of memorable guest roles over the years, including in Seinfeld (1998), Roswell (2000), and, most recently, General Hospital (2025). He previously collaborated with Perry in The Six Triple Eight (2024), playing Colonel Davenport.
In Finding Joy, he plays David, Colton's dad, who tags along to pick up Joy from the airport.
09 of 09
Whitney Goin as Wynona
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Whitney Goin as Wynona in 'Finding Joy'
Whitney Goin is perhaps best known for playing Christine Miller on Every Witch Way (2014–2015). Viewers might also remember her guest appearances on shows like Claws (2019), Queen Sugar (2019), and The Resident (2021), among others.
Goin briefly pops up in Finding Joy as Wynona, Colton's mother, who couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Joy to Colorado.
Where can I watch Finding Joy?
Finding Joy is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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Published: November 13, 2025 at 10:45PM on Source: RED MAG
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