This Old House Cast

If your idea of comfort TV is watching a crew fix rotting sill plates while calmly explaining what a joist hanger does, you’re probably a fan of This Old House. For more than four decades, the show’s cast of hosts, carpenters, plumbers, landscapers, and other pros has turned dusty job sites into must-watch television. The faces have changed over the years, but the mission has stayed the same: teach regular homeowners how old houses workand how not to accidentally knock down a load-bearing wall in the process.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the key This Old House cast members from the early days with Bob Vila and Norm Abram all the way to the current lineup led by Kevin O’Connor, Tom Silva, and the rest of the crew. Rather than trying to list every single guest expert who ever swung a hammer on camera (that would take longer than a full kitchen gut), we’ll focus on the core hosts and tradespeople who shaped the show and became household names for DIY lovers.

A Quick Tour of “This Old House”

This Old House first aired on PBS in 1979, created by producer Russell Morash as a how-to series that followed real renovations from start to finish. Instead of a slick reveal after a commercial break, viewers watched the messy middle: structural repairs, budget surprises, and the occasional “we just found knob-and-tube wiring… everywhere.” Over time, the show spun off into Ask This Old House, This Old House: Trade School, podcasts, and digital content, but the cast has remained the heart of the brand.

What makes the This Old House cast special is that almost all of them are working tradespeople first and TV personalities second. They’re licensed contractors, plumbers, and landscape pros who just happen to be really good at explaining why your basement is dampand cracking a joke while they fix it.

The Hosts Who Welcomed Us In

Bob Vila – The Original Host

When you think “classic” This Old House, you probably picture Bob Vila in a plaid shirt, strolling through a job site with a clipboard. Vila hosted the show from its debut in 1979 through 1989. Before TV, he restored older homes in New England and even won a preservation award from Better Homes & Gardens, which helped land him the gig.

Onscreen, Vila played the role of the curious homeowner stand-in, asking questions of the tradespeople and translating technical details into plain English. He helped introduce viewers to concepts like energy-efficient windows, modern insulation, and the idea that you really should fix water problems before you remodel a finished basement.

Vila left the show in 1989 over a sponsorship dispute, then went on to host syndicated shows like Bob Vila’s Home Again and Bob Vila, becoming a larger-than-life figure in the home-improvement world. But for many fans, he’s forever “the first guy from This Old House.”

Steve Thomas – The Sailor with a Tool Belt

After Vila exited, Steve Thomas took over as host from 1989 to 2003. Thomas had a background in sailing, adventure, and building, and he brought a calm, thoughtful energy to the role. His episodes often emphasized craftsmanship and longer-term planning: not just “how do we fix this now?” but “what does this house need to last another 50 years?”

Thomas presided over some of the show’s most beloved projects in the 1990s and early 2000s as building technologies evolved. Viewers watched the cast incorporate better air-sealing, modern HVAC systems, and improved window and roofing products while still respecting historic architecture.

Kevin O’Connor – The Modern-Era Host

In 2003, Kevin O’Connor became the show’s third hostand he’s still the face of This Old House today. O’Connor was originally a viewer who wrote in with a question; producers liked his on-camera presence when they filmed that segment and eventually offered him the hosting job. Talk about winning the home-renovation lottery.

O’Connor’s style is approachable and slightly self-deprecating. He’s not afraid to admit when a concept is confusinglike ERV vs. HRV systems or why you really do need that much flashing around a windowand he continuously nudges the pros to break complex work into simple steps. Under his watch, the show has leaned into topics like energy efficiency, building science, and technology (cue the “Future House” segments) while still giving plenty of screen time to old-school craftsmanship.

The Craftsmen and Experts Behind the Magic

Norm Abram – The Master Carpenter

If Bob Vila was the voice of the early years, Norm Abram was the steady pair of hands. Abram, the show’s master carpenter, appeared from the first season in 1979 all the way through 2022. For more than four decades, he set the standard for precise, thoughtful woodworking, whether he was framing a wall or building custom built-ins in the workshop.

Norm’s calm demeanor, safety-first mindset, and attention to detail made him a cult hero among fans. He rarely rushed, always measured twice (at least), and treated even small repairs like they deserved cabinet-shop quality. He also hosted The New Yankee Workshop, a spin-off where he built furniture and shop projects in his legendary barn.

Tom Silva – The General Contractor

Tom Silva joined This Old House in the mid-1980s and eventually became the show’s general contractor. If a project involves structure, framing, windows, roofing, or anything that might collapse if done wrong, Silva’s the one overseeing it.

Silva is known for mixing traditional craftsmanship with modern building science. He’ll happily show you how to reproduce a historically accurate cornice detailbut also talk about vapor barriers, air sealing, and why you should never trap moisture behind your walls. His catch-all advice to viewers could be summarized as: “Do it once, do it right, and don’t cheap out on the stuff you can’t see.”

Richard Trethewey – Plumbing and Heating Expert

Every old house has its mysteries, and many of them are hiding in the mechanical room. That’s where Richard Trethewey comes in. He’s the show’s plumbing and heating expert, appearing regularly since the early 1980s. On camera, Richard tackles everything from replacing ancient boilers and adding radiant heat to explaining why your shower turns scalding when someone flushes the toilet.

Richard’s segments are a crash course in how water, gas, and air move through a house. He’s known for sketching systems on a whiteboard so viewers can visualize what’s happening behind the wallsand for reminding homeowners that, yes, a good mechanical system is worth paying for.

Roger Cook – Landscape Contractor

For nearly four decades, Roger Cook was the landscape contractor for This Old House and Ask This Old House. Whether he was installing a bluestone patio, regrading a yard to fix drainage issues, or planting a new tree, Roger brought a practical, no-nonsense approach and a dry sense of humor.

Cook’s advice became legendary among viewerslines like “plant it high, it won’t die” for trees and “a walk is only as good as the base” for paths. He stepped back from filming around 2020 due to health issues, and later seasons introduced new landscape pros to carry the torch.

Jenn Nawada – Landscape Contractor for the New Generation

Jenn Nawada joined the team as a landscape designer and later took over as the main landscape contractor on both This Old House and Ask This Old House. She focuses on creating outdoor spaces that feel practical and family-friendlythink pollinator-friendly gardens, kid-ready lawns, and patios that actually fit a table and a grill.

Jenn’s projects often emphasize smart plant selection, water management, and long-term maintenance. She’s especially good at explaining how to build layered plantings so your yard looks good in more than one season.

Mauro Henrique – Painting Expert

Mauro Henrique is the show’s painting specialist, and if you’ve ever thought “how hard can painting be?” he’s here to show you there’s a big difference between slapping on a coat and doing it professionally. Mauro covers everything from surface prep and priming to choosing the right roller nap for different finishes.

He’s also the one who calmly explains why shortcutslike skipping primer over stained wood or painting in 40-degree weatherusually come back to haunt you in the form of peeling, flashing, or mysteriously sticky trim.

Mark McCullough – Masonry Expert

Mark McCullough serves as the masonry expert, tackling projects like rebuilding crumbling chimneys, repointing brick, and fixing stone foundations. Masonry is one of those trades that looks simple (“just stack the bricks, right?”) until you try it; Mark shows viewers how much precision and planning it really takes.

His segments often highlight safety and structure: chimneys that need lining, foundations that require reinforcement, or old brick that must be repaired in a way that won’t trap moisture. If it’s made of brick, block, or stone, Mark is usually lurking nearby with a trowel.

Heath Eastman – Electrical Expert

Electrician Heath Eastman is the one dealing with knob-and-tube wiring, overloaded panels, and the “why are there three different kinds of cable spliced in this junction box?” mysteries. On the show, Heath installs everything from new service panels and EV chargers to smart lighting and outlets where you actually need them.

Heath is especially good at explaining modern code requirements and safety basicsGFCIs, AFCIs, grounding, and why you can’t just bury any old cable in a wall and call it a day. His segments are a gentle reminder that some work is better left to licensed pros, even if you’re an ambitious DIYer.

Ross Trethewey – Building and Technology Expert

As building science and technology have become more central to home design, the show introduced Ross Trethewey (Richard’s son) as its resident building engineer and tech guru. Ross leads many of the “Future House” segments, covering topics like heat pumps, home automation, solar power, and high-performance building envelopes.

Ross helps connect the dots between older houses and modern expectations: how to make a 100-year-old home efficient and comfortable without stripping away its character.

Charlie Silva, Nathan Gilbert, and Other Regulars

Beyond the big names, This Old House has a deep bench of recurring talent: home builder Charlie Silva, carpenter Nathan Gilbert, additional landscape pros like Lee Gilliam, and many local contractors who appear on specific projects.

These tradespeople often handle day-to-day work on the job site and walk viewers through specialized tasks, from installing complex trim profiles to hanging doors in wavy old walls. Part of the show’s charm is that these folks aren’t polished actorsthey’re working pros who might still have sawdust on their boots when the cameras start rolling.

Why the Cast Matters So Much

Even though the title says “list of all This Old House actors and actresses,” this show has never really been about “actors.” The cast is made up of people who make a living doing the same work they do on camera. That’s why they’re so comfortable talking about budget trade-offs, unexpected structural problems, and the unglamorous stuff like flashing details and air sealing.

Over time, these personalities have built huge trust with viewers. Fans don’t just tune in to see pretty before-and-after shots; they watch to hear what Tom thinks about a new building product, how Richard plans a mechanical room, or which plants Jenn recommends for a tricky site. That trust is a big reason the show has remained relevant for more than 40 seasons.

Experiences and Lessons from “This Old House” and Its Cast

Ask long-time fans of This Old House about the cast, and you’ll hear stories that go way beyond “I like that guy with the tool belt.” For many people, the show shaped how they think about houses, money, and even their careers.

Some viewers credit Bob Vila and Norm Abram with nudging them into architecture, carpentry, or preservation work. They grew up watching episodes where old millwork was salvaged instead of tossed, and where energy upgrades were paired with respect for original design. It sent a clear message: your house isn’t disposable, and you can learn how it works.

Others remember watching with parents or grandparents every weekend, pausing the show to argue about whether a wall was load-bearing or how they’d redo the kitchen “if money were no object.” In a lot of homes, the cast members felt like extended familypeople you checked in with every week to see how the project was going.

The pros themselves often talk about the letters and emails they get from viewers. Fans write to say they finally tackled a bathroom remodel because Tom Silva made framing less intimidating, or they planted their first tree using Roger Cook’s “plant it high, it won’t die” advice and watched it thrive. Landscapers talk about being inspired by Jenn Nawada’s focus on native plants and sustainable design, while electricians and HVAC pros appreciate how Heath Eastman and Richard Trethewey make the mechanical trades feel less mysterious and more respected.

There’s also the “you saved me from a disaster” category of stories. Viewers will say they were ready to rip out a plaster wall, but after watching Norm carefully repair original details on a similar house, they changed course and preserved theirs. Or they saw Richard explain why venting a dryer into the attic is a terrible idea and fixed theirs before mold took over. In that sense, the cast is doing more than educatingthey’re quietly preventing thousands of expensive mistakes.

For DIYers, the show offers a healthy reality check. The cast shows what professional-level work looks like, how much planning goes into each step, and where it makes sense to call in help. Watching Tom wrestle a steel beam into place or Heath meticulously map out a panel upgrade has convinced many homeowners that “weekend project” should not include replacing structural supports or rewiring the whole house.

Professionals, meanwhile, often see the show as a kind of ambassador for the trades. By putting carpenters, masons, plumbers, and landscapers front and center, This Old House elevates work that’s sometimes dismissed as “blue-collar” and shows how much intelligence and skill it involves. That visibility matters for young people considering careers in the tradesand for homeowners learning to appreciate what good work actually looks like.

And then there’s the emotional side. When beloved cast members step back or retire, fans feel it. Norm Abram’s retirement after more than 40 years, and Roger Cook’s gradual departure due to health issues, sparked tributes from viewers who had been watching their work since childhood. Newer experts like Mauro Henrique, Mark McCullough, Jenn Nawada, and Heath Eastman step in, and the show evolvesbut it still feels like the same trusted crew is helping you figure out your house.

Watching the cast work across decades of episodes also gives you a quiet history of American home building. Early seasons leaned heavily on oil boilers, new aluminum storms, and “state-of-the-art” insulation that wouldn’t pass muster today. Recent years show heat pumps, airtight envelopes, advanced windows, and smart-home systems. Through it all, the same basic lessons from the cast keep showing up: fix water problems first, respect the structure, maintain what you have, and invest in the parts of the house that will still matter 30 years from now.

That’s ultimately why the This Old House cast has such staying power. They aren’t just demonstrating projects; they’re modeling a way of thinking about homescurious, careful, respectful, and a little bit playful. Whether you’re binge-watching old episodes or catching a new season, the combination of real expertise and real personalities is what keeps viewers coming back.