Shea Whigham Reflects on the Lasting Friendships He Built During Boardwalk Empire Filming

Shea Whigham on ‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010).

Credit: Hbo/Kobal/Shutterstock

NEED TO KNOW

• Shea Whigham expressed gratitude for the “deep friendships” he developed during his time on Boardwalk Empire at the premiere of Death by Lightning in New York City.
• Whigham noted his strong bond with former co-stars Steve Buscemi and Michael Shannon.
• He portrayed Elias “Eli” Thompson in the acclaimed HBO period crime series.

Shea Whigham reflected on his enriching experience with Boardwalk Empire, stating the impact of the series continues to resonate for him.

At the New York premiere of his latest project, Death by Lightning, Whigham shared his feelings of gratitude, mentioning the numerous “deep friendships” formed during his time on the HBO series.

He highlighted his close relationships with co-stars Steve Buscemi and Michael Shannon, noting that director and executive producer Tim Van Patten is “one of my closest friends.”

Michael Shannon and Shea Whigham in ‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2014).

Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo

“That was a good one,” Whigham said of the HBO crime drama. “These are not just jobs. You walk away with deep friendships because of the work.”

Whigham portrayed Elias “Eli” Thompson throughout the five seasons of Boardwalk Empire, aired from 2010 to 2014. The series, set in New Jersey during Prohibition, told the story of criminal kingpin Enoch L. Johnson.

The acclaimed show featured talents such as Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Stuhlbarg, Stephen Graham, and Paul Sparks.

Whigham reunited with Shannon in Netflix’s Death by Lightning, a limited series based on the real story of President Andrew Garfield’s assassination, created by Mike Makowsky.

In the series, Shannon portrays the 20th President of the United States, while Whigham takes on the role of Republican politician Roscoe Conkling. The duo previously shared the screen in 2011’s Take Shelter and again in 2020’s The Quarry.

Appreciating the ensemble cast of Death by Lightning, which includes Nick Offerman, Matthew MacFadyen, Bradley Whitford, and Betty Gilpin, Whigham noted that he became “very good friends” with Offerman.

Joking about Offerman’s prospects, Whigham remarked, “It seems like he has a very bright future in this business. I think it’s gonna work out for him. It’s not that he’s funny. It’s the handsomeness that I think is gonna work out for him.”

Shea Whigham attends Netflix’s ‘Death By Lightning’ New York Premiere in New York City on Nov. 3, 2025.

Arturo Holmes/WireImage

Whigham has had an extensive career, appearing in notable television series such as American Primeval, True Detective, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Perry Mason, and Fargo.

On the film front, he has appeared in Silver Linings Playbook, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Joker, and has also appeared in the Fast and Furious and Mission: Impossible franchises.