Showtime's "Brotherhood" Returns, Adds Award-winning Actors

Showtime's crime family saga Brotherhood has added two actors to its cast: Tony winner Brian F. O'Byrne and West Wing star Janel Moloney. The series, which enters its second season, returns to the air in July.

Brotherhood tells the story of a family divided by politics and the law. It stars Jason Issacs and Jason Clarke as Tommy and Michael Caffee, two Irish-American brothers in Providence, Rhode Island's power-brokering area "The Hill." One brother is with the state legislature and tries to live on the straight and narrow, as much as any politician can. The other is recently returned from being on the lam and has connections to local organized crime. Sometimes, the politician's wheeling and dealing isn't so far remove from the ex-con brother's activities.

According to Reuters, O'Byrne, 2005 Tony-winner for his role as a priest accused of molestation in the play Doubt, will play an Irish mobster, one known for charming his way in and out of things, but also known for employing violence without much problem. O'Byrne has also appeared in The New World and Million Dollar Baby.

Moloney, best known as Donna Moss, Josh's girl friday on The West Wing, will play a woman who's had an affair with the politician brother, Tommy. Tommy's character is a married father. His wife is played by Annabeth Gish, who also appeared on The West Wing as President Bartlett's eldest daughter. Moloney has also appeared in various tv movies.

British actor Jason Issacs has appeared in Friends with Money and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Jason Clarke, an Australian, has appeared in many Australian productions including Rabbit Proof Fence.

Among the other stars of the series returning for the second season if the Peabody Award-winning drama include respected actress Fionnula Flanagan (Waking Ned Divine) who plays the family matriarch, Rose; Ethan Embry (Harold and Kumar Go To Whitecastle), as a local cop and family friend; and Freddy Chapman as the mob boss, Freddy Cork.

The series was created by Blake Masters. It is said to be loosely based on the story of the Bulgers, two Irish-American brothers in Boston. Whitey Bulger is an alleged mobster currently on the run from the authorities. Billy Bulger is a former Massachusetts legislator who was also at one point the president of The University of Massachusetts.

The series returns on July 9th.