Shameless cast ages: How old was the cast then (and now)?

Based on the British series of the same name, the American adaptation of Shameless premiered on Showtime in January 2011 and lasted for 11 critically acclaimed and fan-beloved seasons until its ending in April 2021. We just couldn’t get enough of those Gallaghers!

The dark comedy-drama series centers on the Gallagher family, a dysfunctional bunch living in poverty on the South Side of Chicago. As the alcoholism and drug addictions of patriarch Frank (William H. Macy) affects his children, eldest child Fiona (Emmy Rossum) steps up to raise her brothers and sister. Over the course of the series, the Gallagher kids each grew up and pursued different paths along the way.

All of these years later, viewers are still rewatching the often underrated series over and over again thanks to its accessibility on Netflix. But have you wondered how old Emmy Rossum was in season 1 compared to her younger co-stars? What’s the age difference between Fiona and Lip? Was Carl actually older than Debbie in real life? You wonder these things on your millionth binge.

How old was the cast back in the show’s first season compared to their characters, and how old are they now after the show ended? Here are the Shameless cast ages!

How old was Emmy Rossum in Shameless?

Emmy Rossum was born on Sept. 12, 1986, making the Fiona Gallagher actress 36 years old as of March 2023. When she started playing Fiona, Rossum was 25 years old, and when she left Shameless after completing nine seasons, she was 33 years old. Fiona was meant to be around 21 years old at the start of the series and was around 30 by season 9. She most recently starred in Peacock’s Angelyne.

How old was William H. Macy in the Shameless cast?

William H. Macy was born on March 13, 1950, making the Frank Gallagher actor 73 years old as of March 2023. When he first started playing his Emmy-nominated role in Shameless in 2011, Macy was 61, and when the series wrapped in 2021, he was 71. He most recently appeared in The Dropout on Hulu.

How old was Jeremy Allen White in Shameless?

Jeremy Allen White was born on Feb. 17, 1991, making the now star of Hulu’s The Bear 32 years old as of March 2023. When White first started playing Lip Gallagher in 2011, the actor was 20 years old, and when the series wrapped in 2021, he was 30. In the series, Lip aged from 16 to 26 years old.

How old was Shanola Hampton (V) in Shameless?

Shanola Hampton was born on May 27, 1977, making the Veronica Fisher actress and South Carolina native 45 years old as of March 2023. When she first started playing V in 2011, the actress was around 34, which would make her 44 when the series wrapped 10 years later. She will next be seen in the NBC drama series Found.

How old was Steve Howey (Kev) in Shameless?

Steve Howey was born on July 12, 1977, making the Kevin Ball actor and Reba alum 45 years old (and the same age as his on-screen wife Shanola Hampton!). When Howey first took on the role of Kev in 2011, he was 34, and when he wrapped the series in 2021, he was 44. He can now be seen in the CBS series adaptation of True Lies.

How old was Cameron Monaghan (Ian) in Shameless?

Cameron Monaghan was born on Aug. 16, 1993, meaning the Ian Gallagher actor will turn 30 in 2023. When the series premiered in 2011, Monaghan was around 18 years old, and when the series concluded 10 years later, he was about 28. In the series, Ian aged from 15 to 24 years old.

How old was Noel Fisher (Mickey) in Shameless?

Noel Fisher was born on March 13, 1984, making the fan-favorite Mickey Milkovich star 39 years old in 2023. He’s nearly 10 years older than his on-screen boyfriend (later husband) Cameron Monaghan. During the show’s first season, Fisher was 27 years old, and when the show ended in 2021, he was about 37 years old.

How old was Emma Kenney (Debbie) in Shameless?

Emma Kenney was born on Sept. 14, 1999, making the Debs actress 23 years old as of March 2023. When Shameless premiered in 2011, Kenney was 12 years old, and when the final season ended 10 years later, she was 22. She currently stars in ABC’s Roseanne sequel series The Conners. In the series, Debbie aged from 10 to 20 years old.

How old was Ethan Cutkosky (Carl) in Shameless?

Ethan Cutkosky was born on Aug. 19, 1999, making the Carl Gallagher actor 23 years old as of March 2023 and the same age as on-screen older sister Emma Kenney (in spite of the one-year age difference between Carl and Debbie). When the series began in 2011, Cutkosky was also 12 years old, and he was also 22 when the series ended.

How old was Christian Isaiah (Liam) in Shameless?

Christian Isaiah was born in 2007, making the Liam Gallagher actor 15 years old as of 2023. Liam was the youngest Gallagher sibling and a baby when the series first premiered. When Isaish joined the cast during season 8 in 2017, he was 10 years old, which would make him 13 years old when the show ended in 2021. In the series, Liam aged from about 18 months to 11 years old.

All 11 seasons of Shameless are currently available to watch on Netflix.