Walton Goggins plays Baby Billy Freeman on HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones, and he is the reason the show works. The series follows the Gemstone family, a preacher clan that has never had to work for anything in their lives. That corruption runs through every member except one: Baby Billy, the uncle who has become a grifter and a fraudster. Goggins makes him impossible to look away from, and the show is better for it.
The Gemstone Family
Eli Gemstone is the patriarch, played by John Goodman. He is everything you expect from a preacher, complete with his own demons. His children are a different story entirely. Jesse, played by Danny McBride, Judy, played by Edi Patterson, and Kelvin, played by Adam Devine, are living reminders of what not to do. They have never had to earn anything, and that has made them into professional grifters.
Baby Billy’s story starts with music. He sang with his sister and the late Gemstone matriarch, Aimee-Leigh, played by Jennifer Nettles. Together, they were one popular act. Now those days are long gone. Baby Billy sells fraudulent supplements during the pandemic and relies on financial help from his in-laws. He also uses the Gemstone name to boost his own standing.
Why Goggins Stands Out
Goggins has a knack for disappearing into roles, even when the material is absurd. From Fallout to The White Lotus, he slips from one genre to the next without losing himself. The Righteous Gemstones gives him a character who is both a grifter and a performer, and Goggins commits fully to both sides.
Any time Baby Billy is on screen, it is impossible to look anywhere else. His exaggerated Southern drawl and his large white teeth fit perfectly with this family of professional grifters. He has some of the most memorable lines of the show, including the iconic “I’m just asking for an eight-ball and two million dollars.” There is also Teenjus, the doomed teenage Jesus prequel that Baby Billy worked so hard on.
Goggins does not seem to mean to steal the show. It feels effortless, because that is the kind of actor he is. He performs a cover of “There’ll Come a Payday” in a clam suit poolside, and he hosts the Bible-themed game show Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers. He is doing the absolute most, which is saying something when he is in a cast that includes McBride, Patterson, and Devine. Goggins just possesses a magnetism that most actors dream of.
Sometimes it is difficult not to root for Baby Billy. He is not perfect, and neither is the rest of the family. His ideas are not always good, but at least he is trying. The show never pretends that anyone in the Gemstones is righteous. “Deplorable” might be a better word for them at times. For Goggins, that is the sweet spot.
The Cast Around Him
The Gemstone family is a talented group. McBride brings his usual energy to Jesse, Patterson plays Judy, and Devine plays Kelvin. Each one has their own version of the Gemstone curse. They are all in it together, and the show leans into that dysfunction.
What Makes Baby Billy Work
Baby Billy is a grifter, but he is also a performer. He sells fraudulent supplements during the pandemic and uses the Gemstone name to boost his own standing. He is a man who knows exactly what he is doing, even when he is clearly headed toward disaster.
Goggins plays that contradiction with ease. He is committed to Baby Billy in a way that makes every scene memorable.
A Comparison of the Gemstone Characters
| Character | Actor | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Eli Gemstone | John Goodman | Patriarch |
| Jesse Gemstone | Danny McBride | Son |
| Judy Gemstone | Edi Patterson | Daughter |
| Kelvin Gemstone | Adam Devine | Son |
| Baby Billy Freeman | Walton Goggins | Uncle |
Each of these actors brings their own strengths to the show. McBride’s energy, Patterson’s timing, and Devine’s physical comedy all play into the Gemstone chaos. But Goggins stands out because he is willing to go further than anyone else. Here is what makes him stand out:
- He commits fully to Baby Billy’s contradictory nature, playing both grifter and performer
- He performs a cover of “There’ll Come a Payday” in a clam suit poolside
- He hosts the Bible-themed game show Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers
- He steals scenes effortlessly alongside McBride, Patterson, and Devine
Goggins stands out because he is willing to go further than anyone else. He is committed to Baby Billy in a way that makes every scene memorable.
The Bottom Line
Walton Goggins is the standout in The Righteous Gemstones. He plays Baby Billy with a commitment that makes the show work, even when the material is absurd. His scenes are the ones you remember, from the clam suit cover to the Bible Bonkers game show. The show deserves more attention, and Goggins deserves credit for the reason why.
What sets Goggins apart is his willingness to commit fully to a character that is both a grifter and a performer. He does not play it safe. He does the absolute most, and that is why Baby Billy is the most committed member of the Gemstone family.
See the video the story is built around at Polygon.
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