The cast of Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars has just recently been announced. In this celebrity competition show, a number of notable “stars” (13 this season) are paired with professional ballroom dancers; they perform at least one new dance each week and compete against each other to win the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are returning as co-hosts. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough are returning as judges. Here are all of the celebrities that we will soon see grace our screens.
Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts is an actor known for his roles in “King of the Gypsies” (1978), “Star 80” (1983), and “Runaway Train” (1985). His performances in these films garnered him Golden Globe nominations, with “Runaway Train” also earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He is the older brother of Julia Roberts—an Oscar-winning actress—and the father of Emma Roberts, who is also an actress.
Roberts admitted that accepting his DWTS spot was “like a mile and a half” outside of his comfort zone. He will be dancing with pro Britt Stewart.
Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard is a seasoned basketball player that has spent 18 years in the NBA, including eight notable seasons with the Orlando Magic. He secured an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. Since leaving the Lakers, Howard has continued his basketball career internationally, playing in Taiwan since 2022.
Howard said that he’s “been dancing my whole life, but not ballroom dancing.” He will be dancing with pro Daniella Karagach. Howard called her “amazing” and said, “I’m definitely going to trust her, follow her lead and have a lot of fun.”
Phaedra Parks
Phaedra Parks is probably most well-known for appearing on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” for seven seasons between 2010 and 2017. She is a lawyer and businesswoman. Earlier this year she appeared on the second season of “The Traitors.” In July, she announced that she will be returning to “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” for the upcoming 16th season.
“Everybody knows I’m sassy, classy, and some of my friends are a wee bit trashy, but if you come for this Mirrorball, it will get nasty,” Parks said. She will be dancing with pro Val Chmerkovskiy.
Chandler Kinney
Chandler Kinney is an actress who has portrayed the character of Willa in the Disney Channel Original Movie “Zombies” franchise since 2020’s “Zombies 2.” Kinney has also played Tabitha “Tabby” Haworthe on “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” and “Pretty Little Liars: Summer School,” sequels to the popular “Pretty Little Liars” franchise.
Kinney danced as a child, but hasn’t done ballroom before. She admitted to being both nervous and excited for the upcoming DWTS season. “I love the show because it requires showmanship and attention to detail,” she said. “Everyone on the stage has proven they’re more than capable of that.” She will be dancing with pro Brandon Armstrong.
Stephen Nedoroscik
Stephen Nedoroscik gained widespread recognition during the 2024 Paris Olympics as the beloved “Pommel Horse Guy.” At the Games, he earned two bronze medals in pommel horse events as a member of the US men’s gymnastics team. USA Gymnastics reports that Nedoroscik has secured four US pommel horse titles, tying the record for the most championships in the event’s history in the United States.
Although he is very familiar with high-stakes competition, Nedoroscik said he’s “really nervous.” “The Olympics was so stressful. It’s very difficult. But I’ve also never danced, so I’m really nervous about what’s going to happen,” he said. “I guess I’m going to find out when I step out onto the ballroom floor.” He will be dancing with pro Rylee Arnold.
Joey Graziadei
Joey Graziadei is a tennis coach who first joined “The Bachelor” franchise as the runner-up of Charity Lawson’s season of “The Bachelorette.” Then, he starred in season 28 of “The Bachelor.” Fortunately, he is now happily engaged to the winner of his season, Kelsey Anderson.
Graziadei admits that he feels the pressure to live up to the success of the former Bachelors and Bachelorettes who have previously competed on DWTS. He is focused on making it to the finale, saying, “That’s what we’re going to build towards.” He will be dancing with pro Jenna Johnson.
Ilona Maher
Ilona Maher is a professional rugby athlete who played a key role in securing a bronze medal for the US women’s rugby team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also graced the digital cover of the 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, using her visibility to champion body positivity and highlight the importance of women’s sports.
Maher described the Olympics as her “life goal,” but she’s now preparing herself for the challenges of the ballroom. “I know it’s going to be really tough and stressful,” she said. She will be dancing with pro Alan Bersten.
Brooks Nader
Brooks Nader, a model recognized for her multiple appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, gained prominence after winning the Swim Search open casting call in 2019. In 2023, she was featured in a “Baywatch”-themed photo shoot, sharing the spotlight with fellow cover stars Megan Fox, Kim Petras, and Martha Stewart.
Nader said that although she had danced some in high school, DWTS will be “a new challenge.” However, she is staying positive and said, “I’m so excited for it.” She will be dancing with pro Gleb Savchencko.
Danny Amendola
Danny Amendola, a retired NFL wide receiver, achieved notable success with two Super Bowl victories during his time with the New England Patriots. After a 13-year career in professional football, he retired in 2022. Post-retirement, Amendola took on new challenges by spending a season coaching the Las Vegas Raiders and participating in the reality TV show “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.”
Amendola’s former Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski sent him a video message of encouragement. “You bring that ‘Dola playoff energy to the dance floor, you will [for] sure dominate, kid,” Gronkowski said. Amendola will be dancing with pro Witney Carson.
Reginald VelJohnson
Reginald VelJohnson is widely known for his role as Carl Winslow on “Family Matters,” where he portrayed a beloved TV dad for nine seasons from 1989 to 1997. He is well-known for his police officer roles; he gained fame for his performances as Officer Al Powell in both “Die Hard” (1988) and its sequel “Die Hard 2” (1990).
VelJohnson said, “America is going to be shocked” when they see his performances. He will be dancing with pro Emma Slater.
Tori Spelling
Tori Spelling, an actress, is best known for playing Donna Martin on “Beverly Hills, 90210” which aired from 1990 to 2000. She has also appeared in the films “Troop Beverly Hills” (1989), “Scream 2” (1997), “Scary Movie 2” (2001) and the final “Sharknado” TV movie (2018). Spelling is also a New York Times bestselling author for her 2009 memoir “Stori Telling.”
Two of Spelling’s “90210” castmates, Brian Austin Green and the late Shannen Doherty, competed on DWTS in previous seasons. “I know Shannen will be watching over, and she always said you got to turn your power on. So, I’m doing it now,” she said. Spelling will be dancing with pro Pasha Pashkov.
Jenn Tran
Jenn Tran has recently been seen on “The Bachelorette.” She first appeared in the franchise during Joey Graziadei’s season of “The Bachelor” and went on to become the lead of “The Bachelorette” Season 21, making history as the franchise’s first Asian American lead. Her season concluded with a dramatic twist: Tran proposed to contestant Devin Strader, but it was revealed during the “After the Final Rose” special that the couple had broken up.
Tran said that her experience on “The Bachelorette” will motivate her to succeed on DWTS. “I think heartbreak is the best motivator for success,” Tran said. “I’m out for blood. I’m ready.” She will be dancing with pro Sasha Farber.
Anna Delvey
Anna “Delvey” Sorokin, infamous for her deception as a “fake heiress,” gained widespread attention through the Emmy-nominated Netflix series “Inventing Anna” and the book “My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress.” Her extravagant lifestyle and financial crimes led to her conviction in 2019 on multiple charges, including grand larceny and theft of services. Sorokin was sentenced to 12 years in prison, fined $24,000, and required to pay almost $200,000 in restitution. She was released early for good behavior in February 2021.
Now, Delvey is shifting gears into the world of dance. When asked what she hopes audiences will learn about her, she joked, “How good I am at cha-cha.” She will be dancing with pro Ezra Sosa.
Where to Watch
Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars premieres on Tuesday, September 17th at 8 PM ET. You can watch it live on ABC and Disney+ and stream it the next day on Hulu.
These spectacular stars are up for quite the dance-filled adventure. We’ll soon see which of these celebrities are natural-born dance performers on the new season and solidify who we’ll be rooting and voting for. (I must admit, I am partial to pommel horse king Stephen Nedoroscik, myself.) Right now, we can only wish these contestants the best on their ballroom journeys to the Mirrorball!
