'True Blood': 22 New Photos From Season 6

Sookie Stackhouse

Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) is a telepathic half human, half fairy hybrid, and the supernatural protagonist of the HBO series. 

Jason and Sookie Stackhouse

In season five, brother and sister, Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Sookie find out that their parents were killed by vampires. 

Lafayette Reynolds

Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) is a flamboyant medium who lives in Bon Temps, Louisiana. 

Bill Compton

In season five, Bill (Stephen Moyer) became a devout follower of the Sanguinista Movement, a faction of vampire that believes in the literal interpretation of the vampire bible. In the season finale, Bill drink the blood of Lilith, the mother of all vampires, and faces "true death," causing him to rise as a more powerful vampire than before.  

Tara, Sookie and Nora

In the bloody conclusion of Season 5, Tara (Rutina Wesley), Sookie and Nora (Lucy Griffiths) broke into the Authority complex, killing the multiple guards, in order to retrieve a few of their friends.

Eric and Pam

Bon Temps vampire sheriff Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), and his progeny, Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten), have a complicated relationship, to say the least.

Jessica Hamby

Deborah Ann Woll plays the young vampire progeny, or offspring, of Bill Compton. She's just a young vampire trying to figure out who she is, and maybe find love along the way.

Holly Cleary and Andy Bellefluer

Holly (Lauren Bowels) is a witch that is currently in a relationship with Andy (Chris Bauer), the human sheriff of Renard Parish.

Pam Swynford

Pam is intensely loyal to her maker and Area 5 sheriff, Eric Northman, but in the season five finale she displays a romantic interest for female vampire Tara. 

Alcide Herveaux

In his wolf form, Alcide (Joe Manganiello) is identified by his orange eyes. He successfully became the leader of the pack when he killed J.D. (Louis Herthum) with vampire blood in the season five finale. 

Governor Creighton Burrell

Burell (Arliss Howard) will be a reoccurring character in season six. He is the governor of Louisiana who harbors a vendetta against vampires.

Willa Burell

Willa (Amelia Rose) is the daughter of Governor Burell and, unlike her father, advocates for the rights of vampires. 

Tara Thorton

Sookie's childhood best friend, Tara, was killed at the end of season four, but was resurrected in the season five premiere, when she was turned into a vampire. Later in the season, Tara attempts to commit suicide because she is uncomfortable in her altered form, but she ultimately embraces the change.   

New Faces

Temptation actress Jurnee Smollett-Bell, who also starred on beloved NBC series Friday Night Lights, will play Nicole Wright, a new character that is set to be featured in the upcoming season of True Blood.

Ben Flynn

Actor Rob Kazinsky (Red Tails) will play new character, Ben Flynn, in season six of True Blood. 

Rikki Naylor

Kelly Overton will return as werewolf Rikki Naylor for the sixth season of the HBO original series. 

Niall Brigant

In season six, actor Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner) will play Sookie and Jason's great-grandfather and the fairy prince, Niall Brigant. 

Steve Newlin

In season five, Newlin (Michael McMillian) announced that he is "a proud gay American vampire," who is in love with Jason. He was recently turned, having previously been a strong adversary to vampire rights. 

Sam Merlotte

Sam (Sam Trammell) is a shapeshifter and the owner of the Bon Temps, Louisiana bar where Sookie works.

Eric Northman

The 1,000-year-old vampire will reprise his role as the strapping sheriff of Bon Temps and the on-and-off again love interest of mind reading waitress, Sookie. 

Arlene Flower and Terry Bellefleur

Carrie Preston and Todd Lowe play the Bon Temps married couple and Merlotte's coworkers. 

Jason Stackhouse

True Blood returns to HBO with a new season on June 16.