Michael Cyril Creighton has carved out a reputation as one of those rare actors who can slip seamlessly between comedy and drama. In acclaimed projects like “Spotlight” and “The Good Wife,” he has found a way of grounding every character in something human and relatable.
Still, for many viewers, he’s best recognized as Howard Morris in Hulu's “Only Murders in the Building,” a quirky cat-loving neighbor whose endearing awkwardness has become a highlight of the series. His popularity even led to a promotion to series regular beginning with season 3.
Now, in the upcoming fifth season set to premiere on September 9, Creighton is stepping into a world that’s a little darker than what audiences might expect.
If you’re new to the hit Hulu series, “Only Murders in the Building” follows three unlikely amateur sleuths — played by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez — as they investigate murders in their Upper West Side apartment building.
Season 5 is set to explore the city’s seedy underbelly, including the power, corruption and surprises that lurk behind its glamorous facade. The new season’s mystery, however, revolves around a shocking loss: the death of the Arconia’s longtime doorman.
Howard’s arc this season intersects with the show’s darker, more morally complex side. I spoke with Creighton about what it was like stepping into that space and why fans can expect plenty of surprises along the way.
‘It’s a little darker this season’
During the interview, I asked Creighton whether he felt there was a huge shift in tone this season compared to what we've seen before.
“What I love about the show so much is that its core stays the same — it’s very funny, it has a lot of heart. But every season has reinvited itself in a way that keeps it really fresh,” Creighton said.
“I love that it's a little darker this season and that we're exploring the seedy underbelly of New York, be it the money and the mob. You know, who really runs this city? I think it's exciting and a little grittier at certain points, and there are so many surprises."
Of course, it wouldn't truly feel like “Only Murders in the Building” without Howard, and so I asked Creighton what fans can expect from his character in a season like this one.
“Season 5 Howard is different, and like every season, he evolves. At his core, he is lonely and searching for connection — he wants a community. He loves animals, he’s a gossip, so all that stuff stays the same.
“But this season, he’s at peak loneliness. His boyfriend is out of town on tour with his musical; his pets have bonded with each other, leaving him out, making him feel like a third wheel; and he’s really trying to be a fourth wheel among the trio — but he’s not getting the attention he thinks he deserves from them," Creighton explained.
"He does what most lonely men do and turns to technology, which is a big part of his arc this season.”
"Only Murders in the Building" season 5 premieres on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, with the first three episodes available to stream on Hulu. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly every Tuesday.
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