Mr. Nancy

The Ghanaian trickster god Anansi who works as a tailor and navigates the conflict between old and new deities.

Orlando Jones portrays Mr. Nancy, the Ghanaian trickster god Anansi, within the Starz series American Gods. He serves as a main character in season 2 after appearing as a recurring figure in season 1. In this adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 2001 novel, developed by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, Mr. Nancy is depicted working specifically as a tailor. His presence highlights the struggle of Old Gods facing irrelevance against the rising power of New Gods like Technology and Media.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: The Old Gods

Lore & Background

Mr. Nancy operates within a hidden world where magic is real, joining Mr. Wednesday's plan to unite Old Gods against their growing obsolescence. As the God of Stories and Trickery, he embodies the ancient tradition of Anansi while adapting to his American reality as a tailor. He becomes a main character in season 2 and does not return for season 3, whose part of the book he does not appear in. The character represents the resilience required for gods to survive when traditional worship fades, relying instead on the power of narratives told by humans.

Reader's Guide

Fans encounter Mr. Nancy through Orlando Jones' performance, which anchors his identity as the Ghanaian trickster god Anansi. He is one of many Old Gods fearing irrelevance in the face of New Gods like Technology and Media. His transition from recurring role to main character in season 2 reflects the show's evolving focus on these ancient deities. The series, distributed by Lionsgate Television, uses his character to explore how belief shapes reality, even as the gods themselves struggle to adapt.