Who The Real Mary Simms Was & Why She Was So Important After Lincoln's Assassination

Updated  Oct 15, 2026, 10:45 PM EDT

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Although Apple TV+'s Manhunt centers on the search for President Abraham Lincoln's killer, John Wilkes Booth, the series is full of integral side characters who played a big role in Booth's capture and trial, including Mary Simms, a formerly enslaved woman who ran into Booth during his escape. Mary Simms is played by American actress Lovie Simone. Like the rest of the Manhunt cast of characters, Simms was a real figure from American history, though her role in John Wilkes Booth's story is different in real life. Nevertheless, she was still a key player in the greater conspiracy.

In the first and second episodes of Manhunt, Mary Simms first appears as a servant to Doctor Samuel Mudd. Despite the Civil War being over, and slavery being abolished by Abraham Lincoln before his death, Simms is still linked to Mudd, who clearly does not want to let her go. Simms not only faces terrible treatment from Mudd, but also from Booth, who arrives at Mudd's house for treatment for his broken leg. Although Simms puts up with his racist behavior, the show offers flashbacks to her childhood, when she tried to avoid being forcibly taken by Mudd.

Manhunt's Mary Simms Was Based On A Real Person

Mary Simms was a real person. Simms and her brothers were slaves of Doctor Samuel Mudd up until the Emancipation Proclamation passed on January 1, 1863, which legally freed all slaves in the United States. According to The New Yorker, Simms remained with Mudd as his servant until 1864. One of her brothers, who was shot by Mudd, left a year earlier. This situation is different from what Manhunt portrays. In episode 1 of Manhunt, Simms is working for Mudd when Booth arrives, and the two have several confrontations.

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Mudd's connection to John Wilkes Booth remained unclear, and unfortunately, Simms was already long gone from the Mudd residence, meaning she could provide no information. The New Yorker notes that she left Mudd after he whipped her in 1864. Therefore, the conversations between Simms and Booth portrayed in Manhunt never happened, but her bigger role in the series definitely adds a new level of intrigue and perspective to the story. Manhunt is based on the book Manhunt: The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson.

Mary Simms Testified During Samuel Mudd's Trial In 1865

Although Mary Simms couldn't speak about John Wilkes Booth, she did play an important role in getting her former owner charged for his crimes. Simms witnessed Mudd's criminal activity as a Confederate agent, and at Mudd's trial, Simms noted that Mudd sent and received mail on behalf of the Confederacy. Mudd was sentenced to life in prison. However, in 1869, Mudd was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson, and he returned home until his death in 1883. Manhunt ultimately rewrote Mary Simms' role in the John Wilkes Booth case, however, Simms' presence is a great addition to the already riveting story.

Manhunt Episodes	Release Date
Pilot	March 15, 2024
Post Mortem	March 15, 2024
Let The Sheep Flee	March 22, 2024
The Secret Line	March 29, 2024
A Man of Destiny	April 5, 2024
Useless	April 12, 2024
The Final Act	April 19, 2024

While the series was based on a novel, the historical context of Manhunt is a massive part of the story's appeal. Basing the fictional story in reality and pulling from real people to build the characters, the Apple TV series was able to do something different from other historical shows. A critically acclaimed miniseries, Manhunt took the real-life Mary Simms and used her story to make the series even more of a hit than it would've been without her.

Manhunt

6/10