CBS’s hit sitcom Ghosts has solidified its place as one of America’s favorite shows, ranking as the 16th most-watched program in the 2024-25 Nielsen ratings with 12.1 million viewers. It was also the 11th most watched network series. While the national success is impressive, the series carries an especially meaningful connection for Montgomery County, as two of its stars are graduates of Rockville’s Thomas S. Wootton High School.
Utkarsh Ambudkar, who plays Jay, the show’s male lead, was born in Baltimore and raised in Rockville while his parents worked at NIH in Bethesda. Now 41, Ambudkar’s path from Wootton High to starring on one of CBS’s biggest comedies highlights the local school’s lasting influence on the entertainment world.
Joining him is fellow Wootton graduate Richie Moriarty, who portrays Pete Martino, a Scouts leader ghost who met a tragic fate in 1985 after being struck in the neck with an arrow. Moriarty moved to Rockville with his family at the age of five, attending Fallsmead Elementary School before graduating from Wootton in the late 90s. Now 45, he has built an impressive career with roles in FX’s What We Do in the Shadows, Netflix series like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and House of Cards, and season seven of Orange Is the New Black.
Adapted from the British series of the same name, Ghosts follows a young couple navigating life in a haunted mansion filled with eccentric spirits from different eras. Its unique mix of heart and humor has made it a cornerstone of CBS’s comedy lineup and a consistent ratings winner. With a top-20 Nielsen ranking and two MoCo alumni helping drive its success, Ghosts stands not just as a television hit but as a point of pride for Montgomery County.
