In a series defined by chaos, danger, and high-octane action, Lethal Weapon also made room for something quieter—and arguably more meaningful: family. At the heart of that grounding presence was Riana Murtaugh, brought to life with warmth and intelligence by Chandler Kinney.

As the eldest daughter of Roger Murtaugh, Riana wasn’t just a background character—she was a lens through which the show explored responsibility, fear, and the cost of living alongside danger. In this exclusive interview, Chandler Kinney reflects on her time on Lethal Weapon, growing up in front of the camera, and why Riana mattered more than she initially realised.

Stepping Into the World of Lethal Weapon

Joining a long-established franchise could have been intimidating, but Kinney approached it with curiosity rather than pressure.

“I wasn’t trying to live up to anything,” she says. “I was focused on telling Riana’s story honestly.”

From the start, Kinney understood that Riana’s role extended beyond family scenes at home.

“She represents the stakes,” Kinney explains. “When Roger goes to work, Riana is one of the reasons he might not come back.”

That awareness shaped how she approached the character—grounded, observant, and emotionally present even when surrounded by explosive action.

Who Is Riana Murtaugh?

Riana is smart, capable, and navigating the space between adolescence and adulthood—often while her father risks his life daily.

“She’s growing up fast,” Kinney says. “She’s old enough to understand what’s happening, but not old enough to be unaffected by it.”

Kinney leaned into that tension, portraying Riana as someone who loves deeply but isn’t afraid to challenge her father when needed.

“She’s not just the ‘daughter at home,’” she adds. “She has opinions, boundaries, and her own moral compass.”

That depth helped Riana stand out in a genre where younger characters are often sidelined.

Balancing Family Drama with Action Television

While Lethal Weapon is packed with gunfights and chase sequences, Kinney’s scenes often focused on the emotional aftermath of that violence.

“My scenes were about what happens after,” she explains. “After the sirens, after the danger.”

Those quieter moments—family dinners, tense conversations, emotional check-ins—became essential counterpoints to the show’s intensity.

“It made the action feel real,” Kinney says. “Because you see who it affects.”

Working Alongside Damon Wayans

Kinney speaks warmly about working with Damon Wayans, who played her on-screen father.

“He brought so much heart to Roger Murtaugh,” she says. “Between takes, he was always generous and supportive.”

That off-screen dynamic helped build a believable on-screen family.

“You felt safe exploring emotional scenes with him,” Kinney adds. “That trust makes all the difference.”

The father-daughter relationship became one of the show’s most relatable elements—anchoring the series amid its larger-than-life set pieces.

Growing Up in the Industry

Lethal Weapon marked an important chapter in Kinney’s evolution as an actor.

“I was learning who I was—both personally and creatively,” she reflects. “That show gave me space to grow.”

Rather than being boxed into a single archetype, Kinney appreciated that Riana was allowed to change over time.

“She evolves,” Kinney says. “She makes mistakes, learns, and becomes more confident in her voice.”

That growth mirrored Kinney’s own journey, making the role especially meaningful.

Why Riana Still Matters

Looking back, Kinney sees Riana as a quietly important character—one who helped balance the show’s masculine energy with emotional realism.

“She reminds people that action has consequences,” Kinney says. “There’s always someone waiting at home.”

For viewers, Riana offered a perspective often missing in action-driven television: the emotional reality of loving someone who lives on the edge.

“That’s what I’m proud of,” Kinney adds. “She mattered.”

Final Thoughts

Chandler Kinney’s performance as Riana Murtaugh brought heart, intelligence, and emotional weight to Lethal Weapon. In a show built on adrenaline, she delivered grounding moments of truth—reminding audiences what was really at stake.

Riana may not have carried a badge or a weapon, but her presence made the danger feel real—and the story feel human.

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