diff --git a/cypress/integration/rendering/sequencediagram.spec.js b/cypress/integration/rendering/sequencediagram.spec.js
index b5ff92c8c..4e22bb99c 100644
--- a/cypress/integration/rendering/sequencediagram.spec.js
+++ b/cypress/integration/rendering/sequencediagram.spec.js
@@ -3,6 +3,45 @@
 import { imgSnapshotTest, renderGraph } from '../../helpers/util';
 
 context('Sequence diagram', () => {
+  it('should render a sequence diagram with boxes', () => {
+    renderGraph(
+      `
+    sequenceDiagram
+      box LightGrey Alice and Bob
+      participant Alice
+      participant Bob
+      end
+      participant John as John<br/>Second Line
+      Alice ->> Bob: Hello Bob, how are you?
+      Bob-->>John: How about you John?
+      Bob--x Alice: I am good thanks!
+      Bob-x John: I am good thanks!
+      Note right of John: Bob thinks a long<br/>long time, so long<br/>that the text does<br/>not fit on a row.
+      Bob-->Alice: Checking with John...
+      alt either this
+        Alice->>John: Yes
+        else or this
+        Alice->>John: No
+        else or this will happen
+        Alice->John: Maybe
+      end
+      par this happens in parallel
+      Alice -->> Bob: Parallel message 1
+      and
+      Alice -->> John: Parallel message 2
+      end
+    `,
+      { sequence: { useMaxWidth: false } }
+    );
+    cy.get('svg').should((svg) => {
+      // const height = parseFloat(svg.attr('height'));
+      const width = parseFloat(svg.attr('width'));
+      // expect(height).to.be.within(920, 971);
+      // use within because the absolute value can be slightly different depending on the environment ±5%
+      expect(width).to.be.within(830 * 0.95, 830 * 1.05);
+      expect(svg).to.not.have.attr('style');
+    });
+  });
   it('should render a simple sequence diagram', () => {
     imgSnapshotTest(
       `
diff --git a/demos/sequence.html b/demos/sequence.html
index 2000d489a..891dc90ba 100644
--- a/demos/sequence.html
+++ b/demos/sequence.html
@@ -128,6 +128,22 @@
     </pre>
     <hr />
 
+    <pre class="mermaid">
+      sequenceDiagram
+      box lightgreen Alice & John
+      participant A
+      participant J
+      end
+      box Another Group very very long description not wrapped
+      participant B
+      end
+      A->>J: Hello John, how are you?
+      J->>A: Great!
+      A->>B: Hello Bob, how are you ?
+      </pre
+    >
+    <hr />
+
     <script src="./mermaid.js"></script>
     <script>
       mermaid.initialize({
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/parser/sequenceDiagram.jison b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/parser/sequenceDiagram.jison
index d5ba18b63..bbc72adcb 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/parser/sequenceDiagram.jison
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/parser/sequenceDiagram.jison
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@
 \%%(?!\{)[^\n]*                                                 /* skip comments */
 [^\}]\%\%[^\n]*                                                 /* skip comments */
 [0-9]+(?=[ \n]+)       											return 'NUM';
+"box"															{ this.begin('LINE'); return 'box'; }
 "participant"                                                   { this.begin('ID'); return 'participant'; }
-"actor"                                                   	{ this.begin('ID'); return 'participant_actor'; }
+"actor"                                                   		{ this.begin('ID'); return 'participant_actor'; }
 <ID>[^\->:\n,;]+?([\-]*[^\->:\n,;]+?)*?(?=((?!\n)\s)+"as"(?!\n)\s|[#\n;]|$)     { yytext = yytext.trim(); this.begin('ALIAS'); return 'ACTOR'; }
 <ALIAS>"as"                                                     { this.popState(); this.popState(); this.begin('LINE'); return 'AS'; }
 <ALIAS>(?:)                                                     { this.popState(); this.popState(); return 'NEWLINE'; }
@@ -117,16 +118,30 @@ line
 	| NEWLINE { $$=[]; }
 	;
 
+box_section
+	: /* empty */ { $$ = [] }
+	| box_section box_line {$1.push($2);$$ = $1}
+	;
+
+box_line
+	: SPACE participant_statement { $$ = $2 }
+	| participant_statement { $$ = $1 }
+	| NEWLINE { $$=[]; }
+	;
+
+
 directive
   : openDirective typeDirective closeDirective 'NEWLINE'
   | openDirective typeDirective ':' argDirective closeDirective 'NEWLINE'
   ;
 
 statement
-	: 'participant' actor 'AS' restOfLine 'NEWLINE' {$2.type='addParticipant';$2.description=yy.parseMessage($4); $$=$2;}
-	| 'participant' actor 'NEWLINE' {$2.type='addParticipant';$$=$2;}
-	| 'participant_actor' actor 'AS' restOfLine 'NEWLINE' {$2.type='addActor';$2.description=yy.parseMessage($4); $$=$2;}
-	| 'participant_actor' actor 'NEWLINE' {$2.type='addActor'; $$=$2;}
+	: participant_statement
+	| 'box' restOfLine box_section end
+	{
+		$3.unshift({type: 'boxStart', boxData:yy.parseBoxData($2) });
+		$3.push({type: 'boxEnd', boxText:$2});
+		$$=$3;}
 	| signal 'NEWLINE'
 	| autonumber NUM NUM 'NEWLINE' { $$= {type:'sequenceIndex',sequenceIndex: Number($2), sequenceIndexStep:Number($3), sequenceVisible:true, signalType:yy.LINETYPE.AUTONUMBER};}
 	| autonumber NUM 'NEWLINE' { $$ = {type:'sequenceIndex',sequenceIndex: Number($2), sequenceIndexStep:1, sequenceVisible:true, signalType:yy.LINETYPE.AUTONUMBER};}
@@ -209,6 +224,13 @@ else_sections
 	{ $$ = $1.concat([{type: 'else', altText:yy.parseMessage($3), signalType: yy.LINETYPE.ALT_ELSE}, $4]); }
 	;
 
+participant_statement
+	: 'participant' actor 'AS' restOfLine 'NEWLINE' {$2.type='addParticipant';$2.description=yy.parseMessage($4); $$=$2;}
+	| 'participant' actor 'NEWLINE' {$2.type='addParticipant';$$=$2;}
+	| 'participant_actor' actor 'AS' restOfLine 'NEWLINE' {$2.type='addActor';$2.description=yy.parseMessage($4); $$=$2;}
+	| 'participant_actor' actor 'NEWLINE' {$2.type='addActor'; $$=$2;}
+	;
+
 note_statement
 	: 'note' placement actor text2
 	{
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDb.js b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDb.js
index fadd9f391..36b4079ae 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDb.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDb.js
@@ -14,20 +14,52 @@ import {
 
 let prevActor = undefined;
 let actors = {};
+let boxes = [];
 let messages = [];
 const notes = [];
 let sequenceNumbersEnabled = false;
 let wrapEnabled;
+let currentBox = undefined;
 
 export const parseDirective = function (statement, context, type) {
   mermaidAPI.parseDirective(this, statement, context, type);
 };
 
+export const addBox = function (data) {
+  boxes.push({
+    name: data.text,
+    wrap: (data.wrap === undefined && autoWrap()) || !!data.wrap,
+    fill: data.color,
+    actorKeys: [],
+  });
+  currentBox = boxes.slice(-1)[0];
+};
+
 export const addActor = function (id, name, description, type) {
-  // Don't allow description nulling
+  let assignedBox = currentBox;
   const old = actors[id];
-  if (old && name === old.name && description == null) {
-    return;
+  if (old) {
+    // If already set and trying to set to a new one throw error
+    if (currentBox && old.box && currentBox !== old.box) {
+      throw new Error(
+        'A same participant should only be defined in one Box: ' +
+          old.name +
+          " can't be in '" +
+          old.box.name +
+          "' and in '" +
+          currentBox.name +
+          "' at the same time."
+      );
+    }
+
+    // Don't change the box if already
+    assignedBox = old.box ? old.box : currentBox;
+    old.box = assignedBox;
+
+    // Don't allow description nulling
+    if (old && name === old.name && description == null) {
+      return;
+    }
   }
 
   // Don't allow null descriptions, either
@@ -39,6 +71,7 @@ export const addActor = function (id, name, description, type) {
   }
 
   actors[id] = {
+    box: assignedBox,
     name: name,
     description: description.text,
     wrap: (description.wrap === undefined && autoWrap()) || !!description.wrap,
@@ -53,6 +86,9 @@ export const addActor = function (id, name, description, type) {
     actors[prevActor].nextActor = id;
   }
 
+  if (currentBox) {
+    currentBox.actorKeys.push(id);
+  }
   prevActor = id;
 };
 
@@ -111,10 +147,21 @@ export const addSignal = function (
   return true;
 };
 
+export const hasAtLeastOneBox = function () {
+  return boxes.length > 0;
+};
+
+export const hasAtLeastOneBoxWithTitle = function () {
+  return boxes.some((b) => b.name);
+};
+
 export const getMessages = function () {
   return messages;
 };
 
+export const getBoxes = function () {
+  return boxes;
+};
 export const getActors = function () {
   return actors;
 };
@@ -147,6 +194,7 @@ export const autoWrap = () => {
 
 export const clear = function () {
   actors = {};
+  boxes = [];
   messages = [];
   sequenceNumbersEnabled = false;
   commonClear();
@@ -167,6 +215,37 @@ export const parseMessage = function (str) {
   return message;
 };
 
+// We expect the box statement to be color first then description
+// The color can be rgb,rgba,hsl,hsla, or css code names  #hex codes are not supported for now because of the way the char # is handled
+// We extract first segment as color, the rest of the line is considered as text
+export const parseBoxData = function (str) {
+  const match = str.match(/^((?:rgba?|hsla?)\s*\(.*\)|\w*)(.*)$/);
+  let color = match != null && match[1] ? match[1].trim() : 'transparent';
+  let title = match != null && match[2] ? match[2].trim() : undefined;
+
+  // check that the string is a color
+  var s = new Option().style;
+  s.color = color;
+  if (s.color !== color) {
+    color = 'transparent';
+    title = str.trim();
+  }
+
+  const boxData = {
+    color: color,
+    text: title !== undefined ? title.replace(/^:?(?:no)?wrap:/, '') : undefined,
+    wrap:
+      title !== undefined
+        ? title.match(/^:?wrap:/) !== null
+          ? true
+          : title.match(/^:?nowrap:/) !== null
+          ? false
+          : undefined
+        : undefined,
+  };
+  return boxData;
+};
+
 export const LINETYPE = {
   SOLID: 0,
   DOTTED: 1,
@@ -311,6 +390,21 @@ function insertProperties(actor, properties) {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ *
+ * @param boxId
+ */
+function boxStart(boxId) {
+  currentBox = boxes[boxId];
+}
+
+/**
+ *
+ */
+function boxEnd() {
+  currentBox = undefined;
+}
+
 export const addDetails = function (actorId, text) {
   // find the actor
   const actor = getActor(actorId);
@@ -391,6 +485,12 @@ export const apply = function (param) {
       case 'addMessage':
         addSignal(param.from, param.to, param.msg, param.signalType);
         break;
+      case 'boxStart':
+        addBox(param.boxData);
+        break;
+      case 'boxEnd':
+        boxEnd();
+        break;
       case 'loopStart':
         addSignal(undefined, undefined, param.loopText, param.signalType);
         break;
@@ -467,12 +567,14 @@ export default {
   getActorKeys,
   getActorProperty,
   getAccTitle,
+  getBoxes,
   getDiagramTitle,
   setDiagramTitle,
   parseDirective,
   getConfig: () => configApi.getConfig().sequence,
   clear,
   parseMessage,
+  parseBoxData,
   LINETYPE,
   ARROWTYPE,
   PLACEMENT,
@@ -481,4 +583,6 @@ export default {
   apply,
   setAccDescription,
   getAccDescription,
+  hasAtLeastOneBox,
+  hasAtLeastOneBoxWithTitle,
 };
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDiagram.spec.js b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDiagram.spec.js
index 6395940b0..7f67679a7 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDiagram.spec.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDiagram.spec.js
@@ -1289,6 +1289,29 @@ properties b: {"class": "external-service-actor", "icon": "@computer"}
     expect(actors.b.properties['icon']).toBe('@computer');
     expect(actors.c.properties['class']).toBe(undefined);
   });
+
+  it('should handle box', function () {
+    const str = `
+sequenceDiagram
+box green Group 1
+participant a as Alice
+participant b as Bob
+end
+participant c as Charlie
+links a: { "Repo": "https://repo.contoso.com/", "Dashboard": "https://dashboard.contoso.com/" }
+links b: { "Dashboard": "https://dashboard.contoso.com/" }
+links a: { "On-Call": "https://oncall.contoso.com/?svc=alice" }
+link a: Endpoint @ https://alice.contoso.com
+link a: Swagger @ https://swagger.contoso.com
+link a: Tests @ https://tests.contoso.com/?svc=alice@contoso.com
+`;
+
+    mermaidAPI.parse(str);
+    const boxes = diagram.db.getBoxes();
+    expect(boxes[0].name).toEqual('Group 1');
+    expect(boxes[0].actorKeys).toEqual(['a', 'b']);
+    expect(boxes[0].fill).toEqual('green');
+  });
 });
 
 describe('when checking the bounds in a sequenceDiagram', function () {
@@ -1563,6 +1586,24 @@ Alice->Bob: Hello Bob, how are you?`;
     expect(bounds.stopx).toBe(conf.width * 2 + conf.actorMargin);
     expect(bounds.stopy).toBe(models.lastMessage().stopy + 10);
   });
+  it('should handle two actors in a box', function () {
+    const str = `
+sequenceDiagram
+box rgb(34, 56, 0) Group1
+participant Alice
+participant Bob
+end
+Alice->Bob: Hello Bob, how are you?`;
+
+    mermaidAPI.parse(str);
+    diagram.renderer.draw(str, 'tst', '1.2.3', diagram);
+
+    const { bounds, models } = diagram.renderer.bounds.getBounds();
+    expect(bounds.startx).toBe(0);
+    expect(bounds.starty).toBe(0);
+    expect(bounds.stopx).toBe(conf.width * 2 + conf.actorMargin + conf.boxTextMargin * 2);
+    expect(bounds.stopy).toBe(models.lastMessage().stopy + 20);
+  });
   it('should handle two actors with init directive', function () {
     const str = `
 %%{init: {'logLevel': 0}}%%
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.ts
index 1f6164b92..ce850c9f1 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import assignWithDepth from '../../assignWithDepth';
 import utils from '../../utils';
 import { configureSvgSize } from '../../setupGraphViewbox';
 import Diagram from '../../Diagram';
+import { convert } from '../../tests/util';
 
 let conf = {};
 
@@ -43,10 +44,14 @@ export const bounds = {
     },
     clear: function () {
       this.actors = [];
+      this.boxes = [];
       this.loops = [];
       this.messages = [];
       this.notes = [];
     },
+    addBox: function (boxModel) {
+      this.boxes.push(boxModel);
+    },
     addActor: function (actorModel) {
       this.actors.push(actorModel);
     },
@@ -72,6 +77,7 @@ export const bounds = {
       return this.notes[this.notes.length - 1];
     },
     actors: [],
+    boxes: [],
     loops: [],
     messages: [],
     notes: [],
@@ -465,7 +471,8 @@ export const drawActors = function (
   actorKeys,
   verticalPos,
   configuration,
-  messages
+  messages,
+  isFooter
 ) {
   if (configuration.hideUnusedParticipants === true) {
     const newActors = new Set();
@@ -480,8 +487,28 @@ export const drawActors = function (
   let prevWidth = 0;
   let prevMargin = 0;
   let maxHeight = 0;
+  let prevBox = undefined;
+
   for (const actorKey of actorKeys) {
     const actor = actors[actorKey];
+    const box = actor.box;
+
+    // end of box
+    if (prevBox && prevBox != box) {
+      if (!isFooter) {
+        bounds.models.addBox(prevBox);
+      }
+      prevMargin += conf.boxMargin + prevBox.margin;
+    }
+
+    // new box
+    if (box && box != prevBox) {
+      if (!isFooter) {
+        box.x = prevWidth + prevMargin;
+        box.y = verticalPos;
+      }
+      prevMargin += box.margin;
+    }
 
     // Add some rendering data to the object
     actor.width = actor.width || conf.width;
@@ -489,18 +516,27 @@ export const drawActors = function (
     actor.margin = actor.margin || conf.actorMargin;
 
     actor.x = prevWidth + prevMargin;
-    actor.y = verticalPos;
+    actor.y = bounds.getVerticalPos();
 
     // Draw the box with the attached line
-    const height = svgDraw.drawActor(diagram, actor, conf);
+    const height = svgDraw.drawActor(diagram, actor, conf, isFooter);
     maxHeight = Math.max(maxHeight, height);
     bounds.insert(actor.x, verticalPos, actor.x + actor.width, actor.height);
 
-    prevWidth += actor.width;
-    prevMargin += actor.margin;
+    prevWidth += actor.width + prevMargin;
+    if (actor.box) {
+      actor.box.width = prevWidth + box.margin - actor.box.x;
+    }
+    prevMargin = actor.margin;
+    prevBox = actor.box;
     bounds.models.addActor(actor);
   }
 
+  // end of box
+  if (prevBox && !isFooter) {
+    bounds.models.addBox(prevBox);
+  }
+
   // Add a margin between the actor boxes and the first arrow
   bounds.bumpVerticalPos(maxHeight);
 };
@@ -614,18 +650,27 @@ export const draw = function (_text: string, id: string, _version: string, diagO
 
   // Fetch data from the parsing
   const actors = diagObj.db.getActors();
+  const boxes = diagObj.db.getBoxes();
   const actorKeys = diagObj.db.getActorKeys();
   const messages = diagObj.db.getMessages();
   const title = diagObj.db.getDiagramTitle();
-
+  const hasBoxes = diagObj.db.hasAtLeastOneBox();
+  const hasBoxTitles = diagObj.db.hasAtLeastOneBoxWithTitle();
   const maxMessageWidthPerActor = getMaxMessageWidthPerActor(actors, messages, diagObj);
-  conf.height = calculateActorMargins(actors, maxMessageWidthPerActor);
+  conf.height = calculateActorMargins(actors, maxMessageWidthPerActor, boxes);
 
   svgDraw.insertComputerIcon(diagram);
   svgDraw.insertDatabaseIcon(diagram);
   svgDraw.insertClockIcon(diagram);
 
-  drawActors(diagram, actors, actorKeys, 0, conf, messages);
+  if (hasBoxes) {
+    bounds.bumpVerticalPos(conf.boxMargin);
+    if (hasBoxTitles) {
+      bounds.bumpVerticalPos(boxes[0].textMaxHeight);
+    }
+  }
+
+  drawActors(diagram, actors, actorKeys, 0, conf, messages, false);
   const loopWidths = calculateLoopBounds(messages, actors, maxMessageWidthPerActor, diagObj);
 
   // The arrow head definition is attached to the svg once
@@ -847,11 +892,26 @@ export const draw = function (_text: string, id: string, _version: string, diagO
   if (conf.mirrorActors) {
     // Draw actors below diagram
     bounds.bumpVerticalPos(conf.boxMargin * 2);
-    drawActors(diagram, actors, actorKeys, bounds.getVerticalPos(), conf, messages);
+    drawActors(diagram, actors, actorKeys, bounds.getVerticalPos(), conf, messages, true);
     bounds.bumpVerticalPos(conf.boxMargin);
     fixLifeLineHeights(diagram, bounds.getVerticalPos());
   }
 
+  bounds.models.boxes.forEach(function (box) {
+    box.height = bounds.getVerticalPos() - box.y;
+    bounds.insert(box.x, box.y, box.x + box.width, box.height);
+    box.startx = box.x;
+    box.starty = box.y;
+    box.stopx = box.startx + box.width;
+    box.stopy = box.starty + box.height;
+    box.stroke = 'rgb(0,0,0, 0.5)';
+    svgDraw.drawBox(diagram, box, conf);
+  });
+
+  if (hasBoxes) {
+    bounds.bumpVerticalPos(conf.boxMargin);
+  }
+
   // only draw popups for the top row of actors.
   const requiredBoxSize = drawActorsPopup(diagram, actors, actorKeys, doc);
 
@@ -1039,10 +1099,12 @@ const getRequiredPopupWidth = function (actor) {
  *
  * @param actors - The actors map to calculate margins for
  * @param actorToMessageWidth - A map of actor key → max message width it holds
+ * @param boxes - The boxes around the actors if any
  */
 function calculateActorMargins(
   actors: { [id: string]: any },
-  actorToMessageWidth: ReturnType<typeof getMaxMessageWidthPerActor>
+  actorToMessageWidth: ReturnType<typeof getMaxMessageWidthPerActor>,
+  boxes
 ) {
   let maxHeight = 0;
   Object.keys(actors).forEach((prop) => {
@@ -1074,6 +1136,9 @@ function calculateActorMargins(
 
     // No need to space out an actor that doesn't have a next link
     if (!nextActor) {
+      const messageWidth = actorToMessageWidth[actorKey];
+      const actorWidth = messageWidth + conf.actorMargin - actor.width / 2;
+      actor.margin = Math.max(actorWidth, conf.actorMargin);
       continue;
     }
 
@@ -1083,6 +1148,29 @@ function calculateActorMargins(
     actor.margin = Math.max(actorWidth, conf.actorMargin);
   }
 
+  let maxBoxHeight = 0;
+  boxes.forEach((box) => {
+    const textFont = messageFont(conf);
+    let totalWidth = box.actorKeys.reduce((total, aKey) => {
+      return (total += actors[aKey].width + (actors[aKey].margin || 0));
+    }, 0);
+
+    totalWidth -= 2 * conf.boxTextMargin;
+    if (box.wrap) {
+      box.name = utils.wrapLabel(box.name, totalWidth - 2 * conf.wrapPadding, textFont);
+    }
+
+    const boxMsgDimensions = utils.calculateTextDimensions(box.name, textFont);
+    maxBoxHeight = Math.max(boxMsgDimensions.height, maxBoxHeight);
+    const minWidth = Math.max(totalWidth, boxMsgDimensions.width + 2 * conf.wrapPadding);
+    box.margin = conf.boxTextMargin;
+    if (totalWidth < minWidth) {
+      const missing = (minWidth - totalWidth) / 2;
+      box.margin += missing;
+    }
+  });
+  boxes.forEach((box) => (box.textMaxHeight = maxBoxHeight));
+
   return Math.max(maxHeight, conf.height);
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js
index ce1caea69..5b7f8b7c3 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js
@@ -338,19 +338,21 @@ export const fixLifeLineHeights = (diagram, bounds) => {
  * @param {any} elem - The diagram we'll draw to.
  * @param {any} actor - The actor to draw.
  * @param {any} conf - DrawText implementation discriminator object
+ * @param {boolean} isFooter - If the actor is the footer one
  */
-const drawActorTypeParticipant = function (elem, actor, conf) {
+const drawActorTypeParticipant = function (elem, actor, conf, isFooter) {
   const center = actor.x + actor.width / 2;
+  const centerY = actor.y + 5;
 
   const boxpluslineGroup = elem.append('g');
   var g = boxpluslineGroup;
 
-  if (actor.y === 0) {
+  if (!isFooter) {
     actorCnt++;
     g.append('line')
       .attr('id', 'actor' + actorCnt)
       .attr('x1', center)
-      .attr('y1', 5)
+      .attr('y1', centerY)
       .attr('x2', center)
       .attr('y2', 2000)
       .attr('class', 'actor-line')
@@ -413,16 +415,17 @@ const drawActorTypeParticipant = function (elem, actor, conf) {
   return height;
 };
 
-const drawActorTypeActor = function (elem, actor, conf) {
+const drawActorTypeActor = function (elem, actor, conf, isFooter) {
   const center = actor.x + actor.width / 2;
+  const centerY = actor.y + 80;
 
-  if (actor.y === 0) {
+  if (!isFooter) {
     actorCnt++;
     elem
       .append('line')
       .attr('id', 'actor' + actorCnt)
       .attr('x1', center)
-      .attr('y1', 80)
+      .attr('y1', centerY)
       .attr('x2', center)
       .attr('y2', 2000)
       .attr('class', 'actor-line')
@@ -495,15 +498,34 @@ const drawActorTypeActor = function (elem, actor, conf) {
   return actor.height;
 };
 
-export const drawActor = function (elem, actor, conf) {
+export const drawActor = function (elem, actor, conf, isFooter) {
   switch (actor.type) {
     case 'actor':
-      return drawActorTypeActor(elem, actor, conf);
+      return drawActorTypeActor(elem, actor, conf, isFooter);
     case 'participant':
-      return drawActorTypeParticipant(elem, actor, conf);
+      return drawActorTypeParticipant(elem, actor, conf, isFooter);
   }
 };
 
+export const drawBox = function (elem, box, conf) {
+  const boxplustextGroup = elem.append('g');
+  var g = boxplustextGroup;
+  drawBackgroundRect(g, box);
+  if (box.name) {
+    _drawTextCandidateFunc(conf)(
+      box.name,
+      g,
+      box.x,
+      box.y + (box.textMaxHeight || 0) / 2,
+      box.width,
+      0,
+      { class: 'text' },
+      conf
+    );
+  }
+  g.lower();
+};
+
 export const anchorElement = function (elem) {
   return elem.append('g');
 };
@@ -642,6 +664,7 @@ export const drawBackgroundRect = function (elem, bounds) {
     width: bounds.stopx - bounds.startx,
     height: bounds.stopy - bounds.starty,
     fill: bounds.fill,
+    stroke: bounds.stroke,
     class: 'rect',
   });
   rectElem.lower();
@@ -1035,6 +1058,7 @@ export default {
   drawText,
   drawLabel,
   drawActor,
+  drawBox,
   drawPopup,
   drawImage,
   drawEmbeddedImage,
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/docs/syntax/sequenceDiagram.md b/packages/mermaid/src/docs/syntax/sequenceDiagram.md
index 9c28883c9..c0890c86c 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/docs/syntax/sequenceDiagram.md
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/docs/syntax/sequenceDiagram.md
@@ -58,6 +58,38 @@ sequenceDiagram
     J->>A: Great!
 ```
 
+### Grouping / Box
+
+The actor(s) can be grouped in vertical boxes. You can define a color (if not it will be transparent) and/or a descriptive label using the following notation:
+
+```
+box lightgreen Group Number 1
+... actors ...
+end
+box Another Group
+... actors ...
+end
+box rgb(33,66,99)
+... actors ...
+end
+```
+
+```mermaid-example
+    sequenceDiagram
+    box lightgreen Alice & John
+    participant A
+    participant J
+    end
+    box Another Group
+    participant B
+    participant C
+    end
+    A->>J: Hello John, how are you?
+    J->>A: Great!
+    A->>B: Hello Bob, how is Charly ?
+    B->>C: Hello Charly, how are you?
+```
+
 ## Messages
 
 Messages can be of two displayed either solid or with a dotted line.