Jump to content

List of The Wire characters

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Opark 77 (talk | contribs) at 21:40, 7 August 2006 (โ†’Melvin "Cheese" Flagstaff). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The following is a listing of fictional characters from the HBO series, The Wire. Template:Spoiler

Current cast

Actor/Actress Character Position
Dominic West Jimmy McNulty Officer (formerly detective)
John Doman William A. Rawls Deputy Commissioner of Operations
Frankie R. Faison Ervin Burrell Commissioner (formerly Deputy Ops)
Aidan Gillen Thomas "Tommy" Carcetti City councilman
Wood Harris Avon Barksdale Drug lord
Deidre Lovejoy Rhonda Pearlman Assistant State's Attorney
Clarke Peters Lester Freamon Major case unit detective
Wendell Pierce William "Bunk" Moreland Homicide detective
Lance Reddick Cedric Daniels Major (formerly lieutenant)
Andre Royo Bubbles Confidential informant
Sonja Sohn Shakima "Kima" Greggs Major case unit detective
Robert Wisdom Howard "Bunny" Colvin Retired major
Domenick Lombardozzi Thomas "Herc" Hauk Drug enforcement unit detective
Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver DEU sergeant (formerly detective)
Jim True-Frost Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski Teacher (formerly officer)
J. D. Williams Preston "Bodie" Brodus Crew chief (formerly drug dealer)
Michael K. Williams Omar Little Stick-up man

Formerly starring

Actor/Actress Character Position
Idris Elba Stringer Bell Drug kingpin
Larry Gillard Jr. D'Angelo Barksdale Crew chief
Chris Bauer Frank Sobotka Union treasurer-secretary
Paul Ben Victor Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos Mob kingpin
Amy Ryan Beatrice "Beadie" Russell Officer (now recurring)

The Law

Police

Command

Ervin Burrell
File:The Wire Burrell.jpg
Played by Frankie R. Faison

Ervin "Erv" Burrell was Deputy Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department in season one. His main aim as Deputy Commissioner was to ascend to Police Commissioner. He consistently showed more interest in making headlines than cases.

Burrel hastily assembled a task force under Lt. Cedric Daniels' command in order to placate Judge Phelan, who was furious that Avon Barksdale's men had been able to beat a murder charge in his courtroom by buying off a witness. From the beginning, Burrell was unsupportive of the unit, hoping to make a few quick arrests to satisfy the judge and then bury the case. He ordered premature seizure raids that tipped the Barksdale organization to the detail's efforts and prompted them to change their operating structure to hinder further investigation.

When Daniels' team began investigating donations from Barksdale's organization to local politicians, Burrell realised the political implications. He grew increasingly hostile towards them, threatening to expose Daniels' shady past if he didn't close down the investigation. When the task force seized Barksdale money being carried by a state senator's driver, Burrell ordered Daniels to return it in order to avoid embarrassing the senator. Burrell was responsible for ordering a failed sting operation which resulted in the shooting of Det. Kima Greggs. In retaliation for the shooting, Burrell insisted that Daniels' detail raid the Barksdales' main stash house, an act which caused Avon's people to stop using pay phones altogether - effectively nullifying the detail's wiretaps. Burrell also bribed Det. Ellis Carver with a sergeant promotion to feed him information from inside the detail. When the Barksdale case ended, Burrell reassigned Daniels to evidence control as punishment for defying him.

He later went on to become Acting Commissioner in season 2, when he was forced to bring Daniels out of evidence control and place him in command of his former team, in order to secure the support of Major Stan Valchek in his campaign to become commissioner.[1]

In season three Burrell promoted William Rawls to his old position of Deputy Commissioner. The two presided over harrowing weekly comstat meetings where they pressured their district commanders to return the favourable crime rate figures the mayor was hoping for. During the season Burrell worked with councilman Carcetti to obtain more resources for the police department.

Burrell finally secured his term as Commissioner by bargaining with the mayor over the handling of Major Colvin's Hamsterdam zone. He offered Colvin as a scapegoat and was ruthless in demoting him to lieutenant and forcing him out of the department.[2][3]

Cantrell

Lieutenant Cantrell was the commanding officer of detectives Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski and Leander Sydnor in the casualty division in season one. When Prez was detailed to Lieutenant Daniels for the Barksdale investigation Daniels appealed to Cantrell to give him Sydnor as well to balance taking on the erratic Prez. Cantrell allowed Sydnor to go despite calling him his best detective.

At the end of season one, he was promoted to major, a position which Daniels had been in line for before the Barksdale investigation.

Howard "Bunny" Colvin
File:The Wire Bunny.jpg
Played by Robert Wisdom
Season two: "Stray Rounds".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due Respect"; " Dead Soldiers"; "Amsterdam"; "Straight and True"; "Homecoming"; "Back Burners"; "Moral Midgetry"; "Slapstick"; "Reformation"; "Middle Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".

Maj. Howard "Bunny" Colvin was commander of the Western district.[1] In season three Colvin was nearing retirement and decided to make a last effort to have a real impact on the community he had been policing for thirty years. Comparing the city's drug problems to alcohol in the prohibition Colvin wondered if there was a "paper bag" for drugs that would make it safe for low level users to take them without facing punishment. Colvin recognised that much of his time and resources were spent on policing addicts and low level dealers, which never seemed to improve the situation in his district.

Colvin decided to independently set up a "free zone" in his district where addicts and dealers were allowed to conduct their business under supervision but without interference. He aimed to move the drug trade into a controlled, uninhabited area to protect the rest of the district. Colvin did nto seek the permission or approval of any of his superiors before implementing his plan and ignored the concerns of his subordinates Lt. Dennis Mello and Sgt. Ellis Carver. This "free zone" became known as "Hamsterdam", so named after Amsterdam's liberal drug laws.

As a commanding officer Colvin was well-liked by his men. Near the end of his career, he reconnected with Jimmy McNulty, who had started out as a beat officer under Colvin's command.

Colvin was concerned when he found a single pensioner still living in one of the houses in Hamsterdam. Although his project initially drew suspicion from the districts dealers he convinced them to move their trade by brutally cracking down on any drug dealing outside of Hamsterdam.

He was forced to retire after his experiment was discovered by his superiors. The city's politicians considered trying to spin Hamsterdam as a public health measure but eventually decided it was too dangerous. Acting Commissioner Burrell offered Colvin as a scapegoat to the mayor and he was demoted and forced out of the department. Colvin's actions continued to have repercussionsl; without his major's pension he pursued a job as a security consultant but the department intervened and prevented him getting the post.[3][4]

Cedric Daniels

Daniels is a Major and district commander in the Baltimore Police Department and direct commanding officer of many of the shows characters.

Main article: Cedric Daniels
Raymond Foerster
Season one: "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The Buys"; "The Wire"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt" and "Sentencing".
Season three: "Time After Time "; " All Due Respect "; "Dead Soldiers"; "Straight and True"; "Slapstick"; "Homecoming"

Raymond Foerster was a Major and unit commander of the Baltimore narcotics division in Season One. When Judge Phelan questioned Deputy Commissioner Burrel about the Barksdale operation it was Majors Foerster and Rawls who faced his subsequent wrath and demands for more information. Foerster's response was to ask his shift lieutenant Cedric Daniels for a report and he then assigned Daniels and his team to the Barksdale detail.

When Daniels' investigation became drawn out and relied upon wiretaps and surveilance Foerster took the side of Deputy Commissioner Burrell against Daniels when he tried to explain the necessity of this technique to reach the heads of the organization. Foerster and Burrell's insistence on using buy busts led to the operation that resulted with the shooting of Det. Greggs. Foerster visited Greggs in the hospital with many other command officers and appeared anxious when trying to find a tape recorder to replay the last transmissions before she was shot.

Foerster was promoted to colonel and took over as commander of the homicide division when Rawls was promoted. He attended Rawls' weekly comstat meetings and worked with Sgt. Jay Landsman.[3]

Warren Frazier
  • Played by: Dick Stilwell
  • Appears in season one: "The Hunt"

Frazier was the police commissioner of Baltimore before Ervin Burrell. His only appearance was prompted by the shooting of Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs; he visited her hospital ward soon afterwards. Frazier was an unimpressive presence at the hospital, he failed to recognise Cedric Daniels and instead assumed Ed Norris was the lieutenant and then declined to talk to Kima's partner Cheryl. In response to the shooting he ordered city wide raids on narcotics targets so that he could hold a press conference with a large amount of seized narcotics, cash and firearms. This order forced the Barksdale detail to prematurely give up some of their major targets.

Dennis Mello
File:The Wire Mello.jpg
Played by Jay Landsman
Season two: "Stray Rounds" (uncredited).
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due Respect"; " Dead Soldiers"; "Amsterdam"; "Straight and True"; "Homecoming"; "Back Burners"; "Reformation"; "Middle Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".

Mello was Western District administrative lieutenant and Major "Bunny" Colvin's second in command and confidante before Colvin's forced retirement. Mello ran briefings for the Western district and maintained a sense of humour, typically dismissing the men with "don't get captured". He accompanied Colvin to comstat meetings. Mello was aware of Colvin's "Hamsterdam" free zone where he allowed drug dealing to go unpunished. Mello was worried but did not report Colvin's actions to his superiors. Colvin protected Mello following the discovery of Hamsterdam by their superiors and after Colvin's departure Mello was promoted to Western District Commander. The two remained friends.[3][5]

Incidentally, the actor who plays Dennis Mello is a retired Baltimore detective named Jay Landsman, and was the real-life basis for the character of the same name in the show.

William A. Rawls
File:The Wire Rawls.jpg
Played by John Doman
  • Played by: John Doman
  • Appears in: Season One, Season Two, Season Three

Rawls was a Major and commanding officer of homicide in Season 1. He is a careerist, concerned only with maintaining the case clearance record of his unit, and is extremely demanding of his detectives. He was enraged when Det. McNulty went around him to Judge Phelan to encourage further investigation of the Barksdale organization. He confronted McNulty about his insubordination and told him he had his attention. Rawls used homicide Det. Santangelo as an inside man in Lt. Daniels' Barksdale detail. Rawls relied upon Sgt. Jay Landsman to handle much of his communication with the men under his command in homicide.

McNulty attempted to placate Rawls by working several old murder cases, most notably the Deidre Kresson case, linking them all to the same gun, and to D'Angelo Barksdale. Rawls was delighted, and wanted to immediately issue a warrant for D'Angelo. When McNulty learned of this, he was dismayed, since arresting D'Angelo was premature and would tip off Avon to their investigation. The detail persuaded Daniels to fight Rawls' push for arrests. Eventually Daniels went over Rawls' head and met with Burrell, convincing him to put the warrants on hold for the time being. This further infuriated Rawls, and he began hounding Santangelo to bring him something he could use against McNulty.

Following the shooting of Det. Greggs in a buy bust gone wrong Rawls became personally involved in the investigation. His first action was to insist that all non-essential personnel, including Greggs' friends in her detail, leave the crime scene. He later spoke to a distraught McNulty and reassured him that he was not ultimately responsible for the shooting but again expressed his hatred for his subordinate. When McNulty convinced Daniels to go around his superiors and try to involve the FBI in the Barksdale case Rawls' got a chance for revenge - he reassigned McNulty to the marine unit after telling him he would like to see him land on his feet and asking where he didn't want to go.

During season two, Rawls was promoted to colonel (partly on the basis of McNulty's work on the Barksdale case), but his former detective remained a thorn in his side. When McNulty came across a body on marine patrol, Rawls managed to convince another department that the case belonged to them. McNulty used wind and tide charts to prove that the death occurred in Rawls' jurisdiction. When thirteen dead women were found in a cargo container at the ports, Rawls again tried to avoid responsibility for the investigation, and McNulty again found proof that the deaths fell under Rawls' jurisdiction, earning McNulty a permanent spot on his list of enemies.

When Daniels' detail was re-formed to investigate Frank Sobotka, Rawls eagerly pressured Daniels to take on the responsibility for investigating the fourteen murders. Daniels, hoping to keep his case as simple as possible, initially refused, but was later persuaded to accept by Freamon. In exchange, he extracted a promise from Rawls to give him whatever he needed to solve the murders. When Daniels demanded McNulty, Rawls was ultimately forced to pull McNulty out of marine patrol and return him to Daniels' unit.[1]

The fourteen murder cases proved to be a boon for Rawls, as all of them were solved by Daniels' team at the end of season two; this was undoubtedly one reason he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Operations in season three, when Burrell became Commissioner.

Rawls and Burrel preside over weekly comstat meetings with thier district commanders. Rawls is completely ruthless in his pursuit of complete accountability and awarness from his subordinates. He is a potential closet homosexual as he was briefly shown at a gay bar in Season 3.[3][6]

Rawls lack of a sense of humour and distinctive technique for intimidating others is based on real Baltimore CID commander Joe Cooke, although Rawls is far more banal. Simon has also commented that Rawls attitude to the murder rate and his units clearance reocrd is a product of the extreme pressure he is under.[7]

Bobby Reed
Season one: "The Buys"; "Lessons" (uncredited); "The Hunt" and "Cleaning Up".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Reformation"; "Middle Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".

Reed is a Major in the Baltimore Police Department and runs the Internal Investigations Division. Reed was responsible for investigating the brutality charges made against Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski. He also intervened when the Barksdale detail stopped Senator Clay Davis' driver after they spotted him receiving a bag full of cash from a Barksdale soldier and again when Daniels tried to withhold the location of a Barksdale stash house to protect his investigative work. Reed later attends Burrel and Rawls' weekly comstat meetings.

Marvin Taylor

Major in the Baltimore Police Department and Eastern district commander. Attends Burrel and Rawls' weekly comstat meetings.

Stanislaus Valchek
File:The Wire Valcheck.jpg
Major Stanislaus Valchek played by Al Brown
Season one: "The Buys".
Season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage"; "Hot Shots"; "Undertow"; "Stray Rounds"; "Storm Warnings"; "Bad Dreams" and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due Respect"; "Dead Soldiers" and "Slapstick".

Major Valchek is Det. "Prez" Prezbylewski's father-in-law and commander of the South Eastern district. He appeared only briefly in season one, trying to smooth over Prez's drunken blinding of a fourteen-year-old. It was mentioned that Valchek had interceded on Prez's behalf in the past when he fired at his own patrol car.

Valchek was the impetus behind the Sobotka investigation in season two. He also met with Prez to discuss his career progression at the beginning of the season. Valchek was involved in a feud with Frank Sobotka over a pair of stained glass windows the two men had donated to a local church. When Sobotka refused to withdraw his window (which was larger and more ornate than Valchek's), Valchek ordered his subordinates to begin harassing Sobotka and his union, putting parking tickets on their cars and pulling them over for breathalyzer tests.

The union responded by stealing Valchek's valuable district surveillance van and shipping it from port to port, sending him photographs from each destination. Prompted by this further embarrassment Valchek grew curious as to how Sobotka's destitute union could afford the expensive window. He discussed the union with a politically connected friend, Andy Krawczyk. Krawczyk told Valchek about Sobotka hiring a lobbyist and making campaign contributions. Valchek smelled the possibility of illegal activity and asked then Deputy Commissioner Burrell for a special unit devoted to investigating Sobotka, with Prez as the lead investigator. Since Valchek was well-connected with City Hall through the first district democrats, Burrell obliged.

When Prez informed Valchek that the unit was not doing its job, he demanded a more serious group from Burrell and requested Cedric Daniels as commander on Prez's recommendation, threatening to derail Burrel's quest to become Commissioner if he did not agree. Burrell obligingly recreated Daniels' task force.

As the investigation progressed, Sobotka ceased to be the primary target, and Valchek grew furious. He confronted Daniels' team publicly, and in the process, was punched by his son-in-law. Furious he disowned Prez and threatened to have him removed from the department, telling Daniels that he told his daughter, Joan, not to marry Prez. However, Daniels convinced Valchek to accept a suspension and a letter of apology to all those present at the time of the incident for Prez to keep his post.

Valchek then involved the FBI in the Sobotka investigation to try to refocus it on Frank Sootka and the union. This prompted a series of raids resulting including Sobotka's arrest. Valchek delighted in personally making the arrest and held Sobotka in the union offices until a press gaggle had assembled outside so that he could publicly humiliate him.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

In season three Valchek attended Burrel's comstat meetings and set up a meeting between the now acting commissioner and councilman Carcetti at Carcetti's request.[3]

Major Case Unit

Lester Freamon

Freamon is a quiet and methodical older detective who quietly makes major contributions to the series investigations.

Main article: Lester Freamon
Shakima "Kima" Greggs

Greggs is a tenacious investigator and key member of the major case unit who ahs proved herself on both the Barksdale and Sobotka investigations. She struggles to balance her life as a police officer with her role as a potential mother with her partner.

Main article: Shakima "Kima" Greggs
Caroline Massey
File:The Wire Massey.jpg
Played by Joilet F Harris

Officer Massey joined the show in season three as a member of the major case unit under Lt. Daniels. Massey is a world weary officer with a penchant for sarcasm. She was particularly adept at deciphering the slang used Barksdale drug dealers on wiretaps of cellular phones. Her dilligent work manning wiretaps earned her the respect of detectives Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski and Lester Freamon.[3][8]

Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski

Prez is an ex-detective who showed great aptitude for surveillance and wiretap cases but struggled to maintain his composure in the field.

Main article: Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski
Leander Sydnor
File:The Wire Sydnor.jpg
Played by Corey Parker Robinson
Season one: "The Detail"; "The Buys"; "Old Cases"; "The Wire"; "One Arrest"; "Lessons"; "Game Day"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt" and "Cleaning Up".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Back Burners"; "Slapstick"; "Reformation"; "Middle Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".

Sydnor is a young, married Baltimore Police detective and was a member of the Barksdale detail and later worked in the Major Case Unit. Sydnor was assigned to the Barksdale detail after Lt. Daniels made a special request of another officer to give him his best detective to balance out taking the erratic Det. Pryzbylewski. In the Barksdale detail he often worked with Det. Freamon who became something of a mentor to him. He helped Freamon to dig into the Barksdale organization's paper trail. Sydnor also performed valuable undercover work alongside Det. Greggs and her informant "Bubbles". Bubbles helped Sydnor improve his undercover image by recommending changes like wearing out his shoes and not wearing his wedding band. His undercover work involved making hand to hands to build evidence. Sydnor was responsible for identifying Avon Barksdale at a basketball game. He later told Daniels that the investigation was the best police work he had ever done.

He returned to working in his old district after the dissolution of the Barksdale detail. When Daniels established a permanent Major Case Unit Sydnor transferred in and again worked on investigating the Barksdale organization.[3][9]

Homicide

William "Bunk" Moreland
File:The Wire Bunk.jpg
Played by Wendell Pierce
  • Played by: Wendell Pierce
  • Appears in: Season One, Season Two, Season Three

Bunk is a Homicide Detective and was McNulty's partner in homicide before he moved to the Barksdale detail. He is the very picture of a genial epicure, dressing in pinstripes and smoking cigars. Nonetheless, he is serious about his work, but has two weaknesses off the job: women (despite being married with two children) and alcohol.

In season one he served as McNulty's lone ally in the homicide unit, keeping him apprised of the happenings there while chiding him for getting involved in the Barksdale case. When Omar killed Stinkum, Bunk's colleague Det. Cole was assigned to the case. At McNulty's request, Bunk persuaded Cole to hold off on arresting Omar (who was needed as a witness), saying that Cole could have him after the Barksdale case wrapped - a promise which McNulty had no intention of keeping.

He and McNulty reviewed the old Deirdre Kresson murder and the William Gant murder, building cases against Barksdale soldiers Wee-Bey and Bird respectively. At the end of season one, he was partnered with Lester Freamon, after McNulty had been demoted to harbor patrol.

In season two, Bunk and Freamon were assigned the case of the fourteen dead girls found at the port. They worked it diligently, interrogating the crew of the ship which had carried the girls, but were unable to find any evidence. Later Bunk was temporarily assigned to Daniels' detail for the Sobotka investigation. He and Freamon persuaded Daniels to fight to bring McNulty back to the unit, in spite of Rawls' dislike of the rebellious former detective. At the end of the season, Bunk and Beadie Russell returned to the port where the ship had last docked, finding video evidence which led to the solution of the fourteen murders. Once the Sobotka case was finished, he returned to homicide.

McNulty and Bunk remain friends and drinking buddies. Bunk has an ongoing association with Omar Little who acts as an informant for him on occasion.[3]

Frank Barlow
  • Played by: Michael Stone Forest
  • Appears in season one: "The Target".

Detective Barlow is an abrasive member of the Baltimore police department homicide unit. Barlow was the investigating officer in the murder of "poo". D'Angelo Barksdale was charged with the murder based on Barlow's investigation; he felt sure of a conviction because he had two eye witnesses. Detective Jimmy McNulty watched the case turn in D'Angelo's favour in court as the Barksdale organization convinced a witness to change her statement. McNulty told Barlow of the failure of his case and he initially refused to believe him. McNutly convinced Barlow to visit the courtroom and see for himself and he was present when D'Angelo was acquitted.[10]

Ray Cole
  • Played by: Robert F. Colesberry
  • Appears in:
Season one: "The Target" (uncredited); "The Detail" (uncredited); "The Wire"; "The Cost" and "The Hunt".
Season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage" and "Undertow".

Cole was a somewhat inept member of Sergeant Landsman's homicide squad under the command of Major Rawls.

Cole was the lead investigator of the death of Anton "Stinkum" Artis. His colleague William "Bunk" Moreland told him that there was information about the case as part of a wiretap investigation that Bunk's partner Jimmy McNulty was involved in. The information would jeopardize the wiretap so they promised they would give it to Cole when the case closed. McNulty never intended to give Cole the information because the perpetrator was his informant Omar Little.

Cole was second detective on the shooting of Wendell "Orlando" Blocker and Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs working with lead investigator Detective Ed Norris. This case was solved when Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice confessed to the shooting.

Cole was initially assigned the fourteen Jane Doe homicides that Rawls had tried to dodge. McNulty was responsible for the cases reaching Rawls desk and when discussing Cole's misfortune with Bunk he called him collateral damage. Landsman reassigned the case to Bunk and Lester Freamon because he felt he needed his most capable detectives on it.

Cole died unexpectedly and the department held a wake for him. Landsman gave a eulogy for Cole at the wake.[3]

Cole was played by the shows late executive producer Robert F. Colesberry and the character's wake was in part a tribute to the actor who portrayed him.

Vernon Holley
  • Played by: Brian Anthony Wilson
  • Appears in:
Season one: "The Wire" and "The Hunt".
Season two: "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Amsterdam"; "Slapstick"; "Reformation" and "Mission Accomplished"

Holley is a homicide detective in the Baltimore Police Department homicide unit under the command of Major Rawls. Holley and his partner Ed Norris caught the case of the murder of Omar Littleโ€™s boyfriend Brandon. They recognized a connection to the recent murder of Omarโ€™s crew member Bailey because both corpses were found in Kevlar vests. They called in their colleague Jimmy McNulty and the Barksdale detail's work secured a conviction for the murder against soldier Roland โ€œWee-Beyโ€ Brice.

Following the shooting of detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs Holley found her confidential informant "Bubbles" paging her from a payphone. Holley assumed he was a suspect and brought him in for interrogation. When Bubbles was unable to respond to his questions Holley started to beat Bubbles. Eventually Bubbles asked for McNulty and the situation was cleared up.[3]

Keely

Keely is a homicide detective with a reputation for poor casework. His shortcomings were first shown when detectives Jimmy McNulty and William "Bunk" Moreland managed to solve an old case of his simply by reveiwing the evidence and crime scene and reaching conclusions that Keely had not been able to.

Jay Landsman
File:The Wire Landsman.jpg
Played by Delaney Williams
Season one: "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The Buys"; "Old Cases"; "The Pager"; "The Wire"; "One Arrest"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage"; "Hot Shots"; "Hard Cases"; "Backwash"; "Stray Rounds"; "Storm Warnings"; "Bad Dreams" and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Amsterdam"; "Straight and True"; "Homecoming"; "Back Burners" and "Slapstick".

Jay Landsman is a squad sergeant in the homicide division of the Baltimore police department. His commanding officer was originally William A. Rawls. Landsman's squad consists of several of the shows characters - in season one it comprised Detectives Jimmy McNulty, William "Bunk" Moreland, Michael Santangelo, Ray Cole, Ed Norris and Vernon Holley. Landmsan finds the misfortune of the cops in his unit a constant source of amusement but is also protective of them at times. He is loyal to Rawls and also doggedly pursues the high case clearance rates that Rawls aims for but is realistic about the capabilities of his detectives.

When McNulty went around the chain of command and incurred Rawl's wrath by being detailed to another unit Landsman appeared unsympathetic. He insisted that McNulty's work looking at old homicide cases for the detail be put to his advantage to make up for losing a detective. To this end, he insisted that McNulty look into the Deirdre Kresson murder case; McNulty was reluctant because the case appeared unrelated. Landsman was sure a link would be found and his intuition later proved correct. However, Landsman did argue McNulty's case with Rawls and managed to get Rawls to agree that McNulty could return to homicide with a clean slate if the investigation was wrapped up quickly. Despite Landsman's best efforts McNulty remained out of favour with Rawls because he refused to end the case he was working on prematurely.

Landsman always maintained a black and twisted humour about the work of his squad. When Rawls gave Detective Santangelo an ultimatum of clearing a case by days end Landsman recommended a psychic to Santangelo. He claimed that the woman, Madame LaRue, was especially gifted in "matters of death investigation".[11]

Landsman's squad handled the case of the killing of Wendell "Orlando" Blocker and wounding of detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs and he was personally involved in the investigation.

In season two Landsman's squad was altered as Rawls transferred Santangelo and McNulty out of the unit because they had displeased him by working with the Barksdale detail. Lester Freamon returned to homicide after a thirteen year absence and joined Landsman's squad.

When Rawls was forced to take on the multiple homicide case of fourteen unidentified dead women he entrusted it to Landsman. Landsman gave the case to Freamon and Bunk telling them they were his best detectives. When his detectives started working with Cedric Daniels Sobotka detail Landsman saw the potential to offload the responsibility of the case but Daniels initially refused.

Landsman was responsible for the interrogation of Chester "Ziggy" Sobotka after he killed George "Double G" Glekas. Although Ziggy quickly confessed Landsman failed to inform Daniels' specialised detail about the murder in time for them to become involved. [3]

The character is based on and named after a real homicide detective sergeant whom David Simon had met while researching the book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. The character is often given dialogue that the writers recall the real Landsman using. Delaney Williams was chosen for the part because of the creaters experience of working with him in small roles on Homicide and The Corner.[7] In season 3 the real Jay Landsman joined the cast and now plays Dennis Mello.

Ed Norris
Season one: "The Cost"; "The Hunt" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Stray Rounds".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due Respect" and "Dead Soldiers".

Ed Norris is a homicide detective. Norris and his partner Vernon Holley were assigned the case of the murder of Omar Littleโ€™s a boyfriend Brandon. They recognized a connection to the recent murder of Omarโ€™s crew member Bailey because both corpses were found in Kevlar vests. They called in their colleague Jimmy McNulty and the Barksdale details work secured a conviction for the murder against soldier Roland โ€œWee-Beyโ€ Brice.

Norris was also lead detective on the shooting of Wendell "Orlando" Blocker and Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs this time working with Detective Ray Cole. This case was also solved when Wee-Bey confessed to the shooting.

In season two he appeared briefly when investigating the shooting of a child by a stray bullet. In season three he attended the wake of his colleague Ray Cole.[3]

Norris is played by convicted felon and ex-police commissioner of Baltimore Ed Norris. His cameo appearances are a source of irony on the show and he is often given dialogue bemoaning the state of the Baltimore police department.

Western District

Baker
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Three

Baker is a uniformed beat officer in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department.[3]

Bobby
  • Played by:
  • Appears in season one: "The Target" (uncredited)

Bobby is a uniformed officer in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department. He was the first respondent to the crime scene of the murder of William Gant. After canvassing for evidence and witnesses he handed the case over to homicide detective William "Bunk" Moreland.[10]

Ellis Carver
Main article: Ellis Carver

Drug enforcement unit sergeant and loyal partner.

Aaron Castor
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Three

Castor is a beat officer in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department. His uncle Lloyd Castor was described as "good police" by Howard "Bunny Colvin.[3]

Anthony Colicchio
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Three

Narcotics officer in Sgt. Carver's squad in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department.[3]

Dozerman
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Three

Narcotics officer in Sgt. Carver's squad in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department. Dozerman was shot and injured in a buy bust operation gone awry.[3]

Lloyd "Truck" Garris
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Three

Narcotics officer in Sgt. Carver's squad in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department.[3]

Thomas "Herc" Hauk
Main article: Thomas "Herc" Hauk

Herc is a capable narcotics detective but tends towards brutality and often acts without thinking.

Lambert
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Three

Beat officer in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department.[3]

James "Jimmy" McNulty

McNulty is a dedicated Baltimore police officer with many personal problems.

Main article: Jimmy McNulty
Michael Santangelo
Season one: "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The Buys"; "Old Cases"; "The Wire"; "One Arrest"; "Game Day"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt"; "Cleaning Up" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Straight and True"; "Homecoming"; "Slapstick" and "Mission Accomplished".

In season one Santangelo was a detective in the homicide unit and followed Jimmy McNulty into the Barksdale Detail where Major Rawls tasked him with passing back information on McNulty. He tried to resist informing on a fellow cop and Rawls gave him an ultimatum - co-operate or clear a case by days end. Sergeant Landsman recommended a psychic, Madame LaRue, and Santangelo was desperate enough to try her. Rather than the psychic it was his squadmates McNulty and William "Bunk" Moreland who solved a case for him. With the clearance Santangelo was able to refuse Rawls demands.

He was demoted to officer at the end of season one for failing to give Rawls anything useful. In season two he is seen as a beat officer and arrests "Bubbles" and Johnny Weeks when they try to steal medical supplies from an ambulance responding to an overdose. In season three he drives the narcotics wagon in Major Colvin's Western district - a large prisoner transport vehicle used to round up drug dealers.[3]

Others

Claude Diggins
  • Played by: Jeffrey Fugitt
  • Appears in: Season Two

Baltimore police department marine unit officer who partners Jimmy McNulty when he is assigned to the unit. Diggins was forgiving of McNulty's time away from the unit and shared his own boat with Bunk and McNulty to pose as a fishing craft when observing Spiros "Vondas" Vondopolous.

Randall Frazier
Season one: "The Detail"
Season two: "Collateral Damage"; "Hot Shots" and "All Prologue"
Season three: "All Due Respect"

Frazier is a Baltimore police department medical examiner. He was first seen when invovled in the investigation of the death of William Gant. Later he was responsible for the autopsies of fourteen unidentified women found at the Baltimore docks. He helped Jimmy McNulty to prove that the deaths occurred in the city jurisdiction by establishing time of death based on the air supply in the container the bodies were discovered in. He also linked the bodies to a specific plastic surgery clinic by identifying a breast implant type that several of the women shared and tracing the serial number. This information helped the detectives to establish that the women were sex trade workers.

Grayson
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Two

Baltimore police lieutenant initially assigned to run the Sobtoka investigation. When Major Valchek was unimpressed with his work he had him replaced by Cedric Daniels.

Patrick Mahone

Mahone was an elderly detective from the property unit who worked with the Barksdale detail. He was punched by Preston "Bodie" Brodus, a young drug dealer, when the detail raided the low rise projects. Mahone took early retirement following his injury.

Augustus Polk
Season one: "The Detail"; "The Buys"; "Old Cases"; "The Pager" and "The Wire".
Season Two:

Polk was an aging detective from the property unit who worked with the Barksdale and Sobtoka details. He is often called Auggie.

After his partner, Patrick Mahone, retired due to injury Polk considered deliberately injuring himself to follow in his partners footsteps. Unable to follow through on his plan, he became despondent and went on a drinking binge. He missed several days work and when he was in he was drunk and asleep most of the time. Lieutenant Daniels told him to take sick leave for his alcohol problem or work "wet". Polk opted for sick leave and was off until the case was closed.

He was in the first Sobtoka detail under Lt. Grayson but once Daniels was put in command and allowed to choose his own people he was moved back to property.

Beatrice "Beadie" Russell
File:The Wire Officer Russell.jpg
Played by Amy Ryan
  • Played by: Amy Ryan
  • Appears in: Season Two, Season Three

Port authority officer who discovers the corpses of thirteen girls in a container on the Baltimore docks. Russell started working as an officer because of the pay and her need to support her children. She was the single mother of two young children. She found the job unchallenging and spent most of her time patrolling the docks and checking shipping manifests. She developed a friendly working relationship with many of thre Stevedore's including Frank Sobotka.

While on patrol Russell noticed a container that had a broken customs seal and explored it finding a hidden compartment filled with 13 dead bodies. Initially she was the primary investigator and was quite overwhelmed having never dealt with a homicide before. Officer Jimmy McNulty intervened for his own reasons and proved that the homicides occurred in city jurisdiction rather than the port. The case was reassigned to the city homicide unit and Beadie was subsequently detailed to homicide for the duration of the investigation. Initially she shows her lack of experience and street knowledge but in working alongside homicide detectives William "Bunk" Moreland and Lester Freamon she develops her latent talent for police work.

Russell was motivated to investigate the deaths of the girls as she felt an empathy for them, particularly once she learned that they were sex trade workers. Her compassion was shared by McNulty and the two also shared a flirtation during the investigation.

Russell taps an old boyfriend named Maui in Frank Sobotka's union to find out more about illegal activity in the port. Although Maui will not become an informant directly his information turns the case towards cloning the ports computers to monitor container traffic.[12] Russells familiarity with the people and organization of the port proved invaluable to the investigation.

Russel moved into Lt. Daniel's office site while his detail investigated Frank Sobotka as the homicide investigation became intertwined. She fended off an advance from Detective "Herc" Hauk. Her home life made it difficult for her to work the long hours necessary for the investigation, but she perservered. She connected with detective Kima Greggs when discussing the balance of a mothers responsibilities and the dangers inherent in their work.

However, Russell inadvertently tipped the investigation's hand by having her colleagues in the port authority stop a truck carrying normal goods that Sobotka had sent out to test the waters. She was also responsible for confirming Frank's suspicions that he was being investigated - she had told him she was being transferred to try to convince him the heat generated by the dead girls was fading when in reality she remained detailed. Frank checked her status with unwitting port officers who told him she was still working with the detail.

Despite these mis-steps Russell gains the respect of the officers in the Sobotka detail. At the end of their investigation when the focus shifted past Sobotka she was entrusted with following Vondas to a key meeting with "The Greek". She displayed some nerves but came through delivering the location of the meeting and a chance photograph of The Greek.

Russell was instrumental in convincing Frank Sobotka to agree to inform on The Greek once a strong case was built against him. Her emotional offer of a deal had Frank ready to give up everything he knew in order to help his family. However, Frank was murdered before he could come in and The Sobotka case was forced to end prematurely. With several arrests made and the murder of the girls solved Beadie returned to her work at the Port.

McNulty reinitiated his relationship with Russell once he returned to beat police work.

Troy Wiggins
  • Played by: Neko Parham
  • Appears in season one: "The Cost".

Wiggins is a Maryland state trooper who works in the anrcotics division. He did some of his CID training with Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs. Wiggins made the arrest of Wendell "Orlando" Blocker and hended him over to the Greggs' detail when he mentioned that he had ties to Avon Barksdale.

FBI

Terrence "Fitz" Fitzhugh
Season one: "The Target"; "The Buys" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Stray Rounds"; "Storm Warnings"; "Bad Dreams" and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Moral Midgetry"; "Slapstick"; and "Middle Ground".

Fitz is a special agent with the FBI and a friend of Jimmy McNulty's who often shares information and equipment with him. Fitz helped to inspire McNulty to use modern electronic surveillance in building a case against the Barksdale organization by showing how a confidential informant that he had put him in touch with had given them information that led them to set up video surveillance on a drug production ring. He told McNulty it would be the last major bureau drug investigation in Baltimore because they were shifting resources to counter-terrorism.

Fitz helped McNulty again by giving him some of the FBI's superior recording devices as the ones supplied by the police department were too bulky for undercover work. He warned McNulty that his commander Cedric Daniels had been investigated by the FBI for corruption and they had found an excess of liquid assets. When they handed the case over to Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell nothing further came of it.

Fitz also became involved with McNulty's teams case against Frank Sobotka. Major Valchek called in the FBI when he felt that the case had strayed away from his target - Sobotka. The FBI had a particular interest in corrupt unions. When a leak within the FBI seriously damaged the case Fitz realised what had happened and broke the news to Lieutenant Daniels.

Fitz is based on a real FBI agent named Jake Fitzsimmons who collaborated on cases with writer and ex-detective Ed Burns.[7]

City Hall

Thomas "Tommy" Carcetti

Baltimore Councilman in Season 3

Theresa D'Agostino

Political consultant eventually recruited by Carcetti to work for him.

Marla Daniels
File:The Wire Marla Daniels.jpg
Played by Maria Broom
Season one: "The Detail"; "One Arrest"; "Lessons" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Collateral Damage"; "Backwash" and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Amsterdam"; "Homecoming"; "Slapstick" and "Mission Accomplished".

Marla is an aspiring politician and the estranged wife of Lieutenant Cedric Daniels. She always had ambitions for her husband to progress in the police force and his failure to do so contributed to the demise of their relationship.

Cedric seemed likely to receive a promotion until he was assigned to run the controversial Barksdale detail. His commanding officers formed the detail to appease an angry judge and wanted a quick investigation to show good faith. Throughout the first series Marla councilled Cedric to take the case his superiors had demanded but he was pushed to better investigative work by the detectives he commanded.

When Cedric was banished to evidence control after upsetting his superiors with his tenacious investigation of Avon Barksdale Marla convinced him to leave the department and become a lawyer. Cedric was ready to do so until he got a second chance to do the kind of investigative work he wanted in the new Sobotka detail. Marla greeted his decision to stay with the police with worry and skepticism and eventually they separated.

Marla ran for office in season three, with the aid of Cedric posing as a contented (and uniformed) husband. Marla had the support and guidance of State Delegate Odell Watkins but was running against an old ally of Mayor Clarence Royce. Because of her political standing her husbands promotion to major was held up by Royce. She eventually sought a reconciliation with Cedric but he declined as he had become involved with Rhonda Pearlman. When Marla's rival was forced to retire because of a scandal in her district the Mayor was free to lend his support and allowed Cedric's promotion to pass.[13]

Clayton "Clay" Davis

Clay Davis is a corrupt State Senator from Baltimore who puts on a friendly public face even as he takes bribes from numerous sources. In season one, the Barksdale detail discovered $20,000 in the car of Davis' driver, Damien "Day-Day" Price, while in the West Baltimore projects. The unit was very interested in any possible links between the Senator and the Barksdale crew, and Lester Freamon wanted to expand the investigation to include Davis in the wiretaps. But Deputy Police Commissioner Ervin Burrell was adamant that the investigation end quickly and that the focus remain on the drug dealers. He called Daniels into a closed-door meeting with the Senator, hoping to get his cooperation, but was unable to persuade him to drop the case. However, Burrell pulled the plug on Daniels' investigation as soon as he could, and Clay Davis' involvement went uninvestigated.

In season two, Davis was seen at a Democratic fundraiser attended by stevedore union leader Frank Sobotka. Davis accepted contributions from the union in return for assurances that he would vote for constructing the granary pier that Sobotka believed would revive activity at the shipyard. However, at season's end, with the union in ruins, Sen. Davis was seen with a shovel at a groundbreaking ceremony for dockside condominiums where Frank had wanted the granary.

The third season revisited the Davis-Barksdale connections hinted at in season one. The viewers learned that Senator Davis had been acting as a political consultant for Stringer Bell, taking bribes from the Barksdale crew to influence political currents and win state government contracts for the drug empire's legitimate business front, B&B. However, building regulations continued to frustrate the development of Bell's real estate purchases, and when he read in the paper that block grants were given to several city developpers but not B&B, he became suspicious. Bell described the matter to his lawyer Maury Levy, who concludes, with a hint of amusement, that Davis had been playing off Stringer's inexperience in legitimate business and had simply been taking the money and doing nothing for it. Stringer, furious, told Avon that he wanted the Senator killed, but Avon warns him that assassinating a public figure would be dangerously out of their league, and Stringer accepted that his trust in Davis was foolish.

Dawkins
  • Played by:
  • Appears in season one: "Old Cases"

Dawkins is a male assistant states attourney responsible for the prosecution of drug dealer Marvin Browning

Anthony Gray

Baltimore Councilman in Season Three. Often called Tony by his friends who include councilman Carcetti.

Andy Krawczyk

Krawczyk initially appeared considering a model of the prospective grain pier condominium development with Major Stanislaus Valchek. He discussed Frank Sobotka's union business and political maneuvering with Valchek. He was later shown breaking ground on the development with state senator Clayton "Clay" Davis.

In season three Krawczyk was seen as a drinking buddy of councilman Thomas "Tommy" Carcetti.

Ilene Nathan
Season one: "The Hunt" and Sentencing".
Season two: "Undertow" and All Prologue".

Nathan is an assistant State's attourney in Baltimore and colleague of Rhonda Pearlman. Nathan and Pearlman were present when Savino Bratten gave himself up after his involvement in the shooting of a police officer but they failed to negotiate any co-operation from him. Nathan is present for the interrogation of Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice and negotiates a deal where he admits to several murders to avoid the death penalty. She conducts the prosecution against Marquis "Bird" Hilton and is reluctant to use Omar Little as a witness. Once he has testified and a guilty verdict is returned she is grateful enough to offer him a free pass on any single minor charge in the future for his assistance.

Coleman Parker

Chief of staff to Mayor Clarence Royce

Rhonda Pearlman
  • Played by: Deirdre Lovejoy
  • Appears in: Season One, Season Two, Season Three

Assistant State's Attorney Rhonda Pearlman has been the legal system liaison for all of Lt. Daniel's investigations on the show. She eventually got into a relationship with Daniels. She also had a casual relationship with McNulty.

Daniel Phelan

Judge Phelan is a friend of Jimmy McNulty's who presided over the D'Angelo Barksdale murder trial. After seeing a witness change her statement in his courtroom he was forced to let Barksdale go free when the jury gave a not guilty verdict. After discussing the case with McNulty he learned that the witness was most likely paid to change her statement and that D'Angelo was aprt of a much larger drug dealing operation. Phelan took this information to the Police Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Ervin Burrell, and insisted the police look into it - his intervention was instrumental in setting up the Barksdale detail.

Phelan also helped to sustain the investigation. He leaked information about the murder of another witness from the trial, William Gant, to the press which increased interest in the case. McNulty felt that Phelan had gone behind his back and their relationship was soured for a time. When Phelan was removed from the mayor's re-election ticket his passion for the case waned as he realised his actions had cost him political capital.

Phelan maintains a flirtatious relationship with Assistant States Attourney Rhonda Pearlman and admitted to McNulty that he was attracted to her.

Phelan also presided over the trial of Marquis "Bird" Hilton for the murder of William Gant and was pleased to accept Omar Little's testimony and give Bird a strict sentence. Phelan ran into political trouble because of his over zealous pursuit of the Barksdale organization and was left off of the Mayor Royce's ticket for re-election.

Clarence Royce

Mayor of Baltimore Clarence Royce

Odell Watkins

State delegate Watkin's backed Marla Bloom's campaign in season three.

Prison staff

Kevin Reynolds

CO Reynolds led the investigation into deaths at Maryland Correctional Institute after Avon Barksdale contrived to have tainted drugs smuggled in by CO Tilghman. Avon came forward as an informant and gave up Tilghman in exchange for an early parole hearing. Reynolds believed that Barksdale was involved but with no evidence he was left to charge Tilghman.

Dwight Tilghman
  • Played by: Antonio D. Charity
  • Appears in season two: "Hard Cases".

Tilghman was a corrections officer at Maryland Correctional Institute who harassed prisoner Roland Wee-Bey Brice because Wee-Bey had murdered one of his relatives. Avon Barksdale tried to negotiate a truce between the two but Tilghman refused to listen. Avon.ssolution was ruthless and brutal. Knowing that Tilghman was involved in the prison drug trade he had Stringer Bell follow him to locate his supplier. He then paid the suplier to give Tilghman tainted heroine which resulted in the deaths of several prisoners. Once an investigation was started Avon came forward and informed on Tilghman's smuggling activity in exchange for an early parole hearing. When Tilghman's car was searched narcotics were found.

Police relatives

Cheryl
Season one: "The Target"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Hot Shots"; "Hard Cases"; "All Prologue"; "Storm Warnings" and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "All Due Respect" and "Back Burners".

Cheryl is Shakima "Kima" Greggs' partner who shares an apartment with her. Cheryl works in the television news industry and often worries about Kima's safety as a police officer. She hopes that Kima will take a less dangerous job and start a family with her.

After Kima's shooting Cheryl insisted that she take a desk job. Kima acquiesced for a time but eventually returned to investigative work. Cheryl found this hard to understand. Cheryl has a jealous streak and insisted on accompanying Kima when she went to interview a contact in a strip club. Learning more about the case made her a little more understanding of Kima's position.

In season two Cheryl became pregnant and in season three the couple had a young baby. Kima began to spend less time at home and Cheryl was left to deal with motherhood alone.

Elena McNulty
  • Played by: Callie Thorne
  • Appears in:
Season one: "Old Cases" and "The Cost".
Season two: "Hot Shots"; "Hard Cases"; "Undertow"; "All Prologue" and "Backwash".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Amsterdam" and "Straight and True".

Elena is Jimmy McNulty's estranged wife. They have two children together Sean and Michael.

Elena is protective of her sons and worries that Jimmy is a dangerous influence on them because of his drinking. When he exposed them to danger by having them tail the subject of his investigation, Stringer Bell, she filed for an emergency order to prevent him from seeing the boys. At the court hearing the judge convinced them to work out arrangements between themselves.

In season two Elena was seen at work as a realtor showing a house to Nick Sobotka. Jimmy tried to initiate a reconcilliation with Elena and considerably cleaned up his drinking habits and behaviour. The two slept together but in the morning Elena asked Jimmy to leave as she felt it would be unfair on her sons for them to see him in the house.

Sean McNulty
  • Played by: Eric G. Ryan
  • Appears in:
Season one: "The Wire"; "Lessons" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Hot Shots"
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Straight and True" and "Slapstick".

Sean is Elena and Jimmy McNulty's son. He lives with his mother and his brother Michael following his parents separation but still sees his father. Jimmy teaches his sons the front and follow technique and when he spotted Stringer Bell in a market he had them follow him. Michael and Sean managed to record Stringer's number plate, which aided their father's investigation.

Michael McNulty
  • Played by: Antonio Cordova
  • Appears in:
Season one: "Old Cases"; "The Wire" and "Lessons".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Amsterdam"; "Straight and True" and "Slapstick".

Michael is Elena and Jimmy McNulty's son. He lives with his mother and his brother Sean following his parents separation but still sees his father. Michael plays soccer and Jimmy tries to attend his games. Jimmy teaches his sons the front and follow technique and when he spotted Stringer Bell in a market he had them follow him. Michael and Sean managed to record Stringer's number plate, which aided their father's investigation.

Nadine Moreland

Nadine is the wife of detective William "Bunk" Moreland and mother of their two children.

The Street

Barksdale Crew

Leadership

Avon Barksdale

Avon Barksdale is the leader of the Barksdale gang.

Main article: Avon Barksdale
D'Angelo Barksdale
File:The Wire Dangelo Barksdale.jpg
Played by Larry Gilliard Jr.
Season one: "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The Buys"; "Old Cases"; "The Pager"; "The Wire"; "One Arrest"; "Lessons"; "Game Day"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt"; "Cleaning Up" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage"; " Hot Shots"; "Hard Cases"; "Undertow" and "All Prologue".

D'Angelo is the nephew of Avon Barksdale and a lieutenant in his drug dealing organization which controls most of the trade in West Baltimore. As part of the organization D'Angelo ran drug sales in the 221 tower building, where he killed "Poo" Blanchard in a panic during an argument. In the series premiere, D'Angelo was shown on trial for this murder; however, his uncle bought off one of the witnesses against him, Nakeesha Lyles, and provided the organizations lawyer Maurice Levy to represent him and he went free.

As punishment for his carelessness in murdering "Poo" in front of witnesses, Avon demoted D'Angelo to running the drug crew in the low rise projects of West Baltimore. In this area, known as "the pit", he worked with Bodie Brodus, Malik "Poot" Carr, Wallace, Cass and Sterling. Though he was firm with his subordinates, he often hesitated when it came to the more brutal aspects of his business. For example the beating of Johnny Weeks. D'Angelo often struggled control his more brutal, young, second-in-command Bodie and the two vied for power and respect. In once such exchange D'Angelo falsely claimed responsibility for a second murder, Avon's girlfriend Deidre Kresson. D'Angelo worked closely with enforcer Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice who was responsible for collecting money from the pit and providing them with muscle if needed. D'Angelo's drugs were delivered to the pit by fellow lieutenant Anton "Stinkum" Artis.

Over the course of the first season, D'Angelo grew more and more ambivalent about the drug trade. When William Gant, the one witness at his trial Avon had been unable to bribe, turned up dead, D'Angelo was shaken. He was brought in for questioning and tricked into writing a letter of apology to Gant's family by detectives Jimmy McNulty and William "Bunk" Moreland. D'Angelo questioned his uncle, who evaded his accusations and persuaded him to remain loyal to the family.

Through his association with Wee-Bey D'Angelo was sometimes peripherally involved in enforcement tasks. In reality D'Angelo had been asked to deliver drugs to the girl he claimed to have murdered, Deirdre Kresson, and it was Wee-Bey who accompanied him and killed her. When Wee-Bey was involved in the shooting of a police officer D'Angelo was called in to meet with Stringer and Wee-Bey. Wee-Bey asked D'Angelo to take him to a basement appartment and when no-one would explain what was happening D'Angelo believed he was going to be killed. Actually Wee-Bey showed him how to feed his fish and asked him to drive him out to Philadelphia to go into hiding.

Despite turning a good profit D'Angelo's territory became a cause for concern when it's stash was stolen and then was raided by the police in quick succession. D'Angelo was charged with checking his team for leaks by Avon's second-in-command Stringer Bell. He witheld his dealers pay for a time and found no leaks but realised that Cass and Sterling were stealing from him. He was lenient and demoted them but did not turn them over to Stringer. Avon placed a bounty on the crew that had robbed D'Angelo, led by Omar Little. Wallace and Poot identified Omar's boyfriend, Brandon in an arcade and D'Angelo relayed the message to Stringer who had Brandon captured, tortured and killed. D'Angelo's role in the death of Brandon also came to haunt him, though he continued to do his job.

D'Angelo had a son with his girlfriend Donette. She hoped to start a home for their family, her nagging sometimes cuased D'Angelo to distance himself from her. D'Angelo also dated a dancer from a club owned by his uncle, Shardene Innes, and they lived together for a short time. When Shardene was told by police that her friend Keesha had been killed and left in a dumpster after attending a Barksdale crew party with D'Angelo and friends, she moved out, accusing D'Angelo of seeing her as trash that could easily be discarded.

D'Angelo developed a friendship with Wallace, the young money handler in the pit organization. He sensed something of himself in Wallace's aversion to the violence of their trade. When Wallace wanted to leave the business after seeing the mutilated body of Brandon D'Angelo was supportive and gave him money. He continued to ask after Wallace after he left. When Stringer began asking after Wallace D'Angelo sensed that the boy was in trouble and asked Avon to leave him alone, reassuring him that Wallace was not a danger to the organization. When Wallace returned and asked for his old job back D'Angelo did not hesitate to reinstate him and gave him advice about how to handle the loss of reputation his previous exit from the business had caused.

D'Angelo was arrested while running drugs from New York; Avon specifically asked D'Angelo to perform the task because of their family connection in light of increasing pressure from the police. D'Angelo was again interrogated by McNulty and refused to believe him when he told him that Wallace was dead. Stringer Bell came to talk to him with Levy and when questioned by D'Angelo Bell as much as admitted to ordering Wallace's execution. As a result, D'Angelo decided to refuse Levy's counsel and turn state's witness. He gave up Wee-Beys hiding place and numerous details of his uncles organization. However, a visit by his mother, Brianna, convinced him of his duty to his family and he backed out of the deal. He took the brunt of the responsbility for the Barksdale empire's crimes and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

During season two, while in prison with Avon and Wee-Bey, D'Angelo turned to snorting heroin . Wee-Bey complained to Avon that a guard named Tilghman was victimizing him. As Tilghman was involved in the prison drug trade, Avon arranged for him to smuggle in heroin laced with rat poison, and took credit as the informant when prisoners' deaths and illnesses made the news. In order to protect D'Angelo, Avon convinced him to give up his drug habit. When D'Angelo realized the reason for Avon's concern, he was disgusted, and told his mother that he wanted nothing more to do with his family. While working in the prison's library, he was strangled with a belt at the behest of Stringer Bell, who feared that he would inform on the organization. His murder was kept secret from everyone but Stringer.[14]

Russell "Stringer" Bell

Stringer is Avon Barksdale's second-in-command and the strategist behind the Barksdale crew.

Main article: Stringer Bell
Maurice Levy
File:The Wire Levy.jpg
Played by Michael Kostroff
Season One; "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The Wire"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt"; "Cleaning Up" and Sentencing".
Season Two; "Hard Cases" and "All Prologue"
Season Three; "Amsterdam", "Straight and True", "Backburners", "Middle Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".

Levy was the Barksdale crew lawyer and advisor to Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell. Levy represented Avon's nephew D'Angelo Barksdale in the "Poo" Blanchard murder trial and successfully returned a not guilty verdict. Levy's case was greatly improved when Nakeesha Lyles, a key witness, changed her story and refused to identify Barksdale in court.

Levy was also successful in having charges dropped against young Barksdale dealer Bodie Brodus when representing him in juvenile court. Levy claimed that the work was part of his firms pro bono outreach program to the judge.

Levy also advised Stringer Bell and Avon on how to tie up loose ends when they suspected they were being investigated. His assertion that they should tie up any loose ends particularly those not bound by ties of loyalty to them preceded the deaths of Nakeesha Lyles and Little Man.

Levy was instrumental in damage limitation when the Barksdale organization were struck by multiple arrests. He ensured D'Angelo was not kept in police protection so that his mother could reach him and convince him not to testify against Avon. Avon was charged for a minor offence and received a short sentence compared to D'Angelo and soldier Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice.

When Barksdale was in prison Levy successfully negotiated the bringing forward of his first parole hearing in exchange for information on a corrupt guard and the deaths of several inmates. Although the guard was corrupt Avon had actually set up the deaths to frame him with the reduced sentence as his goal.

Levy was less successful in his defence of Marquis "Bird" Hilton in the William Gant murder trial and particularly struggled with the cross examination of Omar Little. Omar drew paralells between himself and Levy when Levy described him as a parasite feeding off of the Baltimore drug trade and Levy was unable to counter. Bird was sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Daniel Phelan for the murder.

Levy later advised Stringer on his political contributions. He told him that he had been "rainmade" by Senator Clayton "Clay" Davis as Davis took contributions without exerting any influence and then took credit for positive results.[15][16]

Levy is based on several real life drug organization defence lawyers from the 1980s and 1990s that David Simon and Ed Burns knew.[1]

Front workers

Wendell "Orlando" Blocker

Orlando acted as a front operator for the Barksdale crew and ran their strip club, Orlando's. Orlando had ambitions to get involved with the drug dealing aspect of the organizaton but his superiors needed him to keep a clean record for the clubs licencing. He approached D'Angelo Barksdale to try to involve him in cocaine dealing but D'Angelo refused and eventually told his uncle, Avon. Avon punished the wayward frontman with a humiliating beating.

Orlando was later arrested when he tried to buy drugs from an undercover Maryland State Police officer, and agreed to inform on Barksdale for the police. While imprisoned for the charge he was spotted by another inmate loyal to the Barksdale crew who phoned in Orlando's whereabouts. He was visited by Barksdale organization lawyer Maurice Levy, who was there to take his name off of the club's licence rather than offer help. Orlando was killed by Barksdale soldiers Wee-Bey and Little Man in a botched sting operation which also resulted in the shooting of Detective Kima Greggs.

Keesha
  • Played by:
  • Appears in season one: "Lessons" (uncredited).

A dancer at Orlando's and friend of Shardene Innes. Keesha attended a party held by the Barksdale organization to celebrate the promotion of Anton "Stinkum" Artis. While there she slept with Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice and died from a drugs overdose. Wee-Bey left her body in a dumpster where it was discoverd by the police. Keesha's death was used by detective Lester Freamon to help persuade Shardene to turn against her employers.

Shardene Innes
Season one: "The Target"; "The Buys"; "The Pager"; "The Wire"; "Lessons"; "Game Day"; "The Cost"; "Cleaning Up"; "Sentencing".
Season two: "All Prologue"

Shardene was D'Angelo Barksdale's girlfriend in season one and a dancer at Orlando's. Their first meeting at Orlando's was inauspicious; Shardene asked him to buy her a drink, and he turned her down. Later, she gave an angry customer some of her own money to settle a dispute over his bill. Impressed, D'Angelo asked her out. Shardene and D'Angelo moved in together after seeing each other for a while.

Shardene began co-operating with the Barksdale detail when Dets. Lester Freamon and Shakima "Kima" Greggs showed her the body of Keesha - another dancer from the club. D'Angelo had told her that Keesha had been taken to hospital following an overdose at a party; in reality she had (unbeknownst to him) been raped, wrapped in a carpet, and dumped.

Shardene moved out of D'Angelo's place soon after she agreed to co-operate with the police. Kima and Freamon wired her with a microphone, and she attempted to eavesdrop on Barksdale's conversations at Orlando's, with little success. Frightened, Shardene begged to be allowed to stop, but Freamon persuaded her to help them determine the floorplan of the club so they could install a hidden camera in Avon Barksdale's office. The effort was successful, and they managed to catch Avon incriminating himself on video.

Freamon and Shardene grew close during the investigation, and by season two, they were sharing an apartment. She helped put the detectives in touch with some dancers when they were investigating the deaths of girls involved in the sex trade.

Soldiers

Anton "Stinkum" Artis

Stinkum was a lieutenant and enforcer in the Barksdale crew. He was first seen in the courtroom during D'Angelo Barksdale's murder trial. Stinkum was responsible for making resupplies from the crews base at the Franklin towers to their territory in the low rise projects, known as "the pit".

Stinkum was robbed while delivering a resupply by legendary stick-up man Omar Little. He was later involved in the killing of Omar's boyfriend and accomplice Brandon. Stinkum was identified by confidential informant "Bubbles" as an important member of the organization. He was set to be a central piece of the Barksdale details case as their investigation progressed. They deciphered the coded communications used to signal him to deliver a resupply and amassed evidence of him performing the duty. The police seized the resupply from his subordinate Kevin Johnston but allowed Stinkum to go free to avoid arousing suspicion about their surveillance methods.

Avon Barksdale awarded Stinkum the responsibility of taking over new territory and dealing drugs in the territory with a percentage of the profits to go to him. Other Barksdale enforcers organized a party to celebrate Stinkum's promotion. Stinkum was killed by Omar while trying to take a corner controlled by a drug dealer named "Scar", in revenge for the torture and murder of Brandon by Stinkum and associates. Stinkum's murder undermined the case the detail had built against his associates so far.

Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice
File:The Wire Weebey.jpg
Played by Hassan Johnson
Season One; "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The Buys"; "The Pager"; "One Arrest"; "Lessons"; "Game Day"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt" and "Sentencing".
Season Two; "Collateral Damage" and "Backwash".
Season Three; "Time After Time".

Wee-Bey is Avon Barksdale's trusted primary soldier and friend. Wee-Bey also was one of Avon's most feared enforcers, responsible for the deaths of Wendell "Orlando" Blocker, Nakeesha Lyles, Barksdale soldier Little Man, Omar's lover Brandon and Avon's lover Deidre Kresson, among many others. Wee-Bey was also behind the non-fatal shooting of Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs. In contrast to his long list of crimes Wee-Bey is good natured and has a passion for keeping fish.

Wee-Bey was responsible for more mundane activities including driving Avon and D'Angelo Barksdale and picking up money. He was once stopped by Detectives Thomas "Herc" Hauk and Ellis Carver who seized 20,000 dollars from him - this was a small loss to the massive Barksdale organization.

Wee-Bey was twice involved in gunfights with legendary stick-up man Omar Little. Their first encounter ended with Wee-Bey's friend Anton "Stinkum" Artis dead and Wee-Bey himself being shot in the leg. Wee-Bey later defended Avon against Omar when the stickup man used their pager communication system to lure Avon to a payphone. This time Wee-Bey won the distinction of being one of the few people to best Omar in a gunfight as he hit him in the arm and forced his retreat.

Following his role in the failed sting operation that resulted in Greggs' injury Wee-Bey went on the run to family in Philadelphia. Before he left he murdered the other shooter, Little Man, on orders from Avon. The detail tracked him to Philadelphia and lured him outside by setting off his car alarm to ensure a clean arrest. Once in custody Wee-Bey confessed to all of his crimes and several more to protect the Barksdale organization.

Wee-Bey was imprisoned with Avon after the Barksdale detail's investigation in season one, serving life without parole for the numerous murders he committed. While in prison Wee-Bey continued to keep fish and enjoyed an easy life under Barksdale's wing. One guard in particular, Dwight Tilghman, bothered Wee-Bey because he confessed to murdering a relative of his. Once Wee-Bey complained to Avon the problem was swiftly dealt with.[16][17]

Country
  • Played by: Addison Switzer
  • Appears in: Season Two, Season Three

Barksdale soldier who returned to work for the organization when released from prison in season two. His first task was to trail Bodie and Shamrock to Philadelphia to test their ability to follow orders for Stringer. He worked with Shamrock to set up CO Dwight Tighlman so that Avon could inform on Tilghman to reduce his prison sentence.

Country was killed in an attempted drive by on one of Marlo Stanfield's corners.

Marquis "Bird" Hilton
Season one: "The Pager" (uncredited) and "One Arrest".
Season two: "All Prologue".

Bird was a foul mouthed soldier in the Barksdale crew. He served prison time with Omar Little. Omar informed on Bird because he believed he was involved in the torture and murder of his boyfriend Brandon. He told police that Bird was responsible for the murder of state witness William Gant. Omar told the police that Bird had a favourite gun that he had seen him use to shoot Gant. Once his story was corroborated by an independent eye witness a warrant was put on Bird. Omar told the police they would find him taking drugs away from Barksdale territory because using was against the rules and that they would need to be careful as Bird was wreckless. The arrest was made and Bird was found with weapon on him. The ballistics report matched the weapon and Omar testified against Bird in court. Bird was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Little Man

Little Man was the street name of a heavyset soldier in the Barksdale crew, his full name is Wintell Royce. He was responsible for enforcing their regime at the Franklin towers specifically tower 221. He was involved in the shooting of Wendell "Orlando" Blocker and Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs with Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice. Wee-Bey reported that Little Man had been surprised by finding Greggs in the back seat and had shot her immediately. Stringer Bell decided that Little Man was unreliable and with the police cracking down on them because an officer had been shot they would be better off without him. Stringer ordered Wee-Bey to kill Little Man. The murder occurred offscreen, but Wee-Bey later tells the police where to find Little Man's body.

Savino

Savino was a soldier in the Barksdale crew, full name Savino Bratten. Savino was first seen in the courtroom for D'Angelo Barksdale's murder trial.[10] He was involved in the shooting of Det. Shakima Greggs and Wendell "Orlando" Blocker in a failed buy bust operation. Savino spoke to Orlando and left to get him his drugs. The Barksdale crew had realised Orlando was co-operating with the police and used baking soda instead of cocaine for the deal. Instead of Savino delivering the drugs, enforcers Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice and Little Man killed Orlando and injured Greggs, not knowing that she was a police officer. Savino had tried to signal them about her presence but they were uanble to se ehim because it was night time. Warrants were written up for Savino because he had been identified in the operation. The police made raids on his mothers house and he was forced to turn himself. Savino was charged for the attempt to supply fake drugs and was expected to receive a three year sentence when he refused to co-operate. He was represented by Barksdale crew lawyer Maurice Levy.

Slim Charles
File:The Wire Slim Charles.jpg
Played by Anwan Glover

Slim Charles became the Barksdale organization's chief enforcer while Stringer Bell ran things with Avon Barksdale in prison. He objected to Stringer putting product before territory after the loss of the high rise projects. When Avon was released Slim Charles was his chief enforcer in the war with Marlo Stanfield. Slim Charles escaped arraignment alongside Avon at the close of season three because he wasn't at the stash house when Avon was arrested.[16]

Dennis "Cutty" Wise

Cutty is on old school soldier who was coming to the end of a fourteen year prison sentence when Avon and Wee-Bay arrived at the prison. He was well respected by Avon and many others in Barksdaleโ€™s crew for work he performed before going to prison including murder. Despite some initial hesitation, Cutty began working with the Barksdale crew after his release. His effectiveness and intelligence as muscle is shown on several occasions when planning raids, hits and general menacing for Avon against competing crews. However, it becomes clear that Cutty no longer has tolerance for โ€œthe gameโ€ and he tells Avon as much when he tries to leave the crew by saying โ€œI ainโ€™t got it in me no moโ€™.โ€ Dennis then begins to build a new life by first doing day-labor landscaping and then by opening a boxing gym at the urging of a local church official. When he is unable to get sufficient funding to equip the gym, he approaches Avon to request the funding. Avon happily provides the money probably due to Avonโ€™s history as a boxer.

Drug dealers

Preston "Bodie" Brodus
Main article: Bodie Brodus

Bodie is a Barksdale organization drug dealer who has slowly risen through the ranks over the shows run.

Marvin Browning
  • Played by:
  • Appears in season one: "Old Cases"

Browning was a Barksdale organization drug dealer. He was arrested following a "hand-to-hand" - an investigating officer buys drugs from the suspect while undercover. Browning was on parole and faced a fifteen year minimum sentence for the offence. Despite this he refused to co-operate with the investigating officers and give them information on his superiors, deciding that he would rather face the years of prison time.

Cass
  • Played by: Sheena Barksdale
  • Appears in season one: "The Wire"

Cass was a hopper in the low rise projects under D'Angelo Barksdale. When Stringer Bell asked D'Angelo to flush out leaks in his team by witholding their pay D'Angelo discovered that Cass was stealing from him along with another hopper named Sterling. He was lenient in his punishment and let them with a warning and a demotion to lookouts.

Malik "Poot" Carr
File:The Wire Poot.jpg
Played by Tray Chaney
Season one: "The Target" (uncredited); "The Detail"; "The Buys"; "Old Cases"; "The Pager"; "The Wire"; "One Arrest"; "Lessons"; "Game Day"; "The Hunt" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Undertow"; "Backwash"; "Stray Rounds" and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due Respect"; "Amsterdam"; "Back Burners" and "Mission Accomplished".

Poot is a drug dealer in the Barksdale organization who has slowly risen through the ranks over the show's run. In season one Poot worked in the low rise projects territory called "the pit" under D'Angelo Barksdale and was friends with fellow dealers Preston "Bodie" Brodus and Wallace. He is depicted as having a very active sex life. In season one the Barksdale detail listen in on him having phone sex with a girlfriend.

Poot was trapped in the stash house with other members of his crew when it was robbed by Omar Little. Although he was unhurt Poot was terrified enough to vomit when Omar left. He was with Wallace when they spotted Omar's boyfriend and accomplice in the heist Brandon. Wallace reported the sighting to D'Angelo and Stringer Bell arrived soon afterwards with a trio of enforcers. Poot believed that Stringer would not come. Poot was not as affected as Wallace by the body of Brandon being displayed in their neighborhood as a warning to Omar. The trauma drove Wallace to leave working with the organization. Poot tried to get him to return to work but had no success. Poot followed Wallace and realised he had turned to drugs to escape his problems. He covered for Wallace with D'Angelo for some time but eventually told him the truth.

Poot stayed in touch with Wallace after the police moved Wallace away to the country - Walalce told Poot he had chosen to move to live with relatives. However, when Wallace returned to town and Stringer ordered him killed Poot and Bodie were there to carry out the orders. Bodie shot Wallace at Poot's urging and Poot took the gun and also fired shots at his former friend.

In season two Poot was rewarded with a promotion to D'Angelo's old position in charge of drug gealing in the pit. However, he had difficulty controlling his subordinates and struggled with the poor quality product available to the crew for a time. He continued to work with Bodie who was now in control of his own tower and overseeing the pit. He was significant enough to the organization to attend Stringer's strategy meetings at the funeral home. Bodie and Poot became embroiled in a turf war with an independent crew that led to the shooting of accidental shooting of a child.

At the close of season three Poot was arrested alongside Avon Barksdale.[16][18]

CCO

CCO was a Barksdale drug dealer working close to Stringer Bell. The Barksdale detail targeted him as one of the members of the organization that they wanted to convict and tried to get low level dealers like Marvin Browning to give them information on CCO, Stringer, Wee-Bey and Avon. Although a warrant was served against him CCO was not arrested with many other Barksdale dealers in season one. Stringer gave him instructions about cutting their new supply of narcotics to get it street ready.

Kevin Johnston

Johnston was a drug dealer for the Barksdale organization and associate of Anton "Stinkum" Artis. Johnston was blinded in one eye when he was struck by Detective Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski using his service weapon. The incident occurred outside of the Barksdale organizations Franklin tower territory and caused a near riot in which Prez's vehicle was destroyed.

Johnston (now wearing an eye-patch) was later arrested carrying the resupply package of narcotics for D'Angelo Barksdale in the low rise projects. He was being driven by Stinkum but bailed out of the car when the police tried to stop it. Once arrested Johnston was recognised by a remorseful Pryzbyleski and Lieutenant Cedric Daniels, who offered to help him get away from drug dealing if he wished. Johnston refused the offer and was charged for the drugs found on him at the time of his arrest.

"Little Vic"

Little Vic was the street name of a drug dealer who worked for the Barksdale organization. He was photographed by Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs when he was marked by her confidential informant "Bubbles" as part of a surveillance operation.

Shaun "Shamrock" McGinty

Shamrock was Stringer's second in command while Avon was in prison and oversaw the technical aspects of the frud operation on his behalf. Stringer sounded out his loyalty, along with Bodie, by despatching him on a fools errand to Philadelphia to collect a package of drugs that was not actually there. He had the two followed to test their reaction and was satisfied with their response.

Stringer entrusted Shamrock with driving Bodie to dispose of the weapons used in his misguided territory war after a young child was killed by a stray bullet. Unfortunately Shamrock and Bodie dropped the bag of guns onto a passing freight ship instead of into the water.

Shamrock oversaw Stringers meetings at the funeral home and tried to keep to Roberts rules of order. He was arrested alongside Avon Barksdale at the end of season three.

Peanut

Peanut was the street name of a drug dealer who ran sales from a tower block (number 4 in the Franklin terrace projects) for the Barksdale organization. Peanut was photographed by Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs when he was marked by her confidential informant "Bubbles" as part of a surveillance operation.

Roc Roc

Roc Roc was the street name of a drug dealer who was second to Peanut in running sales from a tower block for the Barksdale organization. Roc Roc was photographed by Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs when he was marked by her confidential informant "Bubbles" as part of a surveillance operation. Roc Roc'sname was shouted at the party the organization held for Stinkum to celebrate his promotion. Roc Roc was not arrested with many other Barksdale dealers at the end of season one and Bodie Brodus mentioned that he was now responsible for resupplying his stash of narcotics.

Ronnie Mo

Ronnie Mo ran the pit for the Barksdale crew before D'Angelo Barksdale. Ronnie Mo's tenure ended when he was arrested. He worked with Bodie, Poot and Wallace. Several months later Ronnie Mo was free, back working for Avon Barksdale and flirting with dancers at Avon's strip club. Ronnie Mo was arrested again, by detective Hauk, when the Barksdale investigation came to an end with many warrants issued. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment because of his prior felonies.

Sterling
  • Played by: Curtis Montez
  • Appears in season one: The Pager

Sterling was a hopper in the low rise projects under D'Angelo Barksdale. When Stringer Bell asked D'Angelo to flush out leaks in his team by witholding their pay D'Angelo discovered that Sterling was stealing from him along with another hopper named Cass. He was lenient in his punishment and let them with a warning and a demotion to lookouts.

Wallace

A young drug dealer in the Barksdale crew's low rise projects organization (called The Pit) under D'Angelo Barksdale. Wallace was friends with other dealers Malik "Poot" Carr and Preston "Bodie" Brodus.

Wallace showed the signs of a half finished education - he could identify famous people on currency better than the rest of his crew but sometimes struggled with the math of dealing and though eager to learn, did not know the rules of chess. He also took responsibility for his numerous younger children in the projects; he was seen packing their lunches, seeing them off to school and helping them with their homework. He betrayed his age when he was found playing with toys when he was supposed to be on lookout duty.

After Omar Little robbed the pit crew's stash of drugs Wallace spotted his accomplice Brandon playing pinball and called this information in to D'Angelo. Wallace waited outside the arcade for Stringer Bell to arrive and when he did he had Wallace point out Brandon. Brandon was then tortured to death and his body was displayed on the hood of a car, coincidentally outside of Wallace's home. Wallace received a quarter of the $2000 bounty on Brandon's head, but was sickened by the event and decided that he wanted out of "the game". He approached D'Angelo and told him he wanted to go back to school - D'Angelo gave him his blessing and some cash. Poot soon found that Wallace had spent the money on drugs and was spending most of his time at home.

Wallace was picked up by the police and agreed to cooperate with the Barksdale detail, revealing Stinger's involvement in the killing of Omar's boyfriend Brandon. In order to keep him safe until the time came to testify, the detail sent Wallace to live with his grandmother in rural Cambridge. After Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs was shot in an undercover operation, the Barksdale detail became so preoccupied with her condition that Wallace was temporarily forgotten. Bored with life away from Baltimore (and having kept in telephone contact with Poot), he returned to the low-rise projects and asked to get involved in the trade again. Bodie suggested he would have to take a demotion but D'Angelo welcomed him back. Stringer Bell became suspicious of Wallace's return and questioned D'Angelo about him. D'Angelo unwittingly tried to reassure Stringer of Wallace's loyalty but Stringer was unconvinced and assigned Bodie to kill Wallace. Bodie and Poot spent the day with Wallace and took him home. Bodie revealed their intentions once they had him cornered and Wallace begged for mercy because of their friendship. Bodie eventually worked up the nerve to kill Wallace and Poot took the gun and finished him off.

D'Angelo was outraged by Wallace's death. It was one of the factors that led D'Angelo to want to leave "the game" himself, and it drove a permanent wedge between he and Stringer (as D'Angelo intuitively sensed Stringer's involvement in the boy's death).

Creator David Simon has described Wallace as an emotional centre to the shows first season and praised Jordan's performance, saying that he was sorry the character had to leave but that the story comes first. Simon sees the character as an illustration of the adage "a 14 year old drug dealer is still 14."[7]

Family and girlfriends

Donette
Donette is the talkative and unfaithful mother of D'Angelo's child.
Season one: "The Detail"; "The Pager" and "The Cost".
Season two: "Hot Shots"; "Undertow"; and "Backwash"
Season three: "All Due Respect"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Amsterdam"; "Homecoming"; "Back Burners" and "Mission Accomplished".

Donette was drug lieutenant D'Angelo Barksdale's girlfriend in season one and is the mother of his son. D'Angelo brought her to a party organized by his uncle, Avon Barksdale, shortly after his acquittal where she first met Stringer Bell. She worried over her financial situation often and nagged D'Angelo for money. The two of them shared a meal together in an uptown restaurant and D'Angelo tried to explain his doubts about his lifestyle to her but she dismissed his worries. D'Angelo began seeing Shardene Innes behind Donette's back during the course of the season. D'Angelo was arrested and sentenced to twenty years in prison at the end of the season.

With D'Angelo inprisoned Avon gave Donette an allowance of support money. Donette got involved with Stinger Bell while D'Angelo was in prison. She visited D'Angelo at Stringer's behest to try to ease the experience of prison for him. Stringer had mounting concerns that D'Angelo was going to reveal information about their drug dealing organization to the authorities and covertly ordered him killed and had the death made to look like a suicide.[19]

Detective Jimmy McNulty reinvestigated D'Angelo's death and asserted that it was unlikely that he killed himself. When he tried to use this information to coerce Donette into co-operating she refused to talk to him.

Chantal

Chantal was one of Avon's girlfriend briefly seen when he stayed at her house in season one.

Brianna Barksdale
Played by Michael Hyatt
Season one: "Cleaning Up" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "All Prologue"; "Backwash" and "Stray Rounds".
Season three: "Straight and True"; "Homecoming"; "Moral Midgetry"; "Slapstick"; and "Mission Accomplished".

Brianna is D'Angelo's mother and Avon's sister. She first appeared bringing food to D'Angelo at work. Brianna grew up in Western Baltimore and her family has always been involved in the drug trade. With her brother Avon controlling narcotics on the Westside Brianna acts as an advisor and helps to manage their profits and receives a healthy income, nice home and new car for her efforts. She raised her son to manage the tought streets and got him working in the family business as soon as he was old enough. D'Angelo was quickly made a lieutenant in Avon's operation despite some misgivings. When D'Angelo was tried for murder Brianna was conspicuously absent from the courtroom. Later she appeared fiercely protective of her son when he was arrested for drug trafficking. She insisted that Avon was in the wrong for sending him alone to pick up a package of narcotics and made her brother promise to do everything he could to help D'Angelo.

When D'Angelo appeared ready to turn against his family it was Brianna who visited him and changed his mind, convincing him to accept a lengthy prison sentence to protect Avon by insisting that Avon would do the same if D'Angelo was willing to step up and run the business. When D'Angelo once more began to withdraw from his family in prison Brianna visited him to try and talk him around. This time D'Angelo insisted that he did not want to see her any more. When D'Angelo appeared to have comitted suicide in the prison Brianna was distraught. She was comforted by her brother's second-in-command Stringer Bell, actually the man who had ordered D'Angelo's death. Brianna argued with Avon to allow Stringer to manage their business his way while Avon was imprisoned.

When Avon was released she continued to advise both men. After Jimmy McNulty, having done independent policework, told Donette that there was a chance D'Angelo had been murdered, Donette, unsure of whether to believe him passed the information on to Brianna. Brianna, suspicious, met with McNulty and was convinced by the evidence. She asked Avon, indirectly at first, if he had ordered D'Angelo's killing. He (truthfully) denied having anything to do with it, even though by this point Stringer had told him about the truth.[16][20]

Deirdre Kresson

Kresson was Avon Barksdale's girlfriend for a time. Kresson became jealous of Avon's infidelity and threatened to inform the police about his drug dealing empire. Avon ordered Kresson killed and the homicide went unsolved initially. The case was investigated by Detective Keely and the only lead he discovered was a friend of Kresson's named Tywanda who told him that a man named D had visited Kresson that night.

At one time D'Angelo Barksdale took credit for the murder to enhance his reputation to his subordinates. Eventually the pattern of events was established by homicide detectives Jimmy McNulty and William "Bunk" Moreland and corroborated by a statement from D'Angelo and a confession from Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice. By a careful re-examination of the crime scene they established that Kresson was shot from outside of her kitchen window and the bullet lodged in the fridge door. They noted that their was cocaine on the floor after her death. D'Angelo told them that he delivered the package of cocaine and that she was putting it in the fridge when Wee-Bey tapped on her window. When she turned to the window Wee-Bey shot her. He was convicted of the killing along with multiple other homicides.

Omar's Crew

Omar Little

Omar Little is a legendary Baltimore stick-up artist.

Main article: Omar Little
Brandon

Brandon was Omar Little's boyfriend and a member of his stick-up crew. Brandon mistakenly used Omar's name in front of Barksdale drug dealers as they robbed their stash in the low rise projects; the name was reported back and started a long running feud between Omar and the Barksdale organization. Avon Barksdale placed bounties on all of Omar's crew. Brandon was spotted by Wallace and Malik "Poot" Carr in an arcade. They alerted D'Angelo Barksdale to the find who passed the message to Stringer Bell. Stringer arrived with three Barksdale enforcers Marquis "Bird" Hilton, Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice and Anton "Stinkum" Artis. Brandon was captured by Bell's crew, tortured, and killed. His body was displayed in the low rise projects as a warning to Omar on Avon's instructions.

Bailey

Full name John Bailey. Bailey was a member of Omar Little's stick-up crew who assists him in robbing the Barksdale crew. He was killed shortly afterwards while visiting relatives. When arrested Barksdale enforcer Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice confessed to the murder.

Dante

Dante becomes Omar's new boyfriend in the year following Brandon's death and joins his stick-up operation. In Season Three, he is kidnapped and beaten by Brother Mouzone and his associates in an effort to locate Omar. Although Dante never gives them information, he is released once Omar & Mouzone meet and begin their conspiracy to kill Stringer Bell.

Kimmy
  • Played by: Kelli R. Brown
  • Appears in:
Season two: " Hot Shots" and "Bad Dreams".
Season three: "All Due Respect"; " Dead Soldiers"; "Straight and True"; "Homecoming"; "Moral Midgetry" and "Slapstick".

Kimmy was partnered of Tosha Mitchell in robbing drug dealers until Omar Little reutrned to baltimore and then they both joined his crew. Kimmy was adept at infiltrating drug dealing operations using a number of disguises including posing as a nurse to Omar's disabld veteran. Tosha was accidentally killed by Omar's boyfriend Dante in a heist gone wrong on a Barksdale stash and Kimmy was distraught.

Tosha Mitchell
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Two, Season Three

Marlo's Crew

"Fruit"
Chris Paltrow

Marlo's primary soldier.

Marlo Stanfield

Drug dealer who got into a turf war with the Barksdale crew following Avon's release.

Vinson

East Side

"Proposition" Joe Stewart
File:The Wire Prop Joe.jpg
Played by Robert F. Chew
Season one: "Game Day" and "The Cost".
Season two: "All Prologue"; "Backwash"; "Stray Rounds"; "Storm Warnings"; and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: " Dead Soldiers"; "Straight and True"; "Slapstick"; "Reformation" and "Middle Ground".

Eastside drug kingpin who goes into business with Stringer Bell. He seems portly and amiable, but is easily a match for Avon and Stringer. Like Stringer, he prefers a peaceful solution to business disputes when possible.

In season one he first appeared at an annual basketball game, the Eastside druglord's team versus the Westside druglord's. Prop Joe's team had won for three years straight, and Avon Barksdale wanted vengeance. Joe played on Avon's pride, goading him into doubling their wager on the outcome, then bringing in a ringer at the last minute to win the game. That same day he was visited by Omar, who gave Joe some of the Barksdale gang's stolen stash in exchange for Avon's pager number, and used it to make an attempt on Avon's life. Prop Joe's role in Omar's attack remained unknown to Avon. Joe later served as a neutral go between organising a meeting between Stringer Bell and Omar to discuss truce

In season two he began playing a larger role in the show. He relied on the Greek's smuggling ring to bring his drug shipments into the Baltimore ports. His supply was much more potent than Avon's, though he lacked the territory to market it. His solution was to make an offer to Stringer Bell: his product in exchange for the right to deal in some of the Barksdale towers. Avon vehemently rejected the idea, but Stringer secretly agreed to the deal. When Avon hired Brother Mouzone to chase Prop Joe's dealers out of the towers, Joe's nephew and lieutenant Melvin "Cheese" Flagstaff was shot and wounded. Joe came up with the idea of pitting Omar against Mouzone. He set up a meeting between Stringer and Omar, where the stickup man was tricked into shooting Mouzone. This elaborate deception became unnecessary when Avon grudgingly agreed to the alliance between Stringer and Joe. At the end of season two, Stringer and Prop Joe were photographed meeting by detectives McNulty and Greggs.[16][21]

Calvin "Cheese" Wagstaff
Season two: "Undertow" and "Storm Warnings".
Season three: "Time After Time" and "All Due Respect".

Eastside drug lieutenant and nephew of "Proposition" Joe Stewart. Cheese supplied "Ziggy" Sobotka with a package of narcotics to distribute and extrorted money from him when he could not return its value. Cheese took Ziggy's car and torched it and threatened to kill him. Nick Sobotka and La La intervened on Ziggy's behalf but could only convince Cheese to give Ziggy more time. Cheese was forced to back down when Nick involved The Greeks (Cheese's uncle's suppliers). Cheese was injured by Brother Mouzone when he moved into Barksdale territory following an agreement with Stringer Bell that Avon Barksdale was unaware of and did not honour.

Cheese was one of the major case unit's first targets as a route to proposition joe himself. However Cheese avoided their surveillance afforts through disciplined use of his subordinates to make phone calls and only discussing business face to face. Following the arrest of Lavelle Mann Cheese was promoted to supplying other dealers.

Drack

Drack is an undisciplined Eastside corner boss and nephew of "Proposition" Joe Stewart. The major case unit often picked up Drack talking about drugs on their wiretap but felt it would be of little use arresting him because he did not report to anyone significant. Instead they arrested Drack's supplier, Lavelle Mann, in the hope that Drack would be promoted. Unfortunately Melvin "Cheese" Flagstaff received the promotion instead of Drack.

Lavelle Mann

Mann was a soldier in "Proposition" Joe Stewart's operation and also handled resupply for dealers like Drack. He was arrested by the detail following an undercover hand-to-hand buy.

Petey Dixon
  • Reference in:

East side drug dealer identified by the Sobotka detail as having his own territory and receiving supply from "The Greek".

"White" Mike McArdle

A mid-level East side drug dealer with his own territory. He supplied "Ziggy" Sobotka with packages of narcotics to distribute but their relationship soured when Ziggy failed to make adequate profit from the package. McArdle was supplied by "The Greek"'s smuggling operation and was arrested as part of an investigation into that operation. He was quick to turn against his suppliers and gave up all the information he had.

Others

"Bubbles"
File:The Wire Bubbles.jpg
Played by Andre Royo
  • Played by: Andre Royo
  • Appears in: Season One, Season Two, Season Three

Bubbles is a homeless heroin addict who often acts as a confidential informant for detectives McNulty and Greggs. He was best friend and mentor to Johnny Weeks. The two often pull various scams to get drug money.

In season one, Johnny was severely beaten by the Barksdale hoppers when he tried to pass them counterfeit bills. Bubbles then offered to inform on the Barksdale gang for Greggs, to get some measure of revenge. He helped identify members of the crew that ran the Barksdale pit. When Omar robbed the Barksdale stash, Bubbles was there, and gave the license plate number of Omar's van to Greggs, which helped them track down the stick-up man. Bubbles' knowledge of the street proved to be invaluable to Lt. Daniels' unit during the Barksdale investigation.

After he was nearly killed trying to steal some drugs, he tried to get off the needle, but reverted to his old habits when Greggs was shot.

In season two, McNulty recruited Bubbles to find Omar Little, whom Bunk needed as a witness in the William Gant murder. Bubbles grudgingly agreed, and in a nervous encounter with a shotgun-wielding Omar, delivered McNulty's message. At the end of season two, he was arrested by Officer Santangelo while trying to steal needles and morphine from an ambulance; in exchange for his release, he tipped off Greggs and McNulty to the new alliance between Proposition Joe and Stringer Bell.[22]

William Gant

Gant was a witness to the altercation where D'Angelo Barksdale killed "Poo" Blanchard. He identified him for the police and testified against him in court but another witness canged their story and a not guilty verdict was returned. Gant was killed shortly after D'Angelo's release. Marquis "Bird" Hilton was later convicted of the murder.[23][10]

Nakeesha Lyles

Lyles was a security guard at the building where D'Angelo Barksdale killed "Poo". She identified him for the police but when she appeared in court she changed her story.[23][10] The Barksdale crew paid Lyles to do this. Later when they realised the police were closing on them they killed Lyles to prevent her revealing their deal. Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice later confessed to her murder.

Brother Mouzone

Muscle and hitman from New York. In season two, Avon Barksdale hired him to protect the Barksdale turf and their drug operation from Proposition Joe's dealers, who were working at the Barksdale towers as part of a secret agreement between Stringer Bell and Prop Joe. Mouzone did not fit the usual picture of a hitman, always wearing a suit, bowtie, and glasses, speaking politely, and reading magazines such as Harper's and The Nation. Nonetheless, he was extremely effective; soon after his arrival at the Barksdale towers, he had intimidated Prop Joe's dealers to the point where all he had to do to keep them off was sit on a nearby bench and read his magazines. In order to maintain his alliance with Prop Joe, Stringer duped Omar Little into shooting Mouzone. However, Omar realized he had been had, and let Mouzone live. When Stringer visited him at the hospital, Mouzone informed him that their agreement was "absolved", then returned to New York.

In season three, Mouzone returned to Baltimore to search for Omar. They teamed up to kill Stringer Bell.

Damien "Day-Day" Price

Day-Day is a driver and legislative aide for Senator Clayton "Clay" Davis, his full name is Damien Lavelle Price. He was stopped by the Barksdale detail after picking up a bag of cash from the Barksdale organization's tower territory. The detail were forced to release him and return the cash when they discovered his political connections. Lt. Cedric Daniels recognized him from a political fundraiser he had attended with his wife. While there Day-Day has assumed that Daniels was also a driver and admitted a desire to rob their host's home.

Tywanda
  • Played by: Angel M. Wainwright
  • Appears in season one: "The Pager".

Tywanda was friends with Deirdre Kresson and co-operated with Detective Keely in his initial investigation of Deirdre's death. When the case was re-investigated by William "Bunk" Moreland and Jimmy McNulty Tywanda was happy to help again and gave them useful information about Avon Barksdale.

Walon

A recovering addict who "Bubbles" and Johnny meet at a narcotics anonymous meeting. They see Walon again in the projects trying to get his nephew to give up drugs. Bubble's conversations with Waylon help him realise that he wants to get clean and once he does Walon gives him some advice on keeping clean. Walon is played by singer/songwriter and recovering addict Steve Earle.

Johnny Weeks
File:The Wire Johnny.jpg
Played by Leo Fitzpatrick

Bubble's best friend and also an addict with notoriously bad luck. In the pilot episode he is beaten nearly to death by Bodie, Poot and other dealers after trying to pass counterfeit money to D'Angelo Barksdale's operation; this spurs Bubbles to become an informant.

While in the hospital for that beating, Johnny discovers he is HIV positive. In the season three finale he dies from an overdose and is discovered partially rat-eaten in the "Hamsterdam" free zone that Major Colvin had set up.[24]

Johnny is based on a young white homeless addict that David Simon met while researching The Corner, this man would follow Simon's subject drug addict Gary McCullough around.[7]

The Docks

Sobotka family

Chester "Ziggy" Sobotka

Frank Sobotka's son and Nick's cousin. Ziggy was ostensibly a dock worker but he was also involved in other criminal activity.

Frank Sobotka

Union leader who worked with The Greek to smuggle goods through the Baltimore docks.

Louis Sobotka

Frank Sobotka's elder brother and Nick Sobotka's father. Louis was forced to retire early from his trade as a shipwright. He spends his days gambling on horses and drinking at Delore's bar. He refuses to get involved in the family's smuggling operation. When a warrant is put on Nick for his drug involvement Louis convinces him to turn himself in.

Nick Sobotka

Frank Sobotka's nephew. Nick was also a dock worker. He often had to keep his cousin Ziggy out of trouble. Nick was much more cautious and level-headed than Ziggy, a fact his uncle appreciated. He was involved in his uncle's smuggling ring and often served as Frank's go-between in meetings with Vondas.

Nick had a girlfriend, Aimee, with whom he had a daughter, Ashley. Though they wanted to move in together, they were unable to afford a place of their own; when she spent the night with Nick at his parents' house, he had to hide her from them. Since Nick was one of the younger stevedores, seniority prevented him from getting enough work at the docks. Desperate for cash, he and Ziggy stole a trailer full of cameras, which they sold to the Greek's front man, Glekas. This brought Nick to the attention of Vondas, who asked him if he could procure large quantities of certain chemicals. Ziggy was immediately interested, but Nick was more conscientious, fearing that the chemicals would be used to make bombs. After he discovered that they would be used to process drugs, he agreed.

Ziggy was into drug dealing and invited Nick to join in, but his cousin initially refused. Later, when Ziggy's ineptitude nearly cost him his life, Nick bailed him out. When the two of them gave Vondas the chemicals he had requested, Nick asked for the payment half in cash, half in drugs. Since Ziggy had proved incompetent, he began selling the drugs to local dealers, with much more success than his cousin.

When Ziggy was arrested for the murder of Glekas, Vondas approached Nick with an offer to help Ziggy, in exchange for his and Frank's silence. The young Sobotka eagerly conveyed the offer to his uncle, who met with the Greek and was killed. A furious and grieving Nick turned himself in to the police, agreeing to become a witness against the Greek and his smuggling ring. He, Aimee, and Ashley entered witness protection.

Joan Sobotka

Nick Sobotka's mother.

Dock workers

Big Roy
  • Played by: Unknown
  • Appears in: Season Two

Ponytailed white stevedore who is actually much smaller than "little" big roy.

Nat Coxson
  • Played by: Luray Cooper
  • Appears in: Season Two

Nat is an African American stevedore who is dubious of Frank Sobotka's political maneuvering.

Chess
  • Played by: J Valenteen Gregg
  • Appears in: Season Two

Chess is an African American stevedore who is often seen drinking at Delore's bar and questions Frank about the source of his political capital at a union meeting.

Ringo
  • Played by: Unknown
  • Appears in: Season Two

Stevedore who received a cash supplement from Frank Sobotka when he threatened to resign from the union because oof the lack of work available.

La La

Bald African American stevedore from Frank Sobotka's union. La La has little superiority amongst union men and therefore struggles to find work. He is a friend of Nick Sobotka's and accompanied him to try and talk Cheese into giving back Ziggy's car.

Little Big Roy

Large balding Polish Stevedore from Frank Sobotka's union. Often seen drinking in Delore's bar. Frank Sobotka borrowed his union card in order to work a ship after he was arrested.

Maui

Checker from Frank Sobotka's union who had a relationship with Off. Beadie Russel. Beadie reconnected with Maui to get information about smuggling from the docks; he refused to inform on his fellow union men but told her to check the port's computer system for information. Maui had a long running feud with Ziggy Sobotka that ended with maui humiliating Ziggy by forcing him on top of a container and stranding him there.

Ott

Moustached older African American stevedore from Frank Sobotka's union. Often seen drinking in Delore's bar. Ott was set to take over from Frank as union leader when the next election came around as per the Stevedores arrangement that the position swap between a Polish and African American president after each term. Ott realised Frank planned to run again and was angry that he was not honouring the agreement. When Frank was killed Ott withdrew his candidacy to show support for Sobotka.

Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa

Checker from Frank Sobotka's union who assists him in moving contraband through the port. Horse was responsible for stealing Valchek's surveillance van in the unions feud with the police major. Horse was arrested and put on trial following the details investigation of smuggling through the Baltimore docks although the outcome of his trial was not shown.

Johnny "Fifty" Spamanto

Checker from Frank Sobotka's union who assists Nick and Ziggy in stealing from the docks for The Greeks.

The Greeks

Eton Ben-Eleazer

Eton ran The Greeks drug operations in Baltimore. Eton was Israelia rather than Greek. Was arrested and put on trial following the details investigation of smuggling through the Baltimore docks although the outcome of his trial was not shown.

George "Double G" Glekas

Glekas runs a warehouse and appliance store for The Greeks under the name Pyramid indsutries. The company was used as a front to move their stolen goods from the docks. Glekas was shot and killed by Ziggy Sobotka in a dispute over payment for stolen cars. Ziggy confessed to the murder and was shown serving time for the crime.

Sergei "Serge" Malatov

Driver and muscle for The Greek. Sergei was Ukranian although people often assumed he was Russian and many called him Boris. Sergei was convinced to inform on The Greek when security camera footage of him assualting and abducting a crewman for The Greeks was discovered by the detail.

Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos

The Greek's second-in-command, and Frank Sobotka's point of contact for his smuggling with The Greek. He was even-tempered and patient, often having to soothe an increasingly angry and frightened Sobotka as the Baltimore police began a serious investigation into Sobotka's union. He also handled much less savory tasks: when a sailor in the Greek's employ murdered the fourteen dead girls Beadie Russell later found at the Baltimore docks, Vondas killed the man after the Greek interrogated him.

He often met with Nick Sobotka, who frequently served as Frank's go-between, and Vondas took an almost paternal interest in the younger man. Impressed with Nick's intelligence, he gave him the task of stealing a shipment of chemicals.

He escaped arrest when Daniels' detail began rounding up the members of the Greek's smuggling ring, leaving the country under a fake passport with the Greek.

"The Greek"

Mysterious figure who organized smuggling through the Baltimore docks. He is known only by his nickname, which is an excellent alias because he is not Greek.

Others

Aimee
  • Played by: Kristin Proctor
  • Appears in: Season Two

Nick Sobotka's girlfriend and the mother of his daughter, Ashley. Aimee could not stay overnight at Nick's home because he still lived with his parents. Aimee hopes to get a place for her yung family to share and encourages Nick to go house hunting with her despite his lack of income from his dock work. She is shocked when she discovers a bundle of cash in his basement room but he explains it by telling her it comes from a new warehouse manager position. Aimee was at Nick's home when the police raided it and found a stash of heroin. She accepted his misdeeds and went into protective custody with him, the two finally sharing a home for a night.

Delores
  • Played by: Jill Redding
  • Appears in: Season Two

Owner of the bar frequented by the Stevedores.

Bruce DiBiago
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Two

Frank Sobotka's lobbyist with heavy political contacts,

Jerome Lewandowski
  • Played by:
  • Appears in: Season Two

Polish priest in the East side who receives donations from both Frank Sobotka's stevedore's union and Major Valchek's police union.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Dan Kois (2004). "Everything you were afraid to ask about "The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
  2. ^ "Character profile - Acting Police Commissioner Ervin Burrel". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Org Chart - The Law". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  4. ^ "Character profile - Major Howard "Bunny" Colvin". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  5. ^ "Character profile - Lieutenant Dennis Mello". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  6. ^ "Character profile - Deputy Commissioner William Rawls". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  7. ^ a b c d e David Simon (2005). The Wire "The Target" commentary track (DVD). HBO.
  8. ^ "Character profile - Officer Caroline Massey". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  9. ^ "Character profile - Detective Leander Sydnor". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  10. ^ a b c d e David Simon, Ed Burns (2002-06-02). "The Target". The Wire. Season 1. Episode 1. HBO. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |city= and |writers= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Character profile - Sergeant Jay Landsman". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  12. ^ "Character profile - Beatrice Russell". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-19.
  13. ^ "Character profile - Marla Daniels". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  14. ^ "Character profile - D'Angelo Barksdale". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-08-05.
  15. ^ "Character profile - Maurice "Maury" Levy". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "Org Chart - The Street". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  17. ^ "Character profile - Wee-Bey". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
  18. ^ "Character profile - Poot". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
  19. ^ "Character profile - Donette". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  20. ^ "Character profile - Brianna Barksdale". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-08-05.
  21. ^ "Character profile - Proposition Joe Stewart". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-08-05.
  22. ^ "Character profile - Bubbles". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-08-05.
  23. ^ a b "Episode guide - episode 01 The Target". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
  24. ^ "Character profile - Johnny". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_The_Wire_characters&oldid=68270979"