List of The Wire characters

List of The Wire characters

The following is a listing of fictional characters from the HBO series The Wire, which has a large ensemble cast. Critics have described the characters as morally complex with no clear division into heroes and villains. Unusually for its time, the show had a large number of complex Black characters.

The series has no single main character; instead, the focus is on the city of Baltimore and its institutions. All of the characters ultimately serve the purpose of telling a story about the American city. The viewer is expected to see how the characters are connected to a larger system that the individual characters often lack the perspective to understand.

Many of the characters, such as Bunk Moreland and Bubbles, are based on specific real-life counterparts. Others, like Omar Little, are composites of multiple people.

Appearances

Main cast

<table><thead><tr><th>Actor</th><th>Character</th><th>Seasons</th><th>Episode count</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Dominic West</td><td>Jimmy McNulty</td><td>Main</td><td>56</td></tr><tr><td>John Doman</td><td>William Rawls</td><td>Main</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>Idris Elba</td><td>Russell "Stringer" Bell</td><td>Main</td><td></td><td>36</td></tr><tr><td>Frankie R. Faison</td><td>Ervin Burrell</td><td>Main</td><td>Recurring</td><td>40</td></tr><tr><td>Lawrence Gilliard Jr.</td><td>D'Angelo Barksdale</td><td>Main</td><td></td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>Wood Harris</td><td>Avon Barksdale</td><td>Main</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>Deirdre Lovejoy</td><td>Rhonda Pearlman</td><td>Main</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>Wendell Pierce</td><td>William "The Bunk" Moreland</td><td>Main</td><td>54</td></tr><tr><td>Lance Reddick</td><td>Cedric Daniels</td><td>Main</td><td>58</td></tr><tr><td>Andre Royo</td><td>Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins</td><td>Main</td><td>40</td></tr><tr><td>Sonja Sohn</td><td>Kima Greggs</td><td>Main</td><td>56</td></tr><tr><td>Chris Bauer</td><td>Frank Sobotka</td><td></td><td>Main</td><td></td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Paul Ben-Victor</td><td>Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos</td><td></td><td>Main</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Clarke Peters</td><td>Lester Freamon</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>54</td></tr><tr><td>Amy Ryan</td><td>Beatrice "Beadie" Russell</td><td></td><td>Main</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Aidan Gillen</td><td>Tommy Carcetti</td><td></td><td>Main</td><td>35</td></tr><tr><td>Jim True-Frost</td><td>Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>Guest</td><td>45</td></tr><tr><td>Robert Wisdom</td><td>Howard "Bunny" Colvin</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>Main</td><td>Guest</td><td>25</td></tr><tr><td>Seth Gilliam</td><td>Ellis Carver</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Domenick Lombardozzi</td><td>Thomas "Herc" Hauk</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>53</td></tr><tr><td>J. D. Williams</td><td>Preston "Bodie" Broadus</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td></td><td>37</td></tr><tr><td>Michael K. Williams</td><td>Omar Little</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>42</td></tr><tr><td>Corey Parker Robinson</td><td>Leander Sydnor</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Main</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>Reg E. Cathey</td><td>Norman Wilson</td><td></td><td>Main</td><td>23</td></tr><tr><td>Chad Coleman</td><td>Dennis "Cutty" Wise</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>Guest</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Jamie Hector</td><td>Marlo Stanfield</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>Glynn Turman</td><td>Clarence Royce</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>Guest</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>Clark Johnson</td><td>Augustus Haynes</td><td></td><td>Main</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Tom McCarthy</td><td>Scott Templeton</td><td></td><td>Main</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Gbenga Akinnagbe</td><td>Chris Partlow</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>26</td></tr><tr><td>Neal Huff</td><td>Michael Steintorf</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Jermaine Crawford</td><td>Duquan "Dukie" Weems</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Tristan Wilds</td><td>Michael Lee</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Kostroff</td><td>Maurice Levy</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>Main</td><td>21</td></tr><tr><td>Michelle Paress</td><td>Alma Gutierrez</td><td></td><td>Main</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Isiah Whitlock Jr.</td><td>Clay Davis</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Main</td><td>22</td></tr></tbody></table>

Recurring cast

<table><thead><tr><th>Actor</th><th>Character</th><th>Seasons</th><th>Episode count</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Delaney Williams</td><td>Jay Landsman</td><td>Recurring</td><td>45</td></tr><tr><td>Robert F. Chew</td><td>Joseph "Proposition Joe" Stewart</td><td>Recurring</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>Maria Broom</td><td>Marla Daniels</td><td>Recurring</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>Tray Chaney</td><td>Malik "Poot" Carr</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>26</td></tr><tr><td>Melanie Nicholls-King</td><td>Cheryl</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Callie Thorne</td><td>Elena McNulty</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Hyatt</td><td>Brianna Barksdale</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Doug Olear</td><td>Terrance "Fitz" Fitzhugh</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>Leo Fitzpatrick</td><td>Johnny Weeks</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Shamyl Brown</td><td>Donette</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Hassan Johnson</td><td>Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Susan Rome</td><td>Ilene Nathan</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Erik Todd Dellums</td><td>Dr. Randall Frazier</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Nat Benchley</td><td>Augustus Polk</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Robert F. Colesberry</td><td>Ray Cole</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Salconi</td><td>Michael Santangelo</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>25</td></tr><tr><td>Ed Norris</td><td>Ed Norris</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>Brian Anthony Wilson</td><td>Vernon Holley</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>Antonio Cordova</td><td>Michael McNulty</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Eric Gershowitz</td><td>Sean James McNulty</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Peter Gerety</td><td>Daniel Phelan</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Wendy Grantham</td><td>Shardene Innes</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Richard DeAngelis</td><td>Raymond Foerster</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Fredro Starr</td><td>Marquis "Bird" Hilton</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Tony D. Head</td><td>Bobby Reed</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Bobby J. Brown</td><td>Robert "Bobby" Brown</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Steve Earle</td><td>Walon</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Chris Clanton</td><td>Savino Bratton</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Michael B. Jordan</td><td>Wallace</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>Clayton LeBouef</td><td>Wendell "Orlando" Blocker</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Brandon Price</td><td>Anton "Stinkum" Artis</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Kevin Darnall</td><td>Brandon Wright</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Al Brown</td><td>Stanislaus "Stan" Valchek</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Willis</td><td>Andy Krawczyk</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Method Man</td><td>Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>S. Robert Morgan</td><td>Butchie</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Kelli R. Brown</td><td>Kimmy</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Richard Burton</td><td>Shaun "Shamrock" McGinty</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Potts</td><td>Brother Mouzone</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>DeAndre McCullough</td><td>Lamar</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Edwina Findley</td><td>Tosha Mitchell</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Benay Berger</td><td>Amanda Reese</td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Bill Raymond</td><td>The Greek</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Pablo Schreiber</td><td>Nick Sobotka</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>Jeffrey Pratt Gordon</td><td>Johnny "Fifty" Spamanto</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>Luray Cooper</td><td>Nat Coxson</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Chris Ashworth</td><td>Sergei Malatov</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Richard Pelzman</td><td>Little Big Roy</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Gary "D.Reign"</td><td>Frog</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>James Ransone</td><td>Ziggy Sobotka</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Charley Scalies</td><td>Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Bus Howard</td><td>Vernon "Ott" Motley</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Jeffrey Fugitt</td><td>Claude Diggins</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Jill Redding</td><td>Delores</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Kristin Proctor</td><td>Aimee</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Kelvin Davis</td><td>La La</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Teddy Cañez</td><td>George "Double G" Glekas</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Lance Irwin</td><td>Maui</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Lev Gorn</td><td>Eton Ben-Eleazer</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Robert Hogan</td><td>Louis Sobotka</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Brook Yeaton</td><td>"White" Mike McArdle</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Tom Mardirosian</td><td>Kristos Koutris</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Jay Landsman</td><td>Dennis Mello</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>Anwan Glover</td><td>Slim Charles</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>27</td></tr><tr><td>Felicia Pearson</td><td>Felicia "Snoop" Pearson</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>26</td></tr><tr><td>Ryan Sands</td><td>Lloyd "Truck" Garrick</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Benjamin Busch</td><td>Anthony Colicchio</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Gregory L. Williams</td><td>Michael Crutchfield</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>Edward Green</td><td>Spider</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Frederick Strother</td><td>Odell Watkins</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Rick Otto</td><td>Kenneth Dozerman</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Megan Anderson</td><td>Jen Carcetti</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>Troj Marquis Strickland</td><td>Fat Face Rick</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Melvin Williams</td><td>The Deacon</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Cleo Reginald Pizana</td><td>Coleman Parker</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Brandy Burre</td><td>Theresa D'Agostino</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Christopher Mann</td><td>Anthony "Tony" Gray</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Dravon James</td><td>Mrs. Grace Sampson</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Joilet F. Harris</td><td>Caroline Massey</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Justin Burley</td><td>Justin</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Brandon Fobbs</td><td>Fruit</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Norris Davis</td><td>Vinson</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Ernest Waddell</td><td>Dante</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Leonard A. Anderson</td><td>Gerard</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Brandan T. Tate</td><td>Sapper</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Melvin Jackson, Jr.</td><td>Bernard</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Mia Arnice Chambers</td><td>Squeak</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Gary D'Addario</td><td>Gary DiPasquale</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Thuliso Dingwall</td><td>Kenard</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>Kwame Patterson</td><td>Monk Metcalf</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Marlyne Afflack</td><td>Nerese Campbell</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Keenon Brice</td><td>Aaron "Bug" Manigault</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Dion Graham</td><td>Rupert Bond</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Darrell Britt-Gibson</td><td>Darius "O-Dog" Hill</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Shamika Cotton</td><td>Raylene Lee</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Donnie Andrews</td><td>Donnie</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Derrick Purvey</td><td>Big Guy</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Maestro Harrell</td><td>Randy Wagstaff</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Julito McCullum</td><td>Namond Brice</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Tootsie Duvall</td><td>Marcia Donnelly</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>Ramón Rodríguez</td><td>Renaldo</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>Guest</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Rashad Orange</td><td>Sherrod</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Dan DeLuca</td><td>Dr. David Parenti</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Nathan Corbett</td><td>Donut</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Sandi McCree</td><td>De'Londa Brice</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Taylor King</td><td>Zenobia Dawson</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Jonnie Louis Brown</td><td>Eddie Walker</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Stacie Davis</td><td>Miss Duquette</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Tyrell Baker</td><td>Little Kevin</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Boris McGiver</td><td>Charles Marimow</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Alfonso Christian Lover</td><td>Old Face Andre</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Richard Hildebird</td><td>Claudell Withers</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Gene Terinoni</td><td>Jimmy Asher</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Armando Cadogan, Jr</td><td>Bubbles' Tormentor</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td></td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Bill Zorzi</td><td>Bill Zorzi</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Stone Forrest</td><td>Frank Barlow</td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Todd Scofield</td><td>Jeff Price</td><td></td><td>Guest</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>David Costabile</td><td>Thomas Klebanow</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Sam Freed</td><td>James Whiting</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Brandon Young</td><td>Mike Fletcher</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Donald Neal</td><td>Jay Spry</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Robert Poletick</td><td>Steven Luxenberg</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Thomas J. McCarthy</td><td>Tim Phelps</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Dennis Hill</td><td>Christeson</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Kara Quick</td><td>Rebecca Corbett</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Bruce Kirkpatrick</td><td>Roger Twigg</td><td></td><td>Recurring</td><td>4</td></tr></tbody></table>

A to Z

A

• Artis, Anton "Stinkum"

B

• Bailey, John

• Barksdale, Brianna

• Ben-Eleazer, Eton

• "Big Guy"

• Blocker, Wendell "Orlando"

• Bratton, Savino

• Brice, De'Londa

C

• Carcetti, Thomas "Tommy"

• Colvin, Howard "Bunny"

• Cousins, Reginald "Bubbles"

D

• The Deacon

• "Dee-Dee"

• Donnie

F

• "Frog"

G

• Glekas, George a.k.a. "Double G"

H

• Hilton, Marquis "Bird"

• "Hucklebuck"

I

• Innes, Shardene

J

• Johnson, Herbert De'Rodd a.k.a. "Puddin"

L

• Lamar

• Lee, Raylene

• "Little Kevin"

• "Little Man"

M

• Manigault, Devar

• McArdle, "White" Mike

• McGinty, Shaun "Shamrock"

• Metcalf,"Monk"

• Mitchell, Tosha

O

• Old Face Andre

P

• Pearson, Felicia "Snoop"

• Pryzbylewski, Roland "Prez"

R

• Renaldo

• "Ronnie Mo"

• Russell, Beatrice "Beadie"

S

• Sherrod

• "Squeak"

• Sterling

• Stewart, "Proposition" Joe

V

• Vondopoulos, Spiros "Vondas"

W

• Walon

• Weeks, Johnny

• Weems, Duquan "Dukie"

• Williamson, Kintel

• Wilson, Norman

• Wise, Dennis "Cutty"

• Wright, Brandon