"Little Melvin" Williams, a Baltimore drug lord arrested in the 1980s by an investigation that Burns had been part of, had a recurring role as a deacon beginning in the third season. Jay Landsman, a longtime police officer who inspired the character of the same name, played Lieutenant Dennis Mello. Baltimore police commander Gary D'Addario served as the series technical advisor for the first two seasons and has a recurring role as prosecutor Gary DiPasquale. Simon shadowed D'Addario's shift when researching his book "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets" and both D'Addario and Landsman are subjects of the book.
Casting
The Wire
The Wire | Casting
Detective Bunk Moreland, Detective Jimmy McNulty, Cedric Daniels to name a few Bunk Moreland, Jimmy McNutty, Cedric Daniels, Omar Little, Snoop and others. Detective Bunk Moreland, Detective Jimmy McNulty, Cedric Daniels, Bunk, Bubbles, Omar Little, Snoop and many more. Detective Bunk Moreland, Detective Jimmy McNulty, Cedric Daniels, Omar Little and Snoop
what year is the wire season 1 set in
user
Sorry. I cannot find the answer based on the context.
assistant
what is the wire?
user
It is an American crime drama television series
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who created it?
user
David Simon
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where was it filmed?
user
Set and produced in Baltimore, Maryland
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who were the characters?
user
The casting of the show has been praised for avoiding big-name stars and using character actors who appear natural in their roles. The looks of the cast as a whole have been described as defying TV expectations by presenting a true range of humanity on screen. Most of the cast is African-American, consistent with the demographics of Baltimore. Wendell Pierce, who plays Detective Bunk Moreland, was the first actor to be cast. Dominic West, who won the ostensible lead role of Detective Jimmy McNulty, sent in a tape he recorded the night before the audition's deadline of him playing out a scene by himself.
The Wire | Casting
McNulty's last name was originally McArdle, according to a draft of the pilot script. Brook Yeaton is also credited as an assistant set dresser and set dressing buyer for the show.
Street-level characters of The Wire | "White" Mike McArdle
"The Wire" employs a broad ensemble cast, supplemented by many recurring guest stars who populate the institutions featured in the show. The majority of the cast is black, which accurately reflects the demographics of Baltimore. The show's creators are also willing to kill off major characters, so that viewers cannot assume that a given character will survive simply because of a starring role or popularity among fans. In response to a question on why a certain character had to die, David Simon said, We are not selling hope, or audience gratification, or cheap victories with this show. "The Wire" is making an argument about what institutions—bureaucracies, criminal enterprises, the cultures of addiction, raw capitalism even—do to individuals.
The Wire | Cast and characters
The five subjects are, in chronological order: the illegal drug trade, the seaport system, the city government and bureaucracy, education and schools, and the print news medium. Simon chose to set the show in Baltimore because of his familiarity with the city. The large cast consists mainly of actors who are little known for their other roles, as well as numerous real-life Baltimore and Maryland figures in guest and recurring roles. Simon has said that despite its framing as a crime drama, the show is "really about the American city, and about how we live together. It's about how institutions have an effect on individuals.
The Wire | Introduction
Peter Gerety had a recurring role as Judge Phelan, the official who started the case moving.
The Wire | Main cast
Cathey as political aide Norman Wilson; and Domenick Lombardozzi as troubled defense investigator Thomas "Herc" Hauk.
The Wire (season 5) | Cast
"The Wire", a television drama series created by David Simon, premiered on June 2, 2002 on HBO in the United States and ended on March 9, 2008. 60 episodes aired over the show's five seasons, plus three additional prequel shorts. Each episode has a running time of 55–60 minutes. "The Wire" is set in Baltimore, Maryland; each season of the series expands its focus on a different part of the city. The show features a large ensemble cast; many characters are only featured prominently in a single season. A group of characters, mainly in the Baltimore Police Department, appear in every season.
List of The Wire episodes | Introduction
Williams gained recognition as an actor for his portrayal of Omar Little in "The Wire," which began filming in 2002. The character was based on Donnie Andrews, as well as other crime figures in Baltimore. Williams received the part after only a single audition. He was initially told that the character was slated to appear in just seven episodes of the first season and feared that the character would be killed before the end of the season. However, creator David Simon stated that they always planned to keep the character as part of the continuing ensemble should the show be renewed beyond the first season.
Michael K. Williams | "The Wire"
Although credited, Michael K. Williams and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. do not appear in this episode.
-30- (The Wire) | Starring cast
The fifth season features an examination of a fictionalized version of "The Baltimore Sun" and introduced several journalist characters.
List of The Wire characters | The Paper
It's too fucking good." He is present when Carcetti wins the gubernatorial election and becomes governor of Maryland.
Norman Wilson (The Wire) | Season five
Jim True-Frost portrayed Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski, a former member of the Major Crimes Unit who has become a teacher in an inner city school after inadvertently killing a fellow officer in season three.
The Wire (season 4) | Cast
The driven, ruthless Barksdale (Wood Harris) was aided by business-minded Stringer Bell (Idris Elba). Avon's nephew D'Angelo Barksdale (Larry Gilliard Jr.) ran some of his uncle's territory, but also possessed a guilty conscience.
The Wire (season 1) | Cast
recurring character of the same name Former Baltimore Police Department homicide detective mentioned in David Simon's "" who spawned a character of the same name played by actor Brian Anthony Wilson throughout the series.
Police of The Wire | Vernon Holley
Although credited, John Doman and Domenick Lombardozzi do not appear in this episode.
The Cost (The Wire) | Starring cast
Stories for the show are often co-written by Ed Burns, a former Baltimore homicide detective and public school teacher who has worked with Simon on other projects including "The Corner". The writing staff includes acclaimed crime fiction novelist George P. Pelecanos from Washington, D.C. Pelecanos has commented that he was attracted to the project because of the opportunity to work with Simon. Staff writer Rafael Alvarez was a colleague of Simon's from "The Sun" and a Baltimore native with working experience in the port area. Another city native and independent filmmaker, Joy Lusco Kecken, joined the writing staff and served as the script coordinator.
The Wire (season 1) | Crew
Although credited, Wendell Pierce, Jim True-Frost, Seth Gilliam, and Domenick Lombardozzi do not appear in this episode.
Middle Ground (The Wire) | Starring cast
Although credited, Deirdre Lovejoy does not appear in this episode.
The Wire (The Wire episode) | Starring cast
D. Williams and Michael K. Williams all had significant recurring roles in the first two seasons. Although credited, Michael K. Williams does not appear in this episode.
Time After Time (The Wire) | Starring cast
Thomas J. "Tommy" Carcetti ( ) is a fictional character on the HBO drama "The Wire", played by Aidan Gillen. Carcetti is an ambitious Baltimore politician who begins the series with a seat on the city council.
Tommy Carcetti | Introduction
The focus of the fourth season shifted between a local school, the mayoral election, police department politics and action on the street corners. The returning starring cast consisted of Dominic West as Officer Jimmy McNulty, the formerly insubordinate detective who attempts to shed his ability and his problems in favor of a better life. West was at the time homesick and wanting to spend time with his young daughter in England; he also felt the character's plot arc had reached a reasonable end point in season 3, so West arranged with the writers for McNulty's role to be greatly reduced in Season 4.
The Wire (season 4) | Cast
Ervin H. Burrell is a fictional character on the HBO drama "The Wire", played by Frankie Faison. Burrell was an officer in the Baltimore Police Department who ascended from Deputy Commissioner of Operations to Commissioner over the course of the show. He was fired by Mayor Tommy Carcetti for falsifying crime statistics.
Ervin Burrell | Introduction
The fictional HBO drama series "The Wire" focused largely on the Baltimore docks in its second season, introducing many new characters to the cast, which include the working Stevedores and their families as well as the criminal organization that controls smuggling through the Baltimore docks.
Characters from the docks of The Wire | Introduction
According to series creator David Simon, Pierce was cast immediately after completing his audition for the part. In Jonathan Abrams' book "All The Pieces Matter", about the process of making "The Wire", Simon described Pierce's state of mind at the audition: "He was really pissed off. He had gotten in an argument with a cab driver. It was one of those sort of trying-to-hail-a-cab-while-black moments in New York, and he came in and he was steaming." Although he tried to apologize for being upset, the casting staff felt his attitude was perfect for a stressed-out Baltimore homicide detective. Pierce was not aware of the rationale until much later.
Bunk Moreland | Casting
The following is a listing of fictional characters from the HBO series, "The Wire". Note that some characters' allegiances or positions may have changed over time; and, although the series has ended, the placement below is generally meant to reflect their most recent situation. Also, some specific plot lines may be revealed in a character's description.
List of The Wire characters | Introduction
Although credited, Domenick Lombardozzi, John Doman, Deirdre Lovejoy, Andre Royo and Sonja Sohn do not appear in this episode.
Hot Shots (The Wire) | Credits
recurring character of the same name Former Baltimore Police Department homicide detective mentioned in David Simon's "" who spawned a character of the same name played by actor Gregory L. Williams throughout the series.
Police of The Wire | Michael Crutchfield
Jay Landsman is a semi-fictional character on the HBO drama "The Wire" based upon the real life Baltimore City police officer Jay Landsman. The fictional character of Jay Landsman is portrayed by actor Delaney Williams.
Jay Landsman (The Wire) | Introduction
Although credited, Frankie Faison and Deirdre Lovejoy do not appear in this episode.
Undertow (The Wire) | Starring cast
It is not designed purely as an entertainment. It is, I'm afraid, a somewhat angry show.
The Wire | Cast and characters
At that "Night at the Wire" event, fans were allowed to tour the "Baltimore Sun" newsroom constructed for the show. The real newspaper allowed the show to use their name but stipulated that no current employees could appear in the series. The newsroom was an entirely built set constructed at the show's out-of-town soundstage. The actual "Washington Post" newsroom was also featured, as one reporter visits for an interview. "The Wire" is the first production to be allowed to film at the location; even the film "All the President's Men" about the paper's role in breaking the Watergate scandal had to build a set to represent the paper.
The Wire (season 5) | Locations
Although credited, Deirdre Lovejoy, Andre Royo, Domenick Lombardozzi, and Michael Kostroff do not appear in this episode.
Clarifications (The Wire) | Starring cast
In his youth Melvin Williams, the actor who plays the Deacon, was a real-life drug kingpin who was arrested by series writer Ed Burns in 1984 when the latter was a Baltimore city police officer. Creator David Simon was responsible for covering the arrest for "The Baltimore Sun" at the time. Williams received a 34-year sentence for his crimes and much of the evidence against him came from a wiretap investigation like the one featured in the first season of the show.
Street-level characters of The Wire | The Deacon
Following the death of Robert F. Colesberry, director Joe Chappelle joined the production staff as a co-executive producer and continued to regularly direct episodes. Baltimore Sun writer and political journalist William F. Zorzi joined the writing staff in the third season and brought a wealth of experience to the show's examination of Baltimore politics. David Simon had originally hoped to create a city hall spinoff show, which would run in tandem with subsequent seasons of "The Wire", and had even written scripts for it. But HBO declined, according to Simon: "HBO said, 'No, we only want one show that nobody is watching in Baltimore, not two!'".
The Wire (season 3) | Production
Wilson becomes disillusioned with Carcetti when he puts his own ambition above the needs of the city. He talks with Clarence Royce's former advisor, Coleman Parker, and muses about managing the campaign of another up-and-coming politician on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Norman Wilson (The Wire) | Season four
Although credited, Clarke Peters, Jim True-Frost, and Corey Parker Robinson do not appear in this episode.
Homecoming (The Wire) | Starring cast
Stevedores, their families, and the criminal organization that is involved in the smuggling through the Baltimore docks are featured.
List of The Wire characters | The Docks
"Little Melvin" Williams, a Baltimore drug lord arrested in the 1980s by an investigation that Burns had been part of, had a recurring role as a deacon beginning in the third season. Jay Landsman, a longtime police officer who inspired the character of the same name, played Lieutenant Dennis Mello. Baltimore police commander Gary D'Addario served as the series technical advisor for the first two seasons and has a recurring role as prosecutor Gary DiPasquale. Simon shadowed D'Addario's shift when researching his book "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets" and both D'Addario and Landsman are subjects of the book.
The Wire | Casting
Casimir Church, Baltimore. His allegiances are never made clear, though from the photo on the crime board in Season 2 he is shown with Petey Dixon. He is seen early in season two distributing a package for Ziggy Sobotka (and stealing from him in the process), and later negotiates with Nick Sobotka, who first admonishes him for being a wigga, to distribute another. During the early stages of season two's investigation, he sells heroin to Thomas "Herc" Hauk and is photographed by Kima Greggs and Ellis Carver. He can also be seen for a split second in the series finale during the closing montage.
Street-level characters of The Wire | Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff
Al Brown and Jay Landsman reprised their roles as patrol division officers Stan Valchek and Dennis Mello. Michael Salconi recurred as veteran Western patrolman Michael Santangelo.
The Wire (season 3) | Recurring roles
Michael B. Jordan auditioned before "The Wire" casting director Alexa Fogel in New York City for the role of Bodie. He was called back twice and the auditions went well, but he was turned down for the part because Fogel thought he was too young. The part went to Jordan's friend J. D. Williams, who grew up in the same hometown of Newark, New Jersey. Jordan was asked instead to audition for the younger character Wallace, and was cast in the part. Jordan did little preparation for the part, but used his experiences growing up on the streets of Newark as a way to prepare for the role.
Wallace (The Wire) | Creation
This episode marks the first appearance of homicide Detectives Ed Norris and Vernon Holley, seen investigating the death of Brandon. Ed Norris is played by former Baltimore Police Commissioner Ed Norris; the character's personality is based on the real Norris, but his history is entirely different from his portrayor's. According to "", there was actually an African-American detective in the Baltimore Police Department homicide division named Vernon Holley. Also seen for the first time is Sean McNulty, the oldest son of Jimmy and Elena McNulty.
The Wire (The Wire episode) | First appearances
The three exceptions were the first season finale which uses the phrase "All in the game", attributed to "Traditional West Baltimore", a phrase used frequently throughout all five seasons including that episode; the fourth season finale which uses the words "If animal trapped call 410-844-6286" written on boarded up vacant homes attributed to "Baltimore, traditional" and the series finale, which started with a quote from H. L. Mencken that is shown on a wall at "The Baltimore Sun" in one scene, neither quote being spoken by a character. Progressive story arcs often unfold in different locations at the same time.
The Wire | Episode structure
In the third season Bell is killed by Omar and Brother Mouzone in his own commercial building that was in development at the time.
Street-level characters of The Wire | Russell "Stringer" Bell
The character is based on and named after a real homicide detective sergeant whom David Simon had met while researching the book "". The character is often given dialogue that the writers recall the real Landsman using. Delaney Williams was chosen for the part because of the creators' experience of working with him in small roles on "Homicide" and "The Corner". The real Jay Landsman can also be seen on "The Wire" in the role of Dennis Mello, administrative aide to Major Colvin, first in an uncredited appearance in the season 2 episode "Stray Rounds", and later as a regular cast member.
Jay Landsman (The Wire) | Origins
The Wire is an American crime drama television series created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon. The series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. "The Wire" premiered on June 2, 2002 and ended on March 9, 2008, comprising 60 episodes over five seasons. The idea for the show started out as a police drama loosely based on the experiences of his writing partner Ed Burns, a former homicide detective and public school teacher. Set and produced in Baltimore, Maryland, "The Wire" introduces a different institution of the city and its relationship to law enforcement in each season, while retaining characters and advancing storylines from previous seasons.
The Wire | Introduction
Levy is among "The Wire's" least sympathetic characters; "Slate" writer David Plotz describes him as "the most repulsive piece of garbage in the city of Baltimore." He is also the show's most explicitly Jewish character. Avon Barksdale's sister Brianna refers to him as "that Jew lawyer," and Levy is shown using Yiddish words (for instance, saying Herc was "mishpoceh", meaning "family" and describing Clay Davis as a "goniff", or thief) praising his wife's brisket, criticizing McNulty for "dragging me from the Levy family preserve on a Friday night," etc. Some writers have suggested that the character reflects some anti-semitic stereotypes.
Maurice Levy (The Wire) | Analysis and origins
The major characters of the first season were divided between those on the side of the law and those involved in drug-related crime. The investigating detail was launched by the actions of Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), whose insubordinate tendencies and personal problems played counterpoint to his ability as a criminal investigator. The detail was led by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels (Lance Reddick) who faced challenges balancing his career aspirations with his desire to produce a good case. Kima Greggs (Sonja Sohn) was a capable lead detective who faced jealousy from colleagues and worry about the dangers of her job from her domestic partner.
The Wire | Main cast
Although credited, Chad Coleman, John Doman, Frankie Faison, Andre Royo, Michael K. Williams and Robert Wisdom do not appear in this episode. Thomas Hessenauer has a cameo in this episode as a dissenting school teacher; he is also the assistant to executive producer Nina Kostroff Noble.
Boys of Summer (The Wire) | Starring cast
Louis and Joan's son and Frank's nephew, Nick is a well-liked young stevedore with extensive family connections to the Baltimore port and links to the criminal underworld.
Street-level characters of The Wire | Nick Sobotka
David Simon has disputed that any one individual is the model for any specific character in "The Wire". He has stated on "The Wire" DVD that Barksdale is a composite of several Baltimore drug dealers. Avon Barksdale is likely based, to some extent, on Melvin Williams (who plays the character of The Deacon) and Nathan Barksdale.
Avon Barksdale | Origins
The major characters of the first season were divided between those on the side of the law and those involved in drug-related crime. The starring cast comprised characters from both groups. The investigating detail was launched by the actions of Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), whose insubordinate tendencies and personal problems overshadowed his ability. The detail was led by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels (Lance Reddick) who faced challenges balancing his career aspirations with his desire to produce a good case. Kima Greggs (Sonja Sohn) was a capable lead detective who faced jealousy from colleagues and worry about the dangers of her job from her domestic partner.
The Wire (season 1) | Cast
Although credited, Frankie R. Faison and Wendell Pierce do not appear in this episode.
Slapstick (The Wire) | Starring cast
The writers strove to create a realistic vision of an American city based on their own experiences. Simon, originally a reporter for "The Baltimore Sun", spent a year researching a Homicide Police Department for his book "", where he met Burns. Burns served in the Baltimore Police Department for 20 years and later became a teacher in an inner-city school. The two of them spent a year researching the drug culture and poverty in Baltimore for their book "". Their combined experiences were used in many storylines of "The Wire". Central to the show's aim for realism was the creation of truthful characters.
The Wire | Realism
The opening scene (the Snot Boogie crime scene) was filmed at the corner of Fulton and Lexington in West Baltimore. The scenes set at Orlando's gentleman's club were filmed at the Ritz Cabaret in Fells Point.
The Target (The Wire) | Locations
Although credited, Lance Reddick, Deirdre Lovejoy, and Seth Gilliam do not appear in this episode. This is the first episode of the series not to feature Reddick. Since Reddick was the only actor in every episode prior to this, from this point on, nobody has appeared in every episode.
Refugees (The Wire) | Starring cast
Johnson worked on "The Wire", reuniting with writer David Simon. Johnson directed the pilot episode "The Target", second episode, fifth episode and the series finale. He plays Augustus Haynes, the dedicated and principled editor for "The Baltimore Sun" city desk.
Clark Johnson | "The Wire"
recurring character Former Baltimore Police Department Sergeant who was featured homicide unit sergeant in David Simon's "". He appears recurringly as Western District Administrative Lieutenant turned Major Dennis Mello.
Police of The Wire | Jay Landsman
Brother Mouzone recovered and returned to Baltimore for revenge. He had Lamar seek out Omar in various gay bars, having learned that he was homosexual. Lamar resented the task and his visceral homophobia made him confrontational with those he came across while searching for Omar. Eventually Lamar was approached by Omar’s boyfriend Dante allowing Mouzone to capture him and find Omar. DeAndre McCullough, the actor who plays Lamar, was profiled in David Simon and Edward Burns's book and television miniseries "The Corner". McCullough was found dead on August 1, 2012, in the Woodlawn section of Baltimore County. Raylene Lee is Michael Lee and "Bug"'s mother.
Street-level characters of The Wire | Lamar
Prez faced sanction early on and was forced into office duty, but this setback quickly became a boon as he demonstrated natural skill at deciphering the communication codes used by the Barksdale organization. These investigators were overseen by two commanding officers more concerned with politics and their own careers than the case, Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie Faison) and Major William Rawls (John Doman). Assistant state's attorney Rhonda Pearlman (Deirdre Lovejoy) acted as the legal liaison between the detail and the courthouse and also had a sexual relationship with McNulty. In the homicide division, Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce) was a gifted, dry-witted, hard-drinking detective partnered with McNulty under Sergeant Jay Landsman (Delaney Williams), the sarcastic, sharp-tongued squad supervisor.
The Wire | Main cast
Lance Reddick received the role of Cedric Daniels after auditioning for the roles of Bunk and heroin addict, Bubbles. Michael K. Williams got the part of Omar Little after only a single audition. Williams himself recommended Felicia Pearson for the role of Snoop after meeting her at a local Baltimore bar, shortly after she had served prison time for an attempted murder conviction. Several prominent real-life Baltimore figures, including former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.; Rev. Frank M. Reid III; radio personality Marc Steiner; former police chief, and radio personality Ed Norris; Virginia Delegate Rob Bell; "Baltimore Sun" reporter and editor David Ettlin; Howard County Executive Ken Ulman; and former mayor Kurt Schmoke have appeared in minor roles despite not being professional actors.
The Wire | Casting
Although credited Chad L. Coleman, Glynn Turman, and Corey Parker Robinson do not appear in this episode.
A New Day (The Wire) | Starring cast
Many guest stars from the earlier seasons reprised their roles. Proposition Joe (Robert F. Chew), the East Side's cautious drug kingpin, became more cooperative with the Barksdale Organization. His lieutenant "Cheese" (Method Man) became involved in the Major Crimes Unit investigation. Brother Mouzone (Michael Potts) returned to Baltimore looking for revenge. Hassan Johnson reprised his role as incarcerated Barksdale enforcer Wee-Bey Brice. Tray Chaney continued to portray Barksdale crew chief Poot Carr. Leo Fitzpatrick returned as hapless drug addict Johnny Weeks. Michael Hyatt and Shamyl Brown reprised their respective roles as Brianna Barksdale and Donette with both characters dealing with the loss of D'Angelo Barksdale.
The Wire (season 3) | Recurring roles
Although credited, Wendell Pierce and Jim True-Frost do not appear in this episode.
Reformation (The Wire) | Starring cast
Played by: Pablo Schreiber Louis and Joan's son and Frank's nephew, Nick is a well-liked young stevedore with extensive family connections to the Baltimore port and links to the criminal underworld.
Characters from the docks of The Wire | Nick Sobotka
Baltimore Police Department C.I.D. Major who appears as a patrolman in Season 4 who encounters mayoral candidate Tommy Carcetti.
Police of The Wire | Jimmy Rood
The casting of the show has drawn particular praise. Reviewers have noted the cast members who have also worked on "The Wire" including Michael K. Williams, JD Williams, Leo Fitzpatrick and Michael Hyatt. The chemistry of the opposing roles of negotiator and hostage taker also drew praise for John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg as well as a surprising performance by Jeremy Davidson an unknown whose portrayal of a disturbed war veteran was very under-rated. The "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" praised local actor Bingo O'Malley.
The Kill Point | Critical response
Simon has commented that the influx of novice child actors led to an unruly behavior at the beginning of filming, but they became a closely knit group of professional young actors by the close of the series.
Boys of Summer (The Wire) | Production
Creators David Simon and Ed Burns commented as early as the airing of the premiere of the pilot episode that they felt the show could continue by investigating a different set of criminals or a different kind of crime and retain some, but not all, of the starring cast.
Sentencing (The Wire) | Reception
Although credited, John Doman, Frankie Faison, Deirdre Lovejoy, and Wendell Pierce do not appear in this episode.
Game Day (The Wire) | Starring cast
Thus in reviewing the first seven episodes of the fifth season David Zurawik of the "Baltimore Sun" said that while "there is greatness in the seven episodes," the major newspaper storyline "contain[s] nothing that matches the emotional power and sociological insight of the show at its best." La Berge argued that it is precisely the fifth season's capacity to explore the social construction of realism itself that is the season's most important characteristic.
The Wire (season 5) | Reception
The majority of the starring cast from the fourth season returned. On the police front, Dominic West returned as Jimmy McNulty with a larger storyline than the fourth season; John Doman as Deputy Commissioner William Rawls; Seth Gilliam as Western district Sergeant Ellis Carver; Corey Parker Robinson as Major Case Unit detective Leander Sydnor; Deirdre Lovejoy as prosecutor Rhonda Pearlman; Clarke Peters as veteran Detective Lester Freamon; Wendell Pierce as veteran homicide Detective Bunk Moreland; Lance Reddick as Colonel Cedric Daniels; and Sonja Sohn as Detective Kima Greggs. In the political storyline, Aidan Gillen returned as ambitious Mayor Tommy Carcetti; as well as Reg E.
The Wire (season 5) | Cast
Although credited, Frankie Faison, Deirdre Lovejoy, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, and Andre Royo do not appear in this episode.
Margin of Error (The Wire) | Starring cast
Simon has stated that most of them are composites of real-life Baltimore figures. For instance, Donnie Andrews served as the main inspiration of Omar Little. Martin O'Malley served as "one of the inspirations" for Tommy Carcetti. The show often cast non-professional actors in minor roles, distinguishing itself from other television series by showing the "faces and voices of the real city" it depicts. The writing also uses contemporary slang to enhance the immersive viewing experience. In distinguishing the police characters from other television detectives, Simon makes the point that even the best police of "The Wire" are motivated not by a desire to protect and serve, but by the intellectual vanity of believing they are smarter than the criminals they are chasing.
The Wire | Realism
Stanfield is a rising gang leader who gets into a turf war with the Barksdale Organization, becoming the key West Baltimore drug kingpin following Stringer Bell's death and Avon Barksdale's arrest. Stanfield is played by Jamie Hector.
Street-level characters of The Wire | Marlo Stanfield
Norris is played by ex-police commissioner of Baltimore and convicted felon 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.
Police of The Wire | Ed Norris
It was rumored in August 2007 that "" stars Richard Belzer and Clark Johnson would guest star in the fifth season. Johnson was later confirmed as joining the starring cast to play Gus Haynes, "a city editor who tries to hold the line against dwindling coverage, buyouts, and pseudo-news.""The New Yorker" described an early scene from the season where Haynes rants about a reporter inserting a charred doll into scenes of fires to eke more sympathy from his readers. Johnson also directed the final episode of the show. In the episode "Took," Belzer made a cameo appearance as John Munch, the police detective he has portrayed since 1993 on "Homicide" (1993–1999) and "" (1999–2013).
The Wire (season 5) | Cast
Although credited, John Doman, Andre Royo, and Sonja Sohn do not appear in this episode.
Cleaning Up (The Wire) | Starring cast
The first season introduces two major groups of characters: the Baltimore Police Department and a drug dealing organization run by the Barksdale family. The season follows the police investigation of the latter over its 13 episodes. The investigation is triggered when, following the acquittal of D'Angelo Barksdale for murder after a key witness changes her story, Detective Jimmy McNulty meets privately with Judge Daniel Phelan. McNulty tells Phelan that the witness has probably been intimidated by members of a drug trafficking empire run by D'Angelo's uncle, Avon Barksdale, having recognized several faces at the trial, most notably Avon's second-in-command, Stringer Bell.
The Wire | Season 1
Although credited, John Doman, Deirdre Lovejoy, and Andre Royo do not appear in this episode. Note: Denise Hart was later cast as Miss Anna Jeffries in Season 4. It is unlikely that Miss Anna was intended to be the same character as the woman that Bunk picks up in the bar.
Lessons (The Wire) | Starring cast
Brandon Price and Chris Clanton appeared as Barksdale crew soldiers Anton "Stinkum" Artis and Savino Bratton in the courtroom scene but had no lines and were not credited. Tray Chaney appeared as Poot Carr in the pit, notably being told by Bodie Broadus to chase down Johnny Weeks, but he has few lines and no credit. This begins a trend of minor roles and appearances remaining uncredited on the show. Producer Robert F. Colesberry makes an uncredited cameo appearance as homicide detective Ray Cole, whom he plays over the course of the first two seasons.
The Target (The Wire) | Uncredited appearances
Her investigative work was greatly helped by her confidential informant, a drug addict known as Bubbles (Andre Royo). Like Greggs, partners Thomas "Herc" Hauk (Domenick Lombardozzi) and Ellis Carver (Seth Gilliam) were reassigned to the detail from the narcotics unit. The duo's initially violent nature was eventually subdued as they proved useful in grunt work, and sometimes served as comic relief for the viewer. Rounding out the temporary unit were detectives Lester Freamon (Clarke Peters) and Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski (Jim True-Frost). Freamon, seen as a quiet "house cat", soon proved to be one of the unit's most methodical and experienced investigators, with a knack for noticing important details and a deep knowledge of public records and paper trails.
The Wire | Main cast
He was released on bail later the same day. Frank's response was to have Horseface steal a surveillance van from Valchek's district parking lot; Ott helped to load the van into a container to be shipped around the country.
Characters from the docks of The Wire | Nat Coxson
Colesberry's wife Karen L. Thorson joined him on the production staff. A third producer on "The Corner", Nina Kostroff Noble also stayed with the production staff for "The Wire" rounding out the initial four-person team. Following Colesberry's death, she became the show's second executive producer alongside Simon. Stories for the show were often co-written by Burns, who also became a producer in the show's fourth season. Other writers include three acclaimed crime fiction writers from outside of Baltimore: George Pelecanos from Washington, Richard Price from the Bronx and Dennis Lehane from Boston. Reviewers drew comparisons between Price's works (particularly "Clockers") and "The Wire" even before he joined.
The Wire | Crew
Norman Wilson is a fictional character on the HBO drama "The Wire", played by Reg E. Cathey. Wilson is a professional political operative and works closely with ambitious politician Tommy Carcetti. The character first appeared in the show's fourth season premiere "Boys of Summer" and Cathey is part of the starring cast for the fourth and fifth seasons.
Norman Wilson (The Wire) | Introduction
Castor fails to notice a child hiding in a closet when he secures the scene and Greggs hears the child when she arrives.
Police of The Wire | Bobby Brown
Together with his closest friend Russell "Stringer" Bell, Avon and their enforcers hold a monopoly on the drug trade in West Baltimore through intimidation and murder.
Street-level characters of The Wire | Avon Barksdale
While filming, Royo was once approached by a Baltimore resident, who handed him a package of heroin and said he looked like he needed a fix. Royo calls this his "street Oscar."
Bubbles (The Wire) | Trivia
In addition to writing, Pelecanos served as a producer for the third season. Pelecanos has commented that he was attracted to the project because of the opportunity to work with Simon. Staff writer Rafael Alvarez penned several episodes' scripts, as well as the series guidebook "The Wire: Truth Be Told." Alvarez is a colleague of Simon's from "The Baltimore Sun" and a Baltimore native with working experience in the port area. Another city native and independent filmmaker, Joy Lusco, also wrote for the show in each of its first three seasons. "Baltimore Sun" writer and political journalist William F. Zorzi joined the writing staff in the third season and brought a wealth of experience to the show's examination of Baltimore politics.
The Wire | Crew
Alongside Simon, the show's creator, head writer, showrunner, and executive producer, much of the creative team behind "The Wire" were alumni of "" and Primetime Emmy Award-winning miniseries "The Corner". "The Corner" veteran, Robert F. Colesberry, was executive producer for the first two seasons and directed the season 2 finale before dying from complications from heart surgery in 2004. He is credited by the rest of the creative team as having a large creative role for a producer, and Simon credits him for achieving the show's realistic visual feel. He also had a small recurring role as Detective Ray Cole.
The Wire | Crew
Creator David Simon continued to act as the show's executive producer and show runner. Nina Kostroff Noble once again served as the show's other executive producer. Joe Chappelle reprised his co-executive producer role and continued to direct episodes. Ed Burns once again served as a writer and joined Chappelle as a co-executive producer. Karen L. Thorson returned as a producer. George Pelecanos produced the sixth episode of the series only - his first production work since the third season. Political journalist William F. Zorzi continued to write for the show and guide the political storylines. Acclaimed crime fiction novelist Pelecanos returned as a writer and contributed his seventh episode to the series.
The Wire (season 5) | Crew
In the same interview, Simon indicated that no other theme seemed substantial enough to warrant a sixth season, except possibly the large influx of Latinos into Baltimore. He noted, however, that since no writer on the show spoke Spanish or had any intimate knowledge of the city's Latino population, the field work would be too cumbersome. At the "Night at the Wire" event on June 9, 2007, Simon stated that Detective Sydnor is the only character who remains morally clean by the end of the show, but not perfectly since "after all, this is "The Wire"." He also hinted that Mayor Carcetti might make a run for governor.
The Wire (season 5) | Production
Several Polish-American characters played major roles in the television series The Wire. Among them, the most important were:
History of Poles in Baltimore | Fictional Polish-Americans from Baltimore
Returning guest stars in the homicide unit included Delaney Williams as Sergeant Jay Landsman, Ed Norris as Detective Ed Norris, and Brian Anthony Wilson as Detective Vernon Holley. Al Brown and Jay Landsman reprised their roles as Major Stan Valchek and Lieutenant Dennis Mello. Michael Salconi recurred as veteran Western patrolman Michael Santangelo. Gregory L. Williams played Michael Crutchfield, a cantankerous homicide detective. Joilet F. Harris returned as Caroline Massey, an officer in the Major Crimes Unit. Joining the Major Crimes Unit this season is Kenneth Dozerman (Rick Otto). In the western district, Carver's squad includes Anthony Colicchio (Benjamin Busch), Lloyd "Truck" Garrick (Ryan Sands), and Lambert (Nakia Dillard).
The Wire (season 4) | Recurring characters
Street-level characters comprise a large part of the cast on the fictional HBO drama series "The Wire". Characters in this section range from homeless drug addicts up to drug king-pins in charge of entire criminal empires.
Street-level characters of The Wire | Introduction
Simon denies that Nathan Barksdale or any other individual is the basis for any specific character in "The Wire". A major point of contention is Barksdale's claim that his middle name is Avon. According to Simon, this name was not associated with Barksdale in any official document, and Barksdale has failed to produce any documentary evidence of having any middle name. However, in his director's commentary to the first episode of "The Wire", Simon says: "We tend to mix the names up … but it’s our kind of back-handed homage to the reality of West Baltimore. There really was a Nathan Bodie Barksdale.
Nathan Barksdale | Disputed connection to "The Wire"
Show creator David Simon left the "Baltimore Sun" after a bitter feud with editor William K. Marimow. Simon chose to name an unsympathetic character after his old enemy.
Police of The Wire | Charles Marimow
The credited starring cast consists of Dominic West (Jimmy McNulty), John Doman (William Rawls), Idris Elba (Stringer Bell), Frankie Faison (Ervin Burrell), Larry Gilliard, Jr. (D'Angelo Barksdale), Wood Harris (Avon Barksdale), Deirdre Lovejoy (Assistant State's Attorney Rhonda Pearlman), Wendell Pierce (Bunk Moreland), Lance Reddick (Cedric Daniels), Andre Royo (Bubbles), and Sonja Sohn (Kima Greggs). The episode introduces many characters who are important over the course of the series, despite only being credited as guest stars. Domenick Lombardozzi plays Herc. Leo Fitzpatrick plays homeless, hapless drug addict Johnny Weeks. Hassan Johnson plays criminal enforcer Wee-Bey Brice. Michael B. Jordan plays naive sixteen-year-old drug dealer Wallace.
The Target (The Wire) | Starring cast
Andre Royo returned as Bubbles, who continued to indulge his drug addiction and act as an occasional informant. Deputy Commissioner of Operations William Rawls (John Doman) and Acting Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie Faison), the two commanding officers, seem to be more concerned with politics and their own careers than actual police work. Wendell Pierce portrayed veteran homicide detective Bunk Moreland.
The Wire (season 3) | Starring cast
Another review postulated that the series might suffer because of its reliance on profanity and slowly drawn-out plot, but was largely positive about the show's characters and intrigue. Despite the critical acclaim, "The Wire" received poor Nielsen ratings, which Simon attributed to the complexity of the plot; a poor time slot; heavy use of esoteric slang, particularly among the gangster characters; and a predominantly black cast. Critics felt the show was testing the attention span of its audience and that it was mistimed in the wake of the launch of the successful crime drama "The Shield" on FX. However, anticipation for a release of the first season on DVD was high at "Entertainment Weekly".
The Wire | Critical response