List of Boardwalk Empire characters

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following is a list of characters from the HBO television show Boardwalk Empire. The show dramatizes the prohibition era in Atlantic City and the early history of the American Mafia. Many of the characters on the show are fictional. Some are (loosely) based on historical figures; of these, some use the name of the person upon which they are based, while others have had their names changed for the program.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Character Portrayed by Seasons
1 2 3 4 5
Enoch "Nucky" Thompson Steve Buscemi Main
James "Jimmy" Darmody Michael Pitt Main Stand-in Does not appear
Margaret Thompson Kelly Macdonald Main
Nelson Van Alden / George Mueller Michael Shannon Main
Elias "Eli" Thompson Shea Whigham Main
Angela Darmody Aleksa Palladino Main Does not appear
Arnold Rothstein Michael Stuhlbarg Main Does not appear
Al Capone Stephen Graham Main
Charles "Lucky" Luciano Vincent Piazza Main
Lucy Danziger Paz de la Huerta Main Does not appear
Albert "Chalky" White Michael Kenneth Williams Main
Edward "Eddie" Kessler Anthony Laciura Main Does not appear
Mickey Doyle Paul Sparks Main
Commodore Louis Kaestner Dabney Coleman Main Does not appear Recurring[a]
Richard Harrow Jack Huston Recurring Main Does not appear
Gillian Darmody Gretchen Mol Recurring Main
Owen Sleater Charlie Cox Does not appear Recurring Main Does not appear
Gyp Rosetti Bobby Canavale Does not appear Main Does not appear
Roy Phillips Ron Livingston Does not appear Main Does not appear
Dr. Valentin Narcisse Jeffrey Wright Does not appear Main
William "Willie" Thompson Ben Rosenfield Does not appear Recurring[b] Main

Recurring cast[]

Character Portrayed by Seasons
1 2 3 4 5
Meyer Lansky Anatol Yusef Recurring
Johnny Torrio Greg Antonacci Recurring
Rose Van Alden Enid Graham Recurring Does not appear
Ethan Thompson Tom Aldredge Recurring Does not appear Recurring[c]
Mrs. McGarry Dana Ivey Recurring Does not appear
Isabelle Jeunet Anna Katarina Recurring Does not appear Guest Does not appear
Louanne Pratt Johnnie Mae Recurring Does not appear
Agent Sebso Erik Weiner Recurring Does not appear
Mary Dittrich Lisa Joyce Recurring Does not appear
Pearl Emily Meade Recurring Does not appear
Edward Bader Kevin O'Rourke Recurring Does not appear
James Neary Robert Clohessy Recurring Does not appear
Harry Daugherty Christopher McDonald Guest Recurring Does not appear
Leander Cephas Whitlock Dominic Chianese Does not appear Recurring[d]
Esther Randolph Julianne Nicholson Does not appear Recurring Guest Does not appear
Manny Horvitz William Forsythe Does not appear Recurring Guest Does not appear
Dunn Purnsley Erik LaRay Harvey Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
George Remus Glenn Fleshler Does not appear Recurring Guest Does not appear
Katy Heather Lind Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Joe Masseria Ivo Nandi Does not appear Guest Recurring Guest
Billie Kent Meg Chambers Steedle Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Gaston Bullock Means Stephen Root Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Andrew Mellon James Cromwell Does not appear Recurring Guest Does not appear
Julia Sagorsky Wrenn Schmidt Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Sally Wheet Patricia Arquette Does not appear Recurring
Ralph Capone Domenick Lombardozzi Does not appear Recurring
Frank Capone Morgan Spector Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
James "Jim" Tolliver Brian Geraghty Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Daughter Maitland Margot Bingham Does not appear Recurring
Arquimedes Paul Calderon Does not appear Recurring
Tommy Darmody/Slim Travis Tope Does not appear Recurring

Main characters[]

Enoch "Nucky" Thompson[]

Main article: Enoch "Nucky" Thompson

Steve Buscemi portrays Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the corrupt treasurer of Atlantic County and its most powerful political figure. The character is based on Enoch L. Johnson.[1]

James "Jimmy" Darmody[]

Main article: James Darmody

Michael Pitt portrays James "Jimmy" Darmody (seasons 1–2), a former Princeton student who served in World War I. After returning home, Jimmy is hired by Nucky Thompson as his driver. The character is based on Jimmy Boyd.[2]

Margaret Thompson[]

Main article: Margaret Thompson

Kelly Macdonald portrays Margaret Thompson (formerly Schroeder, née Rohan), a young Irish widow and mother, she turns to Nucky for help and eventually becomes his lover and later, his wife. The character is based on Florence Osbeck.[1]

Nelson Van Alden / George Mueller[]

Main article: Nelson Van Alden

Michael Shannon portrays Nelson Van Alden / George Mueller, a former Prohibition agent on the run after the murder of his former partner. Under the alias George Mueller, he inadvertently gets caught up in the conflict between Dean O'Banion and Al Capone. The character is based on William Frank.[1]

Elias "Eli" Thompson[]

Shea Whigham portrays Elias "Eli" Thompson, Nucky's younger brother and former sheriff of Atlantic County. The character is based on Alfred "Alf" Johnson.[1]

Angela Darmody[]

Aleksa Palladino portrays Angela Darmody (seasons 1–2), Jimmy's wife and the mother of his young son.

Arnold Rothstein[]

See also: Arnold Rothstein

Michael Stuhlbarg portrays Arnold Rothstein (seasons 1–4), a powerful and intelligent New York gangster who enters into business with Nucky.

Al Capone[]

See also: Al Capone

Stephen Graham portrays Al Capone, a low-level Chicago gangster with ambitions of leading the Chicago mob.

Charles "Lucky" Luciano[]

See also: Lucky Luciano

Vincent Piazza portrays Charles "Lucky" Luciano, a Sicilian-American gangster and close associate of Rothstein.

Lucy Danziger[]

Paz de la Huerta portrays Lucy Danziger (seasons 1–2), Nucky's mistress and a former Ziegfeld Follies dancer.

Albert "Chalky" White[]

Michael Kenneth Williams portrays Albert "Chalky" White, Nucky's counterpart in Atlantic City's black community.

Edward "Eddie" Kessler[]

Anthony Laciura portrays Edward "Eddie" Kessler, Nucky's German personal assistant and valet. The character is based on Louis Kessel.[1]

Mickey Doyle[]

Main article: Mickey Doyle

Paul Sparks portrays Mickey Doyle, an Atlantic City bootlegger. The character is based on Mickey Duffy.[1]

Louis Kaestner[]

Dabney Coleman (seasons 1–2) and John Ellison Conlee (season 5) portray Commodore Louis Kaestner, Nucky's mentor and predecessor in Atlantic City, Jimmy's biological father. The character is based on Louis Kuehnle.[1]

Richard Harrow[]

Main article: Richard Harrow

Jack Huston portrays Richard Harrow (seasons 1–4), a former Army marksman who allies with Jimmy and later Nucky. Disfigured during the war, he wears a mask over half of his face.

Gillian Darmody[]

Gretchen Mol portrays Gillian Darmody, Jimmy's mother and an old friend of Nucky's. She is also Luciano's former lover.

Owen Sleater[]

Charlie Cox portrays Owen Sleater (seasons 2–3), an Irish immigrant and IRA member. He has an affair with Margaret, while working his way up in Nucky's organization.

Gyp Rosetti[]

Main article: Gyp Rosetti

Bobby Canavale portrays Gyp Rosetti (season 3), a Sicilian gangster backed by Joe Masseria, who challenged Nucky.

Roy Phillips[]

Ron Livingston portrays Roy Phillips (season 4), a wealthy out-of-town businessman who finds himself getting involved with Gillian Darmody.

Dr. Valentin Narcisse[]

Main article: Valentin Narcisse

Jeffrey Wright portrays Dr. Valentin Narcisse (seasons 4–5), a Harlem racketeer who challenges Chalky. The character is based on Casper Holstein.[3]

William "Willie" Thompson[]

Kevin Csolak (season 3) and Ben Rosenfield (seasons 4–5) portray William "Willie" Thompson, Eli's oldest son and Nucky's nephew who becomes an assistant U.S. Attorney in New York City.

Recurring characters[]

Introduced in season one[]

  • Anatol Yusef portrays Meyer Lansky, a young protégé of Rothstein and partners with Luciano. The character is based on Meyer Lansky.[1]
  • Greg Antonacci portrays Johnny Torrio, Capone's boss in Chicago.[1]
  • Enid Graham portrays Rose Van Alden (seasons 1–2), Nelson's ex-wife.
  • Tom Aldredge (seasons 1–2) and Ian Hart (season 5) portray Ethan Thompson, Nucky and Eli's father. The character is based on Smith E. Johnson.
  • Dana Ivey portrays Mrs. McGarry (season 1), a prominent leader of the Women's Suffrage and Temperance Movements. The character is based on Susan B. Anthony.[1]
  • Anna Katarina portrays Isabelle Jeunet (seasons 1, 3), a French woman who owns an haute couture shop on the boardwalk.
  • Johnnie Mae portrays Louanne Pratt (season 1), Commodore Kaestner's maid.
  • Erik Weiner portrays Agent Sebso (season 1), Van Alden's partner.
  • Lisa Joyce portrays Mary Dittrich (season 1), a photographer's assistant and Angela Darmondy's lover.
  • Emily Meade portrays Pearl (season 1), a prostitute and Jimmy Darmody's lover.
  • Kevin O'Rourke portrays Edward L. Bader, the Atlantic City mayor.
  • Robert Clohessy portrays James Neary (seasons 1–4), one of Nucky's political cronies and ward bosses.
  • Christopher McDonald portrays Harry M. Daugherty (seasons 1–2), a U.S. Attorney General.

Introduced in season two[]

  • Dominic Chianese (seasons 2–4) and Jordan Lage (season 5) portray Leander Cephas Whitlock, an Atlantic City lawyer and ally to the Commodore.
  • Julianne Nicholson portrays Esther Randolph (seasons 2–4), an Assistant Attorney General who investigates Nucky for election fraud. The character is based on Mabel Walker Willebrandt.
  • William Forsythe portrays Manny Horvitz (seasons 2–3), a Philadelphia gangster.
  • Erik LaRay Harvey portrays Dunn Purnsley (seasons 2–4), a career criminal and later Chalky's second-in-command.
  • Glenn Fleshler portrays George Remus (seasons 2–4), a major bootlegger based in Ohio who refers to himself in the third-person.
  • Heather Lind portrays Katy (seasons 2–3), Margaret's housemaid and Owen's lover.
  • Ivo Nandi portrays Joe Masseria (seasons 2–5), an Italian bootlegger.

Introduced in season three[]

  • Meg Chambers Steedle portrays Billie Kent (season 3), a young Broadway actress who begins an affair with Nucky. Killed in an explosion meant for Nucky. The character is based on Billie Dove.
  • Stephen Root portrays Gaston Bullock Means (seasons 3–4), a Con artist, FBI agent, and "fixer" for bootleggers.
  • James Cromwell portrays Andrew W. Mellon (seasons 3–4), the Secretary of the Treasury.
  • Wrenn Schmidt portrays Julia Sagorsky (seasons 3–4), Richard's wife.

Introduced in season four[]

  • Patricia Arquette portrays Sally Wheet (seasons 4–5), a Speak-easy owner in Tampa, Florida
  • Domenick Lombardozzi portrays Ralph Capone (seasons 4–5), Al Capone's brother.
  • Morgan Spector portrays Frank Capone (season 4), Al Capone's level-headed brother.
  • Brian Geraghty portrays James "Jim" Tolliver (season 4), an FBI agent under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover posing as a corrupt prohibition agent under the name Warren Knox in Atlantic City.
  • Margot Bingham portrays Daughter Maitland (seasons 4–5), a singer and ward of Dr. Valentin Narcisse who begins an affair with Chalky White.

Introduced in season five[]

  • Paul Calderon portrays Arquimedes (season 5), Nucky Thompson's personal bodyguard.
  • Travis Tope portrays Tommy Darmody/Slim (season 5), the son of Tommy and Angela Darmody.

Characters as performers[]

Actor Performer Episode Notes
Stephen DeRosa Eddie Cantor "Boardwalk Empire",
"Broadway Limited",
"A Return to Normalcy",
"A Dangerous Maid",
"You'd Be Surprised",
"Resolution" 		comedian and singer
Erin McGrath[4] Edith Day "Anastasia" "Alice Blue Gown" (from "Irene")
Malachy Cleary Warren Harding Hold Me In Paradise Senator
John Treacy Egan[5] "Nights in Ballygran" "Carrickfergus"
A'Lisa Miles Mamie Smith "Home" "Crazy Blues"
Kathy Brier Sophie Tucker "Belle Femme" "Some of These Days"
Remy Auberjonois Hardeen "Paris Green" magician and escape artist (brother of Houdini)

Characters as athletes[]

Actor Athlete Episode Notes
Devin Harjes Jack Dempsey "What Does the Bee Do?"
"Peg of Old" 		boxer (heavyweight champion, 1919–26)

Notes[]

  1. ^ Louis Kaestner is portrayed by John Ellison Conlee in season 5.
  2. ^ Willie Thompson is portrayed by Kevin Csolak in season 3.
  3. ^ Ethan Thompson is portrayed by Ian Hart in season 5.
  4. ^ Leander Cephas Whitlock is portrayed by Jordan Lage in season 5.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Johnson, Nelson (2010). Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City. Plexus Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-0-9666748-6-6.
  2. ^ "Interview: 'Boardwalk Empire' creator Terence Winter". September 9, 2010.
  3. ^ Moaba, Alex (2013-09-05). "'Boardwalk Empire': Jeffrey Wright On The Real-Life Racketeer Who Inspired His Season 4 Character (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  4. ^ Venutolo, Anthony, 'Boardwalk Empire' episode 4, 'Anastasia': Nucky's birthday bash and back room deals, The Star-Ledger, October 11, 2010
  5. ^ Venutolo, Anthony, 'Boardwalk Empire' recap: Van Alden busts up Nucky's Celtic bash, The Star-Ledger, October 18, 2010
Retrieved from ""