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[[folder:Bill Koenig]]
!!Sergeant Bill Koenig

A member of Warrants Division known for his bad temper and stupidity.

to:

[[folder:Bill Koenig]]
!!Sergeant Bill Koenig

[[folder:Jack Vincennes]]
!!Det. Sgt. John "Trashcan Jack" Vincennes

A member of Warrants Division known morally jaded cop and consultant for the popular show ''Badge of Honor''. Jack is a blackmail victim of Dudley's as a result of his bad temper and stupidity.own crimes but his conscience leads him to slowly work towards doing the right thing.


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* AccidentalMurder: Jack showed up to a stakeout while drunk and high, and when it escalated into a shootout he began firing randomly. He accidentally killed an innocent couple, much to his own horror. Dudley had it covered up, and holds it over Jack's head so he'll work for Dudley and assist in his plans.
* AddledAddict: Jack was previously an alcoholic junkie to the point it impacted his job. It culminated in him accidentally shooting two civilians when he got into a shootout while high, which Dudley used to blackmail him into his services. Jack quit drugs and booze afterwards out of guilt.
* AffablyEvil: He starts off as this. He's a DirtyCop guilty of murder and blackmail, but he's also extremely charming, witty, and friendly. Joan Morrow discusses this, contrasting Jack's amicable yet ruthless personality with [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Ed]]'s staunch morals.
* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: Part of his backstory. He showed up to a stakeout drunk and high, and when it escalated into a shootout Jack accidentally killed an innocent couple while trying to gun down an attacker.
* AntiVillain: Jack is a murderer and a corrupt cop who helps ruin countless lives for his own publicity, as well as somewhat reluctantly aiding in Dudley's schemes. However, he's guilt-ridden over his own actions and hates himself for what he's become, keeping him firmly sympathetic despite being a horrible person.
* TheAtoner: He [[spoiler:accidentally kills a young couple, and to make it up to their kids, sends money each month]].
* {{Blackmail}}: Dudley and Loew employ him to serve as a bagman and take photos of their enemies doing illicit activities so they can blackmail them.
* BrilliantButLazy: He's a talented detective but is far more concerned with his fame than cracking cases. Russ Millard notes that Jack only puts in the bare minimum of work in Ad Vice because he finds it boring and only puts in just enough effort not to get fired.
* BrokenAce: Jack is famous, a local hero, charming, witty, and handsome. However, beneath his sterling reputation is a DirtyCop guilty of murder who is tormented by self-loathing and cripplingly obsessed with fame.
* DefectiveDetective: He's both corrupt and a murderer on top of his love of the spotlight ''Badge of Honor'' gets him. He was even worse in the past while on drugs, which led to him accidentally shooting a young couple dead.
* DirtyCop: He's very corrupt. Jack has murdered people in cold blood in the past to prove his loyalty, and he works as a bagman for Dudley Smith to help further his and Ellis Loew's plans via blackmail.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: For as homophobic and corrupt as Jack is, he's genuinely outraged that Timmy Valburn is cheating on Billy Dieterling with Bobby Inge.
* FakeUltimateHero: Thanks to Sid's articles, Jack is regarded as a local hero and he's admired by many for busting drug addicts and dealers alike. In reality, Jack is a wreck and a DirtyCop who has murdered severe people and his accomplishments are all part of a sleazy scheme to get publicity. He's even a semi-willing participant in Dudley Smith's schemes.
* ForcedIntoEvil: Downplayed. Jack is plenty shady on his own and has murdered people of his own volition, but he participates in Dudley's schemes because of the blackmail material Dudley has on him.
* HeteronormativeCrusader: He's morally disgusted by gay people and views them as sexual deviants. He's mostly disgusted at first with Patchett's enterprise because he caters to gay people, and he's quite cruel to Timmy Valburn simply because of his sexuality.
* HisOwnWorstEnemy: Jack is ultimately his own worst enemy, and his self-destructive behavior is ultimately the reason for a lot of his suffering. Dudley wouldn't be able to blackmail him if he hadn't shown up to work high and accidentally shot an innocent couple, which causes him no end of suffering. And his unhealthy obsession with his own fame alienates everyone around him.
* {{Hypocrite}}: While working in Narcotics, he became addicted to drugs while still being tasked to hunt down drug dealers and drug addicts. He admittedly quit after accidentally killing two civilians during a drug trip, but he's still well-aware that if it were revealed he'd be ruined.
* InSeriesNickname: He's known as "Trashcan Jack" in the novel by his colleagues, for the time when he murdered a man and dumped the corpse in a dumpster.
* ItsAllAboutMe: He's perfectly willing to ruin people's lives for the crime of [[FelonyMisdemeanor smoking pot]] or [[HeteronormativeCrusader being gay]] if it helps him keep his fame. He only gets involved in the Nite Owl investigation because he was trying to find something to bring himself back into the spotlight - and then to try and find the blackmail material Sid has on him.
* KillerCop: He's a murderer several times over. He murdered a perp and dumped his corpse in a trash can as part of some kind of initiation ritual into the LAPD, and he also accidentally murdered a young couple while in a drug-addled haze.
* ALighterShadeOfBlack: He's corrupt, but unlike most of the {{Dirty Cop}}s populating the LAPD, Jack is well-aware he's a horrible person and draws the line at wanton murder. In a world where torturing and flat-out executing people is common practice among the police, it makes him a relatively lesser evil.
* MayDecemberRomance: The middle-aged Jack strikes up a relationship with Karen Morrow, who is still in her twenties.
* MoralityPet: His girlfriend Karen Morrow brings out Jack's softer side and he actively tries to hide his sleazier activities from her because he doesn't want to disappoint her.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: He's guilt-ridden over the murders he's committed. While he's especially horrified of having accidentally killed two civilians and sends their children money regularly, he's also regretful of having murdered a criminal as part of an initiation ritual.
* NobleBigotWithABadge: Jack isn't particularly noble at first, but he's one of the few {{Dirty Cop}}s in the LAPD to feel guilty about what he is and he shies away from pointless murder and brutality. He eventually decides to do the right thing and try to redeem himself.
* NominalHero: He starts off as this. Jack isn't trying to expose the villains' plans for any altruistic reason, but because he thinks it will help rejuvenate his fading fame. He later shifts to trying to find the files Sid is blackmailing him with so the murders he's committed won't be exposed.
* OhCrap: While he keeps himself outwardly composed, internally Jack panics when he starts suspecting that Sid knows about Dudley's blackmail material and is threatening him to stay away from the Bobby Inge case.
* PoliceBrutality: He was involved in the Bloody Christmas assault, although only in as far as a single punch when one of the victims stained his suit with blood. It's still enough to have the brass blackmail him into testifying, though.
* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: Jack refers to minorities primarily through racial slurs and shows some antisemitic attitudes, even calling Loew a slur when he brings Karen to watch Jack testify against his colleagues. He's also very homophobic and is irrationally disgusted by gay people.
* RecoveredAddict: Jack was formerly a junkie and an alcoholic, but he quit after he shot an innocent couple while drunk and high.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Jack is famous in L.A. for his consultant role on ''Badge of Honor'' and his work in Narcotics, and he's widely regarded as a hero. In reality, Jack is a DirtyCop, blackmailer, and murderer obsessed with fame. He's also aware of this, and it's one of the reasons Jack hates himself so much.
* VillainousFriendship: Subverted. He gets along well with Sid Hudgens, but there's no real friendship between them and the two are simply using each other. Sid is also quite willing to threaten Jack when he starts becoming a threat to his plans and tries to blackmail him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bill Koenig]]
!!Sergeant Bill Koenig

A member of Warrants Division known for his bad temper and stupidity.
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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[[/folder]]


[[folder:Preston Exley]]
!!Preston Exley

Ed Exley's father. Preston is a former LAPD officer famous for capturing the Dr. Frankenstein killer, who capitalized on his fame and used it to become a construction magnate.
----
* AffablyEvil: Preston is a friendly, cultured man who is quite polite and well-mannered. [[spoiler:As Ed learns, he's also corrupt and got his position through moral compromises.]]
* DeathByAdaptation: He's a PosthumousCharacter in the film, having been merged with his late son Thomas Exley.
* OpportunisticBastard: He taught Ed to be as opportunistic as he was so he could succeed, and always encourages his son's ruthless careerism. Preston himself is just as ruthless as Ed, but has the charm to back it up.
* OutlivingOnesOffspring: His son Thomas was killed prior to the novel. Ed is well-aware Thomas was his father's favorite, fueling his desire to impress the man.
* ParentsAsPeople: He's a loving father to Ed, but it's clear to Ed that his late brother Thomas was his favorite and that Preston isn't satisfied with how stoic and uncharismatic Ed is.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Inez]]
!!Inez Soto
->'''Portrayed By:''' Marisol Padilla Sánchez

A student who is kidnapped and raped by the main suspects of the Nite Owl killings. Exley's attempts to verify their role in the massacre conflict with her want for vengeance.
----

* DemotedToExtra: Is one of the most important characters in the book but is in only a couple of scenes.
* FramingTheGuiltyParty: In the movie, knows that the police won't care about a young Mexican girl being raped, but will stop at nothing to kill the criminals if they think they killed six white people. So she goes along with the frame job to get justice. In the book, she does so to make Exley feel better. Later, she throws it back in his face.
* LyingToProtectYourFeelings: In the book, she tells him her rapists were involved in the Nite Owl murders.
* MalignedMixedMarriage: Ed Exley has a long affair with Inez Soto, who he meets during an investigation. He never marries her, because it's the 1950s, and marrying a Mexican woman would hurt his police career.
* ManipulativeBitch: Book only. However justified, she proceeds to play on Exley and Bud's feelings both to make herself feel better as well as lies about a murder investigation.
* TheMistress: Exley makes her this in the book and it feeds into her resentment of him as a lover.
* UngratefulBitch: Exley believes this of her given he's provided her a home and job as well as position. Inez believes this means he considers her just a whore.
* SympatheticAdulterer: Averted. While the book Inez has many reasons to resent Exley's treatment of her, she deliberately seeks out Bud White (the man Exley hates MOST) to have her affair as well as continues it for four years.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Timmy Valburn]]
!!Timmy Valburn

An actor who voices Moochie Mouse and Billy Dieterling's boyfriend.
----
* AmbiguouslyEvil: It's left unclear at first if he's involved in something sinister, or if Timmy opposes Jack's investigation simply because he doesn't want his sexuality to be exposed.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Jack treats him as unreasonable for opposing his investigation, but Timmy's primary grievance is that he simply doesn't want his sexuality to be exposed.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: He threatens to use his connections in Hollywood against Jack to stop him from exposing his sexuality.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bobby Inge]]
!!Bobby Inge

A gay prostitute who distributes porn for Pierce Patchett.
----
* CombatPragmatist: When Jack tries to arrest him, Bobby escapes by throwing vodka in his face and running while Jack's distracted.
* SmallRoleBigImpact: He rarely appears onscreen, but Jack's pursuit of him causes him to start investigating with the villains' conspiracy.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Karen Morrow]]
!!Karen Morrow

Jack's idealistic girlfriend and later wife.
----
* BreakTheCutie: Karen starts off as idealistic and perky, but after marrying Jack she quickly becomes disillusioned with him and his self-destructive personality.
* BrokenPedestal: She idolizes Jack at first, but comes to gradually hate him after seeing the darker sides of his personality. [[spoiler:However, when he confesses his crimes to her, she appreciates his honesty and decides to try and save their marriage.]]
* WideEyedIdealist: She starts off as this, admiring Jack for stopping her from trying marijuana and viewing him as a hero. She becomes increasingly cynical over time.

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!!!Others
[[folder:Kay Lake]]
!!Kay Lake

A mysterious former criminal and Lee Blanchard's girlfriend. Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.

to:

!!!Others
[[folder:Kay Lake]]
!!Kay Lake

!Dieterling Family

[[folder:Raymond Dieterling]]
!!Raymond Dieterling

A mysterious former criminal famous owner of an animation studio and Lee Blanchard's girlfriend. Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.Preston Exley's business partner.




* AscendedExtra: Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}'' and helps the LAPD against communists.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Bobby De Witt subjected her to brutal physical abuse and forced her into prostitution, [[spoiler:which motivated Lee to frame him for the bank robbery.]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Kay says of the boxing match, "I hope both of you look good with your shirts off".
* FemmeFatale: She's a beautiful woman with a checkered and mysterious past, though she's given much more depth than the typical Femme Fatale, and it's clear form the get-go she cares about Lee and Bleichert.
* FemaleGaze: Kay Lake suggests this is why she enjoys watching the boxing match between Bleichert and Blanchard. Both of the men getting sweaty without their shirts.
* ModestyTowel: Removes one of these in her and Blanchard's apartment to seduce Bleichert. It doesn't work, in part, due to Bleichert being in no mood due to having just killed two people.
* MsFanservice: Much attention is paid to how describing beautiful Kay Lake is and how good she looks naked, particularly when she's trying to seduce Bleichert.
* MysteriousPast: Her past with Bobby [=DeWitt=] is shrouded in mystery and false information, and Bleichert is actively curious about it.
* SexlessMarriage: Kay Lake claims she and Blanchard don't have sex despite living together as a couple.

to:

\n* AscendedExtra: Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}'' and helps the LAPD against communists.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Bobby De Witt subjected her to brutal physical abuse and forced her into prostitution, [[spoiler:which motivated Lee to frame him for the bank robbery.]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Kay says of the boxing match, "I hope both of you look good with your shirts off".
* FemmeFatale: She's a beautiful woman with a checkered and mysterious past, though she's given much more depth than the typical Femme Fatale, and it's clear form the get-go she cares about Lee and Bleichert.
* FemaleGaze: Kay Lake suggests this is why she enjoys watching the boxing match between Bleichert and Blanchard. Both of the men getting sweaty without their shirts.
* ModestyTowel: Removes one of these in her and Blanchard's apartment to seduce Bleichert. It doesn't work, in part, due to Bleichert
MrAltDisney: He's clearly inspired by Creator/WaltDisney, being in no mood due to having just killed two people.
* MsFanservice: Much attention is paid to how describing beautiful Kay Lake is
the creator of an animation studio famous for its characters such as [[WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse Moochie Mouse]] and how good she looks naked, particularly when she's trying to seduce Bleichert.
* MysteriousPast: Her past with Bobby [=DeWitt=] is shrouded in mystery and false information, and Bleichert is actively curious about it.
* SexlessMarriage: Kay Lake claims she and Blanchard don't have sex despite living together as a couple.
[[WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck Danny Duck]].



[[folder:Lorna Maltikova]]
!!Lorna Maltikova/Linda Martin

An aspiring actress and one of Elizabeth's friends, who starred in a lesbian porn film with her.

to:

[[folder:Lorna Maltikova]]
!!Lorna Maltikova/Linda Martin

An aspiring actress
[[folder:Billy Dieterling]]
!!Billy Dieterling

Raymond's son
and one of Elizabeth's friends, who starred in a lesbian porn film with her.closeted gay man.




* AbusiveParents: Heavily implied to come from a family of these as the thought of returning terrifies her.
* BreakTheHaughty: When she's brought in for questioning, she's initially arrogant and confrontational. Within a matter of minutes, she's brought to the point of tears and pathetically begs Millard, Bleichert, and Sears not to send her back to her parents.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's implied she ran away from home to get away from her abusive parents.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Her immediate response to Elizabeth's death is to obtain a copy of the porno they started in together to sell it for as much money as possible.



[[folder:Elizabeth Short]]
!!Elizabeth Short

An aspiring actress and the infamous "Black Dahlia" murder victim.

to:

[[folder:Elizabeth Short]]
!!Elizabeth Short

An aspiring actress
!!!Others
[[folder:Kay Lake]]
!!Kay Lake

A mysterious former criminal
and the infamous "Black Dahlia" murder victim.Lee Blanchard's girlfriend. Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.



* ConsummateLiar: Pretty much everyone who knew her notes that Elizabeth constantly told outrageous lies, most often claiming that she was married to or in a relationship with a war hero.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A GlasgowGrin was carved into her face. Elizabeth Short was also tortured for two days before she was disemboweled and cut in half. Sadly, it was TruthInTelevision.
* EthicalSlut: Elizabeth casually dated numerous men but despite the period's DeliberateValuesDissonance treating it as heinous, seems to have done nothing wrong or even noteworthy to a modern reader.
* FreudianExcuse: Her compulsive lying and egotism appears to be a coping mechanism from having abusive and neglectful parents who flat-out admit they don't care that she's dead.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She was entirely real, though James Ellroy fictionalized the investigation into her death to give her more closure than she got in real life.
* LittleBlackDress: Elizabeth has gained her reputation as the Black Dahlia because she always wore black outfits as a way to attract the attention of directors.
* PosthumousCharacter: Elizabeth Short dies before the protagonists (or reader) ever meets her.
* SmallNameBigEgo: As multiple people point out, she simply assumed she was the next big talent without putting any real work into her acting skills simply because she dressed in all black.
* UndignifiedDeath: The killer proceeded to pose her in a suggestive manner and left her body in the middle of a vacant lot.

to:


* ConsummateLiar: Pretty much everyone who knew AscendedExtra: Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}'' and helps the LAPD against communists.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Bobby De Witt subjected
her notes that Elizabeth constantly told outrageous lies, most often claiming that she was married to or in brutal physical abuse and forced her into prostitution, [[spoiler:which motivated Lee to frame him for the bank robbery.]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Kay says of the boxing match, "I hope both of you look good with your shirts off".
* FemmeFatale: She's
a relationship beautiful woman with a war hero.
checkered and mysterious past, though she's given much more depth than the typical Femme Fatale, and it's clear form the get-go she cares about Lee and Bleichert.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A GlasgowGrin was carved into FemaleGaze: Kay Lake suggests this is why she enjoys watching the boxing match between Bleichert and Blanchard. Both of the men getting sweaty without their shirts.
* ModestyTowel: Removes one of these in
her face. Elizabeth Short was also tortured for two days before she was disemboweled and cut Blanchard's apartment to seduce Bleichert. It doesn't work, in half. Sadly, it was TruthInTelevision.
* EthicalSlut: Elizabeth casually dated numerous men but despite the period's DeliberateValuesDissonance treating it as heinous, seems
part, due to have done nothing wrong or even noteworthy Bleichert being in no mood due to a modern reader.
* FreudianExcuse: Her compulsive lying and egotism appears to be a coping mechanism from
having abusive just killed two people.
* MsFanservice: Much attention is paid to how describing beautiful Kay Lake is
and neglectful parents who flat-out admit they how good she looks naked, particularly when she's trying to seduce Bleichert.
* MysteriousPast: Her past with Bobby [=DeWitt=] is shrouded in mystery and false information, and Bleichert is actively curious about it.
* SexlessMarriage: Kay Lake claims she and Blanchard
don't care that she's dead.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She was entirely real, though James Ellroy fictionalized the investigation into her death to give her more closure than she got in real life.
* LittleBlackDress: Elizabeth has gained her reputation as the Black Dahlia because she always wore black outfits
have sex despite living together as a way to attract the attention of directors.
* PosthumousCharacter: Elizabeth Short dies before the protagonists (or reader) ever meets her.
* SmallNameBigEgo: As multiple people point out, she simply assumed she was the next big talent without putting any real work into her acting skills simply because she dressed in all black.
* UndignifiedDeath: The killer proceeded to pose her in a suggestive manner and left her body in the middle of a vacant lot.
couple.



[[folder:Georgie Tilden]]
!!Georgie Tilden

Emmett Sprague's best friend and partner, who began living as an itinerant handyman after being disfigured in a car wreck.

to:

[[folder:Georgie Tilden]]
!!Georgie Tilden

Emmett Sprague's best friend
[[folder:Lorna Maltikova]]
!!Lorna Maltikova/Linda Martin

An aspiring actress
and partner, one of Elizabeth's friends, who began living as an itinerant handyman after being disfigured starred in a car wreck.lesbian porn film with her.



* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Emmett disfigured him with a knife and framed him for the Black Dahlia murder, but Tilden is a necrophiliac psycho who was complicit in the murder, so it's hard to feel bad for him.]]
* AxCrazy: He has a perverse obsession with dead bodies and frequently digs them up and collects their body parts. [[spoiler:When Bleichert enters his home, Tilden immediately tries to murder him with a scalpel.]]
* SanitySlippage: Tilden was never all there to begin with, but being disfigured seems to have driven him completely off the bend.

to:

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Emmett disfigured him with AbusiveParents: Heavily implied to come from a knife family of these as the thought of returning terrifies her.
* BreakTheHaughty: When she's brought in for questioning, she's initially arrogant
and framed him confrontational. Within a matter of minutes, she's brought to the point of tears and pathetically begs Millard, Bleichert, and Sears not to send her back to her parents.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's implied she ran away from home to get away from her abusive parents.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Her immediate response to Elizabeth's death is to obtain a copy of the porno they started in together to sell it
for the Black Dahlia murder, but Tilden is a necrophiliac psycho who was complicit in the murder, so it's hard to feel bad for him.]]
* AxCrazy: He has a perverse obsession with dead bodies and frequently digs them up and collects their body parts. [[spoiler:When Bleichert enters his home, Tilden immediately tries to murder him with a scalpel.]]
* SanitySlippage: Tilden was never all there to begin with, but being disfigured seems to have driven him completely off the bend.
as much money as possible.



[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Captain Vasquez

A Rurale in charge of the law enforcement in Tijuana.

to:

[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Captain Vasquez

A Rurale in charge of
[[folder:Elizabeth Short]]
!!Elizabeth Short

An aspiring actress and
the law enforcement in Tijuana.infamous "Black Dahlia" murder victim.




* DirtyCop: He is believed to have killed Lee Blanchard and nearly kills Bleichert as well, though Bleichert is able to save himself.
* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot-free for nearly killing Bleichert.
* PragmaticVillainy: Has no interest in arrousing the attention of the FBI just to kill Bleichert.

to:

\n* DirtyCop: He is believed ConsummateLiar: Pretty much everyone who knew her notes that Elizabeth constantly told outrageous lies, most often claiming that she was married to or in a relationship with a war hero.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A GlasgowGrin was carved into her face. Elizabeth Short was also tortured for two days before she was disemboweled and cut in half. Sadly, it was TruthInTelevision.
* EthicalSlut: Elizabeth casually dated numerous men but despite the period's DeliberateValuesDissonance treating it as heinous, seems
to have killed Lee Blanchard done nothing wrong or even noteworthy to a modern reader.
* FreudianExcuse: Her compulsive lying
and nearly kills Bleichert as well, egotism appears to be a coping mechanism from having abusive and neglectful parents who flat-out admit they don't care that she's dead.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She was entirely real,
though Bleichert is able James Ellroy fictionalized the investigation into her death to save himself.
* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot-free for nearly killing Bleichert.
* PragmaticVillainy: Has no interest
give her more closure than she got in arrousing real life.
* LittleBlackDress: Elizabeth has gained her reputation as the Black Dahlia because she always wore black outfits as a way to attract
the attention of directors.
* PosthumousCharacter: Elizabeth Short dies before
the FBI just protagonists (or reader) ever meets her.
* SmallNameBigEgo: As multiple people point out, she simply assumed she was the next big talent without putting any real work into her acting skills simply because she dressed in all black.
* UndignifiedDeath: The killer proceeded
to kill Bleichert.pose her in a suggestive manner and left her body in the middle of a vacant lot.



[[folder:Joseph Dulange]]
!!Corporal Joseph Dulange

A soldier who claims to have murdered Elizabeth Short.

to:

[[folder:Joseph Dulange]]
!!Corporal Joseph Dulange

A soldier
[[folder:Georgie Tilden]]
!!Georgie Tilden

Emmett Sprague's best friend and partner,
who claims to have murdered Elizabeth Short.began living as an itinerant handyman after being disfigured in a car wreck.


Added DiffLines:

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Emmett disfigured him with a knife and framed him for the Black Dahlia murder, but Tilden is a necrophiliac psycho who was complicit in the murder, so it's hard to feel bad for him.]]
* AxCrazy: He has a perverse obsession with dead bodies and frequently digs them up and collects their body parts. [[spoiler:When Bleichert enters his home, Tilden immediately tries to murder him with a scalpel.]]
* SanitySlippage: Tilden was never all there to begin with, but being disfigured seems to have driven him completely off the bend.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Captain Vasquez

A Rurale in charge of the law enforcement in Tijuana.
----

* DirtyCop: He is believed to have killed Lee Blanchard and nearly kills Bleichert as well, though Bleichert is able to save himself.
* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot-free for nearly killing Bleichert.
* PragmaticVillainy: Has no interest in arrousing the attention of the FBI just to kill Bleichert.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Joseph Dulange]]
!!Corporal Joseph Dulange

A soldier who claims to have murdered Elizabeth Short.
----

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!! LA County Police

[[folder: Danny Upshaw]]
!! Deputy Danny Upshaw

A Los Angeles County Deputy investigating the Wolverine killings.

to:

!! LA County Police

[[folder: Danny Upshaw]]
!! Deputy Danny Upshaw

A Los Angeles County Deputy investigating
[[folder:Thad Green]]
!!Deputy Chief Thad Green

The deputy chief of
the Wolverine killings.LAPD and Ed's superior.




* {{Archenemy}}: The Wolverine killer becomes the focus of his obsession.
* ArmoredClosetGay: Danny Upshaw thinks he's this, flirting with multiple women and cultivating a reputation as a ladies' man. In fact, it's more EveryoneCanSeeIt and the realization of this contributes to [[spoiler: Danny's suicide.]]
* BotheringByTheBook: Danny Upshaw uses the fact that food and beverages are under the control of LA County to threaten people he can't technically arrest in Los Angeles proper.
* ByTheBookCop: Starts as one of these but gradually becomes a CowboyCop the more he becomes obsessed with the Wolverine killings.
* DealWithTheDevil: Agrees to help investigate communist activity for more support in finding the Wolverine.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw in a bid to avert anyone finding out about his homosexuality]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Danny believes this as his activity starts to suspect his obsession with finding the Wolverine killer is motivated by his own repressed homosexuality.
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw is actually a severely repressed homosexual.]]
* TheHeroDies: Danny is the first of the protagonists to die due to being [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide.]]
* HoneyPot: Is sent to seduce Claire de haven as part of his investigation into communist activity.
* JurisdictionFriction: The LAPD and LA County Sheriff's Department are loggerheads over Cohen. Thus Danny gets stonewalled by the LAPD when he first tries to investigate the Goines murder. A free hand in running the case is his top condition for joining the anticommunist task force.

to:

\n* {{Archenemy}}: The Wolverine killer becomes the focus of his obsession.
* ArmoredClosetGay: Danny Upshaw thinks
PoliticallyIncorrectHero: He's a ReasonableAuthorityFigure who throws around a few racial slurs, though he's this, flirting with multiple women and cultivating a reputation as a ladies' man. In fact, it's more EveryoneCanSeeIt and horrified by the realization volume of this contributes to [[spoiler: Danny's suicide.]]
Dudley's bigotry.
* BotheringByTheBook: Danny Upshaw uses the fact that food and beverages are under the control of LA County to threaten people he can't technically arrest in Los Angeles proper.
* ByTheBookCop: Starts as
ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He's one of these but gradually becomes a CowboyCop the more he becomes obsessed with the Wolverine killings.
* DealWithTheDevil: Agrees
few officers to help investigate communist activity for more support in finding the Wolverine.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw in a bid
frown on using PoliceBrutality to avert anyone finding out about get confessions, and he's quite supportive of Ed while still acknowledging how much his homosexuality]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Danny believes this as his activity starts to suspect his obsession with finding the Wolverine killer
fellow officers dislike him. He also recognizes Dudley Smith is motivated by his own repressed homosexuality.
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw is actually a severely repressed homosexual.]]
* TheHeroDies: Danny is the first of the protagonists to die due to being [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide.]]
* HoneyPot: Is sent to seduce Claire de haven as part
bad news specifically because of his investigation into communist activity.
* JurisdictionFriction: The LAPD and LA County Sheriff's Department are loggerheads over Cohen. Thus Danny gets stonewalled by
racism, as well as trusting the LAPD when he first tries to investigate the Goines murder. A free hand in running the case is his top condition for joining the anticommunist task force. kindly Russ Millard instead.



!!District Attorney's Office

[[folder:Ellis Loew]]
!!Ellis Loew

The politically ambitious deputy district attorney and the ''real'' head of Warrants Division. Later elected to District Attorney.

to:

!!District Attorney's Office

[[folder:Ellis Loew]]
!!Ellis Loew

The politically ambitious deputy district attorney
[[folder:Art De Spain]]
!!Lieutenant Arthur "Art" De Spain

Preston Exley's best friend
and the ''real'' head one of Warrants Division. Later elected to District Attorney.Ed's mentors.




* AmbitionIsEvil: Loew is planning a massive union-busting witch hunt for communists in order to bring attention to his political campaign. It causes no end of trouble at the end of ''The Big Nowhere.''
* ArmoredClosetGay[=/=]StraightGay: [[spoiler:Loew is a closeted homosexual, but shows no effeminate traits. Nor does he show any sympathy for "some homo actor" who died.]]
* AssholeVictim: He may have reluctantly helped [[spoiler: Dudley]], but was still an arrogant SmugSnake of a lawyer. Notably, this is the first time Exley is fine with White's PoliceBrutality.
* BadassBoast: He claims to have invented the GoodCopBadCop technique, and isn't intimidated by White and Exley [[spoiler:at first.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: He's short-tempered, entitled, and throws a hissy fit whenever things don't go his way.
* LaserGuidedKarma: Buzz Meeks takes the opportunity to burn down his house with all of the grand jury's accumulated evidence on the communists.
* PersecutingProsecutor: He's very willing to cut corners to get what he wants, and encourages officers to use violence to get information out of their suspects.
** Averted in the movie - [[spoiler:He originally refused to cooperate in Smith's corruption and wanted to prosecute them, but was then blackmailed.]] - but played straight in the book; he is mostly funded by extortion [[spoiler: run by Jack]] and only wins the DA campaign thanks to his opponent being framed [[spoiler: also by Jack]]. His downfall comes when [[spoiler: Ed]] uses these to leverage himself above [[spoiler: Dudley]] in the police chain of command.
* RedScare: Loew intends to take advantage of this in ''The Big Nowhere'' in order to make a name for himself.

to:

\n* AmbitionIsEvil: Loew is planning a massive union-busting witch hunt for communists in order to bring attention to his political campaign. It causes no end of trouble at the end of ''The Big Nowhere.''
* ArmoredClosetGay[=/=]StraightGay: [[spoiler:Loew is a closeted homosexual, but shows no effeminate traits. Nor does he show any sympathy for "some homo actor" who died.]]
* AssholeVictim: He may have reluctantly helped [[spoiler: Dudley]], but was still an arrogant SmugSnake of a lawyer. Notably, this is the first time Exley is fine with White's PoliceBrutality.
* BadassBoast: He claims to have invented the GoodCopBadCop technique, and isn't intimidated by White and Exley [[spoiler:at first.]]
* {{Jerkass}}:
MentorInSourArmor: He's short-tempered, entitled, quite cynical about the LAPD and throws a hissy fit whenever things don't go his way.
* LaserGuidedKarma: Buzz Meeks takes the opportunity to burn down his house with all of the grand jury's accumulated evidence on the communists.
* PersecutingProsecutor: He's very willing to cut corners to get what he wants,
its office politics, and encourages officers tries to use violence to get information out of their suspects.
** Averted in the movie - [[spoiler:He originally refused to cooperate in Smith's corruption and wanted to prosecute them, but was then blackmailed.]] - but played straight in the book; he is mostly funded by extortion [[spoiler: run by Jack]] and only wins the DA campaign thanks to his opponent
dissuade Ed from being framed [[spoiler: also by Jack]]. His downfall comes when [[spoiler: Ed]] uses these a ByTheBookCop. He still does his best to leverage himself above [[spoiler: Dudley]] in the police chain of command.
* RedScare: Loew intends to take advantage of this in ''The Big Nowhere'' in order to make a name for himself.
mentor him and help him succeed.



!!Criminals

!!!Cohen Crime Syndicate

[[folder:Mickey Cohen]]
!!Mickey Cohen

An infamous LA gangster who has connections within both the city government and the Hollywood elite.

to:

!!Criminals

!!!Cohen Crime Syndicate

[[folder:Mickey Cohen]]
!!Mickey Cohen

An infamous
!! LA gangster who has connections within both County Police

[[folder: Danny Upshaw]]
!! Deputy Danny Upshaw

A Los Angeles County Deputy investigating
the city government and the Hollywood elite.Wolverine killings.



* AffablyEvil: Mickey Cohen is a ruthless gangster but a pleasant enough man with his own code of honor.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He orders hits on those who exploit women via blackmail or are involved in bestiality.
* FriendlyNeighborhoodGangster: Bizarrely, Mickey is one of the few characters in the book who seems to be genuinely motivated by disgust at the abuse and ill-treatment of the women under his protection. This along with other PetTheDog moments, makes him closer to a NobleDemon than most characters, including the protagonists.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based on the real Mickey Cohen, who was just as feared and infamous as his novel counterpart.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Mickey Cohen in real life was known to have a hair-trigger temper and exceptionally prone to unnecessary violence.
* KosherNostra: The head of the Jewish mob in LA and successor to Bugsy Siegel.
* NobleDemon: Mickey Cohen is a far better person than most of his DirtyCop associates.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Surprisingly, he is prone to keeping his temper and only using force when necessary or when his code is broken. A sharp contrast to the real Mickey's reputation.

to:


* AffablyEvil: Mickey Cohen is a ruthless gangster but a pleasant enough man {{Archenemy}}: The Wolverine killer becomes the focus of his obsession.
* ArmoredClosetGay: Danny Upshaw thinks he's this, flirting
with his own code of honor.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He orders hits on those who exploit
multiple women via blackmail or and cultivating a reputation as a ladies' man. In fact, it's more EveryoneCanSeeIt and the realization of this contributes to [[spoiler: Danny's suicide.]]
* BotheringByTheBook: Danny Upshaw uses the fact that food and beverages
are involved under the control of LA County to threaten people he can't technically arrest in bestiality.
Los Angeles proper.
* FriendlyNeighborhoodGangster: Bizarrely, Mickey is ByTheBookCop: Starts as one of these but gradually becomes a CowboyCop the few characters in more he becomes obsessed with the book who seems Wolverine killings.
* DealWithTheDevil: Agrees
to be genuinely help investigate communist activity for more support in finding the Wolverine.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw in a bid to avert anyone finding out about his homosexuality]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Danny believes this as his activity starts to suspect his obsession with finding the Wolverine killer is
motivated by disgust at his own repressed homosexuality.
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw is actually a severely repressed homosexual.]]
* TheHeroDies: Danny is
the abuse and ill-treatment first of the women under his protection. This along with other PetTheDog moments, makes him closer protagonists to a NobleDemon than most characters, including the protagonists.
die due to being [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide.]]
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based on the real Mickey Cohen, who was just HoneyPot: Is sent to seduce Claire de haven as feared and infamous as his novel counterpart.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Mickey Cohen in real life was known to have a hair-trigger temper and exceptionally prone to unnecessary violence.
* KosherNostra: The head of the Jewish mob in LA and successor to Bugsy Siegel.
* NobleDemon: Mickey Cohen is a far better person than most
part of his DirtyCop associates.
investigation into communist activity.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Surprisingly, he is prone to keeping his temper JurisdictionFriction: The LAPD and only using force LA County Sheriff's Department are loggerheads over Cohen. Thus Danny gets stonewalled by the LAPD when necessary or when he first tries to investigate the Goines murder. A free hand in running the case is his code is broken. A sharp contrast to top condition for joining the real Mickey's reputation.anticommunist task force.



[[folder:Buzz Meeks]]
!!Turner "Buzz" Meeks

An ex-cop turned enforcer for Mickey Cohen and Howard Hughes. Becomes one of the protagonists of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere.''

to:

[[folder:Buzz Meeks]]
!!Turner "Buzz" Meeks

An ex-cop turned enforcer for Mickey Cohen
!!District Attorney's Office

[[folder:Ellis Loew]]
!!Ellis Loew

The politically ambitious deputy district attorney
and Howard Hughes. Becomes one of the protagonists ''real'' head of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere.'' Warrants Division. Later elected to District Attorney.



* {{Antihero}}: Is a corrupt DirtyCop and a general scumbag but wants to make up for [[spoiler:driving Danny Upshaw to suicide.]]
* AscendedExtra: He's a minor character in ''Literature/TheBlackDahlia'' before becoming one of the main protagonists of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere''.
* TheAtoner: Buzz attempts to make up for the fact he got Danny Upshaw [[spoiler: killed.]]
* DefiantToTheEnd: [[spoiler:Even when Dudley has Buzz at gunpoint, Buzz still tries to shoot him without a hint of fear. He's also able to take most of his assailants with him.]]
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:He's murdered by Dudley, but not before he's able to kill most of his assailants and nearly shooting Dudley himself.]]
* TheFixer: Buzz Meeks has this job for Howard Hughes. He covers up his various affairs with actresses both underage and otherwise. He also cleans up for Howard's friends.
* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: In ''White Jazz'', Mickey Cohen is no longer the feared gangster he used to be despite being out of prison. He only holds a few small gambling businesses and is firmly under Dudley Smith's control.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Buzz is killed by Dudley Smith a week after the events of ''The Big Nowhere.'']]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Buzz kills a DirtyCop in self-defense and Danny Upshaw is blamed for it due to the fact they'd been in a confrontation the previous day. [[spoiler: This leads to Danny's suicide.]]
* PrivateDetective: Buzz is the head of security for Howard Hughes, which roughly gives him this feel before he's hired by the Grand Jury and becomes indistinguishable from a cop.
* RedemptionQuest: Takes up the quest to go after the Wolverine to redeem himself.

to:


* {{Antihero}}: Is AmbitionIsEvil: Loew is planning a corrupt DirtyCop and massive union-busting witch hunt for communists in order to bring attention to his political campaign. It causes no end of trouble at the end of ''The Big Nowhere.''
* ArmoredClosetGay[=/=]StraightGay: [[spoiler:Loew is
a general scumbag closeted homosexual, but wants to make up shows no effeminate traits. Nor does he show any sympathy for [[spoiler:driving Danny Upshaw to suicide."some homo actor" who died.]]
* AscendedExtra: He's a minor character in ''Literature/TheBlackDahlia'' before becoming one of the main protagonists of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere''.
* TheAtoner: Buzz attempts to make up for the fact he got Danny Upshaw
AssholeVictim: He may have reluctantly helped [[spoiler: killed.Dudley]], but was still an arrogant SmugSnake of a lawyer. Notably, this is the first time Exley is fine with White's PoliceBrutality.
* BadassBoast: He claims to have invented the GoodCopBadCop technique, and isn't intimidated by White and Exley [[spoiler:at first.
]]
* DefiantToTheEnd: [[spoiler:Even when Dudley has Buzz at gunpoint, Buzz still tries to shoot him without a hint of fear. {{Jerkass}}: He's also able to take most of short-tempered, entitled, and throws a hissy fit whenever things don't go his assailants with him.]]
way.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:He's murdered by Dudley, but not before he's able to kill most of his assailants and nearly shooting Dudley himself.]]
* TheFixer:
LaserGuidedKarma: Buzz Meeks has this job for Howard Hughes. He covers up takes the opportunity to burn down his various affairs house with actresses both underage all of the grand jury's accumulated evidence on the communists.
* PersecutingProsecutor: He's very willing to cut corners to get what he wants,
and otherwise. He also cleans up for Howard's friends.
* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: In ''White Jazz'', Mickey Cohen is no longer the feared gangster he used
encourages officers to be despite being use violence to get information out of prison. He only holds a few small gambling businesses and is firmly under Dudley their suspects.
** Averted in the movie - [[spoiler:He originally refused to cooperate in
Smith's control.
* KilledOffForReal:
corruption and wanted to prosecute them, but was then blackmailed.]] - but played straight in the book; he is mostly funded by extortion [[spoiler: Buzz is killed run by Dudley Smith a week after Jack]] and only wins the events DA campaign thanks to his opponent being framed [[spoiler: also by Jack]]. His downfall comes when [[spoiler: Ed]] uses these to leverage himself above [[spoiler: Dudley]] in the police chain of command.
* RedScare: Loew intends to take advantage of this in
''The Big Nowhere.'']]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Buzz kills a DirtyCop
Nowhere'' in self-defense and Danny Upshaw is blamed order to make a name for it due to the fact they'd been in a confrontation the previous day. [[spoiler: This leads to Danny's suicide.]]
* PrivateDetective: Buzz is the head of security for Howard Hughes, which roughly gives him this feel before he's hired by the Grand Jury and becomes indistinguishable from a cop.
* RedemptionQuest: Takes up the quest to go after the Wolverine to redeem
himself.



[[folder: Johnny Stompanato]]

Mickey Cohen's chief enforcer.

to:

[[folder: Johnny Stompanato]]

Mickey Cohen's chief enforcer.
!!Criminals

!!!Cohen Crime Syndicate

[[folder:Mickey Cohen]]
!!Mickey Cohen

An infamous LA gangster who has connections within both the city government and the Hollywood elite.



* ButtMonkey: to Bud White.
* DemotedToExtra: from the book (where he is a key part of Mickey Cohen's clique) to the film.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: One of the few in the movie, along with Lana Turner. His history is fudged with for comedic purposes.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:In the book his real-life manslaughter is brought up to Ed; said death means Ed has no evidence linking Dudley Smith to anything.]]
* TheInformant: to Bud, although he insists that he doesn't do that anymore. [[spoiler: Bud asserts otherwise.]]

to:

* ButtMonkey: to Bud White.
AffablyEvil: Mickey Cohen is a ruthless gangster but a pleasant enough man with his own code of honor.
* DemotedToExtra: from EvenEvilHasStandards: He orders hits on those who exploit women via blackmail or are involved in bestiality.
* FriendlyNeighborhoodGangster: Bizarrely, Mickey is one of the few characters in
the book (where he is a key part of Mickey Cohen's clique) who seems to be genuinely motivated by disgust at the film.
abuse and ill-treatment of the women under his protection. This along with other PetTheDog moments, makes him closer to a NobleDemon than most characters, including the protagonists.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: One He's based on the real Mickey Cohen, who was just as feared and infamous as his novel counterpart.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Mickey Cohen in real life was known to have a hair-trigger temper and exceptionally prone to unnecessary violence.
* KosherNostra: The head
of the few Jewish mob in LA and successor to Bugsy Siegel.
* NobleDemon: Mickey Cohen is a far better person than most of his DirtyCop associates.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Surprisingly, he is prone to keeping his temper and only using force when necessary or when his code is broken. A sharp contrast to
the movie, along with Lana Turner. His history is fudged with for comedic purposes.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:In the book his real-life manslaughter is brought up to Ed; said death means Ed has no evidence linking Dudley Smith to anything.]]
* TheInformant: to Bud, although he insists that he doesn't do that anymore. [[spoiler: Bud asserts otherwise.]]
real Mickey's reputation.



!!!Others

[[folder:Charles Issler]]
!!Charles Issler

A former cop turned pimp who frequently confesses to the murders of prostitutes.

to:

!!!Others

[[folder:Charles Issler]]
!!Charles Issler

A former cop
[[folder:Buzz Meeks]]
!!Turner "Buzz" Meeks

An ex-cop
turned pimp who frequently confesses to enforcer for Mickey Cohen and Howard Hughes. Becomes one of the murders protagonists of prostitutes.''Literature/TheBigNowhere.''




* DirtyCop: Played with. He is a cop who has turned to sex trafficking and hates himself for it.
* FalseConfession: He is prone to confessing to the murder of prostitutes despite just being a pimp.
* ReluctantMonster: Sally Stinson notes that Issler's constant false confessions are motivated by his guilt over his profession, but it's clearly not enough for him to stop.
* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: His hatred of his profession leads to him confessing to much worse crimes.

to:

\n* DirtyCop: Played with. He is {{Antihero}}: Is a cop who corrupt DirtyCop and a general scumbag but wants to make up for [[spoiler:driving Danny Upshaw to suicide.]]
* AscendedExtra: He's a minor character in ''Literature/TheBlackDahlia'' before becoming one of the main protagonists of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere''.
* TheAtoner: Buzz attempts to make up for the fact he got Danny Upshaw [[spoiler: killed.]]
* DefiantToTheEnd: [[spoiler:Even when Dudley
has turned Buzz at gunpoint, Buzz still tries to sex trafficking shoot him without a hint of fear. He's also able to take most of his assailants with him.]]
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:He's murdered by Dudley, but not before he's able to kill most of his assailants
and hates himself nearly shooting Dudley himself.]]
* TheFixer: Buzz Meeks has this job
for it.
* FalseConfession:
Howard Hughes. He covers up his various affairs with actresses both underage and otherwise. He also cleans up for Howard's friends.
* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: In ''White Jazz'', Mickey Cohen
is prone to confessing to no longer the murder of prostitutes feared gangster he used to be despite just being out of prison. He only holds a pimp.
few small gambling businesses and is firmly under Dudley Smith's control.
* ReluctantMonster: Sally Stinson notes that Issler's constant false confessions are motivated KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Buzz is killed by his guilt over his profession, but it's clearly not enough Dudley Smith a week after the events of ''The Big Nowhere.'']]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Buzz kills a DirtyCop in self-defense and Danny Upshaw is blamed
for him it due to stop.
* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: His hatred of his profession
the fact they'd been in a confrontation the previous day. [[spoiler: This leads to Danny's suicide.]]
* PrivateDetective: Buzz is the head of security for Howard Hughes, which roughly gives
him confessing this feel before he's hired by the Grand Jury and becomes indistinguishable from a cop.
* RedemptionQuest: Takes up the quest
to much worse crimes.go after the Wolverine to redeem himself.



[[folder:Junior Nash]]
!!Raymond Douglas "Junior" Nash

A petty criminal and the primary suspect in the Black Dahlia murder case.

to:

[[folder:Junior Nash]]
!!Raymond Douglas "Junior" Nash

A petty criminal and the primary suspect in the Black Dahlia murder case.
[[folder: Johnny Stompanato]]

Mickey Cohen's chief enforcer.




* KilledOffscreen: [[spoiler:Lee murders him in a fit of rage under the belief he killed Elizabeth Short.]] [[spoiler:Though it's later revealed Blanchard ''hadn't'' killed him, and had confessed to Bleichert to cover up he had accepted a massive bribe to bury crucial evidence to the Black Dahlia case.]]

to:

\n* KilledOffscreen: [[spoiler:Lee murders him in a fit of rage under ButtMonkey: to Bud White.
* DemotedToExtra: from
the belief book (where he killed Elizabeth Short.]] [[spoiler:Though it's later revealed Blanchard ''hadn't'' killed him, and had confessed is a key part of Mickey Cohen's clique) to Bleichert the film.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: One of the few in the movie, along with Lana Turner. His history is fudged with for comedic purposes.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:In the book his real-life manslaughter is brought up
to cover up he had accepted a massive bribe to bury crucial Ed; said death means Ed has no evidence linking Dudley Smith to the Black Dahlia case.anything.]]
* TheInformant: to Bud, although he insists that he doesn't do that anymore. [[spoiler: Bud asserts otherwise.
]]



[[folder:Sally Stinson]]
!!Sally Stinson

A prostitute working under Issler.

to:

[[folder:Sally Stinson]]
!!Sally Stinson

!!!Others

[[folder:Charles Issler]]
!!Charles Issler

A prostitute working under Issler.former cop turned pimp who frequently confesses to the murders of prostitutes.



* ButtMonkey: She's destitute to the point she was forced into prostitution, and John and Fritz Vogel beat her to a pulp to learn Issler's whereabouts.

to:

* ButtMonkey: She's destitute DirtyCop: Played with. He is a cop who has turned to sex trafficking and hates himself for it.
* FalseConfession: He is prone to confessing
to the point she was forced into prostitution, and John and Fritz Vogel beat her to murder of prostitutes despite just being a pulp to learn pimp.
* ReluctantMonster: Sally Stinson notes that
Issler's whereabouts.constant false confessions are motivated by his guilt over his profession, but it's clearly not enough for him to stop.
* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: His hatred of his profession leads to him confessing to much worse crimes.



[[folder:Bobby De Witt]]
!!Robert "Bobby" De Witt

A violent pimp who Lee Blanchard arrested for the Boulevard-Citizens bank robbery.

to:

[[folder:Bobby De Witt]]
!!Robert "Bobby" De Witt

[[folder:Junior Nash]]
!!Raymond Douglas "Junior" Nash

A violent pimp who Lee Blanchard arrested for petty criminal and the Boulevard-Citizens bank robbery.primary suspect in the Black Dahlia murder case.



* AssholeVictim: Pretty much everything that can go wrong for Bobby does, culminating in [[spoiler:Blanchard hiring Mexican hitmen to murder him]], but it's hard to feel bad for him given the abuse he put Kay through.
* KarmicButtMonkey: He's [[spoiler:framed for bank robbery]], sentenced to five years in prison, is beaten to a pulp by Bleichert the day after his release, and [[spoiler:is murdered on Blanchard's orders shortly after]]. However, given his abuse of Kay and countless other women, it's difficult to feel bad for him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Wolverine AKA [[spoiler: Coleman Masskie]]]] AKA [[spoiler: Coleman Healey]]
Coleman Maskie is the illegitimate son of Reynolds Loftis. He is driven insane by a combination of witnessing the Sleepy Lagoon murder, his father sexually abusing him, and his crush choosing his father over him.

to:

* AssholeVictim: Pretty much everything that can go wrong for Bobby does, culminating KilledOffscreen: [[spoiler:Lee murders him in [[spoiler:Blanchard hiring Mexican hitmen to murder him]], but a fit of rage under the belief he killed Elizabeth Short.]] [[spoiler:Though it's hard later revealed Blanchard ''hadn't'' killed him, and had confessed to feel bad for him given the abuse he put Kay through.
* KarmicButtMonkey: He's [[spoiler:framed for bank robbery]], sentenced to five years in prison, is beaten to a pulp by
Bleichert to cover up he had accepted a massive bribe to bury crucial evidence to the day after his release, and [[spoiler:is murdered on Blanchard's orders shortly after]]. However, given his abuse of Kay and countless other women, it's difficult to feel bad for him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Wolverine AKA [[spoiler: Coleman Masskie]]]] AKA [[spoiler: Coleman Healey]]
Coleman Maskie is the illegitimate son of Reynolds Loftis. He is driven insane by a combination of witnessing the Sleepy Lagoon murder, his father sexually abusing him, and his crush choosing his father over him.
Black Dahlia case.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sally Stinson]]
!!Sally Stinson

A prostitute working under Issler.



* BandagedFace: Bandaged Face: Danny Upshaw hears a lot about a kid with bandages covering a supposedly burned face who used to hang around Marty Goines and help him commit burglaries. In reality, the bandages were the aftermath of plastic surgery. [[spoiler: The bandaged kid was Coleman Masskie, Reynolds Loftis' illegitimate son. Reynolds commissioned a facelift from Terry Lux to make Coleman resemble him perfectly, as part of his own twisted incestuous fantasies. At the time he was seen with the bandages, Coleman was recovering from his second visit to Lux, to undo this job by breaking every bone in his face.]]
* BoomerangBigot: Hates gay men but is also a queer man himself.
* ComplexityAddiction: [[spoiler: A lot of the issues would have been solved if he'd just outed his father as a homosexual or killed him.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Was an abused young orphan boy created by a mentally ill woman to give to the church before he found his rich father, only to be sexually abused by him. He was also a witness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder but too scared of the killer [[spoiler: Dudley Smith]] to come forward.
* DepravedBisexual: Coleman's sexuality is questionable as he abuses gay men but also lusts for Claire De Haven. He does, however, have a sincere lust for Danny Upshaw.
* EvilVersusEvil: His goal is to destroy Reynolds Loftis, his father, for sexually abusing him as well as Claire de Haven for covering it up.
* ParentalIncest: Coleman's father begins a sexual relationship with him after getting him plastic surgery.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: [[spoiler: He commits sexual assault on the bodies of his victims.]]
* ScaryTeeth: The killer mutilates his victims' corpses using a set of dentures he fashioned out of wolverine teeth. Buzz and Mal get to see this in person during the climactic shootout.
* SerialKiller: Is one of gay men in Los Angeles, murdering them and mutilating their bodies.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: His victims are all gay men but he is a bisexual man himself.

to:

* BandagedFace: Bandaged Face: Danny Upshaw hears a lot about a kid with bandages covering a supposedly burned face who used to hang around Marty Goines and help him commit burglaries. In reality, the bandages were the aftermath of plastic surgery. [[spoiler: The bandaged kid was Coleman Masskie, Reynolds Loftis' illegitimate son. Reynolds commissioned a facelift from Terry Lux to make Coleman resemble him perfectly, as part of his own twisted incestuous fantasies. At the time he was seen with the bandages, Coleman was recovering from his second visit to Lux, to undo this job by breaking every bone in his face.]]
* BoomerangBigot: Hates gay men but is also a queer man himself.
* ComplexityAddiction: [[spoiler: A lot of the issues would have been solved if he'd just outed his father as a homosexual or killed him.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Was an abused young orphan boy created by a mentally ill woman to give
ButtMonkey: She's destitute to the church before he found his rich father, only to be sexually abused by him. He point she was also a witness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder but too scared of the killer [[spoiler: Dudley Smith]] to come forward.
* DepravedBisexual: Coleman's sexuality is questionable as he abuses gay men but also lusts for Claire De Haven. He does, however, have a sincere lust for Danny Upshaw.
* EvilVersusEvil: His goal is to destroy Reynolds Loftis, his father, for sexually abusing him as well as Claire de Haven for covering it up.
* ParentalIncest: Coleman's father begins a sexual relationship with him after getting him plastic surgery.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: [[spoiler: He commits sexual assault on the bodies of his victims.]]
* ScaryTeeth: The killer mutilates his victims' corpses using a set of dentures he fashioned out of wolverine teeth. Buzz
forced into prostitution, and Mal get to see this in person during the climactic shootout.
* SerialKiller: Is one of gay men in Los Angeles, murdering them
John and mutilating their bodies.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: His victims are all gay men but he is
Fritz Vogel beat her to a bisexual man himself.pulp to learn Issler's whereabouts.



!! Communists

[[folder: Claire de Haven]]
A beautiful upper-class woman who is a major leading figure among the Hollywood Left.

to:

!! Communists

[[folder: Claire de Haven]]
[[folder:Bobby De Witt]]
!!Robert "Bobby" De Witt

A beautiful upper-class woman violent pimp who is a major leading figure among Lee Blanchard arrested for the Hollywood Left.Boulevard-Citizens bank robbery.



* BrokenPedestal: Claire Katherine De Haven is a figure on the Hollywood social circuit and is a communist sympathizer in order to help people in need. [[spoiler: She also enabled a known rapist and murderer get away with his crimes as well as protected Reynolds Loftis despite the fact he had sex with his own son.]] This ruins the opinion of Mal Considine, who carried a torch for her.
* FemmeFatale: Is a key factor in driving Danny Upshaw to his death. [[spoiler: Arranging a movie screening of her having sex with a man to gauge his sexual interest in both, letting him know she knows that he's a gay man.]]
* {{Hypocrite}}: Claire de Haven preaches communist rhetoric and working-class values but is a rich UptownGirl who uses her connections to get herself as well as her friends out of trouble with the authorities.
* KarmaHoudini: Claire gets away with everything in ''The Big Nowhere'', except maybe a guilty conscience.
* JerkassHasAPoint: A lot of her complaints about the Hollywood system and police in Los Angeles are 100% accurate.
* LoveMakesYouEvil: Protecting Reynolds Loftis is something that enables the Wolverine killings to go on far longer than they should.
* MoralMyopia: Whenever the police or government does something wrong, it's evil and vile. Whenever a communist party member does something wrong, they have to be protected.
* SmugSnake: Claire believes she's beyond reproach and can win in the public eye despite the fact the papers as well as system are all stacked against us.
* WomenAreMoreInnocent: Invoked by Claire as being a beautiful woman able to fake cry on demand helped protect her from the HUAC.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: Claire is a rich woman who abuses her connections to protect her friends from the consequences of their actions. She's also a communist.
[[/folder]]

!!Civilians

!!!The Spragues

[[folder:Madeline Sprague]]
!!Madeline Sprague

The rebellious and spoiled daughter of a wealthy LA business magnate.

to:

* BrokenPedestal: Claire Katherine De Haven is a figure on AssholeVictim: Pretty much everything that can go wrong for Bobby does, culminating in [[spoiler:Blanchard hiring Mexican hitmen to murder him]], but it's hard to feel bad for him given the Hollywood social circuit abuse he put Kay through.
* KarmicButtMonkey: He's [[spoiler:framed for bank robbery]], sentenced to five years in prison, is beaten to a pulp by Bleichert the day after his release,
and is a communist sympathizer in order [[spoiler:is murdered on Blanchard's orders shortly after]]. However, given his abuse of Kay and countless other women, it's difficult to help people in need. feel bad for him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Wolverine AKA
[[spoiler: She also enabled a known rapist and murderer get away with his crimes as well as protected Reynolds Loftis despite the fact he had sex with his own son.]] This ruins the opinion of Mal Considine, who carried a torch for her.
* FemmeFatale: Is a key factor in driving Danny Upshaw to his death.
Coleman Masskie]]]] AKA [[spoiler: Arranging a movie screening of her having sex with a man to gauge his sexual interest in both, letting him know she knows that he's a gay man.]]
* {{Hypocrite}}: Claire de Haven preaches communist rhetoric and working-class values but
Coleman Healey]]
Coleman Maskie
is a rich UptownGirl who uses her connections to get herself as well as her friends out of trouble with the authorities.
* KarmaHoudini: Claire gets away with everything in ''The Big Nowhere'', except maybe a guilty conscience.
* JerkassHasAPoint: A lot
illegitimate son of her complaints about the Hollywood system and police in Los Angeles are 100% accurate.
* LoveMakesYouEvil: Protecting
Reynolds Loftis Loftis. He is something that enables driven insane by a combination of witnessing the Wolverine killings to go on far longer than they should.
* MoralMyopia: Whenever the police or government does something wrong, it's evil
Sleepy Lagoon murder, his father sexually abusing him, and vile. Whenever a communist party member does something wrong, they have to be protected.
* SmugSnake: Claire believes she's beyond reproach and can win in the public eye despite the fact the papers as well as system are all stacked against us.
* WomenAreMoreInnocent: Invoked by Claire as being a beautiful woman able to fake cry on demand helped protect her from the HUAC.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: Claire is a rich woman who abuses her connections to protect her friends from the consequences of their actions. She's also a communist.
[[/folder]]

!!Civilians

!!!The Spragues

[[folder:Madeline Sprague]]
!!Madeline Sprague

The rebellious and spoiled daughter of a wealthy LA business magnate.
his crush choosing his father over him.



* AdaptationalNameChange: Her name is changed from Sprague to Linscott.
* CloudCuckoolander: Madeline shares deeply personal information at the drop of a hat, tells horrific stories about her family during bed, and seems fascinated by her resemblance to Elizabeth Short.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Attempts to invoke this with Bleichert by saying she had sex with Elizabeth Short once. {{Subverted}} in that it makes him deeply uncomfortable, though whether it's because of the same sex nature of her liaison or the fact Elizabeth was horribly murdered or both is unclear.
* IdenticalStranger: Madeline and Elizabeth Short apparently resemble one another strong enough for everyone to notice it with any connection to the case.
* SpoiledBrat: Emmett gives her pretty much everything she could ever want, and she still slums it with the poor of Los Angeles for fun, as well as having engaged in [[spoiler:an affair with Elizabeth Short]].
* RebelliousPrincess: She's wealthy and the daughter of a powerful conservative businessman, but she prefers to spend her time slumming it in the poorer parts of Los Angeles.

to:

* AdaptationalNameChange: Her name is changed from Sprague to Linscott.
* CloudCuckoolander: Madeline shares deeply personal information at the drop of
BandagedFace: Bandaged Face: Danny Upshaw hears a hat, tells horrific stories lot about her family during bed, and seems fascinated by her resemblance to Elizabeth Short.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Attempts to invoke this
a kid with Bleichert by saying she had sex with Elizabeth Short once. {{Subverted}} in that it makes bandages covering a supposedly burned face who used to hang around Marty Goines and help him deeply uncomfortable, though whether it's because of commit burglaries. In reality, the same sex nature of her liaison or bandages were the fact Elizabeth aftermath of plastic surgery. [[spoiler: The bandaged kid was horribly murdered or both is unclear.
* IdenticalStranger: Madeline and Elizabeth Short apparently
Coleman Masskie, Reynolds Loftis' illegitimate son. Reynolds commissioned a facelift from Terry Lux to make Coleman resemble one another strong enough for everyone to notice it with any connection to him perfectly, as part of his own twisted incestuous fantasies. At the case.
* SpoiledBrat: Emmett gives her pretty much everything she could ever want, and she still slums it
time he was seen with the poor bandages, Coleman was recovering from his second visit to Lux, to undo this job by breaking every bone in his face.]]
* BoomerangBigot: Hates gay men but is also a queer man himself.
* ComplexityAddiction: [[spoiler: A lot
of Los Angeles the issues would have been solved if he'd just outed his father as a homosexual or killed him.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Was an abused young orphan boy created by a mentally ill woman to give to the church before he found his rich father, only to be sexually abused by him. He was also a witness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder but too scared of the killer [[spoiler: Dudley Smith]] to come forward.
* DepravedBisexual: Coleman's sexuality is questionable as he abuses gay men but also lusts
for fun, Claire De Haven. He does, however, have a sincere lust for Danny Upshaw.
* EvilVersusEvil: His goal is to destroy Reynolds Loftis, his father, for sexually abusing him
as well as having engaged in [[spoiler:an affair Claire de Haven for covering it up.
* ParentalIncest: Coleman's father begins a sexual relationship
with Elizabeth Short]].
him after getting him plastic surgery.
* RebelliousPrincess: She's wealthy RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: [[spoiler: He commits sexual assault on the bodies of his victims.]]
* ScaryTeeth: The killer mutilates his victims' corpses using a set of dentures he fashioned out of wolverine teeth. Buzz
and Mal get to see this in person during the daughter climactic shootout.
* SerialKiller: Is one
of a powerful conservative businessman, gay men in Los Angeles, murdering them and mutilating their bodies.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: His victims are all gay men
but she prefers to spend her time slumming it in the poorer parts of Los Angeles.he is a bisexual man himself.



[[folder:Emmett Sprague]]
!!Emmett Sprague

A wealthy and influential Scottish businessman.

to:

[[folder:Emmett Sprague]]
!!Emmett Sprague

!! Communists

[[folder: Claire de Haven]]
A wealthy and influential Scottish businessman.beautiful upper-class woman who is a major leading figure among the Hollywood Left.



* AffablyEvil: He's friendly and jovial, but he's sleazy as hell and a Nazi sympathizer to boot.
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: After his pet dog brought him a newspaper reporting on the deal that made him rich, Emmett shot the dog so he could have it stuffed to "commemorate the moment".
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: He got his money from working with Mickey Cohen, and all of the apartments he built are shoddily constructed tenements; fifteen of them collapsed during an earthquake and killed everyone inside, which he quickly covered up.
* DadTheVeteran: He fought in World War I.
* FictionFiveHundred: Is one of the richest men in Los Angeles due to taking advantage of the construction boom and using shoddy practices.
* HateSink: Everything about Emmett is repulsive and the fact he likes Breichert is meant to make the reader uncomfortable.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: He's an avowed Nazi sympathizer who openly regrets that the US fought against the Germans in World War II.
* RacistGrandpa: He is Madeline's father rather than grandfather but a Nazi sympathizer who embarrasses her with his views.

to:

* AffablyEvil: He's friendly BrokenPedestal: Claire Katherine De Haven is a figure on the Hollywood social circuit and jovial, but he's sleazy as hell and is a Nazi communist sympathizer in order to boot.
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: After
help people in need. [[spoiler: She also enabled a known rapist and murderer get away with his pet dog brought crimes as well as protected Reynolds Loftis despite the fact he had sex with his own son.]] This ruins the opinion of Mal Considine, who carried a torch for her.
* FemmeFatale: Is a key factor in driving Danny Upshaw to his death. [[spoiler: Arranging a movie screening of her having sex with a man to gauge his sexual interest in both, letting
him a newspaper reporting on the deal know she knows that made him rich, Emmett shot the dog so he could have it stuffed he's a gay man.]]
* {{Hypocrite}}: Claire de Haven preaches communist rhetoric and working-class values but is a rich UptownGirl who uses her connections
to "commemorate the moment".
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: He got his money from working
get herself as well as her friends out of trouble with Mickey Cohen, the authorities.
* KarmaHoudini: Claire gets away with everything in ''The Big Nowhere'', except maybe a guilty conscience.
* JerkassHasAPoint: A lot of her complaints about the Hollywood system
and all of the apartments he built are shoddily constructed tenements; fifteen of them collapsed during an earthquake and killed everyone inside, which he quickly covered up.
* DadTheVeteran: He fought in World War I.
* FictionFiveHundred: Is one of the richest men
police in Los Angeles due to taking advantage of are 100% accurate.
* LoveMakesYouEvil: Protecting Reynolds Loftis is something that enables
the construction boom Wolverine killings to go on far longer than they should.
* MoralMyopia: Whenever the police or government does something wrong, it's evil
and using shoddy practices.
vile. Whenever a communist party member does something wrong, they have to be protected.
* HateSink: Everything about Emmett is repulsive SmugSnake: Claire believes she's beyond reproach and can win in the public eye despite the fact he likes Breichert is meant to make the reader uncomfortable.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: He's an avowed Nazi sympathizer who openly regrets that the US fought
papers as well as system are all stacked against us.
* WomenAreMoreInnocent: Invoked by Claire as being a beautiful woman able to fake cry on demand helped protect her from
the Germans in World War II.
HUAC.
* RacistGrandpa: He YouAreWhatYouHate: Claire is Madeline's father rather than grandfather but a Nazi sympathizer rich woman who embarrasses abuses her with his views.connections to protect her friends from the consequences of their actions. She's also a communist.



[[folder:Ramona Sprague]]
!!Ramona Sprague

Madeleine's drug-addicted and resentful mother.

to:

[[folder:Ramona !!Civilians

!!!The Spragues

[[folder:Madeline
Sprague]]
!!Ramona !!Madeline Sprague

Madeleine's drug-addicted The rebellious and resentful mother.spoiled daughter of a wealthy LA business magnate.



* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Is the actual murderer of Elizabeth Short.]]
* ClingyJealousGirl: [[spoiler: Her motivation for the Black Dahlia murder was jealousy that Georgie was sleeping with her and her resemblance to their daughter.]]
* TheDogWasTheMastermind: [[spoiler: Ramona Sprague has no apparent connection to Elizabeth Short or motive to want to kill her in such a horrific way. Bleichert is completely confused at the evidence leading to her until she explains she was driven mad with jealousy over Georgie's affair.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: She angrily curses Madeleine out for dating a "common policeman" like Bucky and is in general a stuck-up prude.
* RichBitch: Ramona believes her own husband is beneath her and despises the working class. Her story at the table also makes fun of Bleichert's home neighborhood.
* SecretlyDying: [[spoiler: Is already seriously ill from Lupus at the start of the novel.]]

to:

* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Is AdaptationalNameChange: Her name is changed from Sprague to Linscott.
* CloudCuckoolander: Madeline shares deeply personal information at
the actual murderer drop of Elizabeth Short.]]
* ClingyJealousGirl: [[spoiler: Her motivation for the Black Dahlia murder was jealousy that Georgie was sleeping with
a hat, tells horrific stories about her family during bed, and seems fascinated by her resemblance to their daughter.]]
Elizabeth Short.
* TheDogWasTheMastermind: [[spoiler: Ramona Sprague has no apparent connection GirlOnGirlIsHot: Attempts to invoke this with Bleichert by saying she had sex with Elizabeth Short or motive to want to kill her once. {{Subverted}} in such a horrific way. Bleichert is completely confused at the evidence leading to her until she explains she was driven mad with jealousy over Georgie's affair.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: She angrily curses Madeleine out for dating a "common policeman" like Bucky and is in general a stuck-up prude.
* RichBitch: Ramona believes her own husband is beneath her and despises the working class. Her story at the table also
that it makes fun of Bleichert's home neighborhood.
* SecretlyDying: [[spoiler: Is already seriously ill from Lupus at the start
him deeply uncomfortable, though whether it's because of the novel.]]same sex nature of her liaison or the fact Elizabeth was horribly murdered or both is unclear.
* IdenticalStranger: Madeline and Elizabeth Short apparently resemble one another strong enough for everyone to notice it with any connection to the case.
* SpoiledBrat: Emmett gives her pretty much everything she could ever want, and she still slums it with the poor of Los Angeles for fun, as well as having engaged in [[spoiler:an affair with Elizabeth Short]].
* RebelliousPrincess: She's wealthy and the daughter of a powerful conservative businessman, but she prefers to spend her time slumming it in the poorer parts of Los Angeles.



[[folder:Martha Sprague]]
!!Martha Sprague

Madeleine's artistic sister.

to:

[[folder:Martha [[folder:Emmett Sprague]]
!!Martha !!Emmett Sprague

Madeleine's artistic sister.A wealthy and influential Scottish businessman.



* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: She spends the entirety of Bucky's dinner with the Spragues sketching a drawing of him and Madeleine having (very graphic) sex.
* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler: Bleichert never would have been put on any of the Sprague family, or even met them, without her sending clues to the police.]]

to:

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: She spends AffablyEvil: He's friendly and jovial, but he's sleazy as hell and a Nazi sympathizer to boot.
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: After his pet dog brought him a newspaper reporting on
the entirety of Bucky's dinner deal that made him rich, Emmett shot the dog so he could have it stuffed to "commemorate the moment".
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: He got his money from working
with the Spragues sketching a drawing of him Mickey Cohen, and Madeleine having (very graphic) sex.
* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler: Bleichert never would have been put on any
all of the Sprague family, or even met them, without apartments he built are shoddily constructed tenements; fifteen of them collapsed during an earthquake and killed everyone inside, which he quickly covered up.
* DadTheVeteran: He fought in World War I.
* FictionFiveHundred: Is one of the richest men in Los Angeles due to taking advantage of the construction boom and using shoddy practices.
* HateSink: Everything about Emmett is repulsive and the fact he likes Breichert is meant to make the reader uncomfortable.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: He's an avowed Nazi sympathizer who openly regrets that the US fought against the Germans in World War II.
* RacistGrandpa: He is Madeline's father rather than grandfather but a Nazi sympathizer who embarrasses
her sending clues to the police.]]with his views.



!!!Others
[[folder:Kay Lake]]
!!Kay Lake

A mysterious former criminal and Lee Blanchard's girlfriend. Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.

to:

!!!Others
[[folder:Kay Lake]]
!!Kay Lake

A mysterious former criminal
[[folder:Ramona Sprague]]
!!Ramona Sprague

Madeleine's drug-addicted
and Lee Blanchard's girlfriend. Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.resentful mother.



* AscendedExtra: Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}'' and helps the LAPD against communists.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Bobby De Witt subjected her to brutal physical abuse and forced her into prostitution, [[spoiler:which motivated Lee to frame him for the bank robbery.]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Kay says of the boxing match, "I hope both of you look good with your shirts off".
* FemmeFatale: She's a beautiful woman with a checkered and mysterious past, though she's given much more depth than the typical Femme Fatale, and it's clear form the get-go she cares about Lee and Bleichert.
* FemaleGaze: Kay Lake suggests this is why she enjoys watching the boxing match between Bleichert and Blanchard. Both of the men getting sweaty without their shirts.
* ModestyTowel: Removes one of these in her and Blanchard's apartment to seduce Bleichert. It doesn't work, in part, due to Bleichert being in no mood due to having just killed two people.
* MsFanservice: Much attention is paid to how describing beautiful Kay Lake is and how good she looks naked, particularly when she's trying to seduce Bleichert.
* MysteriousPast: Her past with Bobby [=DeWitt=] is shrouded in mystery and false information, and Bleichert is actively curious about it.
* SexlessMarriage: Kay Lake claims she and Blanchard don't have sex despite living together as a couple.

to:

* AscendedExtra: Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}'' and helps AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Is the LAPD against communists.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Bobby De Witt subjected her to brutal physical abuse and forced her into prostitution, [[spoiler:which motivated Lee to frame him for the bank robbery.
actual murderer of Elizabeth Short.]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Kay says of ClingyJealousGirl: [[spoiler: Her motivation for the boxing match, "I hope both of you look good Black Dahlia murder was jealousy that Georgie was sleeping with your shirts off".
* FemmeFatale: She's a beautiful woman with a checkered and mysterious past, though she's given much more depth than the typical Femme Fatale, and it's clear form the get-go she cares about Lee and Bleichert.
* FemaleGaze: Kay Lake suggests this is why she enjoys watching the boxing match between Bleichert and Blanchard. Both of the men getting sweaty without their shirts.
* ModestyTowel: Removes one of these in
her and Blanchard's apartment her resemblance to seduce Bleichert. It doesn't work, their daughter.]]
* TheDogWasTheMastermind: [[spoiler: Ramona Sprague has no apparent connection to Elizabeth Short or motive to want to kill her
in part, due to Bleichert being in no mood due to having just killed two people.
* MsFanservice: Much attention is paid to how describing beautiful Kay Lake is and how good she looks naked, particularly when she's trying to seduce Bleichert.
* MysteriousPast: Her past with Bobby [=DeWitt=] is shrouded in mystery and false information, and
such a horrific way. Bleichert is actively curious about it.
* SexlessMarriage: Kay Lake claims
completely confused at the evidence leading to her until she explains she was driven mad with jealousy over Georgie's affair.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: She angrily curses Madeleine out for dating a "common policeman" like Bucky
and Blanchard don't have sex despite living together as is in general a couple.stuck-up prude.
* RichBitch: Ramona believes her own husband is beneath her and despises the working class. Her story at the table also makes fun of Bleichert's home neighborhood.
* SecretlyDying: [[spoiler: Is already seriously ill from Lupus at the start of the novel.]]



[[folder:Lorna Maltikova]]
!!Lorna Maltikova/Linda Martin

An aspiring actress and one of Elizabeth's friends, who starred in a lesbian porn film with her.

to:

[[folder:Lorna Maltikova]]
!!Lorna Maltikova/Linda Martin

An aspiring actress and one of Elizabeth's friends, who starred in a lesbian porn film with her.
[[folder:Martha Sprague]]
!!Martha Sprague

Madeleine's artistic sister.



* AbusiveParents: Heavily implied to come from a family of these as the thought of returning terrifies her.
* BreakTheHaughty: When she's brought in for questioning, she's initially arrogant and confrontational. Within a matter of minutes, she's brought to the point of tears and pathetically begs Millard, Bleichert, and Sears not to send her back to her parents.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's implied she ran away from home to get away from her abusive parents.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Her immediate response to Elizabeth's death is to obtain a copy of the porno they started in together to sell it for as much money as possible.

to:

* AbusiveParents: Heavily implied to come from a family of these as {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: She spends the thought entirety of returning terrifies her.
* BreakTheHaughty: When she's brought in for questioning, she's initially arrogant
Bucky's dinner with the Spragues sketching a drawing of him and confrontational. Within a matter Madeleine having (very graphic) sex.
* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler: Bleichert never would have been put on any
of minutes, she's brought the Sprague family, or even met them, without her sending clues to the point of tears and pathetically begs Millard, Bleichert, and Sears not to send her back to her parents.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's implied she ran away from home to get away from her abusive parents.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Her immediate response to Elizabeth's death is to obtain a copy of the porno they started in together to sell it for as much money as possible.
police.]]



[[folder:Elizabeth Short]]
!!Elizabeth Short

An aspiring actress and the infamous "Black Dahlia" murder victim.

to:

[[folder:Elizabeth Short]]
!!Elizabeth Short

An aspiring actress
!!!Others
[[folder:Kay Lake]]
!!Kay Lake

A mysterious former criminal
and the infamous "Black Dahlia" murder victim.Lee Blanchard's girlfriend. Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.



* ConsummateLiar: Pretty much everyone who knew her notes that Elizabeth constantly told outrageous lies, most often claiming that she was married to or in a relationship with a war hero.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A GlasgowGrin was carved into her face. Elizabeth Short was also tortured for two days before she was disemboweled and cut in half. Sadly, it was TruthInTelevision.
* EthicalSlut: Elizabeth casually dated numerous men but despite the period's DeliberateValuesDissonance treating it as heinous, seems to have done nothing wrong or even noteworthy to a modern reader.
* FreudianExcuse: Her compulsive lying and egotism appears to be a coping mechanism from having abusive and neglectful parents who flat-out admit they don't care that she's dead.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She was entirely real, though James Ellroy fictionalized the investigation into her death to give her more closure than she got in real life.
* LittleBlackDress: Elizabeth has gained her reputation as the Black Dahlia because she always wore black outfits as a way to attract the attention of directors.
* PosthumousCharacter: Elizabeth Short dies before the protagonists (or reader) ever meets her.
* SmallNameBigEgo: As multiple people point out, she simply assumed she was the next big talent without putting any real work into her acting skills simply because she dressed in all black.
* UndignifiedDeath: The killer proceeded to pose her in a suggestive manner and left her body in the middle of a vacant lot.

to:


* ConsummateLiar: Pretty much everyone who knew AscendedExtra: Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}'' and helps the LAPD against communists.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Bobby De Witt subjected
her notes that Elizabeth constantly told outrageous lies, most often claiming that she was married to or in brutal physical abuse and forced her into prostitution, [[spoiler:which motivated Lee to frame him for the bank robbery.]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Kay says of the boxing match, "I hope both of you look good with your shirts off".
* FemmeFatale: She's
a relationship beautiful woman with a war hero.
checkered and mysterious past, though she's given much more depth than the typical Femme Fatale, and it's clear form the get-go she cares about Lee and Bleichert.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A GlasgowGrin was carved into FemaleGaze: Kay Lake suggests this is why she enjoys watching the boxing match between Bleichert and Blanchard. Both of the men getting sweaty without their shirts.
* ModestyTowel: Removes one of these in
her face. Elizabeth Short was also tortured for two days before she was disemboweled and cut Blanchard's apartment to seduce Bleichert. It doesn't work, in half. Sadly, it was TruthInTelevision.
* EthicalSlut: Elizabeth casually dated numerous men but despite the period's DeliberateValuesDissonance treating it as heinous, seems
part, due to have done nothing wrong or even noteworthy Bleichert being in no mood due to a modern reader.
* FreudianExcuse: Her compulsive lying and egotism appears to be a coping mechanism from
having abusive just killed two people.
* MsFanservice: Much attention is paid to how describing beautiful Kay Lake is
and neglectful parents who flat-out admit they how good she looks naked, particularly when she's trying to seduce Bleichert.
* MysteriousPast: Her past with Bobby [=DeWitt=] is shrouded in mystery and false information, and Bleichert is actively curious about it.
* SexlessMarriage: Kay Lake claims she and Blanchard
don't care that she's dead.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She was entirely real, though James Ellroy fictionalized the investigation into her death to give her more closure than she got in real life.
* LittleBlackDress: Elizabeth has gained her reputation as the Black Dahlia because she always wore black outfits
have sex despite living together as a way to attract the attention of directors.
* PosthumousCharacter: Elizabeth Short dies before the protagonists (or reader) ever meets her.
* SmallNameBigEgo: As multiple people point out, she simply assumed she was the next big talent without putting any real work into her acting skills simply because she dressed in all black.
* UndignifiedDeath: The killer proceeded to pose her in a suggestive manner and left her body in the middle of a vacant lot.
couple.



[[folder:Georgie Tilden]]
!!Georgie Tilden

Emmett Sprague's best friend and partner, who began living as an itinerant handyman after being disfigured in a car wreck.

to:

[[folder:Georgie Tilden]]
!!Georgie Tilden

Emmett Sprague's best friend
[[folder:Lorna Maltikova]]
!!Lorna Maltikova/Linda Martin

An aspiring actress
and partner, one of Elizabeth's friends, who began living as an itinerant handyman after being disfigured starred in a car wreck.lesbian porn film with her.



* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Emmett disfigured him with a knife and framed him for the Black Dahlia murder, but Tilden is a necrophiliac psycho who was complicit in the murder, so it's hard to feel bad for him.]]
* AxCrazy: He has a perverse obsession with dead bodies and frequently digs them up and collects their body parts. [[spoiler:When Bleichert enters his home, Tilden immediately tries to murder him with a scalpel.]]
* SanitySlippage: Tilden was never all there to begin with, but being disfigured seems to have driven him completely off the bend.

to:

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Emmett disfigured him with AbusiveParents: Heavily implied to come from a knife family of these as the thought of returning terrifies her.
* BreakTheHaughty: When she's brought in for questioning, she's initially arrogant
and framed him confrontational. Within a matter of minutes, she's brought to the point of tears and pathetically begs Millard, Bleichert, and Sears not to send her back to her parents.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's implied she ran away from home to get away from her abusive parents.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Her immediate response to Elizabeth's death is to obtain a copy of the porno they started in together to sell it
for the Black Dahlia murder, but Tilden is a necrophiliac psycho who was complicit in the murder, so it's hard to feel bad for him.]]
* AxCrazy: He has a perverse obsession with dead bodies and frequently digs them up and collects their body parts. [[spoiler:When Bleichert enters his home, Tilden immediately tries to murder him with a scalpel.]]
* SanitySlippage: Tilden was never all there to begin with, but being disfigured seems to have driven him completely off the bend.
as much money as possible.



[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Captain Vasquez

A Rurale in charge of the law enforcement in Tijuana.

to:

[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Captain Vasquez

A Rurale in charge of
[[folder:Elizabeth Short]]
!!Elizabeth Short

An aspiring actress and
the law enforcement in Tijuana.infamous "Black Dahlia" murder victim.




* DirtyCop: He is believed to have killed Lee Blanchard and nearly kills Bleichert as well, though Bleichert is able to save himself.
* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot-free for nearly killing Bleichert.
* PragmaticVillainy: Has no interest in arrousing the attention of the FBI just to kill Bleichert.

to:

\n* DirtyCop: He is believed ConsummateLiar: Pretty much everyone who knew her notes that Elizabeth constantly told outrageous lies, most often claiming that she was married to or in a relationship with a war hero.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A GlasgowGrin was carved into her face. Elizabeth Short was also tortured for two days before she was disemboweled and cut in half. Sadly, it was TruthInTelevision.
* EthicalSlut: Elizabeth casually dated numerous men but despite the period's DeliberateValuesDissonance treating it as heinous, seems
to have killed Lee Blanchard done nothing wrong or even noteworthy to a modern reader.
* FreudianExcuse: Her compulsive lying
and nearly kills Bleichert as well, egotism appears to be a coping mechanism from having abusive and neglectful parents who flat-out admit they don't care that she's dead.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She was entirely real,
though Bleichert is able James Ellroy fictionalized the investigation into her death to save himself.
* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot-free for nearly killing Bleichert.
* PragmaticVillainy: Has no interest
give her more closure than she got in arrousing real life.
* LittleBlackDress: Elizabeth has gained her reputation as the Black Dahlia because she always wore black outfits as a way to attract
the attention of directors.
* PosthumousCharacter: Elizabeth Short dies before
the FBI just protagonists (or reader) ever meets her.
* SmallNameBigEgo: As multiple people point out, she simply assumed she was the next big talent without putting any real work into her acting skills simply because she dressed in all black.
* UndignifiedDeath: The killer proceeded
to kill Bleichert.pose her in a suggestive manner and left her body in the middle of a vacant lot.



[[folder:Joseph Dulange]]
!!Corporal Joseph Dulange

A soldier who claims to have murdered Elizabeth Short.

to:

[[folder:Joseph Dulange]]
!!Corporal Joseph Dulange

A soldier
[[folder:Georgie Tilden]]
!!Georgie Tilden

Emmett Sprague's best friend and partner,
who claims to have murdered Elizabeth Short.began living as an itinerant handyman after being disfigured in a car wreck.


Added DiffLines:

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Emmett disfigured him with a knife and framed him for the Black Dahlia murder, but Tilden is a necrophiliac psycho who was complicit in the murder, so it's hard to feel bad for him.]]
* AxCrazy: He has a perverse obsession with dead bodies and frequently digs them up and collects their body parts. [[spoiler:When Bleichert enters his home, Tilden immediately tries to murder him with a scalpel.]]
* SanitySlippage: Tilden was never all there to begin with, but being disfigured seems to have driven him completely off the bend.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Captain Vasquez

A Rurale in charge of the law enforcement in Tijuana.
----

* DirtyCop: He is believed to have killed Lee Blanchard and nearly kills Bleichert as well, though Bleichert is able to save himself.
* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot-free for nearly killing Bleichert.
* PragmaticVillainy: Has no interest in arrousing the attention of the FBI just to kill Bleichert.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Joseph Dulange]]
!!Corporal Joseph Dulange

A soldier who claims to have murdered Elizabeth Short.
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Literature/LAConfidential'' (This book [[Characters/LAConfidential has its own character page]])

to:

* ''Literature/LAConfidential'' (This book [[Characters/LAConfidential film version [[Characters/LAConfidential1997 has its own character page]])

Added: 1428

Changed: 4452

Removed: 7070

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Moving to applicable page.


A vastly different character in the novel series compared to the [[Film/LAConfidential film]], tropes will be split according to the medium.

to:

A vastly different character in successful but rightfully terrifying policeman, Dudley is a brutal officer with a particular disdain for minorities known for going too far where cruelty is concerned. Unsurprisingly, he's quite corrupt and acts as the novel main antagonist of the series compared to the [[Film/LAConfidential film]], tropes will be split according to the medium.overall. For his film incarnation see [[Characters/LAConfidential1997 here]].



!! Novel:

A successful but rightfully terrifying policeman, Dudley is a brutal officer with a particular disdain for minorities known for going too far where cruelty is concerned. Unsurprisingly, he's quite corrupt and acts as the main antagonist of the series overall.
----



!!Film:
A highly decorated and friendly police Captain completely altered from his book counterpart, Dudley's a cop trying to pave the way for a new Los Angeles who's got a great relationship with his men and willing to do what it takes to keep criminals at bay, though he's got some secrets of his own.


As the character is a WalkingSpoiler, spoilers will be left unmarked beneath.

to:

!!Film:
A highly decorated and friendly police Captain completely altered from his book counterpart, Dudley's a cop trying to pave the way for a new Los Angeles who's got a great relationship with his men and willing to do what it takes to keep criminals at bay, though he's got some secrets
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Jack Tierney]]
!!Captain Jack Tierney

The commander
of his own.


As the character is a WalkingSpoiler, spoilers will be left unmarked beneath.
Warrants Division.



* AdaptationalNiceGuy: [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]]. In the book, we know from the beginning--from the previous ''book''[[note]] ''The Big Nowhere'' [[/note]], actually--that he's rotten. In this movie, it's a big WhamShot when he kills Jack, [[TheReveal revealing himself to be the villain.]] The movie also removes his racist personality present in the books.
* AdaptationalRelationshipOverhaul: Dudley Smith is friendly and mentoring to Edmund Exley in the movie, serving as a ParentalSubstitute. In the book, Dudley utterly hates Exley and the latter despises the former. This is due to Dudley being combined with Exley's father in the film (see CompositeCharacter).
* AdaptationalVillainy: While far less viscerally evil than his horrific, racist book counterpart, without any adaptations of the prequel novels Dudley had no interaction with his underling Hideo, whose death brings him to tears in the books.
* AnyLastWords: "You have a valediction, boyo?", said as he enjoys watching Jack--who'd just caught on to evidence of his crimes--bleed out.
* BatmanGambit: He's a master at manipulating his officers into doing what he wants, including sending Exley on a wild goose chase in his desire for glory and manipulating Bud into wanting to kill him later to tie up loose ends. It's his underestimation of Bud's ability to think for himself that proves to be Dudley's undoing.
* BigBad: He wants to take the niche left by Mickey Cohen and will not share it with any possible collaborator like Pierce Patchett or Sid Hudgens.
* BigBadFriend: To half the cast, with whom he has a good relationship while manipulating them. For his part, he's sociopathically cheerful in letting them be as his pawns until they catch wind of his plot for LA or become a hindrance to him.
* TheCaptain: In the books it takes longer for him to climb the ranks but the film has Dudley as a police captain through the whole story and the protagonists report to him.
* CompositeCharacter: The Dudley Smith of the movie is a combination of the titular character as well as Preston Exley. Much of the latter's dialogue is given to Dudley, establishing a fatherly mentoring relationship with Edmund Exley that doesn't exist in the book.
%%* DaChief: He's one of the rare villainous examples.
* DeathByAdaptation: Dudley survives the original novel version of ''Literature/LAConfidential'', and his war with Ed Exley is continued into the sequel, ''Literature/WhiteJazz''. Ed shoots him in the back in the film.
* DiabolicalMastermind: The truncated plot has Dudley with far less competition in conquering the crime world of Los Angeles and he's the true power behind the scene whom even his ostensible partner, Pierce Patchett, is just another pawn to.
* DirtyCop: Only the dirtiest. He uses his resources and power as a high-ranking cop to fill the power vacuum left by Mickey Cohen. He's a mobster with a badge.
* EvilOldFolks: He's incredibly capable in a gunfight and has the highest kill count in the film with 10 deaths to his name.
* FauxAffablyEvil: It's part of what makes him so chilling, his ability to make others completely trust him. Even after he's been exposed, he still never fully loses his charm.
* FirstNameBasis: He refers to everyone by their first, formal names such as calling Exley by "Edmund" and Bud White by "Wendell". He asks people to call him Dudley to soften his image.
* InTheBack: He dies when Ed manages to find his morals and fight through the temptation of Dudley's promises for his career, blasting Dudley in the back as the only way to stop him when Dudley's planned things to look like a cop responding to a shooting call.
* KarmicDeath: He's shot in the back by Ed as a criminal who'd arranged the scene so he could evade justice, something he thought Ed was too soft to do as per his questioning of Ed's ability as a detective.
* LargeAndInCharge: He towers over the likes of Jack, Exley and White. And he is played by James Cromwell, one of the tallest actors ever (2 meters tall!).
* LeanAndMean: Unlike the book version who's described as broad, James Cromwell gives Dudley a tall yet thinner frame and he remains just as diabolical as ever.
* ManipulativeBastard: He expertly manipulates Bud White and Ed Exley. He knows exactly what they want and uses that knowledge to push them in the direction he wants them to go in. He's so good at manipulating them, nobody even suspects him until he makes one vital mistake.
* OfficerOHara: Complete with James Cromwell providing an off-the-boat accent and stereotypical expressions.
-->''"I wouldn't trade places with Edmund Exley right now for all the whiskey in Ireland".''
* ParentalSubstitute: He serves as this for Exley and White in the film, in different ways. Bud sees him as more of a traditional father-figure, where Ed admires his police career. The ending reveals how expendable they really are to him.
* SayingTooMuch: He mentions Jack's last words of "Rolo Tomasi" to Ed, tipping Ed off that Dudley was the Jack's murderer.
* TheSvengali: He plays the role of mentor alternatively to Bud White and Ed Exley. His real plan however, is to manipulate them into doing his dirty work in tying up loose ends without them knowing it. Smith knows that Exley has the potential to become a SpannerInTheWorks due to his ConstantlyCurious nature and IncorruptiblePurePureness, so he tries to keep him in the dark as much as possible. What Dudley doesn't count on is that Bud White shares Exley's curiosity and desire for justice, and he's not just the DumbMuscle that Dudley [[UnderestimatingBadassery believes him to be]].
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: He's a well-respected upstanding LA Police Captain, in addition to being a remorseless murderer. Even after dying, he's still framed as a heroic cop who died helping Bud and Ed rather than the monster he really was.
* WalkingSpoiler: It's very difficult to talk about his character without revealing his true nature.
* WhamShot: A literal example. The first indication that he's evil is when he turns around and shoots Jack Vincennes.
* AWolfInSheepsClothing: To the public, he's an upstanding police officer. In reality, he's a remorseless criminal who uses his occupation as a cover for his illicit activities.

to:


* AdaptationalNiceGuy: [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]]. In the book, we know from the beginning--from the previous ''book''[[note]] ''The Big Nowhere'' [[/note]], actually--that he's rotten. In this movie, it's a big WhamShot when he kills Jack, [[TheReveal revealing himself to be the villain.]] The movie also removes his racist personality present in the books.
* AdaptationalRelationshipOverhaul: Dudley Smith is friendly and mentoring to Edmund Exley in the movie, serving as a ParentalSubstitute. In the book, Dudley utterly hates Exley and the latter despises the former. This is due to Dudley being combined with Exley's father in the film (see CompositeCharacter).
* AdaptationalVillainy: While far less viscerally evil than his horrific, racist book counterpart, without any adaptations of the prequel novels Dudley had no interaction with his underling Hideo, whose death brings him to tears in the books.
* AnyLastWords: "You have a valediction, boyo?", said as he enjoys watching Jack--who'd just caught on to evidence of his crimes--bleed out.
* BatmanGambit: He's a master at manipulating his officers into doing what he wants, including sending Exley on a wild goose chase in his desire for glory and manipulating Bud into wanting to kill him later to tie up loose ends. It's his underestimation of Bud's ability to think for himself that proves to be Dudley's undoing.
* BigBad: He wants to take the niche left by Mickey Cohen and will not share it with any possible collaborator like Pierce Patchett or Sid Hudgens.
* BigBadFriend: To half the cast, with whom he has a good relationship while manipulating them. For his part, he's sociopathically cheerful in letting them be as his pawns until they catch wind of his plot for LA or become a hindrance to him.
* TheCaptain: In the books it takes longer for him to climb the ranks but the film has Dudley as a police captain through the whole story and the protagonists report to him.
* CompositeCharacter: The Dudley Smith of the movie is a combination of the titular character as well as Preston Exley. Much of the latter's dialogue is given to Dudley, establishing a fatherly mentoring relationship with Edmund Exley that doesn't exist in the book.
%%*
DaChief: He's one of the rare villainous examples.
* DeathByAdaptation: Dudley survives the original novel version
head of ''Literature/LAConfidential'', Warrants Squad, and prone to screaming down any of his war with Ed Exley is continued into the sequel, ''Literature/WhiteJazz''. Ed shoots him in the back in the film.
* DiabolicalMastermind: The truncated plot has Dudley with far less competition in conquering the crime world of Los Angeles and he's the true power behind the scene whom even his ostensible partner, Pierce Patchett, is just another pawn to.
* DirtyCop: Only the dirtiest. He uses his resources and power as a high-ranking cop to fill the power vacuum left by Mickey Cohen. He's a mobster with a badge.
* EvilOldFolks: He's incredibly capable in a gunfight and has the highest kill count in the film with 10 deaths to his name.
* FauxAffablyEvil: It's part of what makes him so chilling, his ability to make others completely trust him. Even after he's been exposed, he still never fully loses his charm.
* FirstNameBasis: He refers to everyone by their first, formal names such as calling Exley by "Edmund" and Bud White by "Wendell". He asks people to call him Dudley to soften his image.
* InTheBack: He dies when Ed manages to find his morals and fight through the temptation of Dudley's promises for his career, blasting Dudley in the back as the only way to stop him when Dudley's planned things to look like a cop responding to a shooting call.
* KarmicDeath: He's shot in the back by Ed as a criminal who'd arranged the scene so he could evade justice, something he thought Ed was too soft to do as per his questioning of Ed's ability as a detective.
* LargeAndInCharge: He towers over the likes of Jack, Exley and White. And he is played by James Cromwell, one of the tallest actors ever (2 meters tall!).
* LeanAndMean: Unlike the book version who's described as broad, James Cromwell gives Dudley a tall yet thinner frame and he remains just as diabolical as ever.
* ManipulativeBastard: He expertly manipulates Bud White and Ed Exley. He knows exactly what they want and uses
subordinates that knowledge to push them in dare annoy him.
* PuppetKing: As Tierney himself admits, Loew is
the direction he wants them to go in. He's so good at manipulating them, nobody even suspects him until he makes one vital mistake.
* OfficerOHara: Complete with James Cromwell providing an off-the-boat accent and stereotypical expressions.
-->''"I wouldn't trade places with Edmund Exley right now for all the whiskey in Ireland".''
* ParentalSubstitute: He serves as this for Exley and White in the film, in different ways. Bud sees him as more of a traditional father-figure, where Ed admires his police career. The ending reveals how expendable they
who really are to him.
* SayingTooMuch: He mentions Jack's last words of "Rolo Tomasi" to Ed, tipping Ed off that Dudley was
runs the Jack's murderer.
* TheSvengali: He plays the role of mentor alternatively to Bud White and Ed Exley. His real plan however, is to manipulate them into doing his dirty work in tying up loose ends without them knowing it. Smith knows that Exley has the potential to become a SpannerInTheWorks due to his ConstantlyCurious nature and IncorruptiblePurePureness, so he tries to keep him in the dark as much as possible. What Dudley doesn't count on is that Bud White shares Exley's curiosity and desire for justice, and he's not just the DumbMuscle that Dudley [[UnderestimatingBadassery believes him to be]].
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: He's a well-respected upstanding LA Police Captain, in addition to being a remorseless murderer. Even after dying, he's still framed as a heroic cop who died helping Bud and Ed rather than the monster he really was.
* WalkingSpoiler: It's very difficult to talk about his character without revealing his true nature.
* WhamShot: A literal example. The first indication that he's evil is when he turns around and shoots Jack Vincennes.
* AWolfInSheepsClothing: To the public, he's an upstanding police officer. In reality, he's a remorseless criminal who uses his occupation as a cover for his illicit activities.
show at Warrants Division.



[[folder:Jack Tierney]]
!!Captain Jack Tierney

The commander of Warrants Division.

to:

[[folder:Jack Tierney]]
!!Captain Jack Tierney

The commander of Warrants Division.
[[folder:Fritz Vogel]]
!!Sergeant Friedrich "Fritz" Vogel

Koenig's more intelligent partner.



* DaChief: He's the head of Warrants Squad, and prone to screaming down any of his subordinates that dare annoy him.
* PuppetKing: As Tierney himself admits, Loew is the one who really runs the show at Warrants Division.

to:

* DaChief: AbusiveParents: He's emotionally abusive of John and constantly insults him to his face.
* ButtMonkey: He gets absolutely no respect from his colleagues. Captain Tierney outright mocks him in front of
the head rest of Warrants Squad, Division, and prone to screaming down any of his subordinates people spread various embarrassing rumors about Vogel's personal life.
* DirtyCop: To the point
that dare annoy him.
the rest of the LAPD is collectively ashamed of him, which says a lot considering how corrupt the entire department is. Unfortunately, thanks to his status as Loew's right-hand man, he's still given considerable leeway and [[spoiler:makes him able to ruin Bleichert's reputation when he nearly exposes his attempts to force innocent men to confess to the Black Dahlia murder.]]
* PuppetKing: As Tierney DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:He shoots himself admits, Loew is in the one who really runs head after Bleichert exposes his crimes.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: He's a brutal, spiteful thug with no qualms about beating confessions out of innocent men, and he's extremely petty and confrontational to boot. Not even his son is safe from Fritz's verbal abuse.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: For all his faults, he does seem like he genuinely likes Bleichert and wants him for a partner. However,
the show at Warrants Division.second Bleichert angers him, it becomes clear that Vogel viewed him as a naive rube he could mold into a YesMan and he instantly turns against him.



[[folder:Fritz Vogel]]
!!Sergeant Friedrich "Fritz" Vogel

Koenig's more intelligent partner.

to:

[[folder:Fritz [[folder:John Vogel]]
!!Sergeant Friedrich "Fritz" !!Officer John Vogel

Koenig's more intelligent partner.Fritz Vogel's good-for-nothing son.



* AbusiveParents: He's emotionally abusive of John and constantly insults him to his face.
* ButtMonkey: He gets absolutely no respect from his colleagues. Captain Tierney outright mocks him in front of the rest of Warrants Division, and people spread various embarrassing rumors about Vogel's personal life.
* DirtyCop: To the point that the rest of the LAPD is collectively ashamed of him, which says a lot considering how corrupt the entire department is. Unfortunately, thanks to his status as Loew's right-hand man, he's still given considerable leeway and [[spoiler:makes him able to ruin Bleichert's reputation when he nearly exposes his attempts to force innocent men to confess to the Black Dahlia murder.]]
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:He shoots himself in the head after Bleichert exposes his crimes.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: He's a brutal, spiteful thug with no qualms about beating confessions out of innocent men, and he's extremely petty and confrontational to boot. Not even his son is safe from Fritz's verbal abuse.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: For all his faults, he does seem like he genuinely likes Bleichert and wants him for a partner. However, the second Bleichert angers him, it becomes clear that Vogel viewed him as a naive rube he could mold into a YesMan and he instantly turns against him.

to:

* AbusiveParents: He's emotionally abusive of John and constantly insults him to his face.
* ButtMonkey: He gets absolutely no respect from his colleagues. Captain Tierney outright mocks him in front of the rest of Warrants Division, and people spread various embarrassing rumors about Vogel's personal life.
* DirtyCop: To the point that the rest of the LAPD is collectively ashamed of him, which says a lot considering how corrupt the entire department is. Unfortunately, thanks to his status as Loew's right-hand man, he's still given considerable leeway and [[spoiler:makes him able to ruin Bleichert's reputation when he nearly exposes his attempts to force innocent men to confess to the Black Dahlia murder.]]
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:He shoots himself in the head after Bleichert exposes his crimes.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: He's a brutal, spiteful thug with no qualms about beating confessions violent moron who beats prostitutes as a past-time.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Fritz frequently insults him and throws homophobic slurs at him.
* WouldHitAGirl: Beats up a prostitute in order to get information
out of innocent men, and he's extremely petty and confrontational to boot. Not even his son is safe from Fritz's verbal abuse.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: For all his faults, he does seem like he genuinely likes Bleichert and wants him for a partner. However, the second Bleichert angers him, it becomes clear that Vogel viewed him as a naive rube he could mold into a YesMan and he instantly turns against him.
her.



[[folder:John Vogel]]
!!Officer John Vogel

Fritz Vogel's good-for-nothing son.

to:

[[folder:John Vogel]]
!!Officer John Vogel

Fritz Vogel's good-for-nothing son.
[[folder:Ray Pinker]]
!!Ray Pinker

A forensic chemist working for the LAPD.




* {{Jerkass}}: He's a violent moron who beats prostitutes as a past-time.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Fritz frequently insults him and throws homophobic slurs at him.
* WouldHitAGirl: Beats up a prostitute in order to get information out of her.

to:

\n* {{Jerkass}}: DeadpanSnarker: He's constantly making sarcastic remarks.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off a real man who really did work for the LAPD.
* PluckyComicRelief:
He's a violent moron notably comical character who beats prostitutes as a past-time.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Fritz frequently insults him and throws homophobic slurs at him.
* WouldHitAGirl: Beats up a prostitute
constantly cracks jokes, providing levity in order to get information out of her.the otherwise extremely dark ''Literature/LAConfidential''.



[[folder:Ray Pinker]]
!!Ray Pinker

A forensic chemist working for the LAPD.

to:

[[folder:Ray Pinker]]
!!Ray Pinker

A forensic chemist working for
[[folder:William Parker]]
!!Chief William H. Parker

The police chief of
the LAPD.



* DeadpanSnarker: He's constantly making sarcastic remarks.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off a real man who really did work for the LAPD.
* PluckyComicRelief: He's a notably comical character who constantly cracks jokes, providing levity in the otherwise extremely dark ''Literature/LAConfidential''.

to:

* DeadpanSnarker: AscendedExtra: He's constantly making sarcastic remarks.
a minor supporting character in the original Quartet, but he's a major character in the prequels and a viewpoint character in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off a on the real man who really did work for LAPD chief.
* InternalReformist: Extremely downplayed. Parker's fine with PoliceBrutality, but he's one of
the LAPD.
few to frown on using it pointlessly and sides with Ed because of this.
* PluckyComicRelief: MinorMajorCharacter: He doesn't appear all that much in ''L.A. Confidential'', but the fact that both Dudley and Ed have his favor plays a major role in the plot.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Downplayed.
He's a notably comical character who constantly cracks jokes, providing levity fully complicit in the otherwise extremely dark ''Literature/LAConfidential''.LAPD's corruption and quite willing to listen to Dudley, but he takes a liking to Ed for his staunch morals and frowns on outright police brutality for the most part.



[[folder:William Parker]]
!!Chief William H. Parker

The police chief of the LAPD.

to:

[[folder:William Parker]]
!!Chief William H. Parker

The police chief of the LAPD.
[[folder:Mike Breuning]]
!!Detective Mike Breuning

A corrupt detective working for Dudley Smith.



* AscendedExtra: He's a minor supporting character in the original Quartet, but he's a major character in the prequels and a viewpoint character in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based on the real LAPD chief.
* InternalReformist: Extremely downplayed. Parker's fine with PoliceBrutality, but he's one of the few to frown on using it pointlessly and sides with Ed because of this.
* MinorMajorCharacter: He doesn't appear all that much in ''L.A. Confidential'', but the fact that both Dudley and Ed have his favor plays a major role in the plot.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Downplayed. He's fully complicit in the LAPD's corruption and quite willing to listen to Dudley, but he takes a liking to Ed for his staunch morals and frowns on outright police brutality for the most part.

to:

* AscendedExtra: UndyingLoyalty: He's a minor supporting character in the original Quartet, but he's a major character in the prequels and a viewpoint character in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based on the real LAPD chief.
* InternalReformist: Extremely downplayed. Parker's fine with PoliceBrutality, but he's one of the few to frown on using it pointlessly and sides with Ed because of this.
* MinorMajorCharacter: He doesn't appear all that much in ''L.A. Confidential'', but the fact that both Dudley and Ed have his favor plays a major role in the plot.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Downplayed. He's fully complicit in the LAPD's corruption and quite willing to listen
deeply loyal to Dudley, but he takes a liking to Ed for and Bud notes his staunch morals devotion is slavish and frowns on outright police brutality for the most part.almost cult-like.



[[folder:Mike Breuning]]
!!Detective Mike Breuning

to:

[[folder:Mike Breuning]]
[[folder:Richard Carlisle]]
!!Detective Mike Breuning
Richard Carlisle



* UndyingLoyalty: He's deeply loyal to Dudley, and Bud notes his devotion is slavish and almost cult-like.

to:

* UndyingLoyalty: He's deeply Bud observes he's slavishly loyal to Dudley, and Bud notes his devotion is slavish and Dudley in an almost cult-like.cult-like fashion.



[[folder:Richard Carlisle]]
!!Detective Richard Carlisle

A corrupt detective working for Dudley Smith.
----
* UndyingLoyalty: Bud observes he's slavishly loyal to Dudley in an almost cult-like fashion.
[[/folder]]

Added: 627

Changed: 70

Removed: 619

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Dudley is bigoted against every minority, but he's willing to ally with the Jewish [[AmoralAttorney Ellis Loew]] because he shares Dudley's far-right politics. Dudley still refers to him with antisemitic slurs and condescendingly claims he's a good man in spite of being Jewish, but still shows some possibly sincere fondness for him.

to:

** Dudley is bigoted against every minority, but he's willing to ally with the Jewish [[AmoralAttorney [[PersecutingProsecutor Ellis Loew]] because he shares Dudley's far-right politics. Dudley still refers to him with antisemitic slurs and condescendingly claims he's a good man in spite of being Jewish, but still shows some possibly sincere fondness for him.



* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off of the real LAPD chief.

to:

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off of on the real LAPD chief.



* ArmoredClosetGay: Danny Upshaw thinks he's this, flirting with multiple women and cultivating a reputation as a ladies man. In fact, it's more EveryoneCanSeeIt and the realization of this contributes to [[spoiler: Danny's suicide.]]

to:

* ArmoredClosetGay: Danny Upshaw thinks he's this, flirting with multiple women and cultivating a reputation as a ladies ladies' man. In fact, it's more EveryoneCanSeeIt and the realization of this contributes to [[spoiler: Danny's suicide.]]



* JurisdictionFriction: The LAPD and LA County Sherriff's Department are loggerheads over Cohen. Thus Danny gets stonewalled by the LAPD when he first tries to investigate the Goines murder. A free hand in running the case is his top condition for joining the anticommunist task force.

to:

* JurisdictionFriction: The LAPD and LA County Sherriff's Sheriff's Department are loggerheads over Cohen. Thus Danny gets stonewalled by the LAPD when he first tries to investigate the Goines murder. A free hand in running the case is his top condition for joining the anticommunist task force.



* AmbitionIsEvil: Loew is planning a massive union busting witch hunt for communists in order to bring attention to his political campaign. It causes no end of trouble in the end of ''The Big Nowhere.''
* AmoralAttorney: He's very willing to cut corners to get what he wants, and encourages officers to use violence to get information out of their suspects.
** Averted in the movie - [[spoiler:He originally refused to cooperate in Smith's corruption and wanted to prosecute them, but was then blackmailed.]] - but played straight in the book; he is mostly funded by extortion [[spoiler: run by Jack]] and only wins the DA campaign thanks to his opponent being framed [[spoiler: also by Jack]]. His downfall comes when [[spoiler: Ed]] uses these to leverage himself above [[spoiler: Dudley]] in the police chain of command.

to:

* AmbitionIsEvil: Loew is planning a massive union busting union-busting witch hunt for communists in order to bring attention to his political campaign. It causes no end of trouble in at the end of ''The Big Nowhere.''
* AmoralAttorney: He's very willing to cut corners to get what he wants, and encourages officers to use violence to get information out of their suspects.
** Averted in the movie - [[spoiler:He originally refused to cooperate in Smith's corruption and wanted to prosecute them, but was then blackmailed.]] - but played straight in the book; he is mostly funded by extortion [[spoiler: run by Jack]] and only wins the DA campaign thanks to his opponent being framed [[spoiler: also by Jack]]. His downfall comes when [[spoiler: Ed]] uses these to leverage himself above [[spoiler: Dudley]] in the police chain of command.
''



* AssholeVictim: He may have reluctantly helped [[spoiler: Dudley]], but was still an arrogant SmugSnake of a lawyer. Notably is that this is the first time Exley is fine with White's PoliceBrutality.

to:

* AssholeVictim: He may have reluctantly helped [[spoiler: Dudley]], but was still an arrogant SmugSnake of a lawyer. Notably is that Notably, this is the first time Exley is fine with White's PoliceBrutality.



* {{Jerkass}}: He's short-tempered, entitled, and throws a hissy fit whenever thinks don't go his way.

to:

* {{Jerkass}}: He's short-tempered, entitled, and throws a hissy fit whenever thinks things don't go his way.



* PersecutingProsecutor: He's very willing to cut corners to get what he wants, and encourages officers to use violence to get information out of their suspects.
** Averted in the movie - [[spoiler:He originally refused to cooperate in Smith's corruption and wanted to prosecute them, but was then blackmailed.]] - but played straight in the book; he is mostly funded by extortion [[spoiler: run by Jack]] and only wins the DA campaign thanks to his opponent being framed [[spoiler: also by Jack]]. His downfall comes when [[spoiler: Ed]] uses these to leverage himself above [[spoiler: Dudley]] in the police chain of command.



* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off the real Mickey Cohen, who was just as feared and infamous as his novel counterpart.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Mickey Cohen in real-life was known to have a hair trigger temper and exceptionally prone to unnecessary violence.

to:

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off on the real Mickey Cohen, who was just as feared and infamous as his novel counterpart.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Mickey Cohen in real-life real life was known to have a hair trigger hair-trigger temper and exceptionally prone to unnecessary violence.



* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Buzz kills a DirtyCop in self defense and Danny Upshaw is blamed for it due to the fact they'd been in a confrontation the previous day. [[spoiler: This leads to Danny's suicide.]]
* PrivateDetective: Buzz is the head of security for Howard Hughes, which roughly gives him this feel before he's hired by the Grand Jury and becomes indistiguishable from a cop.

to:

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Buzz kills a DirtyCop in self defense self-defense and Danny Upshaw is blamed for it due to the fact they'd been in a confrontation the previous day. [[spoiler: This leads to Danny's suicide.]]
* PrivateDetective: Buzz is the head of security for Howard Hughes, which roughly gives him this feel before he's hired by the Grand Jury and becomes indistiguishable indistinguishable from a cop.



* TheInformant: to Bud, although he insists that he doesn't do that any more. [[spoiler: Bud asserts otherwise.]]

to:

* TheInformant: to Bud, although he insists that he doesn't do that any more.anymore. [[spoiler: Bud asserts otherwise.]]



* DarkAndTroubledPast: Was an abused young orphan boy created by a mentally-ill woman to give to the church before he found his rich father, only to be sexually abused by him. He was also a witness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder but too scared of the killer [[spoiler: Dudley Smith]] to come forward.

to:

* DarkAndTroubledPast: Was an abused young orphan boy created by a mentally-ill mentally ill woman to give to the church before he found his rich father, only to be sexually abused by him. He was also a witness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder but too scared of the killer [[spoiler: Dudley Smith]] to come forward.



* {{Hypocrite}}: Claire de Haven preaches communist rhetoric and working class values but is a rich UptownGirl who uses her connections to get herself as well as her friends out of trouble with the authorities.

to:

* {{Hypocrite}}: Claire de Haven preaches communist rhetoric and working class working-class values but is a rich UptownGirl who uses her connections to get herself as well as her friends out of trouble with the authorities.



* LoveMakesYouEvil: Protecting Reynolds Loftis is somethinhg that enables the Wolverine killings to go on far longer than they should.

to:

* LoveMakesYouEvil: Protecting Reynolds Loftis is somethinhg something that enables the Wolverine killings to go on far longer than they should.



* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot free for nearly killing Bleichert.

to:

* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot free scot-free for nearly killing Bleichert.
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Added DiffLines:

* BadBoss: Dudley is quite nice and friendly to his allies and is willing to give them material benefits, but he ultimately doesn't give a damn about them. He will betray them if it benefits him or if they [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlive their usefulness]], no matter how long they've worked alongside him.

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* BigotryException: Dudley is bigoted against every minority, but he's willing to ally with the Jewish [[AmoralAttorney Ellis Loew]] because he shares Dudley's far-right politics. Dudley still refers to him with antisemitic slurs and condescendingly claims he's a good man in spite of being Jewish, but still shows some possibly sincere fondness for him.

to:

* BigotryException: BigotryException:
**
Dudley is bigoted against every minority, but he's willing to ally with the Jewish [[AmoralAttorney Ellis Loew]] because he shares Dudley's far-right politics. Dudley still refers to him with antisemitic slurs and condescendingly claims he's a good man in spite of being Jewish, but still shows some possibly sincere fondness for him.him.
** Despite all his bigotry and homophobia, he genuinely did care about Hideo Ashida and consider him a friend, despite him being both a Japanese-American and gay.


Added DiffLines:

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Generally averted, as Dudley betrays even alleged close friends, and is so neglectful of his actual family that he frequently forgets his children's names. However, he genuinely does care about Hideo Ashida and [[spoiler:sincerely mourns his death.]]

Added: 265

Changed: 149

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* EvilMentor: He serves as this to Bud White, trying to help him become even better at being a DirtyCop and make him into another one of Dudley's loyal henchmen.

to:

* EvilMentor: He serves as this to Bud White, trying to help him become even better at being a DirtyCop and make him into another one of Dudley's loyal henchmen. Bud for his part is terrified of Dudley and never warms up to him, although he appreciates that Smith lets him beat and kill suspects with impunity.


Added DiffLines:

* FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence: Dudley is racist against all minorities, but he has a special hatred for black people and he's motivated primarily by finding a way to "contain" them away from white people out of a genuine belief they're inherently threatening.

Added: 845

Changed: 962

Removed: 399

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[[folder:William Parker]]
!!Chief William H. Parker

The police chief of the LAPD.

to:

[[folder:William Parker]]
!!Chief William H. Parker

The police chief of
[[folder:Ray Pinker]]
!!Ray Pinker

A forensic chemist working for
the LAPD.



* AscendedExtra: He's a minor supporting character in the original Quartet, but he's a major character in the prequels and a viewpoint character in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off of the real LAPD chief.
* InternalReformist: Extremely downplayed. Parker's fine with PoliceBrutality, but he's one of the few to frown on using it pointlessly and sides with Ed because of this.
* MinorMajorCharacter: He doesn't appear all that much in ''L.A. Confidential'', but the fact that both Dudley and Ed have his favor plays a major role in the plot.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Downplayed. He's fully complicit in the LAPD's corruption and quite willing to listen to Dudley, but he takes a liking to Ed for his staunch morals and frowns on outright police brutality for the most part.

to:

* AscendedExtra: DeadpanSnarker: He's a minor supporting character in the original Quartet, but he's a major character in the prequels and a viewpoint character in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.
constantly making sarcastic remarks.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off of the a real LAPD chief.
* InternalReformist: Extremely downplayed. Parker's fine with PoliceBrutality, but he's one of
man who really did work for the few to frown on using it pointlessly and sides with Ed because of this.
LAPD.
* MinorMajorCharacter: He doesn't appear all that much in ''L.A. Confidential'', but the fact that both Dudley and Ed have his favor plays a major role in the plot.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Downplayed.
PluckyComicRelief: He's fully complicit a notably comical character who constantly cracks jokes, providing levity in the LAPD's corruption and quite willing to listen to Dudley, but he takes a liking to Ed for his staunch morals and frowns on outright police brutality for the most part.otherwise extremely dark ''Literature/LAConfidential''.



[[folder:Mike Breuning]]
!!Detective Mike Breuning

A corrupt detective working for Dudley Smith.

to:

[[folder:Mike Breuning]]
!!Detective Mike Breuning

A corrupt detective working for Dudley Smith.
[[folder:William Parker]]
!!Chief William H. Parker

The police chief of the LAPD.



* UndyingLoyalty: He's deeply loyal to Dudley, and Bud notes his devotion is slavish and almost cult-like.

to:

* UndyingLoyalty: AscendedExtra: He's deeply loyal a minor supporting character in the original Quartet, but he's a major character in the prequels and a viewpoint character in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off of the real LAPD chief.
* InternalReformist: Extremely downplayed. Parker's fine with PoliceBrutality, but he's one of the few to frown on using it pointlessly and sides with Ed because of this.
* MinorMajorCharacter: He doesn't appear all that much in ''L.A. Confidential'', but the fact that both Dudley and Ed have his favor plays a major role in the plot.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Downplayed. He's fully complicit in the LAPD's corruption and quite willing to listen
to Dudley, but he takes a liking to Ed for his staunch morals and Bud notes his devotion is slavish and almost cult-like.frowns on outright police brutality for the most part.



[[folder:Richard Carlisle]]
!!Detective Richard Carlisle

to:

[[folder:Richard Carlisle]]
[[folder:Mike Breuning]]
!!Detective Richard Carlisle
Mike Breuning



* UndyingLoyalty: Bud observes he's slavishly loyal to Dudley in an almost cult-like fashion.

to:

* UndyingLoyalty: Bud observes he's slavishly He's deeply loyal to Dudley in an Dudley, and Bud notes his devotion is slavish and almost cult-like fashion.cult-like.


Added DiffLines:

[[folder:Richard Carlisle]]
!!Detective Richard Carlisle

A corrupt detective working for Dudley Smith.
----
* UndyingLoyalty: Bud observes he's slavishly loyal to Dudley in an almost cult-like fashion.
[[/folder]]

Added: 7033

Changed: 24028

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!! LA County Police

[[folder: Danny Upshaw]]
!! Deputy Danny Upshaw

A Los Angeles County Deputy investigating the Wolverine killings.

to:

!! LA County Police

[[folder: Danny Upshaw]]
!! Deputy Danny Upshaw

[[folder:Mike Breuning]]
!!Detective Mike Breuning

A Los Angeles County Deputy investigating the Wolverine killings.corrupt detective working for Dudley Smith.




* {{Archenemy}}: The Wolverine killer becomes the focus of his obsession.
* ArmoredClosetGay: Danny Upshaw thinks he's this, flirting with multiple women and cultivating a reputation as a ladies man. In fact, it's more EveryoneCanSeeIt and the realization of this contributes to [[spoiler: Danny's suicide.]]
* BotheringByTheBook: Danny Upshaw uses the fact that food and beverages are under the control of LA County to threaten people he can't technically arrest in Los Angeles proper.
* ByTheBookCop: Starts as one of these but gradually becomes a CowboyCop the more he becomes obsessed with the Wolverine killings.
* DealWithTheDevil: Agrees to help investigate communist activity for more support in finding the Wolverine.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw in a bid to avert anyone finding out about his homosexuality]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Danny believes this as his activity starts to suspect his obsession with finding the Wolverine killer is motivated by his own repressed homosexuality.
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw is actually a severely repressed homosexual.]]
* TheHeroDies: Danny is the first of the protagonists to die due to being [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide.]]
* HoneyPot: Is sent to seduce Claire de haven as part of his investigation into communist activity.
* JurisdictionFriction: The LAPD and LA County Sherriff's Department are loggerheads over Cohen. Thus Danny gets stonewalled by the LAPD when he first tries to investigate the Goines murder. A free hand in running the case is his top condition for joining the anticommunist task force.

to:

\n* {{Archenemy}}: The Wolverine killer becomes the focus of UndyingLoyalty: He's deeply loyal to Dudley, and Bud notes his obsession.
* ArmoredClosetGay: Danny Upshaw thinks he's this, flirting with multiple women
devotion is slavish and cultivating a reputation as a ladies man. In fact, it's more EveryoneCanSeeIt and the realization of this contributes to [[spoiler: Danny's suicide.]]
* BotheringByTheBook: Danny Upshaw uses the fact that food and beverages are under the control of LA County to threaten people he can't technically arrest in Los Angeles proper.
* ByTheBookCop: Starts as one of these but gradually becomes a CowboyCop the more he becomes obsessed with the Wolverine killings.
* DealWithTheDevil: Agrees to help investigate communist activity for more support in finding the Wolverine.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw in a bid to avert anyone finding out about his homosexuality]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Danny believes this as his activity starts to suspect his obsession with finding the Wolverine killer is motivated by his own repressed homosexuality.
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw is actually a severely repressed homosexual.]]
* TheHeroDies: Danny is the first of the protagonists to die due to being [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide.]]
* HoneyPot: Is sent to seduce Claire de haven as part of his investigation into communist activity.
* JurisdictionFriction: The LAPD and LA County Sherriff's Department are loggerheads over Cohen. Thus Danny gets stonewalled by the LAPD when he first tries to investigate the Goines murder. A free hand in running the case is his top condition for joining the anticommunist task force.
almost cult-like.



!!District Attorney's Office

[[folder:Ellis Loew]]
!!Ellis Loew

The politically ambitious deputy district attorney and the ''real'' head of Warrants Division. Later elected to District Attorney.

to:

!!District Attorney's Office

[[folder:Ellis Loew]]
!!Ellis Loew

The politically ambitious deputy district attorney and the ''real'' head of Warrants Division. Later elected to District Attorney.
[[folder:Richard Carlisle]]
!!Detective Richard Carlisle

A corrupt detective working for Dudley Smith.




* AmbitionIsEvil: Loew is planning a massive union busting witch hunt for communists in order to bring attention to his political campaign. It causes no end of trouble in the end of ''The Big Nowhere.''
* AmoralAttorney: He's very willing to cut corners to get what he wants, and encourages officers to use violence to get information out of their suspects.
** Averted in the movie - [[spoiler:He originally refused to cooperate in Smith's corruption and wanted to prosecute them, but was then blackmailed.]] - but played straight in the book; he is mostly funded by extortion [[spoiler: run by Jack]] and only wins the DA campaign thanks to his opponent being framed [[spoiler: also by Jack]]. His downfall comes when [[spoiler: Ed]] uses these to leverage himself above [[spoiler: Dudley]] in the police chain of command.
* ArmoredClosetGay[=/=]StraightGay: [[spoiler:Loew is a closeted homosexual, but shows no effeminate traits. Nor does he show any sympathy for "some homo actor" who died.]]
* AssholeVictim: He may have reluctantly helped [[spoiler: Dudley]], but was still an arrogant SmugSnake of a lawyer. Notably is that this is the first time Exley is fine with White's PoliceBrutality.
* BadassBoast: He claims to have invented the GoodCopBadCop technique, and isn't intimidated by White and Exley [[spoiler:at first.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: He's short-tempered, entitled, and throws a hissy fit whenever thinks don't go his way.
* LaserGuidedKarma: Buzz Meeks takes the opportunity to burn down his house with all of the grand jury's accumulated evidence on the communists.
* RedScare: Loew intends to take advantage of this in ''The Big Nowhere'' in order to make a name for himself.

to:

\n* AmbitionIsEvil: Loew is planning a massive union busting witch hunt for communists UndyingLoyalty: Bud observes he's slavishly loyal to Dudley in order to bring attention to his political campaign. It causes no end of trouble in the end of ''The Big Nowhere.''
* AmoralAttorney: He's very willing to cut corners to get what he wants, and encourages officers to use violence to get information out of their suspects.
** Averted in the movie - [[spoiler:He originally refused to cooperate in Smith's corruption and wanted to prosecute them, but was then blackmailed.]] - but played straight in the book; he is mostly funded by extortion [[spoiler: run by Jack]] and only wins the DA campaign thanks to his opponent being framed [[spoiler: also by Jack]]. His downfall comes when [[spoiler: Ed]] uses these to leverage himself above [[spoiler: Dudley]] in the police chain of command.
* ArmoredClosetGay[=/=]StraightGay: [[spoiler:Loew is a closeted homosexual, but shows no effeminate traits. Nor does he show any sympathy for "some homo actor" who died.]]
* AssholeVictim: He may have reluctantly helped [[spoiler: Dudley]], but was still
an arrogant SmugSnake of a lawyer. Notably is that this is the first time Exley is fine with White's PoliceBrutality.
* BadassBoast: He claims to have invented the GoodCopBadCop technique, and isn't intimidated by White and Exley [[spoiler:at first.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: He's short-tempered, entitled, and throws a hissy fit whenever thinks don't go his way.
* LaserGuidedKarma: Buzz Meeks takes the opportunity to burn down his house with all of the grand jury's accumulated evidence on the communists.
* RedScare: Loew intends to take advantage of this in ''The Big Nowhere'' in order to make a name for himself.
almost cult-like fashion.



!!Criminals

!!!Cohen Crime Syndicate

[[folder:Mickey Cohen]]
!!Mickey Cohen

An infamous LA gangster who has connections within both the city government and the Hollywood elite.

to:

!!Criminals

!!!Cohen Crime Syndicate

[[folder:Mickey Cohen]]
!!Mickey Cohen

An infamous
!! LA gangster who has connections within both County Police

[[folder: Danny Upshaw]]
!! Deputy Danny Upshaw

A Los Angeles County Deputy investigating
the city government and the Hollywood elite.Wolverine killings.



* AffablyEvil: Mickey Cohen is a ruthless gangster but a pleasant enough man with his own code of honor.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He orders hits on those who exploit women via blackmail or are involved in bestiality.
* FriendlyNeighborhoodGangster: Bizarrely, Mickey is one of the few characters in the book who seems to be genuinely motivated by disgust at the abuse and ill-treatment of the women under his protection. This along with other PetTheDog moments, makes him closer to a NobleDemon than most characters, including the protagonists.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off the real Mickey Cohen, who was just as feared and infamous as his novel counterpart.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Mickey Cohen in real-life was known to have a hair trigger temper and exceptionally prone to unnecessary violence.
* KosherNostra: The head of the Jewish mob in LA and successor to Bugsy Siegel.
* NobleDemon: Mickey Cohen is a far better person than most of his DirtyCop associates.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Surprisingly, he is prone to keeping his temper and only using force when necessary or when his code is broken. A sharp contrast to the real Mickey's reputation.

to:


* AffablyEvil: Mickey Cohen is a ruthless gangster but a pleasant enough man {{Archenemy}}: The Wolverine killer becomes the focus of his obsession.
* ArmoredClosetGay: Danny Upshaw thinks he's this, flirting
with his own code of honor.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He orders hits on those who exploit
multiple women via blackmail or and cultivating a reputation as a ladies man. In fact, it's more EveryoneCanSeeIt and the realization of this contributes to [[spoiler: Danny's suicide.]]
* BotheringByTheBook: Danny Upshaw uses the fact that food and beverages
are involved under the control of LA County to threaten people he can't technically arrest in bestiality.
Los Angeles proper.
* FriendlyNeighborhoodGangster: Bizarrely, Mickey is ByTheBookCop: Starts as one of these but gradually becomes a CowboyCop the few characters in more he becomes obsessed with the book who seems Wolverine killings.
* DealWithTheDevil: Agrees
to be genuinely help investigate communist activity for more support in finding the Wolverine.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw in a bid to avert anyone finding out about his homosexuality]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Danny believes this as his activity starts to suspect his obsession with finding the Wolverine killer is
motivated by disgust at his own repressed homosexuality.
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Danny Upshaw is actually a severely repressed homosexual.]]
* TheHeroDies: Danny is
the abuse and ill-treatment first of the women under his protection. This along with other PetTheDog moments, makes him closer protagonists to a NobleDemon than most characters, including the protagonists.
die due to being [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide.]]
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based off the real Mickey Cohen, who was just HoneyPot: Is sent to seduce Claire de haven as feared and infamous as his novel counterpart.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Mickey Cohen in real-life was known to have a hair trigger temper and exceptionally prone to unnecessary violence.
* KosherNostra: The head of the Jewish mob in LA and successor to Bugsy Siegel.
* NobleDemon: Mickey Cohen is a far better person than most
part of his DirtyCop associates.
investigation into communist activity.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Surprisingly, he is prone to keeping his temper JurisdictionFriction: The LAPD and only using force LA County Sherriff's Department are loggerheads over Cohen. Thus Danny gets stonewalled by the LAPD when necessary or when he first tries to investigate the Goines murder. A free hand in running the case is his code is broken. A sharp contrast to top condition for joining the real Mickey's reputation.anticommunist task force.



[[folder:Buzz Meeks]]
!!Turner "Buzz" Meeks

An ex-cop turned enforcer for Mickey Cohen and Howard Hughes. Becomes one of the protagonists of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere.''

to:

[[folder:Buzz Meeks]]
!!Turner "Buzz" Meeks

An ex-cop turned enforcer for Mickey Cohen
!!District Attorney's Office

[[folder:Ellis Loew]]
!!Ellis Loew

The politically ambitious deputy district attorney
and Howard Hughes. Becomes one of the protagonists ''real'' head of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere.'' Warrants Division. Later elected to District Attorney.



* {{Antihero}}: Is a corrupt DirtyCop and a general scumbag but wants to make up for [[spoiler:driving Danny Upshaw to suicide.]]
* AscendedExtra: He's a minor character in ''Literature/TheBlackDahlia'' before becoming one of the main protagonists of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere''.
* TheAtoner: Buzz attempts to make up for the fact he got Danny Upshaw [[spoiler: killed.]]
* DefiantToTheEnd: [[spoiler:Even when Dudley has Buzz at gunpoint, Buzz still tries to shoot him without a hint of fear. He's also able to take most of his assailants with him.]]
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:He's murdered by Dudley, but not before he's able to kill most of his assailants and nearly shooting Dudley himself.]]
* TheFixer: Buzz Meeks has this job for Howard Hughes. He covers up his various affairs with actresses both underage and otherwise. He also cleans up for Howard's friends.
* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: In ''White Jazz'', Mickey Cohen is no longer the feared gangster he used to be despite being out of prison. He only holds a few small gambling businesses and is firmly under Dudley Smith's control.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Buzz is killed by Dudley Smith a week after the events of ''The Big Nowhere.'']]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Buzz kills a DirtyCop in self defense and Danny Upshaw is blamed for it due to the fact they'd been in a confrontation the previous day. [[spoiler: This leads to Danny's suicide.]]
* PrivateDetective: Buzz is the head of security for Howard Hughes, which roughly gives him this feel before he's hired by the Grand Jury and becomes indistiguishable from a cop.
* RedemptionQuest: Takes up the quest to go after the Wolverine to redeem himself.

to:


* {{Antihero}}: Is AmbitionIsEvil: Loew is planning a corrupt DirtyCop massive union busting witch hunt for communists in order to bring attention to his political campaign. It causes no end of trouble in the end of ''The Big Nowhere.''
* AmoralAttorney: He's very willing to cut corners to get what he wants,
and a general scumbag encourages officers to use violence to get information out of their suspects.
** Averted in the movie - [[spoiler:He originally refused to cooperate in Smith's corruption and wanted to prosecute them,
but wants was then blackmailed.]] - but played straight in the book; he is mostly funded by extortion [[spoiler: run by Jack]] and only wins the DA campaign thanks to make up his opponent being framed [[spoiler: also by Jack]]. His downfall comes when [[spoiler: Ed]] uses these to leverage himself above [[spoiler: Dudley]] in the police chain of command.
* ArmoredClosetGay[=/=]StraightGay: [[spoiler:Loew is a closeted homosexual, but shows no effeminate traits. Nor does he show any sympathy
for [[spoiler:driving Danny Upshaw to suicide."some homo actor" who died.]]
* AscendedExtra: He's a minor character in ''Literature/TheBlackDahlia'' before becoming one of the main protagonists of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere''.
* TheAtoner: Buzz attempts to make up for the fact he got Danny Upshaw
AssholeVictim: He may have reluctantly helped [[spoiler: killed.Dudley]], but was still an arrogant SmugSnake of a lawyer. Notably is that this is the first time Exley is fine with White's PoliceBrutality.
* BadassBoast: He claims to have invented the GoodCopBadCop technique, and isn't intimidated by White and Exley [[spoiler:at first.
]]
* DefiantToTheEnd: [[spoiler:Even when Dudley has Buzz at gunpoint, Buzz still tries to shoot him without a hint of fear. {{Jerkass}}: He's also able to take most of short-tempered, entitled, and throws a hissy fit whenever thinks don't go his assailants with him.]]
way.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:He's murdered by Dudley, but not before he's able to kill most of his assailants and nearly shooting Dudley himself.]]
* TheFixer:
LaserGuidedKarma: Buzz Meeks has takes the opportunity to burn down his house with all of the grand jury's accumulated evidence on the communists.
* RedScare: Loew intends to take advantage of
this job for Howard Hughes. He covers up his various affairs with actresses both underage and otherwise. He also cleans up for Howard's friends.
* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: In ''White Jazz'', Mickey Cohen is no longer the feared gangster he used to be despite being out of prison. He only holds a few small gambling businesses and is firmly under Dudley Smith's control.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Buzz is killed by Dudley Smith a week after the events of
in ''The Big Nowhere.'']]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Buzz kills a DirtyCop
Nowhere'' in self defense and Danny Upshaw is blamed order to make a name for it due to the fact they'd been in a confrontation the previous day. [[spoiler: This leads to Danny's suicide.]]
* PrivateDetective: Buzz is the head of security for Howard Hughes, which roughly gives him this feel before he's hired by the Grand Jury and becomes indistiguishable from a cop.
* RedemptionQuest: Takes up the quest to go after the Wolverine to redeem
himself.



[[folder: Johnny Stompanato]]

Mickey Cohen's chief enforcer.

to:

[[folder: Johnny Stompanato]]

Mickey Cohen's chief enforcer.
!!Criminals

!!!Cohen Crime Syndicate

[[folder:Mickey Cohen]]
!!Mickey Cohen

An infamous LA gangster who has connections within both the city government and the Hollywood elite.



* ButtMonkey: to Bud White.
* DemotedToExtra: from the book (where he is a key part of Mickey Cohen's clique) to the film.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: One of the few in the movie, along with Lana Turner. His history is fudged with for comedic purposes.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:In the book his real-life manslaughter is brought up to Ed; said death means Ed has no evidence linking Dudley Smith to anything.]]
* TheInformant: to Bud, although he insists that he doesn't do that any more. [[spoiler: Bud asserts otherwise.]]

to:

* ButtMonkey: to Bud White.
AffablyEvil: Mickey Cohen is a ruthless gangster but a pleasant enough man with his own code of honor.
* DemotedToExtra: from EvenEvilHasStandards: He orders hits on those who exploit women via blackmail or are involved in bestiality.
* FriendlyNeighborhoodGangster: Bizarrely, Mickey is one of the few characters in
the book (where he is a key part of Mickey Cohen's clique) who seems to be genuinely motivated by disgust at the film.
abuse and ill-treatment of the women under his protection. This along with other PetTheDog moments, makes him closer to a NobleDemon than most characters, including the protagonists.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: One of He's based off the few in the movie, along with Lana Turner. His history is fudged with for comedic purposes.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:In the book
real Mickey Cohen, who was just as feared and infamous as his novel counterpart.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Mickey Cohen in
real-life manslaughter was known to have a hair trigger temper and exceptionally prone to unnecessary violence.
* KosherNostra: The head of the Jewish mob in LA and successor to Bugsy Siegel.
* NobleDemon: Mickey Cohen
is brought up a far better person than most of his DirtyCop associates.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Surprisingly, he is prone
to Ed; said death means Ed has no evidence linking Dudley Smith keeping his temper and only using force when necessary or when his code is broken. A sharp contrast to anything.]]
* TheInformant: to Bud, although he insists that he doesn't do that any more. [[spoiler: Bud asserts otherwise.]]
the real Mickey's reputation.



!!!Others

[[folder:Charles Issler]]
!!Charles Issler

A former cop turned pimp who frequently confesses to the murders of prostitutes.

to:

!!!Others

[[folder:Charles Issler]]
!!Charles Issler

A former cop
[[folder:Buzz Meeks]]
!!Turner "Buzz" Meeks

An ex-cop
turned pimp who frequently confesses to enforcer for Mickey Cohen and Howard Hughes. Becomes one of the murders protagonists of prostitutes.''Literature/TheBigNowhere.''




* DirtyCop: Played with. He is a cop who has turned to sex trafficking and hates himself for it.
* FalseConfession: He is prone to confessing to the murder of prostitutes despite just being a pimp.
* ReluctantMonster: Sally Stinson notes that Issler's constant false confessions are motivated by his guilt over his profession, but it's clearly not enough for him to stop.
* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: His hatred of his profession leads to him confessing to much worse crimes.

to:

\n* DirtyCop: Played with. He is {{Antihero}}: Is a cop who corrupt DirtyCop and a general scumbag but wants to make up for [[spoiler:driving Danny Upshaw to suicide.]]
* AscendedExtra: He's a minor character in ''Literature/TheBlackDahlia'' before becoming one of the main protagonists of ''Literature/TheBigNowhere''.
* TheAtoner: Buzz attempts to make up for the fact he got Danny Upshaw [[spoiler: killed.]]
* DefiantToTheEnd: [[spoiler:Even when Dudley
has turned Buzz at gunpoint, Buzz still tries to sex trafficking shoot him without a hint of fear. He's also able to take most of his assailants with him.]]
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:He's murdered by Dudley, but not before he's able to kill most of his assailants
and hates himself nearly shooting Dudley himself.]]
* TheFixer: Buzz Meeks has this job
for it.
* FalseConfession:
Howard Hughes. He covers up his various affairs with actresses both underage and otherwise. He also cleans up for Howard's friends.
* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: In ''White Jazz'', Mickey Cohen
is prone to confessing to no longer the murder of prostitutes feared gangster he used to be despite just being out of prison. He only holds a pimp.
few small gambling businesses and is firmly under Dudley Smith's control.
* ReluctantMonster: Sally Stinson notes that Issler's constant false confessions are motivated KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Buzz is killed by his guilt over his profession, but it's clearly not enough Dudley Smith a week after the events of ''The Big Nowhere.'']]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Buzz kills a DirtyCop in self defense and Danny Upshaw is blamed
for him it due to stop.
* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: His hatred of his profession
the fact they'd been in a confrontation the previous day. [[spoiler: This leads to Danny's suicide.]]
* PrivateDetective: Buzz is the head of security for Howard Hughes, which roughly gives
him confessing this feel before he's hired by the Grand Jury and becomes indistiguishable from a cop.
* RedemptionQuest: Takes up the quest
to much worse crimes.go after the Wolverine to redeem himself.



[[folder:Junior Nash]]
!!Raymond Douglas "Junior" Nash

A petty criminal and the primary suspect in the Black Dahlia murder case.

to:

[[folder:Junior Nash]]
!!Raymond Douglas "Junior" Nash

A petty criminal and the primary suspect in the Black Dahlia murder case.
[[folder: Johnny Stompanato]]

Mickey Cohen's chief enforcer.




* KilledOffscreen: [[spoiler:Lee murders him in a fit of rage under the belief he killed Elizabeth Short.]] [[spoiler:Though it's later revealed Blanchard ''hadn't'' killed him, and had confessed to Bleichert to cover up he had accepted a massive bribe to bury crucial evidence to the Black Dahlia case.]]

to:

\n* KilledOffscreen: [[spoiler:Lee murders him in a fit of rage under ButtMonkey: to Bud White.
* DemotedToExtra: from
the belief book (where he killed Elizabeth Short.]] [[spoiler:Though it's later revealed Blanchard ''hadn't'' killed him, and had confessed is a key part of Mickey Cohen's clique) to Bleichert the film.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: One of the few in the movie, along with Lana Turner. His history is fudged with for comedic purposes.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:In the book his real-life manslaughter is brought up
to cover up he had accepted a massive bribe to bury crucial Ed; said death means Ed has no evidence linking Dudley Smith to the Black Dahlia case.anything.]]
* TheInformant: to Bud, although he insists that he doesn't do that any more. [[spoiler: Bud asserts otherwise.
]]



[[folder:Sally Stinson]]
!!Sally Stinson

A prostitute working under Issler.

to:

[[folder:Sally Stinson]]
!!Sally Stinson

!!!Others

[[folder:Charles Issler]]
!!Charles Issler

A prostitute working under Issler.former cop turned pimp who frequently confesses to the murders of prostitutes.



* ButtMonkey: She's destitute to the point she was forced into prostitution, and John and Fritz Vogel beat her to a pulp to learn Issler's whereabouts.

to:

* ButtMonkey: She's destitute DirtyCop: Played with. He is a cop who has turned to sex trafficking and hates himself for it.
* FalseConfession: He is prone to confessing
to the point she was forced into prostitution, and John and Fritz Vogel beat her to murder of prostitutes despite just being a pulp to learn pimp.
* ReluctantMonster: Sally Stinson notes that
Issler's whereabouts.constant false confessions are motivated by his guilt over his profession, but it's clearly not enough for him to stop.
* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: His hatred of his profession leads to him confessing to much worse crimes.



[[folder:Bobby De Witt]]
!!Robert "Bobby" De Witt

A violent pimp who Lee Blanchard arrested for the Boulevard-Citizens bank robbery.

to:

[[folder:Bobby De Witt]]
!!Robert "Bobby" De Witt

[[folder:Junior Nash]]
!!Raymond Douglas "Junior" Nash

A violent pimp who Lee Blanchard arrested for petty criminal and the Boulevard-Citizens bank robbery.primary suspect in the Black Dahlia murder case.



* AssholeVictim: Pretty much everything that can go wrong for Bobby does, culminating in [[spoiler:Blanchard hiring Mexican hitmen to murder him]], but it's hard to feel bad for him given the abuse he put Kay through.
* KarmicButtMonkey: He's [[spoiler:framed for bank robbery]], sentenced to five years in prison, is beaten to a pulp by Bleichert the day after his release, and [[spoiler:is murdered on Blanchard's orders shortly after]]. However, given his abuse of Kay and countless other women, it's difficult to feel bad for him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Wolverine AKA [[spoiler: Coleman Masskie]]]] AKA [[spoiler: Coleman Healey]]
Coleman Maskie is the illegitimate son of Reynolds Loftis. He is driven insane by a combination of witnessing the Sleepy Lagoon murder, his father sexually abusing him, and his crush choosing his father over him.

to:

* AssholeVictim: Pretty much everything that can go wrong for Bobby does, culminating KilledOffscreen: [[spoiler:Lee murders him in [[spoiler:Blanchard hiring Mexican hitmen to murder him]], but a fit of rage under the belief he killed Elizabeth Short.]] [[spoiler:Though it's hard later revealed Blanchard ''hadn't'' killed him, and had confessed to feel bad for him given the abuse he put Kay through.
* KarmicButtMonkey: He's [[spoiler:framed for bank robbery]], sentenced to five years in prison, is beaten to a pulp by
Bleichert to cover up he had accepted a massive bribe to bury crucial evidence to the day after his release, and [[spoiler:is murdered on Blanchard's orders shortly after]]. However, given his abuse of Kay and countless other women, it's difficult to feel bad for him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Wolverine AKA [[spoiler: Coleman Masskie]]]] AKA [[spoiler: Coleman Healey]]
Coleman Maskie is the illegitimate son of Reynolds Loftis. He is driven insane by a combination of witnessing the Sleepy Lagoon murder, his father sexually abusing him, and his crush choosing his father over him.
Black Dahlia case.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sally Stinson]]
!!Sally Stinson

A prostitute working under Issler.



* BandagedFace: Bandaged Face: Danny Upshaw hears a lot about a kid with bandages covering a supposedly burned face who used to hang around Marty Goines and help him commit burglaries. In reality, the bandages were the aftermath of plastic surgery. [[spoiler: The bandaged kid was Coleman Masskie, Reynolds Loftis' illegitimate son. Reynolds commissioned a facelift from Terry Lux to make Coleman resemble him perfectly, as part of his own twisted incestuous fantasies. At the time he was seen with the bandages, Coleman was recovering from his second visit to Lux, to undo this job by breaking every bone in his face.]]
* BoomerangBigot: Hates gay men but is also a queer man himself.
* ComplexityAddiction: [[spoiler: A lot of the issues would have been solved if he'd just outed his father as a homosexual or killed him.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Was an abused young orphan boy created by a mentally-ill woman to give to the church before he found his rich father, only to be sexually abused by him. He was also a witness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder but too scared of the killer [[spoiler: Dudley Smith]] to come forward.
* DepravedBisexual: Coleman's sexuality is questionable as he abuses gay men but also lusts for Claire De Haven. He does, however, have a sincere lust for Danny Upshaw.
* EvilVersusEvil: His goal is to destroy Reynolds Loftis, his father, for sexually abusing him as well as Claire de Haven for covering it up.
* ParentalIncest: Coleman's father begins a sexual relationship with him after getting him plastic surgery.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: [[spoiler: He commits sexual assault on the bodies of his victims.]]
* ScaryTeeth: The killer mutilates his victims' corpses using a set of dentures he fashioned out of wolverine teeth. Buzz and Mal get to see this in person during the climactic shootout.
* SerialKiller: Is one of gay men in Los Angeles, murdering them and mutilating their bodies.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: His victims are all gay men but he is a bisexual man himself.

to:

* BandagedFace: Bandaged Face: Danny Upshaw hears a lot about a kid with bandages covering a supposedly burned face who used to hang around Marty Goines and help him commit burglaries. In reality, the bandages were the aftermath of plastic surgery. [[spoiler: The bandaged kid was Coleman Masskie, Reynolds Loftis' illegitimate son. Reynolds commissioned a facelift from Terry Lux to make Coleman resemble him perfectly, as part of his own twisted incestuous fantasies. At the time he was seen with the bandages, Coleman was recovering from his second visit to Lux, to undo this job by breaking every bone in his face.]]
* BoomerangBigot: Hates gay men but is also a queer man himself.
* ComplexityAddiction: [[spoiler: A lot of the issues would have been solved if he'd just outed his father as a homosexual or killed him.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Was an abused young orphan boy created by a mentally-ill woman to give
ButtMonkey: She's destitute to the church before he found his rich father, only to be sexually abused by him. He point she was also a witness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder but too scared of the killer [[spoiler: Dudley Smith]] to come forward.
* DepravedBisexual: Coleman's sexuality is questionable as he abuses gay men but also lusts for Claire De Haven. He does, however, have a sincere lust for Danny Upshaw.
* EvilVersusEvil: His goal is to destroy Reynolds Loftis, his father, for sexually abusing him as well as Claire de Haven for covering it up.
* ParentalIncest: Coleman's father begins a sexual relationship with him after getting him plastic surgery.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: [[spoiler: He commits sexual assault on the bodies of his victims.]]
* ScaryTeeth: The killer mutilates his victims' corpses using a set of dentures he fashioned out of wolverine teeth. Buzz
forced into prostitution, and Mal get to see this in person during the climactic shootout.
* SerialKiller: Is one of gay men in Los Angeles, murdering them
John and mutilating their bodies.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: His victims are all gay men but he is
Fritz Vogel beat her to a bisexual man himself.pulp to learn Issler's whereabouts.



!! Communists

[[folder: Claire de Haven]]
A beautiful upper-class woman who is a major leading figure among the Hollywood Left.

to:

!! Communists

[[folder: Claire de Haven]]
[[folder:Bobby De Witt]]
!!Robert "Bobby" De Witt

A beautiful upper-class woman violent pimp who is a major leading figure among Lee Blanchard arrested for the Hollywood Left.Boulevard-Citizens bank robbery.



* BrokenPedestal: Claire Katherine De Haven is a figure on the Hollywood social circuit and is a communist sympathizer in order to help people in need. [[spoiler: She also enabled a known rapist and murderer get away with his crimes as well as protected Reynolds Loftis despite the fact he had sex with his own son.]] This ruins the opinion of Mal Considine, who carried a torch for her.
* FemmeFatale: Is a key factor in driving Danny Upshaw to his death. [[spoiler: Arranging a movie screening of her having sex with a man to gauge his sexual interest in both, letting him know she knows that he's a gay man.]]
* {{Hypocrite}}: Claire de Haven preaches communist rhetoric and working class values but is a rich UptownGirl who uses her connections to get herself as well as her friends out of trouble with the authorities.
* KarmaHoudini: Claire gets away with everything in ''The Big Nowhere'', except maybe a guilty conscience.
* JerkassHasAPoint: A lot of her complaints about the Hollywood system and police in Los Angeles are 100% accurate.
* LoveMakesYouEvil: Protecting Reynolds Loftis is somethinhg that enables the Wolverine killings to go on far longer than they should.
* MoralMyopia: Whenever the police or government does something wrong, it's evil and vile. Whenever a communist party member does something wrong, they have to be protected.
* SmugSnake: Claire believes she's beyond reproach and can win in the public eye despite the fact the papers as well as system are all stacked against us.
* WomenAreMoreInnocent: Invoked by Claire as being a beautiful woman able to fake cry on demand helped protect her from the HUAC.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: Claire is a rich woman who abuses her connections to protect her friends from the consequences of their actions. She's also a communist.
[[/folder]]

!!Civilians

!!!The Spragues

[[folder:Madeline Sprague]]
!!Madeline Sprague

The rebellious and spoiled daughter of a wealthy LA business magnate.

to:

* BrokenPedestal: Claire Katherine De Haven is a figure on AssholeVictim: Pretty much everything that can go wrong for Bobby does, culminating in [[spoiler:Blanchard hiring Mexican hitmen to murder him]], but it's hard to feel bad for him given the Hollywood social circuit abuse he put Kay through.
* KarmicButtMonkey: He's [[spoiler:framed for bank robbery]], sentenced to five years in prison, is beaten to a pulp by Bleichert the day after his release,
and is a communist sympathizer in order [[spoiler:is murdered on Blanchard's orders shortly after]]. However, given his abuse of Kay and countless other women, it's difficult to help people in need. feel bad for him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Wolverine AKA
[[spoiler: She also enabled a known rapist and murderer get away with his crimes as well as protected Reynolds Loftis despite the fact he had sex with his own son.]] This ruins the opinion of Mal Considine, who carried a torch for her.
* FemmeFatale: Is a key factor in driving Danny Upshaw to his death.
Coleman Masskie]]]] AKA [[spoiler: Arranging a movie screening of her having sex with a man to gauge his sexual interest in both, letting him know she knows that he's a gay man.]]
* {{Hypocrite}}: Claire de Haven preaches communist rhetoric and working class values but
Coleman Healey]]
Coleman Maskie
is a rich UptownGirl who uses her connections to get herself as well as her friends out of trouble with the authorities.
* KarmaHoudini: Claire gets away with everything in ''The Big Nowhere'', except maybe a guilty conscience.
* JerkassHasAPoint: A lot
illegitimate son of her complaints about the Hollywood system and police in Los Angeles are 100% accurate.
* LoveMakesYouEvil: Protecting
Reynolds Loftis Loftis. He is somethinhg that enables driven insane by a combination of witnessing the Wolverine killings to go on far longer than they should.
* MoralMyopia: Whenever the police or government does something wrong, it's evil
Sleepy Lagoon murder, his father sexually abusing him, and vile. Whenever a communist party member does something wrong, they have to be protected.
* SmugSnake: Claire believes she's beyond reproach and can win in the public eye despite the fact the papers as well as system are all stacked against us.
* WomenAreMoreInnocent: Invoked by Claire as being a beautiful woman able to fake cry on demand helped protect her from the HUAC.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: Claire is a rich woman who abuses her connections to protect her friends from the consequences of their actions. She's also a communist.
[[/folder]]

!!Civilians

!!!The Spragues

[[folder:Madeline Sprague]]
!!Madeline Sprague

The rebellious and spoiled daughter of a wealthy LA business magnate.
his crush choosing his father over him.



* AdaptationalNameChange: Her name is changed from Sprague to Linscott.
* CloudCuckoolander: Madeline shares deeply personal information at the drop of a hat, tells horrific stories about her family during bed, and seems fascinated by her resemblance to Elizabeth Short.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Attempts to invoke this with Bleichert by saying she had sex with Elizabeth Short once. {{Subverted}} in that it makes him deeply uncomfortable, though whether it's because of the same sex nature of her liaison or the fact Elizabeth was horribly murdered or both is unclear.
* IdenticalStranger: Madeline and Elizabeth Short apparently resemble one another strong enough for everyone to notice it with any connection to the case.
* SpoiledBrat: Emmett gives her pretty much everything she could ever want, and she still slums it with the poor of Los Angeles for fun, as well as having engaged in [[spoiler:an affair with Elizabeth Short]].
* RebelliousPrincess: She's wealthy and the daughter of a powerful conservative businessman, but she prefers to spend her time slumming it in the poorer parts of Los Angeles.

to:

* AdaptationalNameChange: Her name is changed from Sprague to Linscott.
* CloudCuckoolander: Madeline shares deeply personal information at the drop of
BandagedFace: Bandaged Face: Danny Upshaw hears a hat, tells horrific stories lot about her family during bed, and seems fascinated by her resemblance to Elizabeth Short.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Attempts to invoke this
a kid with Bleichert by saying she had sex with Elizabeth Short once. {{Subverted}} in that it makes bandages covering a supposedly burned face who used to hang around Marty Goines and help him deeply uncomfortable, though whether it's because of commit burglaries. In reality, the same sex nature of her liaison or bandages were the fact Elizabeth aftermath of plastic surgery. [[spoiler: The bandaged kid was horribly murdered or both is unclear.
* IdenticalStranger: Madeline and Elizabeth Short apparently
Coleman Masskie, Reynolds Loftis' illegitimate son. Reynolds commissioned a facelift from Terry Lux to make Coleman resemble one another strong enough for everyone to notice it with any connection to him perfectly, as part of his own twisted incestuous fantasies. At the case.
* SpoiledBrat: Emmett gives her pretty much everything she could ever want, and she still slums it
time he was seen with the poor bandages, Coleman was recovering from his second visit to Lux, to undo this job by breaking every bone in his face.]]
* BoomerangBigot: Hates gay men but is also a queer man himself.
* ComplexityAddiction: [[spoiler: A lot
of Los Angeles the issues would have been solved if he'd just outed his father as a homosexual or killed him.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Was an abused young orphan boy created by a mentally-ill woman to give to the church before he found his rich father, only to be sexually abused by him. He was also a witness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder but too scared of the killer [[spoiler: Dudley Smith]] to come forward.
* DepravedBisexual: Coleman's sexuality is questionable as he abuses gay men but also lusts
for fun, Claire De Haven. He does, however, have a sincere lust for Danny Upshaw.
* EvilVersusEvil: His goal is to destroy Reynolds Loftis, his father, for sexually abusing him
as well as having engaged in [[spoiler:an affair Claire de Haven for covering it up.
* ParentalIncest: Coleman's father begins a sexual relationship
with Elizabeth Short]].
him after getting him plastic surgery.
* RebelliousPrincess: She's wealthy RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: [[spoiler: He commits sexual assault on the bodies of his victims.]]
* ScaryTeeth: The killer mutilates his victims' corpses using a set of dentures he fashioned out of wolverine teeth. Buzz
and Mal get to see this in person during the daughter climactic shootout.
* SerialKiller: Is one
of a powerful conservative businessman, gay men in Los Angeles, murdering them and mutilating their bodies.
* YouAreWhatYouHate: His victims are all gay men
but she prefers to spend her time slumming it in the poorer parts of Los Angeles.he is a bisexual man himself.



[[folder:Emmett Sprague]]
!!Emmett Sprague

A wealthy and influential Scottish businessman.

to:

[[folder:Emmett Sprague]]
!!Emmett Sprague

!! Communists

[[folder: Claire de Haven]]
A wealthy and influential Scottish businessman.beautiful upper-class woman who is a major leading figure among the Hollywood Left.



* AffablyEvil: He's friendly and jovial, but he's sleazy as hell and a Nazi sympathizer to boot.
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: After his pet dog brought him a newspaper reporting on the deal that made him rich, Emmett shot the dog so he could have it stuffed to "commemorate the moment".
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: He got his money from working with Mickey Cohen, and all of the apartments he built are shoddily constructed tenements; fifteen of them collapsed during an earthquake and killed everyone inside, which he quickly covered up.
* DadTheVeteran: He fought in World War I.
* FictionFiveHundred: Is one of the richest men in Los Angeles due to taking advantage of the construction boom and using shoddy practices.
* HateSink: Everything about Emmett is repulsive and the fact he likes Breichert is meant to make the reader uncomfortable.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: He's an avowed Nazi sympathizer who openly regrets that the US fought against the Germans in World War II.
* RacistGrandpa: He is Madeline's father rather than grandfather but a Nazi sympathizer who embarrasses her with his views.

to:

* AffablyEvil: He's friendly BrokenPedestal: Claire Katherine De Haven is a figure on the Hollywood social circuit and jovial, but he's sleazy as hell and is a Nazi communist sympathizer in order to boot.
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: After
help people in need. [[spoiler: She also enabled a known rapist and murderer get away with his pet dog brought crimes as well as protected Reynolds Loftis despite the fact he had sex with his own son.]] This ruins the opinion of Mal Considine, who carried a torch for her.
* FemmeFatale: Is a key factor in driving Danny Upshaw to his death. [[spoiler: Arranging a movie screening of her having sex with a man to gauge his sexual interest in both, letting
him a newspaper reporting on the deal know she knows that made him rich, Emmett shot the dog so he could have it stuffed to "commemorate the moment".
he's a gay man.]]
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: He got his money from {{Hypocrite}}: Claire de Haven preaches communist rhetoric and working class values but is a rich UptownGirl who uses her connections to get herself as well as her friends out of trouble with Mickey Cohen, the authorities.
* KarmaHoudini: Claire gets away with everything in ''The Big Nowhere'', except maybe a guilty conscience.
* JerkassHasAPoint: A lot of her complaints about the Hollywood system
and all of the apartments he built are shoddily constructed tenements; fifteen of them collapsed during an earthquake and killed everyone inside, which he quickly covered up.
* DadTheVeteran: He fought in World War I.
* FictionFiveHundred: Is one of the richest men
police in Los Angeles due to taking advantage of are 100% accurate.
* LoveMakesYouEvil: Protecting Reynolds Loftis is somethinhg that enables
the construction boom Wolverine killings to go on far longer than they should.
* MoralMyopia: Whenever the police or government does something wrong, it's evil
and using shoddy practices.
vile. Whenever a communist party member does something wrong, they have to be protected.
* HateSink: Everything about Emmett is repulsive SmugSnake: Claire believes she's beyond reproach and can win in the public eye despite the fact he likes Breichert is meant to make the reader uncomfortable.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: He's an avowed Nazi sympathizer who openly regrets that the US fought
papers as well as system are all stacked against us.
* WomenAreMoreInnocent: Invoked by Claire as being a beautiful woman able to fake cry on demand helped protect her from
the Germans in World War II.
HUAC.
* RacistGrandpa: He YouAreWhatYouHate: Claire is Madeline's father rather than grandfather but a Nazi sympathizer rich woman who embarrasses abuses her with his views.connections to protect her friends from the consequences of their actions. She's also a communist.



[[folder:Ramona Sprague]]
!!Ramona Sprague

Madeleine's drug-addicted and resentful mother.

to:

[[folder:Ramona !!Civilians

!!!The Spragues

[[folder:Madeline
Sprague]]
!!Ramona !!Madeline Sprague

Madeleine's drug-addicted The rebellious and resentful mother.spoiled daughter of a wealthy LA business magnate.



* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Is the actual murderer of Elizabeth Short.]]
* ClingyJealousGirl: [[spoiler: Her motivation for the Black Dahlia murder was jealousy that Georgie was sleeping with her and her resemblance to their daughter.]]
* TheDogWasTheMastermind: [[spoiler: Ramona Sprague has no apparent connection to Elizabeth Short or motive to want to kill her in such a horrific way. Bleichert is completely confused at the evidence leading to her until she explains she was driven mad with jealousy over Georgie's affair.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: She angrily curses Madeleine out for dating a "common policeman" like Bucky and is in general a stuck-up prude.
* RichBitch: Ramona believes her own husband is beneath her and despises the working class. Her story at the table also makes fun of Bleichert's home neighborhood.
* SecretlyDying: [[spoiler: Is already seriously ill from Lupus at the start of the novel.]]

to:

* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Is AdaptationalNameChange: Her name is changed from Sprague to Linscott.
* CloudCuckoolander: Madeline shares deeply personal information at
the actual murderer drop of Elizabeth Short.]]
* ClingyJealousGirl: [[spoiler: Her motivation for the Black Dahlia murder was jealousy that Georgie was sleeping with
a hat, tells horrific stories about her family during bed, and seems fascinated by her resemblance to their daughter.]]
Elizabeth Short.
* TheDogWasTheMastermind: [[spoiler: Ramona Sprague has no apparent connection GirlOnGirlIsHot: Attempts to invoke this with Bleichert by saying she had sex with Elizabeth Short or motive to want to kill her once. {{Subverted}} in such a horrific way. Bleichert is completely confused at the evidence leading to her until she explains she was driven mad with jealousy over Georgie's affair.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: She angrily curses Madeleine out for dating a "common policeman" like Bucky and is in general a stuck-up prude.
* RichBitch: Ramona believes her own husband is beneath her and despises the working class. Her story at the table also
that it makes fun of Bleichert's home neighborhood.
* SecretlyDying: [[spoiler: Is already seriously ill from Lupus at the start
him deeply uncomfortable, though whether it's because of the novel.]]same sex nature of her liaison or the fact Elizabeth was horribly murdered or both is unclear.
* IdenticalStranger: Madeline and Elizabeth Short apparently resemble one another strong enough for everyone to notice it with any connection to the case.
* SpoiledBrat: Emmett gives her pretty much everything she could ever want, and she still slums it with the poor of Los Angeles for fun, as well as having engaged in [[spoiler:an affair with Elizabeth Short]].
* RebelliousPrincess: She's wealthy and the daughter of a powerful conservative businessman, but she prefers to spend her time slumming it in the poorer parts of Los Angeles.



[[folder:Martha Sprague]]
!!Martha Sprague

Madeleine's artistic sister.

to:

[[folder:Martha [[folder:Emmett Sprague]]
!!Martha !!Emmett Sprague

Madeleine's artistic sister.A wealthy and influential Scottish businessman.



* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: She spends the entirety of Bucky's dinner with the Spragues sketching a drawing of him and Madeleine having (very graphic) sex.
* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler: Bleichert never would have been put on any of the Sprague family, or even met them, without her sending clues to the police.]]

to:

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: She spends AffablyEvil: He's friendly and jovial, but he's sleazy as hell and a Nazi sympathizer to boot.
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: After his pet dog brought him a newspaper reporting on
the entirety of Bucky's dinner deal that made him rich, Emmett shot the dog so he could have it stuffed to "commemorate the moment".
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: He got his money from working
with the Spragues sketching a drawing of him Mickey Cohen, and Madeleine having (very graphic) sex.
* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler: Bleichert never would have been put on any
all of the Sprague family, or even met them, without apartments he built are shoddily constructed tenements; fifteen of them collapsed during an earthquake and killed everyone inside, which he quickly covered up.
* DadTheVeteran: He fought in World War I.
* FictionFiveHundred: Is one of the richest men in Los Angeles due to taking advantage of the construction boom and using shoddy practices.
* HateSink: Everything about Emmett is repulsive and the fact he likes Breichert is meant to make the reader uncomfortable.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: He's an avowed Nazi sympathizer who openly regrets that the US fought against the Germans in World War II.
* RacistGrandpa: He is Madeline's father rather than grandfather but a Nazi sympathizer who embarrasses
her sending clues to the police.]]with his views.



!!!Others
[[folder:Kay Lake]]
!!Kay Lake

A mysterious former criminal and Lee Blanchard's girlfriend. Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.

to:

!!!Others
[[folder:Kay Lake]]
!!Kay Lake

A mysterious former criminal
[[folder:Ramona Sprague]]
!!Ramona Sprague

Madeleine's drug-addicted
and Lee Blanchard's girlfriend. Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.resentful mother.



* AscendedExtra: Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}'' and helps the LAPD against communists.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Bobby De Witt subjected her to brutal physical abuse and forced her into prostitution, [[spoiler:which motivated Lee to frame him for the bank robbery.]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Kay says of the boxing match, "I hope both of you look good with your shirts off".
* FemmeFatale: She's a beautiful woman with a checkered and mysterious past, though she's given much more depth than the typical Femme Fatale, and it's clear form the get-go she cares about Lee and Bleichert.
* FemaleGaze: Kay Lake suggests this is why she enjoys watching the boxing match between Bleichert and Blanchard. Both of the men getting sweaty without their shirts.
* ModestyTowel: Removes one of these in her and Blanchard's apartment to seduce Bleichert. It doesn't work, in part, due to Bleichert being in no mood due to having just killed two people.
* MsFanservice: Much attention is paid to how describing beautiful Kay Lake is and how good she looks naked, particularly when she's trying to seduce Bleichert.
* MysteriousPast: Her past with Bobby [=DeWitt=] is shrouded in mystery and false information, and Bleichert is actively curious about it.
* SexlessMarriage: Kay Lake claims she and Blanchard don't have sex despite living together as a couple.

to:

* AscendedExtra: Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}'' and helps AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Is the LAPD against communists.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Bobby De Witt subjected her to brutal physical abuse and forced her into prostitution, [[spoiler:which motivated Lee to frame him for the bank robbery.
actual murderer of Elizabeth Short.]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Kay says of ClingyJealousGirl: [[spoiler: Her motivation for the boxing match, "I hope both of you look good Black Dahlia murder was jealousy that Georgie was sleeping with your shirts off".
* FemmeFatale: She's a beautiful woman with a checkered and mysterious past, though she's given much more depth than the typical Femme Fatale, and it's clear form the get-go she cares about Lee and Bleichert.
* FemaleGaze: Kay Lake suggests this is why she enjoys watching the boxing match between Bleichert and Blanchard. Both of the men getting sweaty without their shirts.
* ModestyTowel: Removes one of these in
her and Blanchard's apartment her resemblance to seduce Bleichert. It doesn't work, their daughter.]]
* TheDogWasTheMastermind: [[spoiler: Ramona Sprague has no apparent connection to Elizabeth Short or motive to want to kill her
in part, due to Bleichert being in no mood due to having just killed two people.
* MsFanservice: Much attention is paid to how describing beautiful Kay Lake is and how good she looks naked, particularly when she's trying to seduce Bleichert.
* MysteriousPast: Her past with Bobby [=DeWitt=] is shrouded in mystery and false information, and
such a horrific way. Bleichert is actively curious about it.
* SexlessMarriage: Kay Lake claims
completely confused at the evidence leading to her until she explains she was driven mad with jealousy over Georgie's affair.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: She angrily curses Madeleine out for dating a "common policeman" like Bucky
and Blanchard don't have sex despite living together as is in general a couple.stuck-up prude.
* RichBitch: Ramona believes her own husband is beneath her and despises the working class. Her story at the table also makes fun of Bleichert's home neighborhood.
* SecretlyDying: [[spoiler: Is already seriously ill from Lupus at the start of the novel.]]



[[folder:Lorna Maltikova]]
!!Lorna Maltikova/Linda Martin

An aspiring actress and one of Elizabeth's friends, who starred in a lesbian porn film with her.

to:

[[folder:Lorna Maltikova]]
!!Lorna Maltikova/Linda Martin

An aspiring actress and one of Elizabeth's friends, who starred in a lesbian porn film with her.
[[folder:Martha Sprague]]
!!Martha Sprague

Madeleine's artistic sister.



* AbusiveParents: Heavily implied to come from a family of these as the thought of returning terrifies her.
* BreakTheHaughty: When she's brought in for questioning, she's initially arrogant and confrontational. Within a matter of minutes, she's brought to the point of tears and pathetically begs Millard, Bleichert, and Sears not to send her back to her parents.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's implied she ran away from home to get away from her abusive parents.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Her immediate response to Elizabeth's death is to obtain a copy of the porno they started in together to sell it for as much money as possible.

to:

* AbusiveParents: Heavily implied to come from a family of these as {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: She spends the thought entirety of returning terrifies her.
* BreakTheHaughty: When she's brought in for questioning, she's initially arrogant
Bucky's dinner with the Spragues sketching a drawing of him and confrontational. Within a matter Madeleine having (very graphic) sex.
* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler: Bleichert never would have been put on any
of minutes, she's brought the Sprague family, or even met them, without her sending clues to the point of tears and pathetically begs Millard, Bleichert, and Sears not to send her back to her parents.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's implied she ran away from home to get away from her abusive parents.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Her immediate response to Elizabeth's death is to obtain a copy of the porno they started in together to sell it for as much money as possible.
police.]]



[[folder:Elizabeth Short]]
!!Elizabeth Short

An aspiring actress and the infamous "Black Dahlia" murder victim.

to:

[[folder:Elizabeth Short]]
!!Elizabeth Short

An aspiring actress
!!!Others
[[folder:Kay Lake]]
!!Kay Lake

A mysterious former criminal
and the infamous "Black Dahlia" murder victim.Lee Blanchard's girlfriend. Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}''.



* ConsummateLiar: Pretty much everyone who knew her notes that Elizabeth constantly told outrageous lies, most often claiming that she was married to or in a relationship with a war hero.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A GlasgowGrin was carved into her face. Elizabeth Short was also tortured for two days before she was disemboweled and cut in half. Sadly, it was TruthInTelevision.
* EthicalSlut: Elizabeth casually dated numerous men but despite the period's DeliberateValuesDissonance treating it as heinous, seems to have done nothing wrong or even noteworthy to a modern reader.
* FreudianExcuse: Her compulsive lying and egotism appears to be a coping mechanism from having abusive and neglectful parents who flat-out admit they don't care that she's dead.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She was entirely real, though James Ellroy fictionalized the investigation into her death to give her more closure than she got in real life.
* LittleBlackDress: Elizabeth has gained her reputation as the Black Dahlia because she always wore black outfits as a way to attract the attention of directors.
* PosthumousCharacter: Elizabeth Short dies before the protagonists (or reader) ever meets her.
* SmallNameBigEgo: As multiple people point out, she simply assumed she was the next big talent without putting any real work into her acting skills simply because she dressed in all black.
* UndignifiedDeath: The killer proceeded to pose her in a suggestive manner and left her body in the middle of a vacant lot.

to:


* ConsummateLiar: Pretty much everyone who knew AscendedExtra: Becomes a protagonist in ''Literature/{{Perfidia}}'' and helps the LAPD against communists.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Bobby De Witt subjected
her notes that Elizabeth constantly told outrageous lies, most often claiming that she was married to or in brutal physical abuse and forced her into prostitution, [[spoiler:which motivated Lee to frame him for the bank robbery.]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Kay says of the boxing match, "I hope both of you look good with your shirts off".
* FemmeFatale: She's
a relationship beautiful woman with a war hero.
checkered and mysterious past, though she's given much more depth than the typical Femme Fatale, and it's clear form the get-go she cares about Lee and Bleichert.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A GlasgowGrin was carved into FemaleGaze: Kay Lake suggests this is why she enjoys watching the boxing match between Bleichert and Blanchard. Both of the men getting sweaty without their shirts.
* ModestyTowel: Removes one of these in
her face. Elizabeth Short was also tortured for two days before she was disemboweled and cut Blanchard's apartment to seduce Bleichert. It doesn't work, in half. Sadly, it was TruthInTelevision.
* EthicalSlut: Elizabeth casually dated numerous men but despite the period's DeliberateValuesDissonance treating it as heinous, seems
part, due to have done nothing wrong or even noteworthy Bleichert being in no mood due to a modern reader.
* FreudianExcuse: Her compulsive lying and egotism appears to be a coping mechanism from
having abusive just killed two people.
* MsFanservice: Much attention is paid to how describing beautiful Kay Lake is
and neglectful parents who flat-out admit they how good she looks naked, particularly when she's trying to seduce Bleichert.
* MysteriousPast: Her past with Bobby [=DeWitt=] is shrouded in mystery and false information, and Bleichert is actively curious about it.
* SexlessMarriage: Kay Lake claims she and Blanchard
don't care that she's dead.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She was entirely real, though James Ellroy fictionalized the investigation into her death to give her more closure than she got in real life.
* LittleBlackDress: Elizabeth has gained her reputation as the Black Dahlia because she always wore black outfits
have sex despite living together as a way to attract the attention of directors.
* PosthumousCharacter: Elizabeth Short dies before the protagonists (or reader) ever meets her.
* SmallNameBigEgo: As multiple people point out, she simply assumed she was the next big talent without putting any real work into her acting skills simply because she dressed in all black.
* UndignifiedDeath: The killer proceeded to pose her in a suggestive manner and left her body in the middle of a vacant lot.
couple.



[[folder:Georgie Tilden]]
!!Georgie Tilden

Emmett Sprague's best friend and partner, who began living as an itinerant handyman after being disfigured in a car wreck.

to:

[[folder:Georgie Tilden]]
!!Georgie Tilden

Emmett Sprague's best friend
[[folder:Lorna Maltikova]]
!!Lorna Maltikova/Linda Martin

An aspiring actress
and partner, one of Elizabeth's friends, who began living as an itinerant handyman after being disfigured starred in a car wreck.lesbian porn film with her.



* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Emmett disfigured him with a knife and framed him for the Black Dahlia murder, but Tilden is a necrophiliac psycho who was complicit in the murder, so it's hard to feel bad for him.]]
* AxCrazy: He has a perverse obsession with dead bodies and frequently digs them up and collects their body parts. [[spoiler:When Bleichert enters his home, Tilden immediately tries to murder him with a scalpel.]]
* SanitySlippage: Tilden was never all there to begin with, but being disfigured seems to have driven him completely off the bend.

to:

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Emmett disfigured him with AbusiveParents: Heavily implied to come from a knife family of these as the thought of returning terrifies her.
* BreakTheHaughty: When she's brought in for questioning, she's initially arrogant
and framed him confrontational. Within a matter of minutes, she's brought to the point of tears and pathetically begs Millard, Bleichert, and Sears not to send her back to her parents.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's implied she ran away from home to get away from her abusive parents.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Her immediate response to Elizabeth's death is to obtain a copy of the porno they started in together to sell it
for the Black Dahlia murder, but Tilden is a necrophiliac psycho who was complicit in the murder, so it's hard to feel bad for him.]]
* AxCrazy: He has a perverse obsession with dead bodies and frequently digs them up and collects their body parts. [[spoiler:When Bleichert enters his home, Tilden immediately tries to murder him with a scalpel.]]
* SanitySlippage: Tilden was never all there to begin with, but being disfigured seems to have driven him completely off the bend.
as much money as possible.



[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Captain Vasquez

A Rurale in charge of the law enforcement in Tijuana.

to:

[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Captain Vasquez

A Rurale in charge of
[[folder:Elizabeth Short]]
!!Elizabeth Short

An aspiring actress and
the law enforcement in Tijuana.infamous "Black Dahlia" murder victim.




* DirtyCop: He is believed to have killed Lee Blanchard and nearly kills Bleichert as well, though Bleichert is able to save himself.
* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot free for nearly killing Bleichert.
* PragmaticVillainy: Has no interest in arrousing the attention of the FBI just to kill Bleichert.

to:

\n* DirtyCop: He is believed ConsummateLiar: Pretty much everyone who knew her notes that Elizabeth constantly told outrageous lies, most often claiming that she was married to or in a relationship with a war hero.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A GlasgowGrin was carved into her face. Elizabeth Short was also tortured for two days before she was disemboweled and cut in half. Sadly, it was TruthInTelevision.
* EthicalSlut: Elizabeth casually dated numerous men but despite the period's DeliberateValuesDissonance treating it as heinous, seems
to have killed Lee Blanchard done nothing wrong or even noteworthy to a modern reader.
* FreudianExcuse: Her compulsive lying
and nearly kills Bleichert as well, egotism appears to be a coping mechanism from having abusive and neglectful parents who flat-out admit they don't care that she's dead.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She was entirely real,
though Bleichert is able James Ellroy fictionalized the investigation into her death to save himself.
* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot free for nearly killing Bleichert.
* PragmaticVillainy: Has no interest
give her more closure than she got in arrousing real life.
* LittleBlackDress: Elizabeth has gained her reputation as the Black Dahlia because she always wore black outfits as a way to attract
the attention of directors.
* PosthumousCharacter: Elizabeth Short dies before
the FBI just protagonists (or reader) ever meets her.
* SmallNameBigEgo: As multiple people point out, she simply assumed she was the next big talent without putting any real work into her acting skills simply because she dressed in all black.
* UndignifiedDeath: The killer proceeded
to kill Bleichert.pose her in a suggestive manner and left her body in the middle of a vacant lot.



[[folder:Joseph Dulange]]
!!Corporal Joseph Dulange

A soldier who claims to have murdered Elizabeth Short.

to:

[[folder:Joseph Dulange]]
!!Corporal Joseph Dulange

A soldier
[[folder:Georgie Tilden]]
!!Georgie Tilden

Emmett Sprague's best friend and partner,
who claims to have murdered Elizabeth Short.began living as an itinerant handyman after being disfigured in a car wreck.


Added DiffLines:

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Emmett disfigured him with a knife and framed him for the Black Dahlia murder, but Tilden is a necrophiliac psycho who was complicit in the murder, so it's hard to feel bad for him.]]
* AxCrazy: He has a perverse obsession with dead bodies and frequently digs them up and collects their body parts. [[spoiler:When Bleichert enters his home, Tilden immediately tries to murder him with a scalpel.]]
* SanitySlippage: Tilden was never all there to begin with, but being disfigured seems to have driven him completely off the bend.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Captain Vasquez

A Rurale in charge of the law enforcement in Tijuana.
----

* DirtyCop: He is believed to have killed Lee Blanchard and nearly kills Bleichert as well, though Bleichert is able to save himself.
* KarmaHoudini: He gets off scot free for nearly killing Bleichert.
* PragmaticVillainy: Has no interest in arrousing the attention of the FBI just to kill Bleichert.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Joseph Dulange]]
!!Corporal Joseph Dulange

A soldier who claims to have murdered Elizabeth Short.
----

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