List of Boardwalk Empire characters

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

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

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

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

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

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

In 1916, Angela is an artistic painter student at Princeton University who starts a romance with Jimmy Darmody. 1 day, she meets his mother Gillian and then witnesses Jimmy beat up Professor Noel Pearson, because he tries to grope Gillian, after that day, Jimmy is expelled from the university and joins the War Front in WW1, during this time, it is revealed that Angela is pregnant with Jimmy's child Tommy Darmody and at this time, also starts an affair with a photographer's assistant named Mary Dittrich, ending it once Jimmy comes back from war in 1918-1919. (Under God's Power She Flourishes)

When the series starts, Jimmy and Angela are living together for 1 month with a grown up Tommy and after New Years Eve 1919 is over and Prohibition has started, Angela persuades Jimmy to get a proper job or go back to Princeton to finish his studies but he refuses both, saying that he is too old for the latter and wants to be Nucky's top hitman, Angela however tells him to accept Paddy Ryan's assistant job for now. (Boardwalk Empire)

After Jimmy becomes a success as Nucky's top hitman, he starts to buy expensive gifts for the family including some presents for Tommy, Angela asks him how he earns so much money. (The Ivory Tower)

After Nucky warns Jimmy to leave Atlantic City because of the FBI investigating them, he tells Angela that he is leaving and says goodbye to her and Tommy, he also meets Robert and Mary Dittrich along the way, Angela tries to persuade him to stay with them or let her and Tommy come with him but he refuses and goes to Chicago all by himself. (Broadway Limited)

A month or so after Jimmy has left, Angela once again resumes her affair with Mary Dittrich and gets a sponsorship by Robert to put her paintings up and be a successful painter. 1 day, Gillian visits the house and gets Tommy drunk and sleepy, Angela confronts and talks to her about Jimmy leaving but Gillian just tells her to forget it and enjoy with her, Angela refuses and instead goes to the art studio to meet Mary and Robert. (Nights in Ballygran)

Angela visits a naked and lying in bed Mary in her apartment 1 night and tells her of her quest for a job and how she can't live with just Nucky paying her money every day and what happens if Robert, Gillian, Jimmy or even Nucky found about her love affair with Mary, Mary tells her to calm down and says that Robert has an art critic friend named Jonathan who is coming to assess Angela's paintings in Greenwich Village in a few days. Finding this out, Angela thanks Mary and the 2 then kiss passionately and have sex on the bed. (Home)

A few days later were no letters from Jimmy come, Angela and Gillian are at the apartment were the latter tells the former about finding a new job and providing help for herself and Tommy, Angela tells Gillian about the Greenwich Village place were her paintings would be sold but Gillian tells her to try and look into stenography instead. (Hold Me in Paradise)

Another few days later, Angela is at home entertaining Mary and Robert, the 2 women kiss as Robert watches jealously and opens a wine bottle, Robert then asks if they could initiate a threesome, their conversation is interrupted however by Jimmy returning home and telling Mary and Robert to leave which they do. After that Angela is groped on a bit by Jimmy, ending with the 2 having sex on the kitchen table. Later, Angela visits Robert for her paintings but he denies showing it to the public, calling it a cheap imitation of painter Mary Cassatt. (Belle Femme)

That night, Jimmy watches Angela paint and again has sex with her. 1 morning, Angela, Jimmy and Tommy take a walk on the boardwalk were they pass the Dittrich Studio, Tommy points to the picture of Mary Dittrich, calling her "mommy's kissing friend", Jimmy thinks that it is Robert and goes inside and violently beats him with a tripod camera as Angela, Mary, Tommy and the boardwalk residents shockingly watch. Later, Angela meets Mary who plans to leave to Paris with her and Tommy, Angela agrees, saying that Jimmy is becoming very violent recently. (The Emerald City)

The next day, Angela plans to leave Atlantic City finally, she goes to the Dittrich Studio and meets Mary who plans it fully, Robert hears it from a corner and jokes around. At home, whilst Jimmy visits Commodore Louis Kaestner and Gillian, Angela packs her luggage and suitcase and goes along with Tommy to the Dittrich Studio, however the guard there tells her that Mary and Robert have left to Paris already, hearing this, Angela returns home with Tommy to see that Jimmy is already there, he questions where they were gone and after Tommy goes to sleep, he confronts Angela. (Paris Green)

On October 31st, 1920, Angela dresses Tommy up as a pirate for Halloween and after he leaves, talks with Jimmy about the recent events, Angela says that she is worried about him and his behaviour lately such as talking in his sleep and becoming a bit violent, she also tells him why he didn't send any letters to her whilst he was in France and Chicago. Jimmy apologizes for those things and asks Angela if Mary was her romantic partner to which she replies yes, saying that she was feeling lonely, Jimmy however comforts her and says everything is alright now. Later, Angela receives a letter from Mary in Paris who tells her that she is sorry for not getting her with them but at least she will still remember them. This causes Angela to throw the letter away and cut off her hair to forget Mary and the Dittrich family fully, Jimmy comes home later and is shocked at her new short hair but still lovingly strokes it. (A Return to Normalcy)

By 1921, Angela moves to a beach house in Atlantic City along with Tommy with Jimmy purchasing it and starting a life there. (21)

1 day, Gillian visits the house and talks with Angela whilst they're making lunch, Angela confronts Gillian about meeting them every time and about her behaviour with Jimmy but Gillian just insults her by telling her that she used to kiss Jimmy's penis when he was a baby, shocking her. (Ourselves Alone)

She shows her painting skills once again when she paints Richard 1 day, sketching 2 pictures of him without and with his mask on, she also learns that Richard also used to paint before he was in WW1 and the 2 talk about paintings in France and slowly form a friendly bond until Jimmy comes home with a sleeping Tommy. (What Does the Bee Do?)

She is with Jimmy at the Memorial Day Meeting, listening to Nucky and Harry Daugherty talk about WW1 and war veterans, she also soon listens to Jimmy give a speech about how it was like in the war. (Gimcrack & Bunkum)

A few days later, Angela, Jimmy and Tommy are at an antiques store were she tells Jimmy to buy a music recorder which he does and says that it will introduce Tommy to classical music in a good way, later Jimmy kisses her. At home, Angela gets a call from "Munya", Jimmy says it's from Manny Horvitz and goes into the next room to talk to him on the phone as Angela watches. (The Age of Reason)

A few more days pass by and 1 day, Angela decides to go to the beach with Tommy, Jimmy comes out of the shower and picks up a call from Al Capone, when Angela hears Jimmy swearing, she tells him to not do it in front of Tommy, she then leaves and Jimmy tries to come with her but because of his limp and him not changing, he punches the wall in rage. Angela at the beach meets a woman named "Molly", a sheriff's deputy tries to tell "Molly" to get out because of her short skirt but "Molly" disagrees with him, Angela pays the fine for her however and it is revealed that "Molly"'s real name is Louise who says to Angela that Molly is actually a character she is writing about, revealing herself to be a novelist, Angela is interested and befriends Louise. Later that night, Louise takes her to a party were a man tries to dance with Angela but Louise tells him to go away, after he has gone, Angela and Louise kiss and start dating with Angela having an affair behind Jimmy's back with her. Jimmy also reveals here what he does for a living and what's going to happen to him in being "The King of Atlantic City" and his conspiracy to Nucky. (Two Boats and a Lifeguard)

A few more days later, Angela and Jimmy have a discussion in the beach house where Jimmy says that he is leaving to town for a few business matters, saying that he is gone for a night or 2, Angela tells him that Tommy is living with Gillian for a few days and also tells him a joke about a hotel guest and reception person, Jimmy says it's funny and kisses her 1 more time before leaving. That evening, Angela brings Louise to the house were the 2 have sex (offscreen), Angela then goes to sleep in her bed after having a shower and Louise then goes inside the shower. As midnight approaches, Angela is attacked by Manny Horvitz, wanting his debt from Jimmy, he threatens to shoot her with his gun if she moves and asks if Jimmy is inside, at the same time Louise comes out and Manny shoots her with his pistol, thinking that she's Jimmy and accidentally killing her, Louise is soon revealed to Manny who is shocked at what he sees. Not wanting to have Angela survive and tell the authorities what she saw, Manny shoots her to death and leaves her dead body lying on top of Louise's before leaving the Darmody beach house. (Georgia Peaches)

Jimmy soon finds about Angela's death next episode and starts to get hallucinations of her whilst Gillian is pissed and tells an investigating deputy that Angela cheated on Jimmy before death, the deputy also asks Richard Harrow a question about Angela before leaving. (Under God's Power She Flourishes)

In a deleted scene which exists in a picture, Jimmy Darmody burns a few of Angela's paintings in a mad rage with Al Capone standing next to him and witnessing the event. (To the Lost)

1 year after Angela and Jimmy's deaths, Tommy is adopted by Gillian who says she is his new mother and opens up a brothel in Commodore Louis Kaestner's old mansion after his death, she makes Richard the caretaker and bodyguard of the mansion and Tommy's babysitter. 1 day, Richard shows Tommy Angela's old paintings he secretly took to the mansion and the 2 spend time sketching until Gillian comes into the room and takes Tommy to go to sleep. Later, Gillian confronts Richard about talking about Angela and Jimmy with Tommy and says to think that they never existed otherwise she will fire him from the mansion. Richard also kills Manny Horvitz for killing Angela and being a part of Jimmy's murder (Resolution). He then outright says it to Nucky Thompson, also telling him to keep it a secret which Nucky agrees with, Richard also makes a sitting Mickey Doyle keep it a secret as well. (Bone for Tuna)

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

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

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

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

As stated by Annabelle in Episode 6, Lucy was Nucky Thompson's mistress for many years before 1920.

Lucy is first seen dancing with Nucky at the New Years Eve Party in 1919 at the start of Prohibition. Later she runs and locks herself in the bathroom from Nucky who tells her to come out. She also later runs into and is briefly introduced to Margaret Schroeder by Nucky. (Boardwalk Empire)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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