L.A. Noire/Characters

Cole Phelps
"Actor: Aaron Staton"

A 27 year old marine turned cop from a wealthy San Francisco family. Cole distinguished himself in the Pacific theatre, earning the Silver Star for his conduct. After the war, he moved to Los Angeles with his family, joining the LAPD. He quickly rises through the ranks, becoming something of a "golden boy", a visually pleasing, talented face that the public can admire.


 * The Atoner: Especially during the Arson arc.
 * Badass Bookworm
 * Cole speaks fluent Japanese (though somewhat accented) to two captured Japanese soldiers during the Battle for Okinawa.
 * In one particular Homicide case, he is recalled back to Central Station for the purposes of analysing a poem left by the murderer. He quickly deduces it is not an original and identifies it as written by Shelley. One of the Technical Services guys even mentions, "That's why we asked for you."
 * By-The-Book Cop
 * Cultured Warrior: During his times as a soldier.
 * He chides one of his men for not understanding why the Japanese attacked them at Pearl Harbor, citing America's oil embargo against Japan as the primary motivation.
 * Everyone Loves Blondes: During the "A Slip of the Tongue" case Bekowsky asks him what kind of women he likes, after some coaxing he says he has a thing for blondes.
 * This is also
 * Expy: Of Detective Ed Exley from LA Confidential. Both of them are Glory Hound war heroes whom saw action in the Pacific during World War Two whom initially earn the distrust of their fellow officers. Both of them are By The Book Cops who eventually learn to break the rules a little.
 * Fair Cop: Civilians will comment on it.
 * Glory Hound: He went into the War as this, and still retains traits of it through most desks.
 * Good Cop, Bad Cop: He plays the good cop routine with almost all of his partners.
 * In many interrogrations, he's both. He responds in a good cop manner if you choose "truth" and a bad cop manner if you choose "doubt".
 * Hypercompetent Sidekick: To his partners. Phelps is always the one to do 'hard stuff'.
 * Meddlesome Patrolman: His willingness to go the extra mile in a few cases that may not actually concern him is what gets him promoted to the Traffic Department so fast.
 * Never Speak Ill of the Dead:
 * Not So Stoic: He loses it occasionally during interrogations or when talking to Earle. In a flashback from Okinawa, he is shown to be unusually hysterical for a male Film Noir protagonist (to the point that his voice cracks in the final one).
 * Old Cop, Young Cop: With Galloway and Biggs. Cole's the young one.
 * Only Honest Cop
 * Semper Fi: He served as a First Lieutenant in the USMC during World War II.
 * Shell-Shocked Veteran
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: His relationship with his partners.
 * Waistcoat of Style: One word: Hawkshaw.
 * Old Cop, Young Cop: With Galloway and Biggs. Cole's the young one.
 * Only Honest Cop
 * Semper Fi: He served as a First Lieutenant in the USMC during World War II.
 * Shell-Shocked Veteran
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: His relationship with his partners.
 * Waistcoat of Style: One word: Hawkshaw.
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: His relationship with his partners.
 * Waistcoat of Style: One word: Hawkshaw.

Ralph Dunn
"Actor: Rodney Scott"

An LAPD patrolman and Cole's first partner.


 * The Generic Guy
 * What Happened to The Mouse?: Doesn't appear in the game after Cole is promoted to Detective.
 * Ralph Dunn does make a brief appearance in the DLC case "Nicholson Electroplating", however, the only interaction he has with Cole is to address him as "detective." This could either be developer oversight, or he cuts his association with Cole after the affair goes public, as others have.

Stefan Bekowsky
"Actor: Sean McGowan"

A detective working in LAPD's Traffic Desk, and Cole's second partner.


 * Cowboy Cop / Reasonable Authority Figure: Tends to be pretty by the book and honest, even if he's snarky about it, but he's more than willing to insult mafia henchmen to their faces, no matter how life-endangering this is.
 * Deadpan Snarker: He's a pretty funny and easy-going guy.
 * Handsome Lech: If his (failed) attempts to curry favor with the female suspects/victims are any indication.
 * Heroes Want Redheads: In a conversation during "A Slip of the Tongue" he states a preference for redheads.
 * And blondes. And brunettes.
 * Likes Older Women: he implies he's like this in "A Slip of the Tongue", when he's drunk, at least.
 * What Happened to The Mouse?: Subverted. He shows up in a Vice case

Finbarr "Rusty" Galloway
"Actor: Michael McGrady"

A seasoned detective working in LAPD's Homicide Desk, and Cole's third partner. Sarcastic, divorced multiple times, rarely completely sober, and more than happy to ignore the rights of suspects.


 * The Alcoholic
 * Back for The Finale
 * Cowboy Cop
 * Do Not Call Me Paul
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Embarrassing First Name
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold: During the second case he speaks calmly and reassuringly to the victim's daughter.
 * Also he has a small rant in the third homicide case about how Hollywood chews and spits women out.
 * Noble Sexist With A Badge: He's largely dismissive of women, but admits the killings you investigate with him are horrible and cares about keeping the streets safe, no matter what underhanded tactics have to be used.
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: He and Cole constantly bicker and trade insults, but after a rocky start they both respect each other a great deal and save each other's necks numerous times.

Roy Earle
"Actor: Adam John Harrington"

A detective working in LAPD's Vice Desk, and Cole's fourth partner. Knows all there is to know about the shady businesses the Jewish Mafia conducts in Los Angeles, and is openly racist towards the city's black and hispanic populations.


 * : Subverted..
 * Bigot With A Badge: He clearly doesn't think much of African-Americans. He also doesn't seem to like British people judging by his constant use of the word "Limey".
 * Cheshire Cat Grin
 * The Comically Serious: Several characters sarcastically remark about "what a funny man" Earle is.
 * Dirty Cop
 * Expy: Bears a resemblance to Detective Jack Vincennes from LA Confidential. Both men are familiar with the Hollywood and Mafia scene and both are Dirty Cops. The only difference is that Vincennes is actually likeable and fairly pleasant.
 * Faux Affably Evil
 * Jerkass: He has a very unpleasant personality.
 * Kick the Dog: Constantly; his Establishing Character Moment comes when he invites Cole and his current partner to the local blues club, where he puts his feelings for blacks and women on display.
 * Pet the Dog:.
 * Politically-Incorrect Villain
 * Sharp-Dressed Man: Early in the game, Cole comments on how he dresses like a movie star.
 * Smug Smiler
 * Smug Snake
 * Would Hit a Girl
 * Smug Snake
 * Would Hit a Girl
 * Would Hit a Girl

Herschel Biggs
"Actor: Keith Szarabajka"

An old and bitter detective working in LAPD's Arson Desk, and Cole's fifth partner. A veteran of World War I and a long standing member of the police, Biggs has seen just about all there is to see, and has a cynical outlook on his work as well as life in general.


 * Badass
 * Hidden Depths: Well, nearly everyone in the game is presented three dimensionally, but Biggs in particular seems like a complete Jerkass but eventually becomes the Ensemble Darkhorse. He's essentially a burnt out cop whom Phelps gets to actually give a shit once more.
 * I Work Alone: He isn't too happy about being assigned a partner.
 * Informed Attribute: At one point he claims to have never fired his weapon in the line of duty. This is Blatant Lies if you've completed any street crimes prior to him saying this.
 * Knight in Sour Armor: He clearly thinks his job is a waste of time and isn't doing anyone any good, yet he keeps doggedly trying to solve the case anyway.
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold: He's not exactly a sociable person
 * Narrator: He narrates the opening of the game, as well as the intros to all the patrol missions, but for some reason not any others.
 * Not So Stoic: Loses it after  Granted, what he saw was incredibly disturbing.
 * Private Eye Monologue: He seems to love giving 'em, despite being an actual cop.

James Donnelly
"Actor: Andrew Connolly"

Captain of the Homicide Desk. Responsible for promoting Cole to detective.


 * Affably Evil: While he is arguably a corrupt cop, he always speaks to Cole in a fatherly tone and praises him every time he solves the case.
 * Da Chief
 * Expy: He pretty much IS Dudley Smith from LA Confidential.
 * Hair-Trigger Temper: For the most part, Donnelly maintains a calm and professional tone, but one wrong sentence is enough to have him yelling in the face of the poor sap (Cole or Rusty) who dared to speak up.
 * First-Name Basis: With Rusty. He is the only person who can call him Finbarr without making him angry.
 * Knight Templar: When he allows Cole to do his first interrogation at the station, he tells him that if he can't get a confession through questioning, Cole shouldn't be afraid of using violence to extract one. He's also rather enthusiastic about sending men to the gas chamber. In the first Homicide case he encourages Cole to convict their only suspect even though they have a better lead just to get the press off the LAPD's ass, and at the crime scene in the second Homicide case he even tells the journalists that are looking for a story that the LAPD are "doing God's work".
 * Speaking of his desire to get on the press' good side he praises Cole if the latter charges with the murder in "The Golden Butterfly," but berates him if he charges ; in the case, the evidence points more towards the latter.
 * Large Ham: Delivers his every word with the gravitas of a Shakespeare tragedy. Except when he shouts. Then he just becomes frickin' intimidating.
 * Officer O'Hara: Played by a native Irishman, who is implied to be one in-game as well.
 * What the Hell, Hero?:

Gordon Leary
"Actor: Ned Vaughn"

Captain of the Traffic Desk. Cole starts out as a detective under his watch.


 * Fair Cop
 * Nice Guy: He's an all-around pleasant guy and is very friendly with the officers in his Unit.
 * Reasonable Authority Figure: Unlike many other LAPD officers, Leary's an out-and-out good guy.
 * Hidden Depths: He is once presented completely out of character (yet delightfully narmy) when he is put under pressure by his balls-grilling, frying pan-toting chief. Can be seen here.

Archie Colmyer
"Actor: Steven Rankin"

Lieutenant of the Vice Desk. Earle's former partner.

Lachlan McKelty
"Actor: Randy Oglesby"

Captain of the Arson Desk. Has a low tolerance for failure and a low opinion of Cole.


 * Hair-Trigger Temper
 * I Warned You:.
 * Jerkass: He never overlooks an opportunity to yell at Cole, and he doesn't treat Biggs much better.

Dr. Malcolm "Mal" Carruthers
"Actor: Andy Umberger"

Chief forensics expert for the LAPD. Mal is one of Cole's most useful and trusted allies throughout the course of the game, providing him with forensic evidence and autopsy reports crucial to solving his investigations. The most recurrent character in the game next to Cole himself, since he's present at pretty much every crime scene in the game, and he's most certainly earned his place amongst the fandom.


 * Consummate Professional: Mal takes his job DEAD serious. He's most definitely not the typical Deadpan Snarker coroner usually portrayed in fiction (*cough*CSI*ahem*). He cracks no jokes, does not make fun of the dead and sees no morbid humor in his profession. He goes in, gets the evidence, provides it and that's that.
 * The way he is also a perfect example of how professional he is, not to mention being the game's Crowning Moment of Heartwarming. You can't help loving Mal after that moment.
 * The Coroner: Obviously.
 * The Smart Guy: Comes with the job, but Mal is one of the best examples of said job in all of fiction.

Ray Pinker
"Actor: JD Cullum"

An investigator with Technical Services. He mainly shows up to help Cole handle evidence safely.


 * Historical Domain Character
 * The Lab Rat
 * The Smart Guy: Probably shares this with Carruthers, though he shows up far less frequently.

Leland Monroe
"Actor: John Noble"

A rich and influential real estate tycoon.


 * and even greets He slowly becomes
 * Hey, It's That Guy!: Denethor! Or Doctor Bishop!
 * Smug Smiler: Face it, you've wanted to wipe that grin off all those billboards/waybills at one time or another.
 * Smug Smiler: Face it, you've wanted to wipe that grin off all those billboards/waybills at one time or another.
 * Smug Smiler: Face it, you've wanted to wipe that grin off all those billboards/waybills at one time or another.

Dr. Harlan Fontaine
"Actor: Peter Blomquist"

A psycho-therapist with an unusual method for treating mental disorders.


 * Affably Evil: He convinced many important people to partake in illegal activities and has shown a disturbingly casual willingness to kill people. At the same time, he is shown to be rather soft-spoken and polite.
 * Deadly Doctor
 * Manipulative Bastard
 * Morally-Ambiguous Doctorate
 * Southern Gentleman: He certainly has a way with words.
 * Would Hit a Girl:
 * Manipulative Bastard
 * Morally-Ambiguous Doctorate
 * Southern Gentleman: He certainly has a way with words.
 * Would Hit a Girl:
 * Would Hit a Girl:

Curtis Benson
Vice-President of California Fire & Life, the insurance company that Jack Kelso works for.


 * Corrupt Corporate Executive
 * Dirty Old Man:
 * Early-Bird Cameo: You can find an insurance letter written by him on the victim in the early Traffic case "A Marriage Made In Heaven."

William Worrell
The police chief of LAPD.


 * Da Chief
 * Dirty Cop
 * What the Hell, Hero?:.
 * What the Hell, Hero?:.

Fetcher Bowron
The mayor.


 * Sleazy Politician

Donald Sandler
The D.A.


 * Fat Bastard
 * What the Hell, Hero?:.

Raymond Gordon
The editor of Los Angeles Times.


 * Paparazzi

Jack Kelso
"Actor: Gil McKinney"

A Marine who served under Cole's command in World War II as a sergeant. Currently works for California Fire & Life as an insurance investigator


 * Badass: Arguably more than Phelps.
 * Hero of Another Story
 * Knight in Sour Armor: Kelso spends much of his time feeling frustrated and disappointed in just about everyone, but he tries his best to help them anyway.
 * The Lancer: To Cole during the war with a shade of Hypercompetent Sidekick.
 * The Rival: During his days together with Cole in Marine Officer Candidate School, until it is implied that Kelso was driven out after a case of insubordination with a Drill Sergeant Nasty.
 * Verbal Tic: Frequently refers to young women as "princess" when speaking to them.
 * With Due Respect: DEFINES the relationship between Jack and Cole.
 * Would Hit a Girl: Well, if she decided to, then yes. Yes, he would.
 * Verbal Tic: Frequently refers to young women as "princess" when speaking to them.
 * With Due Respect: DEFINES the relationship between Jack and Cole.
 * Would Hit a Girl: Well, if she decided to, then yes. Yes, he would.
 * Would Hit a Girl: Well, if she decided to, then yes. Yes, he would.

Elsa Lichtman
"Actress: Erika Heynatz"

A German nightclub singer and junkie that Cole forms an attachment with.


 * Broken Bird
 * Beauty Mark: In keeping with the way she comes off as a Femme Fatale sometimes.
 * Fake German: She's actually played by an Australian actress.
 * Possibly also in-game. Judging by her German dialect (where she rolls R's and has overall a very slavic expression of words - "Untersturrmfurrer"), she may in fact be Sudeten-German (or the such).
 * Femme Fatale: A subversion.

Mickey Cohen
"Actor: Patrick Fischler"

A Real Life Jewish mobster that Cole encounters during his time in Ad Vice.


 * Faux Affably Evil
 * Foregone Conclusion: The real Mickey Cohen died in his sleep in 1976. So, no matter how much you'll want to, you're not going to get to shoot him in the face.
 * The Jewish Mafia

Ira Hogeboom
A former Marine who was once part of Cole's Unit in Okinawa.


 * Shell-Shocked Veteran
 * Shell-Shocked Veteran
 * Shell-Shocked Veteran

Courtney Sheldon
A former Marine who was also part of Cole's unit in Okinawa. He is now a medical student in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Doctor Fontaine.


 * Beware the Nice Ones: Initially set up as a well-meaning but naive kid who gets in way over his head..
 * For that matter, in the flashbacks he's described as charging through oncoming artillery fire to reach injured soldiers as a field medic.
 * Mercy Kill: Does this to a fellow soldier during the war.
 * The Pawn

June Ballard
A fading B-Movie actress Cole runs into after she and her niece drive off a cliff and into a billboard.


 * White Dwarf Starlet: A bit of a subversion, as she seems to know she's her best years are behind her.
 * White Dwarf Starlet: A bit of a subversion, as she seems to know she's her best years are behind her.

of interest that Cole and Galloway come across in their search for the Werewolf killer.


 * The Generic Guy: When the player meets him, he doesn't seem to have any outstanding character traits.
 * since it turns out
 * since it turns out
 * since it turns out
 * since it turns out
 * since it turns out