Damages/Characters

A list of major and supporting characters on Damages. There will be spoilers.

Hewes & Associates
Patricia "Patty" Hewes 

(Played by Glenn Close)

"Lawyer: Patty if you were a man I'd beat the shit out of you. Patty: *smiling* If you were a man I'd be worried."
 * Ambition Is Evil: She has this in spades.
 * Anti-Hero: Walks the line between types III and IV.
 * Bad Ass Lawyer: She ALWAYS gets the job done.
 * Blackmail Is Such an Ugly Word: Gives one of these to
 * Blondes Are Highly Amoral
 * Career Versus Family: She had to make this decision once in her Backstory.
 * Deadpan Snarker: Patty has her moments, one particularly humorous one in the pilot:


 * Easily Forgiven: Averted. Ellen does eventually forgive Patty for being a huge Jerkass  but it takes all of season 2   for it to happen.
 * Go-Karting with Bowser: Discusses the case in season 1 with Ray Fiske whilst walking their dogs.
 * Averted.
 * Good Is Not Nice
 * Iron Lady
 * It's All About Me
 * Justice by Other Legal Means: Steps in where the legal system fails.
 * Magnificent Bitch: There are several good examples of her magnificent bastardry... but arguably the best example is in the resolution to season 2 wherein not only does she win the case but manages to use it as an opportunity to
 * Manipulative Bastard
 * Morality Pet: Her son Michael.
 * Mysterious Past
 * Pay Evil Unto Evil
 * Pet the Dog: Gets a few of these moments with her son here and there.
 * Also the series hints that she sees Ellen as a surrogate daughter
 * She was also
 * Power Hair

Ellen Parsons

(Played by Rose Byrne)

Begins the series as a fresh out of law school intern to Hewes and Associates, personally hired by Patty, who dreams of becoming a corporate lawer. Initially seeing Patty as a role model, she learns that there is a dark side to corporate litigation and that her new boss has no scruples when it comes to winning. Arguably the true protagonist of the series, the entirety of season 1 shows her gradually learning the stakes and becoming a chess master in her own right.


 * Brainy Brunette
 * Break the Cutie: The entire first season is this for Ellen.
 * Broken Bird
 * Broken Pedestal: Heavily implied that Patty Hewes is this for her especially after the events of season 1.
 * Cartwright Curse
 * In season 2
 * Naive Newcomer: At the start of the series.
 * Not So Stoic
 * Promoted Fangirl: Is a big fan of Patty who is a giant in the lawyering world.
 * Sadistic Choice: A milder version. Given these by Patty throughout season 1 to see if she's more loyal to her career or her family.
 * Stepford Smiler: After the first season finale and up until the end of season 2.
 * Supporting Protagonist
 * Took a Level In Badass: Compare season 1 Ellen to the Ellen of seasons 2 and 3
 * After season 2.
 * The Woobie: In season 1.
 * You Remind Me Of Me: Patty tells her this in season 2. Season 1 Ellen would have jumped for joy at this. Season 2 Ellen... not so much.

Tom Shayes

(Played by Tate Donovan)

Patty's partner in her firm and one of the most moral members of the main cast. Unlike Patty he doesn't get many of the high-profile cases because of his stern moral code.


 * Butt Monkey
 * Can't Get Away with Nuthin'
 * Ensemble Darkhorse
 * Foil: He's one to Patty, being a basically decent person working for far less moral employers.
 * Foregone Conclusion:
 * Hair of Gold
 * Happily Married
 * Nice Guy
 * Took a Level In Badass: Subverted.
 * Nice Guy
 * Took a Level In Badass: Subverted.

Peter "Uncle Pete" Mc Kee

(Played by Tom Aldredge)

Patty's right hand man for several years. Though not blood-related, Patty refers to him as her uncle.


 * After he knows the FBI is on to him.
 * Chekhov's Gunman
 * Cleanup Crew
 * Cool Old Guy
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * An unsuccessful attempt.
 * Ensemble Darkhorse
 * Honorary Aunt: He is not Patty's uncle by blood but rather through comradeship.
 * Older Sidekick

Season 1 Characters
Arthur Frobisher

(Played by Ted Danson)

A corrupt executive of a major company. Patty represents his former clients who were defrauded out of millions by his schemes.


 * Affably Evil
 * Big Bad: For season 1.
 * The Bus Came Back / Commuting on a Bus: The latter in season 2, the former in season 3.
 * Clear My Name:
 * Corrupt Corporate Executive
 * Even Evil Has Standards:
 * Family Values Villain
 * Guilt Ridden Accomplice: Ends up having a decent collection of these.
 * Of sorts, after the first season.
 * It's All About Me
 * Jerkass
 * : After season 1.
 * Moral Event Horizon:
 * Morality Pet: His family, especially his son.
 * Doesn't feel this way at first but eventually gives in
 * Put on a Bus: In the middle of season 2.
 * Keeps playing this card in seasons 2 and 3.
 * Screw the Rules, I Have Money
 * Strange Bedfellows
 * Wangst: Part of his front.
 * The Woobie: Portrays himself as such.

Ray Fiske

(Played by Zeljko Ivanek)

Frobisher's lawyer and insider trader.


 * Amoral Attorney: One of the milder ones in the series.
 * Anti-Villain
 * The storyline isn't explored thoroughly enough to make it clear.
 * Even Evil Has Standards
 * Face Heel Turn:
 * Incompatible Orientation:
 * Worthy Opponent
 * Incompatible Orientation:
 * Worthy Opponent
 * Worthy Opponent
 * Worthy Opponent

David Connor 

(Played by Noah Bean)

Ellen's fiance. He is a doctor and initially disapproves of Ellen joining Patty Hewes' law firm.


 * Foregone Conclusion:
 * Nice Guy
 * Nice Guy

Katie Connor 

David's sister and Ellen's future sister-in-law.

(Played by Anastasia Griffith)


 * Advertised Extra: After becoming a main cast member in season 2 she contributes a whole lot less to the plot than she did in season 1.
 * ChekhovsGunwoman:
 * Dumb Blonde: Subverted.
 * Fake American: Anastasia Griffith is a British actress playing an American.
 * Promotion to Opening Titles: In season 2.
 * Unwitting Pawn

Season 2 Characters
Daniel Purcell

(Played by William Hurt)

A respected scientist and former friend of Patty in the past. He becomes involved in Walter Kendrick's energy profiteering scam. He has his own secrets that he is trying to hide...


 * Corrupt the Cutie: In his backstory with Patty.
 * Happily Married:
 * New Old Flame
 * Not So Stoic
 * Real Life Writes the Plot: William Hurt didn't enjoy the fact that he frequently received only fractions of a script at a time which made it difficult for him to navigate his character's arc as he had never worked on a TV series before. This led to him being difficult to work with and caused his arc to be less prominent as well as the creation of the Walter Kendrick character to shoulder some of the screen time intended for Hurt. Its unclear if similar problems caused Marcia Gay Harden's arc to be shortened as well.
 * Smug Snake
 * The One That Got Away: For Patty.
 * The One That Got Away: For Patty.

Claire Maddox

(Played by Marcia Gay Harden)


 * Advertised Extra
 * Put on a Bus
 * The Rival: Initially billed as one of these for Patty. Unfortunately for viewers her story arc was cut short.

Wes Kulick

(Played by Timothy Olyphant)


 * Aborted Arc: In the second season finale when he  it seems to hint at the beginning of some sort of storyline more directly involving the two of them. Unfortunately, the potential arc got shelved thanks to Olyphant becoming unavailable for the third season
 * : Starts out like this
 * Put on a Bus
 * The Power of Love:
 * Real Life Writes the Plot: Olyphant getting cast in Justified caused the producers to have to shelve any plans they had for the character beyond season 2.
 * The Power of Love:
 * Real Life Writes the Plot: Olyphant getting cast in Justified caused the producers to have to shelve any plans they had for the character beyond season 2.

Walter Kendrick

(Played by John Doman)


 * Big Bad
 * Complete Monster
 * Evil Old Folks
 * Eviler Than Thou: He's this to Arthur Frobisher.
 * Put on a Bus:
 * Real Life Writes the Plot: See this trope's entry under Daniel Purcell.

David Pell

(Played by Clarke Peters)


 * Big Bad
 * Manipulative Bastard

Finn Garrity

A whiz-kid mathematician.


 * Chekhov's Gunman

The Deacon

(Played by Darrell Hammond)


 * Cleanup Crew
 * Playing Against Type

Season 3 Characters
Louis Tobin

(Played by Campbell Scott)


 * The Alcoholic: On the wagon at the start of season 3.
 * Anti-Villain: Is a genuinely nice guy who is shocked at his father's misdeeds and just wants to his family out
 * Big Bad
 * Over the course of the season.

Marilyn Tobin

(Played by Lily Tomlin)


 * Fake Guest Star
 * I Was Quite a Looker: Mumbles something to this effect during the season finale
 * I Was Quite a Looker: Mumbles something to this effect during the season finale
 * I Was Quite a Looker: Mumbles something to this effect during the season finale

Leonard Winstone 

(Played by Martin Short)


 * Affably Evil
 * Amoral Attorney
 * Mysterious Past
 * Playing Against Type: Martin Short is more known for his comedy work. His serious turn was nevertheless well received by critics and fans alike and even garnered an Emmy nomination for the role.
 * WTH? Casting Agency: For the most part though viewers were pleasantly surprised.
 * Playing Against Type: Martin Short is more known for his comedy work. His serious turn was nevertheless well received by critics and fans alike and even garnered an Emmy nomination for the role.
 * WTH? Casting Agency: For the most part though viewers were pleasantly surprised.
 * WTH? Casting Agency: For the most part though viewers were pleasantly surprised.

Julian Decker

(Played by Keith Carradine)

Season 4 Characters
Howard T. Erikson

(Played by John Goodman)
 * Corrupt Corporate Executive
 * My Country, Right or Wrong: Almost outright stated. No one denied his patriotism, only his execution of that patriotism. Well, except for Boorman, but he's a jerk.
 * Private Military Contractor: CEO of Blackwater Expy Highstar Security

Jerry Boorman

(Played by Dylan Baker)


 * Big Bad:
 * Complete Monster
 * It's All About Me

Christopher Sanchez

Played by Chris Messina


 * Beard of Sorrow
 * He Knows Too Much
 * The Woobie

Recurring Characters
 Michael Hewes

Patty's teenage son with. He is the closest thing to a Morality Pet that Patty has, although she is not above manipulating him for her own ends.


 * Despair Event Horizon:
 * The Dutiful Son
 * Parental Favoritism: He's Patty's only child but her soft spot for him puts Michael firmly in this category.

 Rick Messer

(Played by David Costibale)


 * Beard of Evil
 * Dragon Their Feet: After the case with  is more or less resolved he spends the bulk of season 2 tying up his own loose ends related to the case.
 * Complete Monster
 * The Reveal:
 * The Reveal:
 * The Reveal:
 * The Reveal: