Butchie
"Mostly blind" Butchie is a fictional blind man on the HBO drama series The Wire, portrayed by S. Robert Morgan. He runs an East-Side Baltimore bar, and is Omar Little's bank and advisor. Like his character, actor S. Robert Morgan is blind; he lost his sight to macular degeneration in his twenties.[1]
| Butchie | |
|---|---|
| The Wire character | |
 S. Robert Morgan as Butchie | |
| First appearance | "Hot Shots" (2003) |
| Last appearance | "Not for Attribution" (2008) |
| Created by | David Simon |
| Portrayed by | S. Robert Morgan |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Bar owner |
| Family | Hayward (Nephew) |
The Wire
Season 2
Butchie is first seen supplying Corrections Officer Tilghman with the narcotics he sells inside the prison and later negotiating with Stringer Bell over supplying Tilghman with the poisoned drugs that will kill several prisoners and hospitalize others. Later in the season, it becomes apparent that Butchie is a connection to Omar, as Proposition Joe arranges a face-to-face meeting between Omar and Stringer by talking to him.
Season 3
Butchie's connection to Omar is more apparent, as several scenes show Omar getting advice from Butchie. Omar enlists Butchie to find Officer Dozerman's missing gun, and Omar returns it to Detective Bunk Moreland through Butchie. Butchie later provides Omar with Avon Barksdale's hideout location. Butchie had known the information all along but hoped to protect Omar by withholding it. In the end, Avon is arrested before Omar can use Butchie's tip.
Season 4
Proposition Joe again contacts Butchie to set up a meeting with Omar, this time pitting Omar against Marlo Stanfield by convincing Omar to rob a card game that Stanfield will attend. When Stanfield contrives to have Omar framed for murder, Butchie is Omar's first phone call after Omar is arrested. Omar escapes the charge and steals an entire shipment of drugs from the New Day Co-Op, getting revenge on both Stanfield and Joe. Butchie suggests that Omar sell the shipment back to Joe, and Omar leaves Baltimore to retire on the profits.
Season 5
Butchie is tortured and murdered in his bar by Stanfield enforcers Chris Partlow and Snoop, to lure Omar from retirement. Butchie refuses to give information about Omar's whereabouts; Omar is notified of Butchie's death and returns to Baltimore for revenge.
See also
References
- Ryan, Lindsay (July 13, 2005). "A Haven for Sightless Readers". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Further reading
- Alvarez, Rafael (24 November 2009). The Wire: Truth Be Told. Pocket Books. p. 206. ISBN 978-1-4391-8452-3.
- Beilenson, Peter L. & McGuire, Patrick A. (15 August 2012). Tapping into The Wire: The Real Urban Crisis. JHU Press. pp. 176, 189. ISBN 978-1-4214-0750-0.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- "Characters of The Wire: Butchie". Discovering The Wire. Archived from the original on 2012-07-01.
- Lury, Celia & Wakeford, Nina (25 June 2012). Inventive Methods: The Happening of the Social. Routledge. p. 181. ISBN 978-1-136-99396-1.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- Potter, Tiffany & Marshall, C.W. (10 December 2009). The Wire: Urban Decay and American Television. Continuum. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-8264-3804-1.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- Vest, Jason P. (2011). The Wire, Deadwood, Homicide, and NYPD Blue: Violence Is Power. ABC-CLIO. p. 268. ISBN 978-0-313-37819-5.
