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The L.A. Quartet is a sequence of four
crime fiction Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, ...
novels by
James Ellroy Lee Earle "James" Ellroy (born March 4, 1948) is an American crime fiction writer and essayist. Ellroy has become known for a telegrammatic prose style in his most recent work, wherein he frequently omits connecting words and uses only short, ...
set in the late 1940s through the late 1950s in Los Angeles. They are: * (1987) '' The Black Dahlia'' * (1988) ''
The Big Nowhere ''The Big Nowhere'' is a 1988 crime fiction novel by American author James Ellroy, the second of the L.A. Quartet, a series of novels set in 1940s and 1950s Los Angeles. Plot The plot centers around three characters: L.A. Deputy Sheriff Danny Up ...
'' * (1990) '' L.A. Confidential'' * (1992) ''
White Jazz ''White Jazz'' is a 1992 crime fiction novel by James Ellroy. It is the fourth in his L.A. Quartet, preceded by '' The Black Dahlia'', ''The Big Nowhere'', and '' L.A. Confidential''. James Ellroy dedicated ''White Jazz'' "TO ''Helen Knode''." ...
'' Elmore Leonard wrote that "reading ''The Black Dahlia'' aloud would shatter wine glasses". Several characters from the L.A. Quartet, most notably Dudley Smith, were introduced in Ellroy's 1982 novel ''
Clandestine Clandestine may refer to: * Secrecy, the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups, perhaps while sharing it with other individuals * Clandestine operation, a secret intelligence or military activity Music and entertainme ...
'', which is set between 1951 and 1955 and makes reference to the
Black Dahlia Elizabeth Short (July 29, 1924 – January 14–15, 1947), known posthumously as the Black Dahlia, was an American woman found murdered in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 15, 1947. Her case became highly publicized ow ...
killing and Dudley Smith's investigation into it. The four novels, along with '' The Underworld U.S.A. Trilogy'' novels, were recently reprinted in 2019 into omnibus editions part of the
Everyman's Library Everyman's Library is a series of reprints of classic literature, primarily from the Western canon. It is currently published in hardback by Random House. It was originally an imprint of J. M. Dent (itself later a division of Weidenfeld & N ...
series. Ellroy has also started writing ''The Second L.A. Quartet'', which takes place before the events of ''The L.A. Quartet''. It includes the real life and fictional characters from ''The L.A. Quartet'' and ''The Underworld U.S.A. Trilogy''. Two novels of ''The Second L.A. Quartet'' have been released: ''
Perfidia "Perfidia" (Spanish for "perfidy", meaning ''faithlessness'', ''treachery'' or ''betrayal'') is a 1939 Spanish-language song written by Mexican composer and arranger Alberto Domínguez (1906–1975). The song is sung from the perspective ...
'' in 2014, and '' This Storm'' in 2019. The significance of this series and uniting the three series is noted in the
dramatis personae Dramatis personae (Latin: 'persons of the drama') are the main characters in a dramatic work written in a list. Such lists are commonly employed in various forms of theatre, and also on screen. Typically, off-stage characters are not considere ...
of ''This Storm'', stating: "''This Storm'' is the second volume of the Second L.A. Quartet. The first volume, ''Perfidia'', covers December 6 through December 29, 1941. The L.A. Quartet--''The Black Dahlia'', ''The Big Nowhere'', ''L.A. Confidential'', and ''White Jazz''--covers the years 1946 to 1958 in Los Angeles. The Underworld U.S.A. Trilogy--''American Tabloid'', ''The Cold Six Thousand'', and ''Blood's A Rover''--covers 1958 to 1972, on a national scale. The Second L.A. Quartet places real-life and fictional characters from the first two bodies of work in Los Angeles, during World War II, as significantly younger people. These three series span thirty-one years and will stand as one novelistic history."


Summary

''The Black Dahlia'', the first novel in the series, follows a brutal murder in the late 1940s. On January 15, 1947,
Elizabeth Short Elizabeth Short (July 29, 1924 – January 14–15, 1947), known posthumously as the Black Dahlia, was an American woman found murdered in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 15, 1947. Her case became highly publicized ow ...
's body was discovered in a vacant lot. Officers Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert and Leland "Lee" Blanchard, partners and local celebrities from their boxing days, aid the investigation. The next novel, ''The Big Nowhere'', takes place in the early 1950s amidst the Red Scare in Hollywood. Former
Los Angeles Police Department The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officially known as the City of Los Angeles Police Department, is the municipal police department of Los Angeles, California. With 9,974 police officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the third-large ...
(LAPD) detective Buzz Meeks, who now works as an enforcer for gangster
Mickey Cohen Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen (September 4, 1913 – July 29, 1976) was an American gangster, boxer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. Early life Mickey Cohen was born on September 4, 1913, in New York City to Je ...
and a pimp for
Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in th ...
, gets caught up in a communist investigation that has ties to a series of homosexual murders that are being investigated by a sheriff's deputy named Danny Upshaw. The work of Meeks and Upshaw also crosses paths with the investigations of Mal Considine and Dudley Smith, who are working on a communist case of their own. The third novel, ''L.A. Confidential'', spans about eight years—from early 1950 to about April 1958. The story begins on February 21, 1950, when Buzz Meeks is found at an abandoned auto court where he is hiding out. Meeks is killed by Dudley Smith, and the 18 pounds of heroin Meeks stole from a Jack Dragna-
Mickey Cohen Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen (September 4, 1913 – July 29, 1976) was an American gangster, boxer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. Early life Mickey Cohen was born on September 4, 1913, in New York City to Je ...
truce meeting is subsequently retrieved by Smith. A year later, Bloody Christmas occurs: the beating of unarmed suspects by LAPD officers on Christmas Day. Ed Exley, Bud White, and Jack Vincennes are the main officers caught in the scandal. On April 16, 1953, the Nite Owl Massacre becomes the focus of the LAPD. The massacre involved the killing of civilians in an all-night restaurant. Three African Americans are the suspects. While resisting arrest, they are gunned down by Exley, who is proclaimed a hero. Years pass, and new evidence emerges that the African-American youths were innocent of the Nite Owl killings. The case is reopened. Ultimately, between Exley, White, and Vincennes, a criminal
conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, is a secret plan or agreement between persons (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason, especially with political motivation, while keeping their agre ...
involving Smith, Stensland, and Meeks is uncovered. It involved Mickey Cohen, the drug rackets, pornography, the stolen heroin from years back, a chemist trying to alter the chemical compound of the heroin to improve it, framing the African-American youths, and at the center of all of it, Dudley Smith. In the end, Smith escapes prosecution. The Nite Owl gunmen are killed, as well as other conspirators in Smith's scheme. Bud White ends up a cripple. Jack Vincennes is killed in the line of duty while trying to stop prisoners from escaping. Ed Exley, now chief of detectives, loses his father, who commits suicide. Although they despised each other at first, Exley and White become friends. Exley swears to White he will bring Dudley Smith down. The final novel in the ''L.A. Quartet'' is ''White Jazz'', told from corrupt LAPD officer Dave Klein's point of view. As a policeman, Klein has broken the law numerous times, beaten suspects, stolen, bribed, worked for the mob, and had people killed, as well as being a murderer himself. In late 1958, Klein, the commander of Administrative Vice, is assigned a burglary of the sanctioned drug-dealing family, the Kafesjians. Klein does not see the case as a priority, but Narcotics Division commander Dan Wilhite and Deputy Chief Ed Exley want the case solved. Klein takes a sideline job from Howard Hughes, who wants Klein to find evidence that would violate an actress's contract. Klein falls in love with his target, Glenda Bledsoe. While working the Kafesjian burglary, Klein discovers that Exley is still trying to bring down Dudley Smith. When he figures that out, Klein begins working with Exley, who tells him all about Dudley. When Klein meets an undercover officer, Johnny Duhamel, who is working Smith on behalf of Exley, Klein is shot up with drugs. Being coerced, Klein murders Duhamel with his Marine sword and is taped committing the murder. Klein is arrested by the FBI the following day for possession of heroin. He becomes a federal witness, and is given 48 hours before he is taken into custody. Klein and Exley discover other Dudley Smith sidelines, selling heroin to the
South Los Angeles South Los Angeles, also known as South Central Los Angeles or simply South Central, is a region in southwestern Los Angeles County, lying mostly within the city limits of Los Angeles, south of downtown. It is "defined on Los Angeles city maps as a ...
African-American population, keeping crime in that area "contained",
gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three el ...
, and voyeuristic pornography tapes. Klein and Exley find the Kafesjians' burglar, Wylie Bullock. Later that night, everything hits Klein: all his crimes and everything that is happening. He decides to meet Smith later that night, who offered Klein a deal earlier. Unbeknownst to Smith, Klein brings Wylie Bullock, who has a grudge against Smith. When the two meet, Bullock attacks Smith, ripping out his eye and slashing his face ear to ear. Klein shoots Bullock and runs off. An
all-points bulletin An all-points bulletin (APB) is an electronic information broadcast sent from one sender to a group of recipients, to rapidly communicate an important message.Reiter, E. (1970). Police strive to provide protection machines lend valuable assista ...
is issued on Klein and he is caught. A custody battle ensues between the FBI and the LAPD for Klein, which the FBI wins. While in federal custody, Klein writes a full confession of everything he has done, and everything that has happened. He has copies sent to ''Hush-Hush'', the ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...
'', and the
State Attorney General The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states, of the federal district, or of any of the territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney gener ...
's
Office An office is a space where an organization's employees perform administrative work in order to support and realize objects and goals of the organization. The word "office" may also denote a position within an organization with specific du ...
. However, Klein escapes custody. He hides out with Pete Bondurant (a character who reappears in the ''
Underworld USA Trilogy The Underworld USA Trilogy is the collective name given to three novels by American crime author James Ellroy: '' American Tabloid'' (1995), ''The Cold Six Thousand'' (2001), and ''Blood's a Rover'' (2009). Overview The trilogy blends fiction and ...
'' series' ''
American Tabloid ''American Tabloid'' is a 1995 novel by James Ellroy that chronicles the events surrounding three rogue American law enforcement officers from November 22, 1958, through November 22, 1963. Each becomes entangled in a web of interconnecting associ ...
'' and '' The Cold Six Thousand''). After his escape, Klein's confessions fall on deaf ears, with only ''Hush-Hush'' magazine willing to print it. However, they are silenced by legal action and prevented from printing the confession that would have "brought the LAPD to its knees." Howard Hughes feels betrayed by Dave Klein because of the Bledsoe job. He has Bondurant beat him up bad enough to require medical attention. Exley sends Klein a package in the hospital, which includes a blank passport and a gun. Exley says in his note that he considers Smith neutralized, but will allow Klein to kill Smith if he feels justice has not been absolute. Instead, Klein murders J. C. Kafesjian and Tommy Kafesjian. Klein spends one last night with Glenda Bledsoe, takes pictures of her to remember her by, and leaves for the airport. Around late January 1959, Klein leaves the United States. In the epilogue, set many years later (1976 at the earliest), Klein says he plans to return to Los Angeles, with the intentions of making
gubernatorial A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
candidate Exley confess to the manipulative deals he made, murder Dick Carlisle and Dudley Smith, and find his lover Glenda Bledsoe.


Characters


Dudley Liam Smith

Appearances: ''Clandestine'', ''The Big Nowhere'', ''L.A. Confidential'', ''White Jazz'', ''
Perfidia "Perfidia" (Spanish for "perfidy", meaning ''faithlessness'', ''treachery'' or ''betrayal'') is a 1939 Spanish-language song written by Mexican composer and arranger Alberto Domínguez (1906–1975). The song is sung from the perspective ...
'', ''This Storm'' Smith was born in
Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
, Ireland in 1905, and later immigrated to the United States and was raised in Los Angeles, where he joined the LAPD in 1928. In ''The Big Nowhere'', Dudley Smith is described as tall, beefside broad, and red-faced, with brown hair and brown eyes, as well as having a
tenor A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The low extreme for tenors is wide ...
brogue and being Jesuit college-trained. His verbal style also indicates he is a lexophile. In ''L.A. Confidential'', Jack Vincennes tells Bud White and Edmund Exley that Dudley worked in the OSS in
Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...
after World War II. Also, in ''White Jazz'' a newspaper story mentions he was a World War II OSS
spymaster A spymaster is the person that leads a spy ring, or a secret service (such as an intelligence agency). Historical spymasters See also *List of American spies *List of British spies * List of German spies *List of fictional spymasters This ...
, has a wife and five daughters, and has killed eight men in the line of duty. Smith was the clandestine protector of two rival criminal families, the Herricks and the Kafesjians, in the 1930s. In 1942 he murdered José Diaz in the infamous Sleepy Lagoon murder case. He is first mentioned in ''Clandestine'', which is set in 1951, and again in 1950 in ''The Big Nowhere'', where he is recruited by Deputy D.A. Ellis Loew to investigate communist influence in Hollywood. He and his partner Mal Considine pursue this assignment with vigor. It was in this book that the extent of his personal corruption was revealed; as well as José Diaz, Dudley and his men were involved in other criminal activities, and in February 1950 Dudley personally tracked down and killed protagonist Buzz Meeks as is stated in the prologue to ''L.A. Confidential''. By 1950 Dudley had reached the rank of Lieutenant, and he would remain there throughout the 1950s, until his promotion to Captain in 1958. By this time, his personal rivalry with fellow LAPD Captain Edmund Exley resulted in a power struggle between both men, which Edmund Exley won when Smith was attacked by a man named Wylie Bullock. This attack left him with brain damage that rendered him essentially semi-lucid, and only rarely lucid. Also in the attack, he lost an eye, and is paralyzed, and will probably never be able to walk again. It is unknown when Dudley died; however, he is apparently still alive—albeit confined to a nursing home—in 1976, as is revealed in the epilogue to ''White Jazz''. He returns in ''
Perfidia "Perfidia" (Spanish for "perfidy", meaning ''faithlessness'', ''treachery'' or ''betrayal'') is a 1939 Spanish-language song written by Mexican composer and arranger Alberto Domínguez (1906–1975). The song is sung from the perspective ...
'', set in 1941. Smith was thoroughly unscrupulous, ruthless, and evil. He had a large list of crimes that he had committed, including theft, pornography distribution, murder, and most disturbingly, infanticide—Dudley personally strangled the two-day-old baby of the Herrick family in 1937. He was a hard line anti-communist, declaring that he hated the "Red filth worse than Satan". Dudley's racism was also well known, particularly in regards to Jews, and he was a notable proponent of "
containment Containment was a geopolitical strategic foreign policy pursued by the United States during the Cold War to prevent the spread of communism after the end of World War II. The name was loosely related to the term ''cordon sanitaire'', which wa ...
"; as he explained it, keeping the "nigger filth" in African-American areas. Smith is portrayed by James Cromwell in the film adaptation of ''L.A. Confidential'' and portrayed in the 2003 television pilot of ''L.A. Confidential'' by Tom Nowicki. In a departure from the novel, Smith is killed by Exley at the end of a shootout.


Ed Exley

Appearances: ''L.A. Confidential'', ''White Jazz'' Edmund Jennings Exley is one of the three protagonists in ''L.A. Confidential'', and a major supporting character in ''White Jazz''. He is the son of Preston Exley, former cop turned
construction Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form Physical object, objects, systems, or organizations,"Construction" def. 1.a. 1.b. and 1.c. ''Oxford English Dictionary'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) Oxford University Pr ...
tycoon A business magnate, also known as a tycoon, is a person who has achieved immense wealth through the ownership of multiple lines of enterprise. The term characteristically refers to a powerful entrepreneur or investor who controls, through perso ...
, and Marguerite Exley, Tibbetts. When he was seventeen his brother Thomas Exley, also a cop, was fatally gunned down by an unidentified purse snatcher (referred to as "Rollo Tomasi" in the film, and kills Preston Exley, instead of Thomas Exley, in the film). Ed is relentlessly ambitious, politically savvy, and highly intelligent, trying to surpass his father as a policeman and live out late Thomas's dreams. He is instilled with a belief in "absolute justice" from his father. He has come from a family of cops, but also has a
trust fund A trust is a legal relationship in which the holder of a right gives it to another person or entity who must keep and use it solely for another's benefit. In the Anglo-American common law, the party who entrusts the right is known as the " sett ...
from his mother after she died of cancer 6 years earlier. Stated in the novel Exley men have been police since the formation of the Scotland Yard. A summa cum laude graduate of
UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...
at nineteen in 1941, Exley joined the
war effort In politics and military planning, a war effort is a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and human—towards the support of a military force. Depending on the militarization of the culture, the relative si ...
shortly after joining the LAPD in 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater and toward the end of his tour of duty experienced the variable ways of manipulating the truth to one's benefit. Anticipating an attack, Exley volunteers for a scout run. As predicted, the Japanese forces assault with a bayonet charge. When Exley returns, his platoon is dead and a patrol is approaching. He hides under the bodies of his former brothers-in-arms. After the patrol passes he decides to head to battalion headquarters. On the way, he passes a
Shinto Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...
shrine of soldiers who committed suicide over capture or death by disease. He finds weaponry and a flamethrower nearby. He lays the guns out around the dead. With the flamethrower, he torches the bodies, knowing his cowardice would be evident and would be rotated to another platoon if he didn't commit this act. Recon finds Exley having "fought off" twenty-nine enemies. He is awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...
and his story is published in the ''Examiner''. Exley's next brush with opportunity, chance and truth occurs on Christmas Eve during the Bloody Christmas Scandal of 1951. A rise in rank and glory come with his testimony against his brother officers, but not without the stigma of becoming a turncoat and pariah. A hate relationship develops with Bud White, due to his testifying and because White's partner, Dick Stensland, is incarcerated and, later, goes to the gas chamber. Exley was the arresting officer in the crimes which led to Stensland receiving the death penalty, and was in attendance (as was White) when Stensland was executed. The Nite Owl slayings, however, bring him acceptance. Several patrons of an all-night coffee shop are brutally shotgunned to death. Although in custody, the suspects escape. Exley finds them and guns them down although they were unarmed. As the years pass, Exley is given captaincy over Internal Affairs. He also makes other numerous cases with a conviction rate in the upper ninety percent. When the Nite Owl case is reopened due to the circumstantial evidence of two witnesses, Exley and the rest of the LAPD must solve the case all over again before the Attorney General's Office takes over the investigation and makes the LAPD look incompetent. As the evidence emerges and connections are established between the suspects in a web of complex conspiracies (stretching back decades), it becomes clear that his father himself did not properly clear his own famous case, The Loren Atherton case. With the aid of Bud White and Jack Vincennes, the trio ultimately solve the Nite Owl Case. Following a botched raid on a prison break via train, White is critically wounded. Exley visits him and finds evidence White built for his own case against a serial killer of prostitutes. When Exley finds the evidence, he learns the true meaning of absolute justice: anonymous, humble, no rank or glory. While conventional justice is not meted out, with Exley entrusting the second murderer of the Loren Atherton case to a known doctor, Dr. Terry Lux, and the ultimate mastermind behind the Nite Owl and other crimes, Dudley Smith cannot be convicted due to lack of evidence, Exley vows he will take down Dudley Smith if it's the last thing he ever does. In ''White Jazz'' Exley is a deputy chief as a result of solving the Nite Owl. He has become colder and more determined in achieving his goals. He unwillingly allows Dave Klein to keep his job, despite Klein's obvious corruption. Exley continues his crusade in attempting to take down Dudley Smith. He uses an undercover police cadet and Klein to attain this goal. During a burglary into Exley's house for monetary gain, Klein finds numerous photos of Dudley Smith. Klein calls the photos "Exley hate fuel". During an earlier meeting at Exley's house, Klein mentions that as evil as Dudley is, Exley is a hypocrite in the way he uses people like Dudley. ''White Jazz'' sees the end of the corrupt Narcotics Division and its sanctioned dealers, the Kafesjians. Due to severe brain damage and wounds, Dudley remains in hospital care his whole life and a special pension fund approved by Exley himself, since the revelations about the LAPD's blatant corruption would "bring the LAPD to its knees", as stated in ''Hush-Hush''. With Klein a fugitive, Exley gets word to him in a package. It states he will not pursue Klein for his burglary because he used Klein to accomplish his mission. His package also includes a blank passport and a
.38 .38 caliber is a frequently used name for the caliber of firearm A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). Th ...
revolver with a silencer in case Klein feels absolute justice has not been achieved regarding Dudley. He also states Dudley has cost him enough as it is. According to ''White Jazz's'' epilogue told by Klein, Exley ascends to the rank of
chief of police Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the b ...
. He also develops a political career, from congressman, lieutenant governor and a candidate for governor. However, Klein plans to make Exley confess all his deals he has ever cut. In the ''L.A. Confidential'' film adaptation, he is portrayed by
Guy Pearce Guy Edward Pearce (born 5 October 1967) is an Australian actor. Born in Ely, Cambridgeshire in England, and raised in Geelong, Victoria in Australia, he started his career portraying Mike Young in the Australian television series ''Neighbours ...
and in the 2003 television pilot of ''L.A. Confidential'', he is portrayed by
David Conrad David Conrad (born August 17, 1967) is an American actor. From 2005 to 2010, he starred in the television series ''Ghost Whisperer'' alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt. Early life Conrad is the youngest of three sons born to James Watson Conrad, an ...
.


Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen

Appearances: ''
The Big Nowhere ''The Big Nowhere'' is a 1988 crime fiction novel by American author James Ellroy, the second of the L.A. Quartet, a series of novels set in 1940s and 1950s Los Angeles. Plot The plot centers around three characters: L.A. Deputy Sheriff Danny Up ...
'', ''L.A. Confidential'', ''
White Jazz ''White Jazz'' is a 1992 crime fiction novel by James Ellroy. It is the fourth in his L.A. Quartet, preceded by '' The Black Dahlia'', ''The Big Nowhere'', and '' L.A. Confidential''. James Ellroy dedicated ''White Jazz'' "TO ''Helen Knode''." ...
'', ''Perfidia''
Mickey Cohen Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen (September 4, 1913 – July 29, 1976) was an American gangster, boxer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. Early life Mickey Cohen was born on September 4, 1913, in New York City to Je ...
was a real-life gangster active in Los Angeles, but his exploits in Ellroy's novels are mostly fictional. Cohen has a large supporting role in "The Big Nowhere" which includes his relations with Buzz Meeks, who was one of the protagonists of "The Big Nowhere." He is portrayed briefly by
Paul Guilfoyle Paul Vincent Guilfoyle () (born April 28, 1949) is an American television and film actor. He was a regular cast member of the CBS crime drama ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', on which he played Captain Jim Brass from 2000 to 2014. He retu ...
in the L.A. Confidential film adaptation.


Wendell A. "Bud" White

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential'' Bud White was one of the major protagonists in ''L.A. Confidential''. In the book he begins as an incredibly violent cop, who takes out his anger on wife beaters. This is shown to be because of his violent father who killed his mother in a drunken rage. Because of his quick temper and brutality Bud became the most feared cop on the force with nobody wishing to feel the brunt of his anger. However, he is shown to be sensitive with women and goes out of his way to help them. This is shown when he becomes obsessed with tracking down a serial killer targeting young prostitutes. During the course of the book Bud has a long-standing feud with Ed Exley, due to Exley informing the D.A. of Bud's involvement in the Bloody Christmas fiasco. This almost makes Bud lose his job until Dudley Smith recruits him into the homicide division, which Dudley operates. However, Bud's partner Dick Stensland is left as a scapegoat for the investigative D.A. and is imprisoned; this only fuels Bud's vendetta against Exley. Dudley recruited Bud because of his brutal strength and uses him as an enforcer. However, when it becomes clear that Dudley is corrupt and is using him for his own nefarious schemes, Bud drops his conflict with Exley and joins forces with him and Jack Vincennes to take Dudley Smith down. However, during the investigation he is gravely wounded and is forced to retire. Before he leaves, the newly promoted Ed Exley promises him that he won't let Dudley get away with his crimes. Russell Crowe portrayed Bud in the 1997 adaptation of ''L.A. Confidential'' and
Josh Hopkins William Joshua Hopkins (born September 12, 1970) is an American actor. Some of his best known roles include Raymond Millbury on '' Ally McBeal'' (2001–2002), Grayson Ellis on '' Cougar Town'' (2009–2015), and Liam O'Connor on '' Quantico'' ( ...
portrayed Bud in the 2003 television pilot of ''L.A. Confidential''.


John "Trashcan Jack" Vincennes

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential'' Detective Sergeant Jack Vincennes (? – March 29, 1958) is one of the major characters in ''L.A. Confidential''. Known for being flashy and colorful, as well as taking cases which get the most publicity. He famously arrested
Bebop Bebop or bop is a style of jazz developed in the early-to-mid-1940s in the United States. The style features compositions characterized by a fast tempo, complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes and numerous changes of key, instrumen ...
musician
Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...
and actor
Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He rose to prominence with an Academy Award nomination for the Best Supporting Actor for ''The Story of G.I. Joe'' (1945), followed by his starring in ...
on two high-profile pot busts; from a tip off from Sid Hudgens. However, over the course of the book his actions cause an amount of guilt and throws his life into turmoil, such as the loss of his marriage. He allies himself with Bud White and Ed Exley in a way to redeem himself. However, he dies in the book's climax. He is portrayed by
Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey Fowler (born July 26, 1959) is an American actor. He began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, obtaining supporting roles before gaining a leading man status in film and television. Spacey has received various accolade ...
in the film, who received top billing, despite his secondary role. In the television pilot made in 2003, Vincennes is portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland.


Lynn Margaret Bracken

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential'' In the film adaptation of '' L.A. Confidential'', Bracken is portrayed by
Kim Basinger Kimila Ann Basinger ( ; born December 8, 1953) is an American actress and former fashion model. She has garnered acclaim for her work in film and television, for which she has received various accolades including an Academy Award, a Golden Glo ...
, and in the 2003 pilot, she is portrayed by
Melissa George Melissa George (born 6 August 1976) is an Australian actress and entrepreneur. A former national artistic rollerskating champion and model, George began her acting career playing Angel Parrish in the Australian soap opera Home and Away (1993– ...
.


David Douglas "The Enforcer" Klein

Appearance: ''
White Jazz ''White Jazz'' is a 1992 crime fiction novel by James Ellroy. It is the fourth in his L.A. Quartet, preceded by '' The Black Dahlia'', ''The Big Nowhere'', and '' L.A. Confidential''. James Ellroy dedicated ''White Jazz'' "TO ''Helen Knode''." ...
'' The protagonist of ''White Jazz''. The novel is told through Dave Klein's
stream of consciousness In literary criticism, stream of consciousness is a narrative mode or method that attempts "to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind" of a narrator. The term was coined by Daniel Oliver in 1840 in ''First L ...
, as well as articles and newspaper headlines that accompany many of Ellroy's books. He is an immoral cop who moonlights as a hitman, enforcer, slumlord and lawyer, working for people such as Howard Hughes and the mob. He is portrayed as charismatic and cunning. However, over the course of the novel he begins to lose his edge. Various problems, such as Noonan trying to prosecute him and Exley blackmailing him, cause his life to fall apart.


Glenda Louise Bledsoe

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Russell A. Millard

Appearances: '' The Black Dahlia'', '' L.A. Confidential'' He is portrayed by Mike Starr in '' The Black Dahlia'' film.


Dwight W. "Bucky" Bleichert

Appearances: '' The Black Dahlia'', ''Perfidia'' The main protagonist of ''The Black Dahlia''. An LAPD officer and former light-heavy boxer. The partner of Lee Blanchard, and eventual husband of Kay Lake. He, like his partner, becomes obsessed with the Elizabeth Short murder case. Bucky was portrayed by
Josh Hartnett Joshua Daniel Hartnett (born July 21, 1978) is an American actor and producer. He first came to attention in 1997 for his role as Michael Fitzgerald in the television crime drama series '' Cracker''. He made his feature film debut in 1998 in th ...
in the film adaptation.


Katherine Ann "Kay" Lake

Appearances: '' The Black Dahlia'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm'' Kay Lake is portrayed by
Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Ingrid Johansson (; born November 22, 1984) is an American actress. The world's highest-paid actress in 2018 and 2019, she has featured multiple times on the ''Forbes'' Celebrity 100 list. ''Time'' magazine named her one of the 100 ...
in the film adaptation of ''The Black Dahlia''.


Turner Prescott "Buzz" Meeks

Appearances: '' The Black Dahlia'', ''
The Big Nowhere ''The Big Nowhere'' is a 1988 crime fiction novel by American author James Ellroy, the second of the L.A. Quartet, a series of novels set in 1940s and 1950s Los Angeles. Plot The plot centers around three characters: L.A. Deputy Sheriff Danny Up ...
'', '' L.A. Confidential'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm'' Buzz Meeks (April 1906 – February 21, 1950) was once a cop who was known for his extreme corruption and bad performance reports. This bad reputation would eventually cause his dismissal from the LAPD. He would later find work as an enforcer and bodyguard for various figures within L.A.'s underworld including
Mickey Cohen Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen (September 4, 1913 – July 29, 1976) was an American gangster, boxer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. Early life Mickey Cohen was born on September 4, 1913, in New York City to Je ...
as well as movie mogul and business icon Howard Robard Hughes. He was murdered by Dudley Smith in the prologue of the L.A. Confidential novel. In the L.A. Confidential film, Meeks's first name is changed to Leland and he is portrayed by Darrell Sandeen.


Ellis Loew

Appearances: '' The Black Dahlia'', ''The Big Nowhere'', ''L.A. Confidential'', ''Perfidia'' Ellis Loew is an ambitious and corrupt District Attorney in ''L.A Confidential'' whose rise from Deputy D.A. begins in ''The Black Dahlia''. In the film '' The Black Dahlia'' he is played by Patrick Fischler. In the film L.A. Confidential he is played by
Ron Rifkin Ron Rifkin (born Saul M. Rifkin; October 31, 1939) is an American actor best known for his roles as Arvin Sloane on the spy drama '' Alias'', Saul Holden on the drama '' Brothers & Sisters'', and District Attorney Ellis Loew in '' L.A. Confiden ...
.


Malcolm E. Considine

Appearance: ''The Big Nowhere'' Lieutenant Mal Considine of the Los Angeles District Attorney's Criminal Investigation Bureau was an intelligent, well-intentioned cop, undone by ambition in ''
The Big Nowhere ''The Big Nowhere'' is a 1988 crime fiction novel by American author James Ellroy, the second of the L.A. Quartet, a series of novels set in 1940s and 1950s Los Angeles. Plot The plot centers around three characters: L.A. Deputy Sheriff Danny Up ...
''. Bent on making the rank of Captain with the Bureau, he joined Ellis Loew and Dudley Smith on an investigation of Communists in Hollywood. In the course of that investigation, he recruited Danny Upshaw and became his handler while the latter did double-duty on investigations of Communists and a serial killer. His ambition and desire to impress the divorce court resulted in his death at the hands of the serial killer.


Daniel Thomas Upshaw

Appearance: ''The Big Nowhere'' Detective Deputy Danny Upshaw (1922–1950) of the
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), officially the County of Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, is a law enforcement agency serving Los Angeles County, California. LASD is the largest sheriff's department in the United States ...
was a brilliant cop who investigated a horrific string of mutilation murders in ''
The Big Nowhere ''The Big Nowhere'' is a 1988 crime fiction novel by American author James Ellroy, the second of the L.A. Quartet, a series of novels set in 1940s and 1950s Los Angeles. Plot The plot centers around three characters: L.A. Deputy Sheriff Danny Up ...
''. When he stumbles upon evidence linking Dudley Smith with an old murder, Smith manipulates him psychologically until he kills himself, partly by threatening to reveal Upshaw's repressed homosexual tendencies. This allowed Smith to breathe free but the serial killer to remain at large.


"Rollo Tomasi"

Appearance: ''
L.A. Confidential (film) ''L.A. Confidential'' is a 1997 American neo-noir crime film directed, produced, and co-written by Curtis Hanson. The screenplay by Hanson and Brian Helgeland is based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel of the same name, the third book in his ''L.A ...
'' "Rollo Tomasi" is the made up name of the unknown purse snatcher who killed Ed Exley's father, Preston Exley in the film version of ''L.A. Confidential''. In the novel for '' L.A. Confidential'', the unknown purse snatcher kills Edmund's brother, Thomas Exley, and is not given a made-up name. The name was created and used only for the film. His identity is unknown and never discovered in both novel and film, and in the film, Exley states to Jack Vincennes he gave the unknown purse snatcher the name for personality. This becomes a vital piece of information when as Jack Vincennes is dying, his last words are "Rollo Tomasi", the name that Exley shared with him. It will also give Exley a clue to his killer when Dudley Smith questions Exley about the name. Rollo Tomasi is also a
metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide (or obscure) clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are often compared wi ...
for the criminal who gets away with the crime, like the purse snatcher. When Dudley is about to kill Exley, he asks who Rollo Tomasi is, and Exley says Dudley is, for the reasons mentioned before.


William Henry Parker III

Appearances: ''L.A. Confidential'', ''White Jazz'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm'' AKA "Whiskey Bill"


Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in th ...

Appearances: ''The Big Nowhere'', ''White Jazz'', Blood is a rover


Sidney Hudgens

Appearances: ''L.A. Confidential'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm'' Sid Hudgens (?–1953) was a journalist for the
gossip magazine A gossip magazine, also referred to as a tabloid magazine, is a magazine that features scandalous stories about the personal lives of celebrities and other well-known individuals. In North America, this genre of magazine flourished in the 1950s an ...
''Hush-Hush'' (similar to the real life gossip magazine ''
Confidential Confidentiality involves a set of rules or a promise usually executed through confidentiality agreements that limits the access or places restrictions on certain types of information. Legal confidentiality By law, lawyers are often required ...
''). He acts on tip offs from his many contacts within Los Angeles' so called elite and famous. He works closely with John "Trashcan Jack" Vincennes. The two work famously together and make large wads of money between them. Hudgens is killed under mysterious circumstances; but it is later revealed that Dudley Smith is responsible for Hudgens and Vincennes' deaths. In the film adaptation of '' L.A. Confidential'', Hudgens is portrayed by
Danny DeVito Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. (born November 17, 1944) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series ''Taxi'' (1978–1983), which won him a Gold ...
. In the 2003 pilot, he is portrayed by
Pruitt Taylor Vince Pruitt Taylor Vince (born July 5, 1960) is an American character actor. He became best known for his roles in the films '' Shy People'' (1987) and ''Mississippi Burning'' (1988). He also appeared in ''Jacob's Ladder'' (1990), '' Nobody's Fool'' ...
. In the film '' L.A. Confidential'', Dudley Smith and another corrupt LAPD officer are seen killing Sid Hudgens in cold blood; whereas in the novel, Hudgens' body is just discovered.


Burt Arthur "Deuce" Perkins

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential'' He appears as a bass player of the band owned by
Spade Cooley Donnell Clyde "Spade" Cooley (December 17, 1910 – November 23, 1969) was an American convicted murderer and former Western swing musician, big band leader, actor, and television personality. In 1961 he was arrested and convicted for the Ap ...
. He is shown as a drug addict and generally nasty character in the novel. In the film, however, he appears as
Mickey Cohen Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen (September 4, 1913 – July 29, 1976) was an American gangster, boxer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. Early life Mickey Cohen was born on September 4, 1913, in New York City to Je ...
's drugs lieutenant who is killed by Dudley Smith's men, in order to take control of the L.A. Underworld.


John Charles "J.C." Kafesjian

Appearance: ''White Jazz'' The LAPD's sanctioned drug dealer.


Wylie Davis Bullock

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Michael Breuning

Appearances: ''The Big Nowhere'', ''L.A. Confidential'', ''White Jazz'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm'' Note: Also appears in "
Clandestine Clandestine may refer to: * Secrecy, the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups, perhaps while sharing it with other individuals * Clandestine operation, a secret intelligence or military activity Music and entertainme ...
" In the film adaptation of '' L.A. Confidential'', is portrayed by
Tomas Arana Tomas Clifford Arana (born April 3, 1955) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in the films ''The Hunt for Red October'' (1990), '' The Bodyguard'' (1992), ''L.A. Confidential'' (1997), ''Gladiator'' (2000), ''The Bourne Supremac ...
.


Richard J. Carlisle

Appearances: ''L.A. Confidential'', ''White Jazz'', ''Perfidia'' In the film adaptation of '' L.A. Confidential'', Carlisle is portrayed by Michael McCleery.


Pete Bondurant

Appearance: ''White Jazz'' Note: Also appears as a main character in the Underworld U.S.A. trilogy.


Raymond Dieterling

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential'' Known as the father of modern animation, Ray Dieterling is one of the main supporting characters in ''L.A. Confidential''. Friend of Preston Exley and later Inez Soto, Dieterling created characters similar to Walt Disney's. Dierterling's characters like Moochie Mouse and Danny Duck are similar to Disney's Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, respectively.


Inez Soto

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential'' In the film adaptation of '' L.A. Confidential'', Soto is portrayed by Marisol Padilla Sánchez.


Domenico "Chick" Vecchio

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Salvatore "Touch" Vecchio

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Pierce Morehouse Patchett

Appearances: ''L.A. Confidential'', ''Perfidia'' Pierce Patchett (June 30, 1902 – March 27, 1958) is a procurer of prostitutes that resemble movies stars and one of the main antagonists in ''L.A. Confidential''. In the film adaptation of '' L.A. Confidential'', Patchett is portrayed by
David Strathairn David Russell Strathairn (; born January 26, 1949) is an American actor. Known for his leading roles on stage and screen, he has often portrayed historical figures such as Edward R. Murrow, J. Robert Oppenheimer, William H. Seward, and John Do ...
. In the 2003 pilot, he is portrayed by
Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. His career began with a leading role in '' King of the Gypsies'' (1978) for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. He was nominated again at the Golden Globes ...
.


George "Junior" Stemmons, Jr.

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Leland Charles "Lee" Blanchard

Appearances: ''The Black Dahlia'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm'' Known as "Mr. Fire" in the boxing world for his fighting style and personality, Blanchard is an ex-boxer cop who becomes Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert's partner on Warrants after their publicity boxing match to rally support behind a pay increase bond for the police. The publicity and the match are enough for the voters to vote in favor of the bond. Both Blanchard and Bleichert benefit from this, they are rewarded with a prestigious assignment on Warrants, which involves serving high risk warrants, and finding fugitives, i. e. going after real bad guys. "Mr. Fire" and "Mr. Ice," Blanchard and Bleichert, respectively, become partners. They are highly effective team, known for catching many criminals. Blanchard also is involved with Kay Lake, someone he saved from the criminal underworld, and has a chaste love for. Blanchard, Bleichert, and Lake become best friends, referred to as a "fairy tale triangle." However, after the murder of
Elizabeth Short Elizabeth Short (July 29, 1924 – January 14–15, 1947), known posthumously as the Black Dahlia, was an American woman found murdered in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 15, 1947. Her case became highly publicized ow ...
, also known as the Black Dahlia, Blanchard heads into a downward spiral. Feeling compelled and obsessed to solve the case because his younger sister Laurie Blanchard went missing when he was young, and was most likely murdered, he has strong feelings of guilt and feels his solving his cases "chalk one up for Laurie Blanchard." As well as solving the case might atone for losing Laurie. Combined with that, his continuing use of
Benzedrine Amphetamine (contracted from alpha- methylphenethylamine) is a strong central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and obesity. It is also commonly used a ...
, and the soon to be paroled Robert "Bobby" De Witt, a criminal he sent to prison, Blanchard becomes completely unhinged. Following a lead on Elizabeth Short and De Witt in
Tijuana Tijuana ( ,"Tijuana"
(US) and
< ...
, Mexico, Blanchard heads there. After an extended period of time with no contact or information on Blanchard, Bleichert heads to Tijuana to find answers. However, Bleichert finds a decayed Blanchard in a body pit, with very few leads on who the murderers were. This leaves Bleichert and Kay to deal with the repercussions. In the 2006 film adaptation of '' The Black Dahlia'', Lee Blanchard is portrayed by
Aaron Eckhart Aaron Edward Eckhart (born March 12, 1968) is an American actor. Born in Cupertino, California, Eckhart moved to the United Kingdom at an early age. He began his acting career by performing in school plays, before moving to Australia for his h ...
.


John "Johnny" Stompanato

Appearances: ''The Big Nowhere'', ''L.A. Confidential'' Johnny Stompanato (October 10, 1925 – April 4, 1958) was a bodyguard and member of Mickey Cohen's gang. He was portrayed by
Paolo Seganti Paolo Seganti (born 20 May 1964 in Rovereto, Trentino, Italy), is an Italian actor and model, known for playing Damian Grimaldi in the CBS television soap opera ''As the World Turns''. Career Seganti is known for his portrayal of Damian Grimal ...
in the film adaptation of '' L.A. Confidential''.


Welles Noonan

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Robert Gallaudet

Appearances: ''L.A. Confidential'', ''White Jazz'' A former LAPD sergeant who acts as D.A. Ellis Loew's Bureau “whip” in the investigations into both “Bloody Christmas” and the Nite Owl slayings. Gallaudet eventually passes the bar and becomes a prosecutor, eventually rising to become D.A. after Ellis Loew resigns. He becomes an ally of Ed Exley during the Nite Owl investigation, and was also a law school classmate of Dave Klein. It laters turns out that he was working with Dudley Smith, who has Gallaudet killed to tie up loose ends.


Johnny Duhamel

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Dan Wilhite

Appearance: ''White Jazz'' Dan Wilhite is the head of the LAPD's Narcotics division, in the final novel of Ellroy's L.A. Quartet, "White Jazz." For many years he had overseen the tacit agreement between the LAPD and the Kafesjian family, the latter being sanctioned drug dealers in the southside area of LA. As the novel progresses Wilhite desperately attempts to contain the burglary investigation, headed by Klein at Exley's instigation to prevent years of police corruption from being revealed. He commits suicide.


Jack Woods

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Spade Cooley Donnell Clyde "Spade" Cooley (December 17, 1910 – November 23, 1969) was an American convicted murderer and former Western swing musician, big band leader, actor, and television personality. In 1961 he was arrested and convicted for the Ap ...

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential''


Wino Will-o-the-Wisp

Appearances: ''White Jazz'' Unknown serial killer murdering the homeless in ''White Jazz''.


Jack Dragna

Appearance: ''The Big Nowhere'' Jack Dragna is an organized crime boss and rival of Mickey Cohen.


Will Shipstad

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Lester Lake

Appearance: ''White Jazz''


Frederick Turentine

Appearances: ''L.A. Confidential'', ''White Jazz''


Preston Exley

Appearances: ''L.A. Confidential'', ''Perfidia'' Father of Edmund Exley. In the 2003 pilot, he is portrayed by Robert Foxworth.


Arthur De Spain

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential''


Timmy Valburn

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential''


Lee Peter Vachss

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential''


Richard Alex Stensland

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential'' In the film adaptation of '' L.A. Confidential'', Stensland is portrayed by
Graham Beckel Graham Stuart Beckel (born December 22, 1949) is an American character actor. He is known for his guest appearances on television but has had roles in several major films as well. He is known for his roles as Franklin Ford in the drama film '' Th ...
. And is one of the victims in the "Nite Owl Massacre"; which differs from the novel which has Stensland arrested for the '' Bloody Christmas'' scandal


Abraham Teitlebaum

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential''


Dot Rothstein

Appearances: ''L.A. Confidential'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm''


Malcolm Robert Lunceford

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential'' Mal Lunceford (June 2, 1912 – April 16, 1953) was one of the victims in the infamous Nite Owl Massacre case.


Delbert Melvin "Duke" Cathcart

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential''. Delbert Melvin "Duke" Cathcart (November 14, 1914 - April 19, 1953); a criminal character and victim of the famed "Nite Owl Massacre". He is a character that actually; although is dead, helps crack the case.


David Mertens

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential''


Jerry Marsalas

Appearance: ''L.A. Confidential''


Terry Lux

Appearances: ''The Big Nowhere'', ''L.A. Confidential'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm''


Thad Green


Ray Pinker

Appearance: ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm''


Audrey Anders

Appearance: ''The Big Nowhere''


Coleman Healy

Appearance: ''The Big Nowhere''


Eugene Niles

Appearance: ''The Big Nowhere''


Felix Gordean

Appearance: ''The Big Nowhere''


Saul Lesnick

Appearances: ''The Big Nowhere'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm''


Claire Katherine De Haven

Appearances: ''The Big Nowhere'', ''Perfidia'', ''This Storm''


Reynolds Loftis

Appearances: ''The Big Nowhere'', ''Perfidia''


See also

*
Noir fiction Noir fiction (or roman noir) is a subgenre of crime fiction. Definition In its modern form, noir has come to denote a marked darkness in theme and subject matter, generally featuring a disturbing mixture of sex and violence and death in some ...
* The Underworld U.S.A. Trilogy


Novel and film references

* Ellroy, James. '' The Black Dahlia'',
Warner Books Grand Central Publishing is a book publishing imprint of Hachette Book Group, originally established in 1970 as Warner Books when Warner Communications acquired the Paperback Library. When Time Warner sold their book publishing business to Hachet ...
, 2006, * Ellroy, James. ''
The Big Nowhere ''The Big Nowhere'' is a 1988 crime fiction novel by American author James Ellroy, the second of the L.A. Quartet, a series of novels set in 1940s and 1950s Los Angeles. Plot The plot centers around three characters: L.A. Deputy Sheriff Danny Up ...
'',
Mysterious Press The Mysterious Press is an American publishing company specializing in mystery fiction based in New York City. The company, founded in 1975 by Otto Penzler, has been associated with various publishing companies over the years, most recently with ...
, 1998, * Ellroy, James. '' L.A. Confidential'',
Warner Books Grand Central Publishing is a book publishing imprint of Hachette Book Group, originally established in 1970 as Warner Books when Warner Communications acquired the Paperback Library. When Time Warner sold their book publishing business to Hachet ...
, 1997, * Ellroy, James. ''
White Jazz ''White Jazz'' is a 1992 crime fiction novel by James Ellroy. It is the fourth in his L.A. Quartet, preceded by '' The Black Dahlia'', ''The Big Nowhere'', and '' L.A. Confidential''. James Ellroy dedicated ''White Jazz'' "TO ''Helen Knode''." ...
'',
Vintage Books Vintage Books is a trade paperback publishing imprint of Penguin Random House originally established by Alfred A. Knopf in 1954. The company was purchased by Random House in April 1960, and a British division was set up in 1990. After Random ...
, 2001, * ''
The Black Dahlia (film) ''The Black Dahlia'' is a 2006 neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Brian De Palma, written by Josh Friedman, and starring Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, and Mia Kirshner. It is an adaptation of the 1987 n ...
'' * ''
L.A. Confidential (film) ''L.A. Confidential'' is a 1997 American neo-noir crime film directed, produced, and co-written by Curtis Hanson. The screenplay by Hanson and Brian Helgeland is based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel of the same name, the third book in his ''L.A ...
'' * Ellroy, James. ''The L.A. Quartet'',
Everyman's Library Everyman's Library is a series of reprints of classic literature, primarily from the Western canon. It is currently published in hardback by Random House. It was originally an imprint of J. M. Dent (itself later a division of Weidenfeld & N ...
, 2019, (US), (UK)


Real life events

* Battle of Chavez Ravine * The Black Dahlia murder * Bloody Christmas * Brenda Allen scandal * Sleepy Lagoon murder *
Zoot Suit Riots The Zoot Suit Riots were a series of riots that took place from June 3–8, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, United States, involving American servicemen stationed in Southern California and young Latino and Mexican American city residen ...


References


External links

* retrieved August 3, 2019 {{James Ellroy American novel series Crime novel series Novels by James Ellroy Novels set in Los Angeles