Richard Harrow is a fictional character on the television series ''
Boardwalk Empire
''Boardwalk Empire'' is an American period crime drama television series created by Terence Winter for the premium cable channel HBO. The series is set chiefly in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. The series sta ...
'', played by the actor
Jack Huston
Jack Alexander Huston (born 7 December 1982) is an English actor and director. He is best known for his role as Richard Harrow in the HBO television drama series ''Boardwalk Empire''. He also had a supporting role in the 2013 film ''American ...
.
Fictional biography
Backstory
Richard was a
sharpshooter
A sharpshooter is one who is highly proficient at firing firearms or other projectile weapons accurately. Military units composed of sharpshooters were important factors in 19th-century combat. Along with " marksman" and "expert", "sharpshooter" ...
in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
during
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. He was badly disfigured during the war, losing his eye, upper jaw and most of the cheekbone on the left side of his face. He has also suffered some throat damage which causes him to speak in a low, guttural croak. Because of his appearance, Harrow wears a
tin mask in public that is molded to mirror the intact right side of his face.
After the war he returned to
Plover, Wisconsin
Plover is a village in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. A suburb of Stevens Point, it is part of the Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,519 at the 2020 United States census.
History
An 1825 treaty est ...
where his twin sister, Emma (
Katherine Waterston
Katherine Boyer Waterston (born March 3, 1980) is an English-born American actress. She made her feature film debut in ''Michael Clayton (film), Michael Clayton'' (2007). She had supporting roles in films including ''Robot & Frank,'' ''Being Fl ...
), cared for him while his wounds healed. Once he was able to care for himself, he left to live in Chicago.
Season 1
Richard meets fellow
veteran
A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in an job, occupation or Craft, field.
A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in the military, armed forces.
A topic o ...
Jimmy Darmody
James Edison Darmody is a fictional character in the television show ''Boardwalk Empire'', played by Michael Pitt. He is one of the main characters in the first two seasons of the series. Unlike most of the other main characters in the series, Ji ...
(
Michael Pitt
Michael Carmen Pitt (born April 10, 1981) is an American actor, model, and musician.
In film, he has appeared in ''Hedwig and the Angry Inch (film), Hedwig and the Angry Inch'' (2001), ''Bully (2001 film), Bully'' (2001), ''Murder by Numbers'' ...
) in an army hospital in Chicago,
and they become fast friends. To prove his loyalty, Richard kills a local gangster who had disfigured a young prostitute with whom Jimmy was close. Jimmy invites Richard to stay with him and his family, and brings him on as muscle in his
bootlegging outfit.
Richard accompanies Jimmy back to
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
, where he becomes a hitman working for Jimmy under
Nucky Thompson
Enoch Malachi "Nucky" Thompson is a fictional character and the protagonist of the HBO TV series '' Boardwalk Empire'', portrayed by Steve Buscemi. Nucky is loosely based on former Atlantic City, New Jersey political figure Enoch Lewis "Nucky" ...
(
Steve Buscemi
Steven Vincent Buscemi (,As stated in interviews by Buscemi himself. It is not uncommon for people to pronounce his name or instead. ; born December 13, 1957) is an American actor. He is known for his work as an acclaimed character actor. Mul ...
). After an attempt on Nucky by the D'Alessio brothers, Richard temporarily moves into the Thompson home where he acts as a bodyguard to Nucky, his companion
Margaret Schroeder (
Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald (born 23 February 1976) is a Scottish actress. Known for her performances on film and television, she has received various accolades including a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Macdona ...
) and her two small children. At first Margaret and her children are frightened by Richard's appearance, but they eventually warm up to him. After a truce is made between Nucky and
Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein (January 17, 1882 – November 6, 1928), nicknamed "The Brain", was an American racketeer, crime boss, businessman, and gambler who became a kingpin of the Jewish Mob in New York City. Rothstein was widely reputed to have orga ...
to resolve their conflict, Richard, Jimmy, and
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel Capone ( ; ; January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American organized crime, gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-foun ...
(
Stephen Graham
Stephen Graham (born 3 August 1973) is an English actor and film producer. He began his career in 1990, with early notable roles in '' Snatch'' (2000) and ''Gangs of New York'' (2002), before his breakthrough role as Andrew "Combo" Gascoigne ...
) are dispatched to assassinate the remaining D'Alessio brothers.
Season 2
Richard is now established as the right-hand man on Jimmy's bootlegging crew. Jimmy and Richard have now gone into business with
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano (
Vincent Piazza
Vincent Piazza (born ) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of gangster Lucky Luciano in the HBO television series ''Boardwalk Empire''. He has also played Earl Hefner in the comedy-drama '' Rocket Science'' (2007) and si ...
),
Meyer Lansky
Meyer Lansky (born Maier Suchowljansky; July 4, 1902 – January 15, 1983), known as the "Mob's Accountant", was an American organized crime figure who, along with his associate Lucky Luciano, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, was instrumental in the dev ...
(
Anatol Yusef
Anatol Yusef is an English film, television and stage actor, writer, director. He was born in London and is best known for his work at The Royal Shakespeare Company, for his portrayal of Meyer Lansky in the television series ''Boardwalk Empir ...
), and Capone. Richard befriends Jimmy's wife Angela (
Aleksa Palladino
Aleksa Palladino (born ) is an American actress, perhaps best known for her lead roles in '' Manny & Lo'', '' The Adventures of Sebastian Cole'', ''Find Me Guilty'', Angela Darmody in the HBO crime series '' Boardwalk Empire'' (2010–2011), Ma ...
). Angela, a painter, asks Richard if she can do his portrait; he reluctantly agrees. During their session, Richard confides in Angela that he and his sister have not spoken since he left home. Richard then voluntarily removes his mask, and she paints his portrait.
Richard ventures out into a secluded forest during a
Memorial Day
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May.
It i ...
ceremony, intending to commit suicide. As he puts a shotgun in his mouth, a stray dog runs off with his tin mask. Richard chases the dog, and finds two hunters sitting around a campfire, who convince him to keep on living.
Richard serves as Jimmy's lieutenant throughout a turf war with Nucky, and remains loyal even as they suffer serious financial losses. Richard is devastated when Angela is murdered by Manny Horvitz (
William Forsythe) as revenge for an attempt by Jimmy to assassinate him over a $5,000 debt Jimmy refused to pay him, and begins to wonder if their business is worth the price they pay.
To mend fences with Nucky, Richard and Jimmy go to Alderman James Neary (
Robert Clohessy
Robert Clohessy (born June 10, 1957) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Correctional Officer Sean Murphy on the HBO prison drama '' Oz'' from seasons 3–6, in addition to playing Officer Patrick Flaherty on the NBC police proc ...
), scheduled to testify against Nucky, force him to type a note at gunpoint exonerating Nucky, then Richard shoots him in the head and stages his death as a suicide. When Nucky calls Jimmy and says they have captured Horvitz, both Jimmy and Richard sense a trap, and Richard offers to go along. Jimmy refuses and tells Richard to try and put the war behind him. After Jimmy is murdered, Richard moves in with Jimmy's mother Gillian (
Gretchen Mol
Gretchen Mol (born November 8, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Gillian Darmody in the HBO series '' Boardwalk Empire'' (2010–2014). She also appeared in the films ''Rounders'' (1998), ''Celebrity'' (1998), ''The Thir ...
) at her estate.
Season 3
One year later, Richard is a permanent resident in Gillian's brothel. Richard now acts as a caretaker at the brothel, and looks after Jimmy's son Tommy. Richard also seeks vengeance on Horvitz, who has now become a partner in Nucky's gang, for Angela's death. On New Year's Eve, Richard waits outside Horvitz's house, and after killing his driver, shoots him in the face with a shotgun as he is leaving to pursue a thief who stole from one of Nucky's warehouses.
Richard ventures off one evening to the
American Legion
The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...
for support and to discuss compensation which has been promised to wounded veterans. It is here that Richard meets Paul Sagorsky (Mark Borkowski), a bitter drunk who lost his son in the war. Richard looks after Paul when he is injured in a bar fight, and meets Paul's daughter Julia (
Wrenn Schmidt
Melinda Wrenn Schmidt (born February 18, 1983) is an American actress. She is best known for her starring role as NASA engineer, flight director, and later director of NASA Margo Madison in the Apple TV+ original science-fiction space drama ser ...
). He falls in love with her, and they begin a courtship, despite her father's objections.
Later in the season, Gillian's brothel is occupied by New York gangster
Gyp Rosetti
Giuseppe Colombano "Gyp" Rosetti is a character in the HBO TV series ''Boardwalk Empire'', portrayed by Bobby Cannavale. Rosetti is a New York City gangster who works for Joe Masseria (Ivo Nandi). Hot-headed, easily offended and prone to bouts of ...
(
Bobby Cannavale
Bobby Cannavale (; born May 3, 1970) is an American actor. His breakthrough came with the leading role as FDNY Paramedic Roberto "Bobby" Caffey in the NBC series ''Third Watch'', which he played from 1999 to 2001.
Cannavale received the Pri ...
), who is at war with Nucky. Fearing for Tommy's safety, Richard attempts to remove the boy to Julia's house, but Gillian finds out about the plan and, angered, she has Rosetti's men kick Richard out. After Joe Masseria withdraws his support for Rosetti's campaign against Nucky, his men withdraw from the brothel, giving an opening for Richard to arm himself and methodically kill almost everyone in Rosetti's own gang (save for Rosetti himself, his right-hand Tonino Sandrelli, and two others), recovering Tommy, whom he leaves at the Sagorsky home. Richard then flees Atlantic City.
Season 4
One year later, Richard makes his way to his childhood home in Wisconsin to visit Emma. Richard returns home to find Emma widowed, pregnant and in debt. During his visit with his sister, Richard finds it difficult to put down the family dog. During this time Richard is tracked down by a former client who had hired Richard previously to carry out an assassination contract that was not honored. They corner Richard in the barn; during the ensuing struggle, Richard kills one of the gangsters, but the other one breaks Richard's hand and nearly kills him. Emma arrives just in time and kills the gangster, saving Richard's life. Richard realizes he is a danger to his sister and decides to go back to Atlantic City.
Upon returning to Atlantic City, Richard bumps into Sagorsky, who is dying of
cirrhosis
Cirrhosis, also known as liver cirrhosis or hepatic cirrhosis, chronic liver failure or chronic hepatic failure and end-stage liver disease, is a chronic condition of the liver in which the normal functioning tissue, or parenchyma, is replaced ...
of the liver. Richard finds out that Julia is locked in a custody battle with Gillian over Tommy. Richard returns to the Sagorskys' home to help Julia, who he marries.
To provide for his new family, Richard gets a job washing dishes at the Onyx Club, with the help of Nucky.
When Gillian is arrested for murder, Richard and Julia see an opportunity to get permanent custody of Tommy. Gillian claims that the body found on her estate was that of her son, Jimmy, and with the body having been cremated, there is no way to prove otherwise. In order to undermine her story, Richard asks Nucky for the location where Jimmy's body is actually buried. Nucky agrees to tell Richard, but for a price: he must eliminate New York gangster Dr.
Valentin Narcisse
Dr. Valentin Narcisse is a fictional character from the HBO TV series ''Boardwalk Empire'', portrayed by Jeffrey Wright. He is a prominent and highly educated underworld figure based in Harlem, New York and a Black nationalist orator, active in ...
(
Jeffrey Wright
Jeffrey Wright (born December 7, 1965) is an American actor. His accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award, a Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to a nomination for an Academy Award.
Wright began his career in theater, where he g ...
), who is causing problems for Nucky and his associate Chalky White (
Michael K. Williams
Michael Kenneth Williams (November 22, 1966 – September 6, 2021) was an American actor. He rose to fame for his acclaimed portrayals of Omar Little on the HBO drama series ''The Wire'' (2002–2008) and List of Boardwalk Empire characters, Alb ...
). As he prepares to shoot Narcisse, he hesitates and his hand shakes, and he accidentally kills White's daughter Maybelle (Christina Jackson) when she unexpectedly steps into the line of fire.
Richard is mortally wounded in the ensuing gunfire, but manages to make his way to the Atlantic City Boardwalk, where he crawls to safety underneath it. Harrow has a final vision of returning home, to the loving embrace of his family, before he removes his mask and dies in the sand.
Interview
Jack Huston was interviewed by ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'' magazine. Huston stated that he was only told that his character was going to die during the filming of the episode depicting Harrow's death. Huston stated that it was very appropriate for Harrow, a tragic character, to die tragically. Feeling honored rather than upset about the ending, Huston claimed that the writers wrote "the most unbelievably beautiful ending, and it made so much sense." Glad to have played a longer-than-initially-expected role in ''Boardwalk Empire'', Huston stated that it was the start of his career in acting. Terence Winter said that if Harrow were not fatally wounded after shooting Maybelle, then Harrow would have committed suicide. Huston agrees that Harrow would have done that, as killing Maybelle would be unforgivable in Harrow's mind. Huston stated that at first "Richard was a brilliant killer"; then he gave up killing, losing confidence; later, he was intuitive and expected himself to err; after shooting Maybelle he hesitated, allowing himself to be shot. Huston posited that Harrow's scrapbook became a reality: he fell in love, married, and had a family. Regarding Harrow's vision at the end of his life, Huston stated "In a way he reached heaven in his life."
References
External links
Richard Harrowat
HBO.com
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...
Richard Harrowon
IMDb
IMDb, historically known as the Internet Movie Database, is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and biograp ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrow, Richard
Boardwalk Empire
Fictional assassins
Fictional gangsters
Fictional World War I veterans
Television characters introduced in 2010
Fictional characters from Wisconsin
Fictional attempted suicides
American male characters in television