The Wire is memorable for many things—the realistic portrayal of the life of crime, brilliant writing by David Simon and Ed Burns, and the character arcs that make us love some of the characters, and love to hate others. These arcs, as compellingly written as they are, wouldn’t be half as great without the actors who took on the roles and entered the shoes of television’s most complex array of people.
The Wire‘s greatest performers are human, relatable, and emotionally resonant. The ten best performances in The Wire were all given by some of the greatest actors of all time. Their dedication to some of the roles is still talked about and praised, which is the ultimate form of flattery for any actor, it seems.
10
Hassan Johnson
Plays Roland “Wee-Bey” Brice
Wee-Bey Brice was a secondary character in The Wire, but his character arc and Hassan Johnson‘s performance left a lasting mark on audiences and critics. Wee-Bey appears in all five seasons, mostly in a minor role, but he endures and lasts longer than even the more powerful players, being one of the rare men off the streets to end up in jail rather than dead. Johnson is known for the iconic meme in which he portrays surprise and disbelief, and he delivers that reaction as Wee-Bey in Season 1, Episode 11, “The Hunt.”
Wee-Bey’s real name is Roland, and he’s one of the foot soldiers for the West Baltimore crime syndicate. Wee-Bey is first seen as Avon Barksdale’s (Wood Harris) most valued soldier; in the end, we see him serving a sentence in the Maryland State Prison, conversing with other people who have ties with Baltimore’s crime world. Brice was seemingly inspired by a real-life person, one Ed Burns was investigating throughout the ’80s called “Bey-Brother.” Johnson delivers a tough, free-willed, and remorseless criminal whose lack of conscience or self-awareness impressed people the most.
9
Chris Bauer
Plays Frank Sobotka
Frank Sobotka is one of the most captivating single-season criminals on The Wire. Played by Chris Bauer, he’s a tragic centerpiece of an unforgettable crime syndicate, and even a positive character among all the bad ones—in essence, Frank is a brilliant man who simply gets played by his own ambitions in the end. Bauer always plays interesting, tough characters who have a strong, dominant presence; as Sobotka, he marked Season 2 and made history with his portrayal.
Frank Sobotka is the leader of the dockworkers’ syndicate and their pater familias. Everyone relies on Frank when they need something, whether a favor or some work. Frank was a revered man among the dockworkers, a trusted treasurer for their union, and then finally killed by the Greeks after a long and arduous fight against corruption and crime in the docks. Sobotka remains a memorable character on The Wire, and Bauer a standout performer because of this role.
8
Sonja Sohn
Plays Shakima “Kima” Greggs
Everyone who loves The Wire loves Kima Greggs, the steady, resilient, and emotionally resonant detective who sticks around for all five seasons. Sonja Sohn may not be remembered for much else in her career (unfortunately), but her portrayal of detective Greggs left a lasting mark on those who followed the show faithfully. Greggs, like other detectives on the show, is imperfect—she is often cynical and has trust issues and an addiction to alcohol. Sohn brings us closer to the lifestyle with her poker face and bravado.
Kima Greggs is, for all her instability, one of the most stable characters on The Wire. She knows how to do her job, and does it well. Delivering on her duties, Greggs transforms in front of our eyes from a part of the team to a trustworthy leader. Without Sonja Sohn, The Wire would be a little less magical and hard-hitting; she’s the representative of imperfect female leads on television that we simply love.
7
Wendell Pierce
Plays William “Bunk” Moreland
One of the all-time fan favorites of The Wire is Bunk Moreland, played by the charismatic Wendell Pierce. According to David Simon, Pierce auditioned for the role after having an angry encounter with a cab driver, which helped the casting directors opt for him. Moreland was based on the real-life Baltimore detective, Oscar “The Bunk” Requer, and since Pierce has a similar stature as the real Bunk (broad shoulders, towering attitude), the anger he felt in the audition only helped him further.
Wendell Pierce is a stellar performer—dedicated, funny, and relatable; these traits come out while he plays Moreland, an intelligent detective with a great sense of humor and morally uncompromising beliefs. Bunk is loved because of his relatable demeanor and ability to enjoy more hedonistic moments in life without overdoing it all the time (unlike McNulty). A level-headed counterpart to chaotic McNulty, we see the balance in him and enjoy it, which is tough considering how heavy The Wire can actually be.
6
Dominic West
Plays James “Jimmy” McNulty
Dominic West rarely misses, but his work as Jimmy McNulty in The Wire was on a whole other level. West’s ability to lure us into the chaotic world of McNulty remains impressive and worthy of praise, two decades and many roles later. Knowing that Ray Winstone and John C. Reilly were considered for the role of McNulty feels wrong, since it’s really hard to imagine anybody else in the role. Simon said that, apparently, West was “too young and too handsome” to play the detective, but this is kind of his appeal, as well.
Chaotic, unruly, disrespectful, messy, but also brilliant, dedicated, intelligent, and savvy, McNulty is a person with high moral standards and a superiority complex. Not sure what that says about Ed Burns, considering McNulty was based on, or at least inspired by him. We know McNulty isn’t perfect, but we don’t expect him to be; we know he can finish the job and bring justice, and that’s why we love him. It takes a lot of skill and talent to portray a character who can be all of this. West—and McNulty—are the ones we love despite their flaws.
5
Clarke Peters
Plays Lester Freamon
Another fan-favorite is Lester Freamon, the detective with a naturally commanding presence and charisma. This presence is owed to Clarke Peters, an actor with a long and fruitful career and plenty of memorable roles. Still, after the 2000s, Peters is mostly remembered by people for his portrayal of Freamon, the one solid personality in the police section of The Wire that we can actually rely on. Peters’ calming portrayal of Freamon also introduces some more peaceful moments between the chaos, even if a moment is intense and full of conflict.
Peters also makes Freamon one of the characters that doesn’t give up even when no one trusts in him, which is why we find his portrayal so relatable and great. As an older detective than most on the wiretapping detail, Freamon proves himself as a keen investigator, one who takes his job seriously, and becomes integral to the investigation. Freamon is, what they call, a “natural” police officer, and Peters’ portrayal of him is, undoubtedly, a natural belonging to the role.
4
Idris Elba
Plays Russell “Stringer” Bell
It’s not at all tough to pinpoint a moment when we find Stringer Bell a captivating character—it was his first appearance, when he attends the trial to Avon’s nephew, D’Angelo Barksdale (Larry Gilliard Jr.). We immediately see Stringer is a stoic presence, stylish, and practical. Later, we learn he has a specific way of doing things and prefers them to go as he imagines, making Stringer an ambitious criminal, and thus, iconic. Idris Elba plays Bell, and his good looks, resting serious face, and confidence give Bell some grand charisma.
Elba is, of course, a popular actor and multitalent, but he’s most memorable to people as Stringer Bell. He successfully aura farms, as the young’ns say nowadays, every time he’s on-screen. Elba understands Bell and makes him likable, even if he’s on the “wrong” side of the law. Stringer Bell’s name is an amalgamation of two real-life drug lords—Stringer Reed and Roland Bell. His personality, though, was based on Kenneth A. Johnson, a criminal who successfully transitioned from a life of crime into legitimate business operations. Bell is killed before he can make his plans come true, and he even accepts his fate with style and grace.
3
Lance Reddick
Plays Cedric Daniels
The late Lance Reddick is another actor who had a long and great acting career, becoming memorable for several roles, e.g. Charon in the John Wick universe. However, anyone who enjoyed The Wire remembers Reddick mostly for his portrayal of Cedric Daniels, a man of perfect authority, restraint, and an anchoring moral compass that guided the show forward. Reddick is one of the main cast who appears in almost every episode (58 out of 60), and he previously additioned for the roles of Bubbles and Bunk Moreland.
Daniels is, next to Freamon, a just and driven police officer. He starts as the lieutenant of the Narcotics Unit and moves up in the ranks throughout the seasons; in the end, Daniels refuses a political request, gets relieved of his duties because of it, and becomes a criminal defense lawyer. Reddick’s poker face and calm demeanor make Daniels look like he’s always pondering moves and ideas. The restraint that Daniels practices in his personal and professional life seem like they could only be depicted by someone like Reddick; his charisma, stoic appearance, and stature embrace Daniels’ characteristics.
2
Andre Royo
Plays Reginald “Bubbles” Cousins
Often considered the best performer of any in The Wire, Andre Royo is the ultimate fan-favorite as Bubbles, the heartbreaking character who we enjoy seeing every time, just for the satisfaction of knowing he’s still alive. Driven to the extremes of existence, doing his best to survive and wake up each day, consumed by addiction and the struggle to get clean, Bubbles is a tragic character, and Royo’s performance causes a visceral reaction every single time. His portrayal is raw and heartbreaking, but also incredibly dedicated. Royo himself said someone approached him on the street during filming and gave him a bag of heroin, telling him he “looked like he needed a fix.” Royo said he considered this an award of sorts.
Bubbles is the secret main character of The Wire—he is the result of the ambitions of both the criminals and the police; a crucial informant on one side, and a drug addict on the other. Royo gives us someone to sympathize with; to understand, to wish to help, and to want to see get better. Portraying these extremes of human nature is difficult, but Royo proved he’s up to the task. His performance is underrated and often pushed aside for the sake of greater names, but Royo deserves special recognition for playing Bubbles.
1
Michael K. Williams
Plays Omar Little
It’s so hard to choose between Michael K. Williams and Andre Royo for the flattering title of the best performer in The Wire. To many fans, they’re tied, as they both contribute something eternal, memorable, a vibe and an energy that makes The Wire so legendary and enjoyable. Williams portrays Omar Little, a street legend, the television icon, and a pop culture staple. He’s often the face of The Wire, and Williams’ performance is electrifying. We’ll remember him for so much, but most notably, admittedly, for being Omar.
Williams was hired to play Omar after a single audition; Omar’s contradicting nature—outwardly macho and aggressive and inwardly gentle and often loving—were the reason Williams wanted the role, and to stand out among other Black actors. While many would call such a choice bold, it’s hardly revolutionary to portray a gay gangster; it’s how he did it that warrants attention and praise. Williams approaches Omar with that sort of clear division between personas. He has the ability to be gentle, but was taught by his upbringing and environment to be ruthless; his affinity for criminal activities is hardly commendable, but the contrast is what makes Omar and Williams so appealing.
The Wire
- Release Date
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2002 – 2008-00-00
- Network
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HBO
