Deadwood is an American Western television series that aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three seasons and 36 episodes. The series is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before and after the area's annexation by the Dakota Territory, and charts Deadwood's growth from camp to town. The show was created, produced, and largely written by David Milch. Deadwood features a large ensemble cast headed by Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane, playing the real-life Deadwood residents Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, respectively. Many other historical figures appear as characters, including George Crook, Wyatt Earp, E.B. Farnum, George Hearst, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Sol Star, Jack McCall, and Charlie Utter. The plot lines involving these characters include historical truths as well as substantial fictional elements. Milch used actual diaries and newspapers from 1870s Deadwood residents as reference points for characters, events, and the look and feel of the show.[1]
Deadwood received critical acclaim, particularly for Milch's writing and McShane's performance, and is regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time. It also won eight Emmy Awards (in 28 nominations) and one Golden Globe. TV Guide ranked it #8 on its 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon". The show was produced by Red Board Productions and Roscoe Productions in association with HBO and Paramount Network Television.[1]
After several years of discussion and pre-production, Deadwood: The Movie began filming in October 2018. The film is set ten years after the end of the third season and premiered on HBO on May 31, 2019.[1]
Episodes[]
| Title | Writer | Director | Original Air Date | U.S. Viewers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Deadwood" | David Milch | Walter Hill | March 21, 2004 | 5.79 million |
| 2. | "Deep Water" | Malcolm MacRury | Davis Guggenheim | March 28, 2004 | 4.88 million |
| 3. | "Reconnoitering the Rim" | Jody Worth | Davis Guggenheim | April 4, 2004 | N/A |
| 4. | "Here Was a Man" | Elizabeth Sarnoff | Alan Taylor | April 11, 2004 | 5.40 million |
| 5. | "The Trial of Jack McCall" | John Belluso | Ed Bianchi | April 18, 2004 | 4.56 million |
| 6. | "Plague" | Malcolm MacRury | Davis Guggenheim | April 25, 2004 | N/A |
| 7. | "Bullock Returns to the Camp" | Jody Worth | Michael Engler | May 2, 2004 | 4.29 million |
| 8. | "Suffer the Little Children" | Elizabeth Sarnoff | Daniel Minahan | May 9, 2004 | 3.88 million |
| 9. | "No Other Sons or Daughters" | George Putnam | Ed Bianchi | May 16, 2004 | 4.35 million |
| 10. | "Mister Wu" | Bryan McDonald | Daniel Minahan | May 23, 2004 | N/A |
| 11. | "Jewel's Boot Is Made for Walking" | Ricky Jay | Steve Shill | June 6, 2004 | 4.26 million |
| 12. | "Sold Under Sin" | Ted Mann | Davis Guggenheim | June 13, 2004 | 3.21 million |
| Title | Writer | Director | Original Air Date | U.S. Viewers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Lie Agreed Upon: Part I" | David Milch | Ed Bianchi | March 6, 2005 | 2.79 million |
| 2. | "A Lie Agreed Upon: Part II" | Jody Worth | Ed Bianchi | March 13, 2005 | 3.41 million |
| 3. | "New Money" | Elizabeth Sarnoff | Steve Shill | March 20, 2005 | N/A |
| 4. | "Requiem for a Gleet" | Ted Mann | Alan Taylor | March 27, 2005 | 2.51 million |
| 5. | "Complications" | Victoria Morrow | Gregg Fienberg | April 3, 2005 | 2.17 million |
| 6. | "Something Very Expensive" | Steve Shill | Steve Shill | April 10, 2005 | 2.16 million |
| 7. | "E.B. Was Left Out" | Jody Worth | Michael Almereyda | April 17, 2005 | 2.38 million |
| 8. | "Childish Things" | Regina Corrado | Tim Van Patten | April 24, 2005 | 2.42 million |
| 9. | "Amalgamation and Capital" | Elizabeth Sarnoff | Ed Bianchi | May 1, 2005 | 2.16 million |
| 10. | "Advances, None Miraculous" | Sara Hess | Daniel Minahan | May 8, 2005 | N/A |
| 11. | "The Whores Can Come" | Bryan McDonald | Gregg Fienberg | May 15, 2005 | 2.02 million |
| 12. | "Boy-the-Earth-Talks-To" | Ted Mann | Ed Bianchi | May 22, 2005 | 2.42 million |
| Title | Writer(s) | Director | Original Air Date | U.S. Viewers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tell Your God to Ready for Blood" | David Milch Ted Mann |
Mark Tinker | June 11, 2006 | 2.40 million |
| 2. | "I Am Not the Fine Man You Take Me For" | David Milch Regina Corrado |
Dan Attias | June 18, 2006 | 1.90 million |
| 3. | "True Colors" | Regina Corrado Ted Mann |
Gregg Fienberg | June 25, 2006 | N/A |
| 4. | "Full Faith and Credit" | Ted Mann | Ed Bianchi | July 2, 2006 | 1.70 million |
| 5. | "A Two-Headed Beast" | David Milch | Daniel Minahan | July 9, 2006 | N/A |
| 6. | "A Rich Find" | Alix Lambert | Tim Hunter | July 16, 2006 | N/A |
| 7. | "Unauthorized Cinnamon" | Regina Corrado | Mark Tinker | July 23, 2006 | N/A |
| 8. | "Leviathan Smiles" | Kem Nunn | Ed Bianchi | July 30, 2006 | N/A |
| 9. | "Amateur Night" | Nick Towne Zack Whedon |
Adam Davidson | August 6, 2006 | N/A |
| 10. | "A Constant Throb" | W. Earl Brown | Mark Tinker | August 13, 2006 | N/A |
| 11. | "The Catbird Seat" | Bernadette McNamara | Gregg Fienberg | August 20, 2006 | N/A |
| 12. | "Tell Him Something Pretty" | Ted Mann | Mark Tinker | August 27, 2006 | 2.03 million |
Cast and Characters[]
This is a list of the main characters in Deadwood, in order of total episode appearances.
| Actor | Character | Appeared Seasons | Episode Appearances | Movie Appearance |
| Timothy Olyphant | Seth Bullock | 1, 2, 3 | 36 episodes | ✔ |
| Ian McShane | Al Swearengen | 1, 2, 3 | 36 episodes | ✔ |
| W. Earl Brown | Dan Dority | 1, 2, 3 | 36 episodes | ✔ |
| John Hawkes | Sol Star | 1, 2, 3 | 36 episodes | ✔ |
| Paula Malcomson | Trixie Star | 1, 2, 3 | 36 episodes | ✔ |
| William Sanderson | E.B. Farnum | 1, 2, 3 | 36 episodes | ✔ |
| Sean Bridgers | Johnny Burns | 1, 2, 3 | 36 episodes | ✔ |
| Molly Parker | Alma Garret | 1, 2, 3 | 35 episodes | ✔ |
| Powers Boothe | Cy Tolliver | 1, 2, 3 | 34 episodes | ✘ |
| Kim Dickens | Joanie Stubbs | 1, 2, 3 | 33 episodes | ✔ |
| Brad Dourif | Doc Cochran | 1, 2, 3 | 33 episodes | ✔ |
| Bree Seanna Wall Lily Keene |
Sofia Metz | 1, 2, 3 | 33 episodes | ✔ |
| Jeffrey Jones | A.W. Merrick | 1, 2, 3 | 32 episodes | ✔ |
| Dayton Callie | Charlie Utter | 1, 2, 3 | 31 episodes | ✔ |
| Robin Weigert | Calamity Jane | 1, 2, 3 | 29 episodes | ✔ |
| Jim Beaver | Whitney Ellsworth | 1, 2, 3 | 28 episodes | ✘ |
| Leon Rippy | Tom Nuttall | 1, 2, 3 | 26 episodes | ✔ |
| Titus Welliver | Silas Adams | 1, 2, 3 | 21 episodes | ✘ |
| Anna Gunn | Martha Bullock | 2, 3 | 21 episodes | ✔ |
| Brent Sexton | Harry Manning | 2, 3 | 11 episodes | ✔ |
| Garret Dillahunt | Francis Wolcott | 2 | 10 episodes | ✘ |
| Josh Eriksson | William Bullock | 2 | 9 episodes | ✘ |
| Keith Carradine | Wild Bill Hickok | 1 | 5 episodes | ✘ |
This is a list of the supporting characters in Deadwood, in order of total episode appearances (3 or more appearances).
| Actor | Character | Appeared Seasons | Episode Appearances | Movie Appearance |
| Peter Jason | Con Stapleton | 1, 2, 3 | 26 episodes | ✔ |
| Ralph Richeson | Richardson | 1, 2, 3 | 26 episodes | ✘ |
| Larry Cedar | Leon | 1, 2, 3 | 24 episodes | ✘ |
| Geri Jewell | Jewel | 1, 2, 3 | 23 episodes | ✔ |
| Keone Young | Mr. Wu | 1, 2, 3 | 18 episodes | ✔ |
| Ashleigh Kizer | Dolly | 1, 2, 3 | 17 episodes | ✘ |
| Parisse Boothe | Tess | 1, 2, 3 | 16 episodes | ✘ |
| Pasha Lychnikoff | Blazanov | 2, 3 | 14 episodes | ✘ |
| Gerald McRaney | George Hearst | 2, 3 | 13 episodes | ✔ |
| Michael Harney | Steve Fields | 2, 3 | 12 episodes | ✘ |
| Ray McKinnon | Reverend H.W. Smith | 1 | 11 episodes | ✘ |
| Franklyn Ajaye | Samuel Fields | 2, 3 | 11 episodes | ✔ |
| Nick Amandos | Jack Young | 1, 2, 3 | 11 episodes | ✘ |
| Ricky Jay | Eddie Sawyer | 1 | 10 episodes | ✘ |
| Pruitt Taylor Vince | Mose Manuel | 2, 3 | 10 episodes | ✘ |
| Cynthia Ettinger | Claudia | 3 | 10 episodes | ✘ |
| Zach Grenier | Andy Cramed | 1, 2, 3 | 9 episodes | ✘ |
| Stephen Tobolowsky | Hugo Jarry | 2, 3 | 9 episodes | ✘ |
| Sarah Paulson | Alice Isringhausen | 2 | 9 episodes | ✘ |
| Brian Cox | Jack Langrishe | 3 | 9 episodes | ✘ |
| Cleo King | Aunt Lou Marchbanks | 3 | 9 episodes | ✔ |
| David Redding | Davey | 1, 2, 3 | 8 episodes | ✘ |
| Ted Mann | Rutherford | 2, 3 | 8 episodes | ✘ |
| Julie Ariola | Countess | 3 | 8 episodes | ✘ |
| Richard Gant | Arnette Hostetler | 1, 2, 3 | 7 episodes | ✘ |
| Meghan Glennon | Lila | 1, 2, 3 | 7 episodes | ✘ |
| Jennifer Lutheran | Jen | 2, 3 | 7 episodes | ✘ |
| Garret Dillahunt | Jack McCall | 1 | 6 episodes | ✘ |
| Gill Gayle | Huckster | 1, 2, 3 | 6 episodes | ✘ |
| Monty Henson | Hawkeye | 1, 2, 3 | 6 episodes | ✘ |
| Allan Graf | Captain Joe Turner | 2, 3 | 6 episodes | ✘ |
| Leah Cevoli | Leigh | 2, 3 | 6 episodes | ✘ |
| Philip Moon | Mr. Lee | 2 | 6 episodes | ✘ |
| Erica Swanson | Doris | 2 | 6 episodes | ✘ |
| Alice Krige | Maddie | 2 | 5 episodes | ✘ |
| Fiona Dourif | Enid | 2 | 5 episodes | ✘ |
| Dennis Christopher | Bellegarde | 3 | 5 episodes | ✘ |
| Kevin Kearns | Pasco | 3 | 5 episodes | ✘ |
| Timothy Omundson | Brom Garret | 1 | 4 episodes | ✘ |
| Dean Rader-Duval | Jimmy Irons | 1 | 4 episodes | ✘ |
| Everette Wallin | Joey | 1 | 4 episodes | ✘ |
| Tom Simmons | Lou | 1 | 4 episodes | ✘ |
| Holly Carbrey | Atlantis | 2 | 4 episodes | ✘ |
| Chandra Richards | Rosie | 2 | 4 episodes | ✘ |
| Dan Hildebrand | Shaughnessy | 3 | 4 episodes | ✘ |
| Angela Nicholas | Mary | 3 | 4 episodes | ✘ |
| Sarah B. Lund | Sara | 3 | 4 episodes | ✘ |
| Nicolas Surovy | Captain Massie | 1 | 3 episodes | ✘ |
| Marshall Bell | Magistrate Claggett | 1 | 3 episodes | ✘ |
| Izabella Miko | Carrie | 2 | 3 episodes | ✘ |
| Allen Keller | Marvin Somes | 2 | 3 episodes | ✘ |
| Aubrey Morris | Chesterton | 3 | 3 episodes | ✘ |
| Nicole Ansari Cox | Josiane | 3 | 3 episodes | ✘ |
| Franc Ross | Louis | 3 | 3 episodes | ✘ |
| Chase Ellison | Richie | 3 | 3 episodes | ✘ |
| Sarah Pachelli | Janine | 3 | 3 episodes | ✘ |