One of the most refreshing and gripping television series of recent times, Deadwood is set in an American frontier town during the late 1800s. The series beging as new arrivals usher in an era of power struggles with the camp founders and power struggles in Deadwood have a way of turning violent. I didn't originally intend to start collecting the stars of the show but after getting successes from two of the main stars, my efforts to get the rest increased. Indeed, one of the best things about the show is it's strength in depth. There is a tremendous depth to the cast with a fantasic array of supporting characters, all universally well-portrayed.

Sadly, after three seasons which have seen the show go from strength to strength, HBO have pulled the plug and cancelled it. One of the reasons being that is was reportedly very over-budget. Happily the latest news is that two feature length episodes will be made next year to wrap things up.

Official HBO Deadwood site

SETH BULLOCK played by Timothy Olyphant

Seth Bullock was sheriff of Montana territory but became disillusioned, despite his strong sense of right and wrong. He headed to Deadwood with his friend Sol Starr to set up a hardware store but is soon dragged back into law enforcement. He is now sheriff of Deadwood and frequently at loggerheads with Al Swearengen. Trustworthy but with a violent temper, Bullock is the anti-hero of Deadwood.

AL SWEARENGEN played by Ian McShane

As the HBO site says, Swearengen is the proprietor of the Gem Saloon and is the self-proclaimed boss of Deadwood, running the town like a corrupt captain. He knows exactly whats going on in the town and if anyone causes him a problem, he has no qualms about eliminating them. The second season though saw him taken down a peg or two with a very nasty bladder infection that had him bed-ridden and close to death. He is brilliantly played by Ian McShane who won a Golden Globe for his performance in the first series.

CALAMITY JANE played by Robin Weigert

Jane arrived in Deadwood with Wild Bill Hickok and quickly established herself as someone not to be messed around. After Bill's death though, her drinking became much worse and she's spent much of the show sozzled and shouting obsenities at people. This has allowed her vulnerable interior to be seen and she has become one of the most loveable characters in the show.

CY TOLLIVER played by Powers Boothe

Finally someone to test Swearengen's grip on Deadwood! Tolliver brought his own den of gambling and whoring to town and rivalled Swearengen with his classier joint. He's a bit of a lowlife though and sometimes Swearengen seems more likeable! Cy is cold and ruthless, always looking out for himself.

CHARLIE UTTER played by Dayton Callie

Bill Hickok's longtime friend and traveling companion, Charlie has spent much of his recent life smoothing things over in his friend's wake. Now that Hickok is dead, Charlie has elected to remain in Deadwood. With commerce exploding in town, he has launched a freight business, which was immediately successful. (Quoted from HBO's website)

E.B. FARNUM played by William Sanderson

Eustace Bailey Farnum runs the Grand Central hotel, one of the main hubs of Deadwood. Just about every visitor to Deadwood ends up in Farnum's establishment at one time or another. He became the town mayor by default but still struggles to be taken seriously. He is often involved in Swearengen's schemes and is suitably slimey for the task!

DAN DORITY played by W. Earl Brown

If Al Swearengen has some dirty work to be done, he knows that he can count on enforcer Dan Dority. Whether it's working in The Gem or killing off somebody that needs it, Dority can fill just about any role that Swearengen can think up.(HBO.com)

JOANIE STUBBS played by Kim Dickens

Joanie was a savvy, head strong prostitute working for Cy Tolliver, not just as a whore but her intelligence helped her fill the role of his confidante. She came with him to Deadwood to work at the Bella Union but after a dramatic incident with the killing of a child thief, Cy lets her go and she goes into business for herself.

DOC COCHRANE played by Brad Dourif

A witness to unspeakable atrocities on the battlefields of the Civil War, Dr. Amos Cochran is one of the few honorable men in Deadwood. He takes his duties seriously, even gruffly, and does what he can to preserve human life. It is Cochran who attends to the declining Reverend Smith and who attempts the construction of a boot to improve Jewel' s mobility.

TOM NUTTALL played by Leon Rippy

Nuttall is the owner of the No. 10 Saloon made famous by being the site of the assassination of Wild Bill Hickok. The saloon is usually a quieter alternative to those who fancy a drink and a game of cards but don't want to brave the Gem!

ELLSWORTH played by Jim Beaver

Maybe one of the most decent men in Deadwood, Ellsworth is a far cry from the backstabbing and scheming that normally goes on in the town. He's taken to looking after Alma and Sofia but was witness to Alma's husband's murder, organised by Swearengen. However he knows how dangerous Al can be and has so far kept quiet about the incident.

CON. STAPLETON played by Peter Jason

Con Stapleton is a man with little to recommend him, and his career apogee would appear to be his crony appointment to sheriff-a job that he begged from Swearengen when no one else volunteered for it. But even this success proved short-lived when Stapleton cynically shoots an innocent Chinese man following a trumped up altercation on the street. Disgusted by the deed and by Stapleton's ersatz authority, Bullock stripped him of his badge on the spot.

MISS ISRINGHAUSEN played by Sarah Paulson

The young woman Alma Garret hires to serve as Sofia's tutor is the soul of discretion. Removing herself with Sofia to the lobby of Alma's hotel the moment Seth Bullock comes calling, she continues Sofia's lesson even as bits of ceiling rain down. (hbo.com) Turned out she had her own agenda and after a brief affair with Silus Adams, she has to leave town.

DOLLY played by Ashleigh Kizer

One of Al Swearengen's whores at the Gem Saloon, Dolly has become his favourite when his own "needs" require "looking after". However something about her led him to open up with his inner most feelings and their scenes together provided regular revelations about his background.

CARRIE played by Izabella Miko

In Season 2, the brothel Chez Amis was graced by Carrie, a young whore for whom psycho Walcott had taken a liking. Carrie was gutsy and made a big impact on Walcott but she met a gruesome end when Walcott's murderous tendencies got the better of him and he slit her throat.

FLORA ANDERSON played by Kristen Bell

In Season 1, a young brother and sister arrived in camp looking for their missing father. Flora Anderson (Bell) and her younger brother Miles seemed down on their luck and in need of shelter. Swearengen had an eye on Flora to join his girls but couldn't persuade her but he did give Miles a job sweeping the floor of the Gem. Tolliver however was able to get Flora on board and Joanie took her under her wing. Being Deadwood of course, it doesn't end nicely and it turns out that the two teenagers have plans to rip off anyone they can. They choose the wrong people to cheat...