Constable Benton Fraser
Constable Benton Fraser (rhymes with 'razor') is a modest man of firm character. He was raised by his librarian grandparents after his mother died when Benton was six years of age. He spent most of his childhood in the far reaches of the Northwest Territories, living in Alert, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, among other places. His father, Sgt. Robert Fraser, was a career Mountie, apparently rarely home, but served as a role model for Fraser, who later joined the R.C.M.P. himself. Sgt. Fraser's death was a turning point in Fraser's life, as it brought about the inquiry that resulted in his posting to Chicago. Fraser is still influenced by his father from beyond the grave, reading his father's journals when seeking advice or insight into difficult situations. In times of stress, his father appears to him and they hold conversations, although not always bringing the answers that Fraser needs.
Fraser's upbringing in the "Territories" (presumed to be the Northwest Territories, although this is not explicitly stated), and subsequent postings there brought him in contact with the Inuit, whom he respects greatly. The Inuit are responsible for developing his talents in backwoods survival and tracking skills, but more importantly, for his attitudes toward respecting life. As the Inuit are a significant point of reference for Fraser, he is often found relating an Inuit tale to make a point.
Fraser had been a member of the R.C.M.P. for 13 years at the time of the Pilot, and was approximately 34 years old (he was 7 years old in '69) in 1994. He is known for his tenaciousness in tracking and apprehending his chosen quarry, and is considered diligent to the point of folly by some of his peers. The specialized nature of his tracking skills have resulted in continual postings to remote areas; his only posting to a city (Moose Jaw) ended after just five weeks, terminated by his inability to adjust to city life.
He has made his life in Chicago little different from a posting in the far North of Canada. Arriving with only a backpack containing uniforms, bedroll and camping gear, he now resides in an austere apartment where the only personal items are his clothes, a poster and his father's locker. In deference to city living he has added items like a lamp, but mostly relies on borrowing modern conveniences (which are usually broken!) from his neighbors when the situation warrants, and he usually feels compelled to fix them before returning the items.
Fraser's relationship with Ray Vecchio is based on respect for their common interest in upholding the law ("Maintiens le droit" being the Mountie motto). Ray's casual attitude about the finer points of the law, such as use of turn signals, has been known to irritate Fraser, which only encourages Ray to further transgressions. Nonetheless, they share a willingness to go to any lengths to see justice done.
Fraser's constant companion through all this is a deaf wolf, Diefenbaker, who saved Fraser's life by pulling him out of Prince Rupert Sound. As a rule, Diefenbaker ignores Fraser, who attributes Dief's intransigence to the wolf's deafness. Fraser finds Dief's independence irritating, but he wouldn't have it any other way, maintaining Dief's right to make his own decisions.
Admittedly, Fraser is attractive, a fact not unnoticed by apparently all members of the opposite sex. The attentions of the women with whom he comes in contact appear to confuse him, resulting in his ignoring all their overtures with polite disregard. All except for Victoria Metcalf, a bank robber whom he once arrested. In the course of tracking her, he spent several days with her caught in a snowstorm, somehow attributing their survival to her. Despite this, he still turned her over to authorities when they reached civilization, a fact that he has somehow regretted ever since. He has convinced himself that she is the only woman he will ever love, a fact that has tragic results when they meet again.
When his superior (Inspector Moffat) was promoted, Fraser was given a new and more determined superior -- Inspector Margaret Thatcher. At first she disliked him - and fired him -- but soon the two Mounties became attracted to each other. They expressed their desire for each other on top of a runaway train filled with 32 unconscious Mounties but after that, the relationship cooled -- only because it didn't seem to be proper decorum.
Fraser has other skills to offer - a good singing voice, a fine drawing hand, typing and computer skills (100 words per minute; he can use Chicago PD computers which Ray seemingly cannot), horseback riding, and dogsled driving. All valuable skills that contribute greatly to his present duties as doorman at the Canadian consulate.
A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
Detective Ray Vecchio
Ray Vecchio, detective with the Chicago Police Department, is the product of a big Italian family. With a close family, he is about as different from Fraser as a man can get. Extroverted, he shares the house left to him by his father with his mother, his divorced sister Francesca, married sister Maria and her lazy husband Tony.
On the Chicago police force for approximately a decade, Ray, presumably in his early to mid 30's, is a plainclothes detective, although plain hardly describes his apparel. Ray is known for his distinctive clothes, adopted partly to blend in with the neighborhood where his criminal quarry reside. Fortunately as his undercover work dwindled, his attire approved. His unconventional, breezy, working style is regarded with resignation by his peers, as he apparently gets results. Ray takes great pride in his 1971 Buick Riviera for reasons known only to him. He is now on his third one, as he shot and blew up the first one to save his and Fraser's lives, and the second one was destroyed in a car bomb meant for him (but which tragically killed Louis Gardino).
Ray's relationship to Fraser started out as exasperation as Fraser involved him in case after case, but he has come around to appreciate the effectiveness of techniques that are as quirky as his own. Underneath, Ray is as dedicated to seeing justice done as Fraser is, only with a more pragmatic attitude that balances effort against the probable result.
Given the amount of time Ray spends on the job, he has very little social life. The one woman that touched his heart was an undercover agent for the department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, agent Suzanne Chapin, who ran him over, shot at him, then hit him in the head with her gun. It was obvious that the attraction was there. But she left town when the job was done -- never to contact Ray again?
In Season 2, it was revealed that Ray was divorced. His ex-wife Angie lives in or around town.
He also pursued, and courted briefly, State's Attorney Louise St. Laurent. However, this relationship did not develop and the two have remained platonic friends (or adversaries, in some instances.)
In Seasons 3/4, Ray will be seen in the first episode, which will explain his disappearance. Ray will be going deep undercover in the Mob while Stanley Kowalski masquerades as Ray. He will appear again in the last episode, "Call of the Wild."
A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
Diefenbaker
Diefenbaker is a wolf-dog hybrid whom Fraser rescued as a pup from an abandoned mine shaft in the Yukon. Diefenbaker also saved the Mountie's life by pulling him onto the safety of an ice floe in a frigid sound. He has been with Fraser virtually all of his life, demonstrating the same tenacity in pursuing his prey as is shown by Fraser. Diefenbaker is reportedly deaf (the result of exposure to the above-mentioned frigid water), but is believed by Fraser to be able to read lips -- when he wants to. However, there is much evidence to the contrary as to Dief's deafness. Perhaps it is only 'selective' deafness.
Dief has settled into Chicago life, developing his own local pack and selecting a mate, a Husky named Maggie with whom he sired a litter of three puppies.
A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
Detective Stanley Raymond Kowalski
A detective who has seen it all, and whose personal life seems to be a mess, Kowalski jumps at the chance to be someone else - namely, Ray Vecchio, who has gone undercover with the Mob. With his marriage to Stella (his childhood sweetheart) over, his parents living out of state, and barely any contact with his extremely successful brother, he seems perfect for the job. However, only time will tell if he can deal with the detail-oriented Fraser, who upon meeting Stan for the first time, fingerprinted him, took dental imprints, and more - to find out exactly who he was!
Unlike Ray Vecchio, Stan does not wear Armani. He's a blue jeans, t-shirt, boots kind of guy. He needs glasses to see in the distance, but doesn't always wear them, and can't be bothered with contact lenses. This doesn't improve his shooting skills one bit. He doesn't drive a Riv (has a classic black GTO instead) and lives in his own apartment. He likes to dance.
A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
Supporting Cast
It goes without saying that Fraser and Ray/Stan do occasionally need assistance in their endeavors....
- Lt. Harding Welsh is Ray's (and Stan's) current superior (Ray's former superior was Lt. Will Kelly, as seen in the episode "The Duel"). In his fifties or so, he has a pragmatic attitude towards his job, which is good considering how much grief Ray and Fraser seem to bring to the station. He's married, or maybe not, as it was once mentioned that he had a wife, but then he was taking Dr. Pearson to the opera, and had eyes for his boss, Commander Sherry O'Neill. He has a brother named Wilson, who is a sheriff in a small town. - A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
- Elaine Besbriss is a young woman who worked as a Civilian Aide at the 27th District. She did a lot of the 'grunt' work for Ray - mostly on her computer. She lives alone, is single, and has a case of unrequited love for Fraser. Look for radical changes in Season 3 - she becomes a police officer in the episode "I Coulda Been a Defendent." After that episode, she will be replaced by Francesca, as actress Catherine Bruhier has left the series to pursue her career in L.A. - A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
- Detective Jack Huey is an detective in the 27th District, he has occasionally worked with Ray but was partnered with Louis Gardino until that detective's untimely demise. He and Louis didn't particularly care for Ray, and at times seemed to be rivals, but when the chips are down, they both work for the same team. - A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
- Detective Louis Gardino was rather loud and brash, Louis was Jack Huey's partner until he died in a car bombing meant for Ray ("Juliet is Bleeding"). His taste in clothing was questionable (he owned a ghastly tuxedo) and he was prone to complain just as much as Ray. - A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
- Detective Thomas E. Dewey - Little is known about Dewey's background except that he's named after an uncle, not the American politican. He's in his mid-thirties with dark brown hair, and is similar to Louis Gardino in attitude. - A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
- Sergeant Robert Fraser - The ghost of Fraser's father, Sgt. Robert Fraser, appears to Fraser whenever Fraser seemingly needs moral support or advice. Or sometimes he just plain bothers his son. He has built his own office in Seasons 3/4 -- in Fraser's coat closet at the Consulate. - A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
- Francesca Vecchio is Ray's sister, who is smitten with Fraser and schemes to catch his eye (and whatever else that is within reach). She and Fraser seem to have reached an agreement about how to handle this odd relationship, achieving a truce that both worries and puzzles Ray. In Seasons 3/4, she has a job at the stationhouse. Pity poor Lt. Welsh, for he must put up her idea of a regulation uniform (which isn't much) as well as unauthorized cappuccino machines! - A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
- Inspector Margaret Thatcher - Fraser apparently has eyes for his new superior, Inspector Margaret Thatcher. She replaced Inspector Moffat during Fraser's recuperation from his bullet wound ("Letting Go"). At first the two Mounties didn't see eye to eye; in fact, she fired Fraser! However, they now seem to get along and there is the potential for a romantic involvement, as evidenced by their kiss in All the Queen's Horses. She is back for Seasons 3/4, and has a new, shorter haircut. - A Character Sketch * with more detailed information has been created.
Semi-Regulars
Certain characters appear occasionally, but to great effect.
- Occasionally Consulate personnel are shown, to reinforce the importance of Fraser's position in Canadian foreign affairs. One person is the young Constable Turnbull, whose dead seriousness in his job makes Fraser look downright relaxed at times. He returned for Seasons 3/4.
- Ray's father, who died in 1989, has appeared as a ghost on occasion, but with less frequency than Sgt. Fraser. He is an abrasive sort who, by Ray's own admission, was a lousy father. He was not in Seasons 3/4.
- Stan's ex-wife, Stella Kowalski, proves to be a formidable adversary for him and others. An Assistant State's Attorney, her job brings her into contact with her former husband. They still love each other, but apparently whatever differences drove them to divorce, conspire to keep the two apart. Stan and Stella were childhood sweethearts.
Special Guests
Certain characters have appeared only once or twice, but have contributed greatly to the episodes in question.
- Sgt. Buck Frobisher is a friend of Fraser's father, and a role model for Fraser. Fraser helped the man when an escaped convict was out for Frobisher's blood ("Manhunt"). The older Mountie reappeared again when a train loaded with Mounties was abducted by a madman in "All the Queen's Horses." It was in this episode that we learned a lot more about Frobisher's sense of humor. He appeared in "Call of the Wild," the series finale.
- Willie, a mischief-maker in Chicago, is a young teenager whom Fraser took under his wing. Check out "Free Willie" and "The Wild Bunch."
- Victoria Metcalf was Fraser's one and only love. Fraser arrested her for her participation in an Alaskan bank robbery in the 1980's. After her release from prison nearly a decade later she enacted her revenge by seducing him, then blackmailing him to convert stolen money into diamonds. In the end Fraser was accidentally shot in the back by Ray while she escaped. [The name was spelled 'Metcalf' on the script, and did not have an 'e' at the end.] She appeared in the episode "Victoria's Secret" and briefly in "Letting Go." For information on the actress who played here, please check out the Melina Kanakaredes * page.
- Suzanne Chapin, an agent from the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, caught Ray's eye and his heart, even though he thought she was a felon and pistol-whipped him! There seemed to be an attraction between the two but she had not been seen past the episode "You Must Remember This."
- Angie Vecchio, Ray's ex-wife. A former(?) police officer. Why they divorced is unknown, although the two seem to be on amicable terms. Angie showed up in "One Good Man" and "The Duel." She did not appear in Seasons 3/4.
- Ian MacDonald is a young pathological liar whom Fraser once had to extradite back to Canada. This resulted in the loss of Ray's first Riviera. He came back once after that to plague both Fraser and Ray with stories of alien abductions and got both Fraser and Ray tossed into jail by the U.S. government! He did not appear in the seasons 3/4.
- Irene Zuko, a love from Ray's teenage years. She married someone else and left town, but returned when the marriage broke up. Ray rekindled their romance, only her brother Frank Zuko (Ray's lifelong enemy) did not like it. Tragically, she died in a fight between Ray and Frank.
For more detail on all of the above characters, please check out the Character Sketches * site.
This page is now registered with Yahoo!.