Detective Stanley Kowalski

AGE:
Mid-to-late 30's.

HEIGHT:
5' 10-1/2"

WEIGHT:
159 lbs.

HAIR:
Short blond hair.

EYES:
Blue.

YEARS ON FORCE:
Unknown, but in the episode The Ladies Man, we found out that eight years ago he was a rookie in uniform.

PERSONAL PROFILE:
Stanley Raymond Kowalski may be new to the 27th District, but he has been a detective in the Chicago Police Department for a while. Like Ray Vecchio, he is street-smart from years of experience, but he has not let that totally sour him on the human condition.

With his personal life bottomed out from his divorce from Stella, Stan jumped at the opportunity to put his life in the past and forge ahead. When Ray Vecchio suddenly went undercover with the Mob, Stan literally took over Vecchio's identity. Fortunately he answers easily to the name Ray, as that is his middle name (which he prefers over Stan). However, with assuming another's man identity comes that man's problems as well (Internal Affairs (IAD), dead bodies, and a sharp-tongued sister). Stan seems to be taking it in stride, although he occasionally crosses path with Stella in the course of investigations.

He has received citations for bravery earlier in his career, and will risk his live to save innocent civilians (and in one instance, was shot). (Eclipse)

How did Stan end up with such a contrived name? His father was a Brando fan ("Streetcar Named Desire") (Eclipse)

FAMILY:
Stan's parents, Derek (or Damian - he's had two names on the official DS web site) and Barbara, live out of state. They showed up in the episode Easy Money. His father was a blue-collar worker (worked in a meat-packing plant) who wanted better for his son, and might have gotten it in the extremely successful other son, who Stan barely sees. (Supplied by official Alliance press release - the brother has yet to be seen.) However, Stan and his father did not get along because Stan became a cop.

LOVE LIFE:
Down in the dumps at the moment. He fell in love with Stella Kowalski when they were just kids. They married as adults. However, Stan wanted kids, and Stella wanted a career. That unsolved problem helped break up their marriage after several years. Stan still loves Stella, and she still loves him, but it seems very unlikely they will get back together. They work together since Stella (who retained her married name of Kowalski) is the Assistant State's Attorney.

Meanwhile, Stan was seen pursuing Elaine and Francesca, but neither woman paid him any attention. It is quite possible that those actions could have been an 'on the rebound' type reaction to his failed marriage.

He arrested a woman for passing bad checks, but apparently she must have gotten off, for they both went down to Mexico to Club Couples. She dumped him almost immediately for a poncho salesman. (Doctor Longball)

He fell for Luanne Russell, the caretaker for the aging Mrs. Tucci, but suspected her of possibly killing Mr. Tucci. His suspicions proved wrong, and she broke off any possible relationship they could have had. (A Likely Story)

FRIENDS:
We have seen no friends from his 'former' life as Stan Kowalski, however, he is bound to have friends. The only person we have seen him 'pal around' with is Fraser.

RELIGION:
None has been mentioned.

HOME:
Although it has been shown several times that the real Ray Vecchio lives in at home, Stan has his own apartment which he has not vacated, despite the ruse. It is very much a bachelor pad of sorts, with a bicycle hanging off one wall, a neon clock, and a terrarium for his pet turtle.

INJURIES:

• Briefly knocked out; sustained cut on head. (Asylum)
• Was bit on left ear by Adolph Kuzma. No lasting damage. (Dead Guy Running)
• This could more like mental anguish... His conscience got the better of him, and he re-investigated with Fraser's help, the evidence which helped convict Beth Boetrelle of killing her husband. His arrest of the woman was key in her conviction. Literally in the nick of time, they proved her innocent of the murder, but Stan still lives with the guilt of the woman having spent eight years in jail for a crime she did not commit. (The Ladies Man)

ATTIRE:
Although he is impersonating Ray Vecchio, we have yet to see him in the normal Vecchio attire: Armani suits. Stan is more a blue jeans, T-shirts kind of guy. He wears black biker type boots, white T-shirts and short-sleeved shirts. Has a pair of brown cowboy boots. Has a raincoat. He is not a fashion-plate, by any means. He does own a tie. (Odds)

MISCELLANEOUS:

• As a child, Stan was abducted by a UFO. (so said Fraser, in episode Seeing is Believing)
• Stan's high school grade point average was 62%. (Spy vs. Spy)
• Stan has 20/45 vision with slight astigmatism (which is why he wears glasses, when he wears them). (Spy vs. Spy)
• Stan cannot swim, but managed to learn to dog paddle to survive. (Mountie on the Bounty) However, no mention was made of his lack of swimming talent when he drove the Riv in the lake in Burning Down the House.
• He has a Spark Plug logo tattoo on his right upper arm. (Mountie & Soul)
• Stan likes to box, but is not the best at it. However, he did coach a young man. (Mountie & Soul)
• Likes to dump Smarties (Canadian version of M&Ms) into his coffee.
• He loves to dance. (Strange Bedfellows)
• Has a pet turtle. (Spy vs Spy)
• Went to a fantasy baseball camp (the kind you pay to play with pro players). (Doctor Longball).
• Was insufferable after hitting a homerun for the Willison Hawkeyes. (Doctor Longball)
• Can be obsessive: he nearly threw away his job (and Ray's!) in pursuit of a criminal from his past in Eclipse; he actually kept closer tabs than he should have on his ex-wife's dating habits in Strange Bedfellows.
• Stan has a prized black GTO that he and his father refurbished; his father brought it back to him in the episode Easy Money, and now Stan (for better or worse) drives it during work. It was once stolen, but fortunately recovered. (Mojo Rising)
• Stan once had a pet dog, but it was hit by a car and died. (The Ladies Man)
• Stan has never killed anyone. (The Ladies Man)

For information on the actor who portrays this character, please see the Callum Keith Rennie page.