List of Murder, She Wrote characters
Encyclopedia
This is a list of fictional characters in the American television series Murder, She Wrote
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Last Expanded= April 2011.
. He is Cabot Cove’s leading physician and Jessica Fletcher’s best friend. Under the crusty Maine
exterior is a dedicated doctor with real compassion for his patients, a nurturing side that sometimes manifests itself in Seth’s protective tendencies toward Jessica. Seth is a widower, his wife Ruth having died before the series began. In the series four episode "Curse of the Daanav", Seth receives an invitation from his estranged brother's wife. The two reconcile after 30 years only for the brother to be murdered shortly after.
. Very little is known of Amos' career, he was the Sheriff for the first four seasons and was a deputy prior to that, all that is known about him before his career with the sheriff's department is that he was a bus driver one summer.
He retired as Cabot Cove's sheriff in 1988, moved to Kentucky
, and was replaced by Sheriff Mort Metzger.
.
.
. Specifically, Grady was the son of Frank Fletcher's late brother. Frank was the husband of Jessica.
It was Grady who, after secretly reading Jessica's first novel The Corpse Danced at Midnight, had it published.
Although Jessica seems to have a neverending collection of nieces and nephews, it is Grady that could be easily considered the closest thing she has to a son. In the series viewers learn that Grady was raised in part by Jessica and her husband Frank, after Grady's parents were killed in a car accident.
Bumbling, but good-natured, Grady seemed to always be moving from accounting job to accounting job. When he did have a job, murder would quickly follow. Usually a too-trusting Grady was accused of the murder and needed his Aunt Jessica to find the real killer.
His job troubles where about as bad as his difficulties with women. Grady, the shy innocent type, frequently had trouble finding a regular girl. He did eventually marry equally shy Donna Mayberry. Ironically his job troubles and women troubles converge when he finds out he worked for, and was fired by, Donna's father.
Grady and Donna had a son in the series, whom they name Frank, after Grady's Uncle.
who becomes friends with Jessica. The character was portrayed by Jerry Orbach
and was popular enough to garner his own, short-lived spinoff series in 1987, The Law & Harry McGraw
.
.
is a former jewel thief turned insurance claims investigator, who always solves his cases using unusual methods, and sends a copy of the story to his friend Jessica afterwards.
She is a very shy girl and was also an accountant like her father, although it was later discovered that she only pursued that career to make her father happy. She ended up giving up accounting after the first time we saw her to be a normal housewife, much to the horror of her father.
Donna's father was Franklin Mayberry, a very successful and ruthless accountant, whom Grady had at one point worked for and was fired by, although by the time we meet Franklin it seems that he has already forgotten this, as Donna said he probably would have. Donna's mother was Maisie Mayberry, an extremely neurotic woman who spent most of the wedding worrying about one thing or another. Also at the wedding were Donna's paternal Uncle Ben, and her maternal Uncle Ziggy with his new wife Valerie.
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
"
Last Expanded= April 2011.
Seth Hazlitt
Dr. Seth Hazlitt was played by William WindomWilliam Windom (actor)
William Windom is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his work on television, including several episodes of The Twilight Zone; playing the character of Glen Morley, a congressman from Minnesota like his own great-grandfather and namesake in The Farmer's Daughter; the character of John...
. He is Cabot Cove’s leading physician and Jessica Fletcher’s best friend. Under the crusty Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
exterior is a dedicated doctor with real compassion for his patients, a nurturing side that sometimes manifests itself in Seth’s protective tendencies toward Jessica. Seth is a widower, his wife Ruth having died before the series began. In the series four episode "Curse of the Daanav", Seth receives an invitation from his estranged brother's wife. The two reconcile after 30 years only for the brother to be murdered shortly after.
Amos Tupper
Amos Tupper is the original Sheriff of Cabot Cove and was played by Tom BosleyTom Bosley
Thomas Edward "Tom" Bosley was an American actor. Bosley is best known for portraying Howard Cunningham on the long-running ABC sitcom Happy Days. He also was featured in recurring roles on Murder, She Wrote, and Father Dowling Mysteries...
. Very little is known of Amos' career, he was the Sheriff for the first four seasons and was a deputy prior to that, all that is known about him before his career with the sheriff's department is that he was a bus driver one summer.
He retired as Cabot Cove's sheriff in 1988, moved to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and was replaced by Sheriff Mort Metzger.
Charlie Garett
Charles "Charlie" Garett is a P.I that Jessica encounters very often. He is portrayed by Wayne RogersWayne Rogers
William Wayne McMillan Rogers III is an American film and television actor, best known for playing the role of 'Trapper John' McIntyre in the U.S...
.
Mort Metzger
Mort Metzger was a former NYPD officer who replaced Amos Tupper as Cabot Cove's sheriff, in the mistaken anticipation of living in a more peaceful place. The character was played by Ron MasakRon Masak
Ron Masak is an American actor. He began on stage and much of his work is in theater. His first screen role was as the Harmonica Man in "The Purple Testament," an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1960...
.
Grady Fletcher
Grady Ambrose Fletcher is the nephew of the show's lead character Jessica Fletcher and was played by Michael HortonMichael Horton (actor)
Michael "Mike" Horton is an American character actor and voice over artist most remembered for his long-running role as Jessica Fletcher's nephew, Grady Fletcher, on the television series Murder, She Wrote...
. Specifically, Grady was the son of Frank Fletcher's late brother. Frank was the husband of Jessica.
It was Grady who, after secretly reading Jessica's first novel The Corpse Danced at Midnight, had it published.
Although Jessica seems to have a neverending collection of nieces and nephews, it is Grady that could be easily considered the closest thing she has to a son. In the series viewers learn that Grady was raised in part by Jessica and her husband Frank, after Grady's parents were killed in a car accident.
Bumbling, but good-natured, Grady seemed to always be moving from accounting job to accounting job. When he did have a job, murder would quickly follow. Usually a too-trusting Grady was accused of the murder and needed his Aunt Jessica to find the real killer.
His job troubles where about as bad as his difficulties with women. Grady, the shy innocent type, frequently had trouble finding a regular girl. He did eventually marry equally shy Donna Mayberry. Ironically his job troubles and women troubles converge when he finds out he worked for, and was fired by, Donna's father.
Grady and Donna had a son in the series, whom they name Frank, after Grady's Uncle.
Harry McGraw
Harry McGraw is an old-school private investigatorPrivate investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
who becomes friends with Jessica. The character was portrayed by Jerry Orbach
Jerry Orbach
Jerome Bernard "Jerry" Orbach was an American actor and singer. He was well known for his starring role as Detective Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and as the voice of Lumière in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As well, Orbach was a noted musical theatre star...
and was popular enough to garner his own, short-lived spinoff series in 1987, The Law & Harry McGraw
The Law & Harry McGraw
The Law & Harry McGraw is an American TV series that ran on CBS from September 27, 1987 to February 10, 1988. It is a spin-off from the mystery series Murder, She Wrote....
.
Michael Hagarty
Michael Hagarty is a British MI6 agent of Irish origin, who would appear when Jessica least expected him to drag her into a dangerous case. He was played by Len CariouLen Cariou
Leonard Joseph “Len” Cariou is a Canadian actor, best known for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd in the original cast of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street...
.
Dennis Stanton
Dennis Stanton played by Keith MichellKeith Michell
Keith Michell is an Australian actor, particularly noted for his television and film performances as King Henry VIII of England.- Early life :He was born in Adelaide and brought up in Warnertown, near Port Pirie...
is a former jewel thief turned insurance claims investigator, who always solves his cases using unusual methods, and sends a copy of the story to his friend Jessica afterwards.
Donna Mayberry
Donna Mayberry Fletcher was played by Debbie Zipp. Donna married Grady Fletcher in an episode of the fifth season called "Something Borrowed, Someone Blue". Donna had appeared previously in two episodes, the first of which was "Just Another Fish Story", in which she was arrested for the murder that had occurred that episode, however it was considered to be self defense, and married Grady only a year later.She is a very shy girl and was also an accountant like her father, although it was later discovered that she only pursued that career to make her father happy. She ended up giving up accounting after the first time we saw her to be a normal housewife, much to the horror of her father.
Donna's father was Franklin Mayberry, a very successful and ruthless accountant, whom Grady had at one point worked for and was fired by, although by the time we meet Franklin it seems that he has already forgotten this, as Donna said he probably would have. Donna's mother was Maisie Mayberry, an extremely neurotic woman who spent most of the wedding worrying about one thing or another. Also at the wedding were Donna's paternal Uncle Ben, and her maternal Uncle Ziggy with his new wife Valerie.