Megan Russert
Encyclopedia
Detective Megan Russert is a fictional character on Homicide: Life on the Street
played by Isabella Hofmann
. At the time of her introduction in the premiere episode of the third season, she is a lieutenant who takes charge of the homicide unit's second shift after the previous commander's retirement. Later in the season, a vacancy opens up in the chain of command and she is promoted to captain on a trial basis, as a token of the city's commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.
Although she and Al Giardello
get along reasonably well, he resents that she was promoted before him even though he had seniority over her. For her part she occasionally feels that he is diminishing or ignoring her authority. Her "softer" personality and ethical concerns about Frank Pembleton
's interrogation methods also put her at odds with others. Her connections to national security
officers, however, made her a valuable addition on certain cases.
She is a widow, with one daughter named Caroline. Her husband was a tax attorney named Mike, introduced to her by her sister Eileen at a holiday party for the CPA firm where Eileen worked. Russert for the most part did not date during her two seasons on the series, though she did have a brief affair with Beau Felton
, played by Daniel Baldwin
. She ended it for a variety of reasons, but supported him as a friend after the breakdown of his marriage.
She is a first cousin to the real life Tim Russert
, who appears in "The Old and the Dead." In a later episode titled "Stakeout" she mentions her famous cousin to a one-shot character named Cathy Buxton (played by Kate Walsh
), but the character is unimpressed as she watches a news show that competes with Russert's.
In season 4, Felton is suspended, ending their connection. In the first of two episodes concerning a sniper, she angers her boss, Colonel George Barnfather
, due to problems at a press conference she held and the later suicide of the first sniper. Barnfather swiftly demotes her three ranks to detective; when the shootings begin again, she joins Giardello's shift and eventually gets the second sniper to confess. For the remainder of the season, she is partnered with John Munch
.
Her apparent disappointments led her to start a new life in Europe with an ambassador to France, and she was gone from Baltimore at the start of Season 5. Other than an appearance during this season's finale in which she briefly returned from France to mourn and investigate the death of Felton, this ended the role of her character in the series. She returned in Homicide: The Movie
, a post-series reunion released in 2000.
Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de-facto series finale...
played by Isabella Hofmann
Isabella Hofmann
Isabella Hofmann is an American actress, born in Chicago, Illinois. She is best known for her lead role on Homicide: Life on the Street as Lt. / Capt. / Det...
. At the time of her introduction in the premiere episode of the third season, she is a lieutenant who takes charge of the homicide unit's second shift after the previous commander's retirement. Later in the season, a vacancy opens up in the chain of command and she is promoted to captain on a trial basis, as a token of the city's commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.
Although she and Al Giardello
Al Giardello
Alphonse Michael Giardello, Sr. is a fictional character from the television drama Homicide: Life on the Street. The character was played by Yaphet Kotto...
get along reasonably well, he resents that she was promoted before him even though he had seniority over her. For her part she occasionally feels that he is diminishing or ignoring her authority. Her "softer" personality and ethical concerns about Frank Pembleton
Frank Pembleton
Francis Xavier "Frank" Pembleton is a fictional homicide detective on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Andre Braugher. He is a primary character of the show through the first six seasons...
's interrogation methods also put her at odds with others. Her connections to national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
officers, however, made her a valuable addition on certain cases.
She is a widow, with one daughter named Caroline. Her husband was a tax attorney named Mike, introduced to her by her sister Eileen at a holiday party for the CPA firm where Eileen worked. Russert for the most part did not date during her two seasons on the series, though she did have a brief affair with Beau Felton
Beau Felton
Det. Beauregard D. 'Beau' Felton is a fictional character on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Daniel Baldwin for seasons 1-3. He was loosely based on Det...
, played by Daniel Baldwin
Daniel Baldwin
Daniel Leroy Baldwin is an American actor, producer and director. He is the second oldest of the four Baldwin brothers, all of whom are actors. Daniel Baldwin is known for his role as Detective Beau Felton in the popular NBC TV series Homicide: Life on the Street...
. She ended it for a variety of reasons, but supported him as a friend after the breakdown of his marriage.
She is a first cousin to the real life Tim Russert
Tim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
, who appears in "The Old and the Dead." In a later episode titled "Stakeout" she mentions her famous cousin to a one-shot character named Cathy Buxton (played by Kate Walsh
Kate Walsh (actor)
Kathleen Erin "Kate" Walsh is an American film and television actress, currently known for her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery on the ABC dramas Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.-Early life:...
), but the character is unimpressed as she watches a news show that competes with Russert's.
In season 4, Felton is suspended, ending their connection. In the first of two episodes concerning a sniper, she angers her boss, Colonel George Barnfather
George Barnfather
George Barnfather is a fictional Deputy Commissioner in the Baltimore Police Department on Homicide: Life on the Street, played by Clayton LeBouef.Barnfather first appeared in the series as a Captain whose command was over the Homicide Section...
, due to problems at a press conference she held and the later suicide of the first sniper. Barnfather swiftly demotes her three ranks to detective; when the shootings begin again, she joins Giardello's shift and eventually gets the second sniper to confess. For the remainder of the season, she is partnered with John Munch
John Munch
Sergeant John Munch is a fictional character played by actor Richard Belzer. Munch first appeared on Homicide: Life on the Street. Upon that series' cancellation, the character was transplanted to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the first spin-off of the Law & Order franchise...
.
Her apparent disappointments led her to start a new life in Europe with an ambassador to France, and she was gone from Baltimore at the start of Season 5. Other than an appearance during this season's finale in which she briefly returned from France to mourn and investigate the death of Felton, this ended the role of her character in the series. She returned in Homicide: The Movie
Homicide: The Movie
Homicide: The Movie is a television movie that aired 13 February 2000, one year after the completion of the American police drama television series Homicide: Life on the Street...
, a post-series reunion released in 2000.