Slim Charles
Encyclopedia
Slim Charles is a fictional member of the drug trade in the HBO drama The Wire
, played by Anwan Glover
. An enforcer for the Barksdale Organization
and later the top lieutenant of kingpin Proposition Joe Stewart, he shows integrity, loyalty and competence throughout his career.
The saga of the Barksdale Organization and the Stanfield Organization
makes up the backbone of The Wire; of the thirty or so characters connected with these gangs and those of Proposition Joe and Omar Little
, Slim Charles is effectively the "last man standing," as by the end of the series most of the others are dead, and all the rest are incarcerated, neutralized, or have quit. As such, he can be viewed as the only winner in the drug trade plotline, particularly as in the series finale he progresses, along with the much less significant Fat Face Rick, to the leadership of the New Day Co-Op
and the pinnacle of the Baltimore
drugs trade.
, who is acting boss of the Barksdale Organization following the arrests of Avon Barksdale
and several of the organization's original enforcers. Slim is first seen at the Barksdale strategy meeting following the demolition of the high rise projects. Shortly after, Omar Little
attempts to rob a stash house that is under Slim's charge. Omar detains three of its guards, but is surprised by Slim Charles and three others, who recover the drugs in a firefight that leaves Tosha and Tank dead. When Avon is released, Slim Charles is the only person he consults when the kingpin decides to go to war with Marlo Stanfield
. On Avon's orders, Slim Charles puts together a team to strike against Marlo's subordinates. The team is headed by the experienced trio of Cutty, Country and Slim Charles, but on the opening day of hostilities Country is killed and Cutty quits, leaving Slim as the unquestioned Barksdale chief enforcer in the war. Although Charles proves himself a capable and loyal soldier on many occasions, the support he gathers around himself is not up to the task. He is involved at an organizational level with the assassinations of Marlo and Omar, although he has a hands-on role in neither of the plans. When the operation against Marlo backfires and Avon is wounded, Charles brings a surgeon to the warehouse where the Barksdales regroup. Meanwhile, when Gerard and Sapper sight Omar and phone Charles to confirm that he wants them to kill him even though it is a Sunday morning, he does not answer the phone - Gerrard dismissively says that Charles must be sleeping in. However, after this operation too is botched, Charles angrily reproves the pair before sending them to see Avon Barksdale himself. Near the end of the war, he is taken aback by Stringer's demand that he must kill Senator Clay Davis, protesting that "...murder ain't no thing, but this here's some assassination shit." Shown up as a gangster without the political sensitivity of even Slim Charles, Stringer storms off and is caught in a fatal ambush set up by Omar and Brother Mouzone.
Slim Charles consoles Avon after Stringer's death. When Avon tells Charles that he has lost heart for the war and that Stanfield was not responsible for the crime, Charles, now the organization's second-in-command, reminds him that they are in a war with no way to back down, and they must blame Stanfield in order to rally their troops. Shortly after, Slim Charles sees another opportunity to kill Stanfield when he finds him at Vinson's rimshop with little protection. He phones Avon, who gathers weapons and soldiers at a stash house and is promptly arrested, along with most of his men, in a police raid. Slim Charles escapes arrest and prosecution because he is still waiting outside the rimshop at the time of the raid.
and the remaining Barksdale drug dealers with narcotics. With this product as a firm foundation, Bodie builds a successful operation, until Marlo effortlessly threatens the helpless Bodie to work for him or be killed. This is the culmination of a series of events that make the nervous Co-Op keen to deal with the problem of Marlo, and they decide to negotiate with him. Charles loses the organization that he inherited from Avon, and he subsequently becomes one of Joe's lieutenants. When Joe's first meeting fails to convince Marlo it is Charles who approaches Chris Partlow
to arrange a second sit down. In between his responsibilities as the East side's head enforcer, Charles still independently visits Bodie and Poot Carr
as a confidant. As a gift to Marlo when an alliance is agreed upon, Joe orders Charles to betray Old Face Andre and hand him over to Marlo for execution. Later on, however, it is implied that Charles does not approve of Marlo's murderous enforcement. He never says so directly, but it can be surmised by his reaction to the death of Little Kevin. He is concerned enough by the crime to tell Bodie that his friend has been executed; Bodie's subsequent crusade against Marlo quickly gets him killed, leaving Slim one of the last Barksdale survivors.
In the series finale, with the end of the Stanfield Organization, Slim and Cheese are among the remaining drug lords who band together to buy off Marlo the connection to Baltimore's best drug suppliers, the Greeks, a connection which Marlo stole from Proposition Joe. As the kingpins gather to discuss business, Cheese loses his temper and draws his gun on Rick to reassert control of the meeting. Slim shoots Cheese in the head, ending the latter's rant and proclamation for control as the new kingpin. When the Co-Op realize what he has done, Slim simply says, "That was for Joe." The other members' immediate reactions are coldly dispassionate: Clinton "Shorty" Buise criticizes Slim because now they have to pay more money to make up for the lack of Cheese's bid. Slim is thus shown to be standing up for values of decency and loyalty in a world where Cheese believed they have no place. In the ending montage, it is shown that Slim and Fat Face Rick are representing the new Co-Op to the Greeks.
The Wire (TV series)
The Wire is an American television drama series set and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States...
, played by Anwan Glover
Anwan Glover
Ralph Anwan Glover is an American actor and musician. He is one of the founding members of the Backyard Band, a go-go band, as well as appearing as gang member Slim Charles in the HBO series The Wire. He has also appeared in music videos, such as Boyz n da Hood's "Dem Boyz" among others, and has a...
. An enforcer for the Barksdale Organization
Barksdale Organization
In the television series The Wire, the fictional Barksdale Organization led by Avon Barksdale began as the most powerful and violent drug crew in Baltimore, Maryland and was the main focus of investigation in seasons one and three...
and later the top lieutenant of kingpin Proposition Joe Stewart, he shows integrity, loyalty and competence throughout his career.
The saga of the Barksdale Organization and the Stanfield Organization
Stanfield Organization
On the fictional television drama The Wire, the Stanfield Organization is a criminal organization led by Marlo Stanfield. The Organization is introduced in Season Three of The Wire as a growing and significantly violent drug syndicate...
makes up the backbone of The Wire; of the thirty or so characters connected with these gangs and those of Proposition Joe and Omar Little
Omar Little
Omar Devone Little is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, portrayed by Michael K. Williams. Omar is a renowned stick-up man who lives by a strict moral code and never deviates from his rules, foremost of which is that he never robs or menaces people who are not involved in "the game"....
, Slim Charles is effectively the "last man standing," as by the end of the series most of the others are dead, and all the rest are incarcerated, neutralized, or have quit. As such, he can be viewed as the only winner in the drug trade plotline, particularly as in the series finale he progresses, along with the much less significant Fat Face Rick, to the leadership of the New Day Co-Op
New Day Co-Op
The New Day Co-Op is a fictional criminal organization on the HBO drama television series The Wire. The New Day Co-Op, commonly referred to as the Co-Op, is a democratic alliance of drug dealers formed in the interests of promoting business and reducing violence. There are at least a dozen members...
and the pinnacle of the Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
drugs trade.
Season 3
Slim Charles is hired as "muscle" by Stringer BellStringer Bell
Russell "Stringer" Bell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by English actor Idris Elba. Bell served as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale's second in command, assuming direct control of the Barksdale Organization during Avon's imprisonment...
, who is acting boss of the Barksdale Organization following the arrests of Avon Barksdale
Avon Barksdale
Avon Randolph Barksdale is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire portrayed by actor Wood Harris. Avon is the dominant drug dealer of Baltimore's West Side, running the Barksdale Organization...
and several of the organization's original enforcers. Slim is first seen at the Barksdale strategy meeting following the demolition of the high rise projects. Shortly after, Omar Little
Omar Little
Omar Devone Little is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, portrayed by Michael K. Williams. Omar is a renowned stick-up man who lives by a strict moral code and never deviates from his rules, foremost of which is that he never robs or menaces people who are not involved in "the game"....
attempts to rob a stash house that is under Slim's charge. Omar detains three of its guards, but is surprised by Slim Charles and three others, who recover the drugs in a firefight that leaves Tosha and Tank dead. When Avon is released, Slim Charles is the only person he consults when the kingpin decides to go to war with Marlo Stanfield
Marlo Stanfield
Marlo "Black" Stanfield is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Jamie Hector. Stanfield is a young, ruthless and ambitious player in the Baltimore drug trade who gains control of West Baltimore and is the head of his own drug crew.-Character background and plot...
. On Avon's orders, Slim Charles puts together a team to strike against Marlo's subordinates. The team is headed by the experienced trio of Cutty, Country and Slim Charles, but on the opening day of hostilities Country is killed and Cutty quits, leaving Slim as the unquestioned Barksdale chief enforcer in the war. Although Charles proves himself a capable and loyal soldier on many occasions, the support he gathers around himself is not up to the task. He is involved at an organizational level with the assassinations of Marlo and Omar, although he has a hands-on role in neither of the plans. When the operation against Marlo backfires and Avon is wounded, Charles brings a surgeon to the warehouse where the Barksdales regroup. Meanwhile, when Gerard and Sapper sight Omar and phone Charles to confirm that he wants them to kill him even though it is a Sunday morning, he does not answer the phone - Gerrard dismissively says that Charles must be sleeping in. However, after this operation too is botched, Charles angrily reproves the pair before sending them to see Avon Barksdale himself. Near the end of the war, he is taken aback by Stringer's demand that he must kill Senator Clay Davis, protesting that "...murder ain't no thing, but this here's some assassination shit." Shown up as a gangster without the political sensitivity of even Slim Charles, Stringer storms off and is caught in a fatal ambush set up by Omar and Brother Mouzone.
Slim Charles consoles Avon after Stringer's death. When Avon tells Charles that he has lost heart for the war and that Stanfield was not responsible for the crime, Charles, now the organization's second-in-command, reminds him that they are in a war with no way to back down, and they must blame Stanfield in order to rally their troops. Shortly after, Slim Charles sees another opportunity to kill Stanfield when he finds him at Vinson's rimshop with little protection. He phones Avon, who gathers weapons and soldiers at a stash house and is promptly arrested, along with most of his men, in a police raid. Slim Charles escapes arrest and prosecution because he is still waiting outside the rimshop at the time of the raid.
Season 4
As Season four commences, Slim has become de facto head of the gutted Barksdale organization, being one of few remaining Barksdale loyalists not jailed or dead. Slim strengthens the organization's relationship with Proposition Joe, who takes Charles under his wing and supplies his lieutenant Bodie BroadusBodie Broadus
Preston "Bodie" Broadus is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor J. D. Williams. Bodie is initially a Barksdale organization drug dealer in "The Pit" who slowly rises through the ranks...
and the remaining Barksdale drug dealers with narcotics. With this product as a firm foundation, Bodie builds a successful operation, until Marlo effortlessly threatens the helpless Bodie to work for him or be killed. This is the culmination of a series of events that make the nervous Co-Op keen to deal with the problem of Marlo, and they decide to negotiate with him. Charles loses the organization that he inherited from Avon, and he subsequently becomes one of Joe's lieutenants. When Joe's first meeting fails to convince Marlo it is Charles who approaches Chris Partlow
Chris Partlow
Chris Partlow is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Gbenga Akinnagbe. Partlow is Marlo Stanfield's best friend, bodyguard, and second-in-command in his drug dealing operation. Despite his quiet demeanor, Partlow commits more on- and off-screen murders than any other...
to arrange a second sit down. In between his responsibilities as the East side's head enforcer, Charles still independently visits Bodie and Poot Carr
Poot Carr
Malik "Poot" Carr is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Tray Chaney. Poot is a drug dealer in the Barksdale Organization who slowly rises through the ranks, but ends up serving time in prison as his institution collapses around him...
as a confidant. As a gift to Marlo when an alliance is agreed upon, Joe orders Charles to betray Old Face Andre and hand him over to Marlo for execution. Later on, however, it is implied that Charles does not approve of Marlo's murderous enforcement. He never says so directly, but it can be surmised by his reaction to the death of Little Kevin. He is concerned enough by the crime to tell Bodie that his friend has been executed; Bodie's subsequent crusade against Marlo quickly gets him killed, leaving Slim one of the last Barksdale survivors.
Season 5
Slim Charles is now Proposition Joe's most trusted lieutenant, and, upon the release of Savino Bratton, one of two remaining active survivors of the Barksdale Organization. When Butchie is killed, Omar comes back to town and the first person he comes after is Slim, but lets him go when Slim, clearly expecting to die but wishing to save his boss, convinces him that Proposition Joe had nothing to do with it. After Joe is killed, Marlo dissolves the Co-Op and takes charge as sole leader of Baltimore's kingpins, with Joe's nephew Cheese as his new lieutenant. Slim suspects that Marlo and Cheese were responsible for Joe's death and disapproves of the way they now conduct business, staying discreetly out of their way. He refuses Marlo's offer to make him take the lead in the deceased Hungry Man's territory in Baltimore County.In the series finale, with the end of the Stanfield Organization, Slim and Cheese are among the remaining drug lords who band together to buy off Marlo the connection to Baltimore's best drug suppliers, the Greeks, a connection which Marlo stole from Proposition Joe. As the kingpins gather to discuss business, Cheese loses his temper and draws his gun on Rick to reassert control of the meeting. Slim shoots Cheese in the head, ending the latter's rant and proclamation for control as the new kingpin. When the Co-Op realize what he has done, Slim simply says, "That was for Joe." The other members' immediate reactions are coldly dispassionate: Clinton "Shorty" Buise criticizes Slim because now they have to pay more money to make up for the lack of Cheese's bid. Slim is thus shown to be standing up for values of decency and loyalty in a world where Cheese believed they have no place. In the ending montage, it is shown that Slim and Fat Face Rick are representing the new Co-Op to the Greeks.