Al Swearengen, a character in the HBO series "Deadwood," was a real man who died a mile from the 9NEWS studio in Denver.
November 15, 1904Al Swearengen / Date of death
Al Swearengen came from an English family, and it was rumored that he descended from British nobility; either way, he and his mother would find themselves in Chicago.
Al Swearengen, saloon owner and de facto dominant force in the thus-far unincorporated outpost of Deadwood, has been sidelined with kidney problems since the season began, and by this point, those “gleets” have gotten bad enough that he's not able to expel anything and is essentially being poisoned to death from the ...
tuberculosisSeason 3. Doc Cochran becomes ill and shows symptoms of tuberculosis. Al, however, spurs him on not to just lie down and die, remarking "I ain't learning a new Doc's 'quirks'."
MarthaEventually, the two become sexually involved, despite the fact that Bullock is married to his brother's widow and is the stepfather of their son, his biological nephew. He decides ultimately to end his relationship with Alma when his wife, Martha, and stepson William come to Deadwood.
Deadwood's Dan Dority is Swearengen's right-hand man in many respects. The same was true in real life, where both Dority and Johnny Burns worked as general manager and floor manager of Swearengen's saloon. But in his portrayal of Dan, Brown found inspiration in his uncle.
And Titus Welliver (Lost, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.), who played Al Swearengen's henchman Silas Adams, could not return for the movie due to production on his Amazon series, Bosch. But barring those two exceptions, who will undoubtedly be missed, pretty much every denizen of Deadwood is back for the movie.
Deadwood was never a show that cared too much about being historically accurate. Though based on the Old West town in South Dakota, and featuring many characters based on the real people that occupied the town during the time, there were several embellishments made as well.
Though many of the characters really did exist like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, Trixie, Whitney Ellsworth, and Alma Garret were all fictional but were inspired by people of the time.
Doc developed a bad cough in Season 2, which prompted Al and others to refer to him as a "lunger," implying he had tuberculosis.
Al Swearengen is suffering dearly as Doc Cochran tries to remove his kidney stones. The only solution left is to cut him open, a procedure that only two out of ten men can survive.
Al Swearengen is suffering dearly as Doc Cochran tries to remove his kidney stones. The only solution left is to cut him open, a procedure that only two out of ten men can survive.
She attempts suicide afterward believing Al will kill her for going against his wishes. Despite her insubordination, Swearengen is most angry because of this attempt to kill herself. She seems not to know her last name, as she asks a receipt to be made to Trixie "the whore" when she made a deposit at the Deadwood bank.
Instead, Seth arrests Hearst and lets him be beaten nearly to death on his way to the jail, before finally calling off Jane and the other enraged Deadwood citizens. Hearst survives and the wedding moves forward. All of this is just plot.
One thing is for certain: the original run of "Deadwood" ends without closure. In the show's last episode, "Tell Him Something Pretty," Al kills one sex worker to spare another, and villainous businessman George Hearst (Gerald McRaney) leaves town victorious, keeping the story open for the future.
Joanie Stubbs, angry with Tolliver over Cramed, goes to the funeral to annoy him; Bullock and Sol Star are both at the sad event, which is presided over by the Reverend H.W. Smith.
Episode Guide. " The Trial of Jack McCall " is the fifth episode of the first season of Deadwood. It is the fifth episode of the series overall. It premiered on April 18, 2004. It was written by John Belluso and directed by Ed Bianchi .
At The Gem, the trial begins, and McCall's defense-concocted by his attorney-is that he was avenging the death of a brother. The proceeding has not gone far, however, before Swearengen pulls the judge aside for a little talk. Upon reconvening, his honor sends the case quickly to the jury. They quickly return a verdict of innocent. McCall is set free.
After some tense conversation, Bullock ends up with his hands around McCall's neck, but the accused is saved when his lawyer steps in. Bullock leaves, and McCall and his lawyer begin to plan out their defense strategy. Trixie arrives at Alma's room and takes an immediate liking to her and to the Metz girl as well.
Bullock's demeanor doesn't improve when A.W. Merrick arrives, bringing the news that McCall has been found innocent. Calamity Jane is absent from the burial, choosing instead to watch the event from a distance.
After some tense conversation, Bullock ends up with his hands around McCall's neck, but the accused is saved when his lawyer steps in. Bullock leaves, and McCall and his lawyer begin to plan out their defense strategy.
Swearengen transforms the Gem into a courtroom as Deadwood is forced to make its own laws to try a cowardly murderer. With Calamity Jane off on a bender, Trixie is enlisted by Swearengen to help Alma with the orphaned child and to keep her pliable to his purposes.
At one point the judge at McCall's trial is interrupted by a man claiming that the bullet that killed Wild Bill Hickok is lodged in his wrist. He wants to testify so that in the years to come there will be a record of his involvement in Hickok's death. This man is a real historical figure named Bill Massie.