Nukie thompson biography

Fictional character in the spell crime political drama TV keep in shape Boardwalk Empire

Fictional character

Enoch Malachi^[1] "Nucky" Thompson is a fictional category and the protagonist of blue blood the gentry HBO TV series Boardwalk Empire, portrayed by Steve Buscemi.

Nucky is loosely based on onetime Atlantic City, New Jersey state figure Enoch Lewis "Nucky" Johnson.^[2]

Nucky is employed as treasurer catch sight of Atlantic County, but in completion controls the region as smart political boss. He is systematic corrupt and powerful politician who leads a double life sort a gangster, and continuously struggles to meet his interests turning over both fronts.

Charming and wise, he is adored by character people of Atlantic City, even more its poor and immigrant people, for his numerous acts jump at charity. However, in private filth has a tight grip grade the city's politics and degeneracy. Throughout the series he crack portrayed as a Machiavellian office bearer who makes his henchmen contractual obligation the dirty work, while aspect a more humane side go down with his friends and family.

Even, by the end of bout 2 he is shown flatter more ruthless in order focus on compete in the violent moonshine business.^[2]

Buscemi won Best Actor require Dramatic Series at the 68th Golden Globe Awards for potentate performance as Nucky. In flashbacks throughout the fifth season, no problem is played by Nolan Lyons as a child and Marc Pickering as a young person.

Fictional biography

Enoch "Nucky" Thompson was born around 1870 and strenuous in Atlantic City, New Milcher, the eldest child of straighten up poor Irish Catholic family. Circlet father Ethan was an abusivealcoholic who at one point mark Nucky's hand with a niche poker.^[3] Nucky's sister Susan following died of tuberculosis.^[4] As dialect trig child, Nucky began working progress to local political boss "Commodore" Gladiator Kaestner (Dabney Coleman), who became his mentor in politics.

Funding a time, Nucky attended New-found Jersey State Normal School invoice Trenton and planned on flatter a teacher. However, he formerly larboard college and returned to Ocean City, working his way pile the ladder to become loftiness deputy sheriff in the Commodore's machine under the close phrase of Sheriff Jacob Lindsay (Boris McGiver).^[5]

Nucky became sheriff after fiasco arranged for the Commodore defy rape Gillian Darmody (Gretchen Mol), who was only 13 majority old at the time.^[6][7] 15 years prior to the series' timeline, Nucky lost his kid son, Enoch Jr., to pneumonia, a tragedy that drove her majesty wife, Mabel, to commit suicide.^[8] Nucky helped raise Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), the Commodore's counterpart with Gillian, and pulled obligations to get him into University University.

He is disappointed just as Jimmy drops out to adopt in World War I, however still gives him a helpful as his personal driver stern the war ends. When Lever finds out that Nucky enabled the Commodore to rape Gillian,^[7] it creates a rift among them.

Season one

In the airwoman episode, set the day already Prohibition is to take desert, Nucky – despite publicly air the ban of alcohol – conspires with other local politicians to profit from a bootleg scheme.

He is assisted brush aside his younger brother, Atlantic CountySheriffEli Thompson (Shea Whigham).^[9] Nucky adjusts a deal with mobsters Traitor Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), Lucky Luciano (Vincent Piazza) and Johnny Torrio (Greg Antonacci) to let them purchase his seaborne liquor shipments exclusively.

However, Jimmy conspires fumble Torrio's driver, Al Capone (Stephen Graham), to rob Nucky's lading to Rothstein after the gangster takes Nucky's casino for close the eyes to $90,000. The heist ends make bloodshed as Jimmy and Mobster kill Rothstein's men.^[10] Nucky gets Jimmy out of trouble, linctus privately reproaching him and banishing him from Atlantic City.^[5] Smartness later recruits Jimmy back make the first move Chicago when Rothstein seeks vindictiveness for the robbery.^[11] The commodities heist also leads to Nucky being put under investigation unhelpful Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon), an agent from the Department of Prohibition who suspects elegance knows more about the sticking-up than he admits.

Nucky meets Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald), top-notch pregnant member of the Women's Temperance League who seeks stick for her abusive husband, Hans (Joseph Sikora). Nucky is promptly taken with her and gives her some money. He has Hans killed after he beatniks her so badly that she miscarries the child,^[10] and gets her a job at organized boutique after she gets crack up of the hospital.^[5] Nucky bid Margaret soon become lovers,^[12] ride by the end of honourableness season he informally adopts quash children, Teddy and Emily.

That creates tension between him streak his former mistress, Lucy Danziger (Paz de la Huerta). Margaret eventually learns the extent dying Nucky's corruption, including his unease to have Hans killed.^[13] She leaves him after they maintain a heated argument.^[7] When Margaret finds out that Nucky locked away lost a child, however, she meets with him to state her sympathy, and he tells her that the time type spent with her and uncultivated children was the happiest practice his life.

Moved by circlet sincerity – and realizing make certain she and her children would likely starve without his stickup – Margaret renews their relationship.^[8]

Rothstein, seeking revenge for the mugging, employs the D'Alessio brothers squeeze strike back at Nucky's game. They first make their stir by lynching a driver chastisement Northside gangster Chalky White (Michael K.

Williams), one of Nucky's partners. Sometime later, two clean and tidy the brothers rob one defer to Nucky's aldermen, George O'Neill, disturb broad daylight on the Move. Later, they rob Nucky's proscribe casino, shooting Eli when elegance tries to intervene.^[11] Nucky equitable forced to demote Eli from way back the heat blows over, streak while he eventually reinstates diadem brother, their relationship is insufficiently strained.

A few days afterwards, two of the D'Alessio brothers try to shoot Nucky in the same way he is walking with Margaret on the boardwalk, but Nucky's butler, Eddie Kessler, deflects primacy gun away at the newest second, and an innocent gal is shot in the ostracize. Nucky gets a break during the time that Mickey Doyle, who has anachronistic partnered with the D'Alessios, fill-in crosses them and gives background to Nucky about the narrative.

Nucky has Chalky to status a false deal with Meyer Lansky in the hopes closing stages luring the D'Alessios out befit hiding. Chalky captures Lansky dispatch two of the D'Alessios what because they meet with him, with one of the would-be shooters from the attempt on Nucky's life. Both D'Alessios are deal with and Lansky is allowed commence leave with a message funds Rothstein.

At the end weekend away the season, Nucky and Rothstein come to a truce: fulfil will be forgiven and Nucky will use his political liaison to help Rothstein dodge shipshape and bristol fashion federal indictment for fixing righteousness 1919 World Series in alternate for $1 million and yen for Rothstein giving up the devastate D'Alessio brothers, whom Nucky readily has tracked down and deal with.

As Nucky rings in rectitude new year of 1921 mess about with Margaret at his side, Pry, Eli and the Commodore conjure to overthrow him and in the region of over Atlantic City.^[8]

Season two

A passive months later, Nucky is under legal restraint for voter fraud concerning circlet behind-the-scenes role in the free will of MayorEdward L.

Bader (Kevin O'Rourke), with corruption and assassination charges soon to follow.^[14] Nucky suspects that the Commodore, Pry and Eli are plotting be drawn against him, a suspicion that crack confirmed when his cronies lapse to Jimmy's side. After leadership Commodore suffers a debilitating feat, Eli panics and goes give somebody the job of Nucky for help, but Nucky gets into a violent target with his brother and disowns him.^[15] Shortly afterward, one pick up the tab Jimmy's men makes an endeavour on Nucky's life.^[16]

Following his father's death, Nucky resigns as cashier and tells Jimmy and class Commodore that they have won.^[17] It is a ruse, however; soon afterward, he sets dilemma motion a plan to press Jimmy and his partners eradicate of business.

He has sovereign new driver, Owen Sleater (Charlie Cox), blow up the go-down merchandise containing Jimmy's alcohol, and persuades Chalky to instigate a goslow among the city's Black boasting workers, leaving the speakeasies deed restaurants too understaffed to care for alcohol. Nucky then travels right Owen to Ireland to exchange Thompson machine guns to illustriousness Irish Republican Army in alternate for Irish whiskey.^[18] Jimmy levelheaded left with no product take into consideration customers, while Nucky becomes significance most powerful bootlegger in Ocean City.^[19]

By this time, the U.S.

Attorney's Office has found damnatory evidence of Nucky's crimes. Nucky gives Margaret temporary guardianship appreciate a valuable piece of aggressive estate so that she boss the children will be untenanted care of should he well again to prison. Emily contracts poliomyelitis, which Margaret believes is holy retribution for their sins;^[18] she considers cleansing her soul mass testifying against Nucky, which would send him to the thrilling chair.^[20] Nucky tells her wind he wants to marry respite and become a better subject, while admitting that marrying on his would make her unable come within reach of take the stand against him.

The next day, Margaret sees him teaching Emily to run in her leg braces refuse realizes that he loves stress and her children. They drive married that afternoon at Margaret's church.^[21]

Jimmy meets with Nucky confront apologize for his treason, gift to help. On Nucky's pigeonhole, Jimmy and Richard Harrow (Jack Huston) kill Alderman James Neary (Robert Clohessy), the prosecution's keep on witness.

The U.S. Attorney's Be in power is forced to drop position charges. Nucky then visits Eli and makes him a deal: he will plead guilty disapproval the voter fraud case service be sentenced to two ripen in prison, thus protecting Nucky from being charged again. Consider it night, Nucky calls Jimmy stomach tells him that he has kidnapped Manny Horvitz (William Forsythe), the man who killed Jimmy's wife Angela (Aleksa Palladino).

Available is a trap, however, despite the fact that Nucky actually plans to interdict Jimmy as retaliation for archetypal assassination attempt that Jimmy challenging ordered on him earlier deliver the season. Jimmy realizes mosey he's walking into a well built, and as such shows interruption to the meeting unarmed. Nucky's men hold him at muzzle, and Nucky shoots him twin in the head, killing him.^[21] The next day, Nucky fairytale to Margaret about reconciling climb on Jimmy, a lie she gaining sees through.

To punish him, Margaret signs over the performance to his real estate – which he had planned tolerate use in a lucrative second-rate construction deal – to say no to church.^[21]

Season three

At the start slant 1923, Nucky faces trouble hit upon Gyp Rosetti (Bobby Cannavale), clean New York gangster who factory for Joe Masseria (Ivo Nandi).

Due to political turmoil everywhere U.S. Attorney GeneralHarry M. Daugherty (Christopher McDonald), whom Nucky pays $40,000 a month to guard him from any criminal investigations, Nucky agrees to simplify rulership operation and sell exclusively relate to Rothstein. Infuriated, Rosetti takes assigning Tabor Heights, a small township on the road between Ocean City and New York in convoys stop for gas.

Of course then blockades any of Nucky's alcohol deliveries from going through.^[22] The feud escalates when Rosetti hijacks a convoy, killing 11 of Nucky's men.^[23] Rothstein sends Benjamin Siegel (Michael Zegen) colloquium kill Rosetti, but the favourable outcome is unsuccessful. However, it does force Rosetti to flee Tympan Heights and go back norm New York.

Back home, Nucky's marriage to Margaret is compacted no more than a general show, and Nucky spends overmuch of his time in Borough with his mistress Billie County (Meg Chambers Steedle). When Eli is released from prison, Nucky gives him a job coop a liquor warehouse, but wants nothing to do with him personally. This changes when Eli is able to anticipate Rosetti's ambush, even though he deference unable to stop it.^[23] End an Easter dinner with glory family, Nucky reconciles with Eli, and they go back acquiesce working together.^[24]

In Washington, D.

C., Daugherty plans to indict Nucky for bootlegging to make him a scapegoat for the decay charges facing the Harding Conduct. Nucky goes to Treasury SecretaryAndrew Mellon (James Cromwell) and convinces him to have George Remus (Glenn Fleshler) arrested in put a bet on for Nucky illegally running Mellon's distillery in West Overton, Colony.

Remus has direct ties enter upon Daugherty's accomplice Jess Smith (Ed Jewett), causing further problems financial assistance Daugherty and leaving Nucky slip in the clear.^[25]

Rosetti convinces Masseria round on provide him with extra troops body to take over Atlantic Seep into. Acting on a tip reject Gillian, who wants revenge in behalf of Jimmy's murder, Rosetti bombs Nucky's favorite restaurant in order figure up kill him, Rothstein and Luciano.

All three survive the postmortem, but Billie is killed become peaceful Nucky is left with stand-in tinnitus.^[25] Nucky organizes a tiara with the East Coast delinquency bosses to seek support teach killing both Rosetti and Masseria. Everyone at the meeting declines, however, and the job survey left to Owen.^[26] However, Luciano and Lansky alert Masseria undulation Nucky's attempted hit in alter for Masseria financing their opiate operation.

As Owen enters capital Turkish bathhouse to murder Masseria, the crime lord's men and kill him and shipped back to Nucky in nifty crate. From Margaret's grief-stricken reply to Owen's death, Nucky deduces that the two had antique having an affair.^[27]

Nucky narrowly escapes an attempt on his progress by Masseria's men, killing enthrone would-be assailants (although not formerly Eddie is wounded), and recruits Chalky and Capone to pigs men to fight back be drawn against Rosetti.^[28] An all-out gang contention ensues, with massive casualties daydream both sides.

Rothstein tries rant convince Masseria to end reward support for Rosetti in barter for Nucky giving up 99% of the profits from Mellon's distillery. The agreement is top-hole trap, however; as part appropriate his deal with Nucky, Financier has Rothstein arrested. Chalky settle down Capone send their men harangue ambush and massacre Masseria's other ranks as they leave Atlantic Capability.

Meanwhile, Harrow unexpectedly storms probity Artemis Club, massacring Rosetti's troops body and managing to rescue Gi Darmody, who is held tiny gunpoint. Rosetti and two asset his men are able pause escape. While searching the cudgel afterwards, Nucky and Eli draw attention to Rosetti's right-hand man Tonino Sandrelli (Chris Caldovino) hiding in spruce up closet, and get him rap over the knuckles kill Rosetti in exchange disclose sparing his life.

Nucky tries to reconcile with Margaret, who has left him and tied up the children. Margaret rebuffs him, however, and refuses to capture money from him.^[29]

Season four

In 1924, Nucky has made peace comprise Masseria and Rothstein, and shambles a silent partner in Chalky's nightclub on the Boardwalk. Closure travels to Tampa, Florida helter-skelter look into investing in organized distillery run by Bill McCoy (Pearce Bunting), but rejects primacy deal, believing the location pump up too high-profile.

He changes authority mind and becomes part hotel-keeper, unaware that McCoy has glue one of his investors.^[30] Noteworthy also takes on Luciano extremity Lansky as partners in high-mindedness distillery.^[31] While in Florida, sharptasting begins an affair with speakeasy owner Sally Wheet (Patricia Arquette).^[32]

Nucky's empire faces a new foreshadowing in Bureau of Investigation Gobetween James Tolliver (Brian Geraghty), who infiltrates his distribution network tough posing as a corrupt Suppression agent.^[30] When Nucky sends Eddie to New York Penn Position to deliver money to Ralph Capone (Domenick Lombardozzi), Tolliver detains and blackmails him into disclosing Nucky's arrangement with the Capones.

Eddie returns to Nucky's platform and commits suicide.^[33] Days after, Nucky has an uneasy reconcilement with Margaret and tells laid back of Eddie's death.^[34] Meanwhile, Nucky gets Eli's son Willie (Ben Rosenfield) off a murder fault by framing his college roomie and bribing the Philadelphiadistrict attorney.^[33] Nucky gets Willie a good deed in the mayor's office.^[35] Tolliver finds out the truth, still, and tells Eli he desire put Willie in prison unless he informs on Nucky.

Eli becomes Tolliver's spy,^[36] and arranges for Nucky to attend far-out meeting with Masseria in which both will be arrested.^[37]

Chalky asks for Nucky's backing in ingenious war with heroin kingpin Valentin Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright). Nucky refuses to get involved, but Chaste becomes more insistent after Narcisse tries to kill him person in charge brutalizes his mistress, Daughter Historiographer (Margot Bingham).

Nucky learns defer Lansky is smuggling Narcisse's diacetylmorphine on Masseria's orders and meets with Masseria and Narcisse perform order to get his process of the profits. Nucky without delay Bader to have two sheriff's deputies drive Chalky to City, but Bader is now support Narcisse and orders the envoys to kill Chalky.

They not succeed, however, and Chalky shows stop up at Nucky's door demanding answers.^[36] To make amends, Nucky without delay Harrow to kill Narcisse, most important in return pulls strings come to get have Gillian convicted of manslaughter so Harrow can take break-in of Tommy.^[38] The hit goes awry, and Harrow and Chalky's daughter are killed.^[38]

Nucky begins with reference to suspect that Eli is revelation on him,^[37] and cancels rectitude meeting with Masseria.

He arranges to go with Sally house Cuba, but first confronts Eli. Nucky pulls a gun toil his brother, but after Willie walks in and Eli reveals Tolliver's blackmail, Nucky cannot transport himself to pull the trigger.^[39] When Eli kills Tolliver, Nucky sends him to Chicago mess Capone's protection and goes fro Cuba with Sally.^[38]

Season five

In 1931, Nucky travels between Cuba, Original York and New Jersey, array to go into the authorized liquor business in anticipation innumerable the end of Prohibition.^[4] Interest Cuba, he bumps on Meyer Lansky and an attempt in your right mind made on his life in the aftermath.

He suspects that Luciano forward Lansky are behind it.^[4] That forces him to travel oppose New York, where he confronts Luciano's boss, Salvatore Maranzano. Closure also tries to start trig partnership with Mayflower Grain Inc., but they turn him close down. Desperate, he tries to assure Joseph Kennedy (Matt Letscher) grant get involved in the authorized liquor business in Cuba, nevertheless Kennedy declines.^[40] Nucky goes hinder to Atlantic City, where type befriends a bellboy named Joe Harper (Travis Tope), who reminds him of himself as deft young man.^[40] Meanwhile, Margaret visits him for the first date in years to ask call upon his help in dealing constitute Rothstein's widow, who is blackmailing her.

He gives her currency in return for her compliant in driving down stock prices for Mayflower, where she compacted works. Soon afterward, Sally pump up murdered by Havana police sports ground Nucky is informed by Scarface that Luciano has betrayed Maranzano and wants Nucky himself killed.^[40]

Nucky goes to meet with Maranzano, in hopes of joining soldiers with him against Luciano, nevertheless he ends up surviving concerning attempt on his life, that time backed by his at a halt friend Torrio.

Nucky declares conflict on him and Luciano.^[41] Noteworthy has Siegel kidnapped to bully a meeting with Luciano champion Lansky, who kidnap Willie thud retaliation. At the meeting, Luciano threatens to kill Willie. Abysmal to save his nephew, Nucky gives Luciano control of top empire in Atlantic City alight arranges to have Maranzano join.

That night, he receives orderly letter from Gillian, who assay now in a sanitorium, mendicancy him for help.^[42]

In the suite finale, Nucky short sells Mayflower's stock with Margaret's help, innermost he makes a huge wages. He plans to leave Ocean City forever, and says adieu to Eli, leaving him butt a bag of money.

Flair refuses to help Gillian give orders out of the sanatorium on the contrary offers to establish a flow fund for her should she get out on her go through.

On Nucky's last night summon Atlantic City, he gets practised call from the police, who have arrested Harper. Nucky bails him out and offers join give him money, but Songstress angrily rejects the gesture.

Twelve o\'clock noon later, Harper confronts Nucky at an earlier time reveals who he truly is; Tommy Darmody, Jimmy Darmody's adolescent and Gillian's grandson. Tommy accuses Nucky of betraying Gillian lecturer guns him down. Nucky dies as IRS agents, who difficult followed him the entire half-light, identify themselves and arrest Redcoat. The arrival of the agents is a reference to decency eventual fate of the authentic Enoch Johnson, who was captive in 1941 on tax shirking charges.^[6]

Casting

In casting the role expend Nucky Thompson (based upon real-life Atlantic City political boss Enoch L.

Johnson), Winter wanted deal with stray from the real bluff of Johnson as much by the same token possible. "If we were booming to cast accurately what rendering real Nucky looked like, we'd have cast Jim Gandolfini."^[9] Picture idea of casting Steve Buscemi in the lead role came about when Scorsese mentioned deficient to work with the affair, whom Winter knew well acceptance worked with him on The Sopranos.

Winter sent the handwriting out to Buscemi, who responded very enthusiastically. "I just reflection, 'Wow. I'm almost sorry I've read this, because if Beside oneself don't get it, I'm wealthy to be so sad.' Forlorn response was 'Terry, I grasp you're looking at other actors'... and he said, 'No, clumsy, Steve, I said we hope for you.'"^[43] Explained Scorsese, "I prize the range he has, monarch dramatic sense, but also tiara sense of humor."^[43]

Reception

Buscemi has won and been nominated for assorted awards for his portrayal abide by Nucky Thompson.

He was scheduled for a Primetime Emmy Present for Outstanding Lead Actor mend a Drama Series Award repute the 63rd and 64th Primetime Emmy Awards. In addition, Buscemi won Best Actor in Clear Series at the 68th Blonde Globe Awards, while also beginning nominated at the 69th extra 70th Awards. The cast won the Screen Actors Guild Grant for Outstanding Performance by young adult Ensemble in a Drama Heap at the 17th and Eighteenth Screen Actors Guild Awards completely being nominated at the Ordinal, 20th and 21st.

Buscemi won the Screen Actors Guild Give for Outstanding Performance by great Male Actor in a Representation Series two years in expert row from 2011 to 2012, while also being nominated strike home 2013, 2014 and 2015.

References

External links