Mickey Doyle

Last updated
Mickey Doyle
Boardwalk Empire character
First appearance"Boardwalk Empire"
Last appearance"Friendless Child"
Created by Terence Winter
Portrayed by Paul Sparks
In-universe information
Full nameMieczyslaw "Mickey Doyle" Kuzik
NicknamePollack
Bohunk
GenderMale
Occupation Gangster
bootlegger
racketeer
Nationality Polish American

Mieczyslaw "Mickey Doyle" Kuzik [1] is a fictional character in the HBO TV series Boardwalk Empire . He is played by Paul Sparks. Mickey Doyle is loosely based on Polish American mobster Mickey Duffy.

Contents

Mickey is a gangster in Prohibition-era Atlantic City. For the first two seasons, he is the main rival of liquor kingpin Chalky White from Atlantic City’s North Side. He is known for his distinctive, nasal laugh, and serves as the series' comic relief.

Appearances

Season one

In the first episode of season one, Mickey is introduced as a Polish-American gangster trying to establish himself as a power in the illegal alcohol trade following the passage of the Volstead Act, which outlaws the sale of alcohol. It is revealed that his real name is Mieczyslaw Kusik, and he changed it to "Mickey Doyle" to pass himself off as Irish-American. He meets with Atlantic County Treasurer and political boss Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) to show him his bootlegging operation. Mickey tells Nucky that he expects to produce 2000 crates a week. He gets into a scuffle with Nucky's driver, Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), until Nucky breaks it up. Jimmy later gets revenge on Mickey by informing Prohibition Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon) about Mickey's operation. Van Alden raids Mickey's operation and arrests him. Nucky gives Mickey's operations to Chalky White (Michael K. Williams), an African-American gangster. [1]

Mickey convinces Chalky's rivals, the D'Alessio brothers, to murder Chalky and gives them a description of his car, a Packard. They track the car but mistakenly kill Chalky's driver instead of Chalky himself. [2] Mickey persuades the D'Alessio brothers to rob the ward boss in broad daylight on the boardwalk. [3] He then joins them in going into business with Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg). [4] Soon after, the D'Alessios unilaterally decide to assassinate Nucky without consulting Doyle, but they botch the hit and Nucky escapes unharmed. Startled by this escalation of violence, Mickey returns to Nucky's side and provides information on the D'Alessios' operations in exchange for his life being spared.

Season two

In Season 2, Mickey joins Jimmy Darmody's crew, along with Al Capone (Stephen Graham), Charlie Luciano (Vincent Piazza) and Meyer Lansky (Anatol Yusef), and with them conspires to overthrow Nucky. [5] Mickey brings Philadelphia gangster Manny Horvitz (William Forsythe) to a meeting with Jimmy, and helps to convince Horvitz to lend them money. [6] Mickey promises that he can be operational within a week or two provided he gets alcohol to reconstitute. Unfortunately for Mickey and Jimmy, Mickey's distillery is bombed by Owen Sleater (Charlie Cox), Nucky's new enforcer. The distillery's destruction prevents Jimmy from being able to payback his debt to Horvitz.

After Jimmy has successfully brokered a peace deal with Nucky while left him in charge of Atlantic City, he throws a party to celebrate. When Jimmy notices that Mickey has brought Horvitz along, he angrily throws Mickey off a second floor landing, sending him crashing into a table. [7]

Mickey meets with the rest of Jimmy's crew at their new warehouse in Atlantic City to view the medicinal alcohol they have bought from George Remus (Glenn Fleshler). Doyle oversees his men diluting the alcohol in a vat as the others arrive. Doyle adds that Horvitz, whom Jimmy had tried to have killed, is still a problem and Jimmy instructs Doyle to pay him off with liquor. Later that day, Mickey has a tense meeting with Horvitz in which he blames the assassination attempt on Waxey Gordon (Nick Sandow); Horvitz doesn't believe him, however, and tortures him into giving up the location of Jimmy's residence. [8]

When Jimmy suddenly disappears following the murder of his wife Angela (Aleksa Palladino) by Horvitz, Mickey sells his entire share of the liquor in Philadelphia. Lansky keeps track of figures in his notebook. Capone instructs Mickey to sell Jimmy's portion of the stock, and pay Jimmy out of his own share. When Mickey protests, Luciano reminds him that Rothstein holds a life insurance policy on him; if Mickey does not do as instructed, Luciano will kill him and split the insurance money with Capone. Cowed, Mickey accepts the deal. However, he then goes to Van Alden and sells out his partners, giving him the location of their next meeting. In return for that information, Mickey demands half of the money the police would seize. Mickey's hopes for a huge profit fall through, however, when Van Alden is forced to flee the state to escape a murder charge. Desperate for work and protection against his former partners, Mickey betrays Jimmy and returns to Nucky's side. [9]

Season three

By season 3, Mickey is working for Nucky as the crew boss in one of Nucky's liquor warehouses. He is first seen with Nucky as he interrogates a thief who had stolen some of his liquor; Nucky explains to the thief that Mickey is truly at fault for the theft, as he had left the liquor unattended while he went to an outhouse. [10] Nucky's brother, Eli (Shea Whigham), who's been recently released from prison, is put to work directly under Mickey, much to Eli's annoyance. Mickey throws his weight around the warehouse, at one point intimidating one of his movers by claiming to have killed Horvitz. The word spreads that Mickey killed Horvitz, angering Richard Harrow (Jack Huston), the man who actually committed the assassination as revenge for Angela's death. Harrow kidnaps Mickey and brings him before Nucky, and forces him at gunpoint to admit that he lied. [11]

Facing a blockade from Nucky's rival Gyp Rosetti (Bobby Cannavale), Mickey decides to route a convoy of trucks carrying Nucky's liquor through the small town of Tabor Heights. He dismisses Eli's warnings that it is a trap. Sure enough, Rosetti's gang ambushes the convoy, killing several of Nucky's men; though Mickey and Eli are able to escape, however. [12]

When Rosetti's men invade Atlantic City with backing from Joe Masseria (Ivo Nandi), Mickey manages to avoid assassination by Rosetti's men and joins in on Nucky's war party to fight off Rosetti's forces, along with Eli, Chalky and Capone. Eventually, they are successful in reclaiming control over Atlantic City.

Season four

In season 4, Mickey runs Nucky's main warehouse. When Nucky's nephew, Willie (Ben Rosenfield), tries to charm his way into getting a crate of whiskey for a party, Mickey chastises him and throws him out. Moments later, however, he takes pity on the boy and gives him a crate. In so doing, he unwittingly sets a chain of events in motion that end with Willie facing murder charges. [13]

Mickey accompanies Nucky to Tampa, Florida, where Nucky intends to invest in land. There, they both meet speakeasy owner Sally Wheet (Patricia Arquette), and Mickey immediately has designs on her. Sally prefers Nucky, but flirts openly with Mickey in order to make Nucky jealous. When it appears that she is about to sleep with Mickey, however, Nucky hits him in the forehead with his former valet Eddie Kessler's (Anthony Laciura) cane that Mickey took, impressing Sally and scaring Mickey into backing down. [14]

Season five

While Nucky is in Havana, Cuba trying to procure an exclusive distribution contract with Bacardi, Meyer Lansky unsuccessfully makes an attempt on his life. When Nucky returns to Atlantic City, Mickey is running his bootlegging operations and Chalky White's former restaurant, now a burlesque club.

Nucky, and by extension Mickey, end up fighting with Lansky and Luciano in a bloody gang war with the aid of New York Mafia "Boss of all bosses" Salvatore Maranzano (Giampiero Judica). Mickey informs Nucky and Maranzano that Luciano has fire bombed four of their trucks, costing them over $100,000. Nucky has Mickey go to New York to kidnap Luciano's associate Benjamin Siegel (Michael Zegen) in order to force a meeting and end the feud. Before the meeting starts, Nucky gives Mickey the title and full ownership of his burlesque club, as well as five percent of every profit made there. When Luciano says that he wants everything Nucky has, including the club, Mickey tries to reason with Luciano, but to no avail - Luciano shoots him in the throat, killing him. [15]

Origins

Mickey Doyle is loosely based on Polish American Philadelphia-based mobster and bootlegger Mickey Duffy, who was also killed in Atlantic City in 1931. [16]

Reception

Paul Sparks was nominated for three "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series" Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2014, 2015, and 2013, and won the award twice in 2011 and 2012 for his role along with the rest of the cast in the series. [17]

Related Research Articles

<i>Boardwalk Empire</i> American period crime drama television series

Boardwalk Empire is an American period crime drama television series created by Terence Winter for the premium cable channel HBO. The series is set chiefly in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. The series stars Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson. Winter, a Primetime Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer, created the show, inspired by Nelson Johnson's 2002 non-fiction book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, about the historical criminal kingpin Enoch L. Johnson.

"Boardwalk Empire" is the pilot episode of the HBO crime drama of the same name. Written by series creator Terence Winter and directed by Martin Scorsese with a budget of $18 million, the episode introduces the character of Nucky Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi, as the corrupt treasurer of Atlantic City who is involved in gambling and bootlegging in 1920. The show used a large ensemble cast and a specially constructed boardwalk set to re-create the Prohibition and Jazz Era, and was based on Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson. Filming for the pilot took place at various locations in and around New York City in June 2009. The episode first aired in the United States on September 19, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nucky Thompson</span> Fictional character in the period crime political drama TV series Boardwalk Empire

Enoch Malachi "Nucky" Thompson is a fictional character and the protagonist of the HBO TV series Boardwalk Empire, portrayed by Steve Buscemi. Nucky is loosely based on former Atlantic City, New Jersey political figure Enoch Lewis "Nucky" Johnson.

"The Ivory Tower" is the second episode of the first season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, which originally aired September 26, 2010. The episode was written by series creator and executive producer Terence Winter and directed by executive producer Tim Van Patten.

Broadway Limited (<i>Boardwalk Empire</i>) 3rd episode of the 1st season of Boardwalk Empire

"Broadway Limited" is the third episode of the first season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, which premiered October 3, 2010. It was written by supervising producer Margaret Nagle and was directed by executive producer Tim Van Patten.

Anastasia (<i>Boardwalk Empire</i>) 4th episode of the 1st season of Boardwalk Empire

"Anastasia" is the fourth episode of the first season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, which premiered October 10, 2010. It was written by co-executive producer Lawrence Konner and supervising producer Margaret Nagle and directed by Jeremy Podeswa. The episode received generally favorable reviews from television critics.

"Home" is the seventh episode of the first season of HBO's crime drama Boardwalk Empire. The episode aired on October 31, 2010. The episode was written by executive producer Tim Van Patten and Paul Simms and directed by Allen Coulter.

The Emerald City (<i>Boardwalk Empire</i>) 10th episode of the 1st season of Boardwalk Empire

"The Emerald City" is the tenth episode of the first season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, which aired on HBO November 21, 2010. The episode was written by co-executive producer Lawrence Konner and directed by Simon Cellan Jones. The title is based on the fictional Emerald City from the Oz Books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Return to Normalcy</span> 12th episode of the 1st season of Boardwalk Empire

"A Return to Normalcy" is the 12th episode of the first season of HBO television series Boardwalk Empire and the season finale, which premiered on HBO December 5, 2010. The episode was written by series creator Terence Winter and directed by Tim Van Patten, both executive producers.

<i>Boardwalk Empire</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire premiered on September 25, 2011, and concluded on December 11, 2011, consisting of 12 episodes. The series was created by Terence Winter and based on the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson. Set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era, the series stars Steve Buscemi as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a political figure who rose to prominence and controlled Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition period of the 1920s and 1930s. The second season takes place between February and August 1921. The second season was released on DVD and Blu-ray in region 1 on August 28, 2012.

"To the Lost" is the twelfth episode of the second season of HBO television series Boardwalk Empire and the season finale, which premiered on HBO December 11, 2011. The episode was written by series creator Terence Winter and directed by Tim Van Patten, both executive producers.

<i>Boardwalk Empire</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire premiered on September 16, 2012 and concluded on December 2, 2012, consisting of 12 episodes. The series was created by Terence Winter and based on the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson. Set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era, the series stars Steve Buscemi as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a political figure who rose to prominence and controlled Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition period of the 1920s and early 1930s. Taking place 16 months after season two, the third season begins on New Year's Eve 1922 and concludes in June 1923. The third season was released on DVD and Blu-ray in region 1 on August 20, 2013.

"Ourselves Alone" is the second episode of the second season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, which originally aired October 2, 2011. The episode was written by Howard Korder and directed by executive producer David Petrarca.

"What Does the Bee Do?" is the fourth episode of the second season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, and 16th episode overall. First aired on October 16, 2011, it was written by executive story editor Steve Kornacki and directed by Ed Bianchi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Darmody</span> Fictional character

James Edison Darmody is a fictional character in the television show Boardwalk Empire, played by Michael Pitt. He is one of the main characters in the first two seasons of the series. Unlike most of the other main characters in the series, Jimmy is not based on a historical figure, even though he may be inspired by Atlantic City politician and Atlantic City political boss Nucky Thompson's protégé, James H. "Jimmy" Boyd. Pitt is also the only actor besides Steve Buscemi to appear in every episode for which he is credited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Harrow</span> Fictional character

Richard Harrow is a fictional character on the television series Boardwalk Empire, played by the actor Jack Huston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gyp Rosetti</span> Boardwalk Empire

Giuseppe Colombano "Gyp" Rosetti is a character in the HBO TV series Boardwalk Empire, portrayed by Bobby Cannavale. Rosetti is a New York City gangster who works for Joe Masseria. Hot-headed, easily offended and prone to bouts of extreme violence, he is the primary antagonist of the series’ third season.

"Resolution" is the first episode of the third season of the American period crime drama television series Boardwalk Empire. It is the 25th overall episode of the series and was written by series creator Terence Winter, and directed by executive producer Tim Van Patten. It was released on HBO on September 16, 2012.

Elias "Eli" Thompson is a fictional character in the HBO TV show Boardwalk Empire where he was portrayed by Shea Whigham and Ryan Dinning and Oakes Fegley in flashbacks in Season 5.

References

  1. 1 2 "Boardwalk Empire". Boardwalk Empire. Season 1. Episode 1. September 19, 2010. HBO.
  2. ↑ "The Ivory Tower". Boardwalk Empire. Season 1. Episode 2. September 26, 2010. HBO.
  3. ↑ "Family Limitation". Boardwalk Empire. Season 1. Episode 6. October 24, 2010. HBO.
  4. ↑ "Belle Femme". Boardwalk Empire. Season 1. Episode 9. November 14, 2010. HBO.
  5. ↑ "Peg of Old". Boardwalk Empire. Season 2. Episode 7. November 6, 2011. HBO.
  6. ↑ "Two Boats and a Lifeguard". Boardwalk Empire. Season 2. Episode 8. November 13, 2011. HBO.
  7. ↑ "Battle of the Century". Boardwalk Empire. Season 2. Episode 9. November 11, 2011. HBO.
  8. ↑ "Georgia Peaches". Boardwalk Empire. Season 2. Episode 10. November 27, 2011. HBO.
  9. ↑ "Under God's Power, She Flourishes". Boardwalk Empire. Season 2. Episode 11. December 4, 2011. HBO.
  10. ↑ "Resolution". Boardwalk Empire. Season 3. Episode 1. September 16, 2012. HBO.
  11. ↑ "Bone for Tuna". Boardwalk Empire. Season 3. Episode 3. September 30, 2012. HBO.
  12. ↑ "Blue Bell Boy". Boardwalk Empire. Season 3. Episode 4. October 7, 2011. HBO.
  13. ↑ "Acres of Diamonds". Boardwalk Empire. Season 4. Episode 3. September 22, 2013. HBO.
  14. ↑ "The North Star". Boardwalk Empire. Season 4. Episode 6. October 13, 2013. HBO.
  15. ↑ "Friendless Child". Boardwalk Empire. Season 5. Episode 7. October 19, 2014. HBO.
  16. ↑ Napier, Jim. "Fact From Fiction: The Real History Of ‘Boardwalk Empire’" Archived 2015-07-11 at the Wayback Machine Screen Junkies. September 26, 2010.
  17. ↑ Paul Sparks: Awards at imdb.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.