Avon Barksdale
| Avon Randolph Barksdale | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| First appearance | "The Target" (episode 1.01) |
| Last appearance | "Unconfirmed Reports" (episode 5.02) |
| Created by | David Simon |
| Portrayed by | Wood Harris |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Prisoner/Former Drug kingpin/philanthropist |
| Family | Butch Stamford (father) Wylett Jackson Barksdale (mother) Brianna Barksdale (sister) D'Angelo Barksdale (nephew) |
Avon Randolph Barksdale is a fictional character in The Wire, played by Wood Harris. Avon is one of the more powerful drug dealers in Baltimore, Maryland, running the Barksdale Organization. His Organization territory is based in the heart of west Baltimore's ghetto, solidifying his power in the drug trade.
Avon's best friend Stringer Bell is second in command and runs most of the operation, insulating Avon from law enforcement and potential enemies. Below Avon and Bell is a large organization of drug dealers and enforcers, including Avon's nephew D'Angelo Barksdale, son of Brianna Barksdale, Avon's sister. Accepting nothing less than absolute power, Avon is interested only in controlling the drug trade in west Baltimore, believing that the control of territory is key to such objective.
He is hot-tempered, very concerned with his image on the street, and quick to send violent warnings to other crews. He is also shrewd and intuitive, though not as cerebral as Stringer. Avon was partly based on real-life gang leader Nathan Barksdale who ran a drug selling operation in West Baltimore.
Avon Barksdale was born on August 15, 1970 at Provident Hospital in Baltimore. Barksdale grew up in the Franklin Terrace public housing project. As of season one, Barksdale had no criminal record as his juvenile record was expunged and he has not been arrested as an adult. Up until the Barksdale Investigation, Barksdale remained a furtive but increasingly powerful force on the west side of Baltimore's drug trade. Avon is the son of Butch Stamford, though no father is listed on his birth certificate. Stamford was an infamous Baltimore criminal, whose name is known by both the police and other drug traffickers. Avon, a former amateur boxer who once fought in a Golden Gloves Tournament, was taught by his father how to survive in "the game" at an early age.
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Wikipedia