Norman Wilson | |
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First appearance | "Boys of Summer" (episode 4.01) |
Last appearance | "–30–" (episode 5.10) |
Created by | David Simon |
Portrayed by | Reg E. Cathey |
Information | |
Gender | Male |
Occupation | Carcetti Administrative Aide |
Norman Wilson is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Reg E. Cathey. Wilson is a professional political operative and works closely with ambitious politician Tommy Carcetti. The character first appeared in the show's fourth season premiere "Boys of Summer" and Cathey is part of the starring cast for the fourth and fifth seasons.
Wilson is a professional political operative. He was previously a night editor at The Baltimore Sun and was much loved by his reporters. He has a professional, savvy and honest presence. He grew up in Catonsville, a southwestern Baltimore County suburb of Baltimore.
Wilson serves as Councilman Tommy Carcetti's deputy campaign manager in his run for Mayor of Baltimore, under campaign manager Theresa D'Agostino. He is an honest voice in Carcetti's campaign and is often the sounding board for Carcetti's worries about race in Baltimore politics. When the poll results do not go in Carcetti's favor, Carcetti assumes he will lose and becomes disinterested in the campaign. Wilson is left to keep his candidate on track despite his pessimism.
After Carcetti wins the Democratic primary and subsequent election, Wilson continues to serve as Carcetti's right-hand man, accompanying the newly elected Mayor everywhere he goes. Wilson becomes disillusioned with Carcetti when he puts his own ambition above the needs of the city. He talks with Clarence Royce's former advisor, Coleman Parker, and muses about managing the campaign of another up-and-coming politician on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.