Who plays Al Swearengen in Deadwood?

Al Swearengen is played by Ian McShane.

What are Al Swearengen's abilities?

Al Swearengen's abilities include intimidation, business strategy, combat, manipulation, survival.

Al Swearengen has 7 mapped relationships in Deadwood. Explore the interactive relationship map for details.

Occupation: businessperson, criminal.

Ruthless saloon owner and brothel keeper in Deadwood, navigating power struggles and survival.

Al Swearengen — Rival Industrialists — George Hearst (Gerald McRaney)
An intense power struggle between local control and eastern capital, marked by negotiation and open hostility.
Al Swearengen — Master and Enforcer — Dan Dority (W. Earl Brown)
A rigid hierarchy of command and absolute loyalty, tested by violence and moral boundaries.
Al Swearengen — Strategic Partners — Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant)
A complex bond oscillating between pragmatic cooperation and moral friction, ultimately solidifying against external threats.
Al Swearengen — Rival Saloon Owners — Cy Tolliver (Powers Boothe)
A persistent rivalry for local dominance that shifts from business competition to political subordination.
Al Swearengen — Manipulative Collaborators — Silas Adams (Titus Welliver)
A transactional relationship built on mutual utility, bribery, and strategic information exchange.
Al Swearengen — Protector and Protected — Trixie (Paula Malcomson)
A protective dynamic where Al intervenes to shield Trixie from Hearst's retaliation.
Al Swearengen — Command and Disobedience — Johnny Burns (Sean Bridgers)
A hierarchical command structure tested by moral hesitation and enforced through physical intervention.