Richard Strickland — The Shape of Water Character Profile

About Richard Strickland

Cold War-era colonel who captures the creature, seeks to vivisect it for the Space Race, and ultimately kills the creature and Elisa before being fatally slashed by the Amphibian Man.

Richard Strickland — Character Profile

Character Facts

Played by

Michael Shannon

Appears in

The Shape of Water (2017)

Role

Protagonist

Relationships (4)

• Richard Strickland — Conflict Captor — Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins)

  Strickland is the primary antagonist who captures and threatens Elisa.

• Richard Strickland — Conflict Combatant — Giles (Richard Jenkins)

  They engage in a direct physical confrontation during the climax.

• Richard Strickland — Professional Subordinate — General Hoyt (Nick Searcy)

  Strickland operates under General Hoyt's military command structure.

• Richard Strickland — Conflict Captor — Amphibian Man (Doug Jones)

  Strickland is the primary captor who subjects the creature to experimentation.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of The Shape of Water

More characters from The Shape of Water

• Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins)
• Giles (Richard Jenkins)
• Zelda Fuller (Octavia Spencer)
• Elaine Strickland (Lauren Lee Smith)
• Dr. Robert Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg)
• Fleming (David Hewlett)
• Brewster Fuller (Martin Roach)
• Sally (Secretary) (Wendy Lyon)
• Amphibian Man (Doug Jones)
• Worker (Diego Fuentes)
• Pie Guy (Morgan Kelly)
• Mr. Arzounian (John Kapelos)