Character Relationship Map: There's Something About Mary

Characters

• Mary Jensen (played by Cameron Diaz) — protagonist

  Mary is an orthopedic surgeon living in Miami, and the central romantic figure pursued by Ted, Pat, Dom, and other men. She dates Pat before rejecting him, then dates Ted until an anonymous letter rev...

• Pat Healy (played by Matt Dillon) — protagonist

  Pat is the private investigator Ted hires to locate Mary. After finding her, Pat lies to Ted about her life, quits his job, and becomes obsessed with pursuing her. He dates Mary through deception, but...

• Ted Stroehmann (played by Ben Stiller) — supporting

  Ted is Mary's former high-school prom date and the emotional protagonist, who remains in love with her for thirteen years. He hires Pat to find her, travels to Miami, and begins dating her, but his se...

• Tucker (played by Lee Evans) — supporting

  Tucker is presented as Mary's British architect friend, but he is actually an American pizza delivery worker named Norm Phipps who is infatuated with her. He invents criminal and serial-killer allegat...

• Dom Woganowski (played by Chris Elliott) — supporting

  Dom is Ted's best friend and later revealed to be Mary's obsessive former boyfriend, known in that relationship as Woogie. He advises Ted to hire Pat, writes the anonymous letter exposing Ted's search...

• Magda (played by Lin Shaye) — supporting

  Magda is Mary's roommate in Miami. Her connection to Mary places her within the household where several of the romantic conflicts unfold. The plot also establishes that Magda has a boyfriend who becom...

• Dom's Wife (played by Hillary Matthews) — minor
• Brett Favre (played by Brett Favre) — cameo

  Brett is another of Mary's former boyfriends. Norm causes Mary to reject him by falsely claiming that Brett insulted Warren. Near the climax, Brett arrives with Ted, and Ted argues that Brett deserves...

• Girl (played by Kelly Roarke) — cameo

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Dom's Wife → Dom Woganowski (wife)
• Brett Favre → Mary Jensen (Romantic Former Boyfriend) — Brett is part of Mary's history of past relationships.

  Brett is identified as another ex-boyfriend of Mary whom she previously dumped.

• Ted Stroehmann → Pat Healy (Professional Client) — Ted employs Pat to perform an investigation.

  Ted hires private investigator Pat Healy to track down Mary.

• Dom Woganowski → Mary Jensen (Romantic Obsessive Ex-Boyfriend) — Dom's unresolved obsession makes him a dangerous former romantic partner.

  Dom is revealed to be Mary's former boyfriend Woogie, and Mary previously obtained a restraining order after he became obsessed with her.

• Ted Stroehmann → Mary Jensen (Romantic High School Crush) — Ted's enduring romantic attachment to Mary drives his search for her.

  In 1985, Ted is about to attend prom with his dream girl, Mary, and remains in love with her thirteen years later.

• Pat Healy → Mary Jensen (Romantic Pursuer) — Pat transforms his investigation into a self-serving romantic pursuit.

  After locating Mary, Pat becomes fixated on her, quits his job, returns to Miami, and pursues her through lies and stalking.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Girl → Ted Stroehmann (Narrative Observer) — Girl observes and narrates the central romance.

  A nearby band member narrates Ted and Mary's love story during the final sequence.

• Girl → Mary Jensen (Narrative Story Narrator) — Girl is the listed character associated with the nearby band narration.

  The ending refers to a nearby band member who has been narrating Ted and Mary's love story.

• Mary Jensen → Magda (Social Roommates) — Mary and Magda share a household.

  Mary is described as living in Miami with her roommate Magda.

• Brett Favre → Ted Stroehmann (Conflict Romantic Alternative) — Brett briefly represents an alternative to Ted's pursuit.

  Ted brings Brett to Mary and declares that Brett should be with her because he is the only man who did not use deception to win her over.

• Pat Healy → Dom Woganowski (Alliance Temporary Ally) — Their cooperation is temporary and centered on stopping Dom's immediate threat.

  Pat and Dom intervene together when Dom threatens Mary in her apartment, saving her from the confrontation.

• Tucker → Mary Jensen (Social Slandering Friend) — Tucker uses apparent friendship to influence Mary's romantic choices.

  Tucker presents himself as Mary's British architect friend and tells her false stories portraying Pat as a career criminal and suspected serial killer...

• Pat Healy → Tucker (Conflict Confrontational Rival) — Pat treats Tucker as an interfering rival.

  Pat confronts Tucker after Tucker ends Pat's relationship with Mary through false stories about Pat's criminal history.

• Ted Stroehmann → Dom Woganowski (Social Best Friend) — Dom initially acts as Ted's trusted friend and practical supporter.

  Ted follows the advice of his best friend Dom and hires Pat to locate Mary; Dom later bails Ted out after his mistaken arrest.

Story Analysis

A long-delayed romance survives deception, obsession, rivalry, and Ted's decision to put Mary's happiness before his own.

Plot Progression

1. The Missed Beginning — Ted's prom date with Mary is destroyed by a painful accident, and the two lose contact. Thirteen years later, Ted is still emotionally attached to her.
2. A Search Turned Deception — Ted hires Pat to find Mary, but Pat discovers her and lies about her life. Pat abandons the investigation and begins pursuing Mary himself.
3. Florida Rivalries — Ted travels to Florida after learning the truth and becomes entangled in a mistaken murder arrest. Pat dates Mary while Tucker's slander creates another romantic conflict.
4. Letters And Obsession — Ted begins dating Mary, but an anonymous letter exposes his investigation and ends their relationship. Dom is revealed as the writer and as Mary's obsessive former boyfriend.
5. The Choice Outside — The competing men confront the consequences of their deception, while Ted tries to give Mary to Brett. Mary follows Ted and chooses him before the final sniper misfire.