Character Relationship Map: Matchstick Men

Characters

• Roy Waller (played by Nicolas Cage) — protagonist

  Roy is a Los Angeles con artist whose Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias complicate his short cons with Frank. Meeting Angela changes his priorities, but Frank's betrayal an...

• Frank Mercer (played by Sam Rockwell) — protagonist

  Frank is Roy's con-artist partner and protégé, working with him to sell fraudulent water filtration systems and target Chuck in a long con. He helps involve Angela, later betrays Roy by staging an ela...

• Angela (played by Alison Lohman) — supporting

  Angela is the teenage girl Roy believes to be his daughter, and her energy briefly gives him a renewed sense of purpose. She joins his con against Chuck, later helps deceive him, and is revealed to be...

• Dr. Klein (played by Bruce Altman) — supporting

  Dr. Klein is the psychiatrist Frank recommends after Roy suffers a severe panic attack. He provides Roy with medication, helps him confront his past and contact Heather, and later appears during the f...

• Chuck Frechette (played by Bruce McGill) — supporting

  Chuck is an arrogant businessman selected as the target of Roy and Frank's pigeon-drop con. After realizing he has been deceived, he pursues Roy and Angela, later returns with a gun and Frank, and die...

• Kathy (played by Sheila Kelley) — supporting

  Kathy is Roy's new wife after he abandons his former life as a con artist. One year later, Roy returns home to her and discovers that she is pregnant with his child, confirming his movement toward a s...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Roy Waller → Kathy (Family Husband)

  One year later, Roy returns home to his new wife Kathy, who is pregnant with his child.

• Roy Waller → Dr. Klein (Professional Patient)

  Frank recommends that Roy see Dr. Klein, and Klein provides treatment and conducts therapy sessions with him.

• Roy Waller → Angela (Family Believed Father)

  Roy learns that he has a fourteen-year-old daughter, meets Angela, and later hears her call him Dad.

• Roy Waller → Frank Mercer (Professional Business Partner)

  Roy runs short cons alongside Frank, and the two plan and execute a long con against Chuck Frechette.

Story Dynamics

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

• Chuck Frechette → Angela (Conflict Threatened Victim)

  Chuck waits with a gun when Angela and Roy return from dinner, and Angela shoots him.

• Dr. Klein → Frank Mercer (Alliance Conspirator)

  Roy discovers that Klein's medication was a placebo and later finds Klein's office vacant after the staged hospital deception and theft.

• Frank Mercer → Chuck Frechette (Conflict Conspiratorial Adversary)

  Frank helps Roy arrange and complete the con targeting Chuck.

• Roy Waller → Chuck Frechette (Conflict Con Artist Target)

  Roy and Frank select Chuck, an arrogant businessman, as the target of their pigeon-drop con.

• Frank Mercer → Angela (Alliance Accomplice)

  Roy later learns that the young woman he believed was Angela was actually Frank's accomplice, and Frank reveals that he pulled a long con.

Story Analysis

A troubled con artist is forced to confront deception, false family bonds, and the possibility of an honest life.

Plot Progression

1. A Fragile Conman's Routine
2. The Daughter Who Rejuvenates Him
3. The Dangerous Pigeon Drop
4. The Trap Closes
5. Truth Beyond the Con