Character guide

Sam Spade

major

Also known as Spade, Mr. Spade, Samuel Spade, Sammy

Hard-boiled private detective in San Francisco, central to the hunt for the Maltese Falcon.

Brigid O'Shaughnessy

major

Also known as Miss Wonderly, Wonderly, Brigid, O'Shaughnessy

Mysterious femme fatale who hires Spade and becomes entangled in the falcon's pursuit.

Casper Gutman

major

Also known as Mr. Gutman, Gutman, Rhea Gutman

Corpulent mastermind obsessed with recovering the jewel-encrusted Maltese Falcon.

Joel Cairo

supporting

Also known as Mr. Joel Cairo, Mr. Cairo, Cairo, Joe Cairo

Effete, perfumed criminal who schemes to acquire the falcon for himself.

Wilmer Cook

supporting

Also known as Wilmer, The boy Wilmer

Gutman's young, trigger-happy bodyguard and hitman.

Effie Perine

supporting

Also known as Effie

Spade's loyal and capable secretary who assists him throughout the case.

Miles Archer

supporting

Also known as Archer, Miles

Spade's partner, murdered early in the story while on a stakeout.

Iva Archer

minor

Also known as Iva

Miles Archer's widow and Spade's former lover.

Tom Polhaus

supporting

Also known as Polhaus, big Tom, Sergeant Polhaus

Friendly police detective who investigates Archer's murder.

Lieutenant Dundy

supporting

Also known as Dundy

Antagonistic police lieutenant who distrusts Spade.

Floyd Thursby

minor

Also known as Thursby, Floyd

Brigid's former partner, found murdered after Archer's death.

Captain Jacobi

minor

Also known as Jacobi

Captain of the La Paloma who delivers the falcon to Spade before dying.

Sid Wise

minor

Also known as Sid, Wise

Spade's friend and attorney who provides legal advice.

District Attorney Bryan

minor

Also known as Bryan

District attorney who questions Spade about the murders.

Luke

minor

Night watchman at Spade's building who reports a disturbance.

Dixie Monahan

minor

Also known as Monahan, Dixie

Gambler who originally owned the Maltese Falcon, mentioned as deceased.

Charilaos Konstantinides

minor

Also known as Charilaos

Greek dealer who sold the falcon to Gutman.

Flitcraft

minor

Also known as Mrs. Flitcraft

Subject of a parable Spade tells about a man who disappears after a near-death experience.

Corinne

minor

A woman mentioned in passing, possibly a former client of Spade's.

Phil Archer

minor

Also known as Phil

Miles Archer's brother, who briefly confronts Spade.

Shilling

minor

A minor character who appears at the Belvedere Divan.

Mr. Freed

minor

Also known as Freed

A man who calls Spade about a case, mentioned briefly.

Ted

minor

A young man who works at the Belvedere Divan.

Harriman

minor

A man who Spade mentions in a story about a missing person.

Papa

minor

Gutman's affectionate term for Wilmer, not a separate character.