1293:
298:. He instructs D'Angelo to withhold pay from his subordinates for several weeks on the grounds that those who don't soon ask for money are likely to be the ones being paid as informants. However, this plan reveals no informants. To foil wiretaps, Stringer insists on phone discipline, telling D'Angelo's crew to remove nearby
313:
Stringer assumes command of the
Barksdale crew when Avon is arrested at the end of season 1; Stringer is not arrested due to a lack of evidence or wiretap information mentioning Stringer. D'Angelo is also arrested and blames Stringer when he learns of Wallace's death, driving a wedge between the two.
542:
how drug money is routed from the kingpins to state and city politicians through their lawyers, mentions how he conned a fellow named "Bell" into giving him a great deal of money, because Davis had convinced him that he would be able to use his connections to push his development forward quickly. As
470:
In
Stringer's view, this would make any victory over Marlo worthless, as street corners generate no money without drugs to sell on them. When Stringer asserts his opposition to Avon's war against Marlo, Avon accuses him of lacking the masculinity necessary for their business. Stringer angrily rebuts
501:
The next day, Omar and
Mouzone track Stringer to his development site, kill his bodyguard, and hunt him down and corner him as he tries to escape. Stringer at first tries desperately bargaining for his life, but when Omar reveals that he and Mouzone are after him for personal reasons, and that Avon
486:
Stringer's luck takes a turn for the worse when
Williamson joins the New Day Co-Op and McNulty manages to get the MCU to shift focus back to the Barksdales. Freamon and Prez slowly gather conspiracy evidence against Stringer and his lieutenants, and eventually catch Stringer making an incriminating
511:
leader of what remains of the crew, which he merges with
Proposition Joe's drug operations. Marlo becomes the new power player in West Baltimore by default. McNulty and the police search Stringer's apartment and find it extremely clean, stylishly furnished, and tastefully decorated, far from their
478:
are hamstrung by the nuances of a legitimate business world that he doesn't fully understand, with his condominium project repeatedly delayed by bureaucratic obstacles. Worse, Stringer bribes Davis to connect his organization with federal housing grants, only to learn that Davis had fabricated his
305:
When it's time for Avon to clean house, Stringer orders the murder of
Wallace, who played a part in Brandon’s abduction and was disconcerted by the sight of his mutilated body. Stringer tries to find out about Wallace's whereabouts from D'Angelo, who realizes his friend is in danger and only tells
521:
McNulty expresses regret that he could not arrest his archrival before he died, and displays an odd admiration for
Stringer's lofty dreams and a grudging respect for his talent as a drug kingpin. In essence, McNulty feels purposeless without his adversary, and it is this sense of aimlessness that
388:
He manages to do so by tricking Omar into shooting
Mouzone by blaming him for Brandon's death. The plan fails after Omar shoots Mouzone, but calls the paramedics after realizing he's been lied to by Stringer. With Mouzone returning to New York to recover, Avon grudgingly agrees to Joe's proposal.
380:
Looking to solve the
Barksdales’ struggling drug trade, Stringer decides to go behind Avon's back and secretly agrees to share Barksdale territory with Proposition Joe in exchange for Joe's higher-quality heroin, an idea Avon vehemently opposed. When Avon hires the legendary New York enforcer
423:
Along with Joe, Stringer effectively runs the drug supply in
Baltimore. The two realize that the associated murders, not the drug trade itself, are what bring on serious police investigations. Consequently they strive to minimize violence among their crews and the other Co-Op dealers.
55:
498:. Stringer is simultaneously betrayed by Avon, when Mouzone confronts him about Stringer's plot to engineer a conflict between himself and Omar. In an effort to avoid a war with Mouzone and his New York associates, Avon reluctantly tells him Stringer's whereabouts.
261:'s crew after they steal some of Barksdale's stash from the pit. Stringer instructs D'Angelo to check his organization for an informant who may have given Omar information. Avon has Stringer assist Stinkum in taking over new territory for the organization.
310:, D'Angelo's second-in-command, and learns that Wallace has returned to working for D'Angelo. Stringer asks Bodie to kill Wallace while also having Nakeesha Lyles, a witness he had bribed in D'Angelo's trial, murdered by a member of the organization.
462:
When Avon is released from prison, he is uninterested in Stringer's efforts to reform the Barksdales. While Stringer wants to invest the organization's profits in legitimate business investments, Avon is more concerned with an imminent war against
567:
apparently coined the term "The Stringer Bell Rule" for the adage "don't keep notes on a criminal conspiracy". Bell's line "is you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?" from the Season 3 episode
360:
Stringer becomes concerned with D'Angelo's increasingly hostile attitude towards his uncle, fearful that he may turn against the Barksdales. Stringer secretly becomes involved with D'Angelo's girlfriend,
287:
to Omar and kill him when he lets his guard down. Avon initially brushes Stringer's suggestion aside but accepts this advice after Omar nearly kills him. Stringer also persuades Avon to give up his
323:
467:. As Avon's war against Marlo begins to draw more police attention, Joe and other Co-Op members threaten to cut Stringer off from the Greek's heroin supply if he can't stop the violence.
334:-based Dominican syndicate ends its partnership with the Barksdales, suspecting Avon of informing on them in exchange for a lighter prison sentence. Avon finds alternatives through
254:
witnesses over the course of the trial. When D'Angelo is released, Avon has Stringer demote D'Angelo from the Barksdale towers to the low-rise projects known as "the pit".
577:
365:, using the relationship to keep an eye on D'Angelo. When D'Angelo cuts himself off from the rest of his family, Stringer secretly arranges with a connection in
1264:
189:
during Avon's imprisonment. Bell is a terse and brooding leader, who shuns the flamboyance of the likes of Avon for ruthless pragmatism and legitimacy.
1364:
1324:
1354:
551:
Stringer Bell's name is a composite of real Baltimore drug lords Stringer Reed and Roland Bell. His story bears many similarities to the life of
1369:
439:
angrily objects, pointing out that Stringer is clearly a more prolific trafficker than their new target. This brings McNulty into conflict with
705:
385:
to chase rival drug dealers out of the Barksdale towers, Stringer maneuvers carefully to preserve his alliance with Joe behind Avon's back.
758:
679:
455:
disenchanted with the less interesting Williamson. As a result, the Major Crimes Unit, previously the most effective unit in the
294:
As Avon increasingly suspects that he is being watched by police, Stringer takes precautions to smoke out informants and counter
471:
by revealing that he had ordered D'Angelo's death. Stringer's relationship with Avon is irreparably damaged by this revelation.
955:
265:
240:
1106:
357:, leading many drug users to migrate to his territory. With the Barksdales' operation threatened, Stringer grows desperate.
978:
409:. Stringer is also shown to have made several donations to local business leaders and politicians, including the corrupt
280:
at an arcade. Stringer and his crew abduct Brandon and torture him to death while trying to discover Omar's whereabouts.
1329:
801:
731:
277:
1359:
1334:
555:, including his crossover from the illegal drug trade to legitimate business ownership and political contributions.
487:
phone call using one of his many SIM cards. This finally gives MCU enough evidence to make a move against Stringer.
197:
327:
84:
397:
Stringer uses more business-like strategies as he continues running the Barksdale empire. He obtains legitimate
1349:
373:. Stringer's connection has his cousin, who is in the same prison, strangle D'Angelo and stage the death as a
244:
210:. He attempts to legitimize the Barksdale Organization and insulates himself from direct criminality through
654:
1344:
1339:
1319:
945:
495:
314:
Stringer rewards Bodie's loyalty by promoting him to run their operation at the Franklin Terrace projects.
264:
Stringer takes Stinkum to survey his new territory, with some additional muscle in the form of Wee-Bey and
858:
456:
1239:
1016:
417:
406:
362:
505:
With Stringer dead and Avon imprisoned, the Barksdale Organization crumbles. Slim Charles becomes the
349:
Compounding this problem, all of Avon's hitmen have either been killed or arrested. At the same time,
1270:
1167:
823:
1157:
377:. Stringer stresses the need to keep Avon from knowing about Stringer's role in D'Angelo's murder.
494:
violations. In making those plans he betrays the location of the Barksdale weapons cache to Major
1200:
1134:
968:
920:
627:
405:
with Proposition Joe and other rival dealers, and runs meetings with his underlings according to
214:
and investments in housing development, aided through his buying of influence from politicians.
1374:
1244:
1234:
1175:
794:
459:, is temporarily compromised, and Stringer is able to operate without interference for a time.
186:
1021:
584:
after a spreadsheet listing alleged improprieties was found during a criminal investigation.
514:
410:
228:
206:
72:
502:
has betrayed him, he somberly resigns to his fate and is shot to death by Omar and Mouzone.
435:
dealer named Kintell "Prince K" Williamson. Most of the unit understands the decision, but
95:
8:
895:
490:
Stringer plans to stabilize control of the Barksdales by sending Avon back to prison for
448:
283:
After Omar kills Stinkum and wounds Wee-Bey, Stringer tries to persuade Avon to offer a
1081:
1026:
867:
552:
398:
269:
1296:
1277:
848:
843:
838:
833:
828:
787:
569:
522:
leads him to transfer to patrol in the Western District and straighten his life out.
322:
In season 2, Stringer faces a serious problem when the Barksdales' usual supplier, a
247:
1066:
601:
543:
Davis laughs about how he conned Stringer, Freamon's eyes light up in recognition.
370:
211:
1213:
1208:
1091:
1041:
1031:
1006:
963:
905:
464:
382:
350:
1218:
1190:
1147:
1142:
1056:
991:
935:
930:
910:
890:
581:
539:
452:
440:
431:' Major Crimes Unit to turn its attention elsewhere, namely to a more reckless
428:
366:
193:
182:
181:. In the criminal world of early 2000s Baltimore, Bell serves as drug kingpin
1313:
1124:
1114:
1061:
1051:
1036:
996:
940:
915:
885:
875:
531:
436:
402:
331:
307:
236:
231:, for the murder of rival drug dealer "Pooh" Blanchard. To ensure D'Angelo's
227:
Stringer is first seen attending the trial of Avon's nephew and lieutenant,
1185:
1119:
1086:
1071:
1011:
925:
900:
573:
480:
353:
introduces a purer, more effective heroin line through his connection with
335:
268:. While there, Stringer receives word from D'Angelo that two of his crew,
1180:
1001:
880:
564:
475:
444:
258:
512:
expectations of a drug kingpin. Stringer's bookshelf includes a copy of
1152:
535:
413:
291:, making Stringer a buffer between Avon and the rest of the operation.
201:
178:
105:
59:
1046:
354:
273:
232:
811:
507:
299:
173:
44:
24:
1096:
432:
374:
339:
295:
732:"People close to Donald Trump do not seem to have seen The Wire"
479:
federal contact and pocketed the money. Enraged, Stringer tells
54:
1076:
491:
343:
680:"A silent Councilman speaks volumes in his fundraising report"
706:"Trump's Inner Circle Keeps Violating the Stringer Bell Rule"
288:
284:
251:
779:
572:" was cited as early as 2017 to express incredulity at the
306:
Stringer that Wallace left the business. Stringer turns to
578:
interactions with Russia during his 2016 election campaign
483:
to assassinate Davis, an order Avon immediately rescinds.
759:"'The Wire's' Stringer Bell Has Some Advice For JPMorgan"
185:'s second-in-command and assumes direct control of the
200:
and maintains a personal library, including a copy of
346:they supply is far less potent and more expensive.
302:and walk longer distances to other phones instead.
1311:
795:
802:
788:
1365:Fictional characters based on real people
1325:African-American characters in television
19:This article is about the character from
1355:Television characters introduced in 2002
756:
646:
1370:American male characters in television
1312:
326:named Roberto, becomes the focus of a
783:
558:
427:The resulting lack of murders forces
757:Zeitlin, Matthew (August 29, 2013).
652:
628:"Character profile - Stringer Bell"
13:
620:
594:
14:
1386:
416:, to facilitate development of a
1292:
1291:
276:, have spotted Omar's boyfriend
198:Baltimore City Community College
53:
653:Kahn, Jeremy (August 2, 2007).
257:Elsewhere, Stringer deals with
750:
724:
698:
672:
401:for the Barksdales, forms the
1:
587:
809:
580:, and in 2013 as advice for
217:
171:is a fictional character in
7:
457:Baltimore Police Department
392:
317:
222:
10:
1391:
1240:Omar Little and associates
655:"Real life, and then some"
563:In 2019, political writer
546:
447:caught in the middle, and
18:
1330:Fictional murdered people
1287:
1271:And All the Pieces Matter
1257:
1227:
1199:
1166:
1133:
1105:
977:
954:
866:
857:
819:
530:In the season 5 episode "
525:
235:, Stringer has enforcers
141:
124:
116:
111:
101:
91:
79:
67:
52:
42:
37:
1360:Drug dealers of The Wire
1335:Fictional businesspeople
602:"Org Chart - The Street"
474:Stringer's inroads into
23:. For the musician, see
407:Robert's Rules of Order
112:In-universe information
16:Character from The Wire
1265:Awards and nominations
1245:Stanfield Organization
1235:Barksdale Organization
538:, while describing to
237:Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice
187:Barksdale Organization
1350:Fictional underbosses
515:The Wealth of Nations
496:Howard "Bunny" Colvin
342:connections, but the
266:Marquis "Bird" Hilton
241:Anton "Stinkum" Artis
207:The Wealth of Nations
738:. September 21, 2017
85:Mission Accomplished
1345:Fictional murderers
1340:Fictional gangsters
1320:The Wire characters
896:Roland Pryzbylewski
449:Roland Pryzbylewski
330:investigation. The
32:Fictional character
1022:D'Angelo Barksdale
712:. January 25, 2019
576:team's documented
559:In popular culture
553:Kenneth A. Jackson
229:D'Angelo Barksdale
1307:
1306:
1278:Beyond Hamsterdam
1253:
1252:
570:Straight and True
158:
157:
151:Housing developer
1382:
1295:
1294:
864:
863:
804:
797:
790:
781:
780:
774:
773:
771:
769:
754:
748:
747:
745:
743:
736:The New Republic
728:
722:
721:
719:
717:
702:
696:
695:
693:
691:
676:
670:
669:
667:
665:
650:
644:
643:
641:
639:
624:
618:
617:
615:
613:
598:
212:money laundering
68:First appearance
62:as Stringer Bell
57:
35:
34:
1390:
1389:
1385:
1384:
1383:
1381:
1380:
1379:
1310:
1309:
1308:
1303:
1283:
1249:
1223:
1214:Scott Templeton
1209:Augustus Haynes
1195:
1162:
1129:
1101:
1092:Brother Mouzone
1042:Proposition Joe
1007:Marlo Stanfield
973:
964:Rhonda Pearlman
950:
853:
815:
808:
778:
777:
767:
765:
755:
751:
741:
739:
730:
729:
725:
715:
713:
704:
703:
699:
689:
687:
686:. April 3, 2014
678:
677:
673:
663:
661:
651:
647:
637:
635:
626:
625:
621:
611:
609:
600:
599:
595:
590:
561:
549:
528:
465:Marlo Stanfield
399:business fronts
395:
383:Brother Mouzone
371:have him killed
351:Proposition Joe
320:
225:
220:
154:
137:
80:Last appearance
63:
33:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1388:
1378:
1377:
1372:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1305:
1304:
1302:
1301:
1288:
1285:
1284:
1282:
1281:
1274:
1267:
1261:
1259:
1255:
1254:
1251:
1250:
1248:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1231:
1229:
1225:
1224:
1222:
1221:
1219:Alma Gutierrez
1216:
1211:
1205:
1203:
1197:
1196:
1194:
1193:
1191:Randy Wagstaff
1188:
1183:
1178:
1172:
1170:
1164:
1163:
1161:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1148:Clarence Royce
1145:
1143:Tommy Carcetti
1139:
1137:
1131:
1130:
1128:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1111:
1109:
1103:
1102:
1100:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1057:Sergei Malatov
1054:
1049:
1044:
1039:
1034:
1029:
1024:
1019:
1014:
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
992:Avon Barksdale
989:
983:
981:
975:
974:
972:
971:
966:
960:
958:
952:
951:
949:
948:
943:
938:
936:Beadie Russell
933:
931:Leander Sydnor
928:
923:
918:
913:
911:Cedric Daniels
908:
903:
898:
893:
891:Lester Freamon
888:
883:
878:
872:
870:
861:
855:
854:
852:
851:
846:
841:
836:
831:
826:
820:
817:
816:
807:
806:
799:
792:
784:
776:
775:
749:
723:
697:
684:Baltimore Brew
671:
645:
619:
592:
591:
589:
586:
560:
557:
548:
545:
540:Lester Freamon
527:
524:
453:Leander Sydnor
441:Lester Freamon
429:Cedric Daniels
394:
391:
367:Washington, DC
319:
316:
278:Brandon Wright
245:Savino Bratton
224:
221:
219:
216:
194:macroeconomics
183:Avon Barksdale
156:
155:
153:
152:
149:
145:
143:
139:
138:
136:
135:
132:
128:
126:
122:
121:
118:
114:
113:
109:
108:
103:
99:
98:
93:
89:
88:
81:
77:
76:
69:
65:
64:
58:
50:
49:
40:
39:
31:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1387:
1376:
1375:Male villains
1373:
1371:
1368:
1366:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1317:
1315:
1300:
1299:
1290:
1289:
1286:
1280:
1279:
1275:
1273:
1272:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1262:
1260:
1256:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1232:
1230:
1226:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1206:
1204:
1202:
1198:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1173:
1171:
1169:
1165:
1159:
1158:Norman Wilson
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1140:
1138:
1136:
1132:
1126:
1125:Ziggy Sobotka
1123:
1121:
1118:
1116:
1115:Frank Sobotka
1113:
1112:
1110:
1108:
1104:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1062:Chris Partlow
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1052:Spiros Vondas
1050:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1037:Bodie Broadus
1035:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1020:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
998:
997:Wee-Bey Brice
995:
993:
990:
988:
987:Stringer Bell
985:
984:
982:
980:
976:
970:
967:
965:
962:
961:
959:
957:
953:
947:
944:
942:
941:Ervin Burrell
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
886:Bunk Moreland
884:
882:
879:
877:
876:Jimmy McNulty
874:
873:
871:
869:
865:
862:
860:
856:
850:
847:
845:
842:
840:
837:
835:
832:
830:
827:
825:
822:
821:
818:
814:
813:
805:
800:
798:
793:
791:
786:
785:
782:
768:September 14,
764:
763:BuzzFeed News
760:
753:
742:September 14,
737:
733:
727:
716:September 14,
711:
707:
701:
685:
681:
675:
664:September 12,
660:
656:
649:
633:
629:
623:
607:
603:
597:
593:
585:
583:
579:
575:
571:
566:
556:
554:
544:
541:
537:
533:
532:Late Editions
523:
519:
517:
516:
510:
509:
503:
499:
497:
493:
488:
484:
482:
477:
472:
468:
466:
460:
458:
454:
450:
446:
442:
438:
437:Jimmy McNulty
434:
430:
425:
421:
419:
415:
412:
411:State Senator
408:
404:
403:New Day Co-Op
400:
390:
386:
384:
378:
376:
372:
368:
364:
358:
356:
352:
347:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
315:
311:
309:
308:Bodie Broadus
303:
301:
297:
292:
290:
286:
281:
279:
275:
271:
267:
262:
260:
255:
253:
249:
246:
242:
238:
234:
230:
215:
213:
209:
208:
203:
199:
195:
190:
188:
184:
180:
176:
175:
170:
166:
162:
150:
147:
146:
144:
140:
133:
130:
129:
127:
123:
119:
115:
110:
107:
104:
100:
97:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
61:
56:
51:
47:
46:
41:
38:Stringer Bell
36:
30:
26:
22:
1297:
1276:
1269:
1186:Namond Brice
1120:Nick Sobotka
1087:Johnny Weeks
1072:Monk Metcalf
1012:Slim Charles
986:
969:Maurice Levy
946:Bunny Colvin
926:Stan Valchek
921:Jay Landsman
901:Ellis Carver
810:
766:. Retrieved
762:
752:
740:. Retrieved
735:
726:
714:. Retrieved
710:The Atlantic
709:
700:
688:. Retrieved
683:
674:
662:. Retrieved
659:The Guardian
658:
648:
636:. Retrieved
631:
622:
610:. Retrieved
605:
596:
562:
550:
529:
520:
513:
506:
504:
500:
489:
485:
481:Slim Charles
473:
469:
461:
426:
422:
396:
387:
379:
359:
348:
336:Philadelphia
321:
312:
304:
293:
282:
263:
256:
226:
205:
191:
177:, played by
172:
168:
164:
160:
159:
148:Drug kingpin
120:Russell Bell
102:Portrayed by
43:
29:
20:
1201:Journalists
1181:Dukie Weems
1176:Michael Lee
1135:Politicians
1002:Omar Little
881:Kima Greggs
690:February 3,
565:Adam Serwer
476:real estate
445:Kima Greggs
418:condominium
259:Omar Little
196:classes at
192:He attends
96:David Simon
1314:Categories
1153:Clay Davis
1107:Stevedores
1017:Cutty Wise
916:Bill Rawls
859:Characters
588:References
536:Clay Davis
414:Clay Davis
248:intimidate
202:Adam Smith
179:Idris Elba
142:Occupation
106:Idris Elba
92:Created by
73:The Target
60:Idris Elba
1047:The Greek
979:Criminals
420:complex.
355:The Greek
324:Dominican
300:payphones
274:Poot Carr
233:acquittal
218:Biography
117:Full name
48:character
1298:Category
1168:Students
812:The Wire
638:July 30,
612:July 27,
582:JPMorgan
508:de facto
433:Jamaican
393:Season 3
332:New York
318:Season 2
296:wiretaps
223:Season 1
174:The Wire
165:Stringer
131:Stringer
87:" (2004)
75:" (2002)
45:The Wire
25:Dramatis
21:The Wire
1258:Related
1097:Butchie
1082:Bubbles
1027:Wallace
956:Lawyers
824:Seasons
547:Origins
443:, with
375:suicide
363:Donette
340:Atlanta
270:Wallace
161:Russell
1077:Kenard
868:Police
634:. 2004
608:. 2004
526:Legacy
492:parole
344:heroin
243:, and
134:String
1228:Other
1067:Snoop
574:Trump
289:pager
285:truce
252:bribe
125:Alias
1032:Poot
906:Herc
770:2022
744:2022
718:2022
692:2016
666:2009
640:2006
614:2006
451:and
338:and
272:and
250:and
169:Bell
632:HBO
606:HBO
534:",
369:to
328:DEA
204:'s
1316::
761:.
734:.
708:.
682:.
657:.
630:.
604:.
518:.
239:,
167:"
849:5
844:4
839:3
834:2
829:1
803:e
796:t
789:v
772:.
746:.
720:.
694:.
668:.
642:.
616:.
568:"
163:"
83:"
71:"
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
