This article contains character information for the television show NUMB3RS.
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Professor Gary Lorden serves as the show's math consultant. David Krumholtz, as the show's math genius, belies his dismal record as an algebra student to play the role of Charlie Eppes. He talked to a real-life math professor, Caltech’s 30-year-old Professor Dunfield regarding mathematics and work in academia.
Professor Rick Wilson’s graduate student, David Grynkiewicz, showed Krumholtz how to write his own equations quickly and emphatically.[1]
FBI Agent Don Eppes recruits his math genius younger brother Charlie Eppes as FBI math consultant to add fresh perspective to the investigations held by his team. Charlie works as a professor at CalSci and adviser to doctorate student Amita Ramanujan.
It should be noted that the mathematical equations and expressions that appear on the show are indeed applicable to the problem being tackled.
| Character | Cast | Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Don Eppes | Rob Morrow | FBI agent |
| Charlie Eppes | David Krumholtz | Mathematician |
| FBI consultant | ||
| NSA consultant | ||
| Larry Fleinhardt | Peter MacNicol | Physicist |
| FBI consultant | ||
| Alan Eppes | Judd Hirsch | Former LA city planner |
| Amita Ramanujan | Navi Rawat | Mathematician |
| FBI consultant | ||
| Megan Reeves | Diane Farr | FBI Behavioral Profiler |
| David Sinclair | Alimi Ballard | FBI agent |
| Colby Granger | Dylan Bruno | FBI agent |
| Liz Warner | Aya Sumika | FBI agent |
| Nikki Betancourt | Sophina Brown | FBI agent |
Dr. Mildred ("Millie") Finch (portrayed by Kathy Najimy) is the newly-appointed Chair of the CalSci Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy Division and an experimental neutrino astrophysicist who worked on the construction of AMANDA. She is versant in all of the Division's fields and holds an advanced mathematics degree. At first she appeared bossy and troubled Charlie Eppes and his colleagues, especially Amita Ramanujan, who is conducting research with her. She did not approve of Amita's dress code or her inappropriate relationship with her thesis advisor, but later came around. Mildred gave Amita tenure and appointed her to the curriculum committee, while (as part of their agreement) Charlie must head the admissions committee and aid in CalSci fundraising. Dr. Finch has told Charlie to publish and has recently bonded with him.
Millie is dating Alan Eppes, whom she beat in chess. Being lighthearted, she has made a bet with Alan on who can go longer without using consumer products, and has even helped him with his lawsuit by showing that his design specifications were not met.
She is a fan of James Bond films and took a three-month sabbatical from MIT to sail the South Pacific with a friend. CalSci recruit Oswald Kittner (Jay Baruchel) warmed to her, making his decision to become a student easier.
While she does not appear in the last three seasons, she is mentioned.
According to actress Kathy Najimy, Millie is a smart, independent woman who does whatever it takes to get the job done and who does not like pursuits of goals that are contrary to her mission[2]. She is a fan of James Bond films.
Millie was developed as a recurring character to serve as a scientist interested in advancing the position of women in science and as Alan's potential girlfriend.[3] She also was created to be another person to guide Charlie.[4] Millie was only scheduled to appear in two to three episodes. With series regular Peter MacNicol's departure to film 24, her role was expanded. Kathy Najimy was not interested in work in television at the time. Upon reading the script, she agreed to star as Millie.[5]
Ian Edgerton (portrayed by Lou Diamond Phillips) is a recurring character who has appeared in five out of six seasons. He is the FBI's best sniper, as well as being the fourth best shot in the United States. He is also a top tracker, and has the luxury of choosing his own cases. Ian also works as a sniper instructor at Quantico when he is not working a case in the field.
According to Colby, Ian did a tour of duty in Afghanistan and was highly respected by other military men deployed there. Colby stated that although it was obvious from the aftermath that Ian had been involved in an operation, "you never saw him". Ian is highly intelligent and loves his work. During their first encounters, Ian and Charlie clashed: Charlie did not believe in using guns to solve problems and disdained Ian's dispassion about killing, while Ian believed Charlie's mathematic approach was too academic for real cases and his scientific viewpoint made his objections to Ian's attitude hypocritical. He even went so far in their early acquaintance as to call Charlie's math "voodoo". Despite their early rancor, however, the pair have come to a mutual respect for their different expertises and even a kind of friendship. He backed Don up to their superiors regarding Don taking the Crystal Hoyle kill-shot, which took place in "Two Daughters" and Ian referenced in conversation with Don in "Pandora's Box".
It is heavily implied in "Two Daughters" and "Pandora's Box" that Ian used interrogation techniques which included physical force and borderline torture to get information out of a teenage accomplice of Crystal Hoyle. It is also implied that Don has seen or heard of Ian using such techniques before. Given that Ian's superiors were more concerned with discussing Don shooting Crystal Hoyle than Ian's borderline interrogation methods, it is likely that Ian will not be disciplined or will only be disciplined lightly over this incident.
With the kill shot through the cab windows of a pickup truck, executed in "Pandora's Box", Ian hopes to be moved up to third-best shot in the U.S.
Edgerton did not appear in season four, but returned in the premiere and finale for season five. At the end of the season five season finale, Ian goes on a date with Nikki Betancourt. During season six, Ian is accused of murdering one of his informants and of taking money from a drug dealer that Ian had arrested years earlier. At the time, Don and the rest of the team struggle to believe Ian's innocence, especially after Ian takes Colby hostage. Eventually, they realize Ian's intentions and work to have him released from prison. In a cameo appearance, Edgerton returned for the season six finale where he made an arrest and expressed disappointment that he was not invited to Charlie and Amita's wedding.
According to Lou Diamond Phillips in an interview with TV Guide, Ian was supposed to be a closed-ended role[6]. Members of the cast and crew wanted his character to return, so the writers expanded Ian's expertise[6]. Since then, Phillips remains a cast and crew favorite[7].
Lt. Walker (portrayed by Will Patton) is an officer of the Los Angeles Police Department, normally working on cases involving gang violence and organized crime. He is a hardened officer, but has provided a great deal of help to Don's team whenever their paths cross. He appeared four times, beginning in Season 2 during the episode "The O.G.". In an interview with IGN.com’s Travis Fickett, creator and executive producer Cheryl Heuton said that the cast and crew enjoy working with Patton[8]. Heuton also stated that they wanted Patton to return for season five[9].
Oswald Kittner (portrayed by Jay Baruchel) is a recurring character on the American television show Numb3rs. A fantasy baseball player who taught himself math, Oswald becomes involved in an FBI investigation conducted by FBI Special Agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow) and assisted by CalSci mathematician and FBI math consultant Dr. Charlie Eppes (David Krumholtz). Originally a one-time guest appearance, Oswald quickly becomes a fan favorite and reappears in a second episode, in which Charlie attempts to persuade Oswald to enroll at CalSci.
Oswald was originally supposed to be a one-time role.[10] For the episode "Hardball", series executive producers/co-creators Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton created Oswald to represent the geniuses who fail to receive a formal education.[11] For Oswald's educational background, the writers decided that he taught himself math.[12]
Heuton and Falacci developed the character of Oswald Kittner for another friend of series regular David Krumholtz. When the friend did not audition, Krumholtz suggested Baruchel for the role. After seeing Baruchel's performance, Heuton and Falacci modified the role to include some humorous lines and to add Oswald's voice. Although Oswald was a skateboarder, Baruchel never rode a skateboard and spent some time learning from the stunt coordinator and a skateboarder. When Heuton and Falacci brought back Oswald for "Democracy", they added the characterization of Oswald as a Canadian. During the filming of "Hardball", they learned that Baruchel's tattoo of the Canadian maple leaf on his chest.[11]
Oswald made two appearances, once in "Hardball", first airing in the United States on November 10, 2006, and once in "Democracy", first airing in the United States on March 9, 2007. In "Hardball", a minor league baseball player collapses during practice, and the FBI is called to investigate. After FBI agents led FBI Special Agent Don Eppes, mathematician and FBI math consultant Dr. Charlie Eppes, and scientists Dr. Larry Fleinhardt (Peter MacNicol) and Dr. Bill Waldie (Bill Nye) discover his sabermetrics equation in both an e-mail sent to the player and on a fantasy baseball web site, Oswald becomes a suspect in the baseball player's death. Oswald has no motive for murder. Oswald is later shot by the real suspect after a discussion with Charlie about Oswald's math skills and is brought to Charlie's house for Oswalds protection. Because of Oswald's math skills, Charlie attempts to persuade Oswald to enroll at CalSci. Oswald also receives two job offers, one from the FBI to develop his equation as an investigative tool and one as a statistician with the minor league team. He accepts the latter job offer.[13]
In "Democracy", Charlie encounters Oswald and resumes to persuade a reluctant Oswald to enroll at CalSci. Upon Dr. Millie Finch's (Kathy Najimy) suggestion, Charlie asks Oswald to help him investigate a series of numbers which Charlie's friend, a demographer named Rachel Lawson, left him before her murder. He and Charlie learn that Lawson and her fellow demographers and statisticians unwittingly constructed an algorithm which manipulated election results in precincts with very close elections. Charlie and Oswald's clues lead to a congressional investigation into the election and Lawson's work being published. Oswald then tells Charlie, Alan, and Don that he has decided to enroll at CalSci.[14]
Fans enjoyed Oswald's appearance on the show[12] and continued requesting Oswald's return[10]. Falacci and Heuton, along with the cast and crew, were amazed with Baruchel's performance, and Falacci and Heuton decided that Oswald was to be a recurring character.[11] The writers wrote another episode featuring Oswald[10], which was "Democracy". Heuton and Falacci planned to bring Baruchel back for season four, contingent on Baruchel's filming schedule.[11]
Dr. Marshall Penfield (portrayed by Colin Hanks) is a recurring character on the American television show Numb3rs. He appears in two episodes, "Convergence" and "Frenemies". The archrival of Dr. Charlie Eppes (David Krumholtz), he is a fellow Princeton mathematics prodigy and has constantly argued with Charlie over everything, including Amita Ramanujan (Navi Rawat). Both were intimidated by one another. Penfield would bother Charlie by calling him "Eppsy", but after an understanding, he now prefers the nom de guerre Chuck. He developed the theory of deep current sets and challenged the Eppes Convergence. Marshall Penfield is a favorite recurring character of the cast and crew[7].
Assistant United States Attorney Robin Brooks (portrayed by Michelle Nolden) is a recurring character on the American television show Numb3rs. The current girlfriend of FBI Special Agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow), she has made several appearances since her first appearance in "The O.G." Due to her own commitment issues, she and Don temporarily broke up during season 3 and part of season 4, restarting their relationship during the end of season 4. At the beginning of season five, she attempts to talk Dr. Charlie Eppes (David Krumholtz) into regaining his security clearance. Later, she and Don clash over his spiritual journey, but she eventually accepts it. During "The Fifth Man," she rushes from a conference in Portland, Oregon, to be by Don's bedside when he is stabbed. Don proposes to her in season 6. She rejects his proposal, stating that he is still in the middle of changes in his life. She does promise to accept his proposal when he finds what he wants from life, and does become his fiancee by the end of the season.
Actor Rob Morrow asked the producers to explore Don Eppes's personal life, which included his romantic relationships[15]. Writers planned for Don to have a relationship with someone who was not a regular cast member[16]. Michelle Nolden, who had previously starred in Showtime's Street Time as the wife of Morrow's character[15], was cast as Brooks. Writers and producers planned to bring back Nolden’s Brooks for season three[17]. The 2007-2008 Writers’ Guild Association’s strike postponed the return of Nolden’s character within the storyline [18]. Heuton and Falacci intended to have Robin and Don’s relationship continue through season five[7].
Otto Bahnoff (portrayed by John Cariani), who prefers to be called "Ottobahn" like Autobahn, is a brilliant but nervous and excitable CalSci engineer who appears in the season six episodes "Dreamland", "Arm in Arms", and "Cause and Effect". Otto specializes in plasma physics and plasma technology, and serves as a foil for Charlie with his apparent genius, ability to get completely lost in his work, and early uneasiness with criminal violence. As Larry takes over Charlie's FBI responsibilities for his leave to Cambridge, the enthusiastic Otto is to serve as assistant to Dr. Fleinhardt. He triumphed physicists replacing the mathematicians.
Professor Russell Lazlo (portrayed by Tony Hale) is an eccentric CalSci geneticist who appears in the season six episodes "Hydra" and "Devil Girl". Charlie says he is like a "savant of genetics". He delights in helping Charlie despite his lack of mathematical knowledge and is very pleased to meet Amita, wondering if she had any sisters. Charlie and his group seem somewhat annoyed by him. Russell is in a riding club, and helps Don with repairing his motorcycle and providing camaraderie.
Terry Lake (portrayed by Sabrina Lloyd) was a forensic psychologist and often acted as a profiler for Don Eppes' FBI team. Even though she did not understand the intricacies of what Charlie Eppes does for a living, she was more open to the mathematician's antics than her partner, Don. Don seemed eager to start a relationship with her, while she seemed more hesitant.
Terry was reassigned to Washington, D.C., in an attempt to patch up her relationship with her ex-husband. Sabrina Lloyd, who played Terry, did not return for the second season and Terry did not appear in the last two episodes of the first season. Officially, CBS stated her contract had an option to leave after the first season and she chose to do so and it was noted a new character would replace Terry rather than simply have another actress portray her.
Sabrina Lloyd was cast as a FBI agent[19]. Robert Bianco of USA Today stated that, although Lake was unoriginal, Lloyd would be interesting as an agent[20].
Sabrina Lloyd did not appear in the final few episodes of the season as she opted out of her contract toward the end of the first season[21]. Lloyd wanted to return to New York[22]. As a result, Terry Lake was written out of the show[21].
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