List of Arrow characters

The main cast, featured in a promotional image for the second season. From left to right, Laurel (Cassidy), Slade (Bennett), Felicity (Rickards), Oliver (Amell), John (Ramsey), Thea (Holland), and Roy (Haynes). Not pictured are Tommy (Donnell), Quentin (Blackthorne), Moira (Thompson), and Malcolm (Barrowman).

Arrow is an American television series, developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg, based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. The series premiered in the United States on October 10, 2012 for The CW television network, and it finished its second season on May 14, 2014. On February 13, 2014, The CW renewed the series for a third season.[1] Arrow follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), who, after five years of being stranded on an isolated island, returns home and becomes a bow and arrow wielding hooded vigilante. His friends, former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), I.T. expert and skilled hacker Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), fellow vigilante Sara Lance / Canary (Caity Lotz), aspiring vigilante, Roy Harper (Colton Haynes) and later attorney-turned-vigilante Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), aid Oliver in his pursuit for justice. They also receive support from Laurel and Sara's father, Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne), who works at the police department. The series also features flashbacks in each episode to Oliver’s time as a castaway, and how it shaped him into the man that returned home to fulfill the promise he made to his late father (Jamey Sheridan) of atoning his family’s sins. In addition, the series explores how Oliver's quest to restore order in Starling City affects the lives of those who are closest to him, and how are they shaping him into the hero he ultimately becomes.

The following is a list of characters that have appeared on the television series. Many are named for, or based upon DC Comics characters.

Main characters

Character Actor Season appearances
Starring Recurring Guest
Oliver Queen / Arrow Stephen Amell 1–present – –
Stephen Amell

Oliver Queen is the main protagonist of the series and former billionaire playboy turned vigilante archer with a mission to save his city from corruption. In season 1, Oliver returns to Starling City after being shipwrecked for five years on a remote island and presumed dead. He begins a crusade to neutralize an organisation of criminals using a list left to him by his father, willing to kill if needed, as the hooded vigilante "The Hood". Oliver finds himself facing a larger conspiracy, the "Undertaking", orchestrated by Tommy's father Malcolm Merlyn, that involves Oliver's mother Moira, which destroys the Glades section of Starling City. He also attempts to reconnect with his family but is involved in a love triangle between his ex-girlfriend Laurel and best friend Tommy. He also gains partners Diggle and Felicity to help in his crusade. In the flashbacks Oliver is shipwrecked on the island and begins to learn the skills needed to survive from various others, including former ASIS Slade Wilson, while being hunted by mercenaries.

In season 2, after the Undertaking, Oliver reignites his crusade. He is now goes by the alias "Arrow", and vows to never kill again in honor of Tommy. He fights criminals taking advantage of the Glades after its destruction while trying to redeem himself as a hero, but is challenged with this when those closest to him are endangered. He also co-runs Queen Consolidated with Isabel Rochev and becomes friends with Alderman Sebastian Blood. Oliver finds himself investigating a larger plot involving Mirakuru, a strength-enhancing drug, in a plot orchestrated by Slade Wilson, a former ally-turned-enemy of Oliver’s on the island, who intends to destroy everything and everyone Oliver cares for and even kills Moira. Also Sebastian and Isabel are also working for Slade and take away his house, club, wealth and control of the city. Oliver gains help from Sara Lance, now the vigilante "Canary" and also takes on Roy Harper, Thea's boyfriend, as a protégé. In the flashbacks Oliver is hunted by armed men seeking the Mirakuru and accidentally causes the death of Shado, his lover on the island. Slade loved Shado, and he targets Oliver for revenge which would lead to Slade's motives in the present. A flashback before the island also reveals that he mistakenly impregnated a girl but Moira paid her to tell Oliver the child died and move away, leaving him unaware of his fatherhood.

In season 3, Oliver continues his mission and has taken Roy on as a full sidekick, but now lives in his foundry safe house due to losing his mansion. Oliver is faced with the moral question of whether he can be Oliver Queen and live his life while the city needs the Arrow. This is only further challenged when he realizes he is in love with Felicity but she has also caught the attention of Ray Palmer, whom Oliver comes to resent. After Thea returns to Starling City, they decide to reopen their nightclub together after she found an investor for their business (who, unbeknownst to Oliver, is Malcolm Merlyn). Oliver is also inadvertently embroiled in a conflict with Ra's al Ghul due to Malcolm's manipulations, and suffers a mortal wound but is saved by Maseo and Tatsu Yamashiro. He is forced to ask Malcolm for training to defeat Ra's but is eventually confronted by Ra's and offered to take his place, though he rejects it, Ra's begins killing people in Starling City posing as the Arrow to force Oliver to accept his offer. When Ra's nearly kills Thea, Oliver is forced to join the League, abandoning his former identity to become "Al Sah-him" (Arabic for Arrow), and is brain washed into becoming a darker and more cruel version of himself. He is also forcibly engaged to Nyssa al Ghul to keep Ra's bloodline in the reign of the League. The season's flashbacks also explore Oliver's time in Hong Kong, where Amanda Waller forces Oliver to become one of A.R.G.U.S.'s agents after witnessing his combat capabilities on the island, and has the Yamashiros as his handlers.

He is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow.

  • First appearance: "Pilot"
Laurel Lance / Black Canary Katie Cassidy 1–present – –
Katie Cassidy

Laurel Lance is an assistant district attorney, and Oliver Queen's ex-girlfriend and former love interest. In season 1, Laurel was a lawyer for CNRI, a legal aid firm, and girlfriend of Tommy Merlyn. She had been Oliver's girlfriend prior to the shipwreck. When Oliver returns she despises him for leading Sara to her death, but gradually comes to accept him upon learning of his suffering on the island and remembering her sister's rebellious faults. She also occasionally works with the Hood/Arrow—unaware that he is Oliver—with cases the courts are unwilling to move on. Oliver and Laurel eventually reignite their relationship after Tommy breaks up with her, out of his own resentment towards Oliver. Tommy dies saving Laurel when CNRI is destroyed along with much of the Glades.

In season 2, Laurel is hired an assistant district attorney, and assigned to help prosecute Moira Queen. She is also not dealing well with Tommy's death, and starts taking drugs and drinking, and pushing her friends and family away. She is attracted to Alderman Sebastian Blood, but discovers he has a secret; Blood arranges that her drug problem is discovered, and she is fired. Laurel eventually chooses sobriety after an argument with Oliver and inspiration from her returned sister Sara's vigilante alter-ego Canary, and gets her job back with the district attorney's office. Laurel learns Oliver's secret from Slade Wilson in "Deathstroke". Slade hopes to use her as a pawn against Oliver, but instead Laurel confronts Oliver with this knowledge, and decides to keep his secret. She also learns Sara's secret in "The Man Under the Hood". Laurel is abducted by Slade, who plans to kill her in front of Oliver, but he is defeated.

In season 3, Laurel is working to prosecute the criminals Oliver catches. She also worries over her father's continuing field activities while still recovering from his injury from Slade's attack, and is urging him to use his new political powers to serve the city. When Sara again returns to Starling City, she is killed in front of Laurel. Grief-stricken and vengeful, she makes a disastrous and amateurish attempt to be a vigilante. Oliver refuses to train her, so Laurel seeks former boxer/vigilante Ted Grant's help with combat training. She also wears Sara's Canary jacket in remembrance of her and eventually becomes the "Black Canary".[2] In her new role as a vigilante, she partners with Roy Harper to help liberate the Glades from crime lord Danny Brickwell, during Oliver's absence. She eventually learns that Malcolm Merlyn is directly responsible for Sara's murder and tries to avenge her death, but he overpowers her but is saved by Nyssa, who ultimately offer to help Laurel furthering her training. In addition, Cisco Ramon helps Laurel by providing her an ultrasonic collar using components from both Sara's and Hartley Rathaway’s weapons, improving Laurel's tactics with sonic weaponry.

Laurel's full name is Dinah Laurel Lance, and she is based on the DC Comics character Black Canary.

  • First appearance: "Pilot"
Tommy Merlyn Colin Donnell 1 – 2–3
Colin Donnell

Tommy Merlyn is Oliver's best friend, and the son of Malcolm Merlyn, a main antagonist of the series, and paternal half-brother of Thea, though this isn't revealed until season 2. In season 1, Tommy is a spoiled brat and playboy like Oliver until his father cuts him off, forcing him to find a job and become a more responsible person. Tommy dates Laurel during the first season, though Oliver still has feelings for her. Tommy learns Oliver's secret in "Dead to Rights", when as the vigilante Oliver is trying to save Malcolm from assassins. Their relationship remains strained, with Tommy seeing Oliver as a killer, and Tommy later breaks up with Laurel, thinking that she belongs with Oliver. Tommy is killed rescuing Laurel from a collapsing building that was damaged by Malcolm's earthquake machine during the Undertaking in "Sacrifice".

In season 2, Oliver vows to never kill again in Tommy's memory, while Laurel turns to drugs and alcohol to deal with the pain. During Oliver's fight with Cyrus Gold in "Three Ghosts", he sees Tommy, who calls him a hero and urges him to defeat his enemy.

In season 3, Tommy appears twice in flashbacks: he travels to Hong Kong looking for Oliver in "Sara", but fails to find him, and in "The Return", he is in Starling City, throwing himself a birthday party and trying to get Thea away from using drugs but also grows closer to Laurel, showing that start of their relationship.

He shares his surname with the DC Comics character Merlyn.

  • First appearance: "Pilot"
John Diggle David Ramsey 1–present – –
David Ramsey

John Diggle is a former United States Army Special Forces soldier and Oliver's confidant and occasional field partner. During season 1, Diggle is a bodyguard who isn’t able to help people like he did as a soldier. He becomes Oliver's confidant to help him in his mission to save Starling City, trying to help him balance his normal life and vigilante life. He also tries to shape him into hero who saves innocent, rather than just a vigilante crossing names off a list and sometimes helps him in the field. Having been trained in first aid, Diggle would provide Oliver up to and including suturing wounds, blood transfusions, and removing bullets, limiting his needs for hospital medical treatment. Already a skilled martial artist, John receives additional training from Oliver. John also has a grudge against Floyd Lawton / Deadshot as he killed John's brother Andy.

In season 2, Diggle and Felicity continue to help Oliver in his crusade and Diggle continues to be Oliver's adviser and field partner, along with Sara and Roy. Diggle has a relationship with Lyla Michaels (who is also his ex-wife), is an unofficial member of A.R.G.U.S. and also a member of the Suicide Squad, under the codename "Freelancer". He also develops an uneasy alliance with Amanda Waller who occasionally asks Diggle for field assistance with A.R.G.U.S. missions with Lyla. In "Unthinkable", it is revealed that Lyla is pregnant with John's child.

In season 3, Diggle continues to help Oliver and his team but has to devote more of his time to his new baby with Lyla, whom he names Sara after Sara Lance is killed. After Lyla is seriously injured in an attack, John and Lyla decide to remarry. When Oliver is presumed dead at Ra's al Ghul's hands Diggle becomes an acting leader of the team, leading Felicity, Roy, and Laurel until his friend's return. After Oliver's return, Diggle accompanies him to Nanda Parbat to help him free Malcolm, but the two are captured. John and Lyla eventually do marry but after a near death experience with the Suicide Squad, only narrowly saved by Deadshot's sacrifice for them, John and Lyla decide to quit Team Arrow and A.R.G.U.S. as a result for their daughter's sake, inspired by Deadshot's actions. After Oliver leaves the team to join the league, as part of a deal to revive a deceased Thea, Diggle becomes the team leader once again.

While Diggle was originally a character created for the show, his popularity led to a character of the same name modeled after Ramsey's appearance to be created for the mainstream Green Arrow comics in the New 52, to which he made his debut on the final page of the 24th issue during October 2013.[3]

  • First appearance: "Pilot"
Thea Queen Willa Holland 1–present – –
Willa Holland

Thea Queen is daughter of Moira Queen and Malcolm Merlyn, though both Malcolm and Thea were unaware of their relation to each other until season 2, and the younger half-sister to Oliver Queen and Tommy Merlyn. In season 1, Thea was subjected to alcoholism and drug abuse which she used to fill the gap of losing her brother but after court ordered community service from taking "Vertigo" she grows to be more responsible. She also falls in love with Roy Harper, a life-long street criminal, who she tries to sway away from crime but he becomes fixated with the vigilante after he saves his life and tries to find him, which Thea tries to sway him away from out of concern for him.

In season 2, Thea runs the Verdant nightclub in Oliver and Tommy's absences and continues seeing Roy, but is frustrated by Roy’s need to save people but gradually comes to accept it. She is however the subject of exclusion as most characters keep secrets from her including her true paternity which she eventually discovers when Slade Wilson abducts her. She then breaks up with Roy when he cheats on her, though he only did this to keep her away from him during his Mirakuru problem and Thea is aware of Roy's intention. Despite of having reconciles with Roy after having learned of his illness, she breaks up with him again after discovering his allegiance to the Arrow. After her mother's death, she decides to leave Starling City. In "Unthinkable" Malcolm comes to save her and convinces her to leave with him.

In season 3, Thea begins the season in Corto Maltese receiving combat training from Malcolm, though she decides to return to Starling with Oliver. She also reopens her nightclub after Malcolm secretly buys the foundry from Queen Consolidated for her. She learns Oliver's secret identity as Arrow when he shows her his hideout under the nightclub, and begins to distrust Malcolm after learning that he already knew about Oliver's secret. After Thea is told that her father used her as a pawn against both Oliver and Ra's al Ghul by drugging and manipulating her into killing Sara Lance, she arranges for him to be captured by the League in retaliation, and is devastated by every choice she made since aligning herself with Malcolm. Thea was nearly killed by Ra's, and was brought back to life, in exchange for Oliver joining the League of Assassins.

Her brother's nickname for her ("Speedy"), her middle name of Dearden and the alias "Mia" she used during her time at Corto Maltese, are easter egg connections to one of Green Arrow's sidekicks in the comics.[4]

  • First appearance: "Pilot"
Moira Queen Susanna Thompson 1–2 – –
Susanna Thompson

Moira Queen was the mother of Oliver and Thea, the former acting CEO of Queen Consolidated, mayoral candidate and wife of Robert Queen and later Walter Steele. She also had a brief affair with Malcolm Merlyn after his wife's death, which resulted in Thea’s birth. During season 1, Moira is unwillingly involved in a criminal conspiracy orchestrated by Malcolm to destroy the "Glades", with him forcing Moira to handle all interference and supply him with the resources needed. Her involvement also causes her to keep many secrets from her family which when revealed causes Walter to divorce her and her kids to become distant. Moira eventually confesses her involvement and Malcolm’s in "Sacrifice" which results in her being arrested.

During season 2, Moira is put on trial for her involvement with Malcolm but in "State v. Queen" she is acquitted as Malcolm returns, alive, and forces the jury to do so, before she forces Malcolm on the run by informing Ra's al Ghul of Malcolm's survival. Moira eventually becomes a mayoral candidate against Sebastian Blood on Walter’s advise but more of her secrets are revealed, mainly Malcolm being Thea’s father, which causes Thea to becomes distant from her further though she is able to keep a grip with Oliver. In "Seeing Red" she is revealed of having been aware of Oliver's secrets as the Arrow since the night of her arrest. She is murdered by Slade Wilson as part of his own plot of revenge against Oliver, as she sacrifices herself to prevent Oliver from having to choose between her and Thea. In a flashback of the same episode it is revealed that she paid a woman who got pregnant with Oliver's child to tell Oliver she lost the baby and move away never to speak to him again.

  • First appearance: "Pilot"
Quentin Lance Paul Blackthorne 1–present – –
Paul Blackthorne

Quentin Lance is a police captain, formerly detective, sergeant and officer, and the father of Laurel and Sara. During season 1, Quentin resents Oliver for leading Sara to her presumed death and becomes an alcoholic who throws himself into his work to avoid the pain. When Oliver returns he openly shows his hatred of him and refuses to see through his past mistakes. He also hates the Arrow for being against everything Quentin believes and tries numerous times to arrest him, one of which involves using Laurel which causes her to become distant for a time. Though Quentin is from time to time forced to work with Arrow and eventually comes to accept him for the hero he is.

During season 2, Quentin is demoted to officer but is now an ally of the Arrow and becomes an informant of a number of cases and occasional field partner to him. He also struggles with the relationships with both his daughters; Sara, revealing to be alive and being the vigilante "Canary", helping her adjust to life after returning to Starling City, and help Laurel coping her pains and to stop her from becoming an alcoholic like him before. Knowing Sara is alive allows Quentin to make peace with Oliver and apologizes to him for his previous year’s behavior. In "Streets of Fire", Quentin regains his detective title. In "Unthinkable", Quentin passes out from internal bleeding from the battle and falls into a coma.

In season 3, Quentin has survived, albeit now with frequent chest pains and needing a cane to walk, and has been promoted to captain, a power he uses to call off the anti-vigilante task-force. However his frequent assistance to the Arrow in the field continues to strain his condition and is forcing him to rely on the political connections of his new position and his subordinates to continue serving the city. He is initially unaware of Sara's death as Laurel believed that telling him would cause him a heart attack, but he becomes suspicious after Sara's protégée Sin informs him that the woman in her mentor's costume is not her. He ultimately learns the truth about Sara's death and that Laurel has become her vigilante successor. Irrationally blaming Arrow for Sara's death, he eventually learns from Ra's al Ghul of Oliver's secrets, and resumes his manhunt against him, inadvertently causing the city vulnerable for the League of Assassins' further attacks.

The character is based on the DC Comics character, Larry Lance, husband to Dinah Drake Lance and father to Dinah Laurel Lance.

  • First appearance: "Pilot"
Felicity Smoak Emily Bett Rickards 2–present 1 –
Emily Bett Rickards

Felicity Smoak is an I.T. expert, a partner (and eventual love interest) of Oliver Queen and his computer expert who hacks into all computer files he needs. She is also the contact between the Arrow and Quentin Lance. She is a graduate of MIT Class of 2009, ranked second in the National Information Technology Competition at age 19 and holds a Master's degree in cyber security and computer sciences. During season 1, she is asked by Walter to investigate the list before he vanishes and receives occasional favors from Oliver, who she has a crush on, getting supplied ridiculous cover stories which she knows are lies. She learns Oliver's secret in "The Odyssey" when he is shot and has her take in to his lair where she and Diggle patch him up. She stays on as Oliver’s computer expert throughout the season in hope to find Walter Steele by helping Oliver after he was kidnapped by Malcolm Merlyn, and ultimately, like Diggle, she becomes one of Oliver's confidants. Felicity choose to remain at Oliver's side after Walter is rescued.

In season 2, she continues to serve as Oliver's partner and upgrades his safehouse and even has a new custom bow made for him. Felicity also helps out in the field occasionally as a decoy or to field hack a computer, but sometimes gets herself in deeper trouble. Felicity and Oliver also start to develop romantic feelings towards each other.

In season 3, Felicity continues to be Oliver's tech support but has been forced to work for another I.T. company after losing her QC job. She eventually returns to working at Queen Consolidated (renamed Palmer Technologies) under new CEO Ray Palmer as his Vice President. In addition, Felicity is conflicted by her feelings towards both Oliver and Ray. While Ray and Felicity do become a couple, many people see, including her mother, that Felicity is in love with Oliver and in addition, she could not bring herself to say it to Ray after he admits his feelings for her. After realizing Oliver must join the League to save Thea, with an unlikely push from Ra's al Ghul, Felicity finally admits her love to Oliver and the two consummate their relationship. Despite an ill-fated attempt to save Oliver from his fate, Felicity was forced to leave without him. In a flashback, it is revealed that in college she was a part of the cybergoth subculture, rebellious and reckless, much like Oliver was, and she was part of a hacktivist group on campus.

A character by the same name has appeared in the comics, as Ronnie Raymond's step-mother who runs a software company.[5] A version based on Rickards' portrayal is introduced in the DC Comics universe in Green Arrow (vol. 5) #35.[6]

  • First appearance: "Lone Gunmen"
Roy Harper / Arsenal Colton Haynes 2–3 1 –
Colton Haynes

Roy Harper is a former street criminal, Thea's boyfriend and an Arrow supporter. During season 1, Roy is a small-time criminal who falls in love with Thea after robbing her, but doesn't see any other way to live until the Arrow saves him from a kidnapping and becomes idolized by him, even attempting to find him to help him. He also gets arrested multiple times by Quentin Lance. After given up his criminal ways, Roy works as a waiter at the nightclub Verdant.

During season 2, he continues to see Thea but often goes out to clean up the streets on his own until the Arrow convinces him not to and instead help him by gathering Intel without engaging. In "Three Ghosts" he is injected with Mirakuru by Brother Blood and becomes super strong but slowly becomes insane. In "Tremors" the Arrow takes Roy under his wing in hopes of saving him from becoming as corrupt as Slade Wilson in addition of seeing much of himself was in him. The Arrow is forced to reveal his identity as Oliver to convince Roy to stop Bronze Tiger. Roy trains to become an archer to control his strength but is forced to break up with Thea in and leaves the team out of anger. Slade kidnaps Roy and uses his blood to create his army which leaves him completely insane and even kills a cop in a rampage, forcing him to be sedated for days until he is cured. In "Unthinkable" Roy awakens and is given his own mask and partakes in the final battle. However, he is slightly amnesic not remembering anything after breaking up with Thea, including his rampage.

In season 3, Roy is now Oliver's partner and participates in the field with him. In addition, his alter-ego is named "Arsenal" after a confrontation with Ted Grant's former vigilante protégé Isaac Stanzler, but the media also refers to him as "Red Arrow". He struggles to come to terms with his breakup with Thea. Despite their separation, Thea makes Roy her assistant manager. After Sara's murder, the manner of her death brought Roy's repressed memories of his rampage to the surface after he thought he killed her, and he later helps support the family of the police officer he killed. When Oliver was presumed dead Roy took his place as the team's head archer. Due to the escalating threat from Danny Brickwell on the city during Oliver's absence, Roy reluctantly partnered with Laurel to battle against the crime lord. After Quentin Lance resume his manhunt against Arrow, Roy subsequently impersonate Oliver's alter-ego and fakes his own death, leaving Starling City to assume that Arrow is dead so that Oliver can be free and continue his mission discreetly.

He is based on the DC Comics character Roy Harper.

  • First appearance: "Dodger"
Slade Wilson / Deathstroke Manu Bennett 2 1 3
Manu Bennett

Slade Wilson is a former ASIS soldier who was ship-wrecked on Lian Yu, a mentor to Oliver Queen and protagonist in season 1 but becomes the main antagonist of the second season.

During the season 1 flashbacks, Slade is a protagonist who was a combat mentor to Oliver who he often calls "kid", even in the present, and teaches him most of his fighting skills to fight Edward Fyers and his mercenaries, and becomes romantically drawn to Shado. Despite this Slade doesn't think very highly of Oliver, often giving him disparaging nicknames like "idiot".

In season 2, he appears in the flashbacks as a protagonist turned antagonist and appears in the present day as the main antagonist. In the flashbacks he is severely wounded by Dr. Ivo’s mortar attacks and Oliver injects him with Mirakuru, a strength enhancing serum left on the island in WWII by Japanese but Shado is killed when Ivo forces Oliver to choose between her and Sara. Slade then turns on Oliver after learning his involvement in Shado’s death and tries to kill Sara which provokes Oliver to kill him. In the present Slade is alive, now operating as the mercenary Deathstroke, and plots to destroy Starling City with an army of Mirakuru soldiers working with Sebastian Blood and Isabel Rochev. He also manages to have Oliver's house, nightclub and even his foundry safe house taken. In "Seeing Red", he also kills Moira. In "Unthinkable" Oliver defeats him when Felicity injects him with the Mirakuru cure and he is imprisoned in a A.R.G.U.S. supermax on Lian Yu itself.

In season 3, Slade is temporarily released by Malcolm Merlyn and attempts to imprison Oliver and Thea in the supermax and return to Starling but the two are able to beat Slade and re-imprison him.

He is based on the DC Comics character Deathstroke.[7]

  • First appearance: "Betrayal"
Malcolm Merlyn John Barrowman 3–present 1 2
John Barrowman

Malcolm Merlyn is a wealthy businessman, former member of the League of Assassins, father of Tommy and one of the main antagonists of the series. During season 1, Malcolm plotted the Undertaking, the destruction of the Glades, after his wife Rebecca is murdered there. When Robert Queen threatens the Undertaking, He arranges to destroy the Queen's Gambit, resulting in Robert Queen's death and the assumed deaths of Oliver and Sara. When the Arrow interferes with his plan Malcolm also becomes a vigilante who similarly uses a bow and arrow. He uses Moira to gain access to all resources needed and tries to reshape his son into a better person by cutting him off which works, but causes tensions between them. In the season finale he is seemingly killed by Oliver though his plan still works which inadvertently kills Tommy.

In season 2, Malcolm returns alive and in secret to suborn the jury in Moira's trial to find her innocent of Undertaking. He discovers that he is Thea's biological father after following Adam Donner's investigation of Malcolm's past affair with Moira, and tells Moira that he will take her, but Moira informs Ra's al Ghul of his survival, forcing Malcolm to flee Starling City because he had dishonored the League's codes in the Undertaking, which means his death. During Slade’s attack Malcolm returns to save Thea from the Mirakuru soldiers and convinces her to leave Starling with him.

In season 3, Malcolm was revealed to have trained Thea to be a warrior in Corto Maltese. Despite being both the League's target and a fugitive of the law, Malcolm returns to Starling City, though his presence and survival is not generally known. He also secretly purchased the foundry from Queen Consolidated, the site of Thea's nightclub Verdant. It is revealed that his name in the League of Assassins is "Al Sa-Her" (Arabic: الساحر), which translates to "The Magician", after Malcolm performed a magic trick for a young Nyssa al Ghul upon his arrival in Nanda Parbat. Malcolm learns that crime lord Danny Brickwell was responsible for the murder of his wife, but Oliver persuades him to choose justice over vengeance for Thea's sake, allowing Brickwell to be tried for his crimes. Malcolm is tasked to train Oliver in swordplay following the latter's return in preparation of them battling Ra's al Ghul together. When Oliver tells Thea that she killed Sara, and that Malcolm is directly responsible because he brainwashed her to do it, she betrays Malcolm to the League; he is captured, taken to Nanda Parbat, and tortured but is returned to Oliver with his debt cleared as leverage to make Oliver accept his offer to take Ra's place. Malcolm continues to mentor Oliver and informs him that no matter his choice Ra's will have his way.

He is based on the DC Comics character Merlyn.

  • First appearance: "An Innocent Man"

Recurring characters

This is an alphabetical listing by season of actors and the characters they portrayed in multiple episodes, which were significant roles.

Season One

Season Two

Season Three

Guest stars

The following is a supplementary list of recurring guest stars that appear in lesser roles. The characters are listed, in alphabetical order by actor, by the season in which they first appeared.

Season One

  • Ben Browder portrays Ted Gaynor, Diggle's former military commander who turns rogue and starts robbing cash from truck transfers only to be killed by the Arrow in "Trust But Verify". Gaynor returns in flashbacks in "Suicide Squad" where his military history with Diggle is shown.[39]
  • Roger Cross portrays Detective Lucas Hilton, Detective Lance's partner who helps him primarily when he is a detective in season 1.[40] He is killed by Cyrus Gold in "Three Ghosts".
  • Andrew Dunbar portrays Garfield Lynns,[42] a former firefighter who is killing other firefighters.
  • Christie Laing portrays Carly Diggle, a love interest of John Diggle and widow of his brother, Andy.[49]
  • Brian Markinson portrays Adam Hunt, a corrupt businessman who is the first person on "the List" stopped by Oliver.[51] Hunt is later killed by Malcolm Merlyn.
  • Jeffrey Nordling portrays Frank Bertinelli, Helena's mob boss father.[52] He is killed in the episode "Birds of Prey", but not by Helena.
  • Jeffrey Robinson portrays Billy Wintergreen,[54][55] Slade Wilson's partner in the ASIS, who betrayed him and joined with Fyers. He was later killed by Slade.

Season Two

  • Dylan Bruce, portrays Assistant District Attorney Adam Donner, who becomes Laurel's new boss in season 2.[56] He is fired later in the season.
  • Michael Eklund portrays Barton Mathis / Dollmaker,[57] a misogynistic serial killer and an enemy of Quentin Lance, later killed by Sara Lance.
  • David Nykl portrays Anatoli Knyazev, based on the character KGBeast. Anatoli was kidnapped by Dr. Ivo and brought to Lian Yu where he meets Oliver Queen and becomes a friend and becomes instrumental in Slade's defeat on the island. Sometime between the flashbacks and the present Anatoli made Oliver a Bratfa captain and continues to assist him in the present.[63]
  • Graham Shiels portrays Cyrus Gold,[66] who is the first to survive injection with Mirakuru in the present day. Oliver kills him in "Three Ghosts".
  • Carlos Valdes portrays Cisco Ramon,[64] a mechanical engineering genius at S.T.A.R. He is part of the main cast in the spin-off series The Flash. He upgrades Laurel's sonic device, called the Canary Cry.

Season Three

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 13, 2014). "'Reign', 'Arrow', 'Supernatural', 'The Originals' & 'The Vampire Diaries' Renewed by The CW". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  2. ↑ Siegel, Lucas (November 12, 2014). "Katie Cassidy's ARROW Superhero Costume Revealed - Black Canary!". Newsarama. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  3. ↑ Green Arrow (vol. 5) #24 (October 2013)
  4. ↑ "Arrow’s Willa Holland could become his sidekick". Scifinow.co.uk. September 17, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Stoute, Scott (September 13, 2012). "11 Confirmed DC Comic Characters Appearing in CW’s ‘Arrow’". ScreenRant. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ Sacks, Ethan (July 4, 2014). "Producers for CW show 'Arrow' tapped to write super hero's comic book adventures". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Arrow EP Andrew Kreisberg Talks Deathstroke; Slade Wilson & Oliver Queen’s Blossoming Bromance". Access Hollywood. February 20, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Ching, Albert (February 21, 2014). "EXCLUSIVE: AMANDA WALLER UNLEASHES THE SUICIDE SQUAD ON "ARROW"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Babos, John (March 19, 2014). "CW Arrow Spoilers & Recap: Suicide Squad Makes TV Debut In Season 2 Episode 16 With Harley Quinn & Deathstroke (CW Arrow S02 E16 News & Review)". Inside Pulse. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Arrow: New Photos Showcase Deathstroke, Eddie Fyers, John Barrowman". Comicbook.com. October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ Ben Sokolowski & Beth Schwartz (writers) Nick Copus (director) (October 16, 2013). "Identity". Arrow (TV series). Season 2. Episode 2. The CW.
  12. ↑ Abrams, Natalie (March 5, 2013). "Arrow Exclusive: Celina Jade on Shado's New Partnership with Oliver". TV Guide. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  13. ↑ Hibberd, James (January 22, 2013). "'Arrow' scoop: 'ER' actress is Laurel's mom – EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 9, 2012). "Odette Annable To Recur On CBS's 'Golden Boy', Byron Mann On CW's 'Arrow'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  15. ↑ Guggenheim, Marc (January 21, 2013). "@OwenDanes "Is Yao Fei in Arrow the same Yao Fei from The Great Ten?" Intentionally the same name, but not the exact same character.". Twitter. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  16. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 7, 2012). "'Arrow' & CBS's Ben Falcone Add To Casts". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  17. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 2, 2012). "'The River's Paul Blackthorne Joins 'Arrow', Jamey Sheridan Set To Play Arrow's Dad". Deadline.com. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  18. ↑ Sunu, Steve (September 4, 2013). "Cynthia Addai-Robinson Cast As "Arrow's" Amanda Waller". comicbookresources.com. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lang, Derrick (July 20, 2013). "Bronze Tiger, Brother Blood coming to 'Arrow'". Yahoo TV. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  20. ↑ Davis, Lauren (September 22, 2013). "Summer Glau is ready for boardroom battle in latest Arrow images". http://io9.com''. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  21. ↑ Wickline, Dan (July 11, 2013). "Who Is Isabel Rochev, Summer Glau’s New Role On Arrow?". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  22. ↑ Abrams, Natalie (November 19, 2013). "Exclusive: Arrow Casts Spartacus Alum as Daughter of Ra's al Ghul". TV Guide. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  23. ↑ Ng, Philiana (November 6, 2013). "'Arrow': Caity Lotz on Black Canary's Secret, Oliver's Dilemma and the Deadly League". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  24. ↑ Prudom, Laura (July 30, 2013). "Black Canary On 'Arrow': CW President Mark Pedowitz Shares More On The Superhero's Origin Story". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  25. ↑ Yeoman, Kevin (2014). "'Arrow': Black Canary Revealed – What Did You Think?". Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  26. ↑ Sneider, Jeff; Nededog, Jethro (July 18, 2013). "CW's 'Arrow' Casts 'The Pact's' Caity Lotz as Black Canary (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  27. ↑ Abrams, Natalie (July 19, 2013). "Exclusive: Arrow Boss Sets the Record Straight on Black Canary Casting". TVGuide.com.
  28. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Kevin (September 26, 2013). "'Arrow' Season 2 Exclusive: 'Percy Jackson' Star Dylan Neal Joins as DC's Dr. Anthony Ivo!". ScreenCrush. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  29. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (August 15, 2013). "Arrow Scoop: Breakout Killing Co-Star Commits to 'Sin'-ful Season 2 Arc". tvline. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  30. ↑ Ng, Philiana (September 5, 2014). "'Arrow': 'Carrie Diaries' Star to Romance Thea in Season 3". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Rila Fukushima Joins ‘Arrow’, Riley Voelkel Cast In ‘Point Of Honor’". Deadline. August 27, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Devon Aoki Joins CW’s ‘Arrow’; Syfy’s ‘Ascension’ Rounds Out Cast". Deadline. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  33. ↑ Swift, Andy (July 1, 2014). "Arrow Recruits Sin City's Devon Aoki for 'Deadly' Season 3 Role". TV Line. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  34. ↑ Ng, Philiana (September 3, 2014). "'Arrow' Finds Ra's al Ghul". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  35. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 29, 2014). "J.R. Ramirez To Play Wildcat On ‘Arrow’ Season 3". Deadline. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  36. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (July 7, 2014). "Arrow Targets Brandon Routh to Play Major DC Comics Superhero in Season 3". TV Line. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  37. ↑ Philiana Ng. "'Arrow' Season 3: Boss Tackles 10 Big Questions - The Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter.
  38. ↑ "Arrow Season 3 Scoop: Meet Oliver's Hong Kong Handler". TV Line. July 2, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  39. ↑ Goldman, Eric (November 7, 2012). "Arrow Exclusive: Farscape and Stargate SG-1's Ben Browder to Play DC Comics Character Ted Gaynor". IGN.
  40. ↑ Abrams, Natalie (May 10, 2013). "Arrow Finale Scoop: Will Oliver Be Able to Take Down the Dark Archer?". TV Guide. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  41. ↑ Hibberd, James (August 21, 2012). "The CW's 'Arrow' casts The Huntress – EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  42. ↑ Hibberd, James (October 31, 2012). "Firefly coming to 'Arrow' – Exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  43. ↑ Stoute, Scott. "'Arrow' Casts 'Fringe' Alum Seth Gabel as Count Vertigo". ScreenRant. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  44. ↑ MacKenzie, Carina Adly (November 16, 2012). "'Arrow' casts 'True Blood's' Janina Gavankar in major recurring role". Zap2It. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  45. ↑ Perry, Spencer (October 26, 2012). "Arrow's Royal Flush Gang Revealed". Superhero Hype. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  46. ↑ Burlingame, Russ (November 20, 2013). "Tonight’s Arrow to Feature Kate Spencer". comicbook.com.
  47. ↑ Jeffery, Morgan (March 13, 2012). "'Arrow': CW superhero drama adds 'Charlie's Angels' star Annie Ilonzeh". Digital Spy. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  48. ↑ Ilonzeh, Annie (July 25, 2012). "Joanna De La Vega. #Arrow #Lawyer #Swag #Tired #Canada #Vancouver #SunnyDay". Twitter. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  49. ↑ Morgan, Jeffrey (January 28, 2013). "'Arrow': Ben Browder battles our hero in 'Trust But Verify'". digitalspy.com.
  50. ↑ West, Brian (March 4, 2014). "WPR Previews the Upcoming Suicide Squad Episode of Arrow". WatchPlayRead. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  51. ↑ Sullivan, Brian Ford (July 11, 2012). "The Futon's First Look: "Arrow" (The CW)". Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  52. ↑ Masters, Megan (September 14, 2012). "TVLine Items: Smash Adds Law & Order Vet, USA Orders Pilot From Numb3rs Creators and More!". TV Line. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  53. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (September 18, 2012). "'Arrow' Enlists 'Battlestar Galactica's' Tahmoh Penikett". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  54. ↑ "Arrow: Exclusive First Look at Deathstroke". IGN. October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  55. ↑ Hughes, Jason (November 8, 2012). "'Arrow': Deathstroke Makes His Much-Anticipated Debut in the Latest Flashback (VIDEO)". Entertainment/TV (Huffington Post). Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  56. ↑ Mitovich, Matt (August 2, 2013). "Exclusive: Arrow Targets Orphan Black Star". TV Line. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  57. ↑ Schedeen, Jesse (October 24, 2013). "Everyone Loves A Pretty Doll". IGN. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  58. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (September 13, 2013). "'Glee' Star Set as CW's Flash". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  59. ↑ Phegley, Kiel (October 3, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: "ARROW" CASTS JIMMY JEAN-LOUIS AS AMAZO-LINKED "CAPTAIN"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  60. ↑ Brown, Laurel (December 11, 2013). "'Arrow': Robert Knepper cast as bad guy 'Clock King'". Zap2It. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  61. ↑ Gelman, Vlada (November 15, 2013). "Arrow Exclusive: X-Files Vet Nicholas Lea to Send [Spoiler] on a Surprising Journey". TVLine. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  62. ↑ Ng, Philiana (October 23, 2013). "Arrow's Books "Firefly" Star Sean Maher in Villainous Role (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  63. ↑ Burlingame, Russ (October 22, 2013). "Arrow Adds Another Familiar DC Comics Villain". Comicbook.com. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 Abrams, Natalie (March 17, 2014). "Arrow Scoop: Which Flash Characters Are Heading to Starling City?". TV Guide. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  65. ↑ Jeffery, Morgan (August 13, 2013). "'Arrow': Teryl Rothery to play The Atom's love interest in season two". Digital Spy. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  66. ↑ Shaw-Williams, Hannah (November 2013). "'Arrow' Season 2 to Feature Cyrus Gold & Possibly Solomon Grundy". Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  67. ↑ Ng, Philiana (August 8, 2014). "'Arrow' Enlists 'Medium' Star for DC Role in Season 3". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 Ng, Philiana (January 28, 2015). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Arrow' Is Plotting Another Suicide Squad Episode – and Your Favorites Are Back!". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  69. ↑ "(#317) "Suicidal Tendencies"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  70. ↑ Ng, Philiana (August 28, 2014). "'Arrow' Books 'Glee' Alum for Season 3". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  71. ↑ Hibberd, James (August 29, 2014). "'Arrow' casts 'Supernatural' alum as lethal lovestruck fan". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  72. ↑ Goldman, Eric (February 18, 2015). "Arrow: Doug Jones To Play DC Comics Villain Deathbolt". IGN. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  73. ↑ Prudom, Laura (October 20, 2014). "Arrow’ Casts Vinnie Jones as Comicbook Villain Brick (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  74. ↑ "(#316) "The Offer"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  75. ↑ Abrams, Natalie (August 1, 2014). "Arrow Casts NYPD Blue Alum as Felicity's Mom". TV Guide. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  76. ↑ Guggenheim, Marc. "Okay, Internet, Felicity's mom's name is Donna. @charlotteross @EmilyBett". Twitter. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  77. ↑ Blake, Emily. "Marc Singer joins 'Arrow'". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  78. ↑ Abrams, Natalie (July 3, 2014). "Exclusive: Arrow Taps Peter Stormare as New Count Vertigo". TV Guide. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  79. ↑ Hibberd, James (September 16, 2014). "'Arrow' casts 'Spartacus' actor as Captain Boomerang". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  80. ↑ Abrams, Natalie (August 19, 2014). "'Arrow' casts DC Comics villain Komodo". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 19, 2014.