Captain Doyle

**Captain Doyle**, formerly Sergeant, was Captain Connor's right hand, working closely under his directives and dissatisfied with Theodore Roosevelt's policy. After the death of Connor, he has been promoted Captain.

Doyle is a character in ‘The Alienist’ and “Angel of Darkness”. He was portrayed by Martin McCreadie.

## Official Description

*Captain Doyle is a newly promoted in the New York Police Department, serves as former Commissioner Thomas Byrnes’ eyes and ears within the Department, though his aggressive methods often clash with Byrnes’ more indirect approach*.

## Character Overview

Doyle is a man of Irish descent that lives in New York City. Early in his adulthood, Sergeant Doyle joined the New York City Police Department under Chief Commissioner Thomas Byrnes. He has climbed the ranks of the police, becoming a sergeant and Captain Connor's right-hand man. As such, he uses his badge and his uniform as a shield for violent, illicit actions. Openly a racist and a misogynist, Doyle is a corrupt policeman who sees in Roosevelt a threat to his personal gain. Although he is no stranger to the use of violence and abuse of his power, Doyle was still surprised by some extreme acts perpetrated by Captain Connor.

Doyle is a tall man with an athletic build, short black hair, and light brown eyes. When he does not wear the uniform, he is usually wearing simple outfits consisting of trousers, shirt, vest and jacket, and a bowler hat.

## Biography

New York City, March 3rd, 1896. Sergeant Doyle was stationed at the entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge, preventing entry to the journalists and curious bystanders. The mutilated corpse of a boy-prostitute had been found on the still under construction bridge. When a certain John Moore of the New York Times arrived at the place, Sergeant Doyle barred the passage with his truncheon. The man said he was an illustrator requested by Commissioner Roosevelt; Sergeant Doyle was then forced to let him pass, accompanied by Captain Connor to the scene of the crime.

The following day, Sergeant Doyle showed off his talent for extorting confessions with colleagues along with the former Chief Commissioner [lThomas Byrnes and Captain Connor outside the Police Department. A horde of journalists, including Lincoln Steffens was interested in hearing the latest news about Henry Wolff, the man arrested for the murder of the boy-prostitute, identified as Giorgio Santorelli, an Italian immigrant working at the Paresis Hall.

A couple of days later, Sergeant Doyle backed Captain Connor when he visited Santorelli family. As Connor savagely beat Mr. Santorelli, Doyle held back Mrs. Santorelli.

Back in the middle, Doyle leaned against the doorframe to roll a cigarette while Connor informed Miss Howard that the Santorelli knew nothing helpful to the investigation of Giorgio's murder.

On April 3rd, 1896, Sergeant Doyle reluctantly took part investiture of new police officers personally picked by Chief Commissioner Roosevelt to increase the ranks of police officers with young recruits devoid of the influence of former Chief Commissioner Thomas Byrnes.

In the evening, he was in Captain Connor's office counting the bribes obtained through the association with the well-known mobster Paul Kelly, patron of the Paresis Hall among other illegal activities in the Tenderloin. They were interrupted by one of the newly appointed police officers, who informed them of a new murder at Castle Garden. Doyle and Connor looked at each other, coming to the conclusion that Commissioner Roosevelt was trying to keep them unaware of the investigation. Wearing the uniform jackets, they gathered their men and reached the scene of the crime where they found a crowd of nosy journalists outside the building.

Sergeant Doyle backed Captain Connor and former Chief Byrnes, putting Roosevelt in the uncomfortable position of not being able to save any more time for Dr. Kreizler's team that was conducting a parallel investigation.

Sergeant Doyle was part of the task force that burst into a building when Commissioner Roosevelt discovered that Willem Van Bergen, the scion of a wealthy New York family, was a potential suspect for the murders of Giorgio Santorelli and Ali ibn-Ghazi. However, Connor had managed to manipulate the investigation and mislead the task force to a wrong address. Outside the building, Sergeant Doyle witnessed Commissioner Roosevelt ripping off the badge from Captain Connor's chest, firing him from law enforcement.

After discovering Willem Van Bergen's plans to leave the city in the middle of the Feast of Ascension night, Doyle sought out his former colleague, Connor, to stop him. The two tracked the young man near the harbor and they chased him over a scaffolding, where Connor shot him in the forehead after several homophobic insults, accusing him of being the murderer they were looking for.

Doyle was surprised by the turn of events, probably expecting they would've arrested Van Bergen after beating him up. Quickly, Doyle wrapped the corpse in a jute sack and the two men threw it into the black water after weighing the body down with stones.

The next day, Doyle and Connor teamed up to kidnap Dr. Kreizler ans his associate, Moore, and bring them to J.P. Morgan's mansion. While the men had a closed-door meeting with J.P. Morgan, Thomas Byrnes and Bishop Potter, Doyle and Connor waited in the courtyard outside.

After Byrnes came out and had a brief conversation with Connor, the latter instructed Doyle to get "The Swede" back and to tell him to bring more chloroform. Doyle nodded and walked towards his car.

Sergeant Doyle and Connor visited Kreizler House, intending to get rid of the alienist once and for all. Unbeknownst to them, Dr. Kreizler had not yet returned from his trip to Boston, Massachusetts. Doyle and Connor came face to face with Kreizler's housemaid. After repeatedly asking her where they could find the doctor, not knowing that the girl had a speech impairment, Doyle and Connor began to search the house. While Connor went upstairs, Doyle went to the kitchen where he tried to attack Mary, the housemaid. He was going to hurt her but was grabbed by Cyrus, Kreizler's butler who told Mary to run. Before she left the room, she grabbed a kitchen knife. Doyle was suffocating due to Cyrus's grip but was saved by "The Swede" who appeared from behind the butler and drugged him with chloroform. Doyle hen rushed wards the stairs just to witness Connor throwing the housemaid off the baluster, breaking her neck in the fall.

Next day, at the police department, Sergeant Doyle was questioned by Detective Sergeants Lucius and Marcus Isaacson about Mary Palmer's death. Doyle was sitting at the table, while Detective Lucius Isaacson stood in front of him and Detective Marcus Isaacson was leaning against the wall.

Sergeant Doyle said that he and Connor were waiting outside the house for the Dr. Kreizler to return when Mary invited them in, asking if they wanted a "*lovely cup of tea*." Doyle added that he could have told she was interested in more than a cup of tea, so he made himself scarce. Detective Sergeant Lucius Isaacson replied Mary couldn't speak. Realizing that he had just given the detectives the irrefutable proof that he was lying, Doyle tried clutching at straws by stating he wasn't being literal, and that she said it with her eyes. Both detectives were starting to lose their patience, particularly after Doyle claimed that Mary led Connor up to the bedroom by the nose. Detective Lucius Isaacson, then, wanted to know when she fetched the knife. Doyle replied he supposed she had it hidden up her petticoat the whole time.

The shorter of the two detectives lost his temper and asked harshly if he expected them to believe him. Sergeant Doyle shrugged, saying that he expected them to believe him "*over Sambo and some halfwit stable boy.*" At that point, Detective Marcus Isaacson snapped and was about to grab Doyle from his shirt, but was promptly stopped by his brother. Doyle laughed at them, saying "*Look at yous, a couple of heebs playin' at cops.*" Unbeknownst to the three of them, Miss Howard had eavesdropped the entire interrogation outside the door.

Captain Doyle arrived at Siegel-Cooper, where a dead baby had been found on a doll display. Lucius and Marcus began their investigation and discovered that the child had toxic abrasions in the mouth.

The authorities are called down to the docks after two male torsos are recovered from the Hudson. Captain Doyle and Byrne observe from just a few feet away. Doyle noted that the smell was horrendous. He surmised that the killings were the work of Dusters. However, Byrne suggested placing the blame on the Cubans. He added that there was some nefarious goings-on at the Spanish Consulate, revealing that the child of Senor Linares vanished without so much of a word spoken to the local authorities.

Captain Doyle and his men placed Isabella Linares under arrest and forced her into the back of a police vehicle. They intended to question her about the disappearance and possible murder of her baby. Sara and Laszlo arrived told Doyle how they applauded his bravery given that the Linareses had diplomatic immunity. Arresting and charging her would result in a diplomatic incident of the highest degree. Fearing the outcome, Doyle reluctantly released Isabella.

Markoe expressed his concern with the privacy of their benefactors given that Sara Howard had presented such an interest in his establishment, but Captain Doyle assured him that Sara was only concerned with the Linares baby. Byrne made it perfectly clear to Markoe that if he had been harming the children that he’d been taking away from their mothers in any way then he would be coming after Markoe himself. As for the names of the hospital’s benefactors, Matron was the only other person who knew.

Captain Doyle, Byrnes, and Marcus brought Colleen to the precinct and asked her to identify Libby from a comprehensive gallery of known criminals and associates. Colleen spotted Libby among the known criminal associates.

Doyle launched an investigation into the Kreizler Institute after one of his wards tried to hang himself.

Captain Doyle and Byrnes arranged a meeting with Ding Dong at Cyrus’ saloon, where they inquired about the whereabouts of Goo Goo Knox. When Ding Dong tried to leave, Byrnes slammed his face into the countertop. Doyle explained that he simply wanted the baby returned unharmed and he was willing to pay handsomely.

Captain Doyle spotted Libby and Goo Goo outside Mallory Hunter's apartment and chased her down. Captain Doyle tracked Libby down to an abandoned warehouse. He drew his weapon and told Libby to come out. She asked Doyle what her daughter was like. Doyle replied that Clara was screwed up in the head much like Libby. He then ordered her to get down on her knees and put her hands behind her back. As he called for backup, Libby crept up behind Doyle and slit his throat.

## Memorable Quotes

**Sergeant Doyle**: “*I expect you to believe me over Sambo and some halfwit stable boy.*”
**Sergeant Doyle**: “*Look at yous, a couple of heebs playin' at cops.*”
— Requiem

## Appearances

* Ep. 1: *The Boy on the Bridge*
* Ep. 2: *A Fruitful Partnership*
* Ep. 3: *Silver Smile*
* Ep. 5: *Hildebrandt’s Starling*
* Ep. 6: *Ascension*
* Ep. 7: *Many Sainted Men*
* Ep. 8: *Psychopathia Sexualis*
* Ep. 9: *Requiem*
* Ep. 1: *Ex Ore Infantium*
* Ep. 2: *Something Wicked*
* Ep. 5: *Belly of the Beast*
* Ep. 6: *Memento Mori*
* Ep. 7: *Last Exit to Brooklyn*
* Ep. 8: *Better Angels*

## Notes

* Sergeant Doyle, unlike many characters, does not appear in Caleb Carr's novel.

## Gallery

* Promotional Stills
* Screencaps
* Behind the Scenes

## References

1. ↑ Character Bio Captain Doyle - Warner Media Group
2. ↑ Hossein Amini (writer) & Jakob Verbruggen (director); (January 22, 2018); "The Boy on the Bridge". Episode 1. *The Alienist*. TNT
3. ↑  Hossein Amini & E. Max Frye (writers) & Jakob Verbruggen (director); (January 29, 2018); "A Fruitful Partnership". Episode 2.*The Alienist*. TNT
4. ↑  Gina Gionfriddo (writer) & Jakob Verbruggen (director); (February 5, 2018); "Silver Smile". Episode 3.*The Alienist*. TNT
5. ↑ E. Max Frye (writer) & James Hawes (director); (February 19, 2018); "Hildebrandt’s Starling". Episode 5.*The Alienist*. TNT
6. ↑ E. Max Frye (writer) & Paco Cabezas (director); (February 26, 2018); "Ascension". Episode 6.*The Alienist*. TNT
7. ↑ John Sayles (writer) & Paco Cabezas (director); (March 5, 2018); "Many Sainted Men". Episode 7.*The Alienist*. TNT
8. ↑ John Sayles (writer) & David Petrarca (director); (March 12, 2018); "Psychopathia Sexualis". Episode 8.*The Alienist*. TNT
9. ↑  Hossein Amini (writer) & Jamie Payne (director); (March 19, 2018); "Requiem". Episode 9.*The Alienist*. TNT
10. ↑ Stuart Carolan (writer); David Caffrey (director); (July 19, 2020); "Ex Ore Infantium". Episode 1. *Angel of Darkness*. TNT.
11. ↑ Stuart Carolan (writer); David Caffrey (director); (July 19, 2020); "Something Wicked". Episode 2. *Angel of Darkness*. TNT.
12. ↑ Gina Gionfriddo & Karina Wolf (writer); Clare Kilner (director); (August 2, 2020); "Belly of the Beast". Episode 5. *Angel of Darkness*. TNT.
13. ↑ Alyson Feltes (writer); David Caffrey (director); (August 2, 2020); "Memento Mori". Episode 6. *Angel of Darkness*. TNT.
14. ↑ Tom Smuts & Amy Berg (writers); David Caffrey (director); (August 9, 2020); "Last Exit to Brooklyn". Episode 7. *Angel of Darkness*. TNT.