Famous Private Detectives in
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All Detectives, Sorted by Creator |
 Dirk Gently (real name is Svlad Cjelli) → Portrayed by several actors includingStephen Mangan in the 2010 TV series and show here. a "holistic detective" and psychic in the book series and TV series Dirk Gently (Created by Douglas Adams). •Books: 1987, 1988, 2002 •TV series: 2010‑ 2012, 2016. |
 Albert Campion → TV portrayal by Peter Davidson An aristocrat in the early 20th century in several novels and the TV series Campion (Created by Margery Allingham). •Novels: 1930‑1965 •TV series: 1989‑1990. |
 Don Corey (with partners Jed Sills and Dr. Carl Hyatt) → Portrayed by Anthony George, with partners Doug McClure and Sebastian Cabot Owner of a detective agency named Checkmate, Inc. in San Francisco in the TV series Checkmate (Created by Eric Ambler). •TV series: 1960‑1962. |
 Gay Falcon (and many aliases) → Portrayed by George Sanders, then his brother Tom Conway A suave English gentleman detective solving mysteries in various venues, such as The Gay Falcon (Created by Michael Arlen). •Movies: 1941‑1949 •TV: 1954‑1955. |
 Jackson Brodie → TV portrayed by Jason Isaacs. A tough former soldier and policeman in several novels and the TV series Case Histories (Created by Kate Atkinson). •Novels: 2004‑2010 •TV series: 2011‑2013. |
 Charlie Wild → Portrayed by John McQuade A private detective in the TV series Charlie Wild, Private Detective (Written by Peter Barry). •TV series: 1950‑1952. |
 William of Baskerville (Italian name is Guglielmo da Baskerville) → Portrayed in the miniseries by John Turturro and Sean Connery in the movie. An enlightened friar in 1337 investigates a series of mysterious deaths at an abbey in The Name of the Rose (The miniseries created by Giacomo Battiato and based on the novel by Umberto Eco). •Novel: 1980 •Movie: 1986 •TV miniseries: 2019. |
 Agatha Raisin → Portrayed by Ashley Jensen Based on the mystery novels by Marion Chesney, a former public relations professional in the British TV series Agatha Raisin (Created by Marion Chesney using the pseudonym M. C. Beaton). •Novels: 1992‑2019 •TV series: 2014‑2020. |
 Dan Turner → Portrayed in the 1990 movie by Marc Singer Known as the Hollywood Detective in the comic book series appearing in in the second issue of the pulp magazine Dan Turner, Hollywood Detective (Created by Robert Leslie Bellem). •Comic strip: 1942‑1950 •Movie: 1990. |
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 Thomas Magnum (with Higgins in later series) → Portrayed by Tom Selleck and in the later series Jay Hernandez A private eye living a luxurious life in Hawaii in the TV series Magnum, P.I. (Created by Donald P. Bellisario). •TV series: 1980‑1988, 2018‑2019. |
 Beverly Gray → No screen presence A young woman solving mysteries in various venues Beverly Gray Mystery Stories (Written by Clair Blank). •Novels: 1034‑1955. |
Beverly Gray → No screen presence A young woman solving mysteries in various venues Beverly Gray Mystery Stories (Written by Clair Blank). •Novels: 1034‑1955. |
 Matthew Scudder → Portrayed in the movie by Liam Neeson An alcoholic ex-cop in the several novels including A Walk Among the Tombstones (Created by Lawrence Block). •Novels: 1976‑2019 •Movie: 2014. |
 Sexton Blake → Portrayed by Laurence Stanley Payne A bargain basement Sherlock Holmes solving mysteries of all manner. Sexton Blake (Written by Harry Blyth (using the pseudonym Hal Meredeth)). •Comic strips: 1939‑1979 •Silent movies: 1909‑1928 •Movies: 1935‑1945 •TV series 1967‑1971. |
 Boston Blackie → Portrayed by Chester Morris A reformed jewel thief in movies such as Meet Boston Blackie (Written by Jack Boyle). •Movie: 1918‑1949. |
 Adrian Monk → Portrayed by Tony Shalhouby A brilliant police consultant with obsessive compulsive disorder in the TV series Monk (Created by Andy Breckman). •TV series: 2002‑2009. |
 Dave Robicheaux → Portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones Former New Orleans officer and recovering alcoholic in the book series and two movies including The Electric Mist (Created by James Lee Burke). •Books: 1987‑2013 •Movies: 1996, 2009. |
 Remington Steele → Portrayed by Pierce Brosnan A former thief and con man hired to be a front P.I. in the TV series Remmington Steele (Created by Robert Butler). •TV series: 1982‑1987. |
 Dan Adams → Portrayed by Rod Cameron A former United States Navy intelligence officer turned private detective in the TV series Coronado 9 (Directed by Dann Cahn). •TV series: 1960‑1961. |
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 E. L. ("Early Leroy") "Tenspeed" Turner (with partner Lionel "Brownshoe" Whitney) → Portrayed by Ben Vareen A hustler who worked as a detective to satisfy his parole requirements in the TV series Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (Created by Stephen M. Cannell). •TV series: 1980. |
Lionel "Brownshoe" Whitney (with partner E. L. "Tenspeed" Turner) → Portrayed by Jeff Goldblum An archetypal accountant in the TV series Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (Created by Stephen M. Cannell). •TV series: 1980. |
 Madelyn "Maddie" Hayes (with David Addison) → Portrayed by Cybill Shepherd A clever former model who owns a detective agency in the TV series Moonlighting (Created by Glenn Gordon Caron). •TV series: 1985‑1989. |
 David Addison (with Mattie Hayes) → Portrayed by Bruce Willis A fast-talking P.I. who partners with Mattie in the TV series Moonlighting (Created by Glenn Gordon Caron). •TV series: 1985‑1989. |
 Dr Gideon Fell (image cropped from the book cover) → No screen presence A lexicographer and drinker in a series of novels such as The Man Who Could Not Shudder (Created by John Dickson Carr). •Novels: 1933‑1967. |
 Johnny Staccato → Portrayed by John Cassavetes A jazz pianist and private detective in the TV series Johnny Staccato (Produced by Everett Chambers). •TV series: 1959‑1960. |
 Philip Marlowe → Portrayed in the 1978 movie by Robert Mitchum A wisecracking, hard-drinking, tough P.I. in novels, TV series, and movies including The Big Sleep (Created by Raymond Chandler). •Novels: 1939‑1989 •Movies: 1942‑1978 •TV series: 1959‑1960, 1983‑1986. |
 Simon Templar (known as The Saint) → Portrayed by Roger Moore in the TV series A British amateur detective portrayed in books, radio, movies and TV by various actors over many years; for example, in the TV series The Saint (Originally created by Leslie Charteris). •Books: 1928‑1963 •Movies: 1938‑1943 •Radio: 1944‑1951 •Comics: 1948‑1961. |
 Byomkesh Bakshi → Portrayed by Rajit Kapur An Indian-Bengali fictional detective and refers to himself as a truth-seeker or Satyanweshi in the TV series Byomkesh Bakshi (Created by Basu Chatterjee). •TV series: 1993‑1997 •Movie: 2015. |
 Johnny Midnight → Portrayed by Edmond O'Brien New York City actor turned private detective in the TV series Johnny Midnight (Produced by Jack Chertok). •TV series: 1960. |
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 Father Brown → Portrayed by Mark Williams A Catholic priest in several media including the TV series Father Brown (Created by G. K. Chesterton). •TV series: 1974, 2013. |
 Lemmy Caution → Portrayed by Eddie Constantine Witty, crafty womanizing private detective in the book series and French movies such as La môme vert de gris (Created by Peter Cheyney). •Books: 1936‑1945 •Movies: 1953‑1991. |
 Tommy and Tuppence Beresford → TV portrayal of Tommy by David Walliams, of Tuppence by Jessica A typical upper middle class couple in novels, short stories and in the TV series Partners in Crime (Created by Agatha Christie). •Novels: 1922‑1973 •TV series: 2015. |
 Miss Marple → Portrayed in movies by Margaret Rutherford An old spinster is of independent means in a novels series, movies and TV series including 4.50 from Paddington (Created by Agatha Christie). •Novels: 1930‑1976 •Movies: 1961‑1964 •TV series: 1984‑1992, 2004‑2013. |
 Hercule Poirot → Portrayed in the British TV series by David Suchet A dignified and meticulous Belgian detective in novels, short stories, movies and TV including Agatha Christie's Poirot (Created by Agatha Christie). •Novels: 1926‑1975 •Movies: 1931‑1986 •TV series: 1989‑2013. |
 Michael Tree (image from a comic book cover) → No screen presence A female private detective who takes over her murdered husband's investigation business in the comic series Ms. Tee (Created by Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty). •Comic strip: 1982‑1993. |
 Hetty Wainthropp → Portrayed by Patricia Routledge A retired working-class woman in the British TV series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (Created by David Cook). •TV series: 1996‑1998. |
 Garrett (image cropped from the book cover) → No screen presence A P.I. in a fantasy universe with his partner, the Dead Man, in a series of novels such as Old Tin Sorrows (Created by Glen Cook). •Novels: 1987‑2013. |
 Jack Casey → Portrayed by Richard Carlye A photographer who helps the police solve crimes in books, movies, radio, and the TV series Casey, Crime Photographer (Created by George Harmon Coxe). •Books: 1942‑1964 •Movies: 1936, 1938 •TV series: 1951‑1952. |
 Rick Simon (and brother A.J.) → Portrayed by Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker Brother detectives with contrasting ways in the TV series Simon & Simon (Created by Philip DeGuere). •TV series: 1981‑1989. |
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 Tif and Tondu (no last names for the duo) → No screen presence Adventurers and detectives who solve cases around the world in the Belgian comic strip Tif et Tondu (Created by Fernand Dineur). •Comic strip: 1938‑1997 •Books: 1954‑1997. |
 Sherlock Holmes-3 (with Joan Watson) → Portrayed by Jonny Lee Miller A modern-day version of the famous detective in the TV series Elementary (Created by Robert Doherty). •TV series: 2012‑2019. |
 Joan Watson (with Sherlock Holmes-3) → Portrayed by Lucy Liu Holmes' former sobriety companion turned detective in the TV series Elementary (Created by Robert Doherty). •TV series: 2012‑now. |
 Sherlock Holmes-1 → Portrayed in the 1983 movie by Ian Richardson A renowned detective in four novels, 56 short stories, and many movies including The Hound of the Baskervilles (Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). •Novels: 1887‑1915 •Short stories: 1891‑1927 •Movies: many •TV series: many. |
 Rosemary Boxer (with Laura Thyme) → Portrayed by Felicity Kendal A gardening detective in British TV series Rosemary andThyme (Created by Brian Eastman). •TV series: 2003‑2007. |
 Laura Thyme (with Rosemary Boxer) → Portrayed by Pam Ferris A gardening detective in the British TV series Rosemary and Thyme (Created by Brian Eastman). •TV series: 2003‑2007. |
 Sarah Keate → Portrayed by Ann Sheridan and others A nurse in novels and movies such as The Patient in Room 18 (Created by Mignon Eberhart). •Novels: 1929‑1932 •Movies: 1935‑1938. |
 Richard Diamond → Portrayed by David Janssen A former police officer and a hard-boiled private detective in the TV series Richard Diamond Private Detective (Written by Blake Edwards). •TV series: 1957‑1960. |
 Peter Gunn → Portrayed by Craig Stevens A sophisticated, well-dressed P.I. in the TV series Peter Gunn (Created by Blake Edwards). •TV series: 1958‑1961. |
 unknown McGraw (no first name mentioned) → Portrayed by Frank Lovejoy Hard-hitting detective in the TV series Meet McGraw (Written by Blake Edwards). •TV series: 1957‑1958. |
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 Sister Fidelma → No screen presence A Celtic nun in the middle of the 7th century who solves mysteries in the book series Sister Fidelma Mysteries (Created by Berresford Ellis, aka Peter Tremayne). •Books: 1994‑2015. |
 Honey West → Portrayed by Anne Francis A detective and ocelot owner who communicates with her partner via a radio hidden in her lipstick case in a book series and the TV series Honey West (Created by Gloria and Forest Fickling). •Books: 1957‑1972 •TV series: 1965‑1966. |
 Sid Halley → Portray on TV by Mike Gwilym Former British jump racing Champion Jockey in a TV series based on novels such as Whip Hand (Created by Dick Francis). •Novels: 1965‑1995 •TV series: 1979. |
 Burton Guster (with Shawn Spencer) → Portrayed by Dule Hill Shawn's partner in the TV series Psych (Created by Steve Franks). •TV series: 2006‑2014. |
 Shawn Spencer (with Burton Guster) → Portrayed by James Roday A wise-cracking sleuth in the TV series Psych (Created by Steve Franks). •TV series: 2006‑2014. |
 Agaton Sax → No screen presence Owner of a detective agency in an animated movie and animated TV series, based on several Swedish novels including Agaton Sax and the London Computer Plot (Created by Nils Olof Franzén). •Novels: 1955‑1978 •Movie: 1976 •TV series: 1976. |
 Dr. John Thorndyke → Portrayed in the 1964 TV series by Peter Copley A medical doctor and forensic specialist in a series of novels and short stories and TV series including The Case of Oscar Brodski (Created by R. Austin Freeman). •Novels: 1907‑1942. |
 Emerson Cod → Portrayed by Chi McBride The private detective who enlists the help of the pie-maker in solving murder cases in the TV series Pushing Daisies (Created by Bryan Fuller). •TV series: 2007‑2009. |
 Paul Drake → Portrayed by William Hopper The private detective working for Parry Mason Perry Mason (Created by Erle Stanley Gardner). •Novels: 1933‑1973 •Movies: 1934‑1940 •TV series: 1985‑1995, 2020. |
 Matt Houston → Portrayed by Lee Horsley A wealthy mustachioed Texas oilman in the TV series Matt Houston (Created by Lawrence Gordon). •TV series: 1082‑1985. |
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 Kinsey Millhone → No screen presence A tough-talking former cop, P.I. in the alphabet mysteries series of novels including "H" is for Homicide (Created by Sue Grafton). •Novels: 1982‑2017. |
 Phryne Fisher → Portrayed by Essie Davis A wealthy aristocrat in a series of novels the TV series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (Created by Kerry Greenwood and others). •Novels: 1989‑2008 •TV series: 2012‑. |
 Michael Shayne → Portrayed in the movies by Lloyd Noland Detective in old style, gathering suspects in one place and naming the murderer, in a series of books, TV series, and several movies such as Michael Shayne, Private Detective (Created by Brett Halliday). •Books: 1939‑1958 •Movies: 1940‑1946 •TV series: 1960‑1961. |
 Nick and Nora Charles → Movie portrayal of Nick by William Powell An alcoholic former private detective and a wealthy heiress in the novel and several movie adaptations such as The Thin Man (Created by Dashiell Hammett). •Novel: 1934 •Movies: 1934‑1947 •TV series: 1957‑1959. |
 Hamilton Nash (aka The Continental Op) → Portrayed by James Coburn. A master of deceit in the 36 short stories and two novels and the TV series The Dain Curse (Created by Dashiell Hammett). •Short stories: 1923‑1927 •Novels: 1929 •TV series: 1978. |
 Sam Spade → Portrayed in the 1941 movie by Humphrey Bogart A hard and shifty P.I. in a novel, short stories, and movies, including The Maltese Falcon (Created by Dashiell Hammett). •Novel: 1930 •Short stories: 1932 •Movies: 1931‑1978. |
 Jake Styles → Portrayed by Joe Penny An investigator working with a fat prosecutor in the TV series Jake and the Fatman (Created by Dean Hargrove and Joel Steiger). •TV series: 1987‑1992. |
 Frankie Drake (with partner Trudy Clarke) → Portrayed by Lauren Lee Smith (Trudy is portrayed by Chantel Riley) The first female private detective in 1920s Toronto, with her crime-solving partner in the Canadian TV series Frankie Drake Mysteries (Created by Carol Hay and Michelle Ricci). •TV series: 2017‑now. |
 Patrick Jane → Portrayed by Simon Baker A con artist and police consultant in the TV series The Mentalist (Created by Bruno Heller). •TV series: 2008‑2015. |
 Rex Randolph with partner Cal Calhoun → Randolph portrayed by Richard Long and Calhoun portrayed by Andrew Duggan Couple of PIs with an office above the Old Absinthe House in New Orleans' French Quarter in the TV series Bourbon Street Beat (Created by Charles Hoffman). •TV series: 1959‑1960. |
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 Stuart Bailey (with partner Jeff Spencer) → Bailey portrayed by Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. and Spencer portrayed by Roger Smith Two private detectives and former government secret agents with an office on Sunset Strip in LA in the TV series 77 Sunset Strip (Created by Roy Huggins). •TV series: 1958‑1964. |
 Jim Rockford → Portrayed by James Garner A veteran and peace-loving P.I. in the TV series The Rockford Files (Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell). •TV series: 1974‑1980. |
 Barnaby Jones → Portrayed by Buddy Ebsen A private eye who comes out of retirement after his son is murdered in the TV series Barnaby Jones (Developed by Edward Hume). •TV series: 1970‑1983. |
 Cordelia Gray → Portrayed by Helen Baxendale A shy young woman who inherited a detective agency in two novels and several TV series including An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Created by P. D. James). •Novels: 1972, 1982 •TV series: 1997‑2001. |
 Nancy Drew → Portrayed by various actors over the years including Sophia Lillis in the 2019 film as seen in image. A young high school graduate in many books, a TV series and several movies including the 2019 movie Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (Many writers under the ghost name Carolyn Keene ). •Novels: 1930‑2003 •TV series: 1997, 1995, 2019 •Movies: 1938‑1939, 2002. |
 Duncan Maclain → Portrayed by Edward Arnold.
A blind detective with a seeing-eye dog in the novel series of the detective and movies such as Eyes in the Night (Created by Baynard Kendrick). •Books: 1937‑1961 •Movies: 1942, 1945. |
 Angie Everett (with partner Matt Kevin) → Portrayed by Cindy Sampson With her partner, private investigators solving crimes in Toronto in the Canadian TV series Private Eyes (Created by Tim Kilby and Shelley Eriksen). •TV series: 2016‑2021. |
Matt Kevin (with partner Angie Everett) → Portrayed by Jason Priestley With his partner, private investigators solving crimes in Toronto in the Canadian TV series Private Eyes (Created by Tim Kilby and Shelley Eriksen). •TV series: 2016‑2021. |
 Francesca Victoria (image from a comic book cover) → No screen presence A young, attractive and adventurous female private investigator in the popular Dutch comic book series Franka (Created by Henk Kuijpers). •Comics: 1972‑now. |
 China Smith → Portrayed by Dan Duryea A tough, shrewd, charming, and disreputable private eye in Singapore in the TV series China Smith (Written by Jack Laird and Robert C. Dennis). •TV series: 1952‑1955. |
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 Arsène Lupin → Portrayed by Georges Descrières Gentleman thief and master of disguise in books, stage, comics, numerous movies, and several TV series including the French show Arsène Lupin (Created by Mauraice Leblanc ). •Books: 1907‑2012 •Movies: 1908‑2011 •TV series: 1971‑2007. |
 Joseph Rouletabille → Portrayed in the 1949 French movie by Serge Reggiani A journalist in several movies and a novel series starting with The Mystery of th Yellow Room (Created by Gaston Leroux). •Novels: 1907‑1923 •Movies: 1913‑2005 •TV series: 1965‑1966. |
 Joe Mannix → Portrayed by Mike Connors An even tempered P.I. and former POW in the TV series Mannix (Created by Richard Levinson and Willam Link). •TV series: 1967‑1975. |
 Harry Tenafly → Portrayed by James McEachin A former policeman in the TV series Tenafly (Written by Richard Levinson and William Link). •TV series: 1974‑1975. |
 Jessica Fletcher → Portrayed by Angela Lansbury A widowed writer residing in Cabot Cove, Maine in the TV series Murder She Wrote (Written by William Link and Richard Levin). •TV series: 1984‑1996. |
 Nick Ryder (and his partners Cody Allen and Murray Bozinsky) → Portrayed by Joe Penny, Perry King, and Thom Bray Three buddies and their boat-based detective agency in the TV series Riptide (Created by Frank Lupo and Stephen Cannell). •TV series: 1983‑1986. |
 Lew Archer (renamed to Harper in movies) → Portrayed by Paul Newman An often world-weary P.I. working in Southern California in books, a TV series and movies such as Harper (Book written by Ross MacDonald). •Books: 1949‑1976 •TV series: 1975 •Movies: 1966, 1974, 1975. |
 Nestor Burma → Portrayed by Guy Marchand French private detective in a series of books and the TV series Nestor Burma (Created by Léo Malet). •Books: 1943‑1983 •TV series: 1991. |
 Dan Tanna → Portrayed by Robert Urich A private detective and Vietnam War vet whose clients include the owner of multiple hotel casinos in Las Vegas in the TV series Vega$ (Created by Michael Mann). •TV series: 1978‑1981. |
 Richard Castle (with detective Kate Beckett) → Portrayed by Nathan Fillion A best-selling mystery novelist in the TV series Castle (Created by Andrew Marlowe). •TV series: 2009‑2016. |
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 Victoria and Darby Spencer → Portrayed by Lea Thompson and Stacey Farber A mother and daughter duo who investigate crimes in their home town in the TV series The Spencer Sisters (Created by Alan McCullough). •TV Series: 2023. |
 Bulldog Drummond → Portrayed by Ronald Coleman A gentleman adventurer in novels, short stories, and several movies including Calling Bulldog Drummond (Created by H. C. McNeile). •Novels: 1920‑1969 •Short stories: 1937 •Movies: 1922‑1969. |
 Nick Carter → Portrayed by Walter Pidgeon In the movie Nick Carter, Master Detective, based on the long-running radio series of the same name. Nick Carter, Master Detective (Movie script written by Bertram Millhauser). •Movie: 1939 •Radio series: 1943‑1945. |
 Elly Chandler (with partner Dee Tate shown on the right) → Portrayed by Catherine Russell and her co-star Barbara Flynn Two female private detectives, Elly Chandler and Dee Tate, who run their own private investigation agency in London in the British TV series Chandler & Co. (Created and written by Paula Milne). •TV series: 1994‑1995. |
 Beatrice Adela Bradley → Portrayed by Diana Rigg A widowed socialite in the novel series and British TV series The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries (Created by Gladys Mitchell). •Novels: 1929‑1975 •TV series: 1999‑2000. |
 Victoria "Vicki" Nelson → Portrayed by Christine Cox Based on the Blood Books by Tanya Huff, a former Toronto Police Service officer in the Canadian TV series Blood Ties (Series created by Peter Mohan). •Novels: 1991‑1997 •TV series: 2007. |
 Easy (Ezikeil) Rawlins → Portayed by Denzel Washington A World War II veteran. Based on the novel. Devil in a Blue Dress (Created by Walter Mosley). •Novel: 1990 •Movie: 1995. |
 Eliza Scarlet → Portrayed by Kate Phillips A Victorian young woman who continues her father's detective agency after his death Miss Scarlet and the Duke (Created by Rachael New). •TV series: 2020‑2021. |
 Michael Westen → Portrayed by Jeffery Donovan An unlicensed freelance private investigator in the TV series Burn Notice (Created by Matt Nix). •TV series: 2007‑2013. |
 Hildegarde Withers → Portrayed by Edna May Oliver and later others. Spinster school teacher and amateur detective who collaborates, and frequently butts heads, with Inspector Oscar Piper in a series of novels and movies such as Murder on the Blackboard (Created by Stuart Palmer). •Novels: 1932‑1969 •Movies: 1932‑1972. |
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 V. I. Warshawski → Portrayed in the movie by Kathleen Turner A lean and athletic female P.I. appearing novels, short stories, and the movie V.I. Warshawski (Created by Sara Paretsky). •Novels: 1982‑2013 •Movie: 1991. |
 Spenser → Portrayed by in the TV series Robert Urich A smart-mouthed tough P.I. in novels, movies and the TV series Spenser: For Hire (Created by Robert B. Parker). •Novels: 1973‑2014 •TV series: 1985‑1988 •Movies: 1999, 2000, 2001. |
 Jesse Stone → Portrayed by Tom Selleck Former baseball shortstop and homicide detective in the book series and several movies, such as Benefit of the Doubt (Created by Robert B. Parker). •Books: 1997‑2015 •Movies: 2005‑2012. |
 Alex Cross → Portrayed by Morgan Freeman Even tempered psychologist and former FBI agent in several books and movies such as Along Came a Spider (Created by James Patterson). •Books: 1993‑2014 •Movies: 1997, 2001. |
 William Monk (image from book cover) → No screen presence An inspector, fired from the police force, becomes a private investigator in the series of novels featuring William Monk (Created by Anne Perry). •Novels: 1990‑2018. |
 Amelia Peabody → No screen presence A rich Egyptologist in the novels series including The Curse of the Pharaohs (Created by Elizabeth Peters). •Novels: 1975‑2006. |
 Brother Cadfael → Portrayed by Derek Jacobi An early 12th-century monk in the novel series and TV series Cadfael (Created by Ellis Peters also known as Edith Pargeter). •Novels: 1977‑1994 •TV series: 1994‑1998. |
 C. Auguste Dupin → No screen presence An upper class gentleman appearing in stories by such as The Murders in the Rue Morgue (Created by Edgar Allan Poe). •Novels: 1841,1842, 1844. |
 Shell Scott → No screen presence A 6-foot-2 ex-marine in several novels such as Case of the Vanishing Beauty (Created by Richard S. Prather). •Novels: 1950‑1987. |
 Sally Lockhart → Portrayed by Billie Piper A teen-age girl in the novel series and TV shows such as The Shadow in the North (Created by Philip Pullman). •Novels: 1872‑1882 •Movie: 2006, 2007. |
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 Ellery Queen → Portrayed in the 1975 TV series by Jim Hutton A mystery writer and editor of a magazine in novels, movies, and several TV series including The Adventures of Ellery Queen (Ghost writers as Ellery Queen). •Novels: 1929‑71 •TV series:1950‑1956, 1975‑1976 •Movies: 1940‑1942. |
 Bernie Little (image from 2015 book cover of Bernie's canine companion) → No screen presence A down-on-his-luck P.I. in the series of novels beginning with Dog on It (Created by Spencer Quinn, aka Peter Abrahams). •Novels: 2009‑2020. |
 Dick Barton → Portrayed by Tony Vogel An ex-Commando who solved all sorts of crimes in the radio series, movies and the TV series Dick Barton: Special Agent (Produced by Raymond Raikes and others). •Radio series: 1946‑1951 •Movies: 1948, 1949, 1950 •TV series: 1979. |
 Feluda (aka Prodosh Chandra Mitra) → Portrayed in 1974 movie by Soumitra Chatterjee An Indian detective of Bengali origin in novels and movies such as Sonar Kella (Created by Satyajit Ray). •Novels: 1966‑1997 •Movies: 1974‑2014. |
 Jonathan Creek → Portrayed by Alan Davies A creative consultant to a magician in the British TV series Jonathan Creek (Written by David Renwick). •TV series: 1997‑2004. |
 Sherlock Holmes-2 → Portrayed in the 2009 movie by Robert Downey Jr. A renowned detective in a series of novels and adaptations on stage and radio, in TV series, and movies, including Sherlock Holmes (Directed by Guy Ritchie). •Movie: 2009. |
 Harry O → Portrayed by David Janssen A San Diego cop forced into retirement when he is shot in the back in the TV series Harry O (Created by Howard Rodman). •TV series: 1974‑1976. |
 Matt Helm (not like the book or movie versions) → Portrayed by Anthony Franciosa Retired spy, now a private detective in the TV series Matt Helm (Developed by Sam Rolfe). •TV series: 1975‑1976. |
 Jessica Jones → Portrayed by Krysten Ritter A super-powered woman who had a brief superhero career once known as Jewel in the TV series Jessica Jones (Created by Melissa Rosenberg). •TV series: 2016‑2018 •Comic book: 2016‑2020. |
 Cormoran Strike → Portrayed by Tom Burke An ex-SIB investigator, and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan in the books and the TV series Strike (Created by J. K. Rowling). •Novels: 2013‑2020 •TV series: 2017‑2020. |
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 Lord Peter Wimsey → Portrays in the TV 1987 series by Edward Petherbridge A wealthy English gentleman in a series of novels, short stories and TV series including Strong Poison (Created by Dorothy L. Sayers). •Novels: 1923‑2014 •TV series: 1972‑1975, 1987. |
 Jonathan and Jennifer Hart → Portrayed by Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers A millionaire couple in the TV series Hart to Hart (Created by Sidney Sheldon). •TV series: 1979‑1984. |
 Slam Bradley (Samuel Emerson "Slam" Bradley) → No screen presence A tough private eye who loves working for women but prefers the platonic company of his sidekick "Shorty" Morgan in the comic book series. Detective Comics (Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster). •Comic books: 1937‑1949, revived in later years. |
 Dennis Chase → Portrayed by Dennis Morgan Private investigator who would pass each case to the police after solving the crime in the TV series 21 Beacon Street (Produced by Al Simon). •TV series: 1959. |
 Encyclopedia Brown (Leroy) → Portrayed in the TV series by Scott Bremner A boy detective in the book series, a comic strip, and the TV HBO series beginning with The Case of the Missing Time Capsule (Books written by Donald J. Sobol). •Books: 1963‑2012 •TV series: 1989‑1990. |
 Mike Hammer → Portrayed on TV by Stacy Keach A P.I. who doesn't shy away from violence in the series of novels, movies, and several TV series such as Mike Hammer, ;Private Eye (Created by Mickey Spillaine). •Novels: 1947‑2014 •Movies: 1952‑2003 •TV series: 1958‑1960, 1984‑1998. |
 Jeff Randall (and his ghost partner Hopkirk) → Portrayed by Mike Pratt. (Hopkirk portrayed by Kenneth Cope) A womanizing P.I. in the British TV series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (Created by Dennis Spooner). •TV series: 1969‑1970. |
 Elona Holmes → Portrayed by Millie "Bobby" Brown The sister of Sherlock Holmes in the book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries and the movie Enola Holmes (Created by Nancy Springer). •Book series: 2006‑2010 •Movie: 2020. |
 Varg Veum → In movies portrayed by Trond Espen Seim A Norwegian private detective in a series of novels and several movies such as Bitre Blomster (Created by Gunnar Staalesen). •Novels: 1977‑2014 •Movies: 2007‑2012. |
 Eddie Shoestring → Portrayed by Trevor Eve A former computer expert in the British TV series Shoestring (Created by Robert Banks Stewart and Richard Harris). •TV series: 1979‑1980. |
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 Nero Wolfe → Portrayed in the 2001 TV series by Maury Chaykin An armchair detective in novels, short stories, movies, radio, and several TV series including A Nero Wolfe Mystery (Created by Rex Stout). •Novels: 1934‑1985 •Movies: 1936, 1937 •TV series: 1981, 2001‑2003. |
 Nancy Drew → Portrayed in the 2007 movie by Emma Roberts A young teenager, then young woman in several novel series including Nancy Drew Mystery Stories (Created by Edward Stratemeyer). •Novels: 1930‑2003, 2002‑2012 •Movie: 2007. |
 Frank and Joe Hardy (The Hardy Boys) → Portrayed by Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy Teenage brothers and amateur detectives in a series of books and a TV series The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (Created by Edward Stratemeyer). •Books: 1929‑present •TV series: 1974‑1977. |
 Jack Irish → Portrayed by Guy Pearce A former criminal lawyer turned P.I. in the three Australian TV movies inclucing Jack Irish: Bad Debts (Created by Peter Temple). •Books: 1996‑2003 •TV movies: 2012, 2013. |
 Veronica Mars → Portrayed by Kristin Bell A school girl whose father is a private detective in the TV series Veronica Mars (Created by Rob Thomas). •TV series: 2004‑2007 •Movie: 2014. |
 John Shaft → Portrayed by Richard Roundtree A black P.I. in the style of James Bond in three movies beginning with Shaft (Screenplay by Ernest Tidyman). •Movies: 1971, 1972, 1973. |
 Gil Jourdan along with partners Libellule and Crouton → No screen presence A Belgian dectective handles various cases which sometimes took them to many countries in comics titled Tout Gil Jourdan (Created by Maurice Tillieux). •Comics: 1956‑1989. |
 Philo Vance → Portrayed in the 1933 movie by William Powell An aristocrat of unusual culture and brilliance in novels and movies including The Kennel Murde Case (Created by S. S. Van Dine). •Novels:1926‑1939 •Movies: 1929‑1947. |
 James Hazell → Portrayed by Nicholas Ball. A cockney private detective in the British TV drama Hazell (Created by Gordon Williams and Terry Venables). •TV drama: 1978‑1979. |
 Josef Matula → Portrayed by Claus Theo Gärtner A former police officer who becomes a private detective working with a defense attorney in the German TV series Ein Fall für zwei (Created by Karl Heinz Willschrei). •TV series: 1981‑2013. |
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 Sydney Kells → Portrayed by Valerie Bertinelli Daughter of a now-deceased policeman in the TV series Sydney (Created by Michael J. Wilson). •TV series: 1990. |
 Jack Cleary → Portrayed by Michael Woods An ex-cop working in 1950s L.A. in the TV series Private Eye (Created by Anthony Yerkovich). •TV series: 1987‑88. |
 Martin Kane → Portrayed by several actors including William Gargan (shown) A private-eye in the the radio series Martin Kane, Private Eye and the TV series The New Adventures of Martin Kane (No creator given). •Radio: 1949‑1953 •TV series: 1957‑1958. |
|
First creator on each page | |
| 1 | Adams, Douglas (Dirk Gently) |
| 2 | Bellisario, Donald P. (Magnum, P.I.) |
| 3 | Cannell, Stephen J. (Tenspeed and Brown Shoe) |
| 4 | Chesterton, G.k. (Father Brown) |
| 5 | Dineur, Fernand (Tif et Tondu) |
| 6 | Ellis, Peter B. (Sister Fidelma Mysteries) |
| 7 | Grafton, Sue ("H" is for Homicide) |
| 8 | Huggins, Roy (77 Sunset Strip) |
| 9 | Leblanc, Maurice (Arsène Lupin) |
| 10 | McCullough (The Spencer Sisters) |
| 11 | Paretsky, Sara (V.I. Warshawski) |
| 12 | Queen, Ellery (The Adventures of Ellery Queen) |
| 13 | Sayers, Dorothy L. (Strong Poison) |
| 14 | Stout, Rex (A Nero Wolfe Mystery) |
| 15 | Wilson, Michael J. (Sydney) |
All Detectives Sorted by Creator | ||
| # | Creator | Title |
| 1. | Adams, Douglas | (Dirk Gently) |
| 2. | Allingham, Margery | (Campion) |
| 3. | Ambler, Eric | (Checkmate) |
| 4. | Arlen, Michael | (The Gay Falcon) |
| 5. | Atkinson, Kate | (Case Histories) |
| 6. | Barry, Peter | (Charlie Wild, Private Detective) |
| 7. | Battiato, Giacomo | (The Name of the Rose) |
| 8. | Beaton, M.C. | (Agatha Raisin) |
| 9. | Bellem, Robert L. | (Dan Turner, Hollywood Detective) |
| 10. | Bellisario, Donald P. | (Magnum, P.I.) |
| 11. | Blank, Clair | (Beverly Gray Mystery Stories) |
| 12. | Blank, Clair | (Beverly Gray Mystery Stories) |
| 13. | Block, Lawrence | (A Walk Among the Tombstones) |
| 14. | Blyth, Harry | (Sexton Blake) |
| 15. | Boyle, Jack | (Meet Boston Blackie) |
| 16. | Breckman, Andy | (Monk) |
| 17. | Burke, James Lee | (The Electric Mist) |
| 18. | Butler, Robert | (Remmington Steele ) |
| 19. | Cahn, Dann | (Coronado 9) |
| 20. | Cannell, Stephen J. | (Tenspeed and Brown Shoe) |
| 21. | Cannell, Stephen J. | (Tenspeed and Brown Shoe) |
| 22. | Caron, Glenn G. | (Moonlighting) |
| 23. | Caron, Gordon | (Moonlighting) |
| 24. | Carr, John Dickson | (The Man Who Could Not Shudder) |
| 25. | Chambers, Everett | (Johnny Staccato) |
| 26. | Chandler, Raymond | (The Big Sleep) |
| 27. | Charteris, Leslie | (The Saint) |
| 28. | Chatterjee, Basu | (Byomkesh Bakshi) |
| 29. | Chertok, Jack | (Johnny Midnight) |
| 30. | Chesterton, G.k. | (Father Brown) |
| 31. | Cheyney, Peter | (La môme vert de gris) |
| 32. | Christie, Agatha | (Partners in Crime) |
| 33. | Christie, Agatha | (4.50 from Paddington) |
| 34. | Christie, Agatha | (Agatha Christie's Poirot) |
| 35. | Collins, Max Allan | (Ms. Tee) |
| 36. | Cook, David | (Hetty Wainthropp Investigates) |
| 37. | Cook, Glen | (Old Tin Sorrows) |
| 38. | Coxe, George H. | (Casey, Crime Photographer) |
| 39. | DeGuere, Philip | (Simon & Simon) |
| 40. | Dineur, Fernand | (Tif et Tondu) |
| 41. | Doherty, Robert | (Elementary ) |
| 42. | Doherty, Robert | (Elementary) |
| 43. | Doyle, Arthur Conan | (The Hound of the Baskervilles) |
| 44. | Eastman, Brian | (Rosemary andThyme) |
| 45. | Eastman, Brian | (Rosemary and Thyme) |
| 46. | Eberhart, Mignon G. | (The Patient in Room 18) |
| 47. | Edwards, Blake | (Richard Diamond Private Detective) |
| 48. | Edwards, Blake | (Peter Gunn) |
| 49. | Edwards, Blake | (Meet McGraw) |
| 50. | Ellis, Peter B. | (Sister Fidelma Mysteries) |
| 51. | Fickling, Gloria & Forest | (Honey West) |
| 52. | Francis, Dick | (Whip Hand) |
| 53. | Franks, Steve | (Psych ) |
| 54. | Franks, Steve | (Psych ) |
| 55. | Franzén, Nils Olof | (Agaton Sax and the London Computer Plot) |
| 56. | Freeman, R. Austn | (The Case of Oscar Brodski ) |
| 57. | Fuller, Bryan | (Pushing Daisies) |
| 58. | Gardner, Erle Stanley | (Perry Mason) |
| 59. | Gordon, Lawrence | (Matt Houston) |
| 60. | Grafton, Sue | ("H" is for Homicide) |
| 61. | Greenwood, Kerry | (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries) |
| 62. | Halliday, Brett | (Michael Shayne, Private Detective) |
| 63. | Hammett, Dashiell | (The Thin Man) |
| 64. | Hammett, Dashiell | (The Dain Curse) |
| 65. | Hammett, Dashiell | (The Maltese Falcon) |
| 66. | Hargrove, Dean | (Jake and the Fatman) |
| 67. | Hay, Carol | (Frankie Drake Mysteries) |
| 68. | Heller, Bruno | (The Mentalist) |
| 69. | Hoffman, Charles | (Bourbon Street Beat) |
| 70. | Huggins, Roy | (77 Sunset Strip) |
| 71. | Huggins, Roy | (The Rockford Files) |
| 72. | Hume, Edward | (Barnaby Jones) |
| 73. | James, P.D. | (An Unsuitable Job for a Woman) |
| 74. | Keene, Carolyn | (Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase) |
| 75. | Kendrick, Bernard | (Eyes in the Night) |
| 76. | Kirby, Tim | (Private Eyes) |
| 77. | Kirby, Tim | (Private Eyes) |
| 78. | Kuijpers, Henk | (Franka) |
| 79. | Laird, Jack | (China Smith) |
| 80. | Leblanc, Maurice | (Arsène Lupin) |
| 81. | Leroux, Gaston | (The Mystery of th Yellow Room) |
| 82. | Levinson, Richard | (Mannix) |
| 83. | Levinson, Richard | (Tenafly) |
| 84. | Link, William | (Murder She Wrote) |
| 85. | Lupo, Frank | (Riptide) |
| 86. | MacDonald, Ross | (Harper) |
| 87. | Malet, Leo | (Nestor Burma) |
| 88. | Mann, Michael | (Vega$) |
| 89. | Marlowe, Andrew W. | (Castle) |
| 90. | McCullough | (The Spencer Sisters) |
| 91. | McNeile, H.C. | (Calling Bulldog Drummond) |
| 92. | Millhauser, Bertram | (Nick Carter, Master Detective) |
| 93. | Milne | (Chandler & Co.) |
| 94. | Mitchell, Gladys | (The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries) |
| 95. | Mohan, Peter | (Blood Ties) |
| 96. | Mosley, Walter | (Devil in a Blue Dress) |
| 97. | New, Rachael | (Miss Scarlet and the Duke) |
| 98. | Nix, Matt | (Burn Notice) |
| 99. | Palmer, Stuart | (Murder on the Blackboard) |
| 100. | Paretsky, Sara | (V.I. Warshawski) |
| 101. | Parker, Robert B. | (Spenser: For Hire) |
| 102. | Parker, Robert B. | (Benefit of the Doubt) |
| 103. | Patterson, James | (Along Came a Spider) |
| 104. | Perry, Anne | (William Monk) |
| 105. | Peters, Barbara | (The Curse of the Pharaohs) |
| 106. | Peters, Ellis | (Cadfael) |
| 107. | Poe, Edgar Allan | (The Murders in the Rue Morgue) |
| 108. | Prather, Richard S. | (Case of the Vanishing Beauty) |
| 109. | Pullman, Philip | (The Shadow in the North) |
| 110. | Queen, Ellery | (The Adventures of Ellery Queen) |
| 111. | Quinn, Spencer | (Dog on It) |
| 112. | Raikes, Raymond | (Dick Barton: Special Agent) |
| 113. | Ray, Satyajit | (Sonar Kella) |
| 114. | Renwick, David | (Jonathan Creek) |
| 115. | Ritchie, Guy | (Sherlock Holmes ) |
| 116. | Rodman, Howard | (Harry O) |
| 117. | Rolfe, Sam | (Matt Helm) |
| 118. | Rosenberg, Melissa | (Jessica Jones) |
| 119. | Rowling, J.K. | (Strike) |
| 120. | Sayers, Dorothy L. | (Strong Poison) |
| 121. | Sheldon, Sidney | (Hart to Hart) |
| 122. | Siegel, Joe | (Detective Comics) |
| 123. | Simon, A; | (21 Beacon Street) |
| 124. | Sobol, Donald J. | (The Case of the Missing Time Capsule ) |
| 125. | Spillaine, Mickey | (Mike Hammer, ;Private Eye) |
| 126. | Spooner, Dennis | (Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)) |
| 127. | Springer, Nancy | (Enola Holmes) |
| 128. | Staalesen, Gunnar | (Bitre Blomster) |
| 129. | Stewart, Robert B. | (Shoestring) |
| 130. | Stout, Rex | (A Nero Wolfe Mystery) |
| 131. | Stratemeyer, Edward | (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories) |
| 132. | Stratemeyer, Edward | (The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries) |
| 133. | Temple, Peter | (Jack Irish: Bad Debts) |
| 134. | Thomas, Rob | (Veronica Mars) |
| 135. | Tidyman, Ernest | (Shaft) |
| 136. | Tillieux, Maurice | (Tout Gil Jourdan) |
| 137. | Van Dine, S.S. | (The Kennel Murde Case) |
| 138. | Williams, Gordon | (Hazell) |
| 139. | Willschrei, Carl Heinz | (Ein Fall für zwei) |
| 140. | Wilson, Michael J. | (Sydney) |
| 141. | Yerkovich, Anthony | (Private Eye) |
| 142. | zz | (The New Adventures of Martin Kane) |
Other Pages in Names Galore | |
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| Name Generators Naming Fun Stories about Names |
