Cole Phelps

Grew up... as a war hero. Born in 1920 in San Francisco, Cole Phelps fought in World War II. While he was a skilled marine, earning the nickname “The Dark Shadow,” his strict attention to detail hamstrung his unit and led to many unnecessary deaths. As he says, “Friends who want to stay friends, don't discuss religion or politics. In my case, you can add the war to that.”

Living... in Los Angeles. After the war, Cole returned to California a hero, even though he felt he didn’t deserve it, and joined the Los Angeles Police Department as a patrol officer.

Profession... detective. Cole quickly impressed his bosses with his skill and intellect, and soon he was promoted to detective, working in beats like homicide, arson, and vice.

Interests… keeping his body fit and his mind sharp. Cole likes to stay both physically fit and well-educated. He boxes and reads plenty of literature. Part of this is to help stay effective as a detective, but he also wants to stay ahead of his rival and war companion Jack Kelso.

Relationship Status... unhappily married. Cole is married to Marie Phelps and has two daughters. However, his cold nature, and wandering eyes for German lounge singer Elsa Lichtmann, has put a strain on their relationship.

Challenge... solving crimes in the L.A. underworld. As an L.A. detective, Cole unravels the crimes, mysteries, corruption, and webs of deceit happening in the seediest sections of one of America’s most debauched cities. Sometimes this means pulling out a gun, but other times it just means reading someone’s face and knowing when they are lying.

Personality... meticulous. Cole’s personal hang-ups, from his war guilt to his need to strictly follow orders, make him emotionally distant. However, they also make him very respectful.