Famous Private Detectives in
Novels, Movies, and Television--

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Westen → Portrayed by Jeffery Donovan
An unlicensed freelance private investigator in the TV series Burn Notice (Created by Matt Nix).
•TV series: 2007‑2013.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Boston Blackie → Portrayed by Chester Morris
A reformed jewel thief in movies such as Meet Boston Blackie (Written by Jack Boyle).
•Movie: 1918‑1949.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

C. Auguste Dupin →
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.

Sister Fidelma →
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.

Beverly Gray →
A young woman solving mysteries in various venues Beverly Gray Mystery Stories (Written by Clair Blank).
•Novels: 1034‑1955.

Bernie Little (image from 2015 book cover of Bernie's canine companion) →
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.

William Monk (image from book cover) →
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.

Agaton Sax →
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.

Tif and Tondu (no last names for the duo) →
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.

Francesca Victoria (image from a comic book cover) →
A young, attractive and adventurous female private investigator in the popular Dutch comic book series Franka (Created by Henk Kuijpers).
•Comics: 1972‑now.