15 Greatest HBO Characters Of All Time

With over 900 speaking roles over five seasons, it's no surprise The Wire has a great many incredible characters to choose from. And while it's hard to pick from such a well crafted bunch, reluctant drug dealer D'Angelo Barksdale is perhaps its best realised creation.

The nephew of West Baltimore kingpin Avon Barksdale, D'Angelo has been destined for the streets from birth. The heart and soul of the first two seasons, it's a tragedy to watch a sensitive and intelligent young man who simply has no alternative career path. Arguably season one's main protagonist, whatever your view on the drug war, it's never difficult to empathise with D'Angelo: stuck in middle management, bereft of alternative options, totally trapped.

Like many Wire characters, D'Angelo spends a lot of his time fruitlessly searching for an escape. But for someone like D'Angelo, there's never going to be one. The real tragedy is that he's thrust into a life he was never built for. He lacks the necessary attributes to make it out on the corner – and he lacks the opportunity to do anything else instead.