Deadwood: Comparing The Lead Characters And Their Real World Counterparts

Al Swearengen, played by Ian McShane, was a central figure in Deadwood both on-screen and in real life. While his establishment, the Gem, is just a saloon and brothel in the series, the real life "Gem Variety Theater" offered legitimate entertainment including comedy, plays, musical performances, and even boxing. Although the real life Gem's bread and butter was indeed prostitution.

The real Al Swearengen was born in Iowa where he lived until adulthood. This is in stark contrast to the series' character who is presented as an Englishman (probably to cement McShane's portrayal as believable) who was orphaned in Chicago. Both the character and the real man ruled a harem of working girls with an iron fist. Swearengen had a reputation for convincing girls from "back east" to come work at the Gem under the auspice of becoming stars. Once stuck in Deadwood the girls found themselves forced into prostitution with no escape from Swearengen.

While the series portrays the relationship between Al and Bullock as an informal and uneasy alliance against Deadwood's existential threats, in reality the two men had such a formal agreement that they drew a line on main street separating the "badlands" from the respectable businesses and residents. Much like in the series, Al Swearengen had a knack for allying himself with the right people to ensure his business interests were not interfered with.