George Hearst's Arrival
The mining magnate's agents, then the man himself, come for Deadwood's gold.
George Hearst, played by Gerald McRaney, is a wealthy mining magnate and later U.S. Senator who first made his fortune on the Comstock. Throughout season 2 of Deadwood his employee Francis Wolcott works, in less than honest ways, to acquire gold claims for him.
Quick Facts
- Played by
- Gerald McRaney
- Season
- 2
- Agent
- Francis Wolcott
Lore & Background
In the season 2 finale Hearst arrives and makes several deals in camp, including buying the Grand Central hotel from E. B. Farnum. He fires Wolcott for cutting the throats of three prostitutes, and he hands Chinese affairs to Wu after learning that Lee is burning dead prostitutes' bodies.
Reader's Guide
Swearengen uses Silas Adams as his go-between with Hearst.
Cy Tolliver tries to blackmail Hearst for a 5% commission, claiming to hold a letter in which Wolcott admits the murders. At this stage Hearst shows no sign of the ruthlessness he displays in season 3, when he stays on to run his interests in person.
More in Episodes & Narrative Arcs
Elsewhere in Deadwood
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