Archie Goodwin (fictional detective)
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Archie Goodwin is a fictional character, a detective in mysteries about Nero Wolfe. Archie is Wolfe's live-in employee and partner in the private investigation business Wolfe runs out of his brownstone townhouse in New York City. Wolfe rarely leaves that house, so Archie has to do most of the actual investigating and then reports his findings to Wolfe, who solves the mystery. It's not difficult for Archie to make either written or oral reports, because he has total recall of what he's heard, and he's an excellent typist. He also does Wolfe's bookkeeping and banking, types his correspondence, and keeps the germination and other records for the orchids Wolfe raises as a hobby.
Although he's from the American Midwest, Archie has the "street-smarts" to handle just about any situation he finds himself in, and he knows New York City like the back of his hand. He has a long-time social relationship with Lily Rowan, a wealthy society woman, but they don't try to limit each other's social lives. When Wolfe goes into hiding to escape a death threat from villain Arnold Zeck (Wolfe spends many months at a health spa losing weight so he can return incognito and destroy Zeck), Archie rents an office of his own and works as an independent detective. During this time, he manages to earn more than Wolfe had paid him -- not that he needs the money, but as a matter of principle to convince himself his long-term loyalty to Wolfe was not due to any inability to function on his own. Naturally, after Archie and Wolfe have arranged for one of Zeck's victims to kill Zeck, they return to their prior relationship with a deepened appreciation for their mutual loyalties.
Actors who have played Archie Goodwin include:
- Lionel Stander in the 1936 and 1937 movies
- Elliot Lewis in the 1940s radio series
- Everett Sloane in the 1950s radio series
- Wally Maher in the 1950s radio series
- Harry Bartell in the 1950s radio series
- Herb Ellis in the 1950s radio series
- Larry Dobkin in the 1950s radio series
- Tom Mason in the 1977 tv-pilot movie
- Lee Horsley in the 1977 tv series
- Don Francs in the 1982 Canadian radio series
- Timothy Hutton in the 2000 A&E tv series