‘The Wire’s‘ talented cast still delivers a charge

Wallace, the conflicted teenage drug dealer who works in the low-rise housing projects known as the Pit. After struggling with his complicity in a grisly murder, Wallace tries to extricate himself from “the game.”

Jordan, 26, has had supporting roles in the TV series “Friday Night Lights,” the World War II film “Red Tails” and the found-footage sci-fi movie “Chronicle.” But it’s his leading role in “Fruitvale Station,” a drama based on the real-life shooting of Oscar Grant III by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer in 2009, that could catapult him to a new level of stardom. After winning awards at the Sundance and Cannes film festivals and receiving nearly unanimous praise from critics, “Fruitvale” is widely viewed as an awards-season contender. The film opened in limited release July 12 and goes nationwide Friday.

Russell “Stringer” Bell, the suave, calculating second-in-command of the Barksdale drug ring. Bell, who attends economics classes in his spare time, seeks to legitimize the gang’s operations by investing in both property and political influence. He also serves as the de facto leader of the crew while Avon Barksdale is incarcerated.

Arguably the show’s breakout star, Elba plays the title role in the BBC detective drama “Luther” (Elba is British) and has appeared in the superhero movie “Thor,” the sci-fi thriller “Prometheus” and the new monsters-versus-robots throwdown “Pacific Rim.” Elba, 40, will star in the Nelson Mandela biopic “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” and reprise his role as Heimdall in “Thor: The Dark World.”

Omar Little, the charismatic stickup artist and antihero. A fan favorite, Omar adheres to a strict moral code by which he targets drug dealers, eschews profanity and takes his grandmother to church on Sundays.

After playing one of “The Wire’s” most memorable characters, Williams, 46, moved on to another gritty HBO series, “Boardwalk Empire,” on which he portrays the ruthless businessman Chalky White. On the big screen, Williams will also appear in the historical drama “12 Years a Slave” by British director Steve McQueen and the upcoming “RoboCop” reboot.

Det. Jimmy McNulty, the tenacious but flawed cop who first sets his sights on the Barksdale crew. McNulty often frustrates his superiors by ignoring the chain of command, and off the clock he wrestles with relationship troubles and alcohol abuse.

Not content to stick to a single genre, the versatile British actor has played a rogue agent in the spy farce “Johnny English Reborn,” a dashing news anchor on the BBC series “The Hour,” a Martian king in the fantasy film “John Carter” and a serial killer on the Sundance Channel’s “Appropriate Adult.” West, 43, will next star opposite Helena Bonham Carter in the BBC biopic “Burton and Taylor,” about the tumultuous romance of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Det. William “Bunk” Moreland, McNulty’s sarcastic but capable partner and drinking buddy (and a rare source of comic relief).

Pierce reteamed with “The Wire” creator David Simon on the HBO series “Treme” (along with Clarke Peters, who played Det. Lester Freamon). The show begins its final season in October. Pierce, 49, will also costar on NBC’s “The Michael J. Fox Show” in the fall. In April, Pierce said on Twitter that he unsuccessfully tried to produce a film prequel to “The Wire” starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Avon Barksdale, the hotheaded kingpin who controls the drug trade in West Baltimore via the namesake Barksdale organization.

Harris, 43, has appeared in guest roles on the crime series “Southland” and “Hawaii Five-0” and will play the title role in “Sweetwater,” a biopic about Nat Clifton, one of the first African Americans to play in the NBA. He also acted on Broadway, in the all-black cast “Streetcar Named Desire” in 2011.

Cedric Daniels, the hard-nosed police lieutenant who rises through the ranks of the department and makes powerful allies and enemies along the way.

Reddick, 51, took on another no-nonsense law-enforcement agent on Fox’s sci-fi series “Fringe.” He also stars in the action movie “White House Down” and will appear in Spike Lee’s remake of the Korean revenge thriller “Oldboy,” opening in October.

D’Angelo Barksdale, Avon’s softhearted nephew whose demotion leaves him in charge of operations in the Pit. As he grows increasingly conflicted about life in the drug trade, D’Angelo considers turning state’s witness for the chance at a new life.

This fall Gilliard, 41, stars in the AMC zombie drama “The Walking Dead,” on which he plays Bob Stookey, a former Army medic haunted by his past. He’ll join fellow “Wire” alum Chad Coleman, who played Dennis “Cutty” Wise.

Det. Shakima “Kima” Greggs, a devoted officer who, like McNulty, has her share of personal demons. After being wounded in an undercover bust, Greggs takes a desk job to appease her girlfriend but eventually tires of pushing paper and returns to active duty.

Sohn has recently appeared on the TV series “Burn Notice,” “Body of Proof” and “The Good Wife.” Her experiences on “The Wire” also motivated her to co-found the nonprofit ReWired for Change, which works with at-risk youth and families in Baltimore.

Tommy Carcetti, the slick city councilman and eventual mayor whose idealistic aspirations are curbed by the realities of Baltimore politics.

The 45-year-old Irish actor currently plays another smooth political operator: the conniving Lord Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish on HBO’s fantasy epic “Game of Thrones.”