Ervin H. Burrell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Frankie Faison. Burrell was an officer in the Baltimore Police Department who ascended from Deputy Commissioner of Operations to Commissioner over the course of the show.
Frankie Faison as Ervin Burrell
The Wire is an American crime drama television series created and primarily written by American author and former police reporter David Simon. The series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. The Wire premiered on June 2, 2002, and ended on March 9, 2008, comprising 60 episodes over five seasons. The idea for the show started out as a police drama loosely based on the experiences of Simon's writing partner Ed Burns, a former homicide detective and public school teacher.
"Murderland Alley" is both realistically and bleakly portrayed.
Dominic West (pictured here in 2004) starred throughout the series as Jimmy McNulty.
Idris Elba portrays Stringer Bell
David Simon accepting the Peabody Award for The Wire at the 63rd Annual Peabody Awards.