Sam Axe
Encyclopedia
Commander
Samuel "Sam" Axe, USN (ret.) is a fictional character
in the television series Burn Notice
and TV movie Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
, played by Bruce Campbell
. He is the best friend of Michael Westen
, the main character in Burn Notice
.
in February 2005
as part of a graymail
deal reached over keeping the true events of Operation PROVIDE SUPPORT in Colombia
a secret. The deal included relocation to the city of his choice (he selected Miami, Florida
), along with a change of clothes and one cold beer. He helps Michael Westen
with freelance work
, having known him since at least 1992 when they were doing a job together in Poland
. He frequently uses the cover name "Chuck Finley" after the baseball
player he frequently and successfully wagered upon; coincidentally it is also the name of a coworker of Bruce Campbell
's father.
Though he was once one of the world's top covert operatives, Sam is now semi-retired, with a habit of dating "sugar mommas" that forms the subplot of several episodes. For the first and second seasons, he had no living quarters of his own, living instead with his "lady-friends". He eventually got a place of his own in Season Two, when his "lady-friend", Veronica, broke up with him because he married when he was younger. That marriage was done on a whim, but never legally dissolved. He later moved in with Maddie
, Michael's mother, in exchange for helping her rebuild an area of her house that was damaged in an explosion.
Even though Michael is Sam's friend, the FBI tied up Sam's Navy
pension
to force him to inform
on Michael. In Season One, Sam was forced to balance his loyalty to Michael with his obligation to the FBI; he often fed the Bureau bogus information or only half-truths. Michael was aware of the situation and even helped Sam on a few occasions by providing him with information to report to the FBI. In the first-season episode "Family Business", Michael's FBI surveillance is pulled and Sam no longer spies on him. Thereafter, the show's opening with Michael describing Sam is changed to "a friend who used to inform on you to the FBI."
Despite being viewed as inept, Sam has an extensive knowledge regarding bureaucratic practices of the American law enforcement agencies as well as knowledge of American and international covert intelligence organizations, understanding their operating practices such as breaching perimeters and tactical plans. As well, he also has a grasp on international law
, once telling a Haitian client that a criminal warrant
from the International Criminal Court
would not suffice as legitimate evidence in an American court.
At some point in the past, Sam foiled Michael's ex-girlfriend, arms trafficker Fiona Glenanne
, during her attempt to do a deal with a Libyan arms dealer, costing her a considerable sum of money. Despite her initial desire to kill or maim him, by the end of the first season, they have entered into an antagonistic friendship. In the second season episode "Breaking and Entering", Sam is only able to name her and Michael as his real friends (Michael being the only friend who would die for him and Fiona his only female friend).
He is often seen wearing Hawaiian shirts
, linen pants, loafers and flashy jewelry, including a pinky ring and Rolex watch, and is also sometimes seen wearing sunglasses. He is often seen drinking beer
, mojito
s, or other alcoholic beverages, especially in teasers for the show. Sam is often seen drinking the fictional Heisler beer, conceptualized by the Independent Studio Services. Sam has many skills that are useful to Michael, including martial arts
, wiretapping
, burglary
, marksman
ship, forgery
, interrogation
, surveillance, and the ability to plausibly assume cover identities. His main contribution to the team, however, is his apparently inexhaustible supply of contacts (whom he calls "buddies") in seemingly every law enforcement agency, bureaucratic department, military branch and intelligence agency
from the Florida DMV
to the NSA
, who are willing to share information.
In "Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
" it has been hinted that Sam went to Analy High School, the high school of show creator Matt Nix. This would mean that Sam spent some time growing up in or around Sebastopol, California.
In two different cross-promotional ads with Royal Pains
, Sam unsuccessfully runs game
on Divya under the guise of seeking medical treatment, and hears out an idea for a spy-for-hire business from Evan.
used by Commander
Samuel "Sam" Axe, USN (ret.), one of the fictional character
s from the television series Burn Notice
, played by Bruce Campbell
. "Chuck Finley" turns into "Charles Finley" when Sam feels that his cover needs to be more sophisticated and up-scale.
Chuck Finley has also been depicted as the alter ego
, con-artist persona of Sam Axe. Chuck Finley is only a cover ID and Sam Axe has never used any disguise
while posing as Chuck. Sam plays Chuck Finley only through altered tone, accent, gait, modified and affected body language, and sometimes through putting on role-specific dress.
, "Fight or Flight" as the attorney
of character Cara Stagner, a friend of Fiona's
.
However, chronologically as per the series, Chuck Finley appears first in the prequel The Fall of Sam Axe
. Sam Axe adopts the Chuck Finley alias for the first time at the "Secret CIA Intelligence facility" in Colombia
while calling for help from military base in Santa Marta
, posing as "Deputy Assistant Intelligence Director Chuck Finley" from the NSA
headquarters.
On being asked by Amanda Maples of the reason of picking the name "Chuck Finley", Sam replied: "Yeah. Made a lot of money betting on him back in the day. I'm thinking it's a lucky name." The scene from "The Fall of Sam Axe
" at that instant shows Sam holding an undated edition of fictitious sports magazine "Sports Action" with cover page heading "Pitching Giants: Remembering Chuck Finley". Apparently, "Chuck Finley
" has been named after the baseball
pitcher that Sam Axe frequently and successfully bet upon.
Sam has shown certain degree of affinity to the name Chuck Finley and in "Blind Spot", episode 11, fourth season of Burn Notice
, has declined to relinquish that cover I.D. despite the adversary having the same name and despite there being risk of blowing up of the cover.
Bruce Campbell
has mentioned that, coincidentally, it is also the name of a former co-worker of his real-life father.
In an interview about Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe to Darryl Morden of Buzzine, Bruce Campbell has mentioned the following:
The real life Chuck Finley
was a pitcher with the (L.A.) Angels
in the late 1980s and through the 1990s. Apart from his on field activities, he was in news for being a victim of domestic violence. He had alleged that his wife, Tawny Kitaen
had once attacked him with a stiletto heel. Such an antecedent has attributed the Finley character with certain degree of tomfoolery, which the script writers Craig S. O'Neill and Jason Tracey have amply exploited.
.
In all the episodes, Chuck has taken different professions which suited the situation, ranging from a lawyer or police officer or doctor, to motivational speaker or Glades
homeowners association Member.
"Charles isn’t the only charmer in Miami." – From "Blind Spot" – Episode 11, Season 4.
"Chuck Finley is forever." – From "Blind Spot" – Episode 11, Season 4.
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
Samuel "Sam" Axe, USN (ret.) is a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the television series Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
and TV movie Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is a 2011 American television special based on the USA Network television series Burn Notice. It was the first official Burn Notice spin-off, and was directed by Jeffrey Donovan. The show was broadcast in the United States on April 17, 2011, on the U.S. television...
, played by Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
. He is the best friend of Michael Westen
Michael Westen
Michael Westen is a fictional character played by Jeffrey Donovan in the television series Burn Notice. Michael, a spy, was abruptly blacklisted while on an assignment. Forced to go back to his hometown of Miami, Florida, he finds himself cut off from the United States Intelligence Community...
, the main character in Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
.
Overview
Sam served several years as a U.S. Navy SEAL and eventually retired with full benefits with the rank of CommanderCommander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
in February 2005
February 2005
February 2005: ← – January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December – →...
as part of a graymail
Graymail
Graymail is the threatened revelation of state secrets in order to manipulate legal proceedings. It is distinct from blackmail, which may include threats of revelation against, and manipulation of, any private individual...
deal reached over keeping the true events of Operation PROVIDE SUPPORT in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
a secret. The deal included relocation to the city of his choice (he selected Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
), along with a change of clothes and one cold beer. He helps Michael Westen
Michael Westen
Michael Westen is a fictional character played by Jeffrey Donovan in the television series Burn Notice. Michael, a spy, was abruptly blacklisted while on an assignment. Forced to go back to his hometown of Miami, Florida, he finds himself cut off from the United States Intelligence Community...
with freelance work
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
, having known him since at least 1992 when they were doing a job together in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. He frequently uses the cover name "Chuck Finley" after the baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player he frequently and successfully wagered upon; coincidentally it is also the name of a coworker of Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
's father.
Though he was once one of the world's top covert operatives, Sam is now semi-retired, with a habit of dating "sugar mommas" that forms the subplot of several episodes. For the first and second seasons, he had no living quarters of his own, living instead with his "lady-friends". He eventually got a place of his own in Season Two, when his "lady-friend", Veronica, broke up with him because he married when he was younger. That marriage was done on a whim, but never legally dissolved. He later moved in with Maddie
Madeline Westen
Madeline Westen is a fictional character in the television series Burn Notice portrayed by Sharon Gless. She is the main character Michael Westen's neurotic, chain-smoking, hypochondriac mother.-Overview:...
, Michael's mother, in exchange for helping her rebuild an area of her house that was damaged in an explosion.
Even though Michael is Sam's friend, the FBI tied up Sam's Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
to force him to inform
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
on Michael. In Season One, Sam was forced to balance his loyalty to Michael with his obligation to the FBI; he often fed the Bureau bogus information or only half-truths. Michael was aware of the situation and even helped Sam on a few occasions by providing him with information to report to the FBI. In the first-season episode "Family Business", Michael's FBI surveillance is pulled and Sam no longer spies on him. Thereafter, the show's opening with Michael describing Sam is changed to "a friend who used to inform on you to the FBI."
Despite being viewed as inept, Sam has an extensive knowledge regarding bureaucratic practices of the American law enforcement agencies as well as knowledge of American and international covert intelligence organizations, understanding their operating practices such as breaching perimeters and tactical plans. As well, he also has a grasp on international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
, once telling a Haitian client that a criminal warrant
Warrant (law)
Most often, the term warrant refers to a specific type of authorization; a writ issued by a competent officer, usually a judge or magistrate, which permits an otherwise illegal act that would violate individual rights and affords the person executing the writ protection from damages if the act is...
from the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
would not suffice as legitimate evidence in an American court.
At some point in the past, Sam foiled Michael's ex-girlfriend, arms trafficker Fiona Glenanne
Fiona Glenanne
Fiona Glenanne is a fictional character in the television series Burn Notice, portrayed by Gabrielle Anwar. According to Fiona's biography from USA Network:...
, during her attempt to do a deal with a Libyan arms dealer, costing her a considerable sum of money. Despite her initial desire to kill or maim him, by the end of the first season, they have entered into an antagonistic friendship. In the second season episode "Breaking and Entering", Sam is only able to name her and Michael as his real friends (Michael being the only friend who would die for him and Fiona his only female friend).
He is often seen wearing Hawaiian shirts
Aloha shirt
The Aloha shirt commonly referred to as a Hawaiian shirt is a style of dress shirt originating in Hawaii. It is currently the premier textile export of the Hawaii manufacturing industry. The shirts are printed, mostly short-sleeved, and collared. They usually have buttons, sometimes as a complete...
, linen pants, loafers and flashy jewelry, including a pinky ring and Rolex watch, and is also sometimes seen wearing sunglasses. He is often seen drinking beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, mojito
Mojito
Mojito is a traditional Cuban highball.Traditionally, a Mojito is not very strong and made of five ingredients: white rum, sugar , lime juice, sparkling water and mint. The original Cuban recipe uses spearmint or yerba buena, a mint variety very popular on the island...
s, or other alcoholic beverages, especially in teasers for the show. Sam is often seen drinking the fictional Heisler beer, conceptualized by the Independent Studio Services. Sam has many skills that are useful to Michael, including martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, wiretapping
Telephone tapping
Telephone tapping is the monitoring of telephone and Internet conversations by a third party, often by covert means. The wire tap received its name because, historically, the monitoring connection was an actual electrical tap on the telephone line...
, burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
, marksman
Marksman
A marksman is a person who is skilled in precision, or a sharpshooter shooting, using projectile weapons, such as with a rifle but most commonly with a sniper rifle, to shoot at long range targets...
ship, forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
, interrogation
Interrogation
Interrogation is interviewing as commonly employed by officers of the police, military, and Intelligence agencies with the goal of extracting a confession or obtaining information. Subjects of interrogation are often the suspects, victims, or witnesses of a crime...
, surveillance, and the ability to plausibly assume cover identities. His main contribution to the team, however, is his apparently inexhaustible supply of contacts (whom he calls "buddies") in seemingly every law enforcement agency, bureaucratic department, military branch and intelligence agency
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
from the Florida DMV
Department of Motor Vehicles
In the United States of America, a Department of Motor Vehicles is a state-level government agency that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing. Similar departments exist in Canada...
to the NSA
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
, who are willing to share information.
In "Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is a 2011 American television special based on the USA Network television series Burn Notice. It was the first official Burn Notice spin-off, and was directed by Jeffrey Donovan. The show was broadcast in the United States on April 17, 2011, on the U.S. television...
" it has been hinted that Sam went to Analy High School, the high school of show creator Matt Nix. This would mean that Sam spent some time growing up in or around Sebastopol, California.
In two different cross-promotional ads with Royal Pains
Royal Pains
Royal Pains is a USA Network television series that premiered on June 4, 2009, starring Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Flint and Reshma Shetty. The series is based in part on actual concierge medicine practices of independent doctors and companies...
, Sam unsuccessfully runs game
Flirting
Flirting is a playful, romantic, or sexual overture by one person to another subtly indicating an interest in a deeper relationship with the other person, and can involve verbal communication as well as body language...
on Divya under the guise of seeking medical treatment, and hears out an idea for a spy-for-hire business from Evan.
Sam Axe as Chuck Finley
"Chuck Finley" is an aliasPseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
used by Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
Samuel "Sam" Axe, USN (ret.), one of the fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
s from the television series Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
, played by Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
. "Chuck Finley" turns into "Charles Finley" when Sam feels that his cover needs to be more sophisticated and up-scale.
Chuck Finley has also been depicted as the alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
, con-artist persona of Sam Axe. Chuck Finley is only a cover ID and Sam Axe has never used any disguise
Disguise
A disguise can be anything which conceals or changes a person's physical appearance, including a wig, glasses, makeup, costume or other ways. Camouflage is one type of disguise for people, animals and objects...
while posing as Chuck. Sam plays Chuck Finley only through altered tone, accent, gait, modified and affected body language, and sometimes through putting on role-specific dress.
Overview of Chuck Finley
Chuck Finley made the first appearance in the 3rd episode of the first season of Burn NoticeBurn Notice (season 1)
Season one of the American television series Burn Notice originally aired from June 28, 2007 to September 20, 2007.-Season overview:The first season of Burn Notice introduces Michael Westen. He is burned while on a covert op in Nigeria...
, "Fight or Flight" as the attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
of character Cara Stagner, a friend of Fiona's
Fiona Glenanne
Fiona Glenanne is a fictional character in the television series Burn Notice, portrayed by Gabrielle Anwar. According to Fiona's biography from USA Network:...
.
However, chronologically as per the series, Chuck Finley appears first in the prequel The Fall of Sam Axe
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is a 2011 American television special based on the USA Network television series Burn Notice. It was the first official Burn Notice spin-off, and was directed by Jeffrey Donovan. The show was broadcast in the United States on April 17, 2011, on the U.S. television...
. Sam Axe adopts the Chuck Finley alias for the first time at the "Secret CIA Intelligence facility" in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
while calling for help from military base in Santa Marta
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is the capital city of the Colombian department of Magdalena in the Caribbean Region. It was founded in July 29, 1525 by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, which makes it the oldest remaining city in Colombia...
, posing as "Deputy Assistant Intelligence Director Chuck Finley" from the NSA
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
headquarters.
On being asked by Amanda Maples of the reason of picking the name "Chuck Finley", Sam replied: "Yeah. Made a lot of money betting on him back in the day. I'm thinking it's a lucky name." The scene from "The Fall of Sam Axe
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is a 2011 American television special based on the USA Network television series Burn Notice. It was the first official Burn Notice spin-off, and was directed by Jeffrey Donovan. The show was broadcast in the United States on April 17, 2011, on the U.S. television...
" at that instant shows Sam holding an undated edition of fictitious sports magazine "Sports Action" with cover page heading "Pitching Giants: Remembering Chuck Finley". Apparently, "Chuck Finley
Chuck Finley
Charles Edward "Chuck" Finley is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1986-2002 for three different teams, but pitched primarily with the California Angels...
" has been named after the baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher that Sam Axe frequently and successfully bet upon.
Sam has shown certain degree of affinity to the name Chuck Finley and in "Blind Spot", episode 11, fourth season of Burn Notice
Burn Notice (season 4)
The fourth season of the American television spy drama Burn Notice premiered on June 3, 2010 on the cable television channel USA Network...
, has declined to relinquish that cover I.D. despite the adversary having the same name and despite there being risk of blowing up of the cover.
- Sam: "I think it's time for some Chuck Finley action."
- Fiona: "His name is Charles, you need a new cover id."
- Sam: "Sorry Fi, I don't think so, Chuck Finley is forever."
Chuck Finley: The Character
In an interview, Bruce Campbell has stated that Sam Axe uses Chuck Finley to convince people without dragging the Sam Axe character, who has a past career in U.S. Navy SEAL, into the matter.Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
has mentioned that, coincidentally, it is also the name of a former co-worker of his real-life father.
In an interview about Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe to Darryl Morden of Buzzine, Bruce Campbell has mentioned the following:
- Morden: "What about Sam's con-artist persona Chuck Finley? Will we see more of him on the show or in the prequel movie?"
- Campbell: "Oh yeah, Chuck is all over the place. Chuck Finley is forever." [And Chuck was also on giveaway Burn Notice t-shirts handed out to fans attending the panel.]
The real life Chuck Finley
Chuck Finley
Charles Edward "Chuck" Finley is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1986-2002 for three different teams, but pitched primarily with the California Angels...
was a pitcher with the (L.A.) Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the late 1980s and through the 1990s. Apart from his on field activities, he was in news for being a victim of domestic violence. He had alleged that his wife, Tawny Kitaen
Tawny Kitaen
Julie "Tawny" Kitaen is an American actress and media personality. She became famous in the 1980s for appearing in several hard rock videos for the band Whitesnake, including the hit "Here I Go Again". Kitaen was married to Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale from 1989–1991...
had once attacked him with a stiletto heel. Such an antecedent has attributed the Finley character with certain degree of tomfoolery, which the script writers Craig S. O'Neill and Jason Tracey have amply exploited.
Appearances of Chuck Finley in Episodes of Burn Notice
Chuck Finley has made appearance in 19 episodes of Burn Notice through the current Season 5Burn Notice (season 4)
The fourth season of the American television spy drama Burn Notice premiered on June 3, 2010 on the cable television channel USA Network...
.
| Season | Episode/Series | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
In all the episodes, Chuck has taken different professions which suited the situation, ranging from a lawyer or police officer or doctor, to motivational speaker or Glades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
homeowners association Member.
Memorable Quotes
"If the devil had a name, it'd be Chuck Finley" – From "Rough Seas" – Episode 07, Season 2."Charles isn’t the only charmer in Miami." – From "Blind Spot" – Episode 11, Season 4.
"Chuck Finley is forever." – From "Blind Spot" – Episode 11, Season 4.
Chuck Finley in Pop Culture
Chuck Finley has attracted substantial interest from the teenager viewers. Merchandise like T-shirts, etc. with Chuck Finley imprints and quotes have been quite popular. http://forums.usanetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=447597External links
- USA Burn Notice: Sam Axe Character Bio at USA.com
- Burned in Miami: Sam Axe, an unofficial fansite.
- USA Burn Notice: Sam Axe Character Bio at USA.com
- Burned in Miami: Sam Axe, an unofficial fansite.