List of Probable Suspects: Richard Queen

t was a trouvaille to introduce Inspector Queen into the books. The father of the brilliant Ellery was himself an amateur
sleuth. Inspector Queen works with the New York Homicide Bureau. This combination allowed official police activities to merge with the unofficial investigations of Ellery Queen, and the possibilities this offered were exhaustively explored by the writers.

In my opinion, the addition of Inspector Queen as Ellery’s father not only gives him the opportunity to participate in official police business but also tremendously adds to the nostalgic feel of the stories. Intended or not, the NYPD fighting crime with deductive powers and lots of hard work is omnipresent. Those were the days when police work seemed to depend much more on people and their knowledge rather than on technology!

It was only when the cousins felt that the balance was tipping in the other direction that they decided the time was right to write Ellery’s final book, The Finishing Stroke. Few books are full-fledged Richard Queen stories—Inspector Queen's Own Case, of course, and to a certain extent its sequel, The House of Brass, in which Ellery eventually shows up to help out.

e come to know Richard as about 1,62 m tall somewhat crooked, thick gray hair and a moustache. Fine gray eyes and slim hands. He's also extremely skinny "... . And now the Inspector was denuded, his little sexagenarian hide impaled on the point of a needle. ..." ²⁸ .

Right: Inspector Queen as depicted by Frank Godwin for a Redbook edition of The Chinese Murder Mystery.

Inspector Queen as depicted by Frank Godwin for a "Redbook" edition of "The Chinese Murder Mystery"

His office was situated in Central Street. He used to be captain in an outside NY district. His telephone number at the office was SP 7-3100. Richard Queen appears for the first time in The Roman Hat Mystery and handles an old brown carved snuffbox ¹. Richard's precious snuffbox is a Florentine antique which he had picked up at an auction. Richard is close to sixty and wears a cheap wedding ring. Richard studied in Heidelberg (sometimes wrongly referred to as Neurenberg).

JJMcC first words tell us the Inspector succumb to the blandishments of a charming old lady whose name he had cleared of slander. He eventually gets remarried to Jessie Sherwood (whose name he does clear). It took the Inspector two books to finally tie the knot.

"Manny once acknowledged that the character of Ellery's father, Inspector Richard Queen, was modeled after his own dad Benjamin Lepofsky as well as his father-in-law Robert Hugh Brinker". (Steinbock EQMM 2005 Jan - Rand B. Lee) According to Rand B. Lee Manny was extremely fond of the latter.

A Japanese modern vision of Ellery Queen and Richard Queen, by Japanese artist (Osaka based)Takenaka, an illustration for the Japanese edition of "The French Powder Mystery".
Above: A Japanese modern vision of Ellery Queen and Richard Queen, by Japanese artist (Osaka based) Takenaka, an illustration for the Japanese edition of The French Powder Mystery.

Below is a list of actors who portrayed Inspector Queen, either as voice actors or in person on TV or in film. The order is chronological, based on when they made their debut:

uy Usher (May 9. 1883 or 1885 - Jun 16. 1944)

The first to appear, very briefly, as Inspector Queen .In The Spanish Cape Mystery (1935) the opening scene has the Inspector calling in his son to help him out ... (click on picture for more)

ade Boteler (Oct 3. 1888 - May 7. 1943)

Wade played a police inspector several times during his career. No surprise when he played Inspector Queen in The Mandarin Mystery (1937), an easily forgettable movie. ... (click on picture for more)

antos Ortega (Jun 30. 1899 - Apr 10. 1976)

Prolific radio actor (grandpa Hughes in As The World Turns), narrator,... who originated the radio roles of Inspector Queen on Ellery Queen ... (click on picture for more)

harles Grapewin (Dec 20. 1869 - Feb 2. 1956)

Best known as Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz. In the unsuccessful Ellery Queen movies he played the role of Inspector Queen. ... (click on picture for more)

ill Smith (Jun 4. 1906 - 1992)

One of many chances the Ellery Queen radio series made 1947 was the introduction of Bill Smith as Inspector Queen. ... (click on picture for more)

Herb Butterfield -- CLICK FOR MORE -- ...

erb Butterfield (Oct 28. 1895 - May 2. 1957)

Herb quickly replaced Bill Smith in 1947 and thus became the last actor in the role of Inspector Queen in the popular radio series. ... (click on picture for more)

lorenz Ames (Jan 6. 1883 - Feb 11. 1958)

When Dumont started with Ellery Queen (1950 - 1952) on television Inspector Queen was played by Florenz Ames sharing the title role with Lee Bowman (Ellery Queen). ... (click on picture for more)

es Tremayne (Apr 16. 1913 - Dec 19. 2003)

Once named one of the three most distinctive voices on American radio, born in England, Les played Inspector Queen in The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen (1958 - 1959) . ... (click on picture for more)

arry Morgan (Apr 10. 1915 - Dec 7. 2011)

In Ellery Queen Don't Look Behind You (1971) Morgan was rewritten as a long-suffering uncle. Thus resolving the difference in accents & age between the two actors. ... (click on picture for more)

avid Wayne (Jan 30. 1914 - Feb 9. 1995)

His crusty Inspector Queen in the Ellery Queen TV-series (1975 - 1976) must be the definitive depiction of The Old Man although Wayne lacked the moustache so often mentioned in the books. ... (click on picture for more)

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