List of Fringe characters
This article lists the major and recurring fictional characters on the science fiction television series, Fringe, created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci.
In the overarching storyline for the five seasons of the show, several versions of the characters are introduced. Beginning in the second season, a parallel universe is revealed; many of the characters, portrayed by the same actors, exist simultaneously in the original and parallel realities. The fourth season is set in an alternate timeline, where original and parallel universes have evolved from different outcome at a certain point in their history, resulting in two more versions of the characters.
These character profiles describe the characters as they appear in the original universe, with universe differences noted separately.
Primary characters
Olivia Dunham
Olivia Dunham is a young FBI agent assigned to a multi-agency task force of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security called the "Fringe division". She is brought aboard the Fringe division after her boyfriend and fellow agent, John Scott, dies in a Fringe-related case. As the series progresses she comes to learn that, as a child, she was a test subject for Walter's Cortexiphan trials, giving her some uneven psycho-kinetic abilities including the ability to cross between the universes. Over the course of the show Olivia develops a romantic relationship with Peter.The Other Universe version of Olivia Dunham, dubbed by the prime universe as Fauxlivia, is an agent of the alternate and more powerful Fringe division. As of the end of season 2, Fauxlivia is sent to the prime universe by Walternate, taking Olivia's place without the knowledge of the Bishops, and maintains a close relationship with Peter for unknown reasons; this ultimately puts stress on Olivia and Peter's own relationship. Eventually, she is brought back to the parallel world after completing her mission in the prime one. Fauxlivia has also been nicknamed, unofficially, Altivia, Alt-Olivia, Otherlivia, and Bolivia. In the episode "Immortality," Fauxlivia is revealed to be pregnant with Peter Bishop's child, which Walternate hopes to use to sway Peter back to the Other Universe. The alternate Olivia gives birth to a son in the episode "Bloodline". In the episode "6:02 AM EST" it is revealed that she has named the baby Henry. Walternate uses a sample of the baby's blood to activate the machine to destroy the other universe.
For several episodes, Torv also played a third role, that of Olivia possessed by the mind of William Bell, which has been dubbed "Bellivia" by reviewers. In this, she simulates Nimoy's raspy voice and mannerisms used in the portrayal of Bell.
Peter Bishop
Peter Bishop is the son of mad scientist Walter Bishop, and a member of the Fringe division. In the show's second season it is revealed that Peter is actually from a parallel universe from where he had been kidnapped by Walter after this universe's version of Peter died at a young age. He is a genius with an I.Q. of 190, a college drop-out with gambling debts, and a jack-of-all-trades. In the second season two-part finale "Over There", and a major plot element of the third season, Peter is found to be the only person that can cause a reaction from an apparent doomsday device that Walternate has assembled in the parallel universe and that is currently being assembled in the prime world.Walter Bishop
Walter Bishop is a former government researcher into fringe science with a recorded I.Q. of 196. He was institutionalized after a lab accident which resulted in manslaughter charges. Having been locked up for 17 years in a mental institute prior to becoming assigned to the Fringe division, Walter often expresses wonder at modern technology, and seems to be disconnected from the world, sometimes leaving his son to decode his rantings for others. He often says things which seem so obvious that no one else wants to say and tends to burst into song while working, as he believes it helps him think. He is also known to eat or drink while working on a body, no matter how disgusting everyone else thinks it is. He seems to derive joy from both these quirks. He is the archetypal mad scientist.The Other Universe version of Walter Bishop, nicknamed, is the United States Secretary of Defense, and directly oversees the alternate and more powerful Fringe division. He is the main antagonist of the third season. Walternate also serves as the immediate superior to the shapeshifters, with their leader—Thomas Jerome Newton—being extremely loyal and protective of him. Walternate, making arrangements through Newton and other shapeshifters, successfully traveled to the prime universe, and was later brought to see Peter for the first time since he was taken by his counterpart. Walternate convinces Peter to return home to the Other Universe, though he later goes back, though not before Walternate appears to have Olivia replaced by her own counterpart, as part of an unknown plan regarding Peter.
Alternate timeline: Original Walter appears more nervous and insecure, and doesn't leave his lab for years on end. He is still under supervision of psychiatrist Bruce Sumner, the director of St. Claire's Hospital, where he had been institutionalized. He was released from hospital under Olivia's care.
Secondary characters
Astrid Farnsworth
Astrid Farnsworth is an FBI Junior Agent who serves as Olivia's assistant. She is stationed in the lab with Walter, who can never remember her name. In the 4th episode of season 4, "Subject 9", Walter calls out to Astrid by uttering "Claire!". Astrid, who normally brushes off these idiosyncrasies, however, this time she asked Walter: "Really?!? Claire?!? That doesn't even start with an "A"!" Though her work is mostly clerical, she has a number of skills which come in handy during their cases, such as cryptanalysis and proficiency in Latin. Despite being a main character for four years, Astrid's personal life and past were never examined in depth.The parallel universe version of Astrid Farnsworth is an autistic savant serving as a computer and statistics specialist in the Fringe division.
Alternate timeline: The original Astrid is a field agent, examining crime scenes and collecting information with the rest of the team, which she relays back to Walter in real time via a videophone device worn on her right ear. She also continues to support Walter in the lab.
In the episode "Making Angels", the two Astrids finally meet, when alternate universe Astrid gives herself security clearance to cross over after the death of her father, to seek condolences and closure from her primary universe counterpart. It is in this same episode that we are offered a peek into the home lives of the two Astrids and why they might be so different. We learn that while both Astrids' mothers died when they were young, and they were both raised by their fathers, that alternate universe Astrid felt a sense of rejection and disapproval from her father, while the Astrid in the primary universe had a warm, loving father, whom she was close to. However it is ambiguous as to whether this is a cause or effect, as alternate universe Astrid seemed to be under the impression that her father was distant due to the way she was, not that she was the way she was because he was distant, while we know nothing of how the primary universe Astrid may have been as a child.
Phillip Broyles
Phillip Broyles is a Homeland Security Special Agent and head of the Fringe division, which was established to investigate a series of terrorist/unexplained phenomena. While Broyles comes off as professional and by-the-book, he is surprisingly flexible when it comes to dealing with the unusual circumstances of Pattern-related cases. Little is known of Broyles' past. He has been involved in the military, citing experience as a colonel in "six wars". Broyles was once married to Diane and had children, but his obsession with a case broke up his marriage. He initially harbors resentment for Olivia as she was responsible for prosecuting his friend Sanford Harris, but comes to respect Olivia's aptitude and later defends her against Harris. He knows President Obama, who he thinks dislikes him because Broyles beat him at golf.In the parallel universe, Colonel Broyles is in charge of the alternate Fringe division and answers directly to Secretary Bishop. He is still married to Diane, and lives together with her and their two children, Christopher—who suffers both physical and psychological trauma following being kidnapped—and a daughter. In the third-season episode "Entrada", Colonel Broyles sacrifices himself to give time for Olivia to escape the parallel universe. His body is later mutilated and sent to the Prime Universe as a substitution of mass so that Fauxlivia may return home. Agent Broyles later examines his body and closes his eyes out of respect. Olivia makes it clear that she intends to find a solution to the conflict between the two universes without one being destroyed, as she promised Colonel Broyles she would.
Alternate timeline: Still alive, Colonel Broyles is in charge of Fringe Division. A now-living David Robert Jones has, however, tempted him into an alliance. This is later revealed to be because his son is dying, and David Robert Jones is providing medicine to save him in return for Broyles' cooperation. He is instructed to insert a device into the bridge between universes but instead turns himself in to prime-universe Broyles.
In season 5, Broyles is "The Dove" for the resistance feeding intel to the underground. He is exposed as The Dove and interrogated; but he is saved by Peter and Olivia in the series finale.
Nina Sharp
Nina Sharp is the executive director of Massive Dynamic, and has run the business since William Bell's departure to the parallel world. Nina has had long personal ties with Walter and romantic interactions with William. One of her forearms is a highly advanced prosthetic arm. Nina lost her arm while trying to prevent Walter from crossing over to the parallel universe in 1985. The cover story she uses to explain the prosthetic replacement of her arm is that she lost it to cancer. Nina is often cryptic and cautious of interacting with the Fringe members; though she will provide Massive Dynamic's services when necessary, she does not always reveal the full truth of the situation. Nina is able to communicate to William; in the season 1 finale, she arranged for Olivia to be taken to the parallel universe to meet him, while in the season 2 finale, she alerted William to the plan to rescue Peter. After Bell's death, Walter is left in control of Massive Dynamic, but chooses to leave the majority of the control day-to-day workings of the company with Nina. She later becomes his confidant during his despair at having possibly caused the universe to unravel.Alternate timeline: Nina's backstory is altered. She adopted Olivia, and her sister Rachel, after their mother died and Olivia killed their stepfather, and consequently she and Olivia share a much closer relationship. The Nina from the parallel universe is seen to be conspiring with a revived David Robert Jones.
In season 5 and the future of 2036, Nina Sharp is the director of Ministry of Science and appeared to cooperate with the Observers. But in secret she was allied with the resistance and helped the Fringe team. In "Anomaly XB-6783746", her allegiance was exposed and she was caught by Captain Windmark. To protect the plan, she killed herself.