Adele Hale Stackhouse She is Sookie and Jason's grandmother, and raised them after their parents were killed during their childhood. She is killed in the first novel by Rene (Arlene's boyfriend)
Dead Until Dark. Later in the book series, Sookie learns that Sookie's grandfather is not her biological grandfather. In the eighth book,
From Dead to Worse, Sookie meets her great grandfather,
Niall Brigant, a fairy prince who tells her that his son, Fintan, is her father's biological father. Sookie continues to be guided and inspired by her late grandmother's wisdom. Adele's favorite bible quotation was, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (
Matthew 6:34). She also told Sookie that “a woman—any woman worth her salt—could do whatever she had to.”
Alcee Beck He's an African-American detective in Bon Temps and often works with Andy Bellefleur. He's very competent at his job, though he enjoys beating people during interrogations. Alcee dislikes Sookie and believes completely in her ability to read minds. He particularly resents Sookie because a Were tries to kill Sookie in
From Dead to Worse, and to do so, grabs Alcee's wife, endangering her.
Andy Bellefleur Andy is a detective in Bon Temps. In the fifth novel,
Dead as a Doornail, he starts dating
Halleigh Robinson, a young elementary school teacher, and in later novels they get married. Andy knows about Sookie's telepathic abilities but he does not want to accept anything supernatural. He tells Sookie that she and Jason should not be in Bon Temps, calls Sookie a “genetic fluke”, and in general looks down on her and her brother, making him and Sookie antagonists. Also in the fifth novel, Andy shoots Sweetie Des Arts, a bitten shifter, who has been shooting other shifters and weres around Bon Temps. In the second novel,
Living Dead in Dallas, Bill discovers that Andy and Portia Bellefleur are his direct descendants (he is their great-great-great grandfather), and anonymously gives them large amounts of money, despite Portia and Andy scorning vampires and the supernatural of any kind. When Bill tells them of the relationship in
Dead in the Family, they are at first unhappy but begin to treat him a bit better after they see their grandmother Caroline accepting and even enjoying the connection. In
Dead Reckoning (novel) Halleigh is pregnant with a girl who Andy reveals they are planning on naming Caroline Compton Bellefleur. Andy Bellefleur is portrayed by
Chris Bauer in the
True Blood series.
Arlene Fowler She is Sookie's friend and fellow barmaid at Merlotte's. She has been married four times and has two children, Coby and Lisa, whom Sookie often babysits. She is introduced in the first novel,
Dead Until Dark, and she disapproves of Sookie's relationships with vampires. Sookie thinks Arlene is occasionally tactless and reminds herself “to reevaluate why Arlene is her friend.” As the series progresses, their friendship sours. Arlene falls under the influence of her latest boyfriend, a member of The Fellowship of the Sun, and turns against Sookie. In
Dead and Gone she tries to kill Sookie. Portrayed by
Carrie Preston in the
True Blood series.
Barry Horowitz Human. Telepath. Barry is first introduced in
Living Dead in Dallas as a timid young bellboy at the vampire hotel in Dallas, Silent Shores. Sookie quickly notices that he is telepathic, but he does not want anyone to know about his abilities, despite Sookie's joy at meeting him, as she had never before encountered another telepath. He is inadvertently “outed” by Sookie when she calls upon him telepathically to rescue her from her kidnapping by the Fellowship of the Sun. Sookie meets him again at the Vampire Summit conference in the seventh novel,
All Together Dead. She finds him to be more confident. Now he is known as “Barry Bellboy” and currently works for the King of Texas,
Stan Davis. Barry enjoys money and buys himself designer clothes. He admits to fantasizing about being in a romantic relationship with Sookie, but he realizes that is not to be when they meet again at the Summit, and he ends up being wary of Sookie and some of the things she has done. He is the first to discover the plot to bomb the hotel where the summit is held. After the devastating explosion, he and Sookie help rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble. The two discover that when they hold hands, their telepathic abilities are magnified. At the end of this novel, they part on rocky terms because of the differences in their moral and ethical beliefs. Barry is portrayed by
Chris Coy in the
True Blood series. In
Deadlocked, Sookie learns that Barry is the great-great-great grandson of Mr. Cataliades. The part-demon lawyer looks after Barry, but in secret; Barry does not know of the relationship. It is for that reason that he has the gift of telepathy. Barry also appears as a character in the novel
Day Shift, part of the
Midnight, Texas trilogy.
Bobby Burnham First introduced in
All Together Dead, Bobby is the daytime assistant of
Eric Northman. Bobby is characterized as being one of the humans that has a genuine dislike of
Sookie Stackhouse for her telepathic abilities. Bobby dies in
Dead in the Family and has not been featured in the HBO television series
True Blood.
Bud Dearborn Sheriff of Bon Temps, superior officer to
Andy Bellefleur. He often acts suspicious of Sookie Stackhouse, but treats her and her brother better than Andy Bellefleur does. He is portrayed by
William Sanderson in the HBO series
True Blood.
“Eggs” Benedict Talley Fiancé of Tara Thornton and native of Bon Temps. Survivor of the maenad who visits Bon Temps in
Living Dead in Dallas, but is mentioned to have died later in
Dead as a Doornail in a fire due to his heavy drinking habit. In True Blood, Eggs and Tara still enjoy a romantic relationship, but the circumstances are slightly different including the fact that he is not a Bon Temps native. In the show, he is shot and killed by Jason while trying to turn himself in to Andy Bellefleur for murder. When Jason happens upon the scene it appears that Eggs is threatening Andy with a large knife. He is portrayed by
Mehcad Brooks.
Colton A human who helps Eric and the other vampires kill Victor, due to his anger at Victor for ruining the lives of his family. Colton ends up kidnapped in
Deadlocked.
Dawn Green First introduced in
Dead Until Dark as a waitress that worked at Merlotte's with Sookie until she was murdered by Rene Lenier. She had dated Jason but they were on the outs. In
True Blood, she was played by
Lynn Collins.
Denise and Mack Rattray First introduced in
Dead Until Dark. Drug users as well as vampire drainers. Sookie helps Bill Compton to escape that Rattrays trying to drain him in Merlotte's parking lot the first night they met. Sookie wrapped a chain around Mack's neck and they ran off. The next night, they came to Merlotte's when Sookie got off of work and tried to kill her. Bill Compton saved her from being killed and gave her his blood. They are played by James Parks and Karina Logue in
True Blood.
Halleigh Robinson First introduced in
Dead as a Doornail, Halleigh is an elementary school-teacher and
Andy Bellefleur's love-interest. She is portrayed as an attractive woman with short earlobe-length brown hair and brown eyes. Halleigh and Andy eventually marry. In
Dead Reckoning (novel) Halleigh is pregnant with a girl who Andy reveals they plan to name Caroline Compton Bellefleur.
Hoyt Fortenberry He is Jason's childhood friend, though their relationship grows apart throughout the book series as Jason and Hoyt do not have a lot of things in common. Later in the books, Hoyt starts to date
Holly Cleary. In the books, he is also described as being very sweet-natured and clean minded.
Jim Parrack plays Hoyt in the
HBO series
True Blood, and the character's arc is much different from that in the book. Hoyt lives with his mother, who controls his life. In the TV series, Hoyt begins a romantic relationship with young vampire Jessica. Near the end of season five, Hoyt asks Jessica to wipe his memory, of ever having known her and Jason—which she reluctantly does—in order to un-do the emotional pain they have caused him. He then moves to Alaska to start a new life, but returns during the final season after the death of his mother. He eventually recovers his memories, and he and Jessica get married.
Hunter Savoy A human child/telepath introduced in the eighth novel,
From Dead to Worse, as a four-year-old. He is the son of Sookie's first cousin Hadley. In the tenth novel,
Dead in the Family, Sookie begins to help him and
his father cope with his telepathy. Sookie's fairy cousin Claude Crane knows Hunter is a telepath; but, for the child's safety, Sookie does not tell any of the vampire. Agent Lattesta also knows Hunter is a telepath.
Max Charles plays Hunter Savoy on
True Blood.
Jack and Lily Bard Leeds First introduced in
Dead as a Doornail,
Jack and Lily Bard Leeds are human Private Investigators acting on the behalf of the Pelt Family in the search of their first adopted daughter. Jack Leeds is mentioned to being 'far too thorough' and noticing the inconsistencies in peoples behaviour, it is implied that he has a fair amount of tact. Lily Bard Leeds is talked about as being the stronger of the two and having no illusions as to innocence. Lily is also mentioned as having very little life in her face. Both are former main characters that featured in earlier works of
Charlaine Harris. Mentioned in
Definitely Dead as having given up the search for Debbie Pelt so's not to be fleecing the Pelts. In
Dead Reckoning (novel), Mr. Cataliades sends the Leeds to Bon Temps to tell Sookie that Sandra Pelt is out of jail and wants Sookie dead. Along with Terry, Sam, and Jannalynn they take down four thugs hired by Sandra to kill Sookie at Merlotte's.
Janella First introduced in
Dead Until Dark as the companion to Liam the vampire who traveled with 2 other vampires, Malcolm and Diane.
Jason Stackhouse Sookie's older brother. He is known as a ladies' man and is often associated with a lot of women of Bon Temps and other neighboring communities. He is selfish and often involves Sookie in his troubles. In the fourth novel,
Dead to the World, he is kidnapped and bitten repeatedly by a werepanther and becomes a bitten werepanther. As a new member of the shifter community, he comes under suspicion of shooting other two-natured in anger at his transformation, but the suspicions are dropped after Sookie is shot. He marries
Crystal Norris, a full-blooded werepanther, when she becomes pregnant, but he is sincere when he says his vows. Crystal later has an affair and they separate.
Ryan Kwanten portrays Jason Stackhouse in HBO's television series
True Blood.
JB Du Rone First introduced in
Dead Until Dark as a classmate of Sookie's. JB s described as beautiful and very muscular, but not very intelligent. He and Sookie went out a couple of times while teenagers, and he flirts with her frequently. Husband of Tara Thorton and father of her children, Sara Sookie du Rone and Robert Thorton du Rone.
Jerry First introduced in
Dead Until Dark as the beautiful boyfriend of Malcolm the vampire. Sookie read his mind and found that he had sino-aids so that Bill wouldn't drink from him.
Johan Glassport A human lawyer for who works for Queen Sophie of Louisiana, first introduced in
All Together Dead as a very unpleasant, unscrupulous human who spent time in prison in Mexico for knifing a woman.
Kenya Jones First introduced in
Dead Until Dark as a police woman who was five foot eleven, the color of bitter chocolate and built to weather hurricanes. In the books, she is romantically involved with her partner Kevin Pryor. She is portrayed by
Tanya Wright in
True Blood.
Kevin Prior First introduced in
Dead Until Dark as a police man and Kenya Jones' partner as well as love interest, who was about five foot eight with freckles all over his pale skin. Kevin is played by
John Rezig in
True Blood.
Lafayette A cook at Merlotte’s. In
Living Dead in Dallas, Sookie describes him as “flamboyantly gay, make-up-and-long-fingernails gay.” He is cheerful, entertainingly mischievous, clever, and known for his “burgers Lafayette.” Lafayette is murdered by members of a secret Bon-Temps sex club in the 2nd book,
Living Dead in Dallas. His body is discovered by Sookie, in the back seat of Andy Bellefluer's car, as she arrives for work one morning.
Nelsan Ellis plays
Lafayette in the
HBO series
True Blood in which the story was altered to preserve the character for future episodes.
Layla Larue Lemay Layla appears as a part of the performing dancing duo during the Vampire Summit in
All Together Dead, but also enjoys a series of short stories
of her own.
Maudette Pickens First introduced in
Dead Until Dark as a woman who was a fangbanger who was killed by strangulation. Sookie graduated in the same class as Maudette. She was portrayed by
Danielle Sapia in
True Blood.
Portia Bellefleur Andy Bellefleur's sister. She is portrayed as “a plain woman just past thirty, whose best feature is her thick, shining chestnut hair.” Portia is a lawyer who is proud of her family's once wealthy and distinguished heritage, which has been much tarnished by financial reversals, so that she and her brother now live with their grandmother Caroline in a decaying antebellum mansion. Following the finding of Lafayette's dead body in her brother Andy's car in the novels, Portia begins casually dating Bill in order to find out any information that can clear her brother as Lafayette's killer. Because the murder is thought to be connected with some kind of sex parties, her thought is that dating a vampire will gain the attention of those holding the parties, so she will be invited and can find out more. Bill Compton later discovers that the Bellefleurs are his descendants and provides the family with an anonymous fortune from a “deceased relative”, knowing that they would be horrified if he were to tell them the truth of the connection. She is portrayed by
Courtney Ford in the fourth season of
True Blood.
Remy Savoy The widower of Sookie's cousin
Hadley, and father to Sookie's young, telepathic cousin,
Hunter Savoy. He is both confused by and concerned about his son's abilities, and turns to Sookie for help once Hunter begins to say things that alarm people.
Rene Lenier First introduced in
Dead Until Dark as Arlene Fowler's second husband. He was swarthy and had a bushy headful of rough black hair threaded with gray. At the end of DUD Rene tried to kill Sookie but she stabbed him and ran into Bill's house to call 911. Rene killed his sister Cindy, Maudette Pickens, Dawn, Amy and Sookie's grandmother Adele. Unlike the show where he is killed by Sookie in self-defense, in the books he goes to jail and is not mentioned again. He is portrayed by
Michael Raymond-James in
True Blood.
Selah Pumphrey Selah is a real estate saleswoman from Clarice. She is depicted as a slim brunette with shoulder-length hair. She is taller than Sookie and ten pounds lighter and has expensive, expertly done makeup. She is first introduced in the fifth novel,
Dead as a Doornail, as Bill’s date. When Sookie reads her mind for the first time, Selah thinks she is slimmer, smarter, better educated, and has more money than Sookie, but she doubts her sexual skills because she believes lower-class women are better in bed. Sookie hates her immediately and thinks Selah is an elitist. Bill and Selah date until the eighth novel,
From Dead to Worse when Selah moves to
Little Rock because she has gotten a position from a larger firm, and Bill admits that he believes Selah was only interested in him because he's a vampire. Throughout Selah’s relationship with Bill, Bill has always told Sookie that he is still in love with her.
Steve and Sarah Newlin Steven Newlin is the director and spiritual leader of The Fellowship of the Sun (FotS), an anti-vampire church. Sarah is his wife. They are first introduced in the novels in the second book,
Living Dead in Dallas. Steve is described as being tall and lanky with hazy blue eyes and dark brown hair. The FotS and Steve are directly linked to Farrell's (
Stan Davis's nest brother) disappearance. When Sookie goes to investigate, she is captured by the Newlins and held in the basement of the FotS church. The Newlins plan to hold a ceremony in which the vampire Farrell will be forced to “meet the sun”, which will cause him to burst into flame and die. They plan to tie Sookie to him so she will burn as well. Sookie escapes and foils their plans, but she meets Steve again in
Club Dead, where he and a FotS fanatic try to stake a vampire in a Mississippi vampire bar. Sookie intervenes and Steve escapes. In the HBO TV show
True Blood, Steve is played by
Michael McMillian, and Sarah is played by
Anna Camp.
Tara Thornton She is first introduced in the second novel,
Living Dead in Dallas, as Sookie's childhood friend. She participates in Bon Temps' secret sex party where Lafayette is killed, and dates a vampire for a short while before settling down to a tamer existence with a mutual high school friend of hers and Sookie's, JB du Rone. Later, the couple gives birth to a set of twins named Robbie and Sarah Sookie. Her character plays a minor part in the books, a stark contrast to her role in True Blood.
Rutina Wesley portrays Tara Thornton in HBO's television series
True Blood.
Warren A friend of the werewolf Mustapha Khan, Warren is kidnapped in
Deadlocked in order to be used as a hostage to ensure Mustapha's silence, or to make Mustapha turn himself in. ==Shapeshifters and Weres==