Harry S. Truman (Twin Peaks)

Sheriff Harry S. Truman is a character from the television series "Twin Peaks", created by David Lynch and Mark Frost.

Character

Harry Truman (played by actor Michael Ontkean) is Twin Peak's sheriff. He assists Special Agent Dale Cooper in the investigation of the murder of Laura Palmer. Harry is in love with fragile Josie Packard, and he is one of the Bookhouse Boys.

Harry gets on well with Cooper. They hit it off almost from the start. Harry is very down-to-earth in contrast with Cooper's unconventional methods of policing, fascination with Tibet, dreams, etc. Harry regards Cooper as somewhat eccentric but well-meaning. In early episodes, Harry serves to introduce Cooper (and hence the viewer) to the more prominent residents of Twin Peaks. Harry begins to feel that he is the Dr. Watson to Cooper's Sherlock Holmes. Despite their differences, Truman represents a literary alternate to Cooper: they approach the same goal through different means.

As the case progress, Harry's respect for Cooper grows. He regards Coop as "the finest lawman he has ever known".

Name

Series creator David Lynch has statedFact|date=January 2008 that the character was not named for American president Harry S. Truman, but rather for Washington state resident Harry Truman who died in the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Yet the Sheriff's middle initial is 'S' (as demonstrated in dialogue and by the sign on his office door visible in several episodes), whereas volcano victim Truman's middle initial was 'R'. Also, a portrait of President Truman hangs in the Sheriff's office, as does a stuffed and mounted deer head with an attached sign reading 'The Buck Stopped Here'.