Harold Meachum

Harold Meachum is a villain in the Marvel Netflix TV show Marvel's Iron Fist.

He is portrayed by David Wenham.

Past
In his youth, whenever Harold messed something up according to his father, his father whipped him across the back with his belt and forced him to apologize.

Together with his friend Wendell Rand, Harold founded the company Rand Enterprises. Eventually, Harold was diagnosed with lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. His wife was already dead at that point and Harold worried what would happen to his children, Ward and Joy, when he died. At that point, Harold was approached by The Hand who claimed to have a cure for his cancer. They did not tell him, however, that he had to die first. When Harold accepted their proposal, it placed him into the debt of The Hand.

Harold fought for three years but succumbed to the sickness. At the age of 41, Harold died of his cancer. He had a big funeral which even the mayor attended. In Harold's testament, he gave explicit orders to his children to continue running Rand Enterprises, adding the clause that they would lose everything should they ever leave the company. Three days after his death, however, Harold was resurrected by The Hand. To prevent the public from finding out, Harold was confined to a luxurious penthouse apartment in New York City.

Danny's return
Once Danny Rand returns to New York, he enters Rand Enterprises to see Meachum. However, due to his ragged appearance he is thrown out of the building almost immediately. Invading the building once again, Danny fights off the security guards sent to engage him until he eventually reaches the executive floor where he is informed by Meachum's son Ward that Harold Meachum has died of cancer during Danny's absence, twelve years ago. Danny is then escorted off the premises.

Ward later sends some of his security after Rand to assassinate him, but the men are defeated by Danny. After being informed of the men's failure, Ward calls his father and claims that they have a problem that they need to discuss in person. Although Ward claims that it can wait till the next morning, Harold insists to meet immediately and Ward heads to the skyscraper penthouse where his father lives - hidden from the public. Once Ward stands in front of his father, he is chided for having failed to contain the Danny Rand problem. Ward is surprised that his father even knows about it. He then assumes that Harold is behind it all and that it was merely an impostor sent to test Ward, but Harold claims that he is not responsible and adds that he wishes Ward would take things like this more seriously so that Harold doesn't have to see his company destroyed. Ward takes offense at that, claiming that it is hardly Harold's company, as Ward could simply ignore Harold's orders and Harold has no way of preventing that.

Harold annoyedly claims that sometimes, Ward still sounds like an eight year old. He expresses his disappointment in Ward and then states that they have to talk about the real issue, the Danny Rand-threat. When Ward explains to his father that the person supposed to be Danny Rand sounds like a lunatic, Harold realizes that Ward has not really talked to him. Although Ward claims that he won't play Danny's game, Harold tells him that they cannot deal with a threat if they know nothing about it. Harold claims that if the person was truly Danny, they cannot let him go public and that they must also consider that if Danny is alive, his parents might be as well. After realizing the possible danger, Harold claims that they have to handle the situation with utmost priority while also showing finesse while doing so. Harold tells Ward to leave the situation to him and to do exactly what Harold says, displeasing Ward greatly. Ward then leaves the room without another word.

Meeting Danny
Ward listens to Harold's orders and thus, Danny is imprisoned at a psychiatric hospital. After the deed is done, Ward returns to Harold's building where Harold reveals that he had cameras hidden in Danny's cell and all over the hospital. By watching the video footage, Harold has learned that Danny claims to have been rescued by monks after the plane crash, but Harold claims that there are no monastery anywhere close to the place the plane crashed. Furthermore, the Order of the Crane Mother does not exist, according to Harold. Nonetheless, Harold claims that Danny said enough to make him believe that the person in question might actually be Danny Rand - back from the dead. Ward intends to intervene to prevent the situation from getting worse. However, Harold refuses and claims that they should refrain from any action and just keep listening for now on. He adds that if Ward wants to do something, he can check up Colleen Wing, the only person Danny called from the hospital. Harold sends Ward to find out how much Colleen knows. Meanwhile, Harold continues watching the video feed which more and more leads him to the conclusion that Danny is truly Danny Rand. After watching a violent outburst of Danny in the psychiatric's office and realizing that the psychiatric genuinely seems to want to help Danny, Harold orders his secretary Kyle to bring the car around, as he is ready to leave the penthouse the first time in years.

Harold arrives at the hospital in secret and enters Danny's cell after Danny has been drugged to remain quiet. Harold asks Danny whether he remembers the song Harold sang in the past to annoy Danny. Danny names the song correctly and Harold is now without doubt that Danny is truly Danny. Danny replies that he thought Harold was dead and Harold states that he thought the same of Danny. Harold then asks Danny about the monastery of the Order of the Crane Mother, demanding to know where it is located. However, he does only recieve the information that Danny became a warrior at K'un-Lun. Further questions reveal that Danny became the "Iron Fist" and a sworn enemy of The Hand. Endebted to The Hand, Harold is thrilled when Danny claims that he is the only one who can destroy The Hand. Moments later, Danny succumbs to the sleep drugs he was injected earlier and Harold uses the oppurtunity to leave. Back at his penthouse, Harold sends Kyle to investigate the Iron Fist. However, Harold then notices that the window of his penthouse has a white hand symbol on it. Written above it is the question "Where did you go?" and Harold is disheartened at seeing the message.

Other
Harold decides that Danny, whom he now truly believes to be Danny, needs to be removed from the hospital immediately. He calls Ward and Ward is at first delighted that they will get rid off Danny. However, when Harold tells him that they need to keep Danny safe because as an enemy to the hand, he is very valuable to Harold, Ward is annoyed and advises against it. Harold insists and orders Ward to do as he says, claiming that Danny needs to be removed the very night.

While watching the Danny-feed as usual, Harold witnesses Danny using his Iron Fist powers to blast through a solid wall. When Ward later comes to meet his father, he finds Harold sleeping in a coffin-like glass machine. After recognizing his son, Harold emerges from the machine and Ward tells him that the will find Danny within the hour. After that, Harold confronts Ward about his disobedience, revealing that he is aware that after Harold told Ward to move Danny, Ward sent men to have him killed instead. As Ward starts forming an excuse, Harold casually attacks him from behind and hits a certain spot in Ward's body that causes his son extreme pain. Harold tells Ward to follow orders and tells him to have Danny brought to safety once he emerge. Despite his behaviour, Harold makes clear that he wants Ward to become a great man and that he loves him, doing everything he does to have something great to pass on to Ward. During a training session in martial arts, Harold's penthouse is infiltrated by Madame Gao who tells him that "they" are disappointed and that his loyalty has been questioned. Harold is shocked and afraid but tries to make sure that he is still loyal to Gao and The Hand. Gao confronts him with the fact that he left the penthouse and he tells her about Danny Rand, claiming that he is an impostor and that he had to deal with the subject himself. Gao reminds him of their agreement and tells him that he has to follow it to the letter, elsewhise there will be consequences. After asserting her dominance by forcing him to kneel, Gao leaves the horrified Harold alone.

After Danny has openly challenged the Meachums to get back his company, Ward calls his father and claims they need another plan. He heads to Harold's penthouse to discuss further options, unaware that he is being pursued by Danny. At the penthouse, Ward confronts Harold for having visited Danny at the hospital. Harold claims that he does not need to justify himself before his son, claiming that he does whatever he wants. Ward objects, stating that while Ward does what he wants, Harold is basically a prisoner in his own penthouse. Ward rhetoricaly wonders what would happen if he went to the newspapers revealing that Harold was still alive and Harold replies that in that case, both Ward and Joy would be killed by The Hand in retribution, showing him the scars he obtained during Madame Gao's visit to prove that The Hand is not to be underestimated. Harold then claims that he is indeed trapped and that he needs Ward to keep helping him as he has nobody else.

Revealing himself to Danny
When Ward sees Danny climbing the building, he pushes him out of the window. Danny survives the fall and is carried inside the penthouse where both Ward and Harold confront him. At first, Danny does not believe Harold to be real but when Ward confirms it, Danny realizes that Harold's visit at the hospital wasn't a hallucination. Harold confirms that as well and apologeticly claims that he and Ward had to protect themselves and Rand Enterprises. Harold asks Danny whether Danny can forgive him and Danny hugs him, claiming that Harold is all Danny has left. After the three have sat down, Harold reveals to Danny the story about his sickness. Although Ward seems reluctant to trust Danny with the information, Harold claims that Danny needs to know. He tells him about his resurrection and also tells him that The Hand are the ones who brought him back. In addition, Harold states that The Hand has infected Rand Enterprises. Harold mentions that Danny called himself the sworn enemy of The Hand and begs him for help. He also begs Danny to keep the secret of Harold's return from Joy, as knowing the truth would put him into danger. However, despite Harold's pleas Danny claims that he cannot help, as he is in the middle of a court trial to get back into the company. Hearing this, Harold orders Ward to drop everything against Danny so that Danny can get what he is owed as the rightful heir of Wendell Rand. Ward is not pleased at all but Harold tells him that it is not up to debate.

Danny agrees to start working against The Hand and Harold reveals that they only come to his penthouse when they have demands, adding that they recently ordered the purchase of a pier at Red Hook. As Joy was the one to oversee the deal, Harold advises Danny starts talking to her. As Danny turns to leave, he hugs Harold again and Harold claims that they deeply need a fighter like Danny in the family. Danny also claims that he could teach Harold Kung Fu at some time and Harold replies that that would be great indeed.

Going for a ride
After Danny's first day, Harold calls Ward and congratulates him on handling Danny's introduction with class, claiming that he could not have done it better himself. However, Harold mentions a reporter whom Danny told that he had been confined to the psychiatric hospital. Harold claims that the reporter needs to be dealt with and that doing so would the drug pricing screw-up that day, in which Danny ordered the company to sell a drug for five dollars and not fifty dollars like the company intended. The same evening, Gao and a few of her associates enter Harold's penthouse and throw a hood in front of his feet. Ordering him to put it over his head, Gao then tells him that they will go for a ride. They take Harold. Once they have arrived at their destination, Gao has the hood removed from Harold's head. She tells him that he has been a faithful servant and that for his part in securing the pier, he will be rewarded. Henchmen then remove the curtains from a nearby window and Harold realizes that the apartment next to the building they are in is that of Joy. For the first time in twelve years, Harold can see his daughter. However, he then sees that someone had previously hit Joy. Gao reveals that Joy had been attacked by some criminals but that Danny protected her. Nonetheless, Harold is outraged and asks whether Gao will fulfill her "faithful servant" one last wish. The wish is granted and Harold, together with other masked members of The Hand, is permitted to storm the restaurant of the Triads that attacked Joy and personally executes the triad member who struck Joy. After justice has been served, Harold announces that he is now ready to go back home; to captivity.

Business
When a lawsuit is filed against Rand Enterprises for one of its factories polluting the air and causing cancer, Harold calls Ward but Ward deliberately doesn't pick up the phone.

Trivia

 * In Ward's contact list, Harold is saved under Frank N. Stein.