Wade Messer is a supporting antagonist in Justified.
He was portrayed by James LeGros, who also played Billy Hill in Thursday and Bill Harris in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Biography[]
Season Two[]
Wade appears in the season finale "Bloody Harlan", in which he meets with Loretta McCready, the daughter of a friend of his who was killed by Harlan crime boss Mags Bennett, at a fuel station. Wade agrees to help Loretta, and gives her a ride back to the Bennett house, where she attempts to kill Mags. US Marshal Raylan Givens later visits Wade after discovering he gave Loretta a ride, which he admits, but before they can get any further, Mags' son Dickie shows up and attacks Raylan with a baseball bat, knocking him out. The two of them then hang Raylan up by his feet and Wade departs, leaving Raylan being beaten by Dickie.
Season Three[]
In the episode "Harlan Roulette", it is revealed that Wade is working for drug dealer Glen Fogle, transporting drugs and stolen property. During a delivery to Frankfort with his accomplice JT, during which they argue about the justice of Michael Vick's prison sentence, Wade recognises Raylan and orders JT to turn around, leading to JT making an illegal U-Turn and being pursued by Raylan, crashing the car. Wade manages to climb out, but JT is arrested. Wade then informs Fogle and his assistant Wally Becket of the situation.
Wade is present when JT, having been bailed out, is forced by Fogle to play a game of "Harlan Roulette", similar to Russian Roulette except that JT is supposed to keep pulling the trigger until he shoots himself. After two shots, JT attempts to shoot Fogle, but the chamber is unloaded. Fogle then snatches the gun and attempts to fire at him repeatedly, eventually firing and killing JT, which shocks Wade. Fogle then orders Wade and Becket to dispose of the body.
After Wade returns, Fogle confronts him, having discovered that he has a federal warrant out on him for armed robbery. He also reveals that his employer has ordered him to kill Raylan, and orders him to invite him to his house under the pretext of giving himself up and shoot him. However, Raylan discovers the plan and, after telling Wade a story about his uncle's involvement in the Harlan County War, he disarms him and drags him into his car, forcing him to call Fogle and say he succeeded. Raylan then goes to Fogle's hideout and offers him leniency in return for testifying against Duffy, leading to Fogle and Becket getting into an argument and shooting each other. Raylan then tells Wade to call 911 and inform them of the situation.
Season Five[]
In Season Five, it is revealed that following Fogle's death Wade has started working as a bartender in Audrey's Bar. He is also revealed to have become a member of Boyd Crowder's gang, as he is seen arguing with Carl about a money scheme of Boyd's which Dewey Crowe overhears. In the following episode, it is revealed that this plan was for Wade to steal money from the Crowes, as revealed when he is abducted, interrogated and beaten by Daryl Crowe Jr., Danny Crowe and Jean Baptiste, who force him to reveal this plan to Dewey. Daryl then orders Dewey to kill him.
As a result, Dewey takes Wade out to a mountain, where he shoots him in the stomach. However, Wade survives and hits Dewey with a shovel before running away. Dewey manages to track him down, finding him dying on the ground, and prepares to put him out of his misery when he is suddenly thwarted by the arrival of some hunters, who he leaves with to prevent them from finding Wade, who bleeds out and dies shortly after.