Pete Martell

Pete Martell (played by Jack Nance) is a lumberjack who married his boss' sister Catherine. What started as a "summer's indiscretion" developed into a marriage that from Pete's perspective never should have happened. "Catherine is plain hell to live with", he once admits during the course of the show. Catherine is ruthless, stubborn and determined and doesn't make anything easy for her husband (who she feels is a useless, soft old fool). However, it is also made clear that Catherine was far richer than he, so he has at least a financial consolation. Pete also seems to harbor some genuine, nostalgic affection for his wife, which he expresses to Sheriff Truman when he thinks Catherine has died.

He is a keen angler. While Catherine plots to get back her late brother's business, the Packard mill, from his widow Josie Packard whom she despises, Pete spends his time fishing ("There's a fish in the percolator!") and joking affectionately with Josie. Perhaps too good to be true, Josie is pure balm to Pete after Catherine's constant spite and contempt.

He is also an expert chess player, the best in town (and seemingly in a very large surrounding area), and helps Cooper in his deadly tournament against Windom Earle in season 2.