125 Fun Facts About White Collar

In which U.S. state was Matt Bomer born?

Bomer was born in Webster Groves, Missouri, on October 11, 1977, and moved with his family to Spring, Texas, where he grew up.

Which actor did Hilarie Burton marry in 2019?

Hilarie Burton married Jeffrey Dean Morgan, of The Walking Dead and Supernatural, in October 2019 after a decade together; they live on a farm in upstate New York.

How long was Neal Caffrey's original prison sentence?

Neal's original sentence was four years; in the pilot he escapes a maximum-security prison with only three months left to serve, hoping to find his girlfriend Kate.

How long did the FBI's cat-and-mouse chase of Neal last before his first capture?

The chase lasted three years: Peter Burke spent three years pursuing Neal before finally arresting him, the cat-and-mouse game the pilot recounts.

What must Neal wear as a condition of his release to work with the FBI?

Neal wears a GPS tracking anklet that confines him to a two-mile radius of his home; cutting it sends an immediate alert to the FBI.

How many episodes did the first season have?

Season one had 14 episodes, aired in two halves around a midseason break; seasons two through four each ran 16.

How many episodes were in the final season?

The sixth and final season had just six episodes, airing from November 6 to December 18, 2014, and ending with Neal faking his death.

Which other USA show was White Collar sold into syndication alongside in 2013?

Burn Notice and White Collar were sold together into syndication in 2013 to a broadcast network that had already picked up fellow USA series Monk and Psych.

What breed of dog do Peter and Elizabeth Burke own?

The Burkes' dog is a yellow Labrador retriever; Neal is roped into walking him in early episodes while Peter works a case.

Which award did the show's star win for White Collar in 2015?

The show's lead won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Cable TV Actor at the January 2015 ceremony, weeks after the series finale aired in December 2014.

What title did creator Jeff Eastin announce in 2024 for a White Collar revival?

Eastin revealed the title White Collar Renaissance in 2024, saying he had written a revival script that would honour the late Willie Garson, with the original leads eager to return.

Who was the target of Neal and Peter's first case together in the pilot?

The Dutchman was the alias of forger Curtis Hagen, whom Neal helps Peter catch in the pilot; Hagen returned as the main villain of season five's first half.

Who plays the forger Curtis Hagen?

Mark Sheppard plays Curtis Hagen, the forger and art restorer whose blackmail of Neal drives the fifth season; Sheppard is also known as Crowley on Supernatural.

What did Kate leave behind in the apartment when she left Neal?

Kate left behind an empty bottle of Bordeaux, the wine she and Neal had shared; Neal read it as a goodbye message and kept the bottle on display.

Where does Neal live for most of the series?

June, a widow whose late husband Byron was also a con man, offered him a room after meeting him in a thrift store.

Who plays June Ellington?

She sings in "Home Invasion" and headlines the opening night of a jazz club in "Empire City".

What is the name of the Burkes' dog?

The Burkes' dog is Satchmo, sharing the nickname of jazz great Louis Armstrong; he appears from the pilot onward, and Neal occasionally walks him.

What does Mozzie call Peter Burke?

Elizabeth is "Mrs. Suit", and the two of them become close friends.

What is Peter's wife's profession?

Elizabeth Burke is an event planner who runs her own small company; the job often gives her a convincing cover when she helps on a case.

Which baseball team drafted Peter Burke as a pitcher after college?

The Minnesota Twins drafted Peter as a pitcher; a serious injury in his second week ended the baseball career, and he went into accounting and then the FBI.

How did Mozzie get his name?

He was abandoned on an orphanage doorstep with the bear and kept it even after fleeing the Detroit Mob for New York.

What is Mozzie's real name, revealed in "Out of the Frying Pan"?

Mozzie's birth name is Theodore Winters: in season five an FBI agent traces the 'Teddy Winters' identity behind Mozzie's vast hidden holdings.

Which agent joined Peter's team in "Threads" and was written out after season one?

Lauren Cruz, played by Natalie Morales, debuted in 'Threads' having written her Quantico thesis on Neal; she left after season one when Diana returned.

Diana Berrigan is the daughter of what kind of parent?

Diana's father was a diplomat, so she spent much of her childhood in hotel rooms around the world; her bodyguard Charlie was killed protecting her.

What is the name of Diana's girlfriend, a doctor introduced in "Deadline"?

Christie proposes in "Pulling Strings", but Diana later reports they have split.

Why did Diana disappear for most of the first season?

After the pilot Diana took a desk job in Washington, D.C.; Peter recalled her for the season-one finale because she was the one agent he fully trusted.

What does Diana name her baby son?

Diana names her son Theo; he is born during season five, after her pregnancy was written into the show.

Where did Clinton Jones study before his military service, per "As You Were"?

Jones attended the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and served in the Navy before law school and the FBI; 'As You Were' revisits his Navy past.

Which company does insurance investigator Sara Ellis work for?

Sara Ellis is an investigator for the insurer Sterling Bosch; she had testified against Neal years earlier over the alleged theft of a painting.

Sara Ellis was introduced in season two as what for Neal?

In "Unfinished Business" a bond theft escalates when Neal is unknowingly hired to kill her.

Where does Sara eventually take a job, ending her relationship with Neal?

Sara accepts a transfer to her insurer's London office late in season four, and the long-distance move ends her on-off relationship with Neal.

Who plays Kate Moreau?

Alexandra Daddario plays Kate Moreau, Neal's girlfriend, in the first two seasons; Daddario went on to star in the Percy Jackson films and HBO's The White Lotus.

How does Kate die?

The jet blows up on the airstrip in "Out of the Box" just as Neal turns back to Peter.

Under what alias did Neal first meet Kate?

Neal met Kate as 'Nick Halden', the alias he was using to infiltrate her employer's firm; he kept using the Halden identity for cons throughout the series.

In which New York City borough do Peter and Elizabeth Burke live?

The Burkes live in a Brooklyn townhouse, the setting for many of the series' home-life scenes and Neal's frequent dinner visits.

Who plays Vincent Adler?

Andrew McCarthy, the 1980s Brat Pack star of Pretty in Pink, plays Vincent Adler, who had Kate killed and was shot by Peter to save Neal in the season-two finale.

What kind of fraud was Vincent Adler caught running when Neal and Kate lost their money?

Adler's hedge fund was a Ponzi scheme; when it collapsed and he vanished, Neal and Kate lost everything they had put into it, as told in 'Forging Bonds'.

In which 2012 Steven Soderbergh film did Matt Bomer play the stripper Ken?

Bomer played Ken, one of the Tampa dancers, in Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike (2012), and reprised the role in the 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL.

Which OPR agent led Operation Mentor against Peter Burke?

Garrett Fowler, played by Noah Emmerich, was the OPR agent behind Operation Mentor; he was being blackmailed over having killed his own wife's murderer.

Who was hiding the music box in season two on Peter's instructions?

Peter entrusted the music box to Diana, telling her to keep its location secret even from him; Neal later stole it from her apartment with a fence's help.

What happens to Mozzie right after he cracks the code inside the music box?

Mozzie is shot on a park bench by an unidentified gunman (Julian Larssen, played by Paul Blackthorne) who steals the code; the team cons Larssen in 'Burke's Seven'.

Which professional fence had a romance with Neal during his Adler days?

Alex Hunter is the fence who romanced Neal during the Adler days; she later helps him steal the music box and chase the secret it holds.

Who plays Alex Hunter?

Gloria Votsis plays Alex Hunter, who recurs from season one through season three, including the hunt for the music box.

What did the season-two finale reveal Adler was hunting for?

Neal and Mozzie end up secretly holding the art, which Sara later discovers on surveillance footage.

Who plays Neal's nemesis Matthew Keller?

Ross McCall plays Matthew Keller, Neal's former friend turned nemesis; unlike Neal, Keller is willing to kill for a score.

In "Bottlenecked", what does Keller challenge Neal to forge?

Keller challenges Neal to forge a bottle of wine, a supposedly 18th-century bottle tied to Benjamin Franklin; the contest revives their old rivalry over who is the better forger.

Whom does Keller kidnap at the end of "Countdown"?

Keller kidnaps Elizabeth Burke at the end of 'Countdown' to force Neal to hand over the treasure; she escapes in 'Checkmate' and Keller is arrested.

What deal did Keller strike in season six?

He goes back on the deal in the finale and is killed by Peter.

Which agent tries to sabotage Neal's commutation and take him to D.C. in "Judgment Day"?

Phillip Kramer, Peter's old mentor from the Bureau's art-crime work, moves to claim Neal for Washington; in response Neal cuts his anklet and flees with Mozzie.

Where do Neal and Mozzie hide at the start of season four?

Neal and Mozzie hide on the island of Cape Verde, living openly under new names until Peter tracks them down and manhunter Kyle Collins arrives to claim Neal.

Who plays the manhunter Kyle Collins in the season-four opener?

Mekhi Phifer plays Kyle Collins, the FBI manhunter who tracks Neal to the island and shoots him in the leg during the escape in 'Most Wanted'.

Where is Peter reassigned when he returns from the manhunt abroad?

Peter is demoted to the evidence room, nicknamed 'the Cave', on his return; he and Neal still work a case on the side in 'Diminishing Returns'.

Who plays Neal's father, James Bennett, who first appears as "Sam"?

Treat Williams plays James Bennett, the disgraced cop father who first approaches Neal as 'Sam'; a DNA test in 'Vested Interest' confirms the relationship.

Who is Ellen Parker, played by Judith Ivey?

She is shot after being recalled into Witness Protection and murdered, leaving Neal a key to her evidence.

Matt Bomer came out publicly in 2012 while accepting which award?

Bomer publicly acknowledged his husband and children in February 2012 while accepting the Steve Chase Humanitarian Award from the Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs.

Where was Ellen's evidence box hidden?

Ellen's evidence box was hidden in the Empire State Building; Neal, Mozzie and Peter race Pratt's people to retrieve it in the season-four finale 'In the Wind'.

How does season four end for Peter?

Peter is arrested for Senator Pratt's murder: James kills Pratt with Peter's gun and flees, leaving Peter to take the blame as the season ends.

Who plays Amanda Callaway, the new Special Agent in Charge at the end of season four?

Emily Procter, of CSI: Miami, plays Amanda Callaway, the new Special Agent in Charge who was secretly reporting to Senator Pratt.

What does Hagen force Neal to steal as his price for freeing Peter?

Hagen's price is a collection of rare gold coins, which Neal lifts from a vault; Hagen films the heist and uses the footage to blackmail Neal into more crimes.

Who is Neal's new handler in season five, killed after just two episodes?

David Siegel, Neal's new handler in season five, is murdered after just two episodes; Rebecca Lowe is later revealed as his killer.

Who is Rebecca Lowe really?

She murdered Hagan and Siegel and finally provoked marshals into shooting her.

Who plays Rebecca Lowe?

Bridget Regan, of Legend of the Seeker and Jane the Virgin, plays Rebecca Lowe, who first poses as a museum researcher and rare-book expert.

What does Hagen have Neal steal one chapter of from a museum in "One Last Stakeout"?

Neal steals chapter 13 of the Mosconi Codex, a mysterious book by Mosconi whose hidden clues point toward a diamond the season-five villains are chasing.

In which city is Neal shown alive in the series' final scene?

The final scene reveals Neal alive in Paris a year after faking his death, walking off toward the Louvre.

What two-word catchphrase does Peter Burke use to rally Neal?

'Cowboy up' is Peter's signature line, used throughout the series whenever he needs Neal to stop stalling and commit to the plan.

What does Neal steal at auction for the Panthers in "Return to Sender"?

Neal steals a rare stamp at auction for the Panthers in 'Return to Sender', with he and Peter posing as a reclusive father and son to get inside.

How does Peter propose the Panthers could steal the airport cash less dangerously?

Mozzie intercepts a share of the cash by opening a tube in a tunnel during the finale.

What is the title of the series finale?

The finale, 'Au Revoir', aired on December 18, 2014; its French title means 'goodbye', fitting an ending in which Neal apparently dies.

What do the Burkes name their infant son?

Peter and Elizabeth name their baby boy Neal, in tribute to the friend they believe died in the finale; a year later Peter finds evidence Neal faked his death.

Who kills Matthew Keller in the finale?

Peter shoots Keller dead in the tunnel moments after Keller has apparently fatally wounded Neal, whose death turns out to have been staged.

Who was Mozzie briefly married to, as revealed in "All's Fair"?

Mozzie's estranged wife is Eva, a fellow grifter who conned and abandoned him while Neal was in prison, then resurfaces in 'All's Fair' seeking a divorce.

Which cast member directed the season-three episode "Stealing Home"?

Tim DeKay directed 'Stealing Home' in season three, the first of several episodes he helmed, later including 'Empire City' and 'Taking Stock'.

Which season-five episode did Willie Garson direct?

Willie Garson, Mozzie himself, directed 'Quantico Closure' in season five, one of several episodes helmed by the show's own cast members.

Which action director helmed the boxing episode "Gloves Off"?

Renny Harlin, director of Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger, helmed 'Gloves Off', the season-four episode that puts Peter in a Wall Street boxing ring.

What did Peter and Neal infiltrate in the second episode, "Threads"?

In 'Threads' Peter and Neal infiltrate New York Fashion Week to catch a smuggler who had hidden sensitive data in a runway dress.

In "Upper West Side Story", what job does Neal take undercover at a prep school?

Neal goes undercover as a substitute teacher at the prep school after a student claims his crush's father is embezzling the school's scholarship fund.

What gem is the jailed American accused of stealing in "What Happens in Burma..."?

The jailed American was accused of stealing a ruby; Neal fashions a convincing fake ruby to expose the real thief and win his release.

Which Star Wars actor played an old friend of June's in "Countermeasures"?

Billy Dee Williams, Lando Calrissian of Star Wars, played Ford, an old friend of June and her late husband, whose motives Neal suspects in 'Countermeasures'.

Which Game of Thrones actress played a hacker's accomplice in "Taking Account"?

Lena Headey, Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones, played Sally, a hacker who teams up with Mozzie in 'Taking Account' and briefly wins his heart.

Who played the Egyptologist Neal works with in "On the Fence"?

Eliza Dushku, of Buffy and Dollhouse, played Egyptologist Raquel LaRoque, whom Neal courts in 'On the Fence' while Keller smuggles Egyptian antiquities into the city.

Whose parents, played by Tom Skerritt and Debra Monk, visit in "Pulling Strings"?

Elizabeth's parents, played by Tom Skerritt and Debra Monk, come to stay in 'Pulling Strings' while Neal helps Sara hunt a missing Stradivarius.

What is stolen from Yankee Stadium in "Stealing Home"?

The crew targets valuable memorabilia held at Yankee Stadium; Neal goes undercover with the gang, led by a master con man he has long admired, to stop the heist.

What lost fossil do Peter and Neal chase in "Digging Deeper"?

'Digging Deeper' has Peter and Neal chasing a stolen Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton through the black market in fossils, using a forged dinosaur egg as bait.

What rank is Peter promoted to at the start of season five?

Peter becomes Assistant Special Agent in Charge after his release in the season-five premiere, and the promotion is why Neal is assigned a new handler.

What is Mozzie's storage-unit purchase in "Identity Crisis" connected to?

The unit's contents link to the Culper Ring, George Washington's Revolutionary War spy organisation, and the clues suggest the ring may still be active.

What French phrase does Mozzie habitually call Neal?

Mozzie addresses Neal as 'mon frère', French for 'my brother', a running sign of the bond between the two con men.

What sport is Katya, sponsored by a Russian gangster's cousin, involved in during "Ice Breaker"?

Peter and Neal go undercover as her coach and sports agent.

Who did Peter befriend and go on the run with in "Prisoner's Dilemma"?

Peter goes on the run with FBI agent Franklin, accused of selling witness-protection locations; the real culprit is U.S. Marshal Deckard, who is leading the hunt.

What name did Neal go by as a child in witness protection?

In witness protection Neal was Danny Brooks, the name Ellen still uses for him; he grew up believing his father had been a hero cop.

Which NBC spy comedy gave Neal's actor a recurring role before White Collar?

Bomer played CIA agent Bryce Larkin, Chuck's old Stanford roommate, in a recurring role on NBC's Chuck from 2007 to 2009.

The father of the actor who plays Neal was a draft pick for which NFL team?

Matt Bomer's father, John Bomer, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys; Matt himself played wide receiver in high school in Spring, Texas, before choosing acting.

For which television film did the actor who plays Neal win a Golden Globe in 2015?

Bomer won the 2015 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for The Normal Heart, playing New York Times writer Felix Turner opposite Mark Ruffalo.

From which university did Neal's actor earn a fine-arts degree in 2000?

Bomer earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama in Pittsburgh in 2000, then moved to New York to act.

Which two Seinfeld episodes featured Peter Burke's actor as Elaine's boyfriend Kevin?

Tim DeKay played Kevin, Elaine's considerate 'Bizarro Jerry', in the 1996 season-eight episodes 'The Soul Mate' and 'The Bizarro Jerry'.

Which HBO series was Peter Burke's actor a cast member of from 2003 to 2005?

He also appeared in Party of Five and Tell Me You Love Me.

Willie Garson was best known before White Collar for which Sex and the City role?

Willie Garson played Stanford Blatch, Carrie's gay best friend, across all six seasons of Sex and the City and both feature films.

On Quantum Leap, Willie Garson once played which real historical figure?

Willie Garson played Lee Harvey Oswald in Quantum Leap's 1992 two-part season-five opener, in which Scott Bakula's Sam Beckett leaps into the assassin.

Which 1990s teen character made Tiffani Thiessen famous before she played Peter's wife?

Tiffani Thiessen played Kelly Kapowski, Bayside High's head cheerleader, on Saved by the Bell from 1989 to 1993 before her later dramatic roles.

On which teen drama did Hilarie Burton play Peyton Sawyer for six seasons?

Hilarie Burton played Peyton Sawyer on One Tree Hill from 2003 to 2009, leaving after the sixth season; she had earlier been a VJ on MTV's Total Request Live.

Sharif Atkins was best known before White Collar for playing a doctor on which show?

Sharif Atkins played Dr. Michael Gallant on ER from 2001 to 2006, a medical student turned Army doctor whose death in Iraq was a season-12 storyline.

The actress who plays Diana appeared on which ABC series before White Collar?

Marsha Thomason played freighter mercenary Naomi Dorrit on ABC's Lost in 2007, having earlier starred in NBC's Las Vegas.

Which other series on the same channel did White Collar's creator also create?

Jeff Eastin created Graceland, the USA Network drama about undercover agents sharing a beach house, which ran for three seasons from 2013 to 2015.

How many sons do Matt Bomer and his husband have?

Bomer and Simon Halls have three sons, all born via surrogacy: Kit, born in 2005, and twins Henry and Walker, born in 2008.

How does Mozzie name his safe houses?

Mozzie names his safe houses after days of the week, referring to places like the 'Thursday' safe house so their locations stay vague to outsiders.

How many viewers watched the White Collar pilot?

The Los Angeles Times called it the most electric drama to premiere that fall.

Who directed the pilot episode of White Collar?

Bronwen Hughes, the Canadian director of Forces of Nature and Harriet the Spy, directed the White Collar pilot in 2009.

Which actor directed the season-two premiere and played its villain, The Architect?

Tim Matheson, Otter from Animal House, directed the season-two premiere 'Withdrawal' and played its bank-robbing villain, The Architect.

Who plays FBI boss Reese Hughes?

James Rebhorn played Reese Hughes, the section chief forced into retirement by Senator Pratt's pressure in season four; Rebhorn died in 2014.

What style of hat is Neal Caffrey's trademark?

Neal's trademark is a fedora, worn with the vintage suits that once belonged to June's late husband Byron.

What did Peter do before asking his future wife out, according to season one?

Peter admits he followed Elizabeth and ran background checks on her before working up the nerve to ask her out, a confession that delights Neal.

On what date did White Collar premiere on USA Network?

White Collar premiered on USA Network on Friday, October 23, 2009; the series ran six seasons and concluded on December 18, 2014.

Which network acquired White Collar for syndication in 2013?

ION Television acquired White Collar for syndication in 2013, adding it to a slate of USA Network dramas that already included Monk and Psych.

What is the title of Hilarie Burton's 2020 memoir about farm life?

The Rural Diaries, published in 2020, recounts Burton's move from Hollywood to a working farm in New York's Hudson Valley.

Who plays Phillip Kramer, Peter's former FBI Academy instructor?

Beau Bridges, brother of Jeff and a multiple Emmy winner, plays Phillip Kramer, the Washington art-crimes chief who once mentored Peter.

In which New York town did Tim DeKay, who plays Peter Burke, grow up?

Tim DeKay grew up in Lansing, New York, near Ithaca; he studied business at Le Moyne College before earning an MFA at Rutgers.

Willie Garson, who played Mozzie, died in 2021 of which illness?

Willie Garson died of pancreatic cancer on September 21, 2021, aged 57; his final screen work included the Sex and the City revival And Just Like That.

Which two future actors were Matt Bomer's classmates at Klein High School in Spring, Texas?

Lee Pace and Lynn Collins were Bomer's Klein High School classmates; Pace went on to Pushing Daisies and The Hobbit, Collins to John Carter.

Which Beverly Hills, 90210 character did Elizabeth Burke's actress play from 1994 to 1998?

Tiffani Thiessen played Valerie Malone from 1994 to 1998, the bad girl brought in to fill the void after Shannen Doherty left the Aaron Spelling drama.

On which long-running soap opera did Matt Bomer make his television debut in 2000?

Bomer made his television debut on ABC's All My Children in 2000, playing Ian Kipling, then moved to a contract role on Guiding Light.

In which 2005 Jodie Foster thriller did Matt Bomer make his film debut?

Bigger supporting roles followed in In Time, Magic Mike and The Nice Guys.

In which FX anthology series was Matt Bomer promoted to the main cast for its fifth season?

Bomer joined American Horror Story's main cast for its fifth season, Hotel, in 2015, after a guest turn as Andy in the fourth season, Freak Show.

In which English city was Diana actress Marsha Thomason born?

Marsha Thomason was born in Manchester in 1976 and grew up in its Moston district before finding television work in Britain and then the United States.

What is the name of the podcast Hilarie Burton started in 2021 with Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz?

Drama Queens, launched in 2021, is a rewatch podcast in which Burton, Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz revisit the teen drama they starred in together, episode by episode.

From which university did Willie Garson earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater in 1985?

Garson earned his BFA in theater from Wesleyan University in 1985 and went on to a Master of Fine Arts at the Yale School of Drama.

Which Cooking Channel series did Tiffani Thiessen host from 2015?

Dinner at Tiffani's ran on the Cooking Channel from 2015, with Thiessen cooking for celebrity friends at her home; she followed it with a cookbook, Pull Up a Chair.