Cullen Bohannon

The main protagonist of Hell on Wheels, Cullen Bohannon is a former Confederate soldier and plantation owner from Mississippi who takes up work on the transcontinental railroad while fulfilling a personal vendetta to avenge his wife and son’s brutal murder.

Possessing strong leadership skills and a business acumen, Bohannon quickly ascends to foreman, ultimately becoming Durant’s best ally and occasional nemesis.

Having been married to a wealthy northerner and properly educated, this southern farmer-turned solider has his foot in both worlds. Despite his violent tendencies, Bohannon holds to a strong moral compass, allegedly freeing his slaves prior to the war and only resorting to violence when all other options have been exhausted.