Thad Beaumont

Thaddeus "Thad" Beaumont is a fictional writer and the main character featured in the 1989 novel The Dark Half by author Stephen King. The character also appeared in The Dark Half feature film in 1993 where he was played by actor Timothy Hutton.

Biography
When Thad Beaumont was born, there was an undeveloped fetus from his mother's womb that had absorbed itself into Thad's brain. It went undetected at first, and was later thought to be a brain tumor.

When Thad was an adult, he became a mystery writer living in the town of Ludlow, Maine. He married a woman named Elizabeth Stevens and had twin children with her, Wendy and William.

In 1985, Thad created a pen name for himself called George Stark. As Stark, he began writing a series of crime novels that centered around a psychopathic killer named Alexis Machine. When Thad was outed as Stark in 1991, he decided to retire the George Stark persona. Liz and he even had a ceremonial funeral for the alter ego, complete with a gravestone and memorial service.

Not long after however, George Stark manifested as a physical incarnation of Beaumont's vision of this duel persona. He embodied all of the character's traits and mannerisms and began committing a string of murders.

Ultimately, Thad Beaumont had to confront his alter ego prove dominance over him. When Stark was defeated, his essence was carried away by a flock of sparrows.

Though things seemed to have resolved themselves, it put a strain on Thad's marriage, particularly since Liz believed that he actually liked the Stark persona. It wasn't long before the two were divorced and Thad Beaumont committed suicide.

Notes & Trivia



 * Actor Timothy Hutton played the roles of both Thad Beaumont and George Stark.


 * Actor Patrick Brannan played Thad Beaumont in flashback scenes in The Dark Half.


 * Thad Beaumont is referenced in the novel Needful Things, which takes place in the same continuity. The two stories share a common character in the form of Alan Pangborn.


 * Thad Beaumont is referenced in the 1998 novel Bag of Bones.

Appearances

 * Dark Half, The
 * Dark Half, The (novel)