Neal Cassidy

"Thank you, papa. For showing me what it is to make a true sacrifice. It's about saving the ones that you love."

- Neal to Mr. Gold

Neal Cassidy, formerly known as the Mysterious Man and also known as Baelfire, is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. He débuts in the first episode of the second season. He is portrayed by starring cast member Michael Raymond-James, and is the Land Without Magic alias of Baelfire.

Trivia

 * -|Character Notes=

Etymology

 * His name is similar to Neal Cassady, an infamous thief who served eleven months in prison for possession of stolen goods; just like Emma did when Neal let her take the fall for his crime.

Character Notes

 * The song playing on his iPod during the walk to his apartment is "Charley's Girl" by Lou Reed.
 * The same song is playing in Emma's New York apartment in "Going Home".
 * The address of his apartment is 89 Wooster Street, New York, NY, 10012.
 * His apartment is situated across the street from the back building of real-life Italian pasta supplier Piedmont Ravoli Co. Inc. located on 162 Mulberry Street in New York.
 * According to Michael Raymond-James, Emma is Neal's true love.
 * Belle has also referred to their relationship as true love.
 * Neal loved the song "Only You" by Yazoo, and taught Henry how to use it with girls like he did with Emma.


 * -|Production Notes=

Production Notes

 * The casting call name for him was "Jack" and describes him as, "in his 20s or 30s, charismatic, sexy and mysterious, but also loyal and kind, and he's running from his past in a land full of danger."


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Disney

 * Neal thinks the movie Mulan is "pretty good".


 * -|Set Notes=

Props Notes

 * The dream-catcher hanging in Neal's apartment was given to him by Emma.
 * The back of Neal's iPod has a Geronimo Jackson logo. Geronimo Jackson is a fictional band on Lost.
 * Neal's wanted poster reads:

WANTED FOR GRAND LARCENY  NEAL CASSIDY DESCRIPTION


 * Date of birth: March 23, 1977
 * Place of birth: New Jersey
 * Height: 5' 9"
 * Weight: 170 pounds
 * NCIC: W238392092039
 * Occupation: Janitor
 * Scars and Marks: Neal Cassidy has a scar on his left arm from a knife wound
 * Remarks: Neal Cassidy may be in possession of stolen firearms

Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Sex: Male Race: Caucasian Nationality: American


 * According to his wanted poster, Neal was born in 1977. Baelfire was born long before that; however, the data are probably meant to represent his biological age. Since Neal and Emma met in 2001, he would have been twenty-four while she was seventeen at the time.

Set Dressing

 * There is a sign in Neal's apartment that reads "Cleaner & Hatters".
 * Neal has many vintage items in his apartment such as an array of old radios, old microphones, classic cameras, records and record player, old pencil sharpener, cobbler's wooden shoe forms and an old telephone.
 * He has a collection of clocks, just like his father, Mr. Gold, and his son, Henry.

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.