History Characters / TheThreeInvestigators

'''Due to [[Administrivia/HandlingSpoilers wiki policy]], {{spoiler}}s may be unmarked. Beware of spoilers.'''\\

* [[Characters/TheThreeInvestigatorsGerman German Extended Release]][[note]]Inspector Cotta, Jelena Charkova, Lesley Dimple, Goodween, Clarissa Franklin[[/note]]

'''Due to [[Administrivia/HandlingSpoilers wiki policy]], {{spoiler}}s may be unmarked. Beware of spoilers.'''

[[foldercontrol]]

* [[Characters/TheThreeInvestigatorsCrimebusters Crimebusters]][[note]]Ty Cassey, Kelly Madigan, Elizabeth Zapata, Lys de Kirk, Jeffery Palmer]]
* [[Characters/TheThreeInvestigatorsGerman German Extended Release]][[note]]Inspector Cotta, Jelena Charkova, Lesley Dimple, Goodween, Clarissa Franklin]]

* [[Characters/TheThreeInvestigatorsOriginalSeries Original Series]][[note]]Worthington, Hector Sebastian, Hans and Konrad Schmidt, Samuel Reynolds, Blackbeard the Mynah Bird, Allie Jamison, Hoang Van Don, Carol Bennet, Patricia Osborne, Anna Schmidt[[/note]]


!Crimebusters
!!Recurring Characters
[[folder:Ty Cassey]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Stefan Bronneke (German radio plays)
Ty is Jupiter's distant cousin, who is the son of the cousin of Aunt Mathilda. A genius mechanic who hangs around the Scrapyard often.
* BigBrotherMentor: A little bit of one two the investigators, especially to Pete who also likes to work on cars. He's much older than them (twenty-seven), but he likes to help them out.
* ClearMyName: In the first novel of Crimebusters, he was unknowingly complicit for stealing a car. He worked with the Investigators to clear his name.
* MrFixit: Basically his main skillset as a car mechanic. He is great at it, even better than Pete, and is usually the one fixing the trio's car problems.
* PutOnABus: He appeared in every Crimebusters case, but was phased out in the German release, though is mentioned / appears occasionally. His role is usually written out of the radio plays.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Kelly Madigan]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Juliane Szalay (German Radio Plays)
Peter Crenshaw's girlfriend, introduced in Crimebusters.
* OfficialCouple: With Pete. At least, in the novels. She and Pete were even engaged in one of the side games (though its unclear if this is canon). She was eventually written out of the radio plays leaving their relationship ambiguous at best, nonexistent at worst.
* DemotedToExtra: She played a bigger role in Crimebusters and early in the German series, but she becomes less and less relevant in more modern stories and is only mentioned in passing. She is straight up written out in the German radio plays after a certain point.
* SixthRanger: In Crimebusters and early in the extended German release, she often accompanied the Investigators on their cases and sometimes even subbed for Bob. She stopped because she lost interest detective work.
[[/folder]]

[[AC:Minor Characters]]
[[folder:Lys de Kerk]]
A pretty and tall young woman who was once a budding actress under Amanda Black. She decided to forgo that career in trade to study her passion: biology. She is also Jupiter's former girlfriend.
* DumbBlonde: Not her actual persona, but she was forced to play this trope a lot when she was in her acting career.
* [[NiceGuy Nice Girl]]: She's a pretty sweet person.
* OutdatedName: Her name was originally Qute den Zorn before it was changed to Lys de Kirk.
* PutOnABus: She had a recurring role in the early parts of the German release, though she disappeared after ''Der geheime Schulussel'' because she had moved to New York. She also broke up with Jupiter a few months before the events of the book.
* TemporaryLoveInterest: She and Jupiter dated for a while, though broke up when she moved to New York.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Elisabeth Zapata]]
A girl who attends the same high school as the boys. She's a bit of a party animal and loves music and the arts. She is also Bob's ex.
* AffectionateNickname: She's sometimes called 'Beth' or 'Liz'.
* DiesDifferentlyInAdaptation: She was originally supposed to die in ''Der Meister des Todes'', but the idea was scrapped.
* PutOnABus: She had a small recurring role, but after Bob stopped dating her, she stopped appearing in any further books. She is mentioned from time to time, however.
* TemporaryLoveInterest: She was an OfficialCouple with Bob for a while before they broke up. It didn't last very long.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Jeffery Palmer]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Kim Alexander Frank (German Radio Plays)
A close friend of Peter Crenshaw, a surfer who has much in common with him.
* BestFriend: He seems to be ''really'' good friends with Pete, so much so that apparently Pete thought to include him in his will.
* TheGhost: He is really only mentioned by Pete in the radio plays (and some or the later novels), as he is the substitute for Kelly since she had been written out. He finally did have a speaking role in 'Der Mann ohne Kopf' (the Headless Man).
* ShipTease: With Pete who really likes hanging out with him. Reinforced by the fact that he takes Kelly's role in the radio plays to replace his dates.
* QueerEstablishingMoment: He has been confirmed by one of the authors, André Marx, to be gay.
* SurferDude: He's really good at it too, and plans to go professional.
[[/folder]]

!Extended German Release
!!Recurring Characters
[[folder:Inspector Cotta]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Holger Mahlich / Willem Fricke (Formerly, German Radio Plays), Michael Poelchau (Current, German Radio Plays)
An inspector from the Rocky Beach Police Department. After Chief Reynold retires, he becomes the main contact point to the police for the Investigators.
* BigDamnHeroes: Frequently saves the three Investigators from certain doom at the end of a story, usually in a very dramatic fashion.
* TheCommissionerGordon: Inherits this role when Chief Reynolds retires, he becomes the main police contact for the Investigators.
* CouldSayItBut: He's not supposed to tell the Investigators that the street they're looking for is 1070 Canyon Road, but... he just has a soft spot for them and ends up not-telling them anyway.
* FriendOnTheForce: Even though he wishes the boys would stay out of solving dangerous crime, he is ultimately their friend and is always willing to bail them out of trouble.
* LastNameBasis: He's only known by his last name, wanting to keep his first name a secret.
* SteppingOutForAQuickCupOfCoffee: He has a tendency to do this ''right'' when the Investigators need his help for something which leads them to getting falsely arrested or getting caught up in more dangerous activities.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Jelena Charkova]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Alexandra Dork (German Radio Plays)
A spirited and intelligent young girl in a wheelchair and a good friend of Bob's and his romantic interest.
* DisabledLoveInterest: She is Bob's romantic interest and the only girl that betrays Bob's usually [[TheCasanova player]] tendencies, and she's also in a wheelchair.
* ImpliedLoveInterest: She and Bob have shown a lot of interest for one another and have even kissed, though their relationship has yet to become official.
* PutOnABus: Like most of the investigator's love interests, she was eventually written out of all radio plays. She still exists in the novels though.
* SixthRanger: Occasionally fills this role depending on the story, working with and helping the investigators like a fourth member, her biggest role being in ''Toteninsel''.
[[/folder]]

!!Minor Characters
[[folder:Lesley Dimple]]
A young girl about the boys' age who works at the Booksmith, the oldest book store in Rocky Beach. She seems to have a crush on Bob.
* FriendshipTrinket: She has given Bob a friendship bracelet with the words 'Read me' on it. Bob suspects that it has a deeper meaning and turns out it does.
* ImpliedLoveInterest: She is one of Bob's many love interests.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Goodween]]
A police officer in the Rocky Beach Police department. He works alongside Inspector Cotta.
* AscendedExtra: He has a bigger part to play in the radio play adaptions.
* LastNameBasis: Goodween is only known by his last name.
[[/folder]]

!Antagonists
[[folder:Skinner E. Norris]]
The Investigator's arch-nemesis, a boy only a few years older than them and the son of a rather rich family. He hates the three with a passion.
* AesopAmnesia: Despite having opportunity after opportunity to better himself and become a better person, he never changes. Even though the Investigators have gone out of their way to help him and even save him from certain death, he isn't grateful and continues to be outright malicious to them.
* ArchEnemy: The Investigators call him one. Pete in particular, can't ''stand him''.
* CrazyJealousGuy: The rare non-romantic variant. Jupe rationalizes the reason why Skinny does his best to make their day worse is because he's jealous of them, notably of Jupe's intelligence.
* HateSink: Definitely supposed to illicit this type of reaction, especially considering how much he has actually almost gotten the Investigators ''killed''.
* HiddenDepths: He becomes quite friendly with Bob when he loses his memory, even though he manipulated him into thinking Jupiter and Pete were his enemies. But after Bob regains his memory, Skinny goes out of his way to save him, which makes it seem that he does have a good heart in there somewhere? Buried deep under his snotty attitude.
* {{Jerkass}}: His main personality trait. Norris' personality is horrid and he always is constantly trying to find a way to mess with or bully the Investigators, even as they had all grown a little older. Military school didn't seem to fix him.
* MaliciousMisnaming: Jupe, Bob, and Pete call him 'Skinny Norris' or just 'Skinny'. Don't feel too bad though, Skinny has called them way worse names.
* NeverMyFault: Despite all the things he's caused, he never wants to take the blame. Most notably during 'Totensinel', he makes the Investigators take the fall for his consequences.
* ParentalAbandonment: It seems as though between the original series and the extended German release, his parents has cut off all financial support for him as he now lives in a derelict part of Rocky Beach.
* PutOnABus: In the ''Headless Horse'', he ''finally'' got in some proper trouble and was sent to military school, which made him disappear from the original series and Crimebusters. He returns sometime in the German extended release and has made sporadic appearances.
* TheRival: To the Three Investigators. Not really on the intellectual level, Skinny just really hates them for some reason and will go out of his way to try show them up.
* VagueAge: It's not really clear how old Skinny actually is. In the original series, it's stated that he is a couple years older than the three, but he got his driver's lisence early which would put his age somewhere around 14-15 years old. It's likely that he is at least 18 in the German extended release because he is now living on his own and there is no more mention of his parents.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Victor Hugenay]]
A gentlemanly, intelligent art thief who is often considered to be Jupiter's equal.
* AffablyEvil: He might be on the wrong side of the law and has gotten the three up in some dangerous stuff, but he is actually quite friendly and doesn't believe in violence.
* ArchEnemy: To Jupiter, who is often portrayed as his intellectual equal. He himself is always eager to pit himself against him.
* TheChessmaster: Hugenay prefers to work in the background until he feels it's the right time to reveal himself.
* GentlemanThief: Of the art variety. He is a well known art thief.
* NotQuiteDead: He was thought to be dead, but isn't quite.
* WeCanRuleTogether: Tries it on Jupiter during their first meeting, but Jupiter does not fall for it. However, he did succeed in making Jupiter commit a criminal act in ''Das Erbe des Meisterdiebs''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Clarissa Franklin]]
A former psycho-therapist who is known for her ruthless nature and is Bob's foil and nemesis.
* ArchEnemy: She's one to Bob ever since he had gone to her for "therapy" and had gotten hypnotized by her.
* {{Foil}}: Franklin is one to Bob. She plays with the psyche of the mind which is at odds with Bob's more structured and logical mind.
* ManipulativeBastard: She is a conniving one who orchestrated the entire scheme with Abagail Holligan to think her dead sister was haunting her from beyond the grave and manipulated Bob psychologically when he attempted to find out more about her through therapy. She also managed to convince the court she was insane to avoid prison, tries to avoid being arrested by claiming that Bob was a lovesick fool who was in love in her, and then later, orchestrated her own sister's death so she could take her identity. She also repeatedly tries to convince Peter and Jupiter that Bob is losing his sanity.
* NotQuiteDead: Clarissa was supposed to be dead, but in reality, she had stolen the identity of her sister.
* TheSociopath: After all she's done, she definitely is one.
* TheUnfettered: Unlike Victor, who tends to be more cordial in his encounters, Clarissa is absolutely ''ruthless'' and is willing to harm and even kill other people to get her way.
* WouldHurtAChild: She hypnotized Bob and deliberately shot Jupiter (though he was able to block it).
[[/folder]]

The main protagonists, [[Characters/TheThreeInvestigatorsTheInvestigators The Three Investigators]][[note]]Jupiter Jones, Peter Crenshaw, Bob Andrews[[/note]], have their own page.

!Original Series

[[folder:Worthington]]
->'''Portrayed by:''' Ron Smerczak (2007 Film Series)
->'''Voiced by:''' Andreas von der Meden (Formerly, Die Drei ??? Radio Plays), Michael Prelle (Die Drie ??? Radio Plays Radio Plays)
A perfectly English Chauffeur and driver of a Rolls Royce. Practically an unofficial member of the Three Investigators, he drives the boys around on their many investigations.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: His sister, Susanna, had been involved in a gang. She had been abused by their leader and in revenge, stole a million pounds and pinned the blame on the gang leaders. She gave the money to Worthington for him to keep, with the intention of having him give her the money so she can start a new life in Australia. However, Worthington decided not to give it to her (which ended in a fight and they haven't talked since) and kept the stolen money in a bank for twenty years.
* TheDriver: For the Three Investigators, which they rent out. He drives around a Rolls Royce that Jupiter had won a competition from a Rental Company. Thanks to helping out a client (who had gotten very rich thanks to the Investigator's help), it has been arranged that they could call on the [=RollsRoyce=] anytime. His services aren't needed as much starting in Crimebusters, now that Pete and Bob have a car, but they still occasionally call on his help.
* DubNameChange: His name is 'Morton' in the German release.
* FakingTheDead: He faked his own death in ''Tödliche Spur'' to throw [=MacDunno=] off his trail. It ended up backfiring, as it made it easier for the man to get rid of him. Thankfully, the Investigators get to him just in time.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Worthington is quite a few decades older than the boys, but they are his favorite clients and looks forward to joining them on their cases. The boys say that he's practically an unofficial member of the Investigators.
* LastNameBasis: He is known by just his last name, the Investigators never found out his first name.
* QuintessentialBritishGentleman: The picture perfect of one.
* SixthRanger: To the Three Investigators.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Jupiter, Bob, and Pete, to the point that he will always give them the benefit of the doubt even if he doesn't have all the pieces there.

[[folder:Hector Sebsastian]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Manfred Steffen, Volker Bogdan (German Radio Plays)
A former private detective turned famous mystery writer and a mentor to the Three Investigators, succeeding the late Alfred Hitchcock.
* BenevolentBoss: To Don, who really does enjoy working for him.
* CareerEndingInjury: He was a private detective before an injury caused a permanent limp caused him to change careers.
* TheCobblersChildrenHaveNoShoes: Despite being a very successful mystery writer, he wasn't a very successful Private Detective financially and had really only started making money after he became a writer instead.
* DubNameChange: His name is Albert Hitfield in the German release.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Like how they struck up a friendship with Hitchcock before him, Hector Sebastian become great friends with the boys. Unlike the gruff Hitchcock, he is notably more friendly and is always eager to have them over, providing them a "tasty" lunch (courtesy of Don) when they arrive.
* MentorArchetype: After 'Shark Reef', he takes over Alfred Hitchcock's role of introducing and concluding the investigator's cases. He also acts as their mentor during cases when they need advise or help. In some German releases, he straight up replaces Alfred Hitchhock.
* PrivateDetective: Formerly, he had to quit because of an injury.
* PutOnABus: By Crimebusters. He gets mentioned time to time and still helps out the boys if called, but he doesn't have a huge role like he used to.

[[folder:Hans and Konrad]]
Hans and Konrad pair of Bavarian brothers who work at the Jones' Scrapyard.
* AccentAdaptation: In the American release, they have German accents, but in the German release they have Irish accents.
* DubNameChange: In the German Editions they are known as Kenneth and Patrick and they are instead from Ireland.
* BigBrotherInstinct: They act like the Investigator's older brothers and one of the few helpful adults around. They frequently jump in whenever the boys get into trouble and look out for them. They also act as one to their younger cousin, Anna.
* TheBigGuy: Two big guys actually. They are often described to be well muscled and huge.
* TheDriver: In the original series, they drive Titus Jones out when he buys stuff for the Scrapyard and they also drive the boys around if Worthington is not available or they want to ride something a little less conspicuous.
* PutOnABus: Sometime between in the German Extended Release, Hans and Konrad resigned from their position at the scrapyard and returned to their home country, but are mentioned from time to time. They still have a great relationship with the Jones'.

[[folder:Chief Reynolds]]
Samuel Reynolds, the chief of police at Rocky Beach. A friend to the Three Investigators, he wishes the boys would stay home and out of danger. He retired by the time Crimebusters occurs.
* TheCommissionerGordon: He was one for the Investigators in the original series, before he retired and got replaced by Inspector Cotta.
* PoliceAreUseless: Most of the time anyway. Since the Investigators are not formally part of the force, they often can't depend on the police until the final arrest, though Chief Reynolds encourages them to keep him updated.
* NotNowKiddo: Although he has outgrown this notion after realizing how competent the boys are at solving crime, he did disregard them in the beginning as just kids.

[[folder:Hoang Van Don]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Volker Brandt ( German Radio Plays)
Hector Sebastian's very enthusiastic Vietnamese housekeeper.
* AffectionateNickname: He is just known as 'Don' by his peers.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: It's unclear what has happened to him since his last appearance in the original series. Although his boss, Hector Sebastian, has been mentioned and made small appearances since then there has been no mention of Don and whether he is still working for his boss.
* CordonBleughChef: His RunningGag is that he often makes some really egregious food at the end of each story in the original series, either using strange ingredients or strange food themes. Hector Sebastian never really corrects him, funnily enough, leaving both him and the investigators at the mercy of his odd meals.
* YouNoTakeCandle: Has a noticeable accent with choppy English.

!!Supporting Characters
[[folder:Jupiter's Family]]
!!Mathilda Jones
->'''Portrayed by:''' Catharine Cooke (2007 Film Series), Jördis Triebel (Erbe des Drachen)
->'''Voiced by:''' Karin Lieneweg (German Radio Plays)
Mathilda Jones, Jupiter's formidable aunt and co-owner of the Jones' Scrapyard.
* AffectionateNickname: Jupiter sometimes callers her 'Aunty', or in German, 'Tantechen' (a cute way to say Aunt).
* ChildhoodFriends: She and Titus went to school together and had fallen in love then.
* ItsLikeIAlwaysSay: Her motto is if there is a boy, he must be put to work. This has gotten in the way many times with the trio's investigations.
* MamaBear: When a man tried to threaten Jupiter with a cane during ''The Dead Man's Riddle'', she took the cane from him and chased him out of the Scrapyard.
* NotNowKiddo: Has really no idea how serious the boys are about being detectives and thinks they formed some sort of puzzle club.

!!Titus Jones
->'''Portrayed by:''' Martin Le Maitre (2007 Film Series), Jördis Triebel (Erbe des Drachen)
->'''Voiced by:''' Hans Meinhardt (German Radio Plays)
Titus Jones, Jupiter's uncle and owner of the Jones' Scrapyard.
* ChildhoodFriends: He and Mathilda went to school together and had fallen in love then.
* DubNameChange: Like Jupiter, last name is Jonas in the German release.
* NotNowKiddo: Like his wife, he isn't aware of how serious the boys are about being investigators, but he takes their problems a little bit more seriously.

!!Julius and Catherine Jones
Jupiter's deceased parents. They were national competitive ballroom dancers who had perished in a plane crash when Jupiter was just five years old.
* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: They're already dead by the time the first book ever started, having died in a plane crash when Jupiter was five years old.
* DubNameChange: Their last names is 'Jonas' in the German release.

!!Abernathy Family
Jupiter's maternal family. They don't really have a good relationship with Titus or Mathilda.

[[folder:Peter's Family]]
!!Henry Crenshaw
->'''Portrayed by:''' Mark Waschke (Erbe des Drachen)
->'''Voiced by:''' Eberhard Haar (Die Drei ??? Radio Play)
Peter Crenshaw's father. He works as a [=VFX=] artist who works in 'Wonderworld', a film effects company.
* DubNameChange: Like Pete, he is referred to as 'Mr. Shaw' in the German release.
* NotNowKiddo: He is aware of the detective shenanigans his son and friends get to, but he isn't really aware how serious they are, though post-Crimebusters, he has started disapproving of their ventures on account of how much danger they get into.

!!Mrs. Crenshaw
->'''Voiced by:''' Heikendine Korting (Die Drei ??? Radio Play)
Peter Crenshaw's mother.
* CallingTheOldManOut: She is seen calling out her father periodically, who she thinks as a little nutty.
* DubNameChange: Like Pete, she is referred to as 'Mrs. Shaw' in the German release. She is daughter of Ben Peck
* NotNowKiddo: Like most of the parents and guardians in the series, she wasn't really aware of how serious her son was about being a detective. And like her husband, post-Crimebusters, she constantly worries about her son.

!!Bennington Peck
Peter Crenshaw's maternal grandfather. A gruff, but friendly old man who is quite the tinkerer. He doesn't have a great relationship with his daughter or son-in-law, but dearly loves his grandson and his friends.
* AffectionateNickname: Just known as 'Ben' by close friends.
* GrandparentFavoritism: Ben definitely does favor Peter, even over his own daughter, despite the fact that Pete tends to worry as much as his mother does. He has bought trips and the like for his grandson and is always happy to see Pete and his friends.
* CoolOldGuy: Does seem that way, especially after his first appearance. His inventions have even been implemented in [=NASA=].
* MadScientist: Does come off as one, especially with his inventions, though is typically very friendly, especially with his grandson.

!!Shadow
A dog that Pete had adopted during his time when he was kidnapped. A very handsome Irish Wolfhound. He originally lived with Jupiter at the scrapyard but kept running away to Peter's house. He now lives with Peter's Aunt Ruth on a farm in Montana.
* ABoyAndHisX: These two are ''very'' close despite the distance. Jupiter described Peter and Shadow having one soul.
* BigFriendlyDog: He may stand half the height of Pete, but he's very friendly and had instantly bonded with Pete upon meeting him.
* IntellectualAnimal: Shadow is almost unusually intelligent. He completely obeys Pete and seems to understand human speech.
* TheyHaveTheScent: He was used in this manner during ''Der dreckiger Deal'' to sniff for drugs.

!!Grandmother Shaw
Peter Crenshaw's paternal grandmother and Henry Shaw's mother. A very superstitious woman, something she had passed on to Pete.
* TheGhost: She was mentioned only once, but is confirmed to be alive.
* InTheBlood: According to her son, Henry Shaw, she is a very superstitious woman, a personality trait that had skipped his generation and got transferred down to Pete, who is also very superstitious.

[[folder:Bob's Family]]
!!John Andrews
Bob Andrew's father. A compassionate and gentle man who works as a journalist at 'Rocky Beach Today'.
* InTheBlood: His son has his journalism skills and wants to become a journalist just like him when he grows up.
* IntrepidReporter: Mr. Andrews' job.
* OverlyLongName: He has four first names; his full name is: John William Melvin Roger Andrews.
* NotNowKiddo: Didn't take Bob and his friends seriously about the whole detective thing. But post-Crimebusters, while he doesn't enjoy the Investigators' shenanigans, he has begun to take them a bit more seriously.

!!Mrs. Andrews
->'''Voiced by:''' Renate Pichler / Carola Long / Constanze Ullmer (Die Drei ??? Radio Plays)
Bob Andrew's mother. A slim, brown-haired woman who works as a Real Estate agent.
* NotNowKiddo: Like most of the parents and guardians in the series, she wasn't aware how serious the boys are about their detective work. Post-Crimebuster, she and all the other parents are worried constantly for the health and safety of her son.

[[AC:Minor Characters]]
[[folder:Allie Jamison]]
A girl who lived on Rocky Beach and a former client of the Three Investigators. She requests their help from time to time.
* ADayInTheLimelight: In the original series, she had the biggest roles in ''The Singing Snake'' and ''The Silver Mine''. She makes her re-debut in the German release in ''Die Feurige Flut'' and later in ''Der dunkle Taipan''.
* AdaptationDeviation: Her original incarnation was down to Earth and headstrong, though German authors often portrayed her to be a little more quirky.
* AllGirlsLikePonies: She has a horse named Queenie, whom she cares about very much.
* GiverOfLameNames: She named her horse Queenie (a nickname for 'Indian Queen'). She later has a mustang named Queenie II and she also has a miniature pinschers named 'Queenie III'.
* VagueAge: She's about the same age as the boys, give or take.

[[folder:Blackbeard the Mynah Bird]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Heikedine Körting (German Radio Plays)
Blackbeard is a Mynah bird that the Investigators had adopted after ''The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot''.
* CharacterCatchphrase: In the German radio plays, is known to say 'Telephone!' whenever the headquarters' phone rings. He can also just be heard squawking about anytime the investigators are at their phone.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Blackbeard has completely disappeared from the book series. He is completely absent in Crimebusters and early in the German extended release (which is not rhe case in the radio drama as he was written in). He finally made his reappearance during recent novels and is revealed to be alive and well, even playing a big part during ''Die dreiTag'.
* DubNameChange: He is known as just 'Blacky' in German.
* TalkingAnimal: Well, not exactly. He just repeats what he hears, noticeably mocking Peter with impeccable comedic timing. Nowadays he just likes to repeat what rhe Investigatoes say when they're brainstorming.
* PetsAsAPresent: The Investigators were allowed to keep Blacky after ''The Stuttering Parrot''.
* TeamPet: At least in the radio plays, though he doesn't exactly play a big role.
* UnusualPetsForUnusualPeople: Mynah birds are not common pets and are considered exotic, especially since they are not native in the States and are outlawed in some. But the intelligent and talkative Blackbeard seems like the perfect pet for a trio of clever teen detectives.

[[folder:Carol Bennett]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Renate Pichler (Die Drei ??? Radio plays), Jana Kotseva (Die Drei ??? Kids)
The director of the Rocky Beach Public Library. A trusted friend of the Three Investigators. Bob works at her library from time to time in the Original Series and in the German extended release.
* ADayInTheLimelight: She was the main focus of ''Spuk im Netz''.
* GreatBigLibraryOfEverything: She works at one and while it may not contain ''everything'' it's enough for the Investigators.
* PutOnABus: She plays less of a role Crimebusters because of the advent of the internet. She returns to make sporadic appearances in the German release however, as Bob continues returns to using the library as a research place.

!Crimebusters
!!Recurring Characters
[[folder:Ty Cassey]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Stefan Bronneke (German radio plays)
Ty is Jupiter's distant cousin, who is the son of the cousin of Aunt Mathilda. A genius mechanic who hangs around the Scrapyard often.
* BigBrotherMentor: A little bit of one two the investigators, especially to Pete who also likes to work on cars. He's much older than them (twenty-seven), but he likes to help them out.
* ClearMyName: In the first novel of Crimebusters, he was unknowingly complicit for stealing a car. He worked with the Investigators to clear his name.
* MrFixit: Basically his main skillset as a car mechanic. He is great at it, even better than Pete, and is usually the one fixing the trio's car problems.
* PutOnABus: He appeared in every Crimebusters case, but was phased out in the German release, though is mentioned / appears occasionally. His role is usually written out of the radio plays.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Kelly Madigan]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Juliane Szalay (German Radio Plays)
Peter Crenshaw's girlfriend, introduced in Crimebusters.
* OfficialCouple: With Pete. At least, in the novels. She and Pete were even engaged in one of the side games (though its unclear if this is canon). She was eventually written out of the radio plays leaving their relationship ambiguous at best, nonexistent at worst.
* DemotedToExtra: She played a bigger role in Crimebusters and early in the German series, but she becomes less and less relevant in more modern stories and is only mentioned in passing. She is straight up written out in the German radio plays after a certain point.
* SixthRanger: In Crimebusters and early in the extended German release, she often accompanied the Investigators on their cases and sometimes even subbed for Bob. She stopped because she lost interest detective work.
[[/folder]]

[[AC:Minor Characters]]
[[folder:Lys de Kerk]]
A pretty and tall young woman who was once a budding actress under Amanda Black. She decided to forgo that career in trade to study her passion: biology. She is also Jupiter's former girlfriend.
* DumbBlonde: Not her actual persona, but she was forced to play this trope a lot when she was in her acting career.
* [[NiceGuy Nice Girl]]: She's a pretty sweet person.
* OutdatedName: Her name was originally Qute den Zorn before it was changed to Lys de Kirk.
* PutOnABus: She had a recurring role in the early parts of the German release, though she disappeared after ''Der geheime Schulussel'' because she had moved to New York. She also broke up with Jupiter a few months before the events of the book.
* TemporaryLoveInterest: She and Jupiter dated for a while, though broke up when she moved to New York.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Elisabeth Zapata]]
A girl who attends the same high school as the boys. She's a bit of a party animal and loves music and the arts. She is also Bob's ex.
* AffectionateNickname: She's sometimes called 'Beth' or 'Liz'.
* DiesDifferentlyInAdaptation: She was originally supposed to die in ''Der Meister des Todes'', but the idea was scrapped.
* PutOnABus: She had a small recurring role, but after Bob stopped dating her, she stopped appearing in any further books. She is mentioned from time to time, however.
* TemporaryLoveInterest: She was an OfficialCouple with Bob for a while before they broke up. It didn't last very long.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Jeffery Palmer]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Kim Alexander Frank (German Radio Plays)
A close friend of Peter Crenshaw, a surfer who has much in common with him.
* BestFriend: He seems to be ''really'' good friends with Pete, so much so that apparently Pete thought to include him in his will.
* TheGhost: He is really only mentioned by Pete in the radio plays (and some or the later novels), as he is the substitute for Kelly since she had been written out. He finally did have a speaking role in 'Der Mann ohne Kopf' (the Headless Man).
* ShipTease: With Pete who really likes hanging out with him. Reinforced by the fact that he takes Kelly's role in the radio plays to replace his dates.
* QueerEstablishingMoment: He has been confirmed by one of the authors, André Marx, to be gay.
* SurferDude: He's really good at it too, and plans to go professional.
[[/folder]]

!Extended German Release
!!Recurring Characters
[[folder:Inspector Cotta]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Holger Mahlich / Willem Fricke (Formerly, German Radio Plays), Michael Poelchau (Current, German Radio Plays)
An inspector from the Rocky Beach Police Department. After Chief Reynold retires, he becomes the main contact point to the police for the Investigators.
* BigDamnHeroes: Frequently saves the three Investigators from certain doom at the end of a story, usually in a very dramatic fashion.
* TheCommissionerGordon: Inherits this role when Chief Reynolds retires, he becomes the main police contact for the Investigators.
* CouldSayItBut: He's not supposed to tell the Investigators that the street they're looking for is 1070 Canyon Road, but... he just has a soft spot for them and ends up not-telling them anyway.
* FriendOnTheForce: Even though he wishes the boys would stay out of solving dangerous crime, he is ultimately their friend and is always willing to bail them out of trouble.
* LastNameBasis: He's only known by his last name, wanting to keep his first name a secret.
* SteppingOutForAQuickCupOfCoffee: He has a tendency to do this ''right'' when the Investigators need his help for something which leads them to getting falsely arrested or getting caught up in more dangerous activities.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Jelena Charkova]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Alexandra Dork (German Radio Plays)
A spirited and intelligent young girl in a wheelchair and a good friend of Bob's and his romantic interest.
* DisabledLoveInterest: She is Bob's romantic interest and the only girl that betrays Bob's usually [[TheCasanova player]] tendencies, and she's also in a wheelchair.
* ImpliedLoveInterest: She and Bob have shown a lot of interest for one another and have even kissed, though their relationship has yet to become official.
* PutOnABus: Like most of the investigator's love interests, she was eventually written out of all radio plays. She still exists in the novels though.
* SixthRanger: Occasionally fills this role depending on the story, working with and helping the investigators like a fourth member, her biggest role being in ''Toteninsel''.
[[/folder]]

!!Minor Characters
[[folder:Lesley Dimple]]
A young girl about the boys' age who works at the Booksmith, the oldest book store in Rocky Beach. She seems to have a crush on Bob.
* FriendshipTrinket: She has given Bob a friendship bracelet with the words 'Read me' on it. Bob suspects that it has a deeper meaning and turns out it does.
* ImpliedLoveInterest: She is one of Bob's many love interests.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Goodween]]
A police officer in the Rocky Beach Police department. He works alongside Inspector Cotta.
* AscendedExtra: He has a bigger part to play in the radio play adaptions.
* LastNameBasis: Goodween is only known by his last name.
[[/folder]]

!Antagonists
[[folder:Skinner E. Norris]]
The Investigator's arch-nemesis, a boy only a few years older than them and the son of a rather rich family. He hates the three with a passion.
* AesopAmnesia: Despite having opportunity after opportunity to better himself and become a better person, he never changes. Even though the Investigators have gone out of their way to help him and even save him from certain death, he isn't grateful and continues to be outright malicious to them.
* ArchEnemy: The Investigators call him one. Pete in particular, can't ''stand him''.
* CrazyJealousGuy: The rare non-romantic variant. Jupe rationalizes the reason why Skinny does his best to make their day worse is because he's jealous of them, notably of Jupe's intelligence.
* HateSink: Definitely supposed to illicit this type of reaction, especially considering how much he has actually almost gotten the Investigators ''killed''.
* HiddenDepths: He becomes quite friendly with Bob when he loses his memory, even though he manipulated him into thinking Jupiter and Pete were his enemies. But after Bob regains his memory, Skinny goes out of his way to save him, which makes it seem that he does have a good heart in there somewhere? Buried deep under his snotty attitude.
* {{Jerkass}}: His main personality trait. Norris' personality is horrid and he always is constantly trying to find a way to mess with or bully the Investigators, even as they had all grown a little older. Military school didn't seem to fix him.
* MaliciousMisnaming: Jupe, Bob, and Pete call him 'Skinny Norris' or just 'Skinny'. Don't feel too bad though, Skinny has called them way worse names.
* NeverMyFault: Despite all the things he's caused, he never wants to take the blame. Most notably during 'Totensinel', he makes the Investigators take the fall for his consequences.
* ParentalAbandonment: It seems as though between the original series and the extended German release, his parents has cut off all financial support for him as he now lives in a derelict part of Rocky Beach.
* PutOnABus: In the ''Headless Horse'', he ''finally'' got in some proper trouble and was sent to military school, which made him disappear from the original series and Crimebusters. He returns sometime in the German extended release and has made sporadic appearances.
* TheRival: To the Three Investigators. Not really on the intellectual level, Skinny just really hates them for some reason and will go out of his way to try show them up.
* VagueAge: It's not really clear how old Skinny actually is. In the original series, it's stated that he is a couple years older than the three, but he got his driver's lisence early which would put his age somewhere around 14-15 years old. It's likely that he is at least 18 in the German extended release because he is now living on his own and there is no more mention of his parents.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Victor Hugenay]]
A gentlemanly, intelligent art thief who is often considered to be Jupiter's equal.
* AffablyEvil: He might be on the wrong side of the law and has gotten the three up in some dangerous stuff, but he is actually quite friendly and doesn't believe in violence.
* ArchEnemy: To Jupiter, who is often portrayed as his intellectual equal. He himself is always eager to pit himself against him.
* TheChessmaster: Hugenay prefers to work in the background until he feels it's the right time to reveal himself.
* GentlemanThief: Of the art variety. He is a well known art thief.
* NotQuiteDead: He was thought to be dead, but isn't quite.
* WeCanRuleTogether: Tries it on Jupiter during their first meeting, but Jupiter does not fall for it. However, he did succeed in making Jupiter commit a criminal act in ''Das Erbe des Meisterdiebs''.
[[/folder]]