The Sting - Characters & Cast

Initially reluctant, Gondorff's primary motivation is to help Hooker get revenge for Luther's death, a mutual friend. He is also driven by the professional challenge and the artistry of pulling off the ultimate con against a seemingly untouchable mark. While he states it's about the money, his meticulous planning and enjoyment of the craft suggest a deeper motivation rooted in professional pride.

Gondorff begins the film as a once-great con man who has gone into hiding, seemingly a washed-up alcoholic. Lured back into the game by Hooker's plea for revenge, he rediscovers his purpose and genius. He transforms from a reluctant, semi-retired grifter into the confident and brilliant architect of the big con. His arc is one of resurgence, as he meticulously plans and executes the sting, all while mentoring the younger, more impulsive Hooker.

His driving motivation is pure revenge for the murder of his mentor and friend, Luther Coleman. This singular focus makes him willing to take on the immense risk of conning a dangerous mob boss like Doyle Lonnegan.

Hooker starts as a skilled but cocky and reckless small-time grifter. The murder of his partner, Luther, forces him to mature and seek a greater purpose beyond quick cash. Under Gondorff's tutelage, he learns discipline and the intricacies of the "big con." His arc is a journey from impulsive apprentice to a key player in a masterful scheme. By the end, he has learned the value of the con itself over the money, refusing his share because he knows he'd just blow it.

Lonnegan is motivated by power and money. He is fiercely protective of his reputation and his criminal enterprise. He does not tolerate being cheated or crossed, which is why he has Luther killed. His motivation within the con is pure greed; he believes he is using Hooker to ruin a rival bookie and make a fortune in the process.

Lonnegan is a static character, remaining a ruthless, arrogant, and intelligent crime boss throughout the film. His arc is not one of development but of downfall. He is systematically dismantled by the con artists who exploit his own defining traits: his greed, his pride, and his insistence on being the smartest man in the room. His confidence in his own ability to cheat and control situations ultimately becomes his undoing.

Snyder's motivation is a combination of greed and a petty desire for revenge. Hooker not only evades him but humiliates him by paying him off with counterfeit money. This personal slight fuels his dogged pursuit of Hooker throughout the film.

Snyder is a relentless and corrupt Joliet police lieutenant who serves as a persistent thorn in Hooker's side. His arc sees him being continually outsmarted and manipulated. He starts off pursuing Hooker for a cut of the initial con but ends up being a pawn in the larger scheme, ultimately used by the con men to escort Lonnegan away from the scene of the final sting, ensuring the villain never realizes he was duped.