Roderick Burgess

Lore & Background

Sir Roderick Burgess is an aristocratic occultist who, in 1916, performs an occult ritual that captures Dream / Morpheus, the personification of dreams and one of the seven Endless. Burgess holds Dream captive for 106 years, until Dream escapes in 2022. Burgess is the father of Alex Burgess and the lover of Ethel Cripps, who later becomes Ethel Dee / Madame Daudet and the mother of John Dee. Burgess's actions directly lead to the chaos in the Dreaming and the events of the series. He is portrayed by Charles Dance in the first season.

In Their Own Story

In 1916, Sir Roderick Burgess, an aristocratic occultist, conducts an occult ritual that successfully captures Dream / Morpheus. He holds the Lord of Dreams prisoner for over a century, keeping him in a glass sphere within his estate. During this time, his son Alex Burgess grows up in the shadow of his father's obsession. Burgess's mistress, Ethel Cripps, eventually leaves him, taking with her Dream's tools: a pouch of sand, a helm, and a ruby. Roderick Burgess dies before Dream escapes in 2022, but his legacy of imprisonment and the consequences of his actions ripple through the entire first season.

Reader's Guide

When exploring *The Sandman* universe, Sir Roderick Burgess is a pivotal antagonist whose actions trigger the main plot. He is portrayed by Charles Dance in the first season. Key points about the character:

- He is an aristocratic occultist who captures Dream in 1916. - He holds Dream captive for 106 years, until 2022. - He is the father of Alex Burgess and the lover of Ethel Cripps. - His son Alex Burgess is portrayed by Laurie Kynaston (young) and Benedick Blythe (older). - Ethel Cripps later becomes Ethel Dee / Madame Daudet, mother of John Dee. - Burgess dies before Dream's escape, but his actions set the stage for the Corinthian's freedom and John Dee's rampage. For accurate understanding, focus on his role as the catalyst for the series' events, not as a long-term recurring character.

Did You Know?

• Sir Roderick Burgess is portrayed by Charles Dance in the first season of *The Sandman*.
• He captured Dream / Morpheus in an occult ritual in 1916 and held him for 106 years.
• Burgess's mistress, Ethel Cripps, later becomes Ethel Dee / Madame Daudet and is the mother of John Dee.
• His son, Alex Burgess, is portrayed by Laurie Kynaston as a young man and Benedick Blythe as an older man.
• Burgess dies before Dream escapes in 2022, but his actions directly lead to the Corinthian's freedom and the events of the first season.