Shannon: Nelson Van Alden. January 7, 2012. Part 3: The actor reflects on what makes his “Boardwalk Empire” character so compelling. Advertisement. SKIP ADVERTISEMENT.

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts. Michael Shannon, who plays the volatile Prohibition agent Nelson Van ...

• Sent by Chicago gangster Dean O’ Banion to keep a watchful eye on the up-and-coming Al Capone and his brothers, Nelson Van Alden quickly finds himself caught in the middle.

During the early days of Prohibition, southern New Jersey's dry agents were often henchmen in my Republican party, or their influence was neutered by local police, prosecutors and judges.

Michael Shannon plays federal agent Nelson Van Alden on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. "I think inside of Van Alden is a child â that arrested child â that never really got to develop its own ...

Van Alden’s blue, Atlantic City’s yellow, and it becomes green. It does distort you, and change you. On the other hand, if you really are a righteous person, you should be able to be stronger ...

Van Alden is absolutely loathsome in the way he treats Lucy as little more than a baby vessel, but given her idiotic, childlike behavior (“I wanted to mean something besides just whoopee,” she ...

Nelson Van Alden calls Supervisor Elliot from a post office as it's "the only federal building in town." Van Alden tells Elliot that while the witness is dead, he fingered James Darmody as one of ...

Van Alden's resentment of Nucky Thompson (as well as the currently gestating Van Alden 2.0) is the only thing keeping keeping Nelson with Lucy, and Lucy can't stand it.

Michael Shannon shares little in common with his "Boardwalk Empire" alter ego, FBI agent Nelson Van Alden. Still, the two could bond over one sentiment.

Broody and intense, he’s best known for tortured, often villainous characters — think General Zod in “Man of Steel” or the screwed-up turncoat agent Nelson van Alden of “Boardwalk Empire.” ...

Actor Michael Shannon has built an incredible career, evolving from "that guy" who stood out in countless small roles to currently being one of the most sought-after character actors working in ...