Origin
Born in
London in 1840, Sebastian Moran is the son of Sir Augustus Moran, a career diplomat and one-time Minster to Persia. He received an excellent education, attending Eton College and the University of Oxford before enlisting in the military. He fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, and rose to the rank of Colonel, receiving awards for his service. He wrote two books, both based around his love of hunting. He was discharged from the army, probably due to his turn towards villainy, and returned to London. He continued to commit crimes while remaining outwardly respectable, and eventually fell in with the criminal mastermind
Professor Moriarty, who made him his chief of staff and later assigned him to handle assassinations almost exclusively.
Creation
Moran was created by
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He made his first appearance in "The Adventure of the Empty House".
Major Story Arcs
The Final Problem
Like Moriarty, Moran is able to slip the net that ensnares much of Moriarty's crime ring in
England, and follows the Professor to
Switzerland, witnessing his death at the
Reichenbach Falls. He attempts to kill
Sherlock Holmes, who had survived the fight, by throwing boulders at him, but fails. He returns to London, now unemployed, and takes up cheating at cards to sustain himself.
The Empty House
One of the men he plays cards with threatens to expose his cheating, so he murders him. This attracts the attention of Holmes, who has been faking his death for the past three years. Holmes takes the case, effectively announcing his return to his enemies, including Moran. Deciding to kill the detective, Moran sets up in the empty house across the street from Holmes' flat, planning to shoot the man through his window. Holmes anticipates his plan, however, and manages to orchestrate Moran's arrest.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Moran is revealed to have rescued Moriarty after his confrontation at the Reichenbach Falls. When Moriarty becomes the head of British Intelligence, he delegates the running of his pseudo-criminal empire to Moran, who is revealed to be a secret agent.
Powers and Abilities
Moran is an excellent shot and very skilled with a gun. He is also capable at unarmed fighting.
Other Media
Film
The Return of Sherlock Holmes Moran appears as a minor character. He is played by Donald Crisp.
The Sleeping Cardinal Moran appears in this film. He is played by Louis Goodrich.
The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes Moran makes a brief appearance in this film. He is played by Wilfird Caithness.
Silver Blaze Moran appears as Moriarty's right-hand man in this film. He is played by Arthur Goullet.
Terror By Night Moran appears as the main villain, a jewel thief. He is played Alan Mowbray.
Without a Clue Moran appears as Moriarty's bodyguard. He is played by Tom Killick
Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street Moran appears in this animated film. He is played by Jou Fujimoto.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of ShadowsMoran appears as a mercenary who has been hired by Moriarty. He is played by Paul Anderson.
Literature
Sherlock Holmes Canon Moran was originally created for the
Sherlock Holmes Stories. He appears in one short story, and is mentioned in a further two.
The Man from UNCLE Moran is reported to be the founder of THRUSH in several of the novels in this series by David McDaniel.
The Return of Moriarty In this book by John Gardner, Moran attempts to take control of Moriarty's criminal empire. He is killed by Moriarty after getting arrested.
Professor Moriarty Series In this series by Michael Kurland, which casts Moriarty in the role of antihero, Moran appears as an associate of his in
Death By Gaslight and
The Empress of India.
Anno Dracula Moran is a
vampire in this book by Kim Newman
The Mammoth Book of New Sherlock Holmes Adventures Moran appears in the short story "The Affray at the Kildare Street Club" by Peter Tremayne.
Flashman Moran appears in two novels in this series by George MacDonald Frasier,
Flashman and the Tiger and
Flash for Freedom!Shadows Over Baker Street Moran appears in two short stories in this anthology which collects pastiches of
Holmes and
HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, "Tiger! Tiger!" by Elizabeth Bear, and "A Study in Emerald" by Neil Gaiman.
My Sherlock Holmes "A Study in Orange" by Peter Tremayne is a short story about an encounter with Holmes told from Moran's point of view.
The Veiled Detective Moran makes an appearance in this novel by David Stuart Davies.
Whitechapel Gods
Moran makes a minor appearance in this steampunk novel by SM Peters.
Gaslight Grimoire
Moran appears in the short story "Sherlock Holmes in the Lost World" by Martin Powell. He is killed by Professor Challenger after trying and failing to rebuild Moriarty's empire.
Professor Moriarty: The Hound of the D'Urbervilles
Moran plays the Watson to Moriarty's Holmes in this collection of short stories by Kim Newman.
The Moriarty Papers
Moran is listed as the compiler of this book, which details many of Moriarfty's schemes.
Television
Sherlock Holmes Moran appears in the episode "The Empty House". He is played by Eric Maturin
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson Moran appears in one film in this Russian made-for-telvision movie series. He is played by Nikolai Kryukov.
The Baker Street Boys Moran appears in the episode "The Adventure of the Winged Scarab: Part 2". He is played by Michael Godley.
The Return of Sherlock HolmesMoran appears in the episode "The Empty House". He is played by Patrick Allen
Theatre
The Crown Diamond Moran appears as the villain in this Conan Doyle-written play, first staged in 1921.
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