Walter Bishop
Dr. Walter Bishop is an experienced "Fringe" scientist with a taste for strawberry milkshakes and Red Vines — and a history of mental instability. Years ago, he and his research partner, William Bell, discovered a parallel universe, the "Other Side." When Walter's young son, Peter, died of a terminal illness, Walter crossed over, intending to cure Peter's double on the Other Side. But he ended up kidnapping Peter — and causing a cosmic imbalance that triggered the slow destruction of the Other Side.
After spending 17 years in a mental institution, Walter was freed by FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham, who needed help with an unusual case. Peter reluctantly became Walter's guardian, and the trio investigated a string of strange phenomena called the Pattern. They discovered that Walter's doppelganger, "Walternate," planned to use his "doomsday machine" to destroy their side. Peter also learned he was from the Other Side, putting father and son even more at odds.
Walter struggled to figure out what Peter's mysterious connection to the machine meant and how to protect him, but when Walternate activated the machine, Walter realized he must let Peter meet his destiny.
In a terrible future created after Peter destroys the Other Side, Walter realized his own role in events — and that Peter could change things. When Peter did so, creating a bridge between the two universes, he simply disappeared. Now Walter, along with everyone else, seems to have really forgotten him.
Walternate
The Walter Bishop of the Other Side is about as far away from his "mad scientist" counterpart as he can get. "Walternate" is the U.S. Secretary of Defense. He created the "Star Wars" defense system. He ran his own company, Bishop Dynamic. He's capable of incredible ruthlessness, but he's not without morals. And he always wears suits.
Walternate's young son, Peter, was kidnapped by Walter, creating a cosmic imbalance that triggered the slow destruction of Walternate's world. Obsessed with getting his son back, and saving his side, Walternate resolved to destroy Walter's universe.
From his headquarters on Liberty Island, he orchestrated a plan that involved unleashing a "doomsday machine." Hoping to exploit Peter's mysterious connection to the machine, Walternate lured him back home. When he failed to keep Peter there, he swapped the Agent Dunham of his universe with Olivia. After Olivia escaped, her doppelganger returned home, pregnant with Peter's son.
But Walternate's grand plans were ruined when Peter managed to control the machine and destroy the Other Side. He also sealed the destruction of his own universe, because the two sides were inextricably linked. Walternate, who got trapped in the terrible world Peter created, having crossed over to ask for help, launched a new plan for revenge. But when Peter realized he could change events and create a bridge between the worlds, Walter and Walternate finally confronted each other face-to-face.
John Noble's newfound popularity with the international television audience comes after more than 30 years as an acclaimed stage actor and director and distinguished character actor in film.
Noble, best-known worldwide for his award-winning portrayal of "Denethor" in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," began his career on the Australian stage, where he was a leader in the country's cultural expansion of the 1970s and 1980s. As Artistic Director of the Stage Company of South Australia for 10 years, he produced and directed more than 70 new plays, spent time in London directing "Sons of Cain" in the West End and produced "Percy and Rose" for the Adelaide Festival of Arts.
Noble is currently hosting a new series for Science Channel entitled "Dark Matters." His most recent television credits in the U.S. include "Journeyman," "The Unit," "Stargate SG-1" and "24" as Russian Consul "Anatoly Markhov." He has appeared on Australian television as "Dr. John Madsen" in "All Saints" and as "Captain Blackheart" in the children's series "Pirate Islands: The Lost Treasure of Fiji."
Noble's film credits include "One Night with the King" opposite Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif and "The Last Airbender," as well as the upcoming "Risen," the story of a featherweight boxing champion overcoming a tragic injury. Last year, Noble lent his voice talents to the acclaimed video game "L.A. Noire."
An Australian native, Noble lives in Vancouver.
