Stanley Raymond Kowalski, better know as 'Ray', is the edgy, hyperactive detective brought in to impersonate Ray Vecchio while the latter man is deep undercover with the Mob.
Nearly always in motion, he seems to have little patience. He is also possessed of a very volatile personality. While interrogating suspects, he almost always threatens them with bodily harm (and has been known to threaten friends and aquaintances as well, usually over minor events).
Nevertheless, he does appreciate some of the finer things in life, such as ballroom dancing. This appears to be closely related to his relationship with ex-wife Stella Kowalski, with whom he loved to dance. Ray still loves Stella, but she is ready to move on and so far he has had no luck in his attempts to get them back together.
Ray is a fine detective- he has recived three citations for bravery- and he is also an excellent shot- as long as he's wearing his glasses. Without them, he can't see very well. However, he does not know how to swim.
While Ray is very attractive in a Steve McQueen kind of way (and also has an endearing tendency to say cute slang phrases, brush his spiky blond hair straight up and wear dark sunglasses) most of the women in the precinct seem immune to his charms, including Francesca. This doesn't seem to bother Ray too much, since he is obviously still very much in love with his previously mentioned ex-wife, Stella.
Ray does seem to be insecure about his looks however, even going so far as to ask Fraser if the Mountie thought he was attractive (Fraser said he did think so, but then said he wasn't really qualified to judge Ray on that).
Ray may well have other insecurities as well, but he covers them up with his patented tough-guy style and in-your-face attitude.
Ray's parents are both alive, but they left for Arizona the day he graduated from the Academy- his father didn't want him to be a cop. However, Ray and his dad are on the way to working things out since Kowalski, Sr. brought his son the black GTO they refurbished together (Easy Money).
Ray lives alone in an apartment with only his pet turtle for company. He likes to drive his prized GTO while on the job, and unlike Ray Vecchio's Rivs (the final one was blown up the day Fraser returned from the Territories), the car has yet to be seriously injured. It has been stolen, however.
Unlike the previous Ray, Ray K. is not given to dressing in Armani. He is usually seen in outfits that consist of jeans, a t-shirt or tank top and a light jacket instead. Ray also has a tattoo, the Champion Spark Plug logo, on his upper right arm.
Though Fraser's and Ray's partnership got off to a strange start (Fraser didn't know Ray was going to be impersonating the original Ray), they became close anyway, and Ray has grown to depend on Fraser as a friend as well as a partner.
Ray Kowalski is played by the talented Canadian actor Callum Keith Rennie. Believe it or not, this is Callum's first attempt at playing an American.
For more detailed information about Fraser, Ray V., or Fraser's wolfdog, Diefenbaker, please go back to the main site.
