The series was inspired by real-life Irish American brothers from the Irish neighborhood of South Boston: James "Whitey" Bulger, Jr., a gangster who has been on the F.B.I.'s Most Wanted List for 10 years as a fugitive from justice, and Senator William Bulger (known as "Billy"), a powerful state politician who was President of the Massachusetts Senate and later president of the University of Massachusetts higher educational system.
Kevin Chapman who plays Freddie Cork was discovered by the late Director Ted Demme while working in the City Of Boston Film Office.
