Mitch Kellaway

Mitch Kellaway is a fictional character in the comic book series, "The Mask". He is a police lieutenant who first uses the Mask to fight crime, then attempts to destroy it after realizing how dangerous it is. In Chuck Russell's 1994 film of the same name, Kellaway is played by actor Peter Riegert. In the animated series, he is voiced by Neil Ross.

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The Mask (1994 film)

In Chuck Russell's movie, Kellaway is first seen when the police are investigating the results of a disturbance in Stanley Ipkiss' flat (the previous night, Stanley had put on the mask of Loki for the very first time, and accidentally caused a disturbance with Mrs. Peenman). Kellaway questions Stanley about the disturbance, but Stanley claims to know nothing about it. Kellaway leaves a card with Stanley, asking him to call should he remember anything.

After the evil gangster Dorian Tyrell's men try to rob the bank, Kellaway identifies them as Tyrell's henchmen, and catches Tyrell at the Coco Bongo while he is trying to shoot The Mask, who was the real bank robber. Although Tyrell accepts the fact that his men were caught breaking into the bank, he tells Kellaway the "Green-Faced Man" wasn't his henchman. Kellaway ignores Tyrell and arrests him anyway, but he spots a piece of Stanley Ipkiss' pajamas on the dance floor and assumes that Stanley has something to do with the robbery.

The next day, Kellaway visits Stanley again and interrogates him. Stanley claims that he has no idea what Kellaway is talking about, and also tells Kellaway that his pajamas were stolen. Lost for words, Kellaway leaves, but then gets hold of the bank employee files and asks the fingerprint analysts to analyze Stanley's fingerprints to see if they match those on the leftover money at the bank.

The fingerprints match, and Kellaway acquires his proof of Stanley and The Mask being one and the same. That night, while Stanley is on a date with Tina Carlyle at a park, Stanley turns into the Mask to impress Tina, but Kellaway (he and a squad were tailing Stanley) intervenes and handcuffs him. The Mask, being the extremely playful wackyman, plays tricks on the police while they search him (making mousetraps and bazookas appear in his pockets) and even manages to make a signed photo of Kellaway's wife. While Kellaway is distracted, the Mask handcuffs him to his partner, Sgt. Doyle, and runs off, unaware that Kellaway has brought the entire force with him.

Kellaway and Doyle are then forced to climb over the park wall in order to get out and follow the Mask. To his horror, Kellaway sees that the Mask has played a dirty trick and made the entire police force dance with him. Enraged, Kellaway grabs a gun and shoots into the air, ending the dance and getting everyone to help him follow the Mask. Kellaway sees the Mask turn back into Stanley Ipkiss, and tries to shoot him to stop him fleeing. He doesn't succeed, however, as Stanley escapes in the nick of time with his friend, Peggy Brandt.

Later on, Kellaway exits the police station with Doyle, fuming over how the police chief is going to fire him. After Doyle tries to tell Kellaway not to give up hope, Kellaway sarcastically says that Stanley Ipkiss in going to fall into his lap. Ironically, Stanley "does" fall into his lap at that very second, since Tyrell's men captured him and took the mask from him. Kellaway finds a fake green mask in Stanley's jacket pocket, and with his new proof, escorts Stanley to a cell in the police station.

The next day, Kellaway comes to visit Stanley to interrogate him, only to see that he has broken out of his cell with help from his dog, Milo, and is pointing a gun straight in his face. Kellaway is then taken hostage (they make it look otherwise, however) and forced to accompany Stanley on his mission to stop Tyrell.

When they arrive at the Coco Bongo, Stanley handcuffs Kellaway in the police car that they stole, and leaves alone. But Kellaway, knowing that Stanley cannot succeed alone, manages to call for backup.

Later on, Kellaway is freed from the car when the police arrive to help him, and he leads the police into the Coco Bongo to arrest the now-deceased Tyrell's men. Kellaway also tries to arrest Stanley one last time, but he is scolded by Mayor Mitchell Tilton, who tells Kellaway that Stanley saved their lives and that "Dorian Tyrell" was the Mask. Being the only one who knows that Stanley Ipkiss is truly the Mask, but not being able to prove it, Kellaway is forced to let Stanley go, but he still maintains a bitter attitude toward Stanley.

The Mask: The Animated Series

Kellaway is seen many times on the Animated Series, often trying to find an excuse to arrest the Mask, claiming that he is a "menace to the society". Although Kellaway would still love to see Ipkiss behind bars, there have been times that Kellaway himself has needed help from the Mask, or times that they have had to work together to serve justice. Doyle is still his partner and Doyle's childlike antics often annoy Kellaway. A running gag in the series has the Mask giving Kellaway (and occasionally other people he doesn't like) an atomic wedgie and escaping.

In one episode, at a fancy dress party, Kellaway attends as a superhero based on a comic book. Unfortunately, an accident occurs, and the main trio of villains (Dragon Lady, War Machine and RipTide) of the comic book become real people. Now mistaken as the villains enemy and marked for death, Kellaway sees no choice but to call the Mask for help, who ultimately defeats the trio by destroying the comic book.

In another, Kellaway's jealousy towards the Mask intensifies when, after an accident involving the U. S. President, the Mask saves the President from certain death. Despite Kellaway claiming that the Mask is a menace, the Mask becomes the President's new bodyguard, and finally stands up to Kellaway by calling him a Zero ("I'm a Hero, "you're" a Zero!")

In the series, Kellaway's looks have been altered a bit. He is no longer a short man with grey hair, but a tall, thin man with black, shorter hair. His attitude has been changed from that of a strict policeman to that of a rude and bitter person.

In other Media

*Kellaway plays a major role in the DC/Dark Horse crossover "Joker/Mask", where The Joker finds the Loki Mask in a Gotham City Museum, puts it on and amplifies his criminal abilities. Kellaway tracks the Joker to Gotham, and assists Batman and Commissioner James Gordon bring the Joker down. Kellaway then requests Batman give him the Mask to return to Edge City, and Batman agrees under the condition that Kellaway hide it somewhere where it will never be found again. Kellaway subsequently returns to Edge City with the Mask and buries it in Stanley Ipkiss' grave.