Detective Steve Carella is the central protagonist of the 87th Precinct procedural novels written by Ed McBain. He first appears in the novel Cop Hater, published in 1956. Carella is of Italian descent and is depicted as a dedicated, honest, and highly intelligent investigator operating in the fictional, NYC-inspired city of Isola. He is deeply devoted to his wife, Teddy Carella, a deaf-mute woman. Their relationship is a central emotional pillar of the series, eventually including the birth of their children (twins and later a third child). While Carella is the most prominent figure, the books feature a revolving ensemble of detectives including Meyer Meyer, Cotton Hawes, Bert Kling, and Hal Willis. Carella has been played by several actors in various adaptations including Robert Lansing (TV Series), Burt Reynolds (Fuzz), Donald Sutherland (Blood Relatives) and Randy Quaid (Lightning).