Dewey Riley

Deputy Dwight "Dewey" Riley is a fictional character in the Scream franchise. Dewey first appears in Scream (1996) as a bumbling police officer doing his best to deal with the first Woodsboro massacre. He was created by Kevin Williamson and portrayed by David Arquette. A comic relief character of sorts, Dewey is known for his affable personality, his bravery, and his resourcefulness. Arquette was initially called in to audition for the role of Billy Loomis but requested to director Wes Craven that he play Dewey instead, which Craven agreed to.

Initially written to die in the first Scream, Dewey was kept alive in a last-minute decision that Wes Craven called “The best decision [they] ever made.” Despite his clumsiness and initial lack of experience, Dewey demonstrates a genuine dedication to solving the murders that plague Woodsboro, often working side-by-side with love interest Gale Weathers. He later became a close and brother figure to Sidney Prescott. The character was a fan favorite and appeared in every Scream movie up until his murder in Scream.