Slappy, Cleo’s husband, comes under suspicion after Cleo is killed. In Lady in the Lake, Byron Bowers plays Slappy Johnson.
Slappy dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian, but his inappropriate jokes get him kicked out of clubs whenever he performs.
Slappy and Cleo share the responsibility of their two sons. While Cleo works multiple jobs to provide for them, Slappy refuses to get another job to help out.
He does not help Cleo in taking care of their sons, one of whom suffers from sickle cell, which eventually leads to Cleo leaving him and taking their children with her.
An imperfect partner with a good heart
Cleo never allows Slappy to perform at Shell Gordon’s club, as she does not want her husband involved with a man like Gordon.
However, after quitting her job with Myrtle Summer, Cleo tries to earn Gordon’s trust to get more work from him and asks Slappy to perform at his club.
Slappy hesitates but eventually agrees when Cleo insists. Despite making inappropriate jokes, he manages to make people laugh and impress Gordon enough to secure a job there.
Although Slappy has not been the best father or husband, he genuinely cares about his family and loves Cleo. He is there for her when she breaks down after getting involved in Summer’s assassination attempt.
Now that he’s earning from gigs at Gordon’s club, Slappy tries to earn Cleo’s forgiveness and spends Christmas with her family.
Cleo’s mother disapproves of Slappy, who spends his days with friends rather than working or helping Cleo. Despite that, Slappy tries to mend his relationship with Cleo’s mother.
He also tries to convince Cleo to return home with him, but she does not give him an answer just yet. That is the last time Slappy sees Cleo, as she goes missing that very night.
A suspect in Cleo’s murder case
Slappy remains unaware of how Cleo was drawn into Summer’s assassination attempt, but after Cleo’s body is found, he does figure out that she bet on a number on Christmas.
Slappy knows Cleo too well and understands that she would not have placed a bet unless she knew the winning number. He assumes that Gordon had her killed because of that.
At her funeral, he holds everyone accountable, including Gordon. Slappy is unafraid in his accusations against those he believes wronged Cleo, only stopping when his son pleads with him.
He shares his suspicions with Maddie when she approaches him but refuses to go on record, aware of how dangerous Gordon is.
While Slappy suspects Gordon of murdering Cleo, everyone else dismisses his claims and unfairly suspects him simply because he was the last person seen with her.
After Slappy is charged with Cleo’s murder, Maddie visits him in prison and tries to get him to go on record. She reveals that Cleo is alive to provoke Slappy into turning against her and giving an interview.
However, Slappy loves Cleo too much to betray her. He trusts that she has her reasons for faking her death and allowing him to be imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.
Slappy’s trust is not misplaced; Cleo plans to turn herself in to get him released. However, she does not have to when Reggie takes the fall for her murder.
Slappy is released from prison. His faith in Cleo strengthens their relationship. He then moves to Paris with Cleo and his children to start afresh.
Also Read: Cleo Johnson: Lady in the Lake character explained