# What is a "Madigan Complex?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-madigan-complex/359281 "2006-06-03T12:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-madigan-complex/359281/1 "2006-06-03T12:42:20Z")
In another thread in MPSIMS, I’m discussing a loony poster on IMDB called “Mike\_Passion,” who uses a whole plethora of bizarre terminology. Discussing Angus Scrimm, he writes: \*For those who have seen him in person know that he’s a simpering old devil with a Madigan complex and a man who uses phony kinetics that lacks confidence. \* What is a “Madigan complex?” ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-madigan-complex/359281/2 "2006-06-03T13:14:28Z")
This is purely a guess, since I’ve never heard of a Madigan complex, and I get nothing when I google on it. There’s a 1968 film and a one-season TV show (1972-1973) starring Richard Widmark about a police detective named Dan Madigan. The summaries on the IMDb about the movie and the TV show (neither of which have I ever seen myself) say that Madigan was an efficient but extremely brutal detective. Perhaps to have a Madigan complex means to get your job done by terrorizing everyone around you. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-madigan-complex/359281/3 "2006-06-03T15:28:34Z")
Perhaps [Elvira](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061620/maindetails) [Madigan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvira_Madigan). /played Mozart Piano Concerto #21 in college.