Paul Krendler

Paul Krendler is a fictional character appearing in the latter two novels in Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lecter series, The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. In the film adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs, Krendler is played by Ron Vawter. In the years between this film and the sequel, Hannibal, Vawter had died from complications due to AIDS and was replaced by Ray Liotta.

Krendler is an agent of the U.S. Department Of Justice. In The Silence of the Lambs the FBI is attempting to track down serial killer Jame Gumb, also known as "Buffalo Bill." Jack Crawford has sent trainee Clarice Starling to interview Hannibal Lecter to gain a psychological profile of the killer. The case gains new urgency when Gumb kidnaps Catherine Martin, the daughter of a Republican senator. Crawford figures the best way to secure Lecter's cooperation is to offer him a transfer to another mental hospital, away from the ambitious and self-serving Dr. Chilton. Lecter accepts, but the offer turns out to be fake. Although Starling's meetings were supposed to be confidential, Dr. Chilton has been taping her conversations with Lecter, and he engineers his own transfer plan with Senator Martin, promising Lecter a transfer in exchange for Buffalo Bill's identity. Lecter accepts, and the case is taken out of the FBI's hands and placed under the jurisdiction of the Justice Department, led by Krendler. Gumb had been the lover of one of Lecter's former patients, so he provides truthful information about him, except for his name. The crucial evidence, however, he reserves for Starling, and it is she who tracks Gumb down, not Krendler. He appears at her graduation, somewhat chagrined that she took credit for rescuing Catherine Martin.

After Starling is involved in a botched [...] raid, which results not only in the death of the suspect - Evelda Drumgo - but also a fellow field officer, Hannibal picks up Starling's good friend, John Brigham. Krendler is called in to investigate any reckless or negligent behavior on Starling's part, and sees this as an opportunity to destroy her career. While it was not her fault, he blames her for causing the mess and [...] a mother holding her child, despite the fact that Drumgo was trying to kill her. The publicity that Starling receives attracts the attention of one of Lecter's former victims, Mason Verger, and he recruits Krendler in his scheme to incriminate Starling in a bid to lure Lecter out of hiding so that Verger can exact his revenge. To this end, Krendler plants incriminating (and forged) letters from Lecter, indicating an intimate relationship between him and Starling, and creating the appearance that she is withholding evidence from the FBI. However, Starling is not fired but put on suspension of duty, much to his frustration, but she is now unable to stop Verger's men.

However, this scheme does attract Lecter's attention. In an attempt to contact Starling, Lecter is captured by Verger. Starling rescues him but is wounded in the attempt. Verger is killed by his sister, Margot, while Lecter takes Starling back to his rented home. Having figured out Krendler's role in the conspiracy, Lecter recruits Starling in avenging themselves on him. He kidnaps Krendler, drugs him, and performs a craniotomy upon him. Lecter and a drugged Starling then feast upon the brains of the alive-but-delirious Krendler. Krendler is eventually shot with a crossbow and killed.