diff --git a/internal/beads/beads.go b/internal/beads/beads.go
index 736b9c08..7cee91bc 100644
--- a/internal/beads/beads.go
+++ b/internal/beads/beads.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ type Issue struct {
 	Priority    int      `json:"priority"`
 	Type        string   `json:"issue_type"`
 	CreatedAt   string   `json:"created_at"`
+	CreatedBy   string   `json:"created_by,omitempty"`
 	UpdatedAt   string   `json:"updated_at"`
 	ClosedAt    string   `json:"closed_at,omitempty"`
 	Parent      string   `json:"parent,omitempty"`
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ type CreateOptions struct {
 	Priority    int    // 0-4
 	Description string
 	Parent      string
+	Actor       string // Who is creating this issue (populates created_by)
 }
 
 // UpdateOptions specifies options for updating an issue.
@@ -315,6 +317,9 @@ func (b *Beads) Create(opts CreateOptions) (*Issue, error) {
 	if opts.Parent != "" {
 		args = append(args, "--parent="+opts.Parent)
 	}
+	if opts.Actor != "" {
+		args = append(args, "--actor="+opts.Actor)
+	}
 
 	out, err := b.run(args...)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -534,6 +539,7 @@ func (b *Beads) GetOrCreateHandoffBead(role string) (*Issue, error) {
 		Type:        "task",
 		Priority:    2,
 		Description: "", // Empty until first handoff
+		Actor:       role,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating handoff bead: %w", err)
diff --git a/internal/cmd/molecule_lifecycle.go b/internal/cmd/molecule_lifecycle.go
index c948516a..3cbf284c 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/molecule_lifecycle.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/molecule_lifecycle.go
@@ -476,6 +476,7 @@ squashed_at: %s
 		Description: digestDesc,
 		Type:        "task",
 		Priority:    4, // P4 - backlog priority for digests
+		Actor:       target,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("creating digest: %w", err)
diff --git a/internal/cmd/patrol_helpers.go b/internal/cmd/patrol_helpers.go
index 8e6ac8d3..bf8c5f8e 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/patrol_helpers.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/patrol_helpers.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func autoSpawnPatrol(cfg PatrolConfig) (string, error) {
 	}
 
 	// Create the patrol wisp
-	cmdSpawn := exec.Command("bd", "--no-daemon", "wisp", "create", protoID)
+	cmdSpawn := exec.Command("bd", "--no-daemon", "wisp", "create", protoID, "--actor", cfg.RoleName)
 	cmdSpawn.Dir = cfg.BeadsDir
 	var stdoutSpawn, stderrSpawn bytes.Buffer
 	cmdSpawn.Stdout = &stdoutSpawn
diff --git a/internal/cmd/role.go b/internal/cmd/role.go
index e25bdab1..0a7a1d71 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/role.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/role.go
@@ -230,6 +230,42 @@ func parseRoleString(s string) (Role, string, string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// ActorString returns the actor identity string for beads attribution.
+// Format matches beads created_by convention:
+//   - Simple roles: "mayor", "deacon"
+//   - Rig-specific: "gastown/witness", "gastown/refinery"
+//   - Workers: "gastown/crew/max", "gastown/polecats/Toast"
+func (info RoleInfo) ActorString() string {
+	switch info.Role {
+	case RoleMayor:
+		return "mayor"
+	case RoleDeacon:
+		return "deacon"
+	case RoleWitness:
+		if info.Rig != "" {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%s/witness", info.Rig)
+		}
+		return "witness"
+	case RoleRefinery:
+		if info.Rig != "" {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%s/refinery", info.Rig)
+		}
+		return "refinery"
+	case RolePolecat:
+		if info.Rig != "" && info.Polecat != "" {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%s/polecats/%s", info.Rig, info.Polecat)
+		}
+		return "polecat"
+	case RoleCrew:
+		if info.Rig != "" && info.Polecat != "" {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%s/crew/%s", info.Rig, info.Polecat)
+		}
+		return "crew"
+	default:
+		return string(info.Role)
+	}
+}
+
 // getRoleHome returns the canonical home directory for a role.
 func getRoleHome(role Role, rig, polecat, townRoot string) string {
 	switch role {
diff --git a/internal/doctor/patrol_check.go b/internal/doctor/patrol_check.go
index d3191b75..4050ca0e 100644
--- a/internal/doctor/patrol_check.go
+++ b/internal/doctor/patrol_check.go
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ func (c *PatrolMoleculesExistCheck) Fix(ctx *CheckContext) error {
 				"--title="+mol,
 				"--description="+desc,
 				"--priority=2",
+				"--actor=gt-doctor",
 			)
 			cmd.Dir = rigPath
 			if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/mail/router.go b/internal/mail/router.go
index fc5e5b83..497b06bf 100644
--- a/internal/mail/router.go
+++ b/internal/mail/router.go
@@ -144,6 +144,9 @@ func (r *Router) Send(msg *Message) error {
 		args = append(args, "--labels", strings.Join(labels, ","))
 	}
 
+	// Add actor for attribution (sender identity)
+	args = append(args, "--actor", msg.From)
+
 	// Add --wisp flag for ephemeral messages (stored in single DB, filtered from JSONL export)
 	if r.shouldBeWisp(msg) {
 		args = append(args, "--wisp")
diff --git a/internal/rig/manager.go b/internal/rig/manager.go
index 19085797..100fab2b 100644
--- a/internal/rig/manager.go
+++ b/internal/rig/manager.go
@@ -534,6 +534,7 @@ func (m *Manager) seedPatrolMoleculesManually(rigPath string) error {
 			"--title="+mol.title,
 			"--description="+mol.desc,
 			"--priority=2",
+			"--actor=gt-rig-init",
 		)
 		cmd.Dir = rigPath
 		if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {