Crossword Genius

Poe character, American good guy deprived of love (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

usher

'poe character' is the definition.
(from Poe's story The Fall of the House of Usher)

'american good guy deprived of love' is the wordplay.
'american' becomes 'us' (abbreviation for United States).
'good guy' becomes 'hero' (I've seen this before).
'deprived of' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'love' becomes 'o' (In tennis, 'love' means 'zero').
'hero' with 'o' taken out is 'her'.
'us'+'her'='USHER'

(Other definitions for usher that I've seen before include "One conducts people to seats" , "Theatre/cinema worker" , "Guide at wedding" , "Escort (to a seat)" , "Doorkeeper; one showing to place" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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