Death Wish/Characters

Characters in the Death Wish films:

Paul Kersey


An architect and Korean war veteran from New York who started killing criminals after his wife and daughter were attacked inside his own apartment. He started his vigilante career by killing bit-time bad guys (muggers, rapists etc.), moved to street gangs and by the end of the series takes on heavily armed mafiosos.

"Played by: Charles Bronson"


 * Anti-Hero
 * Badass: And he just gets better when he gets older.
 * Badass Longcoat
 * Badass Mustache: The trademark Bronson 'stache.
 * Beware the Nice Ones: Who'd thought that some nebbish architect guy would end up taking down several criminal organizations?
 * Cartwright Curse: No woman is safe from harm around Paul. Except for Geri, who left him due to his violent lifestyle.
 * Cool Guns: Kersey's Weapon of Choice in the third movie is the .475 Wildey Survivor.
 * The Gunslinger: A handgun is his weapon of choice.
 * In-Series Nickname: Mr. Vigilante, the New York Vigilante in the first film.
 * Part-Time Hero: Does architect stuff when not shooting criminals.
 * The Stoic
 * Unwitting Pawn: In the fourth film.
 * Vigilante Man: The Trope Codifier.
 * Widower Hero

Manny Fraker
The leader of the unnamed street gang in the third movie.

"Played by: Gavan O'Herlihy"


 * Ax Crazy
 * Big Bad
 * Facial Markings: Just like his cronies, the mark of his gang is on his forehead.

"Nathan White"


The person who hires Paul in the fourth film to take down the major drug rings in Los Angeles. He is actually an ambitious drug dealer under the identity of an absentee news magazine mogul who is seeking to take over the local drug business and tricks Paul to do the dirty work for him.

"Played by: John P. Ryan"


 * Big Bad
 * Cigar Chomper
 * Diabolical Mastermind
 * Easy Impersonation
 * No Name Given: His real name is not revealed.
 * Sir Swearsalot: Is quite a pottymouth after showing his true colors.

Tommy O'Shea
A mobster in the fifth movie who becomes Paul's main target after he kills his new wife.

"Played by: Michael Parks"


 * Big Bad
 * The Don
 * Faux Affably Evil
 * Politically-Incorrect Villain