Cover-Credits:
Grand Theft Auto has always been filled with memorable characters. Their personalities and unique quirks stand out and you remember them long after you’ve finished the game. Apart from your protagonists, you also come across characters who are just as crazy and wild as you are. Here are ten noteworthy characters who stand out from the rest of the bunch.
The Most Iconic GTA Characters of All Time
This list contains both playable characters and NPCs who are cast as your friends and acquaintances. It is not made in any specific order.
Niko Bellic
Niko Bellic stands out as one of the most iconic characters in the GTA series mainly because of his portrayal of realism. He is aware of his past mistakes and he attempts to change his life as he sets foot in Liberty City but his dark past continues to haunt him even in the land of opportunities. He is quick to realize that the American dream is nothing but a pipe dream and takes matters into his own hands.
Roman Bellic
Who else to counter Niko’s seriousness but his cousin Roman Bellic? The combination of Niko and Roman is something you can never really get tired of, except for when he keeps calling you to go bowling every ten seconds. Roman is also very much aware of where he stands in life but he portrays a very happy-go-lucky personality as if he is blissfully unaware, which surprisingly catches on.
Carl Johnson Aka CJ
CJ’s wit is unmatched by any character in the game, be it friendly banter or when there’s an actual gang war going on. He sets foot in the land of San Andreas from Liberty City (yes, from GTA 3) as he’s given the unfortunate news of his mom’s death. He realizes that a lot of things have changed and he decides to stay in hopes of trying to bring Grove Street back to its former glory.
Big Smoke
If you ever played GTA San Andreas before, you will definitely not forget Big Smoke’s order at Cluckin’ Bell. After all, he just wants two number 9s, a number 9 large, a number 6 with extra dip, a number 7, two number 45s, one with cheese, and a large soda. That's not too much, is it?
Sean “Sweet” Johnson
Sweet is the deuteragonist of San Andreas. He’s the leader of the Groce Street Families and the older brother of CJ. Sweet and CJ share a very complicated relationship as we see through the events of San Andreas. Initially, Sweet does not trust his brother, but as the plot progresses, we see the authenticity of these two characters and the bond they share.
Trevor Philips
Trevor is just a mass-murdering, meth-dealing psychopath no big deal right? Playing as Trevor has got to be one of the most exhilarating experiences that GTA has offered. Upon switching to his character, you will never know which ditch or garbage container he’s going to emerge from.
Michael De Santa Aka Michael Townley
Michael is the most important character in GTA 5 as he acts as the bridge between Trevor and Franklin and brings the plot together. Similar to Niko, Michael is also painfully aware of his situation, as seen in his talks with his shrink. Even though he seemingly lives a rich and comfortable life, he wishes to see things go back to the way they were, which is pretty much what happens as the events of GTA 5 uncover.
Lester Crest
Lester is a long-time friend of Micheal and Trevor, as the trio attempted and successfully pulled off several missions in the past until they eventually failed. After that, he moves to Los Santos and lives a very quiet life until it is ruined once again by Michael and Trevor. The gang gets together and re-live their days of nostalgia by pulling off heists yet again.
Anthony “Tony” Prince Aka Gay Tony
Gay Tony is a well-known name across the streets of Liberty City. He owns the Maisonette 9 and Hercules and acts as a mentor and pretty much a best friend to Luis Lopez, the protagonist. As the events of Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony uncovers, we soon realize that Luis and Tony share a very complicated relationship. They argue and fight but they always have each other’s backs at the end of the day.
Tommy Vercetti
Players of Vice City are introduced to Tommy Vercetti after a drug deal goes wrong. We play as the iconic character, trying to figure out what went wrong with the deal. Voiced by the legendary Ray Liotta, Tommy Vercetti is certainly one of the characters who make you feel like you’re living out your gangster life in 70’s Miami.
