The Grand Theft Auto series was first released in 1997 for the PlayStation, and the series has seen several big changes since. The idea behind the first game was to create a police chase simulator, and this naturally grew into a series that explored some of the most deplorable acts found in the criminal underworld. Now taking place in a fully realized open world, the Grand Theft Auto games now all come with new ways to cause destruction in this incredibly detailed franchise.

While a lot has changed in the series, one of the primary focuses from the development team has always been humor. This humor can be found all over the Grand Theft Auto series, but it is most commonly found in the characters. GTA games have some of the most memorable NPCs, and you will not see any bigger personalities in another game series.

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8 Ken Rosenberg

Vice City & San Andreas

Ken Rosenberg is the neurotic lawyer who helps out the player character at the start of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. After a drug deal gone wrong, Rosenberg and Tommy Vercetti have to work together to find out who betrayed them before their boss starts asking questions about the money they owe.

Since Vercetti is new to the city, it is up to Rosenberg to point him toward all the movers and shakers who could help them in their current predicament. He mainly does this by fearing the worst and hiding in his office, but Ken Rosenberg is the first NPC many players will have the chance to interact with in a GTA game.

7 Lester Crest

GTA 5 & GTA Online

Out of all the characters in GTA 5, Lester Crest is possibly the NPC that players will most recognize. He is the brains behind all the heists that the player undertakes, uniting the three protagonists with one common acquaintance.

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Lester is abrasive and often rude. However, he has to be when dealing with the likes of Trevor Michael, and Franklin. He appears in a large portion of the main story in GTA 5, and even makes an appearance as an NPC in GTA Online. As such, he is probably the GTA NPC with the most screen time.

6 Brucie Kibbutz

GTA 4, The Ballad Of Gay Tony, & GTA Online

If a player's first experience with GTA is Grand Theft Auto 4, then Brucie Kibbutz may come as a surprise. However, most seasoned GTA fans are already familiar with these louder than life NPCs when it is time for Nico to make nice with Brucie in the main campaign.

Brucie Kibbutz is a muscle clad gym fanatic, one who seems oblivious to his own overt sexuality. As such, this leads to everything he says and does becoming some sort of overcompensation. His missions often involve racing cars or beating up some thugs as Brucie screams at the player over the phone.

5 Toni Cipriani

GTA 3 & Liberty City Stories (Playable)

Since Grand Theft Auto 3 was the first in the series to make the jump to 3D, the developers had to work hard to inject some additional personality into each NPC. Players can see just how well that idea worked when they run into Toni Cipriani during the main story.

Toni is one of the higher-ups working for the Leone crime family. He is loud, brash, and doesn't take any nonsense. As such, it is clear as to why he holds his position. In fact, players can learn how he got to where he is as Toni Cipriani is the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.

4 Roman Bellic

GTA 4 & The Ballad Of Gay Tony

Roman Bellic is the reason the player character in GTA 4, Nico Bellic, leaves his country behind and heads to Liberty City. Unfortunately, the rumors of Roman's new-found riches were greatly exaggerated, and Nico finds that he has to spend more time bailing his cousin out of trouble than building a life for himself. Roman is cowardly, irresponsible, and childlike. Fortunately, he is too likable and innocent to get on players' nerves. Plus, who wouldn't want to go bowling with him?

3 Lance Vance

Vice City & Vice City Stories

Tommy Vercetti is in a bit of a bind when he runs into Lance Vance in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Luckily, Lance is everything the player character needs at that time. He is resourceful, confident, and effortlessly cool. The pair even managed to take over a large portion of the city together.

Sadly, this double act is cut short when it is revealed that Lance is the one who compromised the deal at the beginning of the game and is the very person Tommy has been looking for. While this should turn Lance Vance from an NPC to a villain, the character is just too fun to hate.

2 Lazlow Jones

GTA 3, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA 4, GTA 5, GTA Online, Liberty City Stories, Vice City Stories, Episodes From Liberty City

Some NPCs in GTA are memorable for being too likable, even if they are involved in some extremely illicit activities. However, players will find that there are no redeeming qualities for Lazlow Jones. This TV show host is an egotistical, womanizing, sexist man-child who doesn't like to hear the word no.

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In fact, the developers who created Lazlow Jones did such a good job at making the player hate him, that it feels even better to run the NPC off the road and beat him senseless in one of the story missions. However, his presence does have the upside of bringing Michael and Trevor back together.

1 Big Smoke

San Andreas

There are few characters in video games that are as quotable as Big Smoke. As part of the Grove Street Gang, Big Smoke has some memorable lines at the very start of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Whether it is ordering food or asking CJ to "follow the damn train", Big Smoke has become a huge presence in today's meme culture.

Although Big Smoke looks like a big teddy bear, there is more going on with him than players would guess. He double-crosses the gang as part of the main story and is secretly one of the smartest NPCs in the series.

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