Grand Theft Auto series is one of the best open-world games ever, and a big reason for that is its characters. From the start of the 3D era, the games have featured some of the best protagonists and backstories ever. The 3D and HD GTA games have 11 main protagonists in total.
These range from popular protagonists such as Tommy Vercetti and Carl Johnson to Franklin and Trevor Philips. Let's take a look at every main character in GTA's history and talk about their first and last impressions.
11 Toni Cipriani - Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
First Line - Toni Cipriani may be one of the most underrated GTA protagonists in the entire Grand Theft Auto history. In Liberty City Stories, Toni begins his grind as he drops out of the taxi and heads to Salvatore's Gentlemen's Club. He hopes to take a good reward for helping the family and laying low. However, Salvatore orders him to take it easy and get in touch with Vincenzo "Lucky" Cilli to get a job. Toni is shocked by this and responds, "But, Mr. Leone, I thought we got history, I mean I've done a lot for this family. And now, you're expecting me to take orders from this... this... this... Well, it just doesn't seem... right."
Last Line - The story for Toni ends in a similar tone as he helps Salvatore deal with the Sicilian Mafia and gets a lot of praise. The family godfather tells him that he has been a good worker and will receive his half million. Toni gets confused as Salvatore had previously vowed to pay him one million dollars. He says, "Half? Woah! I thought you, uh, said a couple." Salvatore cuts him and says, "I said one million dollars. But what? You can put a price on friendship? The kind of frienship you and me have? Shame on you! Come here. You're a good kid, but shame on you."
10 Luis Fernando Lopez - Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad Of Gay Tony
First Line - Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad Of Gay Tony's protagonist Luis Lopez is a greatly written character. Players first meet him in the 'I Luv LC' mission, which takes place during the heist from GTA 4. Luis is on the ground and waiting for it to be over when the guy lying next to him asks his name and tells him that he's going to pull out a gun on the robbers. Luis responds, "It's Luis, man. I don't think that's such a good idea." A few minutes later, the whole thing blows over, and all Luis could say was, "Diablo, que mienda. Sh*t."
Last Line - In the game's final mission, "Departure Time," players have to destroy a bunch of drug shipments and catch up with Bulgarin's jet to kill him. After that's over, Tony will meet Luis near a bench and tell him, "I'm proud of you, man. Thank you. But I don't want you to get a big head. I don't want you to go change; become a mega star, go to Vinewood, write a blog." Luis reassures his boss and responds, "You're a pill-popping old queen, man. I'm a murdering maniac. But we survived, bro... we survived."
9 Franklin Clinton - Grand Theft Auto 5
First Line - GTA 5 is the most recent game in the series, and Franklin needs no introduction. Nobody can forget the first mission where players steal the sports cars and race Lamar to Simeon's shop. The mission starts after Michael's therapy cutscene, as Lamar and Franklin figure out the location for the job. Before they meet Michael and ask him for directions, Lamar tells Franklin, "Man, sh*t gotta be around here somewhere." Franklin sarcastically responds, "Unless they buried it under the sand, fool. Another brilliant Lamar Davis production."
Last Line - Assuming 'C - Death wish' is the canon ending, Franklin's final few dialogues come when the trio is taking care of Devin. Franklin gets off his bike and says, "Hey, my bad, homie. I picked C, ain't that a b*ch?" After that, the trio kills Devin and ponders on what's next. As Michael and Trevor proceed to debate, Frankin cuts them off and says, "Look, man. You two motherf*ers terrify me of that middle age. I'm good." Franklin leaves the scene, and that's a wrap.
8 Johnny Klebitz - Grand Theft Auto: The Lost And The Damned
First Line - The story of Johnny Klebitz starts in Grand Theft Auto: The Lost And The Damned as he walks out of The Lost Brotherhood motorcycle club with other members. Johnny says his first line, "Come on guys, come on, let's go." The first sequence of the game shows the gang riding through the streets of Liberty City and reaching club president Billy Grey's location.
Last Line - While a big part of Johhny's story ends in Grand Theft Auto: The Lost And The Damned, his actual final dialogue is in GTA 5. During the mission, "Mr. Philips" players see Johnny, and he's pissed at Trevor for abusing Ashley. He screams at Trevor, "Trevor! You been with my girl again?" he adds, "I'm speaking with you, a**hole." Sadly, this is the last time players see Johnny, as Mr. Philips stomps him to death on the spot.
7 Victor Vance - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
First Line - Most gamers remember Victor Vance from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. Apart from being Lance Vance's brother, Victor is an army soldier, and that is how he first appears. The game begins with the mission "Soldier," where Vic is talking to army sergeant Jerry Martinez. He says, "Vic Vance reporting for duty, sir!" The sergeant asks him why he has decided to lace up the boots, and Vic responds, "I got a difficult family. I got responsibilities."
Last Line - Victor's last few lines appear in the climax of Vice City Stories after he has killed Diego and Martinez. Once the mission is over, Lance arrives at the scene to meet his brother, and the two decide to lay low. Victor says, "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! Hey, hey, hey listen. Now that things are straight with Diaz, we should get out of town or lay low for a while, you know?" Lance agrees, and the two leave the scene.
6 Niko Bellic - Grand Theft Auto 4
First Line - Like many other GTA protagonists, Niko's journey begins when he arrives in a new city for the very first time. Before boarding out of the Platypus cargo ship, Niko knocks on Dave Bosoy's door to call him out. He says, "Dave, come on. Come on Dave." After that, Niko heads out and talks about his cousin Roman, saying, "Yes - he's got the lot - house, women, cars, parties... he writes me in these wild emails, and after I got into trouble, I thought maybe uh... and then I got this gig, and I spend the next seven months with you fine people and I forget... After the war finished, I couldn't get a job, nobody could... so I, uh, did some dumb things and got involved with some idiots."
Last Line - At the end of Niko's journey in Grand Theft Auto 4, he manages to take his revenge and kill Pegorino. After that, Niko utters, "So this is what the dream feels like, this is the victory we longed for." In the post-mission call, Niko talks to his cousin and says he is responsible for Kate's death. Roman tells him to stay close and reveals that Mallorie is pregnant. Niko responds, "Congratulations, Roman. You'll make a good father. See you soon."
5 Carl Johnson - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
First Line - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an incredibly popular game, which is why everyone remembers CJ's iconic lines, "Ah sh*t, here we go again." However, those were not his first lines in the game. When CJ arrives in San Andreas, he utters, "After five years on the East Coast, it was time to go home." He then picks Sweet's call, who reveals that their mom is dead.
Last Line - San Andreas's final mission is "End of the Line," where players kill Smoke, get rid of Los Santos Vagos gangsters, and eliminate LSPD officers. Once that is done, the Johnson family gets inside the house and talks about what's next. Kendl asks CJ, "Carl, where are ya off to now?, to which he replies, "Fittin' to hit the block, see what's happening."
4 Trevor Philips - Grand Theft Auto 5
First Line - Trevor Philips from Grand Theft Auto 5 has one of the wildest openings for any character in GTA history. However, players first meet him in the Prologue. During that mission, Trevor and his buddies are robbing a bank and are trying to scare the hostages. Trevor says, "Aarrgh! Open the door, or they'll get worse than hurt!" Michael then blows open the vault, and Trevor adds, "Haha! Show me the money!"
Last Line - Trevor's final few lines come after the trio has taken care of Devin. He says, "So now what?" Michael responds by talking about Hypocrisy, which makes Mr. Philips say, "Jesus. Your therapist has a lot to answer for." The cutscene ends as Trevor is left alone without a ride, and credits roll up.
3 Michael De Santa - Grand Theft Auto 5
First Line - Like Trevor, Michael's first real appearance happens in the Prologue. In the mission, the trio is robbing a bank and controlling the hostages. Here is when Michael utters his first lines, "Alright, everybody pays attention, no one gets hurt."
Last Line - Michael's story ends with Trevor as well. In the 3rd ending, after the trio has taken care of Devin, Michael and Trevor get in a little argument. Franklin cuts them off by telling them, "Look, man. You two motherf*ers terrify me of that middle age. I'm good." Michael hits him back with, "You're right to be afraid, Franklin." He reaffirms, "Be very afraid, Franklin!" After that, Michael leaves the scene but not before telling Trevor, "I'm getting too old for this nonsense."
2 Tommy Vercetti - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
First Line - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's first cutscenes shows Tommy arriving in the city to meet Forelli's family lawyer Ken Rosenberg. After that, everyone heads to the meet point for the deal. Things go wrong as Diaz's men interfere, and Tommy escapes with Ken in the car. Ken says, "I poke my head out of the gutter for one freakin' second, and fate shovels sh*t in my face!" Tommy responds, "Go get some sleep." He then adds, "I'll drop by your office tomorrow and we can start sorting this mess out."
Last Line - In the final mission of Vice City, players have to kill Lance and then Sonny Forelli. Once that's over, Tommy sits down on the stairs of his mansion and talks to the lawyer. Ken states, "we're in charge...I mean, that you're in charge. Oh, Tommy!" And Mr. Vercetti replies, "You know, Ken. I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful business relationship... After all, you're a conniving, backstabbing, two-bit thief, and I'm a convicted psychotic killer and drug dealer."
1 Claude - Grand Theft Auto 3
Claude is the only protagonist in the series who doesn't have a first line or the last line. However, just because he is mute in the game doesn't mean he lacks a character. Claude can be described as a drifter who first appears in San Andreas during a mission. He is calm, happy, and very young at the time.
By the end of his journey in GTA 3, Claude turns into this crazy badass and kills everyone who has done him wrong. What happens to him after GTA 3 isn't known. Although Rockstar Games have previously stated, "He certainly isn’t dead. What else became of him, we don’t know."
That's all, folks.
Grand Theft Auto 5 was released on September 17, 2013, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and last-generation consoles.
