The truth is that Grand Theft Auto 5 needs no introduction. It’s a giant game that, as one of the most profitable forms of entertainment in history, has had a seismic impact on the video game industry and media in general. With the ever-increasing popularity of multiplayer, GTA onlineand its planned existence on at least three different generations of consoles (so far), it’s clear the game isn’t going anywhere.
But there is something else that will not go anywhere single game mode. Unfortunately for fans of the satirical crime saga, developer Rockstar Games never released single-player DLC for the main game. Still, it’s an outstanding story with plenty of sharp criticism and colorful characters.
Updated March 23, 2023 by Axel Bosso: We always return to the city of Los Santos. While we await official announcements regarding the next installment in the series, we thought it would be a good time to check back in on GTA 5’s characters in all their unique ways.
Beware of some spoilers for some characters here.
11 Franklin Clinton
-
age:
25 -
Height:
6 feet -
Occupation:
Robber, Drug dealer, Repomen -
Interesting Facts:
Does not play tennis. Will apologize after running into animals… sometimes.
Franklin is the youngest of the main characters in Grand Theft Auto 5 and probably the most likable.
Born sometime in 1988, he had a difficult childhood with an absent father and a drug addict mother. At the beginning of the game, he tries to make an honest living, but later he joins the other two main characters and becomes a bank robber as well. It’s a pessimistic turn of events, but it’s Grand Theft Auto after all—crime pays.
10 Michael De Santa
-
age:
48 (or 45) -
Height:
6 feet 2 inches -
Occupation:
Bank robber, film producer -
Interesting Facts:
Plays darts well. Deafness in the right ear.
Michael de Santa, born Michael Townley, is a semi-retired bank robber who is forced to return to a life of crime at the start of the game. He may be an introductory character, but the jury is still out on whether he’ll beat the other two playable characters in the popularity contest. Maybe he’s soft enough to get the most votes.
Then again, he does have some mystery to him, considering he has a fake tombstone that says he was born in 1965, while all his friends and family call him 45, meaning the year he was born 1968.
9 Trevor Phillips
-
age:
Unknown -
Height:
6 feet 1.25 inches -
Occupation:
Bank robber, shooter, drug dealer, strip club owner -
Interesting Facts:
Canadian. Prohibited at Los Santos International Airport. Takes care of his mother.
The third and final main character in Grand Theft Auto 5 is Trevor Phillips. In short, Trevor is a psychopath.
He was born in Canada, and although there is no canonical date of his birth, he claims to have “grown up in five states, two countries, fourteen different homes, eight parents, three foster homes, two correctional facilities, one beautiful, damaged flower mother. “
8 Amanda De Santa
-
age:
43 -
Height:
5 feet 8 inches -
Occupation:
Former exotic dancer -
Interesting Facts:
Secretly has a Hush Mush dating profile.
Amanda de Santa, or Amanda Townley as she was known before Michael’s FIB affairs led to the entire family being thrown into witness protection, isn’t a playable character, but she’s important nonetheless.
She is Michael’s wife, the mother of his two children, and is a key figure in several of the game’s missions. Eventually, though, she and Michael separate and divorce, which is probably for the best—it doesn’t look like a happy marriage.
7 Jimmy De Santa
-
age:
20 -
Height:
Unknown (but shorter than Michael) -
Occupation:
Unemployed -
Interesting Facts:
Plays video games; wants to be a comedian, not funny.
Jimmy, the younger of Michael’s two children, is a 20-year-old homebody who seems to enjoy playing video games more than anything else. He’s pretty lazy and rude, but with parents like Michael and Amanda, it’s understandable why he grew up so dysfunctional.
As the game progresses, he makes some attempts to at least pull himself together.
6 Tracy De Santa
-
age:
22 -
Height:
Unknown -
Occupation:
Participant of the “Fame or Shame” competition. -
Interesting Facts:
Sometimes you can be caught smoking
Born in 1991, Tracy is the older of Michael’s two children and can often be found arguing with the family or complaining about her brother while at the de Santa household. If she doesn’t, she’s probably busy watching TV or sunbathing by the pool.
Like most of the characters in Grand Theft Auto 5, she is rude and aggressive, but Michael clearly has a soft spot for her and can sometimes be prompted to give her some money.
5 Leicester Crest
-
age:
Unknown -
Height:
Unknown -
Occupation:
Computer hacker, organizer of robberies, former owner of Darnell Bros. sewing factory -
Interesting Facts:
Brews moonshine. Has eczema and asthma.
Leicester Crest is a a key figure in your criminal enterprises in Grand Theft Auto 5. Not only is he the gang’s master hacker, but he also does much of the planning and research for the heists you’ll commit.
He’s a talkative guy, but can otherwise be a mysterious figure. His age is never stated outright, but is instead implied to be lying about it in Lifeinvader, the in-game social media app.
4 Lamar Davis
-
age:
26 -
Height:
6 feet 7 inches -
Occupation:
Repo, thief, drug dealer -
Interesting Facts:
Knocks back cops instead of shooting them. Does not approve of hunting.
Lamar Davis is Franklin’s best friend and serves as one of Franklin’s main mission enforcers at the beginning of the game.
He’s a fun guy compared to Franklin’s relatively stoic demeanor. He is also extremely tall, which Franklin often comments on. Best of all, he introduces you to Chop, his faithful (and cute) Rottweiler.
3 Devin Weston
-
age:
51 -
Height:
6 feet 2 inches -
Occupation:
Business Tycoon -
Interesting Facts:
Co-owner of the Los Santos Corkers baseball team. A huge classmate.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is full of bad guys, but Devin Weston tops that list. He is extremely rich and manages various businesses, but makes life much more difficult for your favorite characters.
Of course, “difficult” might be an understatement, as Weston does indeed send a small army of Merriweather soldiers to Michael’s house to kill his wife and daughter in revenge. He is the main antagonist throughout the game until he meets his fate.
2 Steve Haynes
-
age:
38 -
Height:
6 feet 3 inches -
Occupation:
FIB agent, TV presenter -
Interesting Facts:
Lives with mother
Devin Weston’s partner in crime (literally) is an FIB agent and the game’s secondary antagonist. He joined the FIB (Federal Bureau of Investigation) in 1993, but was also on Devin’s payroll for a long time.
Throughout the game, he forces the three heroes to perform numerous illegal tasks to avoid getting his hands dirty, but in the end, it didn’t save him. In the end, like Weston, he bites the dust and remains 38 forever.
1 Chop
-
age:
Unknown -
Height:
The size of a Rottweiler -
Occupation:
Best friend -
Interesting Facts:
Barks continuously on the radio
Grand Theft Auto 5 was a bold move for AAA video games as it featured three playable heroes. But Chop is even better than Michael, Franklin or Trevor.
You can play as him for a short time, and then he will follow you as a faithful companion. He’s technically Lamar’s dog, but lives with Franklin for most of the game. He’s a good guy!