GTA 5 characters, especially the three main ones you play as, have become household names. Players have been enjoying the game’s antihero and rogue protagonists for nearly a decade. Their brash, very illegal antics have somehow managed to get into our hearts like a group morally-questionable best buddies.
This group of characters is surprisingly complex given the amount of killing, explosions and bravado that takes place under the massive belt of GT 5. There are many nuanced characters beneath the buckle, each with their own motivations and conflicts of interest to help them succeed in myriad missions.
It’s possible that you haven’t played the game for a while, and you want to jump back in an old save file. You might also be looking for GTA 5 cheats because the game is available on both the Xbox Series X and the PS5.
We wouldn’t blame you for forgetting things after so many years. As you return to Los Santos, your memory will be a little rusty. This may sound familiar? Don’t worry! Here’s a refresher that will teach you all about the GTA 5 characters you will be seeing.
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All the important GTA 5 characters
GTA 5 characters: Playable characters
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
GTA 5 will see you as the leader of three different men living in Los Santos.
These three characters have their own personalities and missions. From the hotheaded Trevor in his derelict car to Michael, the maritally estranged alcoholic, to Trevor, who is a bit of a hothead.
Michael De Santa
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
Michael is the first character you control. He’s also one of three you play through the game. Michael, like the rest of the crew is a product his environment. He was a child of an alcoholic father and little income. His poor temperament meant that he couldn’t play professional football.
He finds himself now a wealthy retired man with a fake identity, a family who doesn’t love and a steadily declining mental state. Trevor and he have a history together of committing crime which is what informs much of GTA 5’s story. He can be quite dangerous and will often use techniques from his past life to get the results he desires.
Trevor Philips
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
Trevor is a wild, impulsive man who pursues his own goals. His wild personality made him a dangerous criminal, but also made him a bad friend, likely to point out the conflict between him and Michael.
He is the Wild Card character, and an effective parody of the average GTA player. He is a strong, agile player and possesses excellent flying skills.
Trevor is not an easy man to predict, but he’s not completely unmotivated. Although you may not be able predict what Trevor will do, he will tell you.
Franklin Clinton
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Franklin, the youngest of the trio, is Michael’s protegee after they have bonded over a car fraud. He dreams of leaving his home and joining Michael and Trevor to help him get out.
Franklin is an exceptionally skilled driver. This skill was acquired through his repo job. Franklin’s youth and his experiences have shaped him into a highly perceptive individual.
His story is heavily influenced by his friends and the actions they lead him to.
Amanda De Santa
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
GTA 5’s most important characters aren’t in the main cast.
As pivotal as the De Santa family fold, Lester the mastermind and others, supporting roles can also be important. Before you go out on the streets, here are some names you might want to remember.
Amanda De Santa
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
Amanda De Santa is Michael’s wife in GTA 5. She’s exhausted and resentful of her life. She cheats and spends too much to make up the difference. The whole family is in the same rut as Michael. He feels like he is having the same problems as his wife, even though he attends therapy during the game.
She often acts out of a desire to find something new, rather than from her failing marriage.
Jimmy De Santa
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Jimmy De Santa is a spoilt and privileged child who lives out his fantasies online. He prefers to play online and indulge his fantasies, which often means he is a bit disconnected from reality.
As his mother, he feels a disconnect in his relationship to Michael that causes him to act against his father.
Tracey De Santa
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
Jimmy’s older sister Tracey de Santa, is still suffering from many of the same emotional issues as her family. She was forced to move from a trailer park to a luxurious mansion in the city.
Due to her lifestyle choices, she struggles to gain the approval of her family and feels somewhat misunderstood within her home. It could be irreparable if her relationship with Michael is so strained.
Lamar Davis
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
Franklin’s best friend, Lamar, is his racing partner at the beginning of the game. He races Franklin around the city and pushes him to do daringer things. He is a driving force in Franklin’s life, normalizing his life of danger and crime.
They were friends in high school, and they even worked together at the beginning of the game.
Dave Norton
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GTA 5 has a close relationship between Dave and Michael. Michael was a member the FIB, a spoof of the FBI. He worked with him and betrayed his friends to get a better life. This led to Dave helping Michael fake death.
His career soared after this betrayal, earning him fame and money in return. Like many characters in GTA 5, he is a fraudster, cheater, and stealthy. He just has a better façade.
Steve Haines
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Steve Haines, Dave Norton’s superior at the FIB, is incredibly corrupt. To fulfill his personal whims, he uses his own FIB division to accomplish his personal goals.
He is a public figure, but he is actually on the payroll of Los Santos’ elite and doing their bidding. Devin Weston, a power-hungry benefactor, is one of his most powerful benefactors.
Devin Weston
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Devin, the antagonist in GTA 5, is a powerful billionaire. He appears to be a willing collaborator with the central trio but his wealth should reveal the extent to which he will go to to make a profit.
He is a wealth-oriented individual who cares more about his wealth than anything else, including the lives of Trevor, Micheal and Franklin.
Lester Crest
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
Lester, a criminal mastermind, is often unable due to his disability to carry out his plans. He is a key member of the main crew and helps plan heists as well as giving Franklin assassination jobs. He is able to manipulate the stock markets and uses the deaths famous and wealthy people to his advantage.
You can also find him in GTA Online giving you useful information. His disposition is not fooling you. He’s among the most connected and well-informed people in Los Santos, which makes him dangerous.
