The Story Behind GTA's Trevor
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VOICE OVER: Riccardo Tucci
WRITTEN BY: Jarett Burke
He's the psychotic face of one of the most successful video games in history, and oh how we love him! For this video, we're looking at how the character of Grand Theft Auto V protagonist Trevor Phillips was created. We're including the various inspirations that went into his chaotic nature, Steven Ogg's iconic performance, his personality traits, and more!
The Inspiration Behind GTA Characters: Trevor (Essay)
Yes, Rockstar is still updating “GTA Online” in 2020 – a whopping seven years after the game released in 2013. And, yes, people are still playing it, thanks in large part to it being released on PC in 2015, and its highly successful casino heist update added late last year. But, let’s not forget how good the single-player experience was… For the first time in a GTA game, we were able to play as not one protagonist, but three, as we wreaked havoc all over Los Santos; and, we were also introduced to perhaps the most fitting GTA anti-hero ever in Trevor Philips.
Think about it… For once, there wasn’t a huge disconnect between our protagonist’s moral center and the incredibly vile events playing out on screen: Trevor is a psychopath… In GTA, we act like psychopaths… So it made perfect sense! Now, where did the inspiration for this now-iconic character come from, you’re asking? Well, he came from a few sources, so let’s take a look.
Physically, Trevor’s character is pretty much an exact re-creation of the Canadian actor who voiced and mo-capped him in Steven Ogg. Ogg is also known for his work as Simon in “The Walking Dead,” and he has very distinct and memorable facial features just like Trevor; he’s gruff, tough, manly and intimidating all at once! Also, seeing as Trevor was brought to life through motion capture, Ogg had a lot to do with creating Trevor’s sporadic mannerisms and other oddities, such as his hulking walk and loud speech pattern.
The actor was quoted as saying, “Trevor definitely evolved as I performed him … Nuances and character traits began to appear … [and] definitely informed his development throughout the game” (Buzzfeed). Thus, there was a certain level of letting the character evolve on set and that work is directly attributable to Ogg himself.
In terms of external influences, especially in terms of Trevor’s personality, Ogg looked to Tom Hardy’s performance as infamous British criminal Charles Bronson from the 2008 film based on his life. Bronson – whose full name is Charles Arthur Salvador – has been labeled in UK newspapers as “the most violent prisoner in Britain” for his explosive behavior behind bars in which he injured many inmates and guards. In fact, it was his violent behavior once already in prison that eventually led to a lifetime sentence as a repeatedly, repeat offender. Considering that Trevor is also prone to rage and violence, we definitely can see the connection here: as there are obvious parallels in terms of impulsivity, lack of control, disregard for authority, and outright bloodlust.
Rockstar co-founder and VP of Creativity Dan Houser sees Trevor as something akin to Freud’s “id,” a purely instinctual drive only concerned with satisfying cravings – and damned be anything that gets in the way. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, Trevor’s instincts are driven by his resentment of his life, including his abusive upbringing and also being stabbed in the back by his former best friend Michael DeSanta. But, because he is such a primitive fellow, he’s also perhaps the most honest person in “GTA 5” because of it. He doesn’t pretend (or, simply, cannot pretend) that he’s anything other than what he is (even if that is a psychopath).
He’s basic in this sense, but this authenticity actually lends him some sympathy and endearment because, in a game of endless double crossings, honesty is a virtue. Yes, he’s a maniac, but at least he’s not a hypocrite like his current (and former) partner Michael. In fact, these two are polar opposites, in that Mike is a criminal in control – so much so that he’ll manipulate others to get what he wants – whereas Trevor is a criminal with little to no control – to the point where he can’t even pretend not to be violent.
GTA writers also built up a sizeable backstory for Trevor as well, adding lots of depth to the character to explain why he is the way he is – like the fact that he was born into an abusive family and has major abandonment issues. Trevor was born in Canada, but came to live in the US with his family, and never quite came to grips with being an outsider, which only fueled his already paranoid behavior. And, on top of the abuse he suffered, he lived a scattered childhood as well, jumping from school to school in five different states, multiple care homes and, yes, even state prisons.
His father passed away when he was 10, and he was forced to raise himself on his own, but with very little skill to do so. In Trevor’s lore, it’s also repeated that he has severe rage issues since childhood, and it’s even hinted at that he is the reason for his younger brother’s death (whom he despised); and we can only conclude from this hint that Trevor killed his brother in a fit of rage.
Despite such a troubled life, however, Trevor was able to develop a love of planes and wanted to be a military pilot. But, of course, his mental condition eliminated him from any sort of consideration for military involvement. And, thus, rejected from the Armed Forces, rather than abandon his love of aviation, he instead became a smuggler and trafficker and turned to a life of crime. Damn! It all makes so much sense now… His character and its influences are deeper than what you’d expect by looking at Trevor at first glance. In terms of first impressions, he just looks crazy! But there’s more underneath the surface…
Thus, it would be a mistake to think that GTA’s Trevor Philips is just a walking, talking ball of chaos and that little thought was put into his controversial character. As we’ve seen, Trevor was brought to life through multiple sources – from a historical figure to a Freudian concept – and his violent behavior stems from a place of hurt, fear, and distrust (making his evil persona anything but black and white). In fact, it’s all of this background – and backstory – that makes Trevor one of the more realistic protagonists in any GTA game, in so much that he fits the crazy environment he inhabits, as well as the crazy choices he makes. He’s a very natural inhabitant in the very insane and unnatural world of “Grand Theft Auto.”
Yes, Rockstar is still updating “GTA Online” in 2020 – a whopping seven years after the game released in 2013. And, yes, people are still playing it, thanks in large part to it being released on PC in 2015, and its highly successful casino heist update added late last year. But, let’s not forget how good the single-player experience was… For the first time in a GTA game, we were able to play as not one protagonist, but three, as we wreaked havoc all over Los Santos; and, we were also introduced to perhaps the most fitting GTA anti-hero ever in Trevor Philips.
Think about it… For once, there wasn’t a huge disconnect between our protagonist’s moral center and the incredibly vile events playing out on screen: Trevor is a psychopath… In GTA, we act like psychopaths… So it made perfect sense! Now, where did the inspiration for this now-iconic character come from, you’re asking? Well, he came from a few sources, so let’s take a look.
Physically, Trevor’s character is pretty much an exact re-creation of the Canadian actor who voiced and mo-capped him in Steven Ogg. Ogg is also known for his work as Simon in “The Walking Dead,” and he has very distinct and memorable facial features just like Trevor; he’s gruff, tough, manly and intimidating all at once! Also, seeing as Trevor was brought to life through motion capture, Ogg had a lot to do with creating Trevor’s sporadic mannerisms and other oddities, such as his hulking walk and loud speech pattern.
The actor was quoted as saying, “Trevor definitely evolved as I performed him … Nuances and character traits began to appear … [and] definitely informed his development throughout the game” (Buzzfeed). Thus, there was a certain level of letting the character evolve on set and that work is directly attributable to Ogg himself.
In terms of external influences, especially in terms of Trevor’s personality, Ogg looked to Tom Hardy’s performance as infamous British criminal Charles Bronson from the 2008 film based on his life. Bronson – whose full name is Charles Arthur Salvador – has been labeled in UK newspapers as “the most violent prisoner in Britain” for his explosive behavior behind bars in which he injured many inmates and guards. In fact, it was his violent behavior once already in prison that eventually led to a lifetime sentence as a repeatedly, repeat offender. Considering that Trevor is also prone to rage and violence, we definitely can see the connection here: as there are obvious parallels in terms of impulsivity, lack of control, disregard for authority, and outright bloodlust.
Rockstar co-founder and VP of Creativity Dan Houser sees Trevor as something akin to Freud’s “id,” a purely instinctual drive only concerned with satisfying cravings – and damned be anything that gets in the way. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, Trevor’s instincts are driven by his resentment of his life, including his abusive upbringing and also being stabbed in the back by his former best friend Michael DeSanta. But, because he is such a primitive fellow, he’s also perhaps the most honest person in “GTA 5” because of it. He doesn’t pretend (or, simply, cannot pretend) that he’s anything other than what he is (even if that is a psychopath).
He’s basic in this sense, but this authenticity actually lends him some sympathy and endearment because, in a game of endless double crossings, honesty is a virtue. Yes, he’s a maniac, but at least he’s not a hypocrite like his current (and former) partner Michael. In fact, these two are polar opposites, in that Mike is a criminal in control – so much so that he’ll manipulate others to get what he wants – whereas Trevor is a criminal with little to no control – to the point where he can’t even pretend not to be violent.
GTA writers also built up a sizeable backstory for Trevor as well, adding lots of depth to the character to explain why he is the way he is – like the fact that he was born into an abusive family and has major abandonment issues. Trevor was born in Canada, but came to live in the US with his family, and never quite came to grips with being an outsider, which only fueled his already paranoid behavior. And, on top of the abuse he suffered, he lived a scattered childhood as well, jumping from school to school in five different states, multiple care homes and, yes, even state prisons.
His father passed away when he was 10, and he was forced to raise himself on his own, but with very little skill to do so. In Trevor’s lore, it’s also repeated that he has severe rage issues since childhood, and it’s even hinted at that he is the reason for his younger brother’s death (whom he despised); and we can only conclude from this hint that Trevor killed his brother in a fit of rage.
Despite such a troubled life, however, Trevor was able to develop a love of planes and wanted to be a military pilot. But, of course, his mental condition eliminated him from any sort of consideration for military involvement. And, thus, rejected from the Armed Forces, rather than abandon his love of aviation, he instead became a smuggler and trafficker and turned to a life of crime. Damn! It all makes so much sense now… His character and its influences are deeper than what you’d expect by looking at Trevor at first glance. In terms of first impressions, he just looks crazy! But there’s more underneath the surface…
Thus, it would be a mistake to think that GTA’s Trevor Philips is just a walking, talking ball of chaos and that little thought was put into his controversial character. As we’ve seen, Trevor was brought to life through multiple sources – from a historical figure to a Freudian concept – and his violent behavior stems from a place of hurt, fear, and distrust (making his evil persona anything but black and white). In fact, it’s all of this background – and backstory – that makes Trevor one of the more realistic protagonists in any GTA game, in so much that he fits the crazy environment he inhabits, as well as the crazy choices he makes. He’s a very natural inhabitant in the very insane and unnatural world of “Grand Theft Auto.”
