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Spoiler Warning: Plot details, ending details, or both are in the text which follows.
Spoiler Warning: Plot details, ending details, or both are in the text which follows.
Warning
Warning
For other characters see Claude (disambiguation).



Claude is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series who appears as the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto III, and as a minor character in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. There is no voice actor for Claude, as he does not speak in any of his appearances.

Background

Nothing is known about Claude's life before 1992, other than he had emerged as a top contender in an illegal racing ring and owned an abandoned garage in Doherty, San Fierro. Rockstar however state's that Claude is: "Definitely a drifter, probably from the west coast, new to Liberty City " (and his) "surname may or may not be Speed". In the GTA Character Quiz on Rockstar's Facebook page, answering the questions that result in your personality to be Claude will show that his name is Claude Speed.

Events of GTA San Andreas

Racing with Carl Johnson

Claude, in 1992, became involved with Catalina, who had recently split up with Carl "CJ" Johnson, before racing CJ in a losing effort. Following the loss, he hands over his garage to Carl Johnson, before leaving San Andreas with Catalina. The two head to Liberty City where they embark on a nine year crime spree ending with Catalina's betrayal.

Events of GTA III

Bank Heist and Jailbreak

At the start of the game, Claude and Catalina robbed a bank in Liberty City. Catalina, however, turned on her boyfriend, shooting him and leaving him for dead, justifying her decision with "I'm an ambitious girl, and you're just small time". Claude is arrested by the Liberty City Police Department. He is convicted of all charges and is sentenced to ten years in prison. While being transferred to a prison in Portland View, Claude escapes from a police convoy after the Colombian Cartel attack the convoy to free the Oriental Gentleman. Claude and 8-Ball escape to a safehouse in the Red Light District, before moving on to Luigi's Sex Club 7. Luigi Goterelli, the owner, gives Claude his first job in the city, to drive Misty from the hospital back to the club.

The Leone family

Claude, successful in his errand, continues to be employed by Goterelli, who also has him kill a drug dealer and two pimps, before having him drive Misty to Joey Leone's Garage. Claude then begins to work for Joey, killing both Mike Forelli and Lee Chong, before chauffering Toni Cipriani, later working for him against the Triads, principally killing three Triads warlords. Claude, impressing the Leone Family hierarchy, is introduced to the Don, Salvatore Leone. Salvatore, 'seeing nothing but good things' for Claude, has him looking after his 'girl' Maria for the evening, kill Curly Bob (who was selling secrets to the Colombian Cartel, now co-led by Catalina) and later destroy a freighter used as a factory for the drug SPANK. During this time, Claude also works for El Burro, the leader of the Diablos, helping him on various tasks, and Marty Chonks in his attempts to get out of his various problems.

The Yakuza

After destroying the Cartel freighter, a paranoid Salvatore attempts to kill Claude by having him enter a bomb-laden car. Salvatore's wife Maria, however, pages Claude and directs him to a small pier where the two meet Asuka Kasen, co-leader of the Yakuza, and flee to Staunton Island after Maria had told her husband that she and Claude were an "item". Asuka, unconvinced of Claude's loyalty, has him kill Salvatore Leone to prove himself, before having him kill a number of other people causing her problems. She later introduces him to her brother Kenji and Ray Machowski, a corrupt police man working for the Yakuza. Claude helps Kenji with his problems, including settling debts and freeing a man from prison, and helps Machowski in his attempts to remain unnoticed, eventually helping him flee the city by the airport.

Later Jobs and The Exchange

Claude continues to look for work and finds employment with King Courtney, who has him attack the Diablos before attempting to kill him on orders from Catalina, and Donald Love, who has him kill Kenji Kasen disguised as a Colombian Cartel gangster in a Cartel Cruiser to provoke a war. Asuka, unaware of Claude's role in her brother's near death, launches an assault on a Cartel-controlled building site and begins to torture Miguel, co-leader of the Cartel, into giving away Cartel secrets. Armed with the information, Asuka sends Claude on various missions to hurt Cartel operations, including stopping the selling of and stealing a shipment of SPANK. Claude briefly finds employment with D-Ice, leader of the Red Jacks sub-sect of the Southside Hoods, and attacks the rival Purple Nines into defeat. Claude returns to the building site and finds that Asuka and Miguel are both dead, whilst a ransom note from Catalina, for Maria is left for him.

Claude goes to the Cartel mansion, escapes an ambush, destroys a helicopter piloted by Catalina, thus killing her, and rescues Maria. Claude and Maria's fate are left unknown, as whilst Maria is talking, a gunshot is heard that stops the talking; what exactly this gunshot was is unknown. Theories include that this gunshot is one of them killing the other, an asassin killing one of them, Claude simply shooting in the air to stop her talking or even a sound effect played by the game to signify its end.

Personality

Claude is a calm and serious man who appears almost emotionless regardless of the situation. Provided he is paid for his services, he will take orders from his bosses without reluctance or complaint, usually giving a nod to show that he understands, and doesn't respond even when he is scolded or shouted at by his bosses for doing something wrong. He also prostrates to his bosses if required, in Kenji Kasen's case.

Claude never speaks, and will only make a slight grunt when he is hurt, or an "Oh!" whenever he drowns, gets shot to death, gets run over, or when he falls down. Unlike other protagonists, he doesn't taunt or shout at his enemies, but may give a driver in a passing vehicle the finger while crossing roads.

Claude remains true to his mission of finding and taking revenge on Catalina for leaving him for dead, even showing the slightest bit of pity for Maria when he allows her to live after freeing her, only to possibly kill her himself.

Mission appearances

GTA III
  • As the protagonist, he appears in every mission.
GTA San Andreas

Characters murdered by Claude

Victim Mission Killed Reason
Mike Forelli Mike Lips Last Lunch Killed on orders from Joey Leone after the Forellis did not paid his debts.
Lee Chong Farewell 'Chunky' Lee Chong Killed on orders form Joey Leone for selling SPANK in noodle stands.
Curly Bob Cutting the Grass Killed on orders form Salvatore for telling the Leone's secrets to the Colombian Cartel.
Salvatore Leone Sayonara Salvatore Killed on orders from Asuka, to prove that the Claude ties with the Mafia are completely broken.
Leon McAffrey Plaster Blaster Killed on orders from Ray for turning states evidence.
Tanner Two-Faced Tanner Killed on orders from Asuka for being an undercover policeman.
Kenji Kasen Waka-Gashira Wipeout Killed on orders from Donald Love to provoke a war between the Colombian Cartel and the Yakuza.
Catalina The Exchange Killed by Claude for betraying him in a bank robbery (Opening cutscene).


Optional murders

Possible murders

Development

Claude is one of the few characters in the GTA series who does not speak. This was a choice Rockstar Games made at the start of the development process; as they stated, "We had so many other problems to solve and this did not seem like a major issue". Having a silent protagonist would also help players identify with the character. However, there was rumors that Claude actually spoke in the beta GTA III trailer, saying "Get out of the car!"; Rockstar replied to the rumors that the brief voiceover was fake.

He was designed with the the idea that he was a strong, silent killer, who would contrast with the neurotic and loud mobsters that he would work for, at the same time seeming stronger and more in control.[1]

Since Claude has a slight resemblance to the movie actor Clint Eastwood, the development of the character might be somewhat based on him.

Gallery

References


Template:GTA III Characters

[ ve ]Characters in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
ProtagonistCarl Johnson
Main
characters
Sean "Sweet" Johnson | Kendl Johnson | Frank Tenpenny† | Big Smoke (Melvin Harris)† | Wu Zi Mu | The Truth | Cesar Vialpando | Catalina† | Salvatore Leone† | Madd Dogg | Kent Paul | Eddie Pulaski† | Ken Rosenberg | Mike Toreno | Ryder (Lance Wilson)† | Jizzy B.† | OG Loc (Jeffrey Cross) | T-Bone Mendez† | Guppy | Zero | Maccer
Minor
characters
Andre† |Benny† | Bettina | Berkley | Big Poppa† | Bogman | Claude | Construction Foreman† | Alan Crawford† | Derek | District Attorney | Dope | Dwaine | Emmet | Freddy† | Colonel Fuhrberger | Gal | Hazer | Janitor | Jimmy Hernandez† | Jethro | Jose | Kane† | Maria Latore | Ran Fa Li | Little Bill | Little Lion† | Little Weasel† | Mike | Su Xi Mu | Ralph Pendelbury† | Marco Forelli† | Mickey† | Old Reece | Jimmy Silverman | Johnny Sindacco† | The Snakehead† | The Triad Leader | Sunny | Big Bear (Barry Thorne) | Tony | Vagos gang members (Running Dog)† | B Dup (Mark Wayne) | Mr. Whittaker | Pizza Clerk | Preacher Bishop† | Rival Pimp† | Sweet's Girlfriend | The Dossier Carrier† | The Informant† | The Journalist† | The Reporter† | Unnamed Burger Shot Employee | Unnamed Crack Whore | Gasso Employee | Alan Crawford's Female Associate† | Mafia Goon 1 | Forelli Crime Family's pilot† | C.R.A.S.H. Rookies† | Cesar's Informant | Salvatore Leone's Bodyguard | Tim† | Tammy† | Loco Low Co. Mechanic | Driving School Tutor | Ammu-Nation Clerk
GirlfriendsDenise Robinson | Millie Perkins | Helena Wankstein | Katie Zhan | Michelle Cannes | Barbara Schternvart
Radio station characters
Radio DJsForth Right MC | The Funktipus | Julio G | Johnny Lawton | Mary-Beth Maybell | Phillip Michaels | Hans Oberlander | Johnny Parkinson | James Pedeaston | Marshall Peters | Mary Phillips | Peyton Phillips | Sage | Tommy Smith
Talk show hostsMarvin Trill | Christy MacIntyre | Maurice | James Pedeaston | Mary Phillips | Peyton Phillips | Derrick Thackery | Billy Dexter† | Lazlow
Talk show guestsAdam First | The Truth | Truck Driver | Emanuel | Julie | Hector | Rick | Vivian | Mill | Mike | 632369439 | Stewart | Kevin | Montag | Zero | Jizzy B.† | Jack Howitzer | OG Loc | Cris Formage | Darius Fontaine
News broadcastingRichard Burns | Lianne Forget | Madd Dogg | Big Smoke
Radio guestsThe Truth | OG Loc (Jeffrey Cross) | Big Wayne | Darius Fontaine | Jenna Forbes | Cris Formage | Jack Howitzer | Michael Hunt | Jimmy | Fernando Martinez | Tim | Reed Tucker
Mentioned
characters
Mary Alexander | Mike Andrews | Big Devil† | Bobby | CM Pink | Joey Leone | Tommy Vercetti | James Earl Cash | Mary Ellen | Herbie | Ho Chi | Beverly Johnson† | Brian Johnson† | Carl Johnson's Father | Ah Ah Kung | LB | Little Devil† | General Mills | Tony† | Jezz Torrent | Avrindar
Other
characters
Fraser Ashley | Morgan August | G.M. Berlotti | Big Smilky | Dr. Diablo | Gern Blanston | Henry Bolt† | D. Claremont | John Craig | Mary Fortune | Frank Gold | Hammerfist | Philip K. Jones | Ed Karson | Turk Martin | Cluck Norris | Jane Pole | Brontosaurus Rex | Rochell'le | Jeremy Smith | Brian Van Ginsberg | Scott Wilson
Deleted
characters
Officer Carver | Larry | Poncho | Psycho
† denotes Deceased, Italics denotes a status determined by the player's choice
Characters in GTA San Andreas | Category:Characters in GTA San Andreas | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Category:Characters
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