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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.
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Do I look like I can intimidate a jury? I couldn't intimidate a child - and believe me, I've tried.
— Ken Rosenberg to Tommy Vercetti in Jury Fury.

Ken Rosenberg is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series who appears as the deuteragonist in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (set in 1986) and a main character in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (set in 1992). He is also mentioned in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (set in 1984).

Biography[]

Background[]

Ken Rosenberg successfully graduated as a lawyer, although he is suspected of cheating on his exams, and established his own business, K. Rosenberg & Co., setting up the firm in Vice City, with the company's office being inside the Hotel Harrison in Washington Beach. He started working for the Forelli Crime Family at some point in 1978, aged 25. [2] By 1984 his company has begun to represent the Vice News Network legally, with the company advising people, through a VNN news report, to quote the second amendment of the American constitution if they are prosecuted for illegally using a firearm, after open gun fights in the Downtown district (seen during the mission Nice Package). By 1986 he has also established ties with the Liberty City based Forelli Crime Family, an Italian-American mob, and has begun to represent them legally.

Events of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]

In 1986 he helps Sonny Forelli, the suspected Don of the Family, in establishing his family in Vice City by setting up a drug deal between the Vance Crime Family's Victor and Lance Vance and Forelli Family representatives Tommy Vercetti, Harry and Lee. The deal was ambushed but Rosenberg and Vercetti escaped, with Rosenberg hiding in his office, even missing Colonel Juan Cortez yacht party, instead sending Vercetti to meet the man who set up the deal and later to find out who ambushed the deal. Rosenberg had, before the ambushed drug deal, been representing Giorgio Forelli, who was facing charges of fraud, and sent Vercetti to intimidate two jurors. He had also begun representing real estate mogul Avery Carrington, who Vercetti later began to work for after causing a riot at the Spand Express depot.

Vercetti eventually stops working for Rosenberg, who begins to represent him and bailing him from the Vice City Police Department police stations across the city, with Rosenberg later attempting to give Vercetti advice about earning more money and about a planned bank heist. He later sides with Vercetti when Sonny Forelli arrives in Vice City and, along with Lance Vance, a former ally of Vercetti, attempt to take over Vercetti's business empire. The two become close friends, although Rosenberg's cocaine addiction later drives a wedge between the two.

Events of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]

Tommy Vercetti and Ken Rosenberg continue to drift apart in the early 1990s, with Rosenberg eventually entering rehabilitation at the Fort Carson Medical Center in Fort Carson, San Andreas. His rehabilitation was successful, but his friendship with Vercetti is irreparably damaged, and he is also disbarred as a lawyer. Rosenberg, however, immediately falls into the clutches to Liberty City's three mafia families, the Forelli Crime Family, Leone Crime Family and the Sindacco Crime Family, who have him run Caligula's Casino, a mafia run casino in Las Venturas, with all three families having a stake in the casino.

Rosenberg is informed by Salvatore Leone, Don of the Leone Family, that he wants his money back quickly, whilst he expectantly waits for one family to kill him and blame one of the other families. Rosenberg begins to hide in his office once again, with only Tony, a talking parrot, for company. Kent Paul and his client Maccer later find Rosenberg and introduce him to Carl Johnson, who begins to help Rosenberg out of his situation, including saving Johnny Sindacco on his way to the hospital, though Johnny later dies of a heart attack after he remembers his previous encounter with Carl.

Carl later works for both Rosenberg and Salvatore Leone to kill more Sindacco and Forelli Family mobsters, both in San Andreas and Liberty City. Eventually Carl helps Rosenberg, as well as the by now trapped Kent Paul and Maccer, to escape from Salvatore Leone, telling them to lie low. Rosenberg, who began to use cocaine, also seemingly has flashbacks, once stating "Just like old times, hey Tommy?', in reference to Tommy Vercetti.

Carl Johnson: “I've got a need for an accountant and a sound engineer and I thought of you and Paul.”
Ken Rosenberg: “Fucking amazing! Paul's great with figures and I'd make a fucking amazing producer! This is (sniff) this is fucking great! It's amazing!”
Carl Johnson: “Yeah, yeah, whatever you say man, but look. See you soon.”
Carl Johnson to Ken Rosenberg in a phone call after A Home in the Hills.

Rosenberg and Kent Paul later begin to work for Madd Dogg, a rapper who is being managed by Carl Johnson. He, Kent Paul, Maccer and Madd Dogg later appear in the Johnson House in Grove Street, Ganton, Los Santos, to announce their first gold record.

"Busted!" quotes[]

In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, during the blank screen after being busted before the player respawns outside the police station, the player can occasionally hear Ken Rosenberg talking over the phone with the police in an attempt to get Tommy Vercetti released, using a variety of conjecture, insults and even threats to get his way. There are 28 lines in total.

VCBI Crime Tree Record[]

VCBICrimeTreeLogo-GTAVC
KEN ROSENBERG
Partner at Rosenberg & Associates, legal firm. Suspected problem with narcotics and egomania. Believed to be developing contracts with Liberty City mob.
KenRosenberg-GTAVC-VCBIPic1
VCBILogo-GTAVC
KEN ROSENBERG

  • Partner at Rosenberg & Associates, legal firm.
  • Suspected problem with narcotics and egomania.
  • Believed to be developing contracts with Liberty City mob.
  • Suspected of cheating in law school exams.
  • Believed to have employed heavies on numerous occasions to intimidate and corrupt juries.
  • Very poor success rate in trials.
  • "Blue chip" clients include Georgio Forelli. Cousin of Liberty City crime boss, Sonny.
  • Always desperate for money.
KenRosenberg-GTAVC-VCBIScreenshot
KenRosenberg-GTAVC-VCBIPic2



Mission Appearances[]

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • During the mission The Meat Business in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, he will sometimes yell out "This is so exciting, Tommy! It's just like old times!", apparently still missing his days working alongside Tommy Vercetti in Vice City.
  • According to artwork, Ken Rosenberg originally wore the same soiree suit as he does in the game, but wore a yellow shirt underneath.
  • Rosenberg is undoubtedly heavily influenced by Sean Penn's character Dave Kleinfeld from the 1993 movie Carlito's Way. Both worked as lawyers, helped the protagonists of their respective franchises, and were heavily addicted to cocaine and both did something that made the protagonist sever their ties with them (in Kleinfeld's case, he was going to testify against Carlito and Tommy severed his ties with Rosenberg because of his drug addiction). The interior of Rosenberg's office in Vice City is also remarkably similar to Dave Klenfield's office.
  • In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Ken is not seen outside of full-motion cutscenes, except for the mission "In The Beginning...".
  • Ken's name is misspelled as "Rosenburg" on the official website of Rockstar Games' artist Stephen Bliss. Whether this is his beta name or just a typo is unknown.

References[]

  1. KenRosenberg-GTAVC-BradysgameManualEntry

    Ken is said to be 33 years old in the BradyGames guide officially endorsed by Rockstar Games.

  2. According to the official GTA Vice City strategy guide by BradyGames, endorsed by Rockstar Games.

Navigation[]

Navigation
[ ve ]Vercetti Gang
GangstersTommy Vercetti (Leader) | Mario | Mike | Unnamed Bodyguard | Lance Vance (former, deceased) | Ken Rosenberg (former)
AssociatesPeople: Avery Carrington (deceased) | Cam Jones (possibly deceased) | Candy Suxxx (former) | Doris | Earnest Kelly | Hilary King (deceased) | Juan Cortez | Kent Paul | Maude Hanson | Mercedes Cortez | Mitch Baker | Phil Cassidy (former) | Steve Scott | Ted | Umberto Robina
Gangs: Cubans | Vice City Bikers
EnemiesPeople: Ricardo Diaz (deceased) | Lance Vance (deceased) | Sonny Forelli (deceased)
Gangs: Diaz' Gang | Forelli Crime Family | Haitians | Patrol Invest Group | Vice City Triads | European Gang | Costa Rican Gang | Mexican Arms Dealers | Streetwannabe's
FrontsBoatyard | Cherry Popper Ice Cream Factory | InterGlobal Films | Kaufman Cabs | Malibu Club | The Pole Position Club | Print Works | Sunshine Autos | Vercetti Estate
TurfVice City (Starfish Island | Viceport | Little Havana | Little Haiti | Prawn Island | Ocean Beach | Washington Beach | Vice Point)
[ ve ]Characters in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
ProtagonistTommy Vercetti
Major charactersKen Rosenberg | Lance Vance† | Sonny Forelli† | Earnest Kelly | "Big" Mitch Baker | Avery Carrington† | Phil Cassidy | Colonel Juan Garcia Cortez | Ricardo Diaz† | Jezz Torrent | Percy | Dick | Kent Paul | Auntie Poulet | Umberto Robina | Steve Scott | Mr. Black
Minor charactersVictor Vance† | Gonzalez† | Leo Teal† | Pierre La Ponce† | Mercedes Cortez | Doris | Cougar | Zeppelin | Pastor Richards | Donald Love | Streetwannabe's Leader† | Cam Jones | Hilary King† | Alex Shrub | The Psycho | Maude Hanson | Jethro | Dwaine | Mike | Unnamed Vercetti Gang Bodyguard | Porn Guy | Harry† | Lee† | Alberto Robina | Rico | Pepe (gangster) | Pepe (customer) | Pablo | Pedro Garcia | Candy's Agent† | Franco Carter† | Mrs. Dawson† | Charlie Dilson† | Mike Griffin† | Marcus Hammond† | Nick Kong† | Carl Pearson† | Ricardo Diaz's Hitmen | Candy Suxxx | BJ Smith | Sonny's Right-Hand Man | Sonny Forelli's Associate | Dick Tanner† | Ted | Unnamed Property Developer† | Willy | V.I.P. | The Greasy Chopper Bartender | Unnamed Businessman† | Unknown Dead Man† | Café Robina Bartender | Haitian Gang Lord† | Officer Miller | Jackson | Officer Jones | Sam
Radio DJsOliver Biscuit | Maurice Chavez | Adam First | Jonathan Freeloader | Lazlow | Mr. Magic | Fernando Martinez | Michelle Montanius | Pepe | Amy Sheckenhausen | Toni
Radio guestsJan Brown | Michaela Carapadis | Jenny Louise Crab | Callum Crayshaw | Pat "Mr. Zoo" Flannerdy | Freddy | John F. Hickory | Jack Howitzer | Claude Maginot | Mandy | Emanuel | Gethsemanee Starhawk Moonmaker | Doctor Phillips | Jeremy Robard | BJ Smith | Konstantinos Smith | Barry Stark | Thor
Mentioned charactersMr. Chesterfield | Morgan Daniels | Giorgio Forelli | Fran | Jono | Ho Chi | Jimmy | Mario | Patrick III | Laura Shrub | Tim
Beta charactersMr. Moffat
Other charactersBob | Bruce | Mark Cosgrove | Eugene | Martin | May | Moweesha | Doctor Perkins | P. Rowe | Darren Webb
† denotes Deceased, Italics denotes a status determined by the player's choice
Characters in GTA Vice City | Category:Characters in GTA Vice City | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | Category: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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