Phil Bell

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.

Type	CHARACTER
Phil Bell
Appears in	Grand Theft Auto IV
Mentioned in	The Lost and Damned [UN]
Voiced by	Frank Bonsangue
Motion capture by	Frank Bonsangue
Biographical information
Full name	Phil Bell
Also known as	Phil B St. Patrick Philly Big Phil
Nationality	Irish- Italian- American
Status	Alive
Date of birth	1968
Place of birth	Alderney City, Alderney
Home	Apartment, Tudor, Alderney
Family	Unnamed ex-wife Unnamed children Frankie Gallo (ex-nephew) Unnamed sister
Main affiliation	Pegorino Family (Formerly) Niko Bellic Angie Pegorino Tommy
Vehicle(s)	Brown Intruder Steed Blue Squalo Speedo
Businesses	Pegorino Family chief capo Manager of Honkers Gentlemen's Club Construction
Physical description
Gender	Male

“

You're gonna learn that there ain't much in this life that you got control of. Whether you're putting yourself in harm's way because that's the way the Skipper wants it done, or you're staying away from your kids because of a stupid court order and a malicious bitch of an ex-wife; there ain't that much control in anything.

”

— Phil Bell to Niko Bellic in Catch the Wave.

Phil Bell is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series, appearing as a main character in Grand Theft Auto IV.

He is portrayed by Frankie "The Butcher" Bonsangue.

History

Background

Phil Bell was a close associate of Alderney's Pegorino Crime Family. He was seen as a consigliere figure to Don Jimmy Pegorino. He was a friend of Pegorino crime family captain Ray Boccino, even though they both almost constantly argued and disagreed. Bell wasn't a made-man as he is only 10% Italian, and most of his family originated from Ireland.

Phil Bell was born in 1968 in Alderney City. He is mostly of Irish ancestry, with small Italian heritage, though he acts as if he was a full Italian, probably to fit in with his fellow mafioso. In 1984, at age 16, he was arrested for trying to steal a car.

Phil was arrested in 1988 and 1990 for promoting gambling and manslaughter respectively. Phil had likely joined the Pegorino Family by then; Jimmy Pegorino says in "Pegorino's Pride" that Phil is a long-time trusted business partner of his. He also says that he wishes to promote Phil, but worries whether it will offend the Commission, who often discriminate against non-Italians. He was previously married and has at least two children, but is now involved in a court battle with his ex-wife over custody of their children.

Phil maintains that he is a legitimate businessman, managing construction yards and the Pegorino-owned Honker's Gentlemen's Club based in Tudor. The authorities have his places of business bugged, so he speaks in generalities which will not implicate him in anything, and is especially cautious with his planning. He and fellow Pegorino capo Ray Boccino secretly hate each other, because Phil believes "every move he makes is so obvious, it's disgusting to see him trying to sleaze his way up the ladder". Ray is also much more ambitious and even selfish, while Phil believes that "there ain't much in this life you got control of", which is why he follows Jimmy's orders to the letter, even when he believes it won't work perfectly (as seen in Catch the Wave). Phil and Jimmy Pegorino's wife Angie are very good friends, causing some to believe they're having an affair. Jimmy doesn't believe the rumors, and has trust in Phil. Phil's role within the Pegorino family is never stated.

Based on his reactions during the mission Trespass, Phil appears to have a fear of flying.

Events of Grand Theft Auto IV

Meeting Niko Bellic

Phil first meets Niko Bellic after the failed diamonds deal with the Jewish Mob, as the money were stolen by The Lost MC member Johnny Klebitz. Phil tells to both Niko and Ray that Pegorino is angry because of the deal gone wrong. The two then sent Niko to find and kill Johnny's associate Jim Fitzgerald.

Employing Niko

After some work with Ray, Niko was sent to work for Phil, who planned to attack and rob both the Ancelottis and the Faustin Mafiya. The two steal a truck loaded with drugs, and attack a dock full of Russians, stealing two drug boats.

Ending

Towards the end of the game, the Pegorino Family receives too much police attention, leading Jimmy to believe the family has several rats. He contemplates which one of his capos he should kill - Phil and Ray each secretly suggest to Pegorino that he kill the other. Jimmy eventually decides to kill Ray. At the very end, whether Deal or Revenge is chosen, Phil chooses to leave organized crime for good in favor of a simple life in a small town. He calls Niko to wish him all the best and they part on good terms.

Character

Influence

Phil Bell may be based on Henry Hill from the film Goodfellas. They are both Irish-Italians who can't become high ranking members due to their Irish ancestry. In the opening cutscene for "Catch the Wave", Phil asks Niko if he's seen a surveillance helicopter, which is a reference to a scene from the movie.

LCPD Database Record

A - E

F - J

K - O

P - U

V - Z

SURNAME

Bell

FIRST NAME

Phil

AGE

41

PLACE OF BIRTH

Alderney City, Alderney

AFFILIATIONS

Pegorino Crime Syndicate

CRIMINAL RECORD

1984 - Grand Theft Auto

1988 - Promoting Gambling
1990 - Manslaughter

2005 - Racketeering

NOTES

- Chief Lieutenant in the Alderney based Pegorino Crime Syndicate.

- Not believed to be a "made" member of the Mafia because of he is of mixed Irish / Italian ancestry.
- Careful about wiretaps and other forms of surveillance.

- Maintains that he is a legitimate businessman, managing construction yards and the Pegorino-owned Honker's Gentleman's Club in Tudor.

LIBERTY CITY POLICE DEPT.
PROTECTING LIBERTY CITY

NAME
PHIL BELL

HANGOUT
Unknown

WANTED FOR
Racketeering

Mission Appearances

Grand Theft Auto IV

• No Way on the Subway
• Truck Hustle (Boss)
• Catch the Wave (Boss)
• Trespass (Boss)
• To Live and Die in Alderney (Boss)
• Pest Control
• If the Price is Right (Boss/Deal)
• A Dish Served Cold (Post-mission phone call/Revenge)

Gallery

Phil and Ray at Drusilla's restaurant.

Phil in his office.

Phil's reintroduction to Niko Bellic.

Phil, Niko and Frankie escaping the N.O.O.S.E. agents in To Live and Die in Alderney.

Phil and Angie.

Phil speaking with Tommy at Honkers Gentlemen's Club.

Artwork of Phil Bell in Grand Theft Auto IV.

Trivia

• Phil has similarities with JD O'Toole from Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories: JD also can't get to a high rank in his family because of his Irish ancestry (though JD O'Toole is later killed, while Phil Bell remained alive afterwards and parted ways).
• Phil's favorite stations are Jazz Nation Radio and Fusion FM, as he will respond positively if the player is travelling with him in a car and switches to one of these stations. He may also like Liberty Rock Radio, as this station plays in the office of his construction company.
• During the missions with Phil accompanying Niko, if the player drives slowly for a while, Phil will say something like "Inconspicuous...I like it." or "The Feds'll be looking for a fast car. Good work. That's why you gotta drive slow." Furthermore, if the player steals an unoccupied vehicle with Phil, he'll become paranoid and ask if Niko scanned the car for bugs and then give a speech about bugs and other spying devices.
• Like most characters in the game, Phil will don a unique helmet when riding alongside the player on a motorbike. His helmet is colored black with gold/yellow stripes.
• Phil's actual position in the Pegorino family is never clarified in the game. Despite both the LCPD database and Ray Boccino stating that he's an associate, there are facts that point otherwise.
  • In "Pegorino's Pride", Jimmy Pegorino states that the Pegorino family is losing respect due to Phil holding such a high position in the family. If Phil was an associate, this would be of no consequence. It is standard procedure for Mafia families to use men of mixed ancestry (Irish-Italian, in Phil's case) as associates. This comment implies that Phil is a made man, which is highly frowned upon in Mafia tradition.
  • In "Catch the Wave", Phil says that Ray is attempting to rise up the criminal hierarchy in order to eventually reach his position. This should not be, as since Ray is a capo in the family he is already much higher than Phil in the food chain. However, what Phil may have meant is that Ray wants to gain Jimmy’s approval and become his right hand man, instead of Phil. Jimmy also apparently believes that Ray wants to become the boss of the Pegorinos someday, as mentioned in "Pegorino’s Pride".
  • In "Pest Control", Jimmy Pegorino questions the loyalty of both Phil and Ray. He admits that while Phil has been in the family much longer than Ray, the latter is a better earner. It is also referenced that Phil acts as Pegorino's advisor. In the same cutscene, Ray taunts "You're only an associate, Phil. Remember that," one of the only times Phil's position is directly referenced. However, it is immediately contradicted as Pegorino then calls Phil his man and says that he trusts him much more than Ray. This, along with the age gap (Phil is 41 while Ray is only 32) indicates that the pair's roles may have initially been reversed, but only some dialogue was changed. It’s also possible that because Ray is Italian, his position in the organisation is higher, but due to his greedy nature, he is distrusted by Jimmy. Jimmy trusts Phil more because he’s much more careful than Ray and occasionally gets his hands dirty and actually risks his life, unlike Ray.