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GTA Vice City
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GTA Vice City · Characters
Tommy Vercetti: Everything About GTA Vice City's Protagonist
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Tommy Vercetti is the protagonist of GTA Vice City (2002): an Italian-American made man of the Forelli crime family, released in 1986 after fifteen years in prison, who goes from a botched drug deal to ruling Vice City. He is voiced by Ray Liotta and was the first protagonist in the series to speak. Critics compared him to Tony Montana of Scarface, and he has made many lists of the best video game characters.
GameGTA Vice City (2002)
VoiceRay Liotta
Motion captureJonathan Sale
FromLiberty City
NicknameThe Harwood Butcher
GangVercetti Gang
Who Is Tommy Vercetti?
A soldier of the Forelli family, one of Liberty City's Mafia families, who joined through Sonny Forelli. His past is only sketched in dialogue: born in Liberty City to an Italian-American family, he was recruited into crime young and became a made man.
Why Was Tommy in Prison?
In 1971, Sonny Forelli sent him on a hit in the Harwood district of Liberty City, where he was ambushed by eleven men. Tommy killed all of them, was arrested and convicted of murder, and earned the nickname "The Harwood Butcher". He served fifteen years, and at the end of the game he accuses Sonny of having set up that ambush.
Tommy's Story in Vice City
Released in 1986, Tommy is sent to Vice City to oversee a drug deal for the Forellis. The deal is ambushed, the drugs and Sonny's money disappear, and Sonny orders him to recover both. With lawyer Ken Rosenberg, Colonel Cortez, Avery Carrington and Lance Vance, he traces the ambush to drug lord Ricardo Diaz and kills him. He takes over Diaz's mansion, founds the Vercetti Gang, buys up businesses across the city and stops answering to the Forellis. When Sonny comes to collect, Lance betrays Tommy; Tommy kills them both and ends the game as Vice City's undisputed kingpin, with Ken at his side. The mission-by-mission version is on our story missions page.
What Happened to Tommy After Vice City?
Very little is known. His partnership with Ken did not last: before 1992, tired of Ken's cocaine addiction, Tommy sent him to rehab in Fort Carson, San Andreas, and cut all ties. In The Introduction, the short film that leads into GTA San Andreas, Ken leaves rehab and fails to reach him. He has not appeared in another game since.
Ray Liotta as Tommy
Rockstar had to solve how to write a speaking protagonist after GTA III's silent Claude, and cast Ray Liotta, known for Goodfellas. Liotta called the role challenging and intensive, and recorded against a blue screen so the team could picture the cutscenes. Dan Houser described Tommy as "strong and dangerous and prepared to wait for the right opportunity to arrive". Rockstar also modelled Tommy and Lance's partnership on Crockett and Tubbs in Miami Vice.
Reception
Critics praised the character and Liotta's performance. Edge wrote that Tommy "sweats charisma", he made many lists of the best video game characters, and TheGamer later named him the greatest GTA protagonist, as the first fully developed lead of the series.
More Vice City Characters
Lance Vance, Ken Rosenberg, Ricardo Diaz and the rest of the cast, with their voice actors, are on our GTA Vice City characters page. The city Tommy takes over is on the Vice City map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who voices Tommy Vercetti?
Ray Liotta, the actor from Goodfellas. Jonathan Sale did the motion capture.
Why was Tommy Vercetti in prison?
In 1971 he killed eleven men who ambushed him during a hit in Harwood, Liberty City. He was convicted of murder, nicknamed "The Harwood Butcher", and served fifteen years.
Is Tommy Vercetti in GTA San Andreas?
No. He is only mentioned: Ken Rosenberg tries to contact him after leaving rehab in Fort Carson.
What happens to Tommy Vercetti at the end of Vice City?
He kills Sonny Forelli and Lance Vance in the shootout at his mansion and becomes Vice City's undisputed kingpin, with Ken Rosenberg as his right-hand man.
Where is Tommy Vercetti from?
Liberty City. He is Italian-American and was a member of the Forelli crime family.
Is Tommy Vercetti based on Tony Montana?
Not officially, but critics compared him to Tony Montana of Scarface, a major influence on the game.