Roger Murtaugh
Context
Lethal Weapon was a 1987 action movie that met with great success, and spawned three sequels. It is a formulaic buddy cops/mismatched duo film, but benefits from superior execution and unusual chemistry (by 1980s standards) on a number of key points.
Roger Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover, is one of the two protagonists of the series.
Background
- Real Name: Roger Murtaugh
- Other Aliases: Rog
- Marital Status: Married
- Known Relatives: Trish (wife), Rianne (daughter), Nick (son), Carrie (daughter)
- Group Affiliation: Los Angeles Police Department
- Base Of Operations: Los Angeles
- Height: 6’2″ Weight: 190 lbs. Age: 50-55 years
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Black.
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Powers and Abilities
Roger Murtaugh is an excellent brawler, although less agile and very tough (takes punishment like no one else). He’s very active, being quite an old man, and a veteran police officer with lots of useful skills. These include dodging, shooting, brawling, driving, boating and stealth.
He’s also pretty intuitive, intelligent and is an excellent detective. He has good social skills and is considered one of the very best of the LAPD.
History
Roger Murtaugh served in Việt Nam in ’65. After the war he started a large family and continued police work in Los Angeles. Having several decades of experience behind him, he usually did a very good and by-the-book job.
At the start of the first movie, Murtaugh had just turned 50 (which was used as great subplot material). He wanted to take things easy since he had but a few more years to go before he could retire from the LAPD.
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That was when he got a new partner, Martin Riggs. Now, Riggs and Murtaugh were very different in personalities, habits and work methods. Riggs suicidal tendencies often collided with Murtaugh’s more sensible attitude. Initially, they fought over the most trivial of things, but eventually learned to gain from each others strengths.
As their success rate grew so did their friendship. They later on became the best of buddies and Riggs also befriended Murtaugh’s family (Trish, Rianne, Nick and Carrie) and they began to regard him as a member of their family later on.
They both participated on a number of very cool adventures and continue to do so to this day !
Description
Roger Murtaugh is an older but still rather broad-shouldered black man. He has graying black hair, a veteran look and is always clad in a fine costume. His badge is always in his jacket’s pocket and his gun in a holster.
He moves quite slowly, but carries an air of police authority around himself. He has a very mobile face and his intents, feelings etc. are very visible to all around him. Enemies often mistake him for an incompetent police officer, but in fact, he’s a graying wolf.
Personality
Murtaugh is a very straight and professional police officer. He prefers to do everything by the book, until Riggs manages to convince him into trying some outrageous stunt. He always whines about these stunts and thereafter about his age.
Murtaugh is a real family man and a stern father, but attempts to be the best possible father to his kids. He was going to retire as soon as possible for the sake of his family, but his sense of responsibility kept him going on as an officer anyway.
Riggs is his best friend and they can speak about anything ; unfortunately Riggs can also bring out stress in the ol‘ man by putting them both in various crazy situations. He’s always the victim of jokes from Riggs, which he actually takes pretty hard, but usually gets over it very fast.
The 20 years experience as a cop that he has made him into a hardened veteran; he takes the killings of innocents very hard, but crooks…no prob !
Success in lawful police work is thus a great comfort to him. Roger is also proper, costumed and a healthy guy. He’s also a good listener, gives sound advice, but won’t take comfort from anyone himself. A pessimist at heart, he worries too much and often displays a pretty negative attitude about their fieldwork.
Fortunately, setbacks will only make him more determined and daring. He rolls his head around, spends Hero Points on Firearms or on other attack ability, and blows the bad guys away. His hobbies, which are shared by Riggs, include boating, spending time with his family, having nice dinners and such.
Quotes
“I’m too old for this shit !”
Consul Rudd (just having shot down Riggs): “Diplomatic Immunity !”
Murtaugh (shooting Rudd between the eyes): “It’s just been revoked !”
DC Universe History
Just insert the guys…
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Roger Murtaugh
| Dex: 04 | Str: 03 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Responsibility of Power / Seeking Justice |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 06 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Police Sergeant |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 06 | Resources {or Wealth}: 006 |
| Init: 014 | HP: 040 |
Skills:
Acrobatics (Dodging): 03, Charisma: 05, Detective: 06, Martial Arts: 04, Military Science (Danger Recog): 04, Thief (Stealth): 05, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee, Missile): 05, Vehicles (Land): 06, Vehicles (Water): 05
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Los Angeles), Confidant (Martin Riggs), Credentials (Police, High), Free Access (Police Badge), Pet (Burbank, normal cat stats), Police Rank (Sergeant Detective).
Connections:
LAPD (High).
Drawbacks:
Age (old), Dependents (Family), Married (Trish), Public Identity, Unluck.
Equipment:
- S&W M19 .357 Magnum [BODY 04, Projectile weapon: 05, Ammo: 06, R#2].
- When expecting combat he also wears a concealed bullet-proof Kevlar Vest [BODY 04, Skin armor 01, Limitation: Skin Armor only against bullets and the like] or a tactical vest [BODY 05, Skin armor 02, Limitation: Skin Armor only against bullets and the like].
Source of Character: Lethal Weapon – movies.
Helper(s): Perry Holley, Sébastien Andrivet.