Tommy Vercetti

{{Infobox character

| name = Tommy Vercetti

| image = Tommy Vercetti from GTA Vice City.png

| alt = A computer generated image of a brown haired man. He wears a blue shirt with dark blue trees as the design, blue jeans and white sneakers.

| caption = Tommy Vercetti as he appears in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

| first = Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

| creator = Rockstar North

| voice = Ray Liotta

| motion_actor = Jonathan Sale{{cite web |url= http://www.escmag.com/v5/features/feature.cfm?fv=5 |title= The Body Behind Vice City's Tommy Vercetti |last= Grieser |first= Andy |publisher= ESC Mag |date= June 9, 2003 |access-date= April 21, 2013 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120213122128/http://www.escmag.com/v5/features/feature.cfm?fv=5 |archive-date= February 13, 2012 }}

| nationality = Italian-American

}}

Thomas "Tommy" Vercetti is a fictional character and the playable protagonist of the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the fourth main installment in Rockstar Games's Grand Theft Auto series. The first protagonist in the series who can speak, Tommy was voiced by Ray Liotta.{{cite web |url=http://au.ign.com/articles/2012/07/03/ign-presents-the-history-of-grand-theft-auto-2?page=3 |title=IGN Presents The History of Grand Theft Auto |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Rus |last2=Thomas |first2=Lucas M. |publisher=IGN |date=July 3, 2012 |access-date=April 17, 2013 |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629123016/http://au.ign.com/articles/2012/07/03/ign-presents-the-history-of-grand-theft-auto-2?page=3 |url-status=live }}

Portrayed as a temperamental Italian-American mobster, Tommy is a made man or ex-soldato of the Forelli crime family, a fictional Italian Mafia organisation. After serving a 15-year prison sentence for murder, Tommy is released in 1986 and resumes work in Vice City, a fictional city based on Miami. However, he is soon tasked with recovering the stolen goods from an ambushed drug deal. Tommy's quest leads him to make various criminal contacts, building up a reputation within the criminal underworld of Vice City. Tommy eventually expands his criminal empire, becoming the city's kingpin.

Tommy was well received by critics, who found him to be more fleshed-out and likeable than previous protagonists in the series, and praised his characterization, comparing it to that of Tony Montana from the 1983 film Scarface. Liotta's performance as Tommy was also praised and earned him multiple year-end accolades.

Concept and design

File:Tommy Vercetti concept art.png

Tommy Vercetti first appears wearing a teal Hawaiian shirt, jeans, and white sneakers. He is offered more wardrobe options as the game progresses.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/grand-theft-auto-gta-vice-city-outfit-unlock-location/|title=Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: How To Unlock Each Outfit And Where To Find Them|author=Joseph Metz Jr.|website=TheGamer|publisher=Valnet, Inc|date=December 1, 2021|access-date=October 26, 2024|archive-date=October 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017211309/https://www.thegamer.com/grand-theft-auto-gta-vice-city-outfit-unlock-location/|url-status=live}} Tommy, in several ways, exhibits characteristics of fictional drug lord Tony Montana from the 1983 film Scarface. This coincides with the heavy themes and appearance of the movie that has been implemented into Vice City.{{cite web | title=Examining Grand Theft Auto's Scarface Connection | url=http://www.gamechronicles.com/features/gtascarface/gtascarface.htm | publisher=Game Chronicles | last=O'Neill | first=Cliff | access-date=March 29, 2008 | archive-date=March 3, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165616/http://www.gamechronicles.com/features/gtascarface/gtascarface.htm | url-status=live }} The interplay between Tommy and Lance Vance was crafted to be similar to the relationship of Miami Vice{{'}}s Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs.

The team spent time "solving [the] riddle" of a speaking protagonist, a notable departure from Grand Theft Auto III{{'}}s silent protagonist Claude. Ray Liotta portrayed protagonist Tommy Vercetti. Liotta described the role as challenging: "You're creating a character that's not there before ... It's so intensive". When recording the role, the team used blue screen in order to allow Liotta to visualise "how it's gonna move". The team ensured that the player felt "real affinity" for Tommy, making the narrative a key development interest. Dan Houser described Tommy as "strong and dangerous and prepared to wait for the right opportunity to arrive". Director Navid Khonsari found Liotta occasionally difficult to work with.* {{cite book |last=Kushner |first=David |author-link=David Kushner (writer) |title=Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto |publisher=Turner Publishing Company |date=3 April 2012 |isbn=978-0-470-93637-5 |page=118 }} "In some sessions he was ... into it, but then sometimes ... he was very dark and couldn't work", said Sam Houser.

Prior to the release of Vice City, IGN stated that Tommy was likely to "leave the same kind of imprint on kids today that [actor Ray Liotta's] portrayal of Ray Sinclair left on every high school and college kid who saw Something Wild back in 1986." They also compared Liotta's portrayal of Tommy to his portrayal of Henry Hill in Goodfellas.{{cite web |url=http://au.ign.com/articles/2002/10/25/the-voice-of-vice-city |title=The Voice of Vice City |author=IGN Staff |publisher=IGN |date=October 25, 2002 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |archive-date=April 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140416025804/http://au.ign.com/articles/2002/10/25/the-voice-of-vice-city |url-status=live }} When asked about his portrayal of Tommy, Liotta stated that "it was hard work." He said that "you're pretty much putting yourself in [the game developers'] hands and doing whatever they want so there's not much for you to do creatively."{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.ca/news/article.jhtml?id=23742 |title=Ray Liotta recalls his Grand Theft Auto days as Tommy Vercetti |last=McAnulty |first=Nick |publisher=MTV.ca |date=January 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218073646/http://www.mtv.ca/news/article.jhtml?id=23742 |archive-date=December 18, 2011 }}

Biography

Tommy Vercetti, born in Liberty City to an Italian American family, helped his father at a printing press as a child.{{cite video game|title=Grand Theft Auto: Vice City|developer=Rockstar North|publisher=Rockstar Games|date=October 29, 2002|platform=PlayStation 2|quote=Mission: "Spilling the Beans"
Earnest Kelly: "Mr. Vercetti? Hey. You bought the old print works?" / Tommy: "Yeah, my old man used to work on these [printing machines]... I used to spend the evenings with him, cleaning the rollers. I was going to follow him in his trade, but... I lived a different life."}} Initially aspiring to an honest life, he fell into crime as a teenager through Sonny Forelli, a mafia boss who eventually made him a member of the Forelli Crime Family.{{cite web |url=http://au.ign.com/articles/2008/04/28/grand-theft-auto-favorite-badasses?page=3 |title=Grand Theft Auto: Favorite Badasses |last=Scheeden |first=Jesse |date=April 28, 2008 |publisher=IGN |access-date=April 20, 2013 |archive-date=October 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030014206/http://au.ign.com/articles/2008/04/28/grand-theft-auto-favorite-badasses?page=3 |url-status=live }} In 1971, Sonny, fearing Tommy's growing influence, set him up in a trap that led to Tommy killing 11 men in self-defense. Arrested for multiple murders, Tommy earned the nickname "The Harwood Butcher" and served 15 years in prison.{{cite video game | title = Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | developer = Rockstar North | publisher = Rockstar Games | date = October 29, 2002 | platform = PlayStation 2 | quote = Mission: "Keep Your Friends Close..."
Sonny Forelli: "Didn't I say your temper would get you into trouble, huh?...How many was it? Ten? No, eleven men. That's how you get to be called the Harwood Butcher!" / Tommy Vercetti: "You sent me to kill one man, ONE MAN. They knew I was coming Sonny..."}}

In 1986, freshly released, Tommy was sent to Vice City by Sonny to oversee a drug deal. The deal was ambushed, leaving Tommy to recover the lost money and drugs. During his investigation, he formed alliances with figures like Ken Rosenberg, Colonel Cortez, Kent Paul, Lance Vance, and Avery Carrington. Discovering drug lord Ricardo Diaz orchestrated the ambush, Tommy and Lance killed Diaz in his own mansion, seizing his empire.

With Diaz's assets, Tommy established the "Vercetti Gang", distancing himself from the Forellis and building a vast criminal empire. He neglected Lance, who felt sidelined while expanding his operations and forming alliances with local gangs.

When Sonny arrived in Vice City demanding payment, he revealed Lance’s betrayal and his role in Tommy’s 1971 arrest. A shootout ensued, resulting in Tommy killing both Sonny and Lance. With his rivals eliminated, Tommy cemented his position as Vice City's undisputed kingpin.{{cite video game|title=Grand Theft Auto: Vice City|developer=Rockstar North|publisher=Rockstar Games|date=October 29, 2002|platform=PlayStation 2|quote=Mission: "Keep Your Friends Close..."
Tommy: You know, Ken. I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful business relationship... After all, you're a conniving, backstabbing, two-bit thief, and I'm a convicted psychotic killer and drug dealer.
Ken: I know. Ain't it just beautiful?}}

Not much is known about Tommy's life after 1986 other than his partnership with Ken being short-lived. At some point before 1992, when Ken's cocaine addiction became a serious nuisance for Tommy, he sent him to a rehabilitation center in Fort Carson, San Andreas, and abandoned him there. In The Introduction, a short prologue film to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Ken gets out of rehab after completing his treatment and tries to contact Tommy, but is unsuccessful, as the latter has cut all ties with him.{{cite video game|title=Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas|developer=Rockstar North|publisher=Rockstar Games|date=October 26, 2004|platform=PlayStation 2|quote=Scene: "The Introduction"
Ken: "Ah, yes. Tommy Vercetti please. Tell him Ken Rosenberg called. Ken Rosenberg. You haven't heard of me? Who are you?... Ken Rosenberg. Rosenberg!... Oh! Oh really? You told him I called? Look, I made that ingrate, and now he won't answer my calls?... Just put him on the phone right now! Hello? Hello? Damn it!"}}

Reception

File:Ray Liotta Deauville 2014.jpg's portrayal of Tommy was praised.]]

The character of Tommy Vercetti received very positive reviews and remarks from critics and players of Vice City, making it to many lists of the best video game characters. AllGame{{'}}s Scott Alan Marriott found Tommy more engaging than Grand Theft Auto III{{'}}s Claude; IGN{{'}}s Perry felt that Rockstar "found the right person and the right choice", and Edge wrote that Tommy "sweats charisma", commending Liotta's performance. CraveOnline stated that playing as Tommy was "a breath of fresh air".{{cite web |title=Top 10 Most Memorable GTA Characters |url=http://www.craveonline.com/gaming/articles/198965-top-10-most-memorable-gta-characters |publisher=PlayStation Beyond |last=Tamburro |first=Paul |date=November 2, 2012 |access-date=April 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220072528/http://www.craveonline.com/gaming/articles/198965-top-10-most-memorable-gta-characters |archive-date=December 20, 2014 |url-status=dead }} The Age praised Liotta's acting and stated "while the character riffs on Tony Montana throughout the game, Liotta's speeches give him a reckless sense of humour that makes him more likeable".{{cite web | url=http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/games/the-top-50-xbox-characters-of-all-time-20090616-cdkl.html | title=The Top 50 Xbox Characters of All Time | date=September 30, 2008 | work=The Age | access-date=July 8, 2013 | archive-date=October 6, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006054805/http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/games/the-top-50-xbox-characters-of-all-time-20090616-cdkl.html | url-status=dead }} GameDaily praised Liotta's portrayal as having transformed him from a generic-looking thug to a "tough guy who ruled the 80's."{{cite web |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-25-antiheroes/?page=18 |title=Top 25 Anti-Heroes Gallery and Images |last=Buffa |first=Chris |access-date=June 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427074648/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-25-antiheroes/?page=18 |archive-date=April 27, 2009 }} The Telegraph described Tommy as "the most amoral" Grand Theft Auto protagonist.{{cite web |title=Top 10 game anti-heroes |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/6197535/Top-10-video-game-anti-heroes.html |publisher=The Telegraph |last1=Cowen |first1=Nick |last2=Hoggins |first2=Tom |date=September 16, 2009 |access-date=April 21, 2013 |archive-date=July 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703045013/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/6197535/Top-10-video-game-anti-heroes.html |url-status=live }}

Andy Kelly of TheGamer described Tommy as the "Greatest GTA Protagonist", highlighting his role as the first fully developed character in the Grand Theft Auto series. Unlike the eight interchangeable protagonists in the earlier 2D games—whose differences were limited to superficial traits like clothing and skin tone—Tommy featured a well-defined personality. While Claude from Grand Theft Auto III introduced some character depth, his silence left him lacking in overall personality. Kelly credited Ray Liotta for bringing Tommy to life, though he noted that Liotta was initially unfamiliar with the franchise's scale and faced conflicts with Rockstar during the recording process. Through comparing Tommy to other protagonists like Niko Bellic, Michael De Santa, and Carl Johnson, Kelly emphasized how Tommy's motives and backstory make him stand out.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/20-years-later-tommy-vercetti-is-still-the-greatest-gta-protagonist/|title=20 Years Later, Tommy Vercetti Is Still The Greatest GTA Protagonist|author=Andy Kelly|date=October 18, 2022|website=TheGamer|access-date=December 1, 2024}}

Liotta won the award for Best Live Action/Voice Male Performance at the 2003 G-Phoria Awards and Best Performance by a Human at the 2003 Spike Video Game Awards.{{cite web | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/01/g-phoria-report | title=G-Phoria Report | date=July 31, 2003 | work=IGN | access-date=June 15, 2014 | archive-date=April 9, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409144812/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/01/g-phoria-report | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://megagames.com/news/video-game-awards-results | title=Video Game Awards The Results | date=December 5, 2003 | work=megagames | access-date=June 15, 2014 | archive-date=February 24, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224094404/https://megagames.com/news/video-game-awards-results | url-status=live }}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39501&tab=review |title=Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – Review |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |work=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |access-date=16 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210172958/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39501&tab=review |archive-date=10 December 2014 }}

{{cite web |url=http://designmuseum.org/design/rockstar-games |title=Rockstar Games – Design/Designer Information |publisher=Design Museum |access-date=23 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105233001/http://designmuseum.org/design/rockstar-games |archive-date=5 November 2011 }}

{{cite magazine |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-grand-theft-auto-vice-city/4 |title=The Making Of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |page=4 |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |date=7 December 2012 |access-date=10 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210064852/http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-grand-theft-auto-vice-city/4 |archive-date=10 December 2012 }}

{{cite magazine |url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/grand-theft-auto-vice-city-review/ |title=Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Review |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |date=27 November 2002 |access-date=16 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211103011/http://www.edge-online.com/review/grand-theft-auto-vice-city-review/ |archive-date=11 December 2012 }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dan-houser-opens-up-about-grand-theft-auto-iii/1100-6341347/ |title=Dan Houser Opens Up About Grand Theft Auto III |last=McInnis |first=Shaun |work=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=21 October 2011 |access-date=10 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019000950/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dan-houser-opens-up-about-grand-theft-auto-iii/1100-6341347/|archive-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=live }}

{{cite web|url=https://gamesradar.com/sam-houser-gta-iv-crazier-than-ever/2/ |title=Sam Houser: "GTA IV crazier than ever" |work=GamesRadar |publisher=Future plc |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=9 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220122631/http://www.gamesradar.com/sam-houser-gta-iv-crazier-than-ever/2/ |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |url=https://ign.com/articles/2002/10/28/grand-theft-auto-vice-city |title=Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |last=Perry |first=Douglass C. |work=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=28 October 2002 |access-date=16 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029065427/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/28/grand-theft-auto-vice-city |archive-date=29 October 2012 |url-status=live }}

{{cite journal |last=Perry |first=Douglass C. |date=October 2002 |title=Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |journal=IGN Unplugged |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=17 |pages=8–15 }}

{{cite web |url=https://ign.com/articles/2002/10/25/the-voice-of-vice-city |title=The Voice of Vice City |work=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=25 October 2002 |access-date=23 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103081517/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/25/the-voice-of-vice-city |archive-date=3 November 2012 |url-status=live }}

}}

Category:Fictional assassins in video games

Category:Fictional businesspeople in video games

Category:Fictional criminals in video games

Category:Fictional American people in video games

Category:Fictional aviators

Category:Fictional characters from New York (state)

Category:Fictional characters from Florida

Category:Fictional crime bosses

Category:Fictional drug dealers

Category:Fictional mass murderers

Category:Fictional money launderers