History Characters / TheProfessional

-->[[spoiler:'''Léon''']]: Stansfield?

-->[[spoiler:'''Léon''']]: (handing him something) This is from... Mathilda.

* BoringButPractical: Leon's primary method of dispatching his targets is to usually just shoot them in chest. His reason for this being that, by avoiding damage to the target's face and other unique features, it's easier for the body to be identified by authorities, the kill confirmed to the client, and the money paid out to him.

* BoringButPractical: Leon’s primary method of dispatching his targets is to usually just shoot them in chest. His reason for this being that, by avoiding damage to the target’s face and other unique features, it’s easier for them to be identified by authorities, the kill confirmed to the client, and the money paid out to him.

* AmbiguousDisorder: It's strongly implied Léon is on the autism spectrum. He has odd, fractured speech patterns, phenomenal skill in one specific area (killing people), astounding social ineptitude (to the point he's barely able to hold a conversation with anyone) as well as some child-like traits (he doesn't curse, for instance).

* HollywoodSilencer: His signature weapons are a pair of Beretta 92FS pistols with custom compensators to reduce muzzle flash and recoil and to which he usually attaches silencers.* IconicOutfit: His get-up while doing his "cleaning" (black trenchcoat, round beanie, round shades) is very iconic to the character. Markedly, it's in every cover ever made for the movie.

* DarkIsEvil: Malky is usually seen in dark outfits and he's an outright villain.

* IconicOutfit: His get-up while doing his "cleaning" (black trenchcoat, round beanie, round shades) is very iconic to the character. Markedly, it's in every cover ever made for the movie.

* WeaponOfChoice: His signature weapons are a pair of Beretta 92FS pistols with custom compensators to reduce muzzle flash and recoil and to which he usually attaches silencers.

* TheDreaded: Everyone in the criminal world who knows of Leon is absolutely terrified of him and with good reason.

* SirSwearsALot: Even the last thing he ever says is, [[spoiler:"Shit"]].

* BadassBaritone: He has a very gruff and deep voice appropriate for an intimidating Mafia hitman.

* AgeInappropriateDress / BareYourMidriff: Most of her outfits bare her midriff.

* BareYourMidriff: Often wears an AgeInappropriateDress -- cropped T-shirts or shirts.

* SheCleansUpNicely: She usually dresses in BareYourMidriff outfits, but she changes into a beautiful pink dress after Leon rescues her from the middle of DEA Headquarters. Then she starts talking about the importance of losing your virginity with someone you love, giving Leon a serious OhCrap moment.

* AffluentAesthetic: Despite making good money as an assassin, Leon lives a very simple life in a normal apartment and has few indulgences besides going to the cinema.

* GeniusBruiser: His expertise at killing people isn't just due to his excellent marksmanship and combat skills, he's also a brilliant tactician able to outwit trained officers of the law in a gunfight.

* WeaponOfChoice: He uses customized Beretta 92FSs.

* WeaponOfChoice: He carries a snub-nose Smith & Wesson model 629.

* GoshDangItToHeck: In contrast to most of the characters in the film, Leon never swears. Despite being a ruthless assassin, he insists on "talking nice" to people and tries to teach Mathilda to do the same. The worst word he ever utters is "crap" in the International Cut when he has to deal with an unhinged apartment dweller.

* GoshDangItToHeck: In contrast to most of the characters in the film, Leon never swears. The worst word he ever utters is "crap" in the International Cut when he has to deal with an unhinged apartment dweller.

* AbusiveParents: She's first seen sporting a bruise she got from her father, who regularly hits her. Her stepmother doesn't treat her right either.

* AgeGapRomance: A one sided version. He views Mathilda, a 12-year kid, as a daughter, while she's clearly interested in him romantically, which he's obviously disturbed by.

* NoSocialSkills: León has absolutely zero social skills. He isn't even able to talk basic small-talk with a hotel concierge.

* SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining: He's an extraordinarily skilled assassin who can mow down entire gangs without breaking a sweat and completely inept at almost every other aspect of life, barely able to hold a basic conversation and unable to even read.

* HalfSiblingAngst: She flat out states that she is not fully related to her step-mother and sister.

* {{Tomboy}}: Very subtle, but it's definitely there. Her interest with firearms and becoming a hitman for hire may be fueled solely by her desire to avenge her brother, but honestly -- how many young girls watch ''[[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 Transformers]]'' as their favourite cartoon?

* FauxAffablyEvil: He can act charming at times, such as when talking with Mathilda or her father, but through it all it's clear he's a psychopathic maniac who's a second away from violently murdering anyone who makes him mad. At one point, after murdering Mathilda's stepmother and half-sister, he talks casually with Mathilda's horrified father, gushing about his music tastes.
* {{Foil}}: To Leon, who's his opposite in nearly every way. Leon's a ConsummateProfessional while Stansfield is AxCrazy and has a HairTriggerTemper. Leon tries to act cold and aloof while being a much better person than he lets on, Stansfield can appear charming but is really a raging maniac. Leon is StraightEdgeEvil who doesn't use drink, smoke or using foul-language, while Stansfield is a drug addict who swears all the time. Both men exhibit almost childlike qualities, but while Leon treats a potted plant like his best friend and takes childlike joy in musical movies, Stansfield's idea of fun and games is hunting down and murdering a family. While Leon is a HitmanWithAHeart, [[DarkIsNotEvil who dresses mainly in black]], Stansfield is an AxCrazy DirtyCop [[LightIsNotGood who wears lighter clothing]].

* NaughtyNarcs: He's a crazed DEA agent who takes advantage of his position to have a foot in the drug running business.

* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: His full name uttered only once in the film by Mathilda. Otherwise, he always addressed as "Stan" by his subordinates.

-->'''Stansfield''': Death is...whimisical today.

* TheDragon: To Stansfield. Somewhat uncharacteristic to what this position normally entails, he's often forced to take charge and babysit his boss when Stansfield is too far gone on drugs or engrossed in murder. Or both.

* NoSocialSkills: León has absolutely zero social skills. He isn't even able to talk basic small-talk with a hotel conscierge.

* WouldntHitAGirl[=/=]WouldNotHurtAChild: His rule in accepting targets, "No women, no kids."

* AdorablyPrecociousChild: She raised her 4-year old little brother as if she were her mom and as an assassin's apprentice does a lot of tasks beyond her age.

* AntagonisticOffspring: Basically her relationship with her father in general. She also flat out states that she would have killed him if the corrupt cops hadn't barged into her apartment.

* LittleMissBadass: She is the trope's page image for a reason. She is very handy with a handgun for a girl, and she demonstrates some excellent on-her-feet thinking.

* AxCrazy: Stansfield is a dangerously unstable individual. He treats murdering an entire family like a fun game, shoots at an old woman for not going back into her apartment, seems to take immense pleasure in the thought of murdering a twelve-year-old girl, and unnerves his lackeys by waving guns around them without any care for their safety. The drugs he uses have clearly taken a toll on his sanity.

* LaughablyEvil: While he's a ruthless and psychotic corrupt cop who is not above murdering children, it's hard to not laugh at some (if not all) of his deranged outbursts.

Stansfield's right hand man.

* AffablyEvil: He's always polite to Leon, acting as an almost paternal figure to him. [[spoiler:After Leon's death, he honors his request to bequeath all his money to Mathilda, and gets her to try to go back to a normal life rather than be a cleaner like Leon.]]

* NiceHat: He can usually be seen wearing a pretty nifty wool hat.

* CoolHat: Anytime he is doing his job as a "cleaner", he always has a beanie cap.

* BookDumb: He NeverLearnedToRead, and Mathilda decides to teach him how to.

* SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining: He's an extraordinarily skilled assassin and completely inept at almost every other aspect of life, barely able to hold even a basic conversation and unable to even read.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The first scenes show him as a badass hitman with almost supernatural skills due to years of training. He spends the rest of his day as mundanely as possible—going to the store, watering his plants, and cleaning his guns.

* GeniusBruiser: His expertise at killing people isn't just due to his excellent marksmanship, he's also a brilliant tactician able to outwit trained officers of the law in a gunfight.