Line #30 Characters/TheIrishman


1	'''Since this a character page, spoilers will be unmarked. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''
2	----
3	[[foldercontrol]]
4
5	!Main Characters
6
7	[[folder:Frank Sheeran]]
8	!!Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran
9	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sheeran.jpg]]
10	[[caption-width-right:350:''"Sooner or later, everybody put here has a date when he's going to go. That's just the way it is."'']]
11	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/RobertDeNiro
12
13	->''"When I was young, I thought house painters painted houses. What did I know? I was a working guy, a business agent for Teamster Local 107 out of South Philly. One of a thousand working stiffs, until I wasn't no more. And then I started painting houses myself."''
14
15	The titular protagonist, who works as a contract killer for the mob. He's also Jimmy Hoffa's assassin.
16	----
17	* AffablyEvil: Even though he kills people for a living, Frank is genial enough to get along with just about anybody.
18	* AlasPoorVillain: The last half-hour of the film treats his fate with solemnity and sympathy.
19	* {{Angrish}}: While confronting a guy who tried lying his way out of paying a debt:
20	-->''"You wanna get cute with me? All that bullshit about your mother and sick and all that dying."''
21	* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Frank deeply admires Hoffa and is visibly excited to make his acquaintance, [[AscendedFanboy eventually becoming one of his closest friends]]. Unfortunately, their relationship is exactly why Frank is chosen to whack him.
22	* BeenThereShapedHistory: At least three examples: transporting guns for the Bay of Pigs Invasion; assassinating Joe Gallo; assassinating Jimmy Hoffa.
23	* BerserkButton: Beats the shit out of a shopkeeper for pushing his daughter.
24	* TheBigGuy: His towering height is mainly why he works as a hitman and an enforcer.
25	* BodyguardBetrayal: Hoffa mistakenly trusts Frank with his life.
26	* BoomHeadshot[=/=]DoubleTap: His modus operandi as an assassin.
27	* CommonalityConnection: He bonds with Russell, an Italian-American, over their fluency in Italian and the fact that Russell was born in Catania, where Frank served.[[note]]In RealLife, it was in Montedoro that Russell was born and where Frank served and learned Italian, not Catania.[[/note]]
28	* ConsummateProfessional: He never lets personal matters affect his job, as tragically demonstrated when he kills Jimmy.
29	* ContrastingSequelMainCharacter: To the leads of Scorsese's two prior mafia films, ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'' and ''Film/{{Casino}}'':
30	** He's the polar opposite of Henry Hill. Henry had wanted to be in and joined the criminal lifestyle from an early age while Frank only joined by pure chance when he was already an adult and married with kids. Henry had no interest in ever earning an honest living while Frank had a stable and a job as a truck driver that he enjoyed. Henry was attracted to the glamour of the lifestyle and is later blindsided by the violent aspect and that his friends have no issue in having him killed while Frank mainly just sees it as a job and is never afforded any illusions about it's positive sides or how expendable he truly is. Henry rises as high as he can through the ranks while Frank is never more than a low level hitman, and any real status he has is in the union. Henry sells out his peers to save himself but has no regrets about his actions, only about losing his privileges, and leads a decently comfortable life after. Frank stays loyal, even after the people he's protecting are long dead, and his actions have left him completely alone with nothing to do but wait for his impending death.
31	** He's a noticeable contrast to Sam "Ace" Rothstein, also played by Robert [=DeNiro=]. While Ace was a high level earner who was valued for his incredible skills, Frank is never more than a low level enforcer and is seen as expendable by his bosses, a fact he's keenly aware of. Ace was a money maker who never got his hands dirty while Frank is a hitman. Ace is attracted to the glamour of the lifestyle and the boost it gives his ego while Frank just sees it as a way to pay the bills and rarely gets exposed to the nicer side. And Ace ends the film having lost the casino but still alive and making money while Frank is left alone and abandoned by his kids with nothing to do but wait for death.
32	** Another noticeable aspect that separates Frank from both Jimmy and Henry is that, unlike them, Frank never shows the slightless hint of greed, or at the very least not greed for the the material, power and glamour. Frank does small jobs for Russ as favors out of loyalty while he did the rest of his side and teamster activities to provide for his family and ex-wife, as Frank implies early on in the film that after a certain point the money he was making as a truck driver alone simply wasn't enough.
33	* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: Of professional criminals and killers, showing just [[AlasPoorVillain how miserable and pitiful]] a man like this would become if they reached old age. Towards the end of his life, Frank's evasiveness, unwillingness to ever disobey orders or give up his contacts is turned against him, when he's reminded that everyone he's spent his life protecting is dead and the ones who aren't want nothing to do with him.
34	* DisownedParent: Frank's daughter Peggy completely cuts him out of her life after her mother passes, having realized years before that he murdered her HonoraryUncle Jimmy Hoffa on the Mafia's orders. When Frank visits one of his daughters who will still talk to him, she admits that they've all been scared of him their entire lives. Frank ultimately [[DyingAlone dies alone]] with none of his family there to comfort him.
35	* TheDriver: For Russell. One of his earlier jobs was also as a truck driver.
36	* DyingAlone: By the end of his life, most of Frank's mob friends have died of old age, disease or violence, his wife passes away, and his daughters want nothing to do with him. He's so alone that he has to arrange his own ''impending funeral''.
37	* EvenEvilHasStandards: He seems very angry with Tony Pro's threat to Hoffa. He even admits that if it wasn't for the mob, he would have killed him.
38	* EvilVirtues:
39	** Loyalty; once he's allied with the Mafia, he won't betray them for any reason, even if it means killing a friend, even if there's no ''point'' to his loyalty anymore.
40	** Diligence. He's a hard-working man who takes his job seriously, a fact that Bill Buffalino brings up in court as a positive trait.
41	* FaceDeathWithDignity: Knowing that his days are numbered, and despite having no one to do it for him, he sets up his own funeral arrangements, like buying a coffin, and calmly awaits his death.
42	* FateWorseThanDeath: With all of his friends dead and his family estranged from him, Frank is left alone in a nursing home to ruminate over his guilt and impending death.
43	* FightingIrish: Frank is an Irish-American war veteran turned mob hitman and associate for Cosa Nostra.
44	* GoingNative: During WWII, he becomes acquainted with Italian customs after serving in Italy, like becoming fluent in Sicilian and developing a predilection for red wine. It's this that ingratiates him with the Mafia, even though he has no Italian heritage.
45	* GunsAkimbo: How he dispatches of Joe Gallo.
46	* HairTriggerTemper: {{Downplayed\|Trope}} in the film, but it's still there. This trait is more evident in the memoir, demonstrated by him assaulting his boss at a meatpacking job and also by him attacking the referee during a [[ItMakesSenseInContext boxing match with a kangaroo]].
47	* HeelFaithTurn: Subverted. Near the end of his life, Frank maintains contact with a priest, to whom he confesses the murders that he's committed. Despite this, Frank callously admits that he doesn't feel any remorse for his victims or their families, Hoffa being the exception.
48	* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Invokes this trope later in his life when he's trying to get back into his daughters' good graces, saying that everything that he did was done to "protect them." Given everything that we know about Frank's history, it falls flat. Unsurprisingly, his daughters are unmoved and continue to shun him from their lives.
49	* IntergenerationalFriendship: With Russell Bufalino.
50	* TheIrishMob: He's not technically affiliated with the Irish Mob in any capacity, but being a Mafia associate with Irish heritage qualifies him for this trope.
51	* IronicEcho: Living alone at the retirement community, he has by now borrowed Jimmy's habit of leaving the door slightly open at night.
52	* KickTheDog: While it's understandable that he'd be angry at the grocer who shoved his daughter, practically pulverizing his hand with his foot was pure sadism on Frank's part.
53	* MouthOfSauron: He's often speaking for Russell or relaying messages for him.
54	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Unlike most of his murders, Frank is visibly distraught after killing Hoffa.
55	* NaiveNewcomer: {{Subverted\|Trope}}; He stumbles a little with the Mafia's social mores, and he gets easily fooled and scammed on a few occasions, almost getting himself killed in the process. However, he quickly learns from his mistakes and adapts to the mob life.
56	* TheNarrator: Of the film.
57	* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: For shoving his daughter, he throws a shopkeeper out on the street and proceeds to crush his hand with his foot.
58	* OldSoldier: He's still carrying out hits in the late 70s despite pushing sixty.
59	* OnlySaneMan: Frank takes it upon himself to mediate conflict or be a voice of reason during petty disputes.
60	* PapaWolf: {{Deconstructed\|Trope}}; when he assaults a shopkeeper for shoving his daughter, he winds up traumatizing her. This plays a role in her estrangement from him.
61	* PunchclockVillain: There's nothing to indicate that Frank particularly enjoys killing people, he just sees it as a necessary part of his job. Most of his kills are on orders from Russell, and he rarely harbors any personal malice towards the people that he kills (in fact, he was a dear and close friend to Jimmy Hoffa).
62	* TheQuietOne: A man of few words who speaks in a low mumble. He's fairly laconic even as the narrator.
63	* TheSociopath: {{Subverted\|Trope}}; As a hitman, he has little problem killing people, but killing Hoffa has him racked with guilt.
64	* StartOfDarkness: It was during WWII that Frank developed a coldness to taking lives; he would force [=POWs=] to build their own graves before killing them on the spot.
65	* TheStoic: Lampshaded by Jimmy, who points out that it's impossible to tell what he's thinking by looking at him.
66	* UndyingLoyalty: Frank refuses to betray the Mafia, even when at a retirement home. But it is played as being ultimately meaningless as at this point everyone he is loyal to is dead but not the children of Hoffa who will never know what happened to their father.
67	* VerbalTic: Has a slight stutter which gets noticeably worse with age, and becomes especially pronounced when under stress. Most notably, he's literally incapable of uttering a coherent word when [[spoiler:his daughter calls him about Hoffa's death]].
68	* VillainProtagonist: He's a hitman for the mob and the film's protagonist.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Jimmy Hoffa]]
72	!!UsefulNotes/JimmyHoffa
73	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hoffa.jpg]]
74	[[caption-width-right:350:''"Well, glad to meet you too, even if it’s over the phone. I heard you paint houses."'']]
75	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/AlPacino[[labelnote:Other Languages]]Creator/JoseLuccioni (European French)[[/labelnote]]
76
77	->''"Big business and the government are trying to sow the seeds of dissent among our ranks, at a time when we need unity! We need solidarity!"''
78
79	The mob-affiliated President of the Teamsters. After being sent to prison, his relationship with the Mafia gradually deteriorates as he attempts to regain control over the Teamsters, butting heads with them in the process, all of which ultimately leads to his assassination.
80	----
81	* ALighterShadeOfBlack: While he is heavily corrupt and in cahoots with the mob (knowing full well what their methods are), he is still dedicated to his union brothers and to ensuring better treatment for the working class. Furthermore, his lighter character is affirmed by the bond he shares with Peggy, in contrast to her wariness around her own father and his gangster friends.
82	* BerserkButton: Take your pick.
83	** Tony Pro's very existence is one for him.
84	** Being late to a meeting and insulting his ego are surefire ways to piss him off.
85	** Threatening his grand-daughter will catch you a beating.
86	** And don't show up to a meeting in shorts.
87	* BigBadWannabe: He vastly overestimates his importance in the grand scheme of things, deeming himself untouchable and thinking that he can actually strong-arm the mob into allowing him to retake the Teamsters. In the end, the mob writes him off as a lost cause and has him unceremoniously executed.
88	* BodyguardBetrayal: His last words were, "C'mon Frank, let's get out of here," before Frank shoots him in the head.
89	* BoomHeadshot: His manner of death is two shots to the back of his head.
90	* BunnyEarsLawyer: He doesn't drink, loves ice cream, and always goes to bed with the door slightly open. He's also a highly effective leader of the Teamsters.
91	* CharacterTic: Always goes to bed with the door slightly ajar.
92	* TheCharmer: He is effortlessly endearing and skilled at winning people over (when he wants to be, at least).
93	* ConsummateProfessional: He has very high standards for professionalism. Subverted in that his contempt for people who don't meet them creates unnecessary conflict.
94	* ControlFreak: He goes to absolutely suicidal lengths to retake the Teamsters.
95	* CoolOldGuy: In spite of his reputation, his passionate and endearing nature earns him a lot of admirers, ranging all the way towards children.
96	* DeadlyEuphemism: "I heard you paint houses."
97	* DealWithTheDevil: Hoffa got where he is in large part due to his dealings with the mob, which backfires on him later in life.
98	* EvilIsNotAToy: He's stunningly naïve about what the mafia can do to him, and he pays dearly for it.
99	* EvilIsPetty: Part of his ControlFreak tendencies is an extreme pettiness towards anyone who threatens his control. The most notable instance is that his response to JFK being assassinated is to [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown mock his brother in front of the press]] and makes sure his union building doesn't fly its flag at half mast.
100	* EtTuBrute: Was whacked by his close friend, Frank Sheeran.
101	* FatalFlaw; {{Pride}}: The reason why he can't relinquish control of the Teamsters is simply because it's ''his'' union. Even though he's pissed off a lot of people trying to get it back, he absolutely will not back down, no matter how serious their threats become. In the end, the mob has no choice but to put him down.
102	* FriendToAllChildren: He bonds with Peggy, Frank's daughter, which continues into her adulthood as a platonic IntergenerationalFriendship. This is particularly striking given the distance between her and her own father.
103	* HappilyMarried: He and his wife are very close.
104	* HeterosexualLifePartners: He develops a very strong friendship with Frank Sheeran. {{Subverted\|Trope}} by the fact that it isn't strong enough to stop Frank from killing him under orders from the mob, despite Jimmy assuming otherwise.
105	* HiddenDisdainReveal: Happens gradually over the course of the movie. Hoffa owes most of his success within the union to his mob connections. However, several of his later scenes heavily imply that he strongly resents having to rely on the mob to achieve his goals.
106	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: His ControlFreak tendencies land him in prison when he commits witness tampering to acquit himself of a minor charge. His later conviction of actual fraud would compound his sentence.
107	* {{Hypocrite}}: Hoo boy! He loathes Tony Pro for being a corrupt union boss who's willing to resort to dirty tactics to advance his position within the Teamsters, not at all unlike Hoffa himself. Furthermore, during his bid to re-take the Teamsters from Fitz, Hoffa cites the latter's blatant corruption and affiliation with the mob as reasons for why Fitz shouldn't be president. Again, Hoffa himself is guilty of such vices.
108	* {{Jerkass}}: [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-Zagged]]. Even though he isn't as nefarious as the mob and is fairly charismatic, Hoffa also has an unpleasantly vindictive side to him. For example, he is incredibly condescending towards Tony Pro when he asks him for help, insulting him and refusing to get Pro his pension back. Furthermore, while his anger towards some of his incompetence is justified, he takes it out on otherwise innocent employees, inadvertently insulting Frank for instance (which he quickly apologizes for). Possibly the height of his dickish behavior was when he forced a flag to remain at full staff over one of his union headquarters in the wake of JFK's assassination, out of spite to the Kennedy's. In any case, Frank implies that the stress of Bobby Kennedy's relentless investigations and the ensuing trial proceedings caused him to [[TookALevelInJerkass take a level in jerkass]].
109	* JerkassHasAPoint: His attitude towards Tony Pro does little except highlight how hypocritical and unnecessarily vindictive Jimmy can be. With that said, Pro is guilty of every offense that Jimmy accuses him of.
110	* LargeHam: Al Pacino is having an absolute blast with this role.
111	* TheNapoleon: Shorter than most characters, he remains a tremendous force of personality.
112	* NeverFoundTheBody: Famously so. According to Frank, his corpse was simply incinerated in a nearby Crematorium.
113	* NoIndoorVoice: Mostly when he's giving speeches of course, but he can be loud while off the podium as well.
114	* ParentalSubstitute: To Chuckie O'Brien, whom he raised.
115	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Despite working closely with the Mafia, Hoffa is shown to be prejudiced against Italians; among other remarks, he calls Tony Pro a "motherfucking wop cocksucker." To be fair, it seems to be not genuine prejudice, but as a way to piss off Tony Pro. Also, his "you people" comment is more likely referring to mobsters rather than Italians in general.
116	* RetiredBadass: He's been heavily involved with Unions since his youth, and the frequent clashes he and his strikes had with the police are all representative of his toughness. By the events of the film, he's still capable of beating up guys much younger than he.
117	* RightForTheWrongReasons: See Big Bad Wannabe above, but he insists he is untouchable because he is such a high profile figure making him disappear will doom the Mafia. He is wrong that the Mafia won't get sick of him and get rid of him, and while the Mafia associates never do admit to killing Hoffa all of the accomplices are prosecuted with every possible charge that can be thrown at them and all do jail time.
118	* SelfServingMemory: He likes to think of himself as a self-made man despite owing most of his success to his mob connections. He becomes very defensive whenever he's reminded that he did not, in fact, get to where he is on his own.
119	-->'''Tony Pro:''' Don't forget, "you people" got you where you are.\
120	'''Hoffa:''' No! Don't! Don't tell me that, you fucking...\
121	'''Tony Pro:''' That's your problem, Jimmy.\
122	'''Hoffa:''' Your problem is that you're a piece of shit!
123	* ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules: He makes it clear that he has no interest in being paid off to run the Union behind the scenes, but with simply getting back what's his by right.
124	* SharpDressedMan: "Florida, Timbuktu, I wear a suit. For a meeting." He expects the same out of anyone else.
125	* SinisterSweetTooth: On top of being a corrupt union leader in cahoots with the Mafia, he's also known for enjoying ice cream and soda pop as a preferred alternative to alcohol, a fact that makes him seem quite eccentric to his mobster associates; indeed, Tony Pro actually gets on Hoffa's bad side when he interrupts his dessert.
126	* SirSwearsALot: He has a particular fondness for "cocksucker."
127	* SurroundedByIdiots: {{Invoked\|Trope}} while berating his employees for bringing heat on him:
128	-->''"I am sitting in a room full of fucking idiots."''
129	* StraightEdgeEvil: As mentioned before and under, he doesn't drink, and instead has a vice for ice cream and soda. However, that doesn't stop him from engaging in illicit activities with the mob.
130	* TheTeetotaler: He doesn't drink, and dislikes it when people around him drink.
131	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: He loves ice cream.
132	* YouAreWhatYouHate: As much as Jimmy acts like his disdain of Tony Pro stems from a place of ethics (though he doesn't seem to mind associating with a known murderer like Frank Sheeran), it's heavily implied that the ''real'' reason that Jimmy hates Pro is that he views the younger man as a twisted version of himself - that is, a charismatic union delegate with mob connections, albeit ''far'' more AxCrazy than Hoffa. This is best exemplified in their scenes together where Jimmy condescendingly talks down to Tony like a disappointed father who's lecturing his son.
133	-->'''Jimmy:''' ''(talking about Pro)'' He's out of control! What are you gonna do with a person like this?! He's got a hand in everybody's pocket. Shaking down the trucking companies. Can you imagine that? Threatening people! [[{{Hypocrite}} I mean, you threaten people once in a while...Okay. I understand]]. But all the time?!
134	[[/folder]]
135
136	[[folder:Russell Bufalino]]
137	!!Russell Bufalino
138	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bufalino.jpg]]
139	[[caption-width-right:350:''"Either way, he's going."'']]
140	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/JoePesci
141
142	->''"When I ask somebody to take care of something for me, I expect them to take care of it themselves. I don't need two roads coming back to me."''
143
144	The don of the Bufalino crime family; he takes Frank under his wing and brings him into the mob.
145	----
146	* AffablyEvil: Russell's polite, friendly, and will go out of his way to help strangers with things like car trouble. He's also had a lot of people killed.
147	* AlasPoorVillain: Near the end of the movie, Russell is nothing but a pitiful shadow of what he once was: he has aged in jail, has deteriorated considerably to the point of not having teeth, and has been reduced to TheAtoner.
148	* AllForNothing: In spite of all his criminal dealings and all of the murders he's ordered, including those he called friends, he still ends up a feeble old man in prison full of regrets.
149	* TheAtoner: He's evidently remorseful for his actions by the time he's in prison, regularly attending church just before he dies.
150	* BewareTheQuietOnes: He's a soft-spoken man who never raises his voice, but don't let that fool you: there's a quiet menace to him that one should never cross.
151	* CharacterTic: Is always asleep whenever Frank drives him.
152	* CommonalityConnection: He bonds with Frank, an Irish-American, over their fluency in Italian and the fact that Frank served in Catania, Russell's birthplace.[[note]]In RealLife, it was in Montedoro that Russell was born and where Frank served and learned Italian, not Catania.[[/note]]
153	* ContrastingSequelMainCharacter: To Joe Pesci's characters in ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'' and ''Film/{{Casino}}''. He's TheDon, not a low level goon like Tommy (''Goodfellas'') or an enforcer with ambitions of starting his own crime family like Nicky (''Casino''), he's AffablyEvil and TheQuietOne, not an AxCrazy PsychoPartyMember with a HairTriggerTemper who will violently attack someone with little provocation (Tommy murders Billy Batts over a petty insult and Nicky stabs a man with a pen over an insult that wasn't even aimed at him and may or may not have been behind the bomb in Ace's car, whereas Russell barely reacts to an insult by Joe Gallo), and isn't brutally murdered for his transgressions (Tommy for the unsanctioned murder of a made man, Nicky for his senseless violence spiraling out of control and trying to usurp the mob bosses).
154	* DeadlyEuphemism: "Tell Jimmy, 'it is what it is.'"
155	* DeliberateValuesDissonance: He doesn't smoke or allow anyone else to with him in a car, which is treated as highly unusual, given the time period.[[note]]He used to be a heavy smoker until the mob was driven out of Cuba. On the boat back to America, a mafioso named Jimmy Blue Eyes bet him to never smoke again. He kept to the bet.[[/note]]
156	* TheDon: Of the Scranton mob.
157	* DoubleSpeak: He's rarely direct in his instructions, yet they remain plain to see.
158	* {{Expy}}: He has a lot in common with [[Film/TheGodfather Vito Corleone]]. Like The Godfather, Russell is a [[AffablyEvil ruthless, yet polite, friendly]] mob boss who's very loyal to the protagonist.
159	* EvenEvilHasStandards: He is disgusted at the thought of someone being murdered in front of their family. He calls Lee Harvey Oswald scum for doing that, with the one caveat that only Jackie Kennedy was present. Then again, he clearly didn't object to Frank doing just that for "Crazy Joe" Gallo's assassination.
160	* HeelFaithTurn: He rediscovers his Catholic faith while in prison.
161	* HenpeckedHusband: {{Downplayed\|Trope}}; they have a fairly equal relationship, but while on a drive, his wife demands to smoke despite the fact that he quit smoking, leaving him no choice but to pull over and wait.
162	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Solidified this with Frank after saving his life.
163	* IntergenerationalFriendship: With Frank, who's seventeen years younger than Russell.
164	* IronicEcho: Much like an earlier meeting with Frank, he struggles to eat bread with him while in prison. However, he's so old that his teeth are too weak to eat the bread without having to soak it in grape juice.
165	* LawOfInverseFertility: Unable to have children of his own, he tries to connect with Frank's daughter, with little success.
166	* LikeASonToMe: He refers to Frank as his kid to him, even though they first met when Frank was already in his 30s.
167	* TheMentor: He guides Frank throughout his life in the mob.
168	* MisterBig: Applies to both him and his crime family. Physically diminutive and running a pretty inconsequential organization, he nevertheless holds a lot of sway over the rest of the mob.
169	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Partially subverted. In prison with Frank, he voices regret over his role in Hoffa's assassination, but ultimately confides to Frank that he "Choose us over him. Fuck 'im."
170	* NeighborhoodFriendlyGangsters: His first meeting with Frank consists of him assisting Frank with engine trouble.
171	* NoodleIncident: One scene shows him returning home with blood on his shirt. No explanation is given, and his wife simply offers to wash it.
172	* OrSoIHeard: "Listen, some people, not me... think you might be demonstrating a failure to show appreciation."
173	* PragmaticVillainy: A very shrewd and calculating mafioso who won't sanction a hit unless he absolutely has to.
174	* PrecisionFStrike: Upon hearing Frank's combat experience, he delivers a Sicilian version of this trope:
175	-->''"Mincia."''
176	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: He disparagingly refers to Allen Dorfman as a "pain-in-the-ass fucking ''jew''."
177	* TheQuietOne: He was known as "The Quiet Don."
178	* SophisticatedAsHell: He's wise and well-spoken, but is also somewhat profane.
179	* TranquilFury: He shows a lot of restraint after Joe Gallo insults him.
180	* WhamLine: "If they can wack a President, they can wack a president of the Union."
181	[[/folder]]
182
183	!Supporting Characters
184
185	!!Frank's family
186
187	[[folder:Peggy Sheeran]]
188	!!Peggy Sheeran
189	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/peggy_sheeran.png]]
190	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Lucy Galina (young) and Creator/AnnaPaquin (adult)
191
192	->''"Why haven't you called Jo?"''
193
194	Frank's daughter. She is wary of her father and his friends, but idolizes Hoffa.
195	----
196	* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Her page quote. For context, it occurs just after the family hears of Hoffa's disappearance, which Frank had a direct role in. It turns out to be the last thing she ever says to her father.
197	* DetectEvil: Is standoffish around her father and Russell, both of whom are cold-blooded killers. Her strong friendship with Hoffa serves as a striking contrast.
198	* HeroWorshipper: She greatly admires Hoffa not just for being her friend, but also because she genuinely believes in what he's accomplished as a union president. {{Deconstructed\|Trope}} due to the fact [[InappropriateRoleModel he's also a crook and in bed with the mob]].
199	* IntergenerationalFriendship: A platonic one with the much-older Jimmy Hoffa.
200	* MeaningfulLook: While asking him why he hasn't called Jo, she gives a horrified look to her father once she realizes that he had something to do with Hoffa's disappearance.
201	* MoralityPet: For Frank. Ultimately {{subverted\|Trope}}, since she estranges herself from him even though he never mistreated her, simply because she can't stand to associate with a man like him any longer.
202	* ParentalIssues: Her father's all but explicit occupation as a thug and hitman bother her very much. When she figures out that he killed Hoffa, she cuts him off completely.
203	* PlatonicLifePartners: Befriends Hoffa as a child, and remains friends with him as an adult.
204	* TheQuietOne: She doesn't speak much around people, except when it comes to Hoffa.
205	* SilentTreatment: Gives her own father this for the last three decades of his life.
206	* SmallRoleBigImpact: She has very few lines and doesn't do much in the film, but she plays a pivotal role in the emotional weight of the third act.
207	* StunnedSilence: Witnessing her father beating the grocery store owner for shoving her played a big role into why she fears her father.
208	* WiseBeyondTheirYears: As a child, she's surprisingly smart and very perceptive of other people
209	[[/folder]]
210
211	!!The Mafia
212
213	[[folder:Tony Provenzano]]
214	!!"Tony Pro" Provenzano
215	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tony_pro.jpg]]
216	[[caption-width-right:350:''"Don't forget, it was 'you people' that got you where you are."'']]
217	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/StephenGraham
218
219	->''"What do you mean 'you people'?"''
220
221	A brutal New Jersey capo in the Genovese family and the president for Teamsters Local 560. He and Hoffa form a fierce rivalry during the second act of the film, after Hoffa refuses to help get him his Pension Fund back after going to jail, and insulting him.
222	----
223	* AxCrazy: Part of Hoffa's problem with him is his HairTriggerTemper and tendency for violence despite being a member of the Union. He once had a Teamsters brother killed and completely mutilated simply for running against him as Local 560 President. He also threatened to mutilate Jimmy Hoffa's granddaughter.
224	* BerserkButton: Don't say "you people" when addressing him, as Hoffa found out the hard way.
225	* BigBad: The main antagonist of the whole movie. He's Jimmy Hoffa's main rival and the main catalyst of the conflict with him.
226	* DisproportionateRetribution: He was wrong to call him a wop, but threatening Hoffa's granddaughter over that is worse.
227	* EvilIsPetty: He really takes being called "you people" very personally. It's the main thing for him driving his feud with Hoffa.
228	* {{Expy}}: In many ways, Tony Pro is a more depraved version of [[Film/GoodFellas Tommy [=DeVito=]]]. The cast even joked about this, mentioning that Tony Pro is the kind of character one would expect to be played by Creator/JoePesci.
229	* FauxAffablyEvil: Even though he's really cheery and sociable around people he likes, it doesn't take a whole lot for him to drop the facade.
230	* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Pretty much how he is regarded by the Mafia and the leaders of the Teamsters. [[EvenEvilHasStandards The mob are genuinely repulsed by some of Pro's behavior]], and Jimmy despises his blatant violent behavior.
231	* HateSink: As [[BlackComedy hilarious]] as his lines can be, the film makes it very clear that he is easily the most despicable and unpleasant character in the story, with practically zero redeemable traits. Despite the fact that he has [[VillainWithGoodPublicity good publicity]], he had one guy murdered and mutilated for coming up big in the union. It doesn't help the fact that [[TheFriendNobodyLikes he's despised by anyone who knows his psychopathic personality]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards even by other mobsters]].
232	* JerkassHasAPoint: He is right that Hoffa got to where he is because of the Mob's help, and he is entitled to his Pension Fund share (not legally, but Hoffa is still a criminal too). Nevertheless, his reaction was out of line.
233	* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: After Hoffa's death, Tony Pro was sentenced in the late 70s to life in prison on an unrelated murder charge, where he died in 1988. So, while he was ultimately imprisoned, he was never specifically punished for his role in Hoffa's death... but he died alone anyway.
234	* TheNapoleon: He's short and violent.
235	* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Assaults Hoffa during their prison meeting after the "you people" crack.
236	* TheRival: To Hoffa.
237	* TheSociopath: Tony Pro is violent, sadistic, homicidal and ruthless even by the American Mafia's standards. Furthermore, like many self-centered sociopaths, he is a [[FauxAffablyEvil superficial charmer]] and likes to cultivate [[VillainWithGoodPublicity good publicity]].
238	* TranquilFury: He's visibly fuming as Hoffa dresses him down during their Miami meeting, keeping his cool until Hoffa calls him a wop.
239	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: He's a psychotic killer, yet he's very popular with his Local.
240	* WouldHurtAChild: After getting called a wop, he threatens to rip Hoffa's granddaughter's guts out and mail them to him.
241	[[/folder]]
242
243	[[folder:Angelo Bruno]]
244	!!Angelo Bruno
245	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_irishman_harvey_keitel.jpg]]
246	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/HarveyKeitel
247
248	->''"You don't know how good a friend you got."''
249
250	The don of the Bruno-Scarfo crime family, based in Philadelphia. As a Philly resident, Frank works for his family.
251	----
252	* BrutalHonesty: He makes it very clear to Frank that he would have let the Jewish mob kill him for trying to blow up their laundromat if Russell hadn't intervened.
253	* DeadlyEuphemism: Assures Frank that he won't have to pay Whispers [=DiTullio=] back, since he "won't need it."
254	* TheDon: Of the Philadelphia mob. He stands out as one of the more prototypical examples of this trope in the film.
255	* KilledOffscreen: When he's introduced, a caption reveals that he was shot to death on March 21, 1980. This is never shown.
256	* ManOfWealthAndTaste: His sense of style helps with him image.
257	* SmallRoleBigImpact: He has only one scene of any significance, but it's one of the more important scenes in the story.
258	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Known as "the Gentle Don," Bruno was known for his fairness and cool head. He's willing to spare Frank after Russell vouches for him, where most other dons would have thrown him to the wolves.
259	* WhosOnFirst: On the topic of the laundromat, which is more of an OhCrap moment than anything comedic (except maybe as an {{Aversion}} of RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic):
260	-->'''Bruno:''' ''Somebody else got an interest in that. You know who?''\
261	'''Frank:''' ''Who?''\
262	'''Bruno:''' ''I do.''\
263	'''Frank:''' ''Who?''\
264	'''Bruno:''' ''No, I do. I own the other part, not "I know somebody who owns the other part."''
265	[[/folder]]
266
267	[[folder:Skinny Razor]]
268
269	!!"Skinny Razor"
270	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/skinny_razor.jpg]]
271	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/BobbyCannavale
272
273	A high-ranking capo in the Philadelphia mob. He employs Frank in a meat-trucking operation, his first task for the Mafia.
274	----
275	* BigEater: He may be skinny, but the man loves his steak. During his first meeting with Frank, he seems to be paying much more attention to the steak on the table in front of him.
276	* DeadpanSnarker: Especially towards one guy trying to get out of paying a debt.
277	* TheDragon: To Angelo Bruno, the boss of his family.
278	* LeanAndMean: For a man who likes steak so much, Razor's a very lean character - and a mobster who'll happily look on while Frank is beating the living bejesus out of a debtor.
279	* TheMentor: He inducts Frank into the Mob and shows him the ropes.
280	* MouthOfSauron: He conducts business in Angelo's stead.
281	* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: He's only ever referred to as "Skinny Razor," including in the credits. His real name is Felix [=DiTullio=].[[note]]No, not ''that'' [=DiTullio=]. Gunshot[[/note]]
282	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Steak. Frank meets him for the first time while he's eating one, and offers to sell him stolen beef carcasses at a low price. Skinny accepts, providing Frank his first introduction to the world of organized crime.
283	* WhateverHappenedToTheMouse: No mention is made of what happened to him.[[note]]He apparently died of natural causes at the age of sixty.[[/note]]
284	[[/folder]]
285
286	[[folder:Joe Gallo]]
287	!!"Crazy Joe" Gallo
288	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joe_gallo.jpg]]
289	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/SebastianManiscalco
290
291	Famed loose-cannon mobster from the Colombo crime family. Frank assassinates him at Umberto's in one of the most high-profile assassinations in mafia history.
292	----
293	* AxCrazy: Gallo had schizophrenia, and was known as a ruthless and violent criminal.
294	* BullyingADragon: Is flippant with Russell Bufalino and mocks him for supporting the Italian-American Anti-Defamation League. It's implied that this was the final straw behind his death.
295	* DeadpanSnarker: When called to testify before the United States Senate, he's completely calm and collected.
296	-->'''Senator:''' ''Mr. Gallo, would you like to make a statement?''\
297	'''Gallo:''' ''Yeah. This carpet would be great for a crap game.''
298	* EqualOpportunityEvil: Unlike most mobsters, he has no problem working with Hispanics and African-Americans, much to the chagrin of the rest of the mob.
299	* TheStarscream: He tried to usurp power by having Joe Colombo, his boss, assassinated. He survived, but was left in a coma and effectively removed from power.
300	* TheresNoKillLikeOverkill: Frank kills by unloading two guns on him.
301	* TooDumbToLive: See BullyingADragon above. It was infuriating to the mob hierarchy that he was openly defying Mafia traditions and putting people in his crew who were minorities. The straw that broke the camels' back was his disrespect towards Russell, who was much better connected and regarded than he was. The order to kill him went out immediately after their confrontation.
302	* WickedCultured: While in prison, he read a lot and became well-versed regarding Kafka and Tolstoy.
303	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Is friends with a lot of celebrities, like Don Rickles, and leads a comfortable public lifestyle.
304	[[/folder]]
305
306	[[folder:Tony Salerno]]
307	!!"Fat Tony" Salerno
308	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tony_salerno.jpg]]
309	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/DomenickLombardozzi
310
311	The Underboss of the Genovese crime family. He disapproves of Hoffa's conduct after prison, and is ultimately the one who ordered the hit.
312	----
313	* CigarChomper: Almost never seen without one.
314	* GreaterScopeVillain: While he doesn't appear until more than midway through the movie, he holds a lot of power and ends up ordering Jimmy Hoffa's assassination.
315	* LargeAndInCharge: He's not the don of the family, but is the highest-ranking member of the Genovese family whom Frank and Russell are shown interacting with. And yes, he is fat.
316	* MouthOfSauron: He apparently speaks for all of the "higher ups," including his own boss, Philip Lombardo.
317	* UndignifiedDeath: He developed prostate cancer and Type 2 Diabetes in prison, giving him urinary problems before his death.
318	[[/folder]]
319
320	[[folder:Bill Bufalino]]
321	!!Bill Bufalino
322	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bill_bufalino.png]]
323	!!!'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/RayRomano
324
325	A mob attorney who defends both Frank and Jimmy.
326	----
327	* AmoralAttorney: Is an attorney for the mob. He tells Frank he doesn't care if he's actually guilty of skimming a trucking operation, so long as he can defend him. He actually nudges Frank to admit it to him in private.
328	* KarmaHoudini: Unlike most of the major Mafia characters, he is never charged with anything and gets to die of natural causes.
329	* {{Nepotism}}: He's gotten pretty far ahead as a mob lawyer, likely due to him being Russell's cousin.[[note]]As revealed in the memoir, they actually aren't related, but Russell still allowed him to use his last name as though they were related, in order for Bill to gain respect among the mob.[[/note]]
330	* SecretTestOfCharacter: Pushes Frank in their first meeting to point the finger at some of his fellow truckers in exchange for less jail time. Frank's refusal to do so is a signal to Bill that [[TheStoolPigeon he wouldn't betray the mob.]]
331	[[/folder]]

Context Characters / TheIrishman