* Classic Chinese literature is in love with this trope, probably because the description of a BoisterousBruiser is a perfect foil to the equally common gentleman scholar archetype:
** ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' has one of the best known ones, Zhang Fei.
** ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'' has Zhu Bajie, who's better known for being a CasanovaWannabe.
** ''Literature/OutlawsOfTheMarsh'' (the source of the ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' games) has at least two, the axe-weilding Li Kui and BareFistedMonk Lu Zhisen.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' features a good number of them:
** King Robert Baratheon doesn't let his political responsibilities get in the way of his appetite for drinking, eating, fighting, and screwing. Though he jests and shouts constantly, he is actually a deeply unhappy man. [[DeconstructedTrope It turns out Boisterous Bruisers make great generals, but terrible kings.]]
** "The Greatjon", Lord Jon Umber is a giant of a man with a loud and boisterous attitude. When two of his fingers are bitten off by Robb's direwolf, he ''laughs'' and becomes Robb's loudest supporter. His son "Smalljon" Umber also qualifies, as do his uncles Mors and Hother. This trope is essentially his family's [[PlanetOfHats hat]].
** Tormund Giantsbane, an incredibly stocky [[OldSoldier old veteran]] who spins tales as tall as they are ribald, and still kicks ass alongside the younger raiders.
** Strong Belwas, a boisterous pit fighter who thoroughly enjoys boasting of [[ThirdPersonPerson Strong Belwas's prowess]] at maximum volume while gorging himself on [[TrademarkFavoriteFood liver and onions]]. He's doubly awesome for being a eunuch - even taking his bollocks from him can't dampen his spirits!
** Thoros of Myr, in the days when he was friends with Robert, said that he became a red priest because it was harder to spot wine spills on red clothes. He was also known for setting his sword on fire and giving as good as he got in melees. This is a priest we're talking about.
** Aeron Greyjoy ''used to be'' one, an Ironborn (i.e. pseudo-Viking) raider who loved to drink and party and liked to boast that no man could piss longer or farther than him. Then he had a NearDeathExperience that made him become TheFundamentalist, and as a result during the time of the series he has changed into a dour, humorless religious fanatic. It is suggested that he was sexually abused as a boy by his brother Euron, and both his previous recklessness and current fanaticism both stem from his attempts to cope with this trauma.
* ''Literature/AubreyMaturin'': Jack Aubrey is a [[StoutStrength big]], normally cheerful guy who likes food, pretty women, and making dreadful puns. However, as a captain in [[WoodenShipsAndIronMen the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars]], he has to work within the system more than is usual for this trope.
* The eponymous VillainProtagonist of ''Literature/TheLuckOfBarryLyndon'' is sort of a deconstruction of the trope, as the novel is a pastiche of 18th century novels, which means that Barry could be thought of as "what [[Literature/TheHistoryOfTomJonesAFoundling Tom Jones]] would be like if he was evil". Barry pursued social advancement through underhanded means (including becoming a SociopathicSoldier, a cardsharper, and police spy) but describes himself at his prime as being the toast of society and generous and open-hearted, with the flaw of being unable to resist the charm of a beautiful woman. Even assuming this is true, Barry is also a wife-beater and serial adulterer who squandered his wife's fortune and at the time he narrates, is in debtor's prison and in seriously bad health as a result of his earlier hedonism.
* Antillar Maximus of ''Literature/CodexAlera'', the [[HeroicBastard bastard son]] of a HighLord and a loud, cheerful HandsomeLech capable of [[PersonOfMassDestruction throwing around huge amounts of magic]]... [[TheBigGuy or just punching you into the next country]]. Though as it happens, there's a darker reason for his party animal antics: [[spoiler:his stepmother sees him as a threat to his half-brother Crassus, and has been trying to kill him for years. He doesn't think he'll live to reach middle age]].
** CoolOldGuy Doroga is an exceptionally snarky version of this trope, being loud and cheerful while devastating his foes with an enormous hammer.
* ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'', at least in Robert E. Howard's original short stories.
* ''Literature/TheCrewOfTheCopperColoredCupids'' has a [[UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} non-binary]] example in the form of Arganthone. They're not physically TheBigGuy, although they ''are'' taller than most other characters of their species, but their personality fits the trope description to a tee: fun-loving, full of camaraderie, and loving a scrap or other opportunity to show off their physical strength and fighting prowess.
%%* Nozdryov from ''Literature/DeadSouls'' is a deconstruction of this trope.
* ''Literature/DeathStar'' gunnery chief Tenn Graneet is this before Despayre and Alderaan -- then the guilt sets in.
* Gunner's Mate Dennis Silva of ''USS Walker'' fits this to a T in Taylor Anderson's ''Literature/{{Destroyermen}}'' series.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''
** Nanny Ogg might very well be a female version of the trope. She's friends with just about everyone in Lancre, [[TheAlcoholic drinks like a fish with hardly a hangover]], and is also [[NeverMessWithGranny quite strong and tough]].
** Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully is a straightforward example, with his overbearing outgoing-ness and love for sports and hunting.
--> ''Everything about Mustrum Ridcully rasped across his nerves. If people were food, the Bursar would have been one of life's lightly poached eggs, but Mustrum Ridcully was a rich suet pudding with garlic gravy. He spoke as loudly as most people shouted. He stamped instead of walking. He roared around the place, and lost important bits of paper which he then denied he'd ever seen, and shot his crossbow at the wall when he was bored. He was aggressively cheerful. Never sick himself, he tended to the belief that sickness in other people was caused by sloppy thinking.''
** ''Literature/MonstrousRegiment'''s Sergeant Jackrum. [[spoiler:Also a female example, as it turns out...]]
** The [[ViolentGlaswegian Nac Mac Feegle]], an entire race of six inch high drinking, fighting, stealing, drinking-and-fighting, and drinking-and-fighting-and-stealing fairies. Who are [[MadeOfIron nigh indestructible]] and [[SuperStrength strong enough to lift a human]]. In fact, the Feegle method for "snafflin' coobeasties" (stealing cows) involves four Feegles picking it up and walking off with it, and the only reason it takes four of them is that they can't get the cows to balance on one leg.
* Tazendra from the ''Literature/KhaavrenRomances'' series. As a Porthos {{expy}}, she's a consumate warrior who wears her heart on her sleeve and is never happier than when in battle beside her comrades.
%%* Gurney Halleck in ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'', well, sorta... kinda... somewhat.
* Rider aka [[spoiler: Alexander the Great]] from ''Literature/FateZero'' novel. Aside from taking books from the local library and walking slowly away ("I am not a thief, I refuse to run"), shoving his Master around all the time, wanting to purchase a couple of stealth bombers for his world conquest, and considering Bill Clinton (the incumbent U.S. president during Fourth Grail War) to be a WorthyOpponent. He also attempts to [[WeCanRuleTogether rally most of the heroes to his banner]]. Even more blatant in the animaqted version of the novel, where his bruiser looks and demeanor are taken up a notch.
* In the ''{{Literature/Flashman}}'' series, Flashman's father Buckley is kind of a darker take on this. As detailed in the spin-off novel ''Black Ajax'' and in the main series, Buckley was born into new money and made his name as a BloodKnight war hero (he was nicknamed "Mad Buck") before hitting it off with the movers and shakers in high society and like his son, had a continuing taste for booze and wenches. Along the way, he lost much of his fortune through bad investments, and from Flashman's narration seems to have become a kind of sour, bad tempered man. Fairly early in the Flashman books, his alcoholism got so bad that he ended up with Delirium tremens and was placed in an asylum and is forgotten by his son. While there, Buckley enjoys smuggled liquor and the occasional prostitute on the sly, but is mostly a drunken wreck whose only real consolation is that his son has become successful and (he thinks) a genuine hero. Flashman also runs into plenty of examples in his army career, but usually hates them because he thinks that their gung-ho attitude endangers him.
* ''Literature/ForgottenRealms'' (Starlight and Shadows) trilogy by Elaine Cunningham gives us "genial ship's captain with a taste for recreational mayhem", pirate Hrolf 'the Unruly',.
* Rocky, talking gorilla, best friend of J!m and rock and roller in ''Literature/GoMutants''.
%%* Brianna from the ''Literature/{{Gone}}'' series.
* Twilight the great gray owl from ''Literature/GuardiansOfGaHoole''. He's the biggest and most powerful of the Chaw of Chaws, a great WarriorPoet... and fights for justice!
* Rubeus Hagrid from the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series, although his [[GentleGiant softer side]] is played up right from the start (but it's still a [[BewareTheNiceOnes very bad idea to anger him]]). Played by the aforementioned Creator/RobbieColtrane in the movies. In fact, Coltrane was the ''very'' first actor cast.
%%* President Armelio, from ''Literature/ItsKindOfAFunnyStory''.
* Ma Joong, ''Literature/JudgeDee'''s former highwayman enforcer, expert boxer and cheerful womanizer.
* John Browdie in ''Literature/NicholasNickleby'' by Creator/CharlesDickens, a big, jolly Yorkshireman with an impenetrable accent.
* Randle Patrick [=McMurphy=] from ''Literature/OneFlewOverTheCuckoosNest'' was designed to be this trope. In fact, his EstablishingCharacterMoment was walking into the ward laughing and immediately introducing himself to everyone there. The entire book is about how important this type of person is, as he helps the other patients in the ward learn how to stand up for themselves again.
* José Arcadio Buendía Jr. (when done WalkingTheEarth) and Aureliano Segundo from ''Literature/OneHundredYearsOfSolitude''.
* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'': King Smoit is loud, booming, and not at all afraid of getting into a scuffle or six.
%%* Garrick from ''Literature/RecordOfLodossWar: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight''.
%%* Little John from the ''Myth/RobinHood'' books, movies, cartoons, ...
%%* Lieutenant Panga in ''Literature/SomeoneElsesWar''.
* Prince Fencewallker of ''Literature/TailchasersSong'' is described as being "Full of rough good humor, and an affection for sudden, surprising shoves that sent companions tumbling."
* In the ''Literature/TalesOfTheFox'' series by Creator/HarryTurtledove, Gerin's companion Van is a loud, lusty [[TheBigGuy giant of a man]] who [[BloodKnight loves a good fight]] and sings joyful war songs in battle, has endless tall tales of his traveling days (some of them true, maybe), wears gilded armor that often gets him mistaken for a visiting [[PhysicalGod war god]], and [[ChickMagnet he's also a player]].
* Alexandre-Benoît Bérurier in the French police series ''San-Antonio'' is another textbook example.
%%* Zagloba from Henryk Sienkiewicz's ''Literature/SienkiewiczTrilogy''.
* ''Literature/StrikeTheZither'': Lotus, a warrior who loves nothing more than drinking and fighting. She consistently gets on the nerves of the calm strategist Zephyr.
* Alcibiades, from Plato's ''Literature/{{Symposium}}''. As far as can be known from the sources regarding his character and actions, he was a real life example of the trope as well.
%%* Ulric Grogan in ''Literature/TheHerewardTrilogy''
* Firebead in Creator/GeorgeMacDonaldFraser's ''Literature/ThePyrates'' is a (semi-)villainous example. He hates honest men, honest work and civilization; he loves whoring, drinking and fighting. And setting his beard on fire.
%%* Amos Trask from ''Literature/TheRiftwarCycle''. Classic pirate example.
%%* Tulkas from ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''.
* Queen in ''Literature/TheThinRedLine'' is a big, fun-loving guy, but he is also a darker version of the trope since a lot of the laughs he elicits are due to BlackComedy.
* Porthos in the ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' series. He gets progressively [[{{Flanderization}} Flanderized]] in each book to fit the trope even moreso.
* Viridovix from ''The Videssos Cycle'': a Celtic chieftain before his entrance to {{Literature/Videssos}}, he's a [[ChickMagnet charming man]], a [[TheBigGuy strong warrior]], [[BloodKnight enjoys battle]], and carries one of the two primary Macguffins of the series, and in many respects is [[TheRival a rival]] to the protagonist.
* Myth/KingArthur's cousin Culhwch in ''Literature/TheWarlordChronicles'' is a textbook example of this trope. Bernard Cornwell seems to think Boisterous Bruisers make good sidekicks. He's not wrong. Also, Owain from the first book is a much less moral and more mercenary example.
** On the subject of Arthur, in any given work featuring him and his usual cronies, his nephew Gawain is fairly likely to fit the trope. In works set early in Arthur's reign, Gawain is generally the greatest of Arthur's knights, and even in later periods when another knight surpasses him in skill or piety or some other quality, he's usually still the ''strongest''.
* Squire Western of ''Literature/TheHistoryOfTomJonesAFoundling'' is one of these, a boisterous guy who likes booze and bloody roast beef and loves to crack dirty jokes. Played in the ''A&E'' version by Creator/BrianBlessed himself.
* Lord Raoul from Tamora Pierce's ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'' is a good example of this, although his intellectual prowess is sharper than a number of examples listed.
* ''Literature/TreasureIsland'' has two: Long John Silver ([[TalkLikeAPirate Arr!]]) and [[UpperClassTwit Squire Trelawney]].
* Emmett Cullen from ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' could count -- he's definitely TheBigGuy of the family, literally and figuratively, and he's an all around jovial and jolly guy to be around.
* Subverted by Big Tom from the ''Literature/WarlockOfGramarye'' series by Christopher Stasheff: while he appears to embody this trope, it turns out that he [[spoiler:is in fact highly educated and possesses a doctorate in theology]].
* Alex Kilgour, the title character's wisecracking heavy-worlder right-hand man from Literature/{{Sten}}. It's even pointed out in the books that he was known on their Mantis (Special Forces) team as a 'brightener.'
* Bahorel, one of the revolutionary group Les Amis de l'ABC, from ''Theatre/LesMiserables''.
%%* Galen from ''Literature/TheLastDragonChronicles''.
* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': Bruin, TheBigGuy of the group. He's loud, often drunk, and described as a bear of a man. He's also DumbMuscle, but he's fun at parties. [[TheBerserker Just don't get him too drunk . . .]]
%%* Barak from ''Literature/TheBelgariad'' is very definitely this.
* ''Literature/TheUnknownSoldier'' has Sergeant Hietanen, who is also the AllLovingHero and TheHeart of BandOfBrothers, and Corporal Rokka, the TeamDad and TheMentor of the younger soldiers.
* ''Literature/TheCrimsonShadow'': Oliver is one, though unlike most examples, he's a little guy (a halfling, actually). He's always ready with a joke, loves to fight, and boasts often of his exploits. A lot of the last are doubtful, but he really does have genuine skill with sword-fighting, having trained at an elite school in his homeland, and gives Luthien a number of tips.
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