Summary
TheGrand Theft Autoseries is known for its compelling characters and eye-catching locations. However, fans don’t always get long to appreciate them as every game introduces a fresh cast of characters, usually in a new setting. And few things carry over between each installment.
However, occasionally, a character will crop up in a few different games in the series. They rarely have a big part to play in every title they’re in, but they serve as nice little nods to previous adventures. Plus, they act as reminders that some games take place in the same universe. The following characters are some of the more prominent examples.
Updated on August 10, 2025, by Jason Wojnar:Every mainline GTA game is a self-contained story, but this list shows how characters pop up in several games. Even so, it is not vital to play prior games to understand said character’s role in the other title. With GTA 6 on the horizon, one wonders if any characters from GTA 4 and 5 will show up in the state of Leonida. Pondering this question also makes it a perfect time to revisit this list, adding one more character who showed up in a handheld entry.
14Asuka Kasen
GTA 3, GTA Advance
The Yakuza play a large role in GTA 3. By the end of the game, most of the characters associated with the criminal syndicate are dead and gone. This does not mean characters could not show up in prequels, however. Asuka Kasen, who helps save Claude, the game’s protagonist, shows up as a major player in GTA Advance.
This game takes place just about a year before GTA 3’s events. Being a Game Boy Advance title, players don’t get the same level of interaction with Asuka through cutscenes since it is all text and still images, but it is no doubt the same character from the breakout 2001 title.
13Maria
GTA 3, San Andreas
Maria is abig supporting character inGrand Theft Auto 3. She is the reason the game’s protagonist has to flee Portland. By the end of the game, she is safe and the two walk into the sunset, though some theorize the main character kills her as the credits roll.
She has a small role inSan Andreaswhich shows how she and Salvatore Leone meet.She works in a Las Venturas casinoand the mob boss charms her and ends up bringing her back to Liberty City.
12Donald Love
GTA 3, Vice City
Players take missions from Donald Love near the end ofGrand Theft Auto 3. The game ends with the businessman mysteriously disappearing. To this day, his whereabouts are unknown.He shows up in one scene inVice City, where players learn where the character developed his business acumen.
Avery Carrington mentored Donald Love, as seen inVice City. Love even directly quotes his teacher duringGrand Theft Auto 3. In the third numbered entry, he is played by Kyle MacLachlan, famous for films likeBlue Velvetand the television showTwin Peaks. He has almost no dialogue inVice City, but the few words he utters are said by Cam Neely
11Phil Cassidy
InGrand Theft Auto 3, one mission tasks the protagonist with protecting an army surplus store from an attack by Colombian Cartel gangsters. The store belongs to a guy named Phil, a man with the use of only one arm.
He shows up again inVice Citywhere he is a more fleshed-out character. He has more of a personality and players learn how he lost his arm. Players use him in a bank robbery for the Malibu Club asset and then can buy weapons from his place. Phil was memorably voiced by Gary Busey inVice City.
10Ken Rosenberg
Vice City, San Andreas
While not every aspect ofVice Cityholds up today, the characters are still pretty good. And one of the better ones is Ken Rosenberg, who sticks by Tommy Vercetti’s side from the opening drug deal. He regularly gives him missions and generally helps out in building Tommy’s empire.
Rosenberg turns back up inSan Andreas, although his life isn’t in great shape as he’s made some powerful enemies. Luckily for him, he’s introduced to another capable protagonist in CJ, who lends a hand.
9Johnny Klebitz
GTA 4, GTA 5
Public opinion on Johnny Klebitz is mixed as not many would consider him among either thebest or worst characters in the series' HD universe. However, he has a substantial part to play inGTA 4, especially during theLost and Damnedexpansion, where he serves as the main character.
During the DLC, Johnny tries to keep his motorcycle gang running despite the actions of its crazed leader Billy Grey. The biker meets an even more insane individual inGTA 5, as partway through the game, he confronts Trevor about sleeping with his girlfriend. The discussion ends with Johnny getting his head beaten into the ground.
8Kent Paul
The cocky British man Kent Paul is one of Tommy Vercetti’s most important allies duringVice City. His great intel and strong contacts make him very useful to Tommy despite being insufferable at times. Paul also manages the rock group, Love Fist.
InSan Andreas, Kent becomes an acquaintance of CJ as the protagonist helps him out with a few things. Paul doesn’t seem to do much in return; he just hangs around occasionally.
7Toni Cipriani
GTA 3, Liberty City Stories
Toni Cipriani first appears inGTA 3as a high-ranking member of Salvatore Leone’s organization. The mobster uses Claude to help take down the Triads in various missions. His role increase inLiberty City Storiesas he becomes a protagonist – albeit not one ofthe series best ones.
In the game, Toni is returning to organized crime after laying low for murder, and his goal is to work his way back up the ranks of the Leone Family. It all takes place three years beforeGTA 3.
6Karen Daniels
Early inGTA 4, Niko meets a nice girl called Michelle and starts dating her. However, it’s later revealed that her real name is Karen, and she’s an undercover government agent. She uses Niko to get her hands on Elizabeta’s cocaine and then takes her ex to the United Liberty Paper to do their bidding.
While those actions are bad enough, Karen is even meaner in her brief appearance inGTA 5as she brutally interrogates an innocent man. She also shows her face in one ofGTA Online’sless lucrative heists.
5Patrick McReary
Niko gets betrayed a lotduring his adventures in Liberty City,but someone who always remains loyal is Patrick McReary. The two criminals team up on a litany of jobs together, which involve stealing, killing, and even some kidnapping.
Patrick’s stealing talents come in handy again duringGTA OnlineandGTA 5when he helps the protagonists with some heists. Although, to assist the likes of Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, Patrick first needs to be found in a piece ofeasily missable side content.
