(born 1978 in Los Angeles, California) is a
Fictional Character created by
Joss Whedon and introduced by Garry Campbell for the cult
Television program, ''
Angel ''. The character is portrayed by
J. August Richards , and was named by Whedon after filmmaker
James Gunn and actor
Sean Gunn , both of whom had worked with Whedon.
Gunn is a die-hard member of
Angel 's group at
Angel Investigations .
Charles Gunn was born in the badlands — an area the police wouldn't go — of inner-city Los Angeles where he looked after his sister Alonna from a very young age. Although he had a few brushes with the law, given his long rap sheet, Gunn fights to keep the streets safe in his neighborhood like he was some kind of urban
Robin Hood . In his teens, Gunn rose to the ranks as the leader of a gang of street-fighters who protect their turf from vampires using guerrilla warfare tactics.
Possessing the mind of a military strategist and the strength of a back-alley brawler, life in the ghetto hardened Gunn to the extent that his life became less important than the cause, resulting in him trading his soul for a truck to a demon named Jenoff when he was only 17 because he believed he had no future.
Gunn first crossed paths with Angel in 2000 in a case of mistaken identity; he observed Angel roughing up a blackmailer and then tried unsuccessfully to dust him. Eventually, Angel won Gunn’s trust, but unfortunately not in time to save Alonna from being turned into a vampire. Gunn had no choice but to stake her, a decision that haunts him to this day. It was this loss that forced Gunn to question his own motives and become more receptive to Angel's help, realizing he can’t do everything alone.
Angel recognized Gunn's strength and often called on him if he needed back up in battle or if he needed protection for the people he cared about when he couldn't do it himself. Although Gunn initially treated his time with Angel Investigations as a "paying side-gig", he eventually became a full-time member of the gang, gaining mutual respect for those he fought side by side with whilst finding his place in the world.
His work with his new 'family' often led to conflicted loyalties with his old gang ties; never more so than the night
Cordelia was accidentally sucked into the portal to
Pylea whilst a member of his old street crew, Rondell, succumbed to the bite of a vampire. Gunn felt responsible for his friend's death believing that it would not have happened if he had still been around to help fight. Yet even in his grief, Gunn realized that he could not commit the same crime twice and allow Cordelia to suffer the same fate and so he joined Angel,
Wesley and
Lorne to instigate her rescue.
When a short time after their return, demons across the city were being systematically executed without rhyme nor reason, Gunn came to the cold conclusion that it was his old gang who were responsible for the deaths. He realized then that his ties with his old life were gone and that his loyalty now lay with the vampire with a soul. In a chilling showdown with one of his lifelong friends, Gunn finally chose the mission of the Angel Investigations team.
Without realizing it, Gunn had found the future he thought he would never have. He had friends, loyalty, respect and a mission to pursue. He even found love in the arms of the AI new girl
Fred Burkle yet before he knew it his past came back to haunt him. The demon Jenoff decided it was time to cash in on the deal Gunn had made years earlier by claiming Gunn's soul, but he was denied by an unlucky turn of a card and a swift hand allowing Gunn the luxury of living his life to the fullest.
Fred became the most important person in his world, reaching the same esteem he had held for his sister, and there was nothing he wouldn't do to prove his love for her. His devotion suffered the ultimate test when he killed the person responsible for deliberately sending Fred to Pylea in order to save her from having to carry the burden of doing it herself. The guilt of what he had done for her plagued Fred and instead of bringing them closer together, it began the rut that led to the end of their relationship.
That same relationship with Fred also destroyed the friendship between him and his co-worker (and later, his boss) Wesley. During Angel's absence from the group, where he went at it alone, Gunn and Wesley had developed a bond of brothers in arms. This friendship continued to develop and had its highs and low, until Gunn and Fred started their relationship. Not only devastated that Fred did in fact, not love him, Wesley also felt he could no longer talk to his friend Gunn, resulting in Wesley's betrayal. Their friendship detoriated and they almost became bitter enemies during the show's fourth season.
Although no longer romantically linked, Gunn and Fred continued to fight side by side as part of Team Angel. When the evil lawyer firm
Wolfram And Hart wanted to cut a deal to have Angel take over the
L.A. branch, Gunn was led into the mysterious White Room for a role yet to be explored.
Gunn undergoes a remarkable transformation at Wolfram and Hart. He submits to a procedure at the hands of W&H medical department that enhances his mind with a comprehensive understanding of the law, making him the only member of the Angel team that can work inside the system seamlessly. The change not only makes Gunn a mental equal, he also sheds his street look for the sleek, professional suits of a legal powerhouse. He also serves as their only conduit to the Senior Partners in the White Room. While he helps finesse many a case and client at W&H, his deal with the devil eventually comes back to haunt him when his mental abilities begin to diminish. Fearful of losing his new talents and position of respect, Gunn makes a pact with the doctor who performed his implant - Gunn gets a permanent upgrade in exchange for Gunn signing to release an ancient curio stuck in customs.
The curio ends up being a sarcophagus for the Old One, known as
Illyria . The demon ends up infecting Fred and killing her from within. Although the friendship between him and Wesley had been mended by that time, and although Wesley could understand, he could never forgive (him and Fred having entered into a relationship shortly before), and he stabbed Gunn. Later, devastated by his part in her death, Gunn willingly offers himself to take
Lindsey 's place in a hell dimension in order to free their former nemesis and get information on how to stop the Senior Partners.
While the team had no clue how to free him, Illyria saved him with ease (before her powers were drained) as she sensed that he was important to the team, or simply just to show off her god-like powers. Gunn returned to the fold, changed and seeking redemption for his sins. In the end, Charles Gunn comes full circle, returning to his roots taking back his street clothes and reawakening his purpose as a soldier in the fight against evil. He slays
Senator Helen Brucker , one of the members of the Circle of the
Black Thorn , and is seriously injured in the process. However, that does not stop him from meeting up with Angel and the rest of the team to stage one last fight against the army of the Senior Partners.
According to the upcoming Angel comics — which could be considered canonic — Gunn somehow survived the battle against the demonic legion sent by the Senior Partners.
Although initially considered to be the muscle of the Angel Investigations Team, Charles Gunn proved himself over time to be much more. He was as smart and resourceful as he was strong, and was immensely loyal to the team right up until their last stand.
Gunn is a regular human and has no supernatural abilities. However, he possesses great strength and knowledge of fighting techniques due to his years as vampire hunter.
Due to Wolfram & Hart's legal upgrade, Gunn also has knowledge of all legal codes, both human and demon, as well as fluency in some demonic languages, knowledge of golf technique and knows all
Gilbert And Sullivan light operas.
- : Gunn had a romance with a girl named Veronica prior to becoming a full-time member of Angel Investigations
- .
- .
Gunn has appeared in:
;'' : Gunn became a regular in the series' second season and remained so until the series' end. He appeared in 91 episodes in total, including guest appearances in the episodes:
