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CHARACTERS

Chris Larabee The Seven's leader. A gunfighter of considerable skill. A man mourning his past. A hard man who lives by his gun. Chris is a man coming to terms with the tragic events of his past. It is through Buck (Larabee's oldest friend) that we discover Larabee lost his wife, Sarah and son, Adam in a fire... "and that burned half the soul out of that man." Following the murder of his family, Chris became as dark as his hatred for the 'person' who had stolen his world. His life quickly degenerated until it revolved around whisky and his guns. The once happy and contented rancher became (or perhaps returned to being) a gunfighter of considerable skill and reputation. In Larabee's own words, "Lady, I am the bad element." We know that our series is set three years after these tragic events. Chris arrives in Four Corners for reasons unknown to us. Mary's failure to know or recognise him implies that this is not one of Larabee's regular haunts - though Larabee's ranch was only just outside of Eagle Bend and we are led to believe that Eagle Bend is the nearest town. In "One Day Out West", Buck states that he and Chris have known each other a long time. Over the twenty-two episodes we see Larabee's character changes - he becomes more relaxed. "Obsessions" and "Nemesis" see Chris at his worst, but Buck, Vin and the boys are there to support him. Some writers portray Chris as very dark and revengeful. I don't see him this way. Chris certainly has a dark side and is not a man to be crossed. However, we see Chris quite animated in several episodes (Wagon Train and The Trial). He actually smiles far more than the likes of Vin. Chris is a man who nearly always speaks in a hushed tone - unless he is losing control. He has created a persona that warns others to beware. When it comes to friendships, we have to start with Buck. Wilmington and Larabee share a past. We are led to believe that Buck and Chris have been very close but went their separate ways after the loss of Chris' family. However, once together again, their friendship would appear as strong as ever. It is clear from the moment Vin and Chris' eyes meet that very first time, that they share a bond that transcends human understanding. These two men, who clearly don't trust easily, appear to trust one another immediately. This look and the tilt of the head are something that fanfic writers have grabbed with both hands and developed. Vin and Chris are close, not through years riding together, not through shared blood, but as a result of some intangible force. I like to think of it as two souls linked or two minds that share a single soul. Chris is certainly the Seven's undisputed leader and the others willingly follow him... to hell and back if necessary! The pictures on the right are of Yul Brynner who played Larabee's equivalent in the 1954 movie "The Magnificent Seven". If you wish to see more pictures of Michael Biehn as Chris Larabee, click on Michael's flashing picture above. If you want to know more about this talented actor, click on the Biography Page picture. Vin Tanner An experienced tracker. A deadly sharpshooter. An ex-bounty hunter always looking over his shoulder because of the bounty on his own head. A man of reserved emotions. The Seven's second in command. The leader's best friend. Vin Tanner is a young man who has crammed a lot of experience into his short years. Tanner's age is an issue that has been hotly debated by fans of the show. Some believe him to be thirty. Others place him only a year or two older than J.D. Most place him in his mid to late twenties. Regardless, Vin is someone who has truly experienced life. He is fiercely independent and accepts people based on gut instincts... instincts he has learned to trust. We know little of Vin's early life. He tells Nettie in "The Collector" that his mother died of putrid fever when he was five. We know nothing of his father or any other members of his family. Hence, it is a mystery what happened to this little boy after the death of his mother. The most common view among writers is that Vin probably ended up in an orphanage... stuff that really pulls the heart strings for any Vin fan! Vin is a very accurate sharpshooter, a skill he honed while making a living as a buffalo hunter. In the episode "Manhunt" (a great Vin episode!), we learn that while buffalo hunting, he lived with a tribe of Indians. It was during this time that Tanner learned to track. The combination of exceptional tracking and sharpshooting skills enabled Vin to pursue bounty hunting when "the buffalo done run out." While tracking a bounty, Vin is framed for the murder of a farmer called Jess Kincaid. Eli Joe, the man Vin was chasing, sets Vin up to take the fall and thus, Vin ends up with a $500 bounty on his own head. When we meet Vin he has taken a job helping out in the local store in Four Corners. We learn later (Sins of the Past) that he was in fact searching for Eli Joe so he could clear his name. Vin's past has left him untrusting and always looking over his shoulder. Again we return to that 'look' Vin and Chris exchanged in the pilot. Tanner is a man on the run who literally can't afford to trust anyone, and yet, he allowed a perfect stranger to mind his back in a gun battle. There was just something there. An intangible something. An unspoken connection... well, that's my view and I'm sticking to it! (g) Vin is a very focused young man who is cool in a crisis. Tanner hides his emotions, probably a learned survival skill. In a lot of ways, he is an enigma. Quiet, unmoving. The person who doesn't stand out but who other people respect because he hasn't given anything away. Vin is ever watchful, those cautious blue eyes roving around him all seeing. Tanner shows leadership qualities and automatically steps into the role in Larabee's absence (Inmate 78)... and even when Chris is around (The Collector). Chris often turns to his best friend, valuing the younger man's opinion. Vin certainly doesn't dress to impress... though he causes many hearts to stir. He usually wears his buckskin coat and a hat that looks like it's seen some action. His weapon of choice is a mare's leg - more commonly known as a sawn off shotgun. Vin Tanner is the sort of man one can depend on. His is loyal to those he deems worthy of his trust and he would die willing to defend them. The pictures on the right are of Steve McQueen who played Tanner's equivalent in the 1954 movie "The Magnificent Seven". If you wish to see more pictures of Eric Close as Vin Tanner, click on Eric's flashing picture above. If you want to know more about this talented actor, click on Brigitta B's Eric Close Corner - an entire site dedicated to this very talented actor. Buck Wilmington A reliable gun. The Seven's comic relief. A scoundrel with a big heart. A lady's man. The leader's oldest friend. Buck is one of those rare, but remarkable people who has the ability to make a tense moment comic. He is loyal to a fault, but anyone judging him as the town 'clown' does so at their own risk. Wilmington is a gunfighter, and while his speed on the draw does not warrant a reputation like Larabee's, he is not a man to upset or cross. Buck loves women. That isn't to say that he takes them for granted or uses them. Quite the contrary. Buck has a deep respect and understanding of women. We learn in "Working Girls" that Buck's mother was a working woman. In Buck's eyes, she was a saint. His experiences as a child obviously impacted him greatly, shaping his view of women. Buck has this view shattered in "Lady Killers" - a very emotional episode for our lovable scoundrel. As stated above, Buck and Chris have known one another for many years and this has provided them with a sense of responsibility for each other. Buck is the one who is always around to pick up the pieces when Chris runs off the rails. We know that Buck has been a lawman at one time and that he worked on Larabee's ranch. Buck is a man of principles who is quick to defend those in need... particularly women. He instantly took J.D. under his wing, the pair striking up an immediate friendship. Wilmington and Dunne are the comic team in the vein of Abbott and Costello. When an episode is getting dramatic, we cross to these two and find ourselves laughing. The black and white picture on the right is of Brad Dexter who played Wilmington's equivalent in the 1954 movie "The Magnificent Seven". If you wish to see more pictures of Dale Midkiff as Buck Wilmington, click on Dale's flashing picture above. I'm working on a biography page for this talented actor. Ezra Standish A conman with a conscience. A skilled gambler. A braver man than he wants to be. A man who learns the value of loyalty and friendship. The conman with a conscience... much to his own dismay. I like to describe Ezra as a better man than he wants to be. Of all of the Seven, it is Ezra that people see the most differently. Some write Ezra as the product of an emotionally abused childhood. A child neglected by his mother and emotionally scarred by his horrendous experiences. Try as I might, I just can't see this. It is clear that Ezra resents, at least part of, his past. However, there is no evidence of abuse. If anything, Ezra has grown into a fine man. Someone has shown him right from wrong. Clearly, he was passed around among relatives as a youngster and used by his mother as part of her cons. In Maude's eyes, she has taught her son a trade... a trade he happens to be very good at. As a grown man, Ezra doesn't hate his mother. He's still searching for her love, approval and affection. There is no doubt that there is a lot of love between Ezra and Maude. They just have trouble expressing themselves to each other... or living in the same town for more than a few days! (g) Ezra is a very accomplished card sharp and conman. He loves money and he loves to win. It is these two supposed flaws in his character that endear him to us. We can't help but feel sorry for him in "Achilles" when he is beaten at his own game. We laugh as he crawls out into a gun battle after his lost diamond. We shake our heads in "Wagon Train" as he pursues his dreams of gold. We chuckle as he proves himself a hero in "Chinatown" much to his own apparent disgust. Like the rest of the Seven, Ezra has faults and it is these that make him human. He is the educated man who loves expensive things but basically can't afford them. We can see a little of ourselves in him. Ezra's character changes and develops over the course of the series. He becomes more open and trusting which is perhaps why his devoted fans see "Serpents" as a particularly harsh episode. Ezra has become comfortable with his companions and some of the defences he has surrounded himself with have been broken down. When we see him entertaining self-doubts about his companions' trust and belief in him, our hearts go out to him. One interesting fact that I noticed was the developing relationship between Vin and Ezra... or perhaps Eric Close and Anthony Starke. The shared looks, playful shoves and wrestling match over a turkey leg in "Lady Killers" and "Obsessions" show a growing friendship and a movement toward some comic responsibilities for these two. It would have been interesting to see how this would have developed had there been a third season. Ezra is the black sheep and we love him for it... and so do his companions. If anything, Ezra is predictable, and his friends make allowances for his faults, just as he does for theirs. The black and white picture on the right is of Robert Vaughn who played Standish's equivalent in the 1954 movie "The Magnificent Seven". If you wish to see more pictures of Anthony Starke as Ezra Standish, click on Tony's flashing picture above. If you want to know more about this talented actor, click on the Biography Page picture. Josiah Sanchez The Preacher. A man with a mysterious past. A good man to have on your side in a fight. A man searching to understand his own faith. Josiah is as strong a bull and as pigheaded as a mule. He was once a minister, but in his own words, “I had a little trouble turning the other cheek.“ Hence he is a man in turmoil. He has lost faith in man’s interpretation of God but has never lost his own faith in the Almighty. Josiah is a good man who openly confesses his mistakes. He knows he is human. Josiah is the member of the Seven that the others go to to unload... or at least, both J.D. and Ezra do in different episodes. We know that Josiah is the son of a missionary. He is well travelled and has a copious knowledge of various cultures. It is clear that Josiah and his father didn’t get along and that is something that Josiah regrets. He has a sister who has lost touch with reality and Josiah secretly supports her, harbouring the blame for her condition. We assume that Josiah has a darker side. When we first meet him, Nathan states that he is supposed to have killed a lot of men. It is implied in the pilot that Nathan and Josiah know each other, though we don’t know for how long. In “One Day Out West”, we see them mending the roof of the church together, so this brings me to believe that they have been acquaintances for some time. Throughout the series, we see Josiah starting to come to terms with some of his demons. He has found a place to belong and companions that support him. The black and white picture on the right is of Charles Bronson who played Sanchez's equivalent in the 1954 movie "The Magnificent Seven". If you wish to see more pictures of Ron Perlman as Josiah Sanchez, click on Ron's flashing picture above. I'm working on a biography page for this talented actor. Nathan Jackson A healer. A fighter skilled with a knife. A man of great conscience. Someone who has survived a dreadful past. A dark-skinned man finding his place after the civil war. It would be fair to say that Nathan is the team’s conscience. He is the one who rationalizes their actions and quietly supports the others in times of need. We know that Nathan was a slave as a young man and that he, his siblings and his father were sold away from his mother... or at least that is what he believes until his father arrives in Four Corners. Nathan served as a stretcher bearer during the civil war. During this time, he acquired a great deal of medical skill. However, he is the first to admit he is no doctor. While this may be true, we see Nathan performing the skills any doctor would be proud of... particularly in fanfiction. (g) When we first meet Nathan, he is about to be lynched by a trail herd. Enter Chris and Vin. One of the most tumultuous relationships in the Seven is the one between Nathan and Ezra. One a former slave and the other “an old Southern Boy.” From the moment these two meet there is a cultural unrest based on generations of beliefs. By the end of the pilot, the two have put aside their differences and become not only companions, but friends. During the series, we see the two struggle to overcome deep-seated prejudices, which causes them to jump to ill-founded conclusions. Despite this, they stand side by side with the bullets start to fly and there is certainly a true friendship there. Nathan finds love in the form of Rain. While we get the feeling this is more than just an infatuation or lust, Nathan leaves with his companions. Later in the series, Rain visits Four Corners wanting to know the answer to that question. Nathan is a man searching for acceptance. He finds this in the seven men he joins. The black and white picture on the right is of James Coburn who played Jackson's equivalent in the 1954 movie "The Magnificent Seven". If you wish to see more pictures of Rick Worthy as Nathan Jackson, click on Rick's flashing picture above. I'm working on a biography page for this talented actor. John (J.D.) Dunne The Kid. A young man looking for his place in the world. A boy who discovers what it is to be a hero. I must admit, when I first saw “The Magnificent Seven” J.D. annoyed me. However, as the series progresses you learn to love him. His enthusiasm and naive youth is perfectly balanced and contracted against the experience and reserved natures of some of his companions. I think, perhaps, my favourite line from J.D. is “A reputation’s got to be growed into sonny!” (“Manhunt”) The look Josiah gives him at that moment is priceless. J.D. has come west to be a man. He desperately wants to be a cowboy... or, more importantly, a hero. Chris is the person he wants to be like, yet it is Buck in whom he finds family. We learn that J.D.’s mother died only a few months before the pilot. She had saved for the boy to go to university, but there just wasn’t enough money. J.D. has grown up a stable boy who taught himself to ride and to shoot. His hero is Bat Masterton, but in my opinion, that transfers to Chris. During the series, we see J.D. lose some of his naivety as he learns that being a cowboy isn’t the same as the dime store novels he’s read. However, J.D. maintains his enthusiasm and energy. Together with Buck, he provides much of the comic elements in the show. J.D. discovers love in the form of Casey. Watching the teenagers ‘courting’ is very amusing, particularly when the rest of the boys start giving advice. J.D. is a good man, who gives his best and who tries to do what is right. The pictures on the right are of Horst Buchholz who played Dunne's equivalent in the 1954 movie "The Magnificent Seven". If you wish to see more pictures of Andy Kavovit as J.D. Dunne, click on Andy's flashing picture above. If you want to know more about this talented actor, click on the Biography Page picture.