List Of The Pretender (TV Series) Characters

This is an article for a list of some of the main and notable characters that appear (or have appeared) on the television ''.''

Protagonists

Jarod

: (Michael T. Weiss, 1996–2000)
: (Ryan Merriman, 1996–2000)
A 'Pretender'; a super-genius polymath with eidetic and working memory (possibly Hyperthymesia), who has the ability to be anyone, learn any skill and function in any situation – a chameleon who takes on identities as easily as most people change clothes. It is revealed at the climax of the second season that due to being of a rare genealogy, Jarod is genetically dispositioned to being a "Pretender", as are a rare few, but Jarod's is more pronounced. According to ''The Pretender: Rebirth'', Jarod uses about 20% of his brain, while most people use about 10%. It is also revealed near the end of season 2 that Jarod and his brother, Kyle, share a rare blood type, AB- blood. It is mentioned twice in season 4 ("Risque Business" & "Cold Dick"), that Jarod has a pistachio allergy. Since at least the time from when he was abducted, he has known the couplet "Kri Kra Toad's Foot, Geese Walk Bare-foot" (which is the English translation of the German couplet "Kri Kra Kroten-Fuss, Gänse Laufen Bar-Fuss").

In 1963, Jarod was taken from his parents as a young child, and grew up within the Centre as a virtual test subject until his escape in 1996. During his time growing up, he knew the young girl who would grow up to be his pursuer, Miss Parker. In the season one episode "Bomb Squad", Jarod is described as having had an " erudite, European upbringing" and that the cadence in Jarod's voice betray the fact that he was raised by a "French or Belgian nanny". Since his escape from the Centre, Jarod has been searching for his family: his mother, Margaret, his father, Charles (aka "Major Charles", an ex-Air Force officer), and his surviving siblings, Emily (his younger sister), "Jeremy" (his 14-year-old clone), and Ethan (his younger half-brother whom he shares with Miss Parker). The second motivating factor in Jarod's life is atoning for the deaths he inadvertently caused by working for The Centre; because of this, he identifies himself with Onyssius, an Ancient Greek God of Retribution (mentioned in the pilot episode, the first of the two The Pretender telemovies, ''The Pretender 2001'', and the first book of the renewed series, '' The Pretender: Rebirth'').

Jarod usually avoids being caught by The Centre at the end of every episode. Following his escapes, Jarod enjoys sparring with Miss Parker over the phone. He often, comically, uses her name in many of his insults at his job prior to the episode. An example of this occurs when he is working as a substitute teacher for chemistry and tells his students that "roaches would be the only living thing after a biological holocaust. Them and some woman named 'Parker'."

Miss Parker

: (Andrea Parker, 1996–2000)
: (Ashley Peldon, 1996–1999)
A child of The Centre, "Miss Parker" has grown up within the Blue Cove complex, both her father and mother playing pivotal roles in the organization. Her father, "Mr. Parker," is apparently the local administrator to the Blue Cove branch of the Centre. Miss Parker has a twin brother named Lyle, who was at first believed to be stillborn. When she was still a young girl, her mother Catherine Parker adopted a girl named Faith who was dying of leukemia.

Soon after Faith's adoption, Catherine gave birth to Miss Parker's half-brother, Ethan. This child was the result of Project Mirage, in which Catherine Parker was impregnated with sperm from Jarod's father Major Charles (making Ethan Jarod's half-brother as well). The Centre scientist Mr. Raines (who is also Mr. Parker's brother) delivered the child and then apparently killed Catherine. Miss Parker was told that her mother committed suicide. Faith died shortly afterward. Miss Parker only learned as an adult, thanks partly to Jarod, that her mother had actually been killed. The full circumstances of Catherine Parker's death vary depending on who is giving the account. As an adult, Miss Parker also learned that her biological father is in fact Raines.

As a young girl, Miss Parker met secretly with Jarod while he was also a child at the Centre. Miss Parker gave Jarod his first kiss when they were young. By adulthood, circumstances change and Miss Parker seems to hold Jarod in contempt. Miss Parker becomes a formidable field operative for the Centre before eventually joining the "corporate" side of the organization. When Jarod escapes the Centre, Miss Parker is "recalled from Corporate" and assigned to re-capture him. Her anger towards the rogue Pretender increases as he repeatedly eludes and humiliates her. Despite this, Jarod helps Miss Parker learn more about her own past and comes to her aid when she is in danger, even when it risks his own safety.

As the series progresses, Miss Parker's attitude toward Jarod softens, though not by much. When she and Jarod discover their shared links on the Isle of Carthis, they nearly have a romantic interlude. Eventually however, Miss Parker ignores Jarod's pleas and allows him to be apprehended by the Centre. Jarod manages to escape again, and Miss Parker is returned to her task of hunting him. She later receives another phone call from her longtime enemy, but this time they do not trade insults as usual. Miss Parker warns that she will continue to be coming after him, but wishes him luck in his journey to find his family.

Sydney

: (Patrick Bauchau, 1996–2000)
: ( Alex Wexo, 1996–2000)
Born sometime before World War II, Sydney comes from a French/ Belgian background (his father was in the Belgian infantry), and his family's background was devout Roman Catholic. Sydney's family includes his father John-Michael, his mother Gretta, and his identical twin brother, Jacob; a sister is also mentioned, but never elaborated upon. During World War II, Sydney's family is rounded-up by the Nazis; John-Michael and Gretta are sent to the gas chambers (despite the fact that the family was not Jewish), while Jacob and Sydney became the subject of experiments, since they are twins.

After World War II, Sydney and Jacob later relocated to the US and attended Yale University, Sydney studying to become a psychologist and psychiatrist, psychogenics being one of his fields of expertise (mentioned in the second episode). Together they were later recruited into the staff of the Centre. Some years later on, Jacob became comatose following a car accident with Sydney at the wheel. Feeling responsible, Sydney hides his comatose brother from the Centre. Sydney becomes the organization's lead psychiatrist and is assigned to mentor and direct young Jarod. For years, Sydney guides the boy through simulations so the Centre may use his knowledge. Sydney is not meant to be a father-figure to Jarod and outwardly resists this role, though privately he is shown to have developed a deep fondness and loyalty to the boy.

When the adult Jarod later escapes the Centre, Sydney is assigned to aid Miss Parker in recapturing him. Though he does so, Sydney also prevents Miss Parker at times when he believes Jarod's safety is in danger. Throughout the pursuit, he also has several conversations with Jarod over the phone and empathizes with the rogue Pretender's quest to learn about his past and find a new life. Sydney's obvious loyalty to Jarod at times puts him in a dangerous position with Miss Parker and the Centre.

In the season 2 episode "Bulletproof,", Sydney learns he fathered a child with an old lover Michelle, a boy named Nicolas. Later in the series, Jarod devises a method that temporarily returns Jacob to consciousness. Sydney at lasts makes peace with his brother and Jacob dies peacefully.

Kyle

: ( Jeffrey Donovan, 1997–1999)
: ( Zachary Browne, 1996–1999)
Kyle first as a child in "Happy Landings" and as an adult in the season 1 two-part finale "Back to the Dragon House."

Kyle is first seen as a child in the episode "Happy Landings," where it is revealed that he was another boy trained at the Centre under the care of Mr. Raines (who then was still Dr. Raines). Kyle's story is then expanded further in the two-part "Back to the Dragon House." According to "Back to the Dragon House," Kyle is the brother of Jarod, though neither remembered this fact to the memory repression following the trauma of their kidnappings. Like Jarod, young Kyle is to be a Pretender, though Dr. Raines also wishes to mold the boy into a killer operative with no morality.

After seeing Kyle in the hallway, young Jarod insists on meeting him, anxious to finally have a friend close to his own age. Jarod and Kyle are allowed to see each other on multiple occasions as they run simulations together, but don't know at the time that they are brothers. They develop a friendship and secretly communicate when they realize their cells are near each other. Raines is frustrated when he realizes that Jarod's morality is affecting Kyle. During one simulation, Jarod is tricked by Raines into pouring acid on Kyle's right hand, leaving a permanent scar between his thumb and forefinger. Jarod apologizes as Kyle is taken away and the two don't see each other again during their time at the Centre.

The Centre officially releases Kyle from its facility. But in truth, Dr. Raines secretly keeps Kyle in sub-level 27 of the Centre facility. Kyle is told that Jarod is dead and is forbidden to have contact with others. He is forced to live in SL 27 while Raines uses negative reinforcement to warp him into a sociopathic personality. Kyle is taught to believe in the mantra: "''I decide who lives or dies.''" Some of Kyle's training involves learning to hate Catherine Parker, mother of Miss Parker.

As an adult, Kyle leaves the Centre (years before Jarod does the same). As he later explains, his "brain was mush" by this time and his only purpose became to learn about his parents. During his travels, Kyle stalks and psychologically torments several people, though he never kills them. His quest for answers leads him to a former nun named Harriet Tashman and he kidnaps her. However, Tashman is able to escape and this leads to Kyle being arrested. His identity unknown, he is imprisoned simply as "John Doe."

Ten years later, Kyle escapes from prison ("Back to the Dragon House" Part 1). Jarod (who only left the Centre himself less than a year earlier), learns of Kyle's escape on the news and recognizes him as the boy he burned with acid years before. Posing as an FBI agent named Jarod Ness, he examines Kyle's cell and finds a journal that has "I decide who lives or dies" written repeatedly on every page. Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots discover the secrets of Kyle's past and that he is the John Doe fugitive. Just as Jarod is about to shoot Kyle, Miss Parker and Centre forces arrive. Kyle is captured while Jarod escapes.

Jarod only then discovers from Harriet Tashman that she briefly knew his parents and that Kyle is actually his brother. Tashman assumes that Jarod and Kyle did not remember they had a sibling, or the faces of their parents, due to memory repression bought on by the trauma of kidnapping and the experiments of the Centre. While a nun, Jarod's parents came to the convent where Tashman lived. Kyle learned of this connection and targeted Tashman to learn more about his parents. Tashman also informs Jarod that his parents had a daughter named Emily some time after he and Kyle were kidnapped.

Jarod breaks into the Centre and, with help, frees Kyle. Jarod convinces Kyle that he is the same boy who befriended him years ago and that they are brothers. Kyle is initially suspicious but comes to realize the truth. Jarod helps Kyle remember more of his past and reveals that he has learned they have a sister. Despite Kyle's crimes, Jarod accepts him and asks that they work together the learn more about their past.

Furious at losing Kyle again, Raines informs the FBI on where he believes Jarod has taken him. Tashman joins Kyle and Jarod, finding a lead that their parents are in Boston. As the FBI arrives, the three attempt to escape in a van but crash after they're fired upon. Injured, Kyle tells Jarod to continue without him: "Find our parents. Don't tell them what I became." As Tashman and Jarod escape, Kyle remains in the van and exchanges fire with the FBI. The van explodes and Jarod is forced to continue in his quest alone. Later on, Jarod calls Sydney and asks where his brother is buried, only to be told that the van burned for a long time and that no remains were found.

In the season 2 episode "Red Rock Jarod," Jarod meets a young boy in Dry River, Arizona named J.R. Miller. The boy is in need of a heart transplant, but his condition is more difficult to fix since he has the same rare blood type that Kyle and Jarod have. Events lead to Jarod being imprisoned by an enemy but then Kyle arrives and frees him. It is revealed that Kyle survived the FBI attack and caused the explosion himself to cover his escape. For some time, Kyle has been stalking Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots so they could lead him back to Jarod. Kyle is determined to have vengeance on the Centre, killing all its members if necessary. Jarod argues that they don't need to succumb to vengeance and violence.

By the end of the episode, after helping Jarod help others, Kyle admits that altruism may be a greater cause than vengeance. Minutes later, the two are confronted by an enemy and Kyle sacrifices himself to save Jarod's life. Heartbroken, Jarod then donates Kyle's heart to J.R. Miller, ensuring that his brother saves one more life.

Antagonists

Mr. Lyle

: ( Jamie Denton, 1997–2000)
Twin brother to Miss Parker, originally believed by their parents to be stillborn. In reality, he was abducted shortly after birth by Raines and given up for adoption. He was given the name Bobby Bowman by his adoptive parents. The teenage Bobby ran away from home, faked his death, and has since been known only as Lyle (the name of his abusive foster father). Lyle dabbled for a few years in Asian organized crime, even a group of cannibals known as the Snake Eaters; a tattoo of a snake devouring itself is once spotted on his shoulder. Lyle maintains his links to criminals in that region. His time overseas was also spent dating and marrying several Asian women, whom he has a proclivity toward. He is also suspected of having mutilated and murdered at least one of his wives in the past.

Lyle surfaces in Blue Cove, Delaware, seemingly from out of just nowhere, where he is given a top position at the Centre. Ms. Parker does not initially realize that she is related to Lyle, which leaves her perplexed as to why he was so quickly promoted. At one point, Lyle is requested by one of his old Yakuza contacts to kill a witness of a Yakuza related crime in exchange for 20 million dollars. Jarod is outraged at the use of one of his simulations for this plan, and foils it. In retaliation, the crime bosses sever Lyle's thumb from his left hand. Although Lyle later harvests the left thumb of the then-comatose Mr. Raines and has it attached to his own hand, he eventually returns the digit to Raines as a show of loyalty when Raines is placed in charge of the Centre. Lyle is also notable for his murder of Jarod's brother, Kyle.

Mr. Parker

: (Harve Presnell, 1997–2000)
: (David Sawyer, 1998–1999)
Mr. Parker is Chairman of the Centre and has occasionally been forced to work with Raines in order to ensure his position. Jarod once summed Mr. Parker up as "Mr. Duplicity-Himself" (season 3, episode 1, "Crazy"). It is revealed over time that Mr. Raines is his brother, although he was raised by an adoptive family, and because of this, Parker protects Raines at all costs. He appears to shoot and kill an imprisoned Raines, but this is just a deception designed to prevent his daughter from killing Raines herself.

Despite his many coverups, Mr. Parker is devoted to his daughter and ensured her safety on many occasions. Unlike Lyle and Raines, he is not as involved in the hunt to catch Jarod. After Jarod is recaptured by Centre authorities, he and Mr. Parker have a tense confrontation on board a plane. Jarod convinces Parker to glance at the mysterious scrolls that were found on the Isle of Carthis. After reading the scrolls, Mr. Parker undergoes a sudden change and determines that they must never be seen. He grabs the box containing the scrolls and jumps out of the airborne plane, where he is assumed to be dead.

William Raines

: (Richard Marcus, 1996–2000)
Formerly known as Dr. Raines, William Raines is a long-time Centre staffer and the brains behind the testing that created Jarod, Angelo and countless other individuals who were less fortunate than either. Known for the trademark squeaking of the wheels on his ever-present oxygen tank, Raines is one of the most feared people at the Centre. After a fire in SL27, Raines lungs were badly burned and as a result he is dependent on an oxygen tank. But like all things at the Centre, the actual state of Raines's health disease seems to change depending on the situation. Ms. Parker once yanks the breathing apparatus out of Raines's nose when she believes him to be her mother's killer; Raines merely smiles and continues to breathe normally. Nevertheless, he continues toting his oxygen tank everywhere he goes, though he has regained the use of his voice. Raines's mission is to return Jarod to the Centre at any cost, but his real motives are always kept secret.

Raines was part of the plot to kidnap Miss Parker's twin brother (Mr. Lyle) at birth, and is the prime suspect in the murder of Catherine Parker. Mr. Parker knew that his daughter would try to kill Raines if she believed him to be the murderer. To counteract this, he appears to shoot and kill Raines himself. Ms. Parker is conveniently standing nearby to witness the faked death. He was once married to Edna Raines (now deceased) and had a daughter named Annie, who was murdered in 1975 (thanks to Jarod the criminal was caught, and her remains were later recovered). Raines is also the biological father of Ms. Parker (and Mr. Lyle), having conceived her with her mother Catherine, but the details surrounding Catherine's pregnancy are unclear.

When Jarod reunites with the surviving members of his family on a crowded street, Raines and his team of gunmen arrive to kill everyone on-site. Jarod's family manages to escape, but Raines corners Jarod in an alley. When Jarod demands to know why Raines has done all this to him, Raines simply answered; "because you exist." After a standoff, Jarod turns his back on Raines, who is armed. Raines raises his pistol to kill Jarod, but an unseen gunman fires on Raines's oxygen tank, engulfing him in flames. The shooter is later revealed to be Sydney. Raines remains in an ICU for several months until he recovers from his burns. Mysteriously, following this event his overall health seems to drastically improve.

Dr. Raines' real name is revealed to be Abel Parker, and he assumed the name of his adoptive family, "Raines". He is the real father of Ms. Parker and her brother Lyle and the biological brother of Mr. Parker. Mr. Raines also had a daughter with his wife Edna named Annie Raines who was kidnapped and murdered (ironically, Raines had depended on Young Jarod to find her; while Jarod did identify her kidnapper/killer, he was never able to locate her body until years later).

Supporting characters

Angelo

: (Paul Dillon, 1996–2000)
: (Jake Lloyd, 1996–1999)
Formerly known as Timmy, Angelo is a savant who exhibits a sponge-like power to absorb personality traits of others; he is described as having the gift of empathy by Sidney, and exhibits Psychometry, discerning details through touch. Angelo was one of Dr. Raines' early attempt at creating a Pretender, an experiment that failed. Angelo often roams the vast ductwork of the Centre, discreetly spying on others. He has also been shown in several episodes to be one of Jarod's mysterious informants within at the Centre, sending him anonymous emails. At one point, Angelo begins treatments with Sydney to reverse the effects of Dr. Raines' experiments on him and begins to transform back into Timmy. As Timmy, many of his early memories return, including his ability to play the piano. With only a few treatments left, it is revealed that the Centre is reinitiating the "Prodigy" experiments—which was code for the Pretender project. While Jarod was a natural pretender, Raines developed a serum to chemically recreate Jarod with a child, Davey Simpkins, who had the same rare genealogy as Jarod and his bloodline. Davey is rescued by Jarod and Angelo, but because the treatments on him had already begun is in jeopardy of becoming another Angelo. With the cure accidentally destroyed, Angelo sacrifices his final treatment, (same as the antidote for Davey), which would have completed his transformation back to Timmy, for Davey because he is just a boy and should be allowed to be a boy. As a result, Davey returns to his old self and Angelo's progress towards Timmy is reversed and he becomes Angelo again—now permanently.

When Miss Parker finds out that she has a twin brother, she learns that one of the possible children had been Angelo; a subsequent