Roger Murtaugh () is a fictional character in the ''
Lethal Weapon
''Lethal Weapon'' is a 1987 American buddy cop action comedy film directed and co-produced by Richard Donner, written by Shane Black, and co-produced by Joel Silver. It stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover alongside Gary Busey, Tom Atkins, D ...
'' film series created by
Shane Black
Shane Black (born December 16, 1961) is an American filmmaker and actor who has written such films as ''Lethal Weapon'', ''The Monster Squad'', ''The Last Boy Scout'', ''Last Action Hero'', and ''The Long Kiss Goodnight''. As an actor, Black is ...
. Murtaugh was originally played by actor
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover (; born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, film director, and political activist. He is widely known for his lead role as Roger Murtaugh in the ''Lethal Weapon'' film series. He also had leading roles in his films include ...
in all four films from 1987 to 1998, and later by
Damon Wayans
Damon Kyle Wayans Sr. (; born September 4, 1960) is an American actor, comedian, producer, and writer. Wayans performed as a comedian and actor throughout the 1980s, including a year long stint on the sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live.' ...
in the
Fox television series from 2016 to 2019.
''Lethal Weapon'' (1987)
Murtaugh is a cynical homicide detective and family man. He was a
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
of the
173rd Airborne Brigade in the
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
, and served in the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
. He joined the
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officially known as the City of Los Angeles Police Department, is the municipal police department of Los Angeles, California. With 9,974 police officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the third-large ...
in 1967 and celebrates his 50th birthday at the start of ''Lethal Weapon''. He has begun to consider
retirement
Retirement is the withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from one's active working life. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload.
Many people choose to retire when they are elderly or incapable of doing their j ...
, hence his catchphrase, "I'm too old for this shit".
He is partnered with "loose cannon" and fellow Vietnam War veteran
Martin Riggs
Martin Riggs is a fictional character from the ''Lethal Weapon'' film series created by Shane Black. Riggs was originally played by actor Mel Gibson in all four films from 1987 to 1998, and later by Clayne Crawford in the Fox television serie ...
(
Mel Gibson
Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is an American actor, film director, and producer. He is best known for his action hero roles, particularly his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films of the post-apocaly ...
) to investigate a suspected suicide of the daughter of one of Murtaugh's closest friends.
Though the two initially hate each other, Murtaugh begins to sympathize with Riggs when Riggs saves his life. After Murtaugh discovers that his close friend from the Vietnam War, Michael Hunsaker, has been laundering the profits from a heroin-trafficking cartel, he confronts Hunsaker and learns the details of the organization before Mr. Joshua (
Gary Busey
Gary Busey (; born 1944) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in ''The Buddy Holly Story'' (1978), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and won the National Society of Film Critics ...
), the cartel's primary henchman, assassinates Hunsaker. The cartel kidnaps Murtaugh's older daughter, Rianne, in an attempt to make Murtaugh reveal what Hunsaker told him. Murtaugh and Riggs plan an ambush, which fails. The cartel tortures Murtaugh, and threatens to torture Rianne as well, until Riggs rescues them. He manages to kill General McAllister, the head of the cartel, by shooting the driver of his car, causing a bus-versus-car crash and a gigantic explosion. He supports Riggs as he fights and arrests Mr. Joshua, and then he and Riggs kill Joshua when he attempts to shoot Riggs. By the end of the film, he has forgone retirement and accepted Riggs into his family.
''Lethal Weapon 2'' (1989)
Murtaugh is targeted by a South African gang drug cartel fronted by ruthless diplomat Arjen Rudd, who has Murtaugh and his wife assaulted in their own home, forcing Murtaugh to temporarily move his family out. To assist Riggs' investigation of the South African consulate, Murtaugh portrays a man named Alphonse who wants to emigrate to South Africa to help overthrow
apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...
. Following this, Murtaugh fights off two attackers in his home with a
nail gun
A nail gun, nailgun or nailer is a form of hammer used to drive nails into wood or other materials. It is usually driven by compressed air (pneumatic), electromagnetism, highly flammable gases such as butane or propane, or, for powder-actuate ...
and rescues new friend Leo Getz (
Joe Pesci
Joseph Frank Pesci ( , ; born February 9, 1943) is an American actor and musician. He is known for portraying tough, volatile characters in a variety of genres and for his collaborations with Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese in the films ''Ra ...
), a federal witness, from the cartel. He helps Riggs track down and kill the other members of the cartel when it is revealed that the cartel murdered Riggs' wife. This includes an assault on a cargo ship which ends in the death of the remaining members of the cartel, including Rudd, whom Murtaugh kills after he shoots Riggs.
''Lethal Weapon 3'' (1992)
Murtaugh and Riggs mishandle a car bomb, which destroys a building. As punishment, both are demoted to patrolman, but earn their previous rank when they foil an
armored car robbery and expose a gun running cartel. While investigating this cartel, Murtaugh kills a fifteen-year-old boy to protect Riggs; the boy is revealed to be Darryl, the best friend of Murtaugh's son Nick. Murtaugh is overcome by
guilt
Guilt may refer to:
*Guilt (emotion), an emotion that occurs when a person feels that they have violated a moral standard
*Culpability, a legal term
*Guilt (law), a legal term
Music
* ''Guilt'' (album), a 2009 album by Mims
* "Guilt" (The Long Bl ...
and succumbs to
alcoholism
Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol (drug), alcohol that results in significant Mental health, mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognize ...
and
depression until Riggs helps him move on. Murtaugh works with Riggs and
Internal Affairs officer Lorna Cole (
Rene Russo
Rene Marie Russo (born February 17, 1954) is an American actress and model. She began her career as a fashion model in the 1970s, appearing on magazine covers such as ''Vogue'' and ''Cosmopolitan''. She made her film debut in the 1989 comedy '' ...
) to destroy the cartel. As a comical sidelight, Murtaugh also helps Riggs
quit smoking
Smoking cessation, usually called quitting smoking or stopping smoking, is the process of discontinuing tobacco smoking. Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, which is addictive and can cause dependence. As a result, nicotine withdrawal often make ...
by giving him dog biscuits instead; he does show some hostility towards Riggs, however, when he believes that Riggs is becoming romantically involved with his daughter Rianne. However, Riggs opens up to him, admitting that he sees Murtaugh's family like his own family, the kids like his own children. In the midst of it all, Murtaugh enlists the help of Getz to sell his house, but in the end decides to keep the house when he decides not to retire.
''Lethal Weapon 4'' (1998)
When the city loses its insurance carrier due to all the property damage that Riggs and Murtaugh have caused on the job, they are temporarily promoted to
Captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
in hopes of keeping them off the street. Their status as veteran officers keeps them from being disciplined or fired, and there are no open lieutenant slots available. By the end of the film, their sergeant's ranks are restored due to the city now being
self-insured. Murtaugh's oldest daughter Rianne is pregnant with his first grandchild and is secretly married to LAPD Sergeant Lee Butters (
Chris Rock), but she decides not to tell her father until after the baby is born because she went against his wishes of marrying a police officer. However, prior to finding out, Murtaugh mistakenly thought that Butters was
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...
and attracted to him, because of all the nice things he was trying to do for Murtaugh, which was actually intended for him to stay on his father-in-law's good side (which Riggs helped exploit this misconception after he learned the truth from Lorna). Later, Murtaugh hits Riggs for not telling him about Rianne and Butters (Riggs and Butters blurt out the truth after being exposed to
nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide (dinitrogen oxide or dinitrogen monoxide), commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous, or nos, is a chemical compound, an oxide of nitrogen with the formula . At room temperature, it is a colourless non-flammable gas, and has a ...
) after interrogating Uncle Benny (
Kim Chan
Kim Chan (December 28, 1917 – October 5, 2008) was a Chinese–American actor and producer. He was most notable for his roles as Lo Si, a.k.a. The Ancient, in '' Kung Fu: The Legend Continues'' and Mr. Kim in ''The Fifth Element''.
Early ...
). When Murtaugh accidentally kills the brother of Triad enforcer Wah Sing Ku (
Jet Li
Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, Chinese martial arts, martial artist, and retired wushu (sport), Wushu champion. He is a naturalized Singapo ...
), Riggs and Murtaugh engage in an intense physical altercation with Ku, resulting in Ku's death and Riggs being crushed beneath rubble underwater. Murtaugh rescues Riggs, and the two celebrate Rianne's marriage to Butters and the birth of their daughter, joined by Lorna, Leo Getz, and the rest of Murtaugh's family in the hospital.
Weapons
In all four films Murtaugh's signature weapon is a 4"
Smith & Wesson Model 19
The Smith & Wesson Model 19 is a revolver produced by Smith & Wesson that was introduced in 1957 on its K-frame. The Model 19 is chambered for .357 Magnum. The K-frame is somewhat smaller and lighter than the original N-frame .357, usually known a ...
.357 Magnum revolver which Riggs calls a "Six-shooter...A lot of old-timers carry those". In movies 2-4, he also uses a
Smith & Wesson Model 5906
The Smith & Wesson 5906 is a pistol manufactured starting in 1988 by Smith & Wesson.
Design
The 5906 is a full-sized, double/single-action (DA/SA), staggered-column magazine, 9×19mm pistol. Its construction is all stainless steel. The 5906 is ...
9mm pistol as a backup gun.
In popular culture
Murtaugh's
catchphrase
A catchphrase (alternatively spelled catch phrase) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through word of mouth and a variety of mass ...
"I'm too old for this shit" has become associated with Glover, who uses the catchphrase (and variations of it) in other roles as well, such as his role as the patriarch in ''
Almost Christmas'', a cameo in ''
Maverick
Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to:
History
* Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick
Aviation
* AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design
* General Aviation Design Burea ...
'' and his guest spot on ''
Psych''. In the ''
How I Met Your Mother'' episode "
Murtaugh",
Ted Mosby
Theodore Evelyn Mosby is a fictional character and the protagonist in the American sitcom ''How I Met Your Mother'', portrayed by Josh Radnor. He serves as the show's narrator from the future, voiced by Bob Saget, as he tells his children the " ...
, portrayed by
Josh Radnor
Joshua Thomas Radnor (born July 29, 1974) is an American actor, filmmaker, author, and musician. He is best known for portraying Ted Mosby on the popular and Emmy Award–winning CBS sitcom ''How I Met Your Mother''. He made his writing and dire ...
, has a "Murtaugh List" of things which he has gotten too old to eat, do, and enjoy.
In the season 7 episode "Ransom" of NBC's ''
Brooklyn Nine-Nine'', Captain
Raymond Holt
''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' is an American sitcom which premiered in September 2013 on Fox, and later moved to NBC. The show revolves around the detective squad of the fictional 99th Precinct of the New York Police Department, located in Brooklyn.
...
, played by
Andre Braugher
Andre Keith Braugher (; born July 1, 1962) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Detective Frank Pembleton in the police drama series '' Homicide: Life on the Street'' (1993–1999), used car salesman Owen Thoreau Jr. in the com ...
, claims that a movie was made on his crazy life back in the 80's. When
Jake Peralta
''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' is an American sitcom which premiered in September 2013 on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox, and later moved to NBC. The show revolves around the Detective#United States, detective squad of the fictional 99th Precinct of the ...
asks him which movie it was, he insists he doesn't remember, and walks off saying "I'm too old for this crap", hinting that it was the ''Lethal Weapon'' series.
Reception
Critics have given the character a mixed reception.
[Kenneth Chan]
Remade in Hollywood: the global Chinese presence in transnational cinemas
Hong Kong University Press, 2009, p. 111. ''
The Los Angeles Times
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'' described the character as being a sexless character from a sitcom.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murtaugh, Roger
Film characters introduced in 1987
Lethal Weapon (franchise)
Fictional African-American people
Black characters in films
Fictional characters from Los Angeles
Fictional Vietnam War veterans
Fictional United States Army personnel
Fictional police sergeants
Fictional police captains
Fictional police officers in films
Fictional Los Angeles Police Department detectives
Action film characters
Action television characters