Michael Westen
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| Michael Westen | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Pilot |
| Last appearance | ... |
| Portrayed by | Jeffrey Donovan |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Ex-Spy |
| Family | Father (Deceased) |
| Relatives | Madeline Westen (mother), Nate Westen (brother) |
Michael Westen is a fictional character portrayed by Jeffrey Donovan in the television series Burn Notice. Michael Westen is an international spy who suddenly finds himself blacklisted. Dumped in his hometown of Miami without money or resources, Michael struggles to put his life back together and find out why he's been cut off. In the meantime, Michael uses his unique skills and training to help people who can't go to the police.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Michael served his country for 10 years working in Eastern Europe and the OPEC countries as a covert operative. While in the middle of a dangerous mission in Nigeria, Michael's "contact" informs him that he has been burned, or is now considered an untrustworthy entity. Michael's bank accounts are seized, he is cut off from all of his contacts, and flagged on every relevant government list. After shooting and stealing his way to an airport, Michael is dumped in Miami, with Fiona Glenanne, his ex-girlfriend and emergency contact, watching over him.
Now Michael has to try to find work that fits his "unique" skills, count on old friends like Sam Axe who is also informing on him to the FBI, contend with his neurotic mother Madeline Westen, and do everything he can to find out who burned him.
It is speculated that Westen had served within the U.S. Special Forces before his time in the CIA. He lives in a cheap, low key apartment with a bed mattress and a fridge that is usually filled with yogurt. He also spends time at his mother's house.
Bruce Campbell comments on Michael Westen.[1]
| “ | Well the idea is being a CIA agent; Michael Westen can take his skills, you know, MacGyver-ish type skills and make a shotgun out of a twig, y'know, he could use his snot, roll it up into a cannonball... | ” |
[edit] Family
Michael had an abusive childhood. His father beat him as an obedience measure. His father also took advantage of him, for example, having Michael fake a seizure inside a Mr. Goodwrench store so Michael's father could steal some spark plugs. Eight years ago, Michael's father died, and only recently did Michael visit his grave, after persistent persuasion from his mother. Michael's younger brother, Nate, is a compulsive gambler who has a history of stealing from Michael to fund his addiction.
[edit] Ask A Spy
The official website for the show has a collection of short videos where Michael dispenses advice for certain problems people have, such as how to evade an ex who's been following them or how to get a table at a restaurant that's booked solid. Michael even explains how to break out of a prison in Turkmenistan, although he gives the camera a look before starting.
[edit] Trivia
- Michael appears to favor the SIG P228 (9x19mm) as his primary sidearm.
- Michael's signature sunglasses are made by Oliver Peoples, and the style is called "Victory". In the episode Broken Rules Michael claimed he got the Sunglasses from a Nigerian who, "didn't need them anymore". This is a reference to the Pilot, when Michael took the glasses from the Nigerians he escaped from.
- Michael seems to have a fondness for yogurt (particularly Blueberry) as he seen talking about it and eating it in multiple episodes. In the episode "Broken Rules" he blackmails an agent by showing him multiple embarrassing photos, one of them is of the agent breaking inside Michael's home without a warrant, eating his yogurt.
- Michael wears a suit similar to Leonard Shelby in Memento.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- USA Burn Notice: Michael Westen Character Bio at USA.com
- Burned in Miami: Michael Westen, an unofficial fansite.
