| Burt Chance | |
|---|---|
| Raising Hope character | |
Garret Dillahunt as Burt Chance |
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| First appearance | "Pilot" |
| Portrayed by | Garret Dillahunt |
| Information | |
| Occupation | self-employed at own gardening business |
| Family | Maw Maw (grandmother-in-law) Hope Chance (granddaughter) Bruce Chance (brother) Mike Chance (nephew) |
| Spouse(s) | Virginia Chance |
| Children | Jimmy Chance |
Burt Chance is a fictional character on Raising Hope played by Garret Dillahunt.
Burt is Hope's grandfather,[1] Jimmy's father, and Virginia's husband. Burt conceived Jimmy with Virginia when he was seventeen. He has a gardening business which he runs with Jimmy.
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Burt reveals that he was conceived in a drunken episode involving his parents at a family gathering, since they happened to be third cousins.
Burt met Virginia when she was trying to steal him away from her cousin Delilah. Burt was 17 as that time, making him 18 when Jimmy was born.
Burt never graduated High School.
Despite his seeming lack of intelligence, Burt is a good man with a positive disposition. When he was seventeen or eighteen he became a father, married Virginia and stuck around showing Burt to be responsible in some respect and honorable. He owns his own gardening and pool service business. He tries his best to take care of his family and supports Virginia's decision in taking care of Maw Maw when she becomes senile and likely has Dementia from the episode,"Don't Vote for This Episode". Maw Maw kicked them out of her house for being lazy, ungrateful, not helping around the house, and not paying rent. Burt and Virginia learn quickly what it means to be responsible when they first live in their van, and then move into Virginia's boss, Rosa's basement apartment. Burt tells Virginia they can live on their own now but relents and affirms Virginia's decision in taking care of Maw Maw. He deeply loves his wife Virginia and has remained faithful to her throughout the years (as evidenced when he admits only ever sleeping with her). In addition, in episode "Snip-Snip", he has a vasectomy for Virginia. Moreover, in episode "Cheaters" Virginia is distressed how nonchalant and encouraging Burt is towards Maw Maw's clandestine "affair" with Mel, an elderly gentleman Maw Maw met at Shelley's Day Care. Surprisingly Burt deduces Virginia is upset at the idea of what would happen if she were to pass away before him; thereby, would Burt meet another woman and fall in love and no longer think of Virginia. Burt comforts her and tells Virginia that she is the only one for him, and if she did pass away before he did, he swears to her that he will stuff her and put her in the corner, and every night he will take her to their bed so he can hold her.
Burt is a devoted father, as he has a strong relationship with his son Jimmy (who idealizes Burt). Jimmy states that Burt and Virginia never made him feel his birth was a mistake, which may contribute to him not wanting to abandon Hope despite their financial position. In addition, Burt disguised himself every Halloween to scare Jimmy, just so he'd run back to Burt for a hug. He admits doing this because he sometimes missed how Jimmy would come to him and hold him tightly. Burt's love for his granddaughter is evidenced by his distress when Hope falls ill and Jimmy is unable to take her to a doctor due to not having any health insurance.
Burt has a brother, Bruce who owns a mattress store. Bruce and Burt do not see eye-to-eye on how to live life, and Bruce looks down on Burt for not applying himself and having a successful career and stability. In episode "Cultish Personality", Virginia tells Jimmy (when they are playing hide-and-go-seek in their pajamas at two in the afternoon) that his Uncle Bruce "already thinks their big enough idiots." Even though both Burt and Bruce own their own businesses, Bruce believes he is better than Burt due to the facts:
Therefore, Bruce tells Burt they are not in the same league and calls him a loser.
Burt's nephew and Bruce's son, Mike has been living with Burt, Virginia, Maw Maw and Jimmy for awhile in a tent. Bruce blames Burt for turning Mike against him and not showing him tough love. In episode "Cultish Personality", Burt helps Bruce get Mike back by spending a couple of months in prison and the brothers somewhat have reconciled.
In the episode, "Sleep Training", Burt reads up on a book for Hope. The Art of Sleep Training by: Dr. Peter Bohman. Bart believes the reason why his son, Jimmy, who is 23 years old in that episode hasn't left home is because they never taught him to self-sooth and learn independence. He doesn't want that to happen to his granddaughter, Hope.
Although Burt is generally an upright man, he tended to flirt harmlessly with some of his female clients. However, realizing the effect this had on this family (given the disastrous results when Jimmy and Virginia try flirting as well), he stops, and allows Jimmy to take over that particular position.
Burt plays the guitar and thinks Charles Manson is a pretty darn good singer.
Burt has been seen in several episodes wearing apparel from Washington, D.C. sports teams, including the Redskins and Capitals, indicating he is a fan.
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