Phil Cassidy is one of the enduring side characters in Grand Theft Auto. Cassidy appears in four major titles in the franchise's 3D Universe: GTA: Vice City Stories, GTA: Vice City, GTA: Liberty City Stories, and GTA III. His favorite things include heavy weapons and reckless, literally explosive, antics. His chaotic nature coupled with his permanent game appearances turned him into a cult fan favorite.

Hunter Platin voiced Cassidy in GTA III, but Hollywood star Gary Busey took over the role for the Vice City counterparts, further cementing Cassidy’s fierceness. Phil’s still largely considered a secondary character in the overarching plots of all three games but remains unforgettable due to his strong arms dealing presence and utterly erratic actions.

History

Phil’s older, immersive narrative is in Vice City Stories (1984) where he is portrayed as a gunrunner with a love for boomshine, a highly dangerous alcoholic beverage full of home-made glasses. He partners with game’s lead characterVictor Vance after Phil’s criminal connections along with his sister Louise playing an important role in the events leading up to Phil’s joining. After Phil’s sister gets killed, he, powered by alcohol and rage, helps Vic mount a siege at a military base for her.

In Vice City (1986), Phil becomes an important supplier for Tommy Vercetti. While his character is being navigated, he accidentally stands too close to a bomb he activates and loses his arm as a result. Though injured, he provides Tommy with critical resources of overpowered weapons which were impossible to get from controlled stores like Ammu-Nation.  

By 1998, Phil had moved freely enough in GTA: Liberty City Stories, settling down at Staunton Island, within Liberty City. He makes a short but powerful impact, showcasing his expanding gun-run empire during a mission aimed at him where he assists Claude to counter Colombian Cartel members attempting to hijak his arsenal in his operations started during GTA III (2001).

Personality and Traits

Phil Cassidy is more like a walking example of a trigger-happy redneck on steroids given his obsession with military paraphernalia. Portrayed as a loud and aggressive arms dealer, Phil has a handle on everything from wars to drinking and from the looks of it it is an incredibly deep drinking problem. Phil probably talks about his experiences in Vietnam. Phil was dishonorably discharged from the Army Catering Corps, veterans acronyms can be such a pain, catering is my second favorite pastime after drinking. He never saw active duty as alternative combat was permanently barred due to “drunkenness and unsuitable temperament” reasons.

Phil is gent of many talents, claiming his increased addiction to boomshine traits include being partially blind in addition to permanently sprung. Despite his amusing addictions to crazy concoctions, Phil is known to be fiercely loyal to those he trusts. Often letedad by his loyalty to put himself in wild circumstances, this family includes the notorious Victor Vance and Tommy Vercetti. Ultimately this is what drives him to try and single-handedly infiltrate every military outpost and set everything that twitches on fire.

Style

Phil is difficult to forget: obese, with blonde hair and absent his left arm. He began by wearing a vest and jeans and, by 2001, progressed into full military style couture. In Vice City, Phil wears a Confederate-flag muscle shirt which was altered to a skull emblem in The Definitive Edition.

Notable Appearances in Missions

Phil appears in several standout missions, including:

• Arms Shortage (GTA III)
• Boomshine Saigon (GTA: Vice City), where he loses his arm
• More Deadly Than the Male (GTA: Liberty City Stories)
• Boomshine Blowout and Truck Stop (GTA: Vice City Stories)

Each mission typically involves gunrunning, explosions, or both—hallmarks of Cassidy’s chaotic persona.

Known Information:

• Full Name: Phil Cassidy
• Gender: Male
• Home: Vice City, later Liberty City
• Occupation: Arms dealer
• Business Names: Phil’s Army Surplus, Cassidy’s Bargain Firearms, and more
• Voice Actors: Hunter Platin (GTA III), Gary Busey (Vice City titles)
• Affiliations: Victor Vance, Tommy Vercetti, Claude

Phil Cassidy is more than comic relief, he’s a gritty, violent symbol of GTA’s satirical take on American gun culture and veteran life. With deep ties to some of the series’ most memorable protagonists and an arsenal that would rival a small army, Phil is a crucial fixture in the 3D Universe. He may be reckless and deeply flawed, but Phil Cassidy is the kind of character who defines the chaos, loyalty, and dark humor that fans have come to expect from Grand Theft Auto.