- I knew a man once. Some people called him a hero. And he fought, and he faced dangers. He had ideals. Those ideals led me into anything. You see, I didn't care about dying. I only cared about the cause - the cause was everything. And I fooled everybody. Everybody. They all thought that I was fearless which was false. I was so frightened of showing the slightest bit of myself, the smallest amount of affection. You see, Sam, I was as frightened then to the same degree as you are now, only in a different way. I was no hero. No hero. But then I suppose being a hero is not the most important thing, is it?
- āRobert McCall (The Lock Box, S1EP4)
Robert McCall is the main protagonist in the 1985 series, The Equalizer portrayed by Edward Woodward in Seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4 of The Equalizer. He is a retired intelligence officer whose skills obtained from his past allow him to save lives now as the private detective The Equalizer. He protects those who do not have the means to protect themselves and cannot be helped by the law, so he fights injustice wherever it exists and where others refuse to go.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
McCall was once an agent of an undisclosed agency simply referred to as "The Company". He eventually grew tired of the senseless killing his job demanded of him and how it resulted in the loss of his fellow operative and lover Miss Manon Brevard and so retired from it, having done so illegally as his contracts were iron-clad.
He then chose to instead start his own "charitable business" dedicated to offering his unique skills to those most in need as a private detective, advertising himself via a newspaper ad he had printed up. Thus McCall became The Equalizer.
- "Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer: 212 555 4200."
- āThe Equalizer's ad
His new business was even supported by his former superior, the mysterious "Control" who, despite McCall's illegal departure from "The Company", maintains a somewhat cordial arrangement with McCall and supplies him with anything he might need for his missions in exchange for McCall taking on assignments from him that suit his moral standards, although McCall would often feel intimidated by Control always keeping an eye on him.
Living as The Equalizer[]
His jobs usually involved capturing or "taking care" of all manner of lowlifes who posed a threat to innocents, mainly thieves, escaped convicts, murderers, rapists, assassins, drug dealers, blackmailers or anyone else who threatened the innocent or proved too influential or unimportant for the police to capture, such as corrupt politicians, bad cops or even local bullies. McCall somehow became rather wealthy despite rarely ever asking for payment from his humble clients, presumably through his previous job or some sort of financial savvy, due to the many luxuries he has access to.
At some point in his life, McCall was married but his wife divorced him and took their son with her, leaving McCall alone and estranged from his son Scott. Years later during Scott's adulthood, he finally reunites with his father although the reunion is far from perfect with tensions high between them as Scott loathes his father's dangerous occupations, but as he becomes involved in his father's work, he slowly begins to open up to him and realizes that his father is more kindhearted and heroic than he realized.
It was also some time after Scott came back into his life that McCall discovered that his former lover Brevard, gave birth to a daughter she never told him of, Yvette Marcel, who turned out to be his own flesh and blood, eventually bonding with his lost daughter after the death of her stepfather who told her the truth about McCall in his last moments.
Personality[]
- McCall: I never meant to work for people like that. Not intentionally. All right, listen to me. When I started out in this business, I was full of idealism. We were being pressed by our enemies, seeing that they were crossing all borders. Malaya, then Korea, Berlin, Cuba, Vietnam. Did you know that somewhere in the world today, there are helicopters dropping toys mined so that the little rebel children blow their hands off?
- Scott: So you help murderers like Astiz?
- McCall: Sometimes, in order to stop a fire, you have to create what we call a backfire. So we created fires and a lot of people were burned. Millions and millions of people were burned. And finally I couldn't take it anymore, so do you know what I did? I resigned. Illegally, because I was bound by a very firm contract.
- Scott: But you still carry a gun don't you? You still throw people up against the wall. Are you sure you quit? Or have you just found new excuses for the same old kicks?
- McCall: What do you know about the world, boy? And who the hell are you to even attempt to judge me?
- āA heated exchange between McCall and Scott (Prelude, S2EP1)
Robert McCall is a compassionate man with a strong sense of justice who detests his former life as a government assassin, a regret he always carries with him and is still haunted by his actions from those days and cruelties such government agencies continue to commit, and so he has dedicates his life to helping those in need and taking down killers and thugs who ruin the lives of others. His confidence and courageousness are matched only by his skills and will not let fear get in the way of completing a mission and helping those in need. He rarely, if ever, asks for compensation from his clients as his clients are usually poor, meek or humble people he chooses to aid as they have no one else to rely upon and he always makes sure that his clients are truthful so as to avoid helping the corrupt. His sense of justice extends to not just rogue criminals, but even the corrupt, refusing to tolerate powerful political figures, businessmen and officers of the law who abuse their influence to take advantage of the less fortunate. He will not even tolerate bullies, but will usually deal with them through simple intimidation or helping his clients to better defend themselves.
He also has strong bonds to those he loves, always mourning the death of his former lover Miss Brevard, and regretting the divorce between him and his later wife after she took their son Scott away. As such, he's done his best to reunite with his son and rekindle their father-son bond but its not always easy, at least initially, as his son had little tolerance for his father's former life or even his life as The Equalizer, causing heated debates between them, but McCall usually and slowly manages to make his son realize that his past is one he despises and wishes to focus on a future where he can help as many innocents as he can. He has also gone to great lengths to care for Yvette after finding out that she was his daughter.
Although McCall is technically more of a vigilante than a detective, he hates being referred to as a vigilante, claiming that a vigilante operates outside the law while he operates within it, although that has not stopped him from doing whatever it takes to help others or clashing with police officers, both good and bad to get the job done.
Equipment[]
- Kostmayer: C'mon, McCall, you know that everyone who owns a gun isn't a nut. You...have more guns than the National Guard.
- McCall: The irony is not lost upon me. Mickey, I have been a soldier for thirty years. Guns are the tools of my trade. And I'm stuck with them. The point is, it's too late for me now.
- āAn exchange between McCall and Kostmayer, over the regret of his signature weapons (The Making Of A Martyr, S4EP7)
As a former agent, McCall was trained in the usage of all manner of weapons, but was deadly with almost anything he used. Aside from his guns, McCall owned a wide assortment of gadgets courtesy of Control and other sources from his past.
Pistols[]
- Walther PPK/S: McCall's signature pistol and the one he relies on most often for missions. He was almost never seen without his trusted firearm which he carried on his side at all times and got him through countless missions. McCall's efficiency with this gun was to the point where he only needed one shot to disarm or dispose of a target.
- Desert Eagle Mark I: This was one of McCall's most frequently used weapons and often carried it on his person alongside the Walther PKK/S. First appeared in season 1, ep 4.
- Walther PP: McCall once used a Walther PP early on and proved quite efficient with it. First appeared in season 1, ep 1.
- Saint Etienne 1810 Cavalry Pistol Model An XIII (.69 caliber): McCall is even trained in these classic firearms and has even taught his son Scott how to use them. First appeared in season 1, ep 7.
- Colt M1911A1: McCall once used this impressive number to threaten Michael Rosa. First appeared in season 1, ep 8.
- Browning BDA: McCall once took a Browning BDA from an overconfident thug in a warehouse that helped him survive the massive shootout. First appeared in season 1, ep 17.
- Desert Eagle Mark I (Stainless): First appeared in season 2, ep 1.
- Taurus PT92: One of McCall's most regularly used firearms. First appeared in season 2, ep 1.
- Browning Hi-Power (Nickel): First appeared in season 2, ep 4.
- Smith & Wesson Model 639: McCall mainly uses this pistol as a decoy in order to trick his targets into disarming him and lowering their guard, only for him to reveal his PPK/S. First appeared in season 1, ep 20.
Revolvers[]
- Smith & Wesson Model 10: Usually when disarmed, McCall will fallback on one of these if dropped by a police officer. First appeared in season 1.
- Taurus Model 85: McCall took possession of one such model during a brawl with Macklin. First appeared in season 1, ep 11.
- Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless: McCall took possession of one from a gang member. First appeared in season 4, ep 2.
Shotguns[]
- Remington 870: McCall owns a custom Remington with a laser sight mod. First appeared in season 1, ep 12.
- Ithaca 37: McCall keeps one in his personal arsenal for use on rare occasions. First appeared in season 1, ep 3.
- Franchi SPAS-12: McCall keeps one in his personal arsenal for use on rare occasions. First appeared in season 1, ep 3.
Submachine Guns[]
- IMI Uzi: McCall keeps one in his personal arsenal for use on rare occasions. First appeared in season 1, ep 3.
- IMI Micro Uzi: McCall uses it rarely in situations where there might be too many enemies to deal with. First appeared in season 1, ep 3.
- Ingram MAC-10: McCall keeps one in his personal arsenal for use on rare occasions and whenever his enemies used one, he would take possession of it. First appeared in season 1, ep 3.
Rifles[]
- M1 Carbine: McCall has used it for occasions when dealing with multiple enemies at a distance, and once used one of these against a swarm of hitmen. First appeared in season 1, ep 1.
- Ruger Mini-14: McCall once took possession of two of these, one given to his son Scott, during a mission in the mountains. First appeared in season 1, ep 7.
Others[]
- Smoke Bombs
- Grenades
- Hunting Knives
Vehicles[]
Aside from his standard assortment of weapons, McCall frequently relies on his trusty British Jaguar XJ6 saloon car which has helped him through countless missions.
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- Prior to The Equalizer, McCall's actor Edward Woodward played the role of David Callan, a deadly top agent for a government secret service in the titular UK television show Callan who shared much in common with Robert McCall, and even the name Callan was a pseudonym, the main difference being that McCall was an International agent while Callan was a British agent. In some ways, The Equalizer and McCall can be considered spiritual successors to Callan. In some markets, VHS copies of the 1974 film adaptation of the series, also starring Woodward, was released under the title "The Neutralizer", possibly to capitalize on the success of The Equalizer.[1]
- McCall's usage of a Browning BDA was actually one of the first, if not the first, instances of this gun on television.
Quotes[]
Season 1[]
- Oh, you're getting old, McCall...thank God.
- āRobert McCall (Lady Cop, S1EP5)
- Braxton: You realize that you are pointing a gun at a New York City police officer?
- McCall: Lucky me.
- āMcCall & Officer Braxton(Lady Cop, S1EP5)
- Sometimes boring is very stimulating.
- āRobert McCall (Unpunished Crimes, S1EP21)
Season 2[]
- McCall: The more things change, the more they stay the same...
- Control: You remember Pamploma?
- McCall: Gerhard Reichman?
- Control: I mean after that. That's right, you left, didn't you? Well, I had the most miraculous five days you ever heard of. Susan joined me, and we went to see the bulls run. And I forgot who I was, Robert. I forgot what I was really there for. I almost signed up for matador school. I thought I could run away from all of it. And then Susan ran away from me. Two days later, I was back in Berlin chasing phantoms again. I could never watch another bull fight. I guess I haven't missed anything.
- McCall: We missed everything.
- Control: I know, Robert.
- āMcCall & Control (A Community Of Civilized Men, S2EP3)
- McCall: Yvette, I realize you don't know who I am, but I know who you are. I was a friend of your mother's. A long time ago.
- Yvette: McCall. I know who you are. I remember my mother used to talk about you before she died. Strange...she thought I'd meet you some day. I don't know why...Were you in love with her?
- McCall: You are very direct, just as she was.
- Yvette: Sorry, I don't mean to pry.
- McCall: No, no...
- Yvette: It's just that, some of the things she said, I think she loved you once. Very much.
- McCall: She trusted me once, very much. You must do the same now.
- Yvette: I will. Because she did.
- āMcCall & Yvette (Memories Of Manon Pt.1, S2EP15)
- ...let me tell you something about my business. After a certain number of years, some of us acquire a certain animal instinct, and those of us who do acquire it survive, and those who don't usually die.
- āRobert McCall (Solo, S2EP17)
- I don't have to look at it. I know what's inside of it from experience. Mickey, it is bad enough, Control following me around like the hound of the Baskervilles without him getting you to do his dirty work for him.
- āRobert McCall (Re-Entry, S2EP22)
Season 3[]
- Jimmy: My grandfather used to say everybody's got a totem animal that stands for who you are. And when you see your animal die, you better look out 'cause you're next.
- McCall: Absolutely. I don't know what the hell you're talking about.
- Jimmy: I think your animal is a wolf, Robert.
- āMcCall & Jimmy (The Mystery Of Manon Pt.1, S3EP16)
- My divorce was twelve years and three months ago next week.
- āRobert McCall (Regrets Only, S3EP20)
- Pete: It's been a week, Robert. I haven't seen you this quiet in years.
- McCall: Well, a person's gotta have time to sit and think sometimes.
- Pete: What about Susan Foxworth?
- McCall: You know, Pete, you really do have one very aggravating habit...
- Pete: It's called reading your mind.
- McCall: Precisely. I don't think I like it.
- Pete: I don't mean to pry. It's just that you are one of the best men I have ever known, and it hurts to see you so lonely.
- McCall: I am not lonely.
- Pete: You were attracted to her. Look, she's completely free now...
- McCall: So what do you want me to do? Drag her back into my world?
- Pete: Take my word for it, I don't think she'll mind. Why don't you give her a call...
- McCall: What would be the point anyway?
- Pete: The point would be some warmth and friendship in your life.
- McCall: Yeah. Followed by an inevitable farewell. Don't think either of us would like that very much.
- āMcCall & Pete (Regrets Only, S3EP20)
Season 4[]
- Psychiatrist: Well, let's start with your personal history. Can you tell me something about your last job?
- McCall: Yes, certainly. I worked for an international network of spies.
- āMcCall & his therapist (The Last Campaign, S4EP1)
- I'm about to kiss my first cop.
- āRobert McCall (The Making Of A Martyr, S4EP7)