Bertram Gilfoyle

Grew Up… in Toronto, where he studied computer science at McGill. Though he’s Canadian, Gilfoyle says that “borders are merely a construct, I prefer to think of myself as a citizen of the world.” He is now in the United States illegally, and as such requires his checks be made out in cash or Bitcoin. 

Living… in Erlich Bachman’s Palo Alto bachelor pad/incubator with fellow programmers Richard Hendriks and Dinesh Chugtai.

Profession… programmer at Pied Piper, Richard’s onetime music-matching app which happened to devise a killer data compression algorithm with lots of valuable potential applications. With a background in illegal hacking, Gilfoyle specializes in system architecture, networking, and security. Gilfoyle and Dinesh frequently bicker over who is the superior coder; it’s likely Gilfoyle.

Interests… beating Dinesh in video games and practicing his offbeat religion. Gilfoyle is a LaVeyan Satanist who regularly attends meetings, baptisms, and other ceremonies honoring his dark lord. He has an upside-down cross tattooed on one arm and a pentagram tattooed on the other.

Relationship Status… in a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend Tara. Like most things in his life, he uses this for evil, convincing Dinesh that she finds him attractive and giving him his blessing to sleep with her. Only after Dinesh professes his love for Tara does Gilfoyle tell him it was just a prank.

Challenge… maintaining his aloof exterior under increasing pressure to perform. He chafes when Jared, Richard’s business advisor, tries to create a more business-like corporate culture at Pied Piper. “He’s trying to turn us into corporate rock,” he says. “We are punk rock.”

Personality... focused, intense, and anti-establishment. Gilfoyle speaks only to unleash his deadpan and razor-sharp wit. He almost never smiles. A unique individual even in this house of misfits, Gilfoyle says, “I abide by the maxim, ‘Do what thou wilt, that is the law.’”