Frank Gallagher

Living… in the south side of Chicago in Canaryville, where he was recently kicked out of the house by his oldest daughter, Fiona. He’s looking for a new place to live, and sleeping on the subway in the meantime. The father of three boys and two girls, Frank tries to stick close (geographically) to his children – although this habit is born not of parental affection but rather out of his desire to freeload off his family. Despite his limited resources, Frank has the habit of waking up hungover in strange locations, including Toronto and Mexico, often forcing his caretakers to leave Chicago to retrieve him.

Profession… deadbeat and small-time con-artist, taking advantage of the welfare system and gullible strangers at every opportunity. For someone so intent on not having a job, he works really hard at what he does, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to his drinking and cons.

Interests... drinking, drugs, and political TV shows. Not only is Frank a walking catalogue of vices, but he is also a pontificator on the virtues of said vices. As he says, “Just for the record, a lot of great men have been well lubricated: Henry Food, Scott Fitzgerald, David Hasselhoff, they all kept a bottle close.” While he claims to love his children, he takes a similar attitude to his neglect of them, claiming, “The best gift you can give is neglect. Neglect fosters self-reliance.”

Relationship Status... single, but Frank is always willing to sleep with someone if they’ll take care of him. Frank has a long trail of failed relationships, but has learned nothing from his constant romantic implosions. While lustful, and somewhat driven by sex, the most attractive quality in a woman is gullibility – Frank’s constantly on the hunt for the perfect woman whom he can trick into taking care of him despite his almost complete lack of good qualities. 

Challenge… doing as little work as possible for as long as he can.  Frank has a network of children and women who implicitly or explicitly enable him through their constant forgiveness and care. As Fiona comes of age, she begins to resent his carelessness, eventually seeing him as a danger to her siblings and expelling him from the Gallagher house. His supporters are beginning to disappear, but Frank is unwilling to change and seems committed to dying penniless and alone – although it’s uncertain if he’s aware of just how much most people hate him. 

Personality… narcissistic and lazy. Frank gives nothing, and yet expects everything. He is conniving, abusive, and seemingly beyond help. He’s neglectful of his children, only going out on a limb for them in extreme circumstances. He is possessed by his vices, and pursues them without thought of the consequences. He shows little guilt or remorse for his actions, as that would require genuine empathy. He simultaneously wants to play the victim and always get his way.