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It's like people call me lazy. I'm not lazy, just don't like working. There's a difference.
Uncle

Uncle is a recurring character in the Red Dead series, featured as a major character in Red Dead Redemption and also as a major character in Red Dead Redemption 2.

With the addition of the Myths and Mavericks DLC pack, Uncle is also a multiplayer character model that may be selected in the "Revolution" section of the Outfitter.

History[]

Background[]

UncleBio

Biography in RDR 2 (click to enlarge)

Uncle was born in Ohio at some point prior to the fall of 1849.[1] He had an "uncle" named Jeb (who was actually the cousin of his maternal uncle), who Uncle implies to be a pedophile, saying that he was a man that "you didn't want to be left alone with". Uncle was nine years old when both of his parents died, forcing him to move to a new city and "live on his wits" from there on out.[2] He was also married at least twice before 1899.

Uncle tells stories about times he went to Africa; he mentions that he sold camping supplies in East Africa, which resulted in him being worshipped as a god by the locals in the Congo on one occasion.[3] It is unknown how much truth, if any, this story has to it. Uncle claims to have been known as the "one-shot kid" in his youth, though the dubious nature of his life stories imply that it may not be true. At some point prior to 1894, Uncle joined the Van der Linde gang. His role in it was fairly minimal, owing to him being an unproductive and elderly alcoholic.

In 1894, Uncle introduced the gang to Abigail Roberts, an orphaned prostitute who was eventually inducted into the gang, falling in love with John Marston and getting pregnant with their son. A few years prior to 1899, while the gang stayed in Canada, Uncle accompanied Arthur Morgan and Bill Williamson in a bank robbery, serving as the lookout, although Arthur commented that Uncle wasn't a very good lookout.[4]

Events of Red Dead Redemption 2[]

A hanger‐on and good‐time guy, Uncle is always around when the whiskey is open and never around when there’s any work to be done. If he wasn’t so entertaining, Dutch would have cut him loose years ago.
Rockstar Games' description of Uncle for Redemption 2.

Colter Chapter[]

Uncle accompanies the rest of the gang into the mountains of Ambarino in a desperate attempt to flee the law following the botched ferry robbery in Blackwater. He spends most of his time in the abandoned schoolhouse with much of the rest of the gang.

In "The Aftermath of Genesis," Uncle is seen drinking whiskey in the kitchen with Pearson after Charles Smith and Arthur Morgan return from a hunting trip. After a brief exchange of banter, Arthur shoos Uncle away.

Horseshoe Overlook Chapter[]

After finding Uncle taking a nap at camp, Arthur decides that the pair should go to Valentine for a supply run. Some of the girls ask Arthur to take them too, and the group head out. Once they arrive, Arthur and Uncle go to the general store to buy some supplies, and share a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon outside the shop afterwards, before having a rest. Meanwhile, the girls go looking for leads; Mary-Beth gets a lead on a possible train robbery while Karen starts planning to rob the Valentine Savings Bank. As they prepare to head out, a stranger confronts Arthur and asks if he was in Blackwater a few weeks back. As Arthur chases the man down, Uncle and the girls return to camp.

Uncle can also be encountered almost getting caught in a brawl at Keane's Saloon, where Arthur can choose to intervene or not. After the encounter, Uncle will return back to camp.

Clemens Point Chapter[]

Uncle finds a tip about a supposedly unguarded Cornwall company stagecoach heading through Rhodes, and tells Arthur about it. While unsure at first, Arthur decides to rob it with him, alongside Charles and Bill. Despite starting off well, the robbery quickly goes downhill, as uncountable numbers of Cornwall's men descend upon them. The four hide in an old barn, but they are found by the law. The barn is lit on fire, so they are forced to fight their way out of the barn and escape into the forest. The group spilt up; Uncle is paired with Arthur, and after being reunited with Charles and Bill, the four finally manage to escape. After dividing up the money, Uncle says that he is "officially retired" from robbing.

Saint Denis Chapter[]

At night Uncle can inform Arthur of a cattle rustling opportunity he managed to catch wind of while drinking in Rhodes. Although Arthur is a little reluctant following the chaos the gang created weeks earlier, he decides to join Uncle. The two ride up to Hill Haven Ranch to steal the cattle and encounter their drunken owner who attempts to stop them but ends up knocking himself out. Afterwards, they sell the herd of cows to Clay and Clive Davies.

He is also present in the DLC Companion Activity "High and Low Finance," during which he assists Arthur and Charles in robbing the Bank of Rhodes.

Beaver Hollow Chapter[]

As the gang sets up camp at Beaver Hollow, Uncle arrives with a drunken Molly O'Shea claiming that he found her in Saint Denis. Molly reveals that she told the Pinkertons about the bank heist, resulting in her getting killed. Throughout the chapter, he can be seen expressing distrust in Micah Bell and later leaves the gang along with several others, sensing its imminent doom. His activities in the immediate aftermath of this are unknown.

Pronghorn Ranch Chapter[]

As John Marston finalizes his purchase on Beecher's Hope at the West Elizabeth Co-Operative Bank, he will run into Uncle in the street. Uncle, who thought he was dead, was ecstatic to meet him. The pair would then ride out to the ranch only for Uncle to learn that it was only a decrepit shack. Although a little disheartened by the ranch's condition, he decided to stay whether John liked it or not, especially with Abigail and Jack leaving him.

Beecher's Hope Chapter[]

Having been reunited with John in Blackwater, Uncle informs him that Charles is alive and in Saint Denis, so the two travel to the city by train to find him. After they find Charles at a fighting match, Uncle says he has some errands to run and that he’ll catch up with the duo later. At some point after the trio reach Beecher's Hope, they demolish the shack and Uncle takes John to Albert Cakes in order to purchase a pre-cut house to use as their home. While John and Charles travel to Manzanita Post to collect some tools, Uncle stays behind at the ranch. With everything prepared, Uncle oversees John and Charles building the ranch. Despite annoying John and Charles to no end, John does credit Uncle with being very helpful in getting the ranch moving in the right direction.

After the house is built, Uncle says the ranch needs to be developed further, suggesting that the land could be used for grazing; the two subsequently decide on having sheep. As a result, Uncle takes John to Albert Cakes again to buy a pre-cut barn for the animals, and later helps with the construction of it. After they finish, the trio have a drink in celebration, but Uncle is kidnapped by the barbaric Skinner Brothers while the three are hungover. Alarmed, John and Charles proceed to track Uncle down and rescue him from the Skinners' hideout, during which most of them are slain. During his capture, Uncle sustained a badly burnt back after having it roasted over a fire by the Skinners, but eventually recovers from it after recuperating at the ranch.

Later on, Uncle is present for John and Abigail's wedding playing banjo. Despite Charles and Sadie subsequently departing Beecher's Hope for good, Uncle instead opts to stay at the ranch with the Marston family.

Events of Red Dead Redemption[]

Four years later, after Abigail and Jack are abducted by Edgar Ross and held for ransom, John reluctantly puts Uncle in charge of looking after the ranch at Beecher's Hope. John is then forcibly sent to New Austin to hunt down Bill Williamson and Javier Escuella, having no contact with Uncle. When Marston finally returns from his quest to bring his former gang members to justice, he finds the ranch in disrepair and the livestock rustled. Consequentially, John continually berates Uncle for his inability to maintain the ranch whilst he was away.

Uncle continues to live with the Marston family after John's return. Working at the ranch, Uncle can be seen assisting with blacksmithing and animal tending duties. He and John herd cattle on one occasion and break horses on another. At most other times, he can be seen napping around the ranch.

At some point later, US Army soldiers and Bureau agents launch an attack on the ranch. Uncle spots them and immediately alerts John, enabling them to mount a defense and plan for the escape of Jack and Abigail. Uncle assists John in fighting the soldiers, but is ultimately shot in the chest during the skirmish. Jack ceases firing and comes to Uncle's side, while John continues fending off the soldiers. John returns to Uncle and thanks him for his sacrifice, but Uncle merely demands that they escape and, to Jack's horror, subsequently dies.

Following the assault on the ranch, Uncle is buried atop the ridge at Beecher's Hope, next to John. His grave marker provides no birth year and his epitaph reads "Impossible to forget".

Events of Undead Nightmare[]

Note: The events of Undead Nightmare are not considered part of the same canon as Red Dead Redemption. The following description is therefore not contiguous with the preceding section on Red Dead Redemption.

Uncle-RedDeadRedemption-UDN

Uncle makes his first and last appearance in the mission "Love in the Time of Plague".

John, after riding through the intense downpour from the storm, comes home at night to find Uncle has not returned from town, with the family assuming he has taken shelter from the storm. Later that night, while John and Abigail are in bed, Uncle bursts in, zombified, snarling and growling. As John tells Uncle "he don't look so good", Abigail sees Uncle's bloodied, torn-up appearance and yelps in horror, putting as much distance between her and Uncle as she can. Uncle slowly approaches John. John then grabs him by the throat and asks what's wrong with him, ending the situation by beating the now-undead Uncle over the head with the base of a nearby lamp.

John leaves the bedroom to retrieve his gun, leaving the disgusted Abigail to look at the beaten Uncle lying on the floor. As John is getting a shotgun from his workshop, Uncle chases Abigail out to the front porch. She trips in the yard near the porch, and Uncle takes the opportunity to jump Abigail and bite her on the neck, infecting her. John, arriving to see Uncle had already jumped Abigail, yells at Uncle, causing him to turn and face John. John then proceeds to shoot him in the head, putting Uncle out of his misery.

During this encounter, he has a deep gash crossing down diagonally from the top of his forehead to his left eye. He's missing his hat, revealing the bald spot atop his head. The part of his beard below his mouth is matted with blood, suggesting that he had already infected another victim or had been vomiting blood. His eyes appear to be heavily bloodshot with dried streaks of blood under his eyes, possibly from blood running out of his eyes. His clothes appear bloody and tattered, suggesting he either put up a fight trying to kill whatever infected him, or he received heavy resistance when he attacked one of his previous victims.

Character[]

Personality[]

Uncle is a reformed petty thief with a notable love for alcohol. He is notoriously lazy, both in the Van der Linde gang and while working on the Marston ranch, and often says that his supposed medical condition of "terminal lumbago" stops him from being able to work. Despite contributing occasionally to everyday tasks, Uncle is frequently belittled for being useless and inept, much to his chagrin. In his own way, Uncle can be viewed as seeking redemption from his life of petty crime by working at Beecher's Hope, and later losing his life to keep the Marston family safe.

Despite seeming borderline dysfunctional, Uncle is perhaps more intelligent and shrewd than he may appear. This is exemplified in a hidden dialogue with Dutch; during this conversation, Uncle calls out Dutch by saying he wants to be an American King with his knights that leads the people of the world to a new way of living. Dutch insists this isn't so, claiming he only wants the gang to have a better life, but Uncle retorts by saying Dutch only wants "his" definition of better. In this instance, Uncle shows a clear understanding of Dutch's real intentions and his desire to make everyone live the way of life he thinks he is best for everyone.[5]

Uncle has a laid back and carefree attitude, often wanting to joke around and have fun, rather than doing anything serious. He is friendly towards other gang members and often joins in with games such as poker if the player initiates a game of it in camp. Uncle's jokey and vivacious personality is demonstrated in a conversation with the contrastingly serious Charles at camp,[6] where Uncle tries to get Charles to open up to him and share a joke, but to no avail. Uncle also has a caring side to him, shown with his fairly close bond with Jack, but he can also be thought of as having a strong sense of loyalty - exemplified in how he ultimately gave his life for the Marston family.

Appearance[]

In 1899, Uncle appears as an elderly man with a full beard and light gray hair, being bald on the top of his head. During the Colter chapter, Uncle wears an orange union suit covered up by a thick tan winter coat and gloves. As of the Horseshoe Overlook chapter, he can usually be seen wearing a thinner brown jacket alongside an orange shirt, blue bandana, black trousers and black boots. In chapters 3-6, Uncle is normally seen without his jacket. At nighttime, he sometimes wears his union suit but in 1907 he wears it more often. He also usually wears a brown sun hat.

In 1907, Uncle's overall appearance has changed little. However, he now always wears a dirty white shirt in place of his orange one. He also retains his black trousers and boots.

In 1911, he wears clothes similar to his attire in 1907. Additionally, Uncle can be seen wearing a single beige glove on his right hand and his bandana seems to have bleached. His beard now has a yellow-brown stain. He also appears to have shrunk, likely due to his age.

In all periods of time, Uncle wears a weapon belt with a single holster and his signature hat.

Mission appearances[]

Red Dead Redemption
Undead Nightmare
Red Dead Redemption 2

Companion Activities

Quotes[]

You are a sad man, Arthur Morgan. But I know you love me.
Uncle to Arthur Morgan ("Polite Society, Valentine Style")
My second wife always used to describe me as "ageless", though... she did leave me for a younger man.
Uncle to Arthur, about his short-lived relationship with his second wife
I'm real sick, John. Lumbago. It's a slow and painful death, my brother.
Uncle to John Marston ("Home of the Gentry?")
Oh darling Abigail, I’ve changed! Come live with me in this outhouse I wouldn't ask my worst enemy to take a shit in!
Uncle mocking John about the condition of the newly-bought shack ("Home Improvement for Beginners")
Oh, you don't build a barn, dumbass. What do you think this is, 1785?
Uncle mocking John Marston on how a barn can be built in the Industrial Age ("A Quick Favor for an Old Friend")
You always were a hard and nasty man, John Marston.
Uncle responding to John's idle death threat ("By Sweat and Toil")
It's easy to pick on the elderly. It's easy, but it ain't dignified.
Uncle to John Marston ("By Sweat and Toil")
Ain't time, John. I ain't gonna make it off this porch anyhow. You take Jack and Abiga... (coughs). Take them and... (coughs). Don't worry about me, just get them out of here.
Uncle's last words ("The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed")

Multiplayer[]

  • "I'll bed y'all down!"
  • "Back the hell off!"
  • "You're dead, ya son of a bitch!"
  • "You're mine, ya bastard!"
  • "Leave us alone!"
  • "Come on, then!"
  • "You ain't gettin' away with this!"

Red Dead Redemption 2[]

Greeting

  • "There he is."
  • "Howdy John."
  • "Hey JM."
  • "JM."
  • "Sun’s set on another day."
  • "Morning, John."

Antagonized

  • "Hey, what did I do?" (Arthur)
  • "Well, ain’t that charming?" (Arthur)
  • "Oh no, here we go." (Arthur)
  • ”Okay, let’s hear it.” (Arthur)
  • ”What are you getting at, John?” (John)
  • ”So young and so bitter.” (John)
  • ”John, you’re embarrassing yourself.” (John)
  • ”Oh, you think that’s clever, huh?” (John)
  • ”I, I won’t rise to it. Got too much dignity.” (John)
  • ”Why have you got a problem with me?” (Arthur)
  • ”This you trying to be funny?” (Arthur)
  • “Can’t you hassle someone else for a change?” (Arthur)
  • ”What are you talking about?” (Arthur)
  • ”Do you think you’re so perfect?” (Arthur)
  • ”Why are you taking it out on me?” (Arthur)
  • ”Why you carrying on like this?” (John)
  • ”What is it?” (John)
  • ”Do you have a problem with me?” (John)
  • ”That’s enough foolishness.” (John)
  • ”Oh, for God’s sake.” (John)
  • “I am too old for this, alright?” (John)
  • ”Don’t take this out on me.” (John)
  • ”I’m very good at ignoring people.” (Arthur)
  • ”No use bothering you when you’re like this.” (Arthur)
  • ”I ain’t even gonna rise to this.” (Arthur)
  • ”You do what you want, see if I care.” (Arthur)
  • ”Fine, watch me ignore you.” (Arthur)
  • ”I ain’t giving you the satisfaction.” (Arthur)
  • “I ain’t paying you no more mind.” (John)
  • ”I think I’ll ignore you.” (John)
  • “Oh Lord, I don’t want no part of this.” (John)
  • “I don’t have time for this.” (John)
  • “What the hell else?” (John)
  • ”You’ve been enough trouble.” (John)

Antagonized (Bandana)

  • “Oh, take the bandana off, big mouth.” (Arthur)
  • "John, we're… we’re settled down now. Take the bandana off and stop insulting me!" (John)
  • "We ain't with Dutch anymore, so take the bandana off." (John)

Antagonized (Mask)

  • “If you’re gonna talk like that, take the damn mask off.” (Arthur)
  • ”What in the Sam Hill you doing wearing that mask and yapping at me?” (Arthur)
  • ”Show your face if you’re going to insult an old man.” (John)
  • ”John, if you’re gonna talk to me that away. Take off the mask.” (John)

Antagonized (Blood)

  • “Come on, John. Wash off that blood and leave me be.”
  • ”John… clean off all that blood if you’re gonna be going after me like that.”
  • ”That bloods making you mean.”

Antagonized (Drunk)

  • “You damn drunken fool, be nice.” (Arthur)
  • ”Oh hush it, you’re soaked in liquor.” (Arthur)
  • ”Quiet, Arthur, you're talking drunk again?” (Arthur)
  • “John, you are four sheets to the wind, now cut it out.” (John)
  • ”That firewater’s got you mean, John.” (John)
  • ”That’s the liquor talking, ain’t it, Marston?” (John)

Antagonized (Lawman Hat)

  • “And you’re acting like a big mouthed lawman too, Arthur.” (Arthur)
  • “I don’t have to take this from you, Sheriff Marston.” (John)
  • ”John, stop playing lawman.” (John)
  • ”But, you look ridiculous.” (John)

Antagonized by dirty Arthur / John

  • “Y’know, go take a bath and stop running your mouth.” (Arthur)
  • "All that mud’s making you mean, John." (John)
  • "Maybe take a bath, John. Might help you feel not so agitated." (John)
  • "That mud’s making you ornery, John." (John)

Antagonized (Trapper Clothing)

  • "Push your barrow somewhere else, and change them ridiculous clothes." (Arthur)
  • "That outfit's making you a might mean!" (John)
  • "You angry cause you're dressed like a fool?" (John)
  • "Maybe a more sensible outfit would make you less squirrelly." (John)

Reaction to dog getting scolded by player

  • "That ain’t right Arthur, leave that dog be." (Arthur)
  • "Don’t hassle the dog." (Arthur)
  • "Don't you do that dog that away, leave that poor beast alone." (John)
  • "What did that dog do to you?" (John)

Waked up

  • "What?" (Arthur)
  • "What's going on?" (Arthur)
  • "I'm sleeping, Arthur." (Arthur)
  • "What time is it, John?" (John)
  • "What… the hell is it?" (John)
  • "Good lord, let an old man sleep." (John)

Going back to sleep

  • "Damnit, Arthur. Let me sleep." (Arthur)
  • "You're interrupting my beauty rest." (Arthur)
  • "Quit with the ruckus, I'm tired." (Arthur)
  • "Let me sleep, John." (John)
  • "I'm too tuckered out for this, Marston." (John)
  • "I need to get some shuteye." (John)

Defuse

  • “Do you see anyone laughing?” (Arthur)
  • ”Well, do it with someone else.“ (Arthur)
  • ”Just a regular comedian, ain’t ya?” (Arthur)
  • ”You’re a strange one.” (Arthur)
  • ”Yeah. Yeah.” (Arthur)
  • ”I’m too old for you to be carrying on like this.” (John)
  • “Oh dear Lord, was that necessary?” (John)
  • “Oh, I’m glad you’re having yourself a jolly there.” (John)
  • ”This amusing you, John?” (John)
  • ”You see me chuckling, huh?” (John)

Trivia[]

Red Dead Redemption
  • While riding back to the ranch with the horses in the mission "A Continual Feast", Uncle implies that he once was a rancher who owned his own spread. Uncle's knowledge of farming and ranching is further shown in Red Dead Redemption 2.
  • Uncle can be seen with a yellow-brown residue in his beard, implying his drinking/smoking habits. In Red Dead Redemption 2, this residue is absent.
  • In the mission "Wolves, Dogs and Sons" John suggests that Uncle has some illegitimate children, remarking he is "probably lots of people's father".
  • After hearing stories at a campfire, John may sometimes comment that he "knows an old drunk who would love that one", most likely referring to Uncle.
  • Marston can shoot Uncle's hat off; following mission cutscenes that feature him will depict Uncle without a hat.
  • Uncle can sometimes be seen smoking at the dinner table in Beecher's Hope at around 8:40 PM.
  • Despite John's accusations of laziness, Uncle can often be seen performing various tasks at Beecher's Hope, such as mending the corn silo's ladder with a hammer and crafting horseshoes outside the barn. In Redemption 2, he is also somewhat productive around the ranch.
  • Uncle's corpse cannot be looted after his death scene.
  • The player can throw dynamite, fire bottles, and throwing knives at Uncle to kill him.
  • Edgar Ross wears an outfit similar to Uncle's in the Stranger side mission "Remember My Family".
  • When the player walks by prostitutes as Jack, he may say "Uncle told me about girls like you", or "Uncle warned me about women like you".
  • Uncle shares the likeness of his voice and motion capture actor Spider Madison. Madison also portrayed a similar character to Uncle in the 2005 short Lookin' for Some Posse.
  • His appearance and personality also seem to be based off Wishbone, a supporting character from the television series Rawhide.
Undead Nightmare
  • In Undead Nightmare, the unidentified yellow stain on his beard has been replaced with blood.
  • Uncle is one of the few undead that does not chase the player when alerted. In the mission "Love in the Time of Plague", no matter how far the player runs away from Uncle and Abigail - nor how many shots they fire from their gun - Uncle will only slowly walk towards the player and never give chase to them.
    • This is assumingly because Uncle is the first undead the player encounters in Undead Nightmare, and as such, his inability to give chase is most likely a developer's choice to help the player on their first confrontation with the undead.
  • In the mission "On a Pale Horse", Uncle appears to have not been buried next to John, in contrast to the base game where he was buried a couple of yards away from John.
    • A possible explanation for the absence of Uncle's grave is that the Marston family chose not to bury him in part of his actions, which included attempting to murder John, and infecting Abigail with the undead plague.
Red Dead Redemption 2
  • The actor cast to play Uncle in Red Dead Redemption 2, John O'Creagh, died during production. He was replaced by James McBride, though O'Creagh's singing lines remain in the game. A location in the game, O'Creagh's Run, was named after the late actor.
  • Uncle seems to have a grudge against British people, complaining about how they have "silly voices" and that they're "stuffed-shirted windbags". He also tells Jack about a time that he beat up several Englishmen in a bar.
  • Uncle says that he is ill with "terminal lumbago", despite the fact that lumbago cannot be terminal.
  • Uncle uses an iron-plated Schofield Revolver with a brass frame.
  • In the missions "An Honest Mistake" and "That's Murfree Country", Uncle can be seen with a custom Double-barreled Shotgun that has a blackened steel barrel and reddish varnish on his back.
  • In 1907, after helping John build his ranch, Uncle can sometimes be seen lazing about in the exact spot where he dies in 1911.
  • Uncle can sometimes be found being threatened outside of a Saloon in either Valentine or Blackwater. Intervening will increase the player's Honor.
  • At camp, Uncle sometimes plays the banjo. In the Epilogue, Uncle will play the banjo at night.
  • Uncle wears his hat during the story mode. Sometimes in the epilogue, he can be seen without his hat.
    • Uncle has the same hat model as Levi Simon. However, the colors are slightly different.
  • Uncle's bandana is blue, in contrast with the usual black ones of the other gang members. The only others to not use black bandanas are Dutch and Lenny.
  • Occasionally, Arthur may joke with Uncle about his age, to which Uncle laughs and replies with "I'll outlive you all"; this turns out to be true, due to him being the last member of the gang to die, just before the Marstons.
  • Uncle can be found drinking in camp. In the Epilogue, he will only drink when he is watching the chickens or sitting at the campfire at night.
Redemption Multiplayer
  • In multiplayer mode, Uncle's mouth doesn't move when the player taunts.
  • While in the game's story mode depicts Uncle with a single glove on his right hand, his multiplayer model features him wearing two gloves.

Gallery[]

Red Dead Redemption 2[]

Red Dead Redemption[]

Undead Nightmare[]

References[]

Navigation[]

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