Charlie DeSalvo

Charlie DeSalvo is a fictional character from Highlander: The Series, portrayed by actor Philip Akin. A martial artist and former Navy SEAL, he is a mortal man and friend to the series protagonist Duncan MacLeod. He is introduced in the third episode of the second season, "Turnabout", and appears in twelve episodes. His final appearance is in the season four episode "Brothers in Arms", in which he is killed.

Charlie DeSalvo
Highlander character
First appearance"Turnabout"
Portrayed byPhilip Akin
In-universe information
BornJuly 7, 1956[1]
DeathAugust 21, 1995(1995-08-21) (aged 39)[1]

Character Background

Charlie is first introduced in the season two episode "Turnabout" (1993), as the owner of a martial arts dojo for sale in the fictional city of Seacouver, Washington, United States. Charlie's background is revealed in pieces over several episodes. He grew up in a poor neighborhood nicknamed "the Zone", where residents (mostly of black or Italian descent) largely believe in taking care of their own "kind" and viewing others with suspicion. Growing up, Charlie is targeted by other children for being mixed race due to having a black mother and an Italian father.[2] The script for "Run For Your Life" (1993) notes that Charlie's mixed heritage is "a thorny issue."[3] Beaten up by both Italian and black kids in the neighborhood for not fully assimilating with either ethnicity, he later says he preferred not to spend time in the Zone when he had other options.[4] In "Bless the Child" (1994), Charlie remarks that he and Jamie Lightfoot, a child of mixed heritage, both have "something in common... We carry the blood of two different worlds."[5]

As a child, Charlie admires Muhammad Ali and wants to be like him.[6] As an adult, Charlie becomes a Navy SEAL in 1977, serving for 12 years before returning to civilian life in Seacouver.[7] Turning his martial arts skill into a trade as a teacher, he dreams about operating his own dojo one day. After five years of saving up his money, he has enough for a down payment on his own gym, turning it into DeSalvo Martial Arts.[8]

Despite Charlie's efforts, the gym does not earn much profit and he is forced to look for a buyer for the property. In his debut episode "Turnabout," Charlie encounters the Scottish Highlander Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) and his friend Richie Ryan (Stan Kirsch), not knowing they are both immortal warriors. Initially telling them membership is closed, he changes his mind after MacLeod beats him in a martial arts sparring match. Weeks later, MacLeod purchases the dojo. In "Eye For An Eye" (1993), Charlie is surprised to learn MacLeod wants him to remain as manager, a position he accepts. Charlie then becomes the coach and sparring partner of Richie, focusing on sword combat.

Charlie comes to regard MacLeod and Richie as friends, and also becomes friendly with Joe Dawson, secretly a Watcher who monitors immortals and aids the highlander at times. Charlie is grateful to MacLeod for keeping the dojo operational and not simply selling it, despite its low profits.[8] At the same time, he is aware MacLeod keeps much hidden, saying, "When I was in the SEALS, I saw guys with eyes like yours. The lifers, the ones who'd got in too many battles and never came all the way back... One day I'm gonna find out what you're all about."[4] Charlie eventually becomes openly frustrated with MacLeod's secrecy, remarking, "You always say it's nothing and it's always something."[8]

In "The Zone" (1993), MacLeod decides to enter the Zone for his own agenda and Charlie insists on accompanying him, despite knowing it will trigger painful memories. After seeing Zone crime leader Canaan (Santino Buda) giving guns to boys, Charlie rallies several residents to defy him, saying "I know you're afraid. That's what this is all about. You don't have to be afraid... You make the choices, not him."[4]

In "Revenge of the Sword" (1993), Charlie's former pupil Jimmy Sang (Dustin Nguyen) filming part of a movie in the dojo. Jimmy gives Charlie a small role in the film and then asks him to come to Los Angeles for more stunt work and other opportunities. Realizing he does not need wealth or to own his own business to feel accomplished, Charlie says, "I like where I am."[9]

In "Unholy Alliance" (1994), the immortal Xavier St. Cloud (Roland Gift) and his mercenaries storm the dojo to kill MacLeod while Charlie is there, firing guns that cause extensive damage. Failing, the men flee. MacLeod arranges for the dojo to be repaired using his considerable wealth, but an enraged Charlie wants to help track down Xavier and his mercenaries, particularly when he learns they killed a man he used to serve with.[8] Charlie later sees MacLeod engage in a sword fight with Xavier and then suffer lethal gunshot wounds. Charlie is then shot himself and later wakes up in the hospital to see MacLeod alive and uninjured. He demands an explanation before he dies, but Duncan only hints it may involve magic (a nod to the line from the movie Highlander "it's a kind of magic" that inspired a Queen song of the same title). Charlie recovers and returns to the dojo while MacLeod tracks Xavier to Paris and kills him. He does not return to Seacouver until months later, during which time Charlie manages the dojo alone. Aware Duncan has strange abilities and hidden enemies, Charlie reluctantly accepts that he will not be told the whole truth, though still insists on helping when possible.

In the season three episode "The Revolutionary" (1994), Charlie falls in love with Balkan revolutionary Mara Leonin and decides to join her in her efforts to help her people. After he leaves, management of DeSalvo's Martial Arts passes to Richie Ryan. The following year, in the season four episode "Brothers in Arms," the immortal arms dealer Andrew Cord kills Mara and Charlie follows the man back to Seacouver. Ignoring warnings, Charlie confronts Cord and is mortally wounded. MacLeod finds Charlie in an alley just outside Joe's Blues Bar, owned by Joe Dawson, and realizes nothing can be done. Duncan recalls Charlie asking to know the truth before he die, and reveals that he is immortal. Charlie dies in Duncan's arms and MacLeod later avenges him and Mara by killing Cord.

Characteristics

Charlie is described in the script of "Turnabout" as a black man in his late twenties and moving "like a street-tiger. His heritage is black-Italian: when black guys weren't beating on him for being Italian, the Italians stomped him for being in the wrong neighborhood. Fed up, Charlie took a stint as a Navy SEAL, and forged his street-moves into martial arts mastery. He's realized his dream of owning this dojo by hard work and sweat. He's friendly but tough as hell."[10] Charlie claims to be a "liberated male" who has no problem caring for and feeding a baby, but refuses to change diapers.[5] Charlie hates heights.[5]

Family legacy is important to Charlie. He tells MacLeod, "A man like you, I mean, you got to have a kid of your own, man. Someone to share things with, you know, to love, to teach all this stuff, you know? I mean, who can you pass that on to?"[5]

Character development

Executive Producer Bill Panzer explains, "We realized that Alexandra Vandernoot, who played Tessa wanted to return to Europe for personal reasons, and we thought MacLeod needed another mortal to talk to and to interact with. And (...) Charlie DeSalvo's character was a very good foil for Mac."[11]

Actor Adrian Paul says about Philip Akin that Akin studied martial arts a lot and had a different style than his own. There also are several occurrences of MacLeod throwing Charlie hard on the mat in the series, and Paul comments that Akin "never liked the idea of me throwing him".[12]

The dojo is described in the script of "Turnabout" as "spare but clean : a testosterone-shop in the old style".[13] MacLeod is supposed to buy the dojo in this episode, according to the script,[14] but a "sold" sign is seen on screen only in the next episode Charlie appears, "Eye for an Eye", in which the dialogue makes clear that MacLeod is the new owner as he asks Charlie to stay and run the dojo for him.

Creative Consultant David Abramowitz says that he likes "Brother in Arms": "I liked that one because I thought it was a great story. It was vivid emotionally and it was wonderful."[15] Abramowitz comments about "The Fighter" though, ""The Fighter" was a take off on the old Cinderella story, where a character is in love with a beautiful young woman, and can't find the words to speak to her, to speak of his love. So we had Phil Akin, who played Charlie DeSalvo, talk to Bruce Weitz who played the fight manager who's in love with the young girl, and to watch the two of them together (they aren't exactly the slickest characters in the world), was like the blind leading the blind."[16]

References

  1. Episode "Turnabout", Bonus Material, Article: "Charlie DeSalvo", in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2003), disk 1.
  2. Episode "Run For Your Life", in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 3.
  3. Episode "Run For Your Life", Final Shooting Script, p. 31, in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 3.
  4. Episode "The Zone", in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 2.
  5. Episode "Bless the Child", in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 5.
  6. Episode "The Fighter", in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 4.
  7. Episode "Eye for an Eye", in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 2.
  8. Episode "Unholy Alliance", in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 5.
  9. Episode "Revenge of the Sword", in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 3.
  10. Episode "Turnabout", Final Shooting Script, p. 5, in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 8.
  11. Episode "Turnabout", Bonus Material, Bill Panzer's interview, in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 1.
  12. Episode "Revenge of the Sword", Bonus Material, Adrian Paul's video commentary, in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 3.
  13. Episode "Turnabout", Final Shooting Script, p.4, in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 8.
  14. Episode "Turnabout", Final Shooting Script, p.52, in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 8.
  15. David Abramowitz, in Maureen Russell, Highlander: The Complete Watcher's Guide, Warner Books, 1998, ISBN 0-446-67435-4, p. 7.
  16. Episode "The Fighter", Bonus Material, David Abramowitz's interview, in Highlander: The Series (season 2) (DVD, Davis-Panzer Productions and Gétévé, 2003), disk 4.
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