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Charlie Houk is a fictional survivor in George A. Romero's 4th installment to his Living Dead Series, Land of the Dead. He is portrayed by Robert Joy.

Pre-Land of the Dead[]

Not much is known about Charlie before the apocalypse, but what is known is that he was burned on one side of his face during a terrible fire. He was saved, however, by his best friend and future commander Riley Denbo.

Land of the Dead (2005)[]

Finding a place in Fiddler's Green with his best friend and commanding officer, Riley Denbo, Charlie began working as a supply runner for the people residing in the so called "City of the Living". Riley ordered Charlie to prep things while he and Mike went on recon of a nearby town they were going to raid for supplies. Once his task was done, Charlie managed to catch up with the two in order to watch their back. Though he scared Mike in his approach, they realized he was friendly, despite the burns on his face. With that, Riley was contacted by Pretty Boy, the navigator of Dead Reckoning, making Riley aware that Cholo was coming back from dumping the trash and the others were prepped for entering the town. Riley then ordered them to "Put some flowers in the graveyard", meaning to start using fireworks to distract the walkers inside the town.

Charlie, Riley and Mike approached the convoy where Cholo met up with them and Riley made him aware of the zombies in the town beginning to communicate and even think. Charlie heard this, saying that the zombies were simply dumb, however Riley retorted that Charlie was able to learn well, which is what they were doing too. Cholo proceeded to tease Charlie, then stopped before walking away from him and Riley stopping him, telling him to be careful and since it was his last night, no "fuck ups". Charlie then stuck with Riley during the raid, checking in with teams 1 and 2, who were raiding a drugstore and supermarket, but as they stopped the jeep, Charlie and Riley noticed the fireworks stopped. This was not good, as now the zombies were no longer distracted, leading to Riley forcing a retreat.

Charlie was with him when Riley ordered Pretty Boy to lay down cover fire for the escaping convoy. Riley checks in with Cholo, who he finds is raiding a liquor store for booze. Charlie accompanies his friend to the store, where they find not only has Cholo disobeyed orders, but that Mike has been infected and ends his life rather than turn into one of those things. Charlie was covering from the jeep when he heard Mike kill himself and looked in horror. With that, Riley ordered everyone to pack it in and call it a night, heading back to the Green. The next morning, Riley and Charlie board a supply truck and head into the city, where they find Cholo and his boys and Riley confronts Cholo about what happened to Mike. He later accompanies Riley to the slums, where he recommends they get a drink, however Riley needs to find his car and Charlie decides to tag along. They find Mulligan, a former colleague of Riley and Charlie, giving him antibiotics for his son Brian before continuing to get the car. When they get to the garage however, the car Riley bought isn't there and he realizes who has it, Chihuahua, a wealthier member of the Green. They find him, but Charlie notices a new cage game, where they have 2 zombies and something new to their diet for a fight to happen. They soon realize what's on the menu is in fact a prostitute named Slack, who Riley saves from both zombies in the cage and Charlie covers him. Charlie is then nearly shot by Chihuahua, but a civilian gets in the way and alerts him, then Riley aids Charlie, hitting Chihuahua in the chest, not knowing he was wearing body armor. It's then that Chihuahua attempts shooting Riley, but Slack manages to kick him out of his line of fire through the gate, getting grazed in the arm in the process.

Charlie then takes up his rifle, licking the front iron sight and targeting Chihuahua through the bleachers and manages to get a headshot, despite the scattering patrons. After this, security comes in and arrests the trio, locking them up as a result. Charlie asks Slack why was she put in the cage and he learns the Kaufman found out that Slack was helping out Mulligan and was sentenced to die. This is when Mulligan is dragged in and Slack tells both Riley and Charlie that they're going to pump him for information before killing him. Sometime following Dead Reckoning's capture by Cholo, Riley is taken to Kaufman, which upsets Charlie and Slack learns about Charlie's accident and Riley rescuing him. Charlie and Slack are released from prison, thanks to Riley and are outfitted with weapons. Charlie is offered a Heckler & Koch G36C, but declines it, saying he doesn't need many rounds to kill a zombie. The armorer however, calls him a "retard", but Charlie shrugs it off and Riley stands up for him while Slack takes the rifle. Charlie then notices people coming down the hall and are introduced to their support team, consisting of Manolete, Motown and Pillsbury. Once outside, the find the aftermath of the attack by Big Daddy and his army of zombies. This is where Charlie is ordered to watch Slack and crank up the Woody while Riley is accompanied by Manolete.

Charlie, Slack and Pillsbury cover Motown as she hotwires the Woody and Charlie licks his rifle. Slack asks him why he did this and he replies with "Catches the light". She is confused by this and asks how he can even see and he responds with his good eye. He turns his rifle towards Slack and she is a bit shocked, however Charlie fires a round, which whizzes passed Slack's ear and into a zombie behind her. Though he admits the shot was off center, he was able to kill the zombie, which impressed Slack greatly. They soon hear the sounds of gunfire from where Riley and Manolete went, but Slack notices a zombie behind Charlie, so she takes the shot. The bullet grazes Charlie's ear, but she manages to kill it, claiming both of them were even. When the car is started, everyone boards it, however Manolete is bitten by an incoming zombie with its head hanging by only skin tissue. Charlie, despite his grazed ear, is able to shoot through the zombie's chest with his pistol and manages to score a headshot before being on their way. On the way, Charlie remains quiet, listening to what happened to Riley's brother and then heard Slack turn and kill Manolete due to his bite.

While driving towards Dead Reckoning, Riley orders Slack to stop the car and Charlie to cover both Motown and Pillsbury. This is where Riley warns them that once Dead Reckoning was in his possession, he was going to do with it as he pleased and if they decided against this, he ordered them to get out and have to deal with zombies in the distance. With that, both Motown and Pillsbury agree and they continue on their way. Realizing that Cholo would have to take the main roads with Dead Reckoning, they decide to take the back streets to get to Mount Washington, overlooking the city, which is where he plans to level Fiddler's Green. Once they manage to beat him there, they stop the car and Charlie accompanies Riley in hopes of trying to talk Cholo down, leaving Slack, Motown and Pillsbury. Charlie then catches up with Riley, who tells him to put his gun away and put on his best "Sunday" smile and try to look friendly, which Charlie replies with that he is friendly. Dead Reckoning comes up on both and they're allowed inside the truck, but are held at gunpoint by the crew of the truck and Cholo orders Pretty Boy to target the Green.

Personality[]

Charlie is described as slow witted, but a very loyal companion, especially to his friend and commanding officer Riley Denbo. Even he admits he's not as intelligent to somebody like Denbo, but he's sure as hell smarter than zombies. Wherever Denbo goes, Charlie is one step behind him and is usually always friendly, despite people being scared of his face or ridiculing him. When it comes to killing zombies, Charlie is not one to hesitate in killing them. It's also showed that Charlie can be easily distraught when Denbo is separated from him.

Skills & Abilities[]

  • Expert Marksman: Despite Charlie's slow witted nature, he's a natural with both a sidearm and a rifle. Even with one good eye, Charlie has excelled in this skill, performing a shot to kill Chihuahua as he tried getting away, through exposed parts of the bleachers and making a headshot, without injuring any civilians running to safety. He was even able to take out a zombie behind Slack with the bullet whizzing past her ear and getting a zombie in the head, even if it was an off-center shot. When he applied pressure to his grazed ear from when Slack shot a zombie from behind him, he took up his sidearm and took aim at a zombie who's head was hanging behind it and made a shot that went through it's chest and through it's head.

Equipment[]

  • M1 Carbine: While working outside the Green, Charlie carries a World War 2 era M1 carbine with it's standard configuration. Even without a scope, Charlie excels in the use of the weapon, capable of usually making headshots. He also has a habit of licking his finger and rubbing it on the barrel sight of the rifle before taking aim, which he refers to it "catching the light".
  • Colt Single-Action Army: For a secondary weapon, Charlie carries a nickle-plated Colt Single-Action Army, which, like his rifle, he's a natural. He's pretty quick with it on the draw as well.
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