Phil Bell is a main character in Grand Theft Auto IV.
He is portrayed by Frankie "The Butcher" Bonsangue.
History
Background
Phil Bell was a close associate of Alderney's Pegorino Crime Family. He was seen as a consigliere figure to Don Jimmy Pegorino. He was a friend of Pegorino crime family captain Ray Boccino, even though they both almost constantly argued and disagreed. Bell wasn't a made-man as he is only 10% Italian, and most of his family originated from Ireland.
Phil Bell was born c.c.circa 1967 in Alderney City. He is mostly of Irish ancestry, with small Italian heritage, though he acts as if he was a full Italian, probably to fit in with his fellow mafioso. In 1984, at age of 17, he was arrested for trying to steal a car.
Phil was arrested in 1988 and 1990 for promoting gambling and manslaughter respectively. Phil had likely joined the Pegorino Family by then; Jimmy Pegorino says in Pegorino's Pride that Phil is a long-time trusted business partner of his. He also says that he wishes to promote Phil, but worries whether it will offend The Commission, who often discriminate against non-Italians. He was previously married and has at least two children, but is now involved in a court battle with his ex-wife over custody of their children.
Phil maintains that he is a legitimate businessman, managing construction yards and the Pegorino-owned Honker's Gentlemen's Club based in Tudor. The authorities have his places of business bugged, so he speaks in generalities which will not implicate him in anything, and is especially cautious with his planning. He and fellow Pegorino capo Ray Boccino secretly hate each other, because Phil believes "every move he makes is so obvious, it's disgusting to see him trying to sleaze his way up the ladder". Ray is also much more ambitious and even selfish, while Phil believes that "there ain't much in this life you got control of", which is why he follows Jimmy's orders to the letter, even when he believes it won't work perfectly (as seen in Catch the Wave). Phil and Jimmy Pegorino's wife Angie are very good friends, causing some to believe they're having an affair. Jimmy doesn't believe the rumors, and has trust in Phil. Phil's role within the Pegorino family is never clearly stated.
Based on his reactions during the mission Trespass, Phil appears to have a fear of flying.
Events of Grand Theft Auto IV
Meeting Niko Bellic
Phil first meets Niko Bellic after the failed diamonds deal with the Jewish Mob, as the money was stolen by The Lost MC member Johnny Klebitz. Phil tells to both Niko and Ray that Pegorino is angry because of the deal that went wrong. The two then sent Niko to find and kill Johnny's associate Jim Fitzgerald.
Employing Niko
After doing some work for Ray, Niko is sent to work for Phil. Niko performs multiple jobs for Phil. During the first job, Niko is asked to hijack a truck loaded with heroin, which must be stolen from a group of Triads. The truck is subsequently hidden in a safe location until the heat dies down. The location is to be guarded by Frankie Gallo, a nephew of Phil.
Later on, Phil and Niko sabotage a cocaine deal that is meant to go down between the Ancelottis and the Russians. One of Phil's men gets hold of a truck that the Russians would be expecting. Phil and Niko get to the boatyard where the deal is meant to occur in said truck; needless to say, they do not manage to fool the Russians, and they must shoot their way out of the boatyard and then escape in the boats loaded with the merchandise. Unfortunately for the Pegorinos, an informant informs Charles Matteo, an important figure within the Ancelottis, about the deeds of the Pegorinos. In order to prevent The Commission from finding out such information, Niko is sent to take down Charles Matteo as he is about to flee by helicopter from an abandoned factory.
After all this, Niko performs one more job for Phil. It is about time to pick up the previously stolen heroin, which got moved in two cars. As they are checking the merchandise, Niko, Phil and Frankie are then surrounded by FIB agents. Realizing that the cars have been watched all along, Phil gets in one car, while Niko and Frankie get in the other. After driving all over Alderney and losing the authorities in the end, Phil and Niko (and additionally Frankie, if he is not killed by the cops) switch to a van, which is parked behind a Pizza This... branch in Westdyke.
Ending
Towards the end of the game, the Pegorino Family receives too much police attention, leading Jimmy to believe the family has several rats. He contemplates which one of his capos he should kill – Phil and Ray each secretly suggest to Pegorino that the other should be killed. Jimmy eventually decides to kill Ray. At the very end, whether Deal or Revenge is chosen, Phil chooses to leave organized crime for good in favor of a simple life in a small town. In the Deal ending, after all the mess of the exchange with Dimitri Rascalov, he wishes Niko all the best and they part on good terms.
However, if the Revenge ending is chosen, Niko decides not to make the deal with Dimitri and executes him on the Platypus, ruining the Pegorinos in the process. Afterwards, Phil calls Niko. Phil is not angry, and even supports his decision, stating (correctly, as proven by choosing Deal) that Dimitri always gave him a bad feeling. Phil, however, tells him that he can't see him again, as it would cause problems and the two respectfully part ways.
Character
Influence
Phil Bell may be based on Henry Hill from the film Goodfellas. They are both Irish-Italians who can't become high ranking members due to their Irish ancestry. In the opening cutscene for Catch the Wave, Phil asks Niko if he's seen a surveillance helicopter, which is a reference to a scene from the movie.
LCPD Database Record
1988 - Promoting Gambling
1990 - Manslaughter
- Not believed to be a "made" member of the Mafia because of he is of mixed Irish / Italian ancestry.
- Careful about wiretaps and other forms of surveillance.
PROTECTING LIBERTY CITY
PHIL BELL
HANGOUT
Unknown
WANTED FOR
Racketeering
Prominent Appearances in Gameplay
- No Way on the Subway
- Truck Hustle (Boss)
- Catch the Wave (Boss)
- Trespass (Boss)
- To Live and Die in Alderney (Boss)
- Pest Control
- If the Price is Right (Boss/Deal)
- A Dish Served Cold (Post-mission phone call/Revenge)
Gallery
Character Trailer
Trivia
General
- Phil has similarities with JD O'Toole from Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories; they are both strip club managers, and JD also can't get to a high rank in his family because of his Irish ancestry (though JD O'Toole is later killed, while Phil Bell remained alive afterwards and parted ways).
Grand Theft Auto IV
- Phil's favorite stations are Jazz Nation Radio and Fusion FM, as he will respond positively if the player is travelling with him in a car and switches to one of these stations. He may also like Liberty Rock Radio, as this station plays in the office of his construction company.
- During missions in which Phil accompanies Niko, if the player drives slowly for a while, Phil will say something like "Inconspicuous...I like it." or "The feds'll be looking for a fast car. Good work. That's why you gotta drive slow." Furthermore, if the player steals an unoccupied vehicle with Phil, he'll become paranoid and ask if Niko scanned the car for bugs and then give a speech about bugs and other spying devices.
- Like most characters in the game, Phil will don a unique helmet when riding alongside the player on a motorbike. His helmet is colored black with gold/yellow stripes.
- Phil's actual position in the Pegorino family is never clarified in the game. Despite both the LCPD database and Ray Boccino stating that he's an associate, there are facts that point otherwise.
- In Pegorino's Pride, Jimmy Pegorino states that the Pegorino family is losing respect due to Phil holding such a high position in the family. If Phil was an associate, this would be of no consequence. It is standard procedure for Mafia families to use men of mixed ancestry (Irish-Italian, in Phil's case) as associates. This comment implies that Phil is a made man, which is highly frowned upon in Mafia tradition.
- In Catch the Wave, Phil says that Ray is attempting to rise up the criminal hierarchy in order to eventually reach his position. This should not be the case, since Ray, as a capo, is already much higher than Phil in the food chain. However, what Phil may have meant is that Ray wants to gain Jimmy's approval and become his right hand man, instead of Phil. Jimmy also apparently believes that Ray wants to become the boss of the Pegorinos someday, as mentioned in Pegorino's Pride.
- In Pest Control, Jimmy Pegorino questions the loyalty of both Phil and Ray. He admits that while Phil has been in the family much longer than Ray, the latter is a better earner. It is also referenced that Phil acts as Pegorino's advisor. In the same cutscene, Ray taunts "You're only an associate, Phil. Remember that," one of the only times Phil's position is directly referenced. However, it is immediately contradicted as Pegorino then calls Phil his man and says that he trusts him much more than Ray. This, along with the age gap (Phil is 41, while Ray is only 32) indicates that the pair's roles may have initially been reversed, but only some dialogue was changed. It's also possible that because Ray is Italian, his position in the organisation is higher, but due to his greedy nature, he is distrusted by Jimmy. Jimmy trusts Phil more because he's much more careful than Ray and occasionally gets his hands dirty and actually risks his life, unlike Ray.