  |
This article's content is marked as Mature The page Mature contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature pages are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
| “ | Make a move and the bunny gets it! | „ |
| ~ Cyrus Grissom's most famous line. |
| “ | Cindino: We were coming to get you. Please. Cy- Cyrus: -onara! Cindino: NOOO! |
„ |
| ~ Cyrus Grissom to Cindino before executing him |
| “ | Before I kill you, Poe, I just wanted you to know that the last thing that little Casey Poe ever gets to smell will be my... stinking... breath. | „ |
| ~ Cyrus Grissom's last words to Cameron Poe before his brutal demise. |
Cyrus Grissom, also known as Cyrus the Virus, is the main antagonist of the 1997 action film Con Air. He is a psychopathic career criminal and murderer who masterminded the hijacking of the titular airplane.
He was portrayed by John Malkovich, who also played Mitch Leary in In the Line of Fire, Tom Ripley in Ripley's Game, Humma Kavula in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Quentin Turnbull in Jonah Hex, Dave in Penguins of Madagascar, Teddy Deserve in Knockaround Guys, Galbatorix in Eragon, Pascal Sauvage in Johnny English, and Vicomte Sébastien de Valmont in Dangerous Liaisons.
Biography
Taking over the Flight
Cyrus has been in and out of prison for most of his life, serving time for crimes including robbery, arson, and murder. He murdered eleven inmates, instigated three riots, and escaped lawful custody twice. He is also extremely intelligent, earning two degrees via correspondence courses while in prison. He is first seen being boarded onto the Jailbird plane along with several other inmates. When an inmate named Pinball starts a fire and opens the locks, Cyrus takes over and calls the flight, Con Air. He is working with Francisco Cindino, a South American drug lord.
Escape to Vegas and Killing Cindino
If all went as planned, Cyrus and his gang would have lived in a country with no extradition charges. Upon discovering his plane being taken by his boss who betrayed him, Cyrus executes Cindino.
Final Showdown with Poe and Death
Grissom's death.
When the Jailbird crashes into Las Vegas, Cyrus and 2 other inmates, Nathan "Diamond Dog" Jones and Earl "Swamp Thing" Williams, try to escape on a stolen fire truck. Protagonists Cameron Poe and Vince Larkin chase after the villain on police motorcycles. During a scuffle on the truck, Cyrus threatens Poe's young daughter, Casey; enraged, Poe knocks him out and handcuffs him to the truck's service ladder, which goes flying through an overhead walkway and onto some power lines, severely injuring Cyrus. The psychopath finally meets his end when lands on the conveyer belt of a pile driver, which comes down on his head, killing him.
Personality
Cyrus is a cunning, violent psychopath who doesn't hesitate to kill people and has little to no regard for human lives. He is even willing to kill children, as evidenced by his threatening to kill Poe's young daughter.
Nevertheless, he does have standards; he despises sex offenders, and at one point threatens to kill serial rapist John Baca (Johnny 23) for any attempt to rape the plane's only female guard, Sally Bishop.
Quotes
| “ | Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. I have the only gun on board. Welcome to Con Air. | „ |
| ~ Cyrus Grissom after taking over the Jailbird. |
| “ | I despise rapists. For me, you're somewhere between a cockroach and that white stuff that accumulates at the corner of your mouth when you're really thirsty. But, in your case, I'll make an exception. | „ |
| ~ Grissom, to Johnny 23. |
| “ | THAT'S MY F-CKING PLANE! | „ |
| ~ Grissom, as his escape vehicle leaves without him. |
| “ | Looks like you missed your connection. | „ |
| ~ Grissom, to Cindino, after the latter's failed attempt to flee. |
