Frank Sheeran

This article's content is marked as Mature The page contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, strong drug use, extremely traumatic themes, 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. Note: Content classification services hold no influence over the template's criteria and usage. Only the content itself matters.

Evil-doer
Full Name	Francis Sheeran
Alias	Frank The Irishman
Origin	I Heard You Paint Houses
Occupation	U.S. Army soldier (formerly) Truck driver Hitman President of Union 326
Powers / Skills	Assassination Brute strength Marksmanship Mafia connections Military training
Goals	Perform as many contract killings as possible. Whack Jimmy Hoffa. Get away with his crimes (all succeeded). Repair his relationship with Peggy (failed).
Crimes	Mass murder Intimidation Organized crime Conspiracy Extortion Adultery Arson Vandalism Embezzlement Theft Disturbing the peace Trespassing Stalking
Type of Villain	Anti-Villainous Assassin

“	When I was young, I thought house painters painted houses. What did I know? I was a working guy. A business agent for Teamster Local 107 out of South Philly. One of a thousand working stiffs... until I wasn't no more. And then I started painting houses... myself.	„
	~ Frank Sheeran obliquely talking about being a hitman

Francis "Frank" Sheeran is the titular main protagonist of the 2019 epic crime drama film, The Irishman, based on the 2004 book I Heard You Paint Houses. He is a fictionalized version of the late Mafia hitman who claimed to have murdered Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa.

He was portrayed by Robert De Niro, who also played Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II, Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas, Ace Rothstein in Casino, and Don Lino in Shark Tale.

Biography

Meeting the Bufalinos

An Irish-American World War II veteran, Frank is first introduced as a truck driver for his local union, delivering meat in his native Philadelphia. He starts taking money from mobster Skinny Razor to steal meat from his employer and include it in his shipments at no cost, until he is finally caught. He refuses to tell the cops who he is stealing for, so impressing Teamsters lawyer Bill Bufalino with his loyalty that he gets the case thrown out and introduces him to his cousin Russell Bufalino, the head of the Bufalino Crime Family. Frank is soon working for Russell and his crime family as an enforcer and eventual contract killer, which they euphemistically refer to as "painting houses". While still just an enforcer he publicly viciously assaults a grocer named Joe for shoving his daughter Peggy when she accidentally knocked something over and says to Frank that she was "out of line." He eventually carries out an extramarital affair with a woman named Irene, He later divorces his wife Mary and then marries Irene.

Working for the mob

Russell introduces Frank to Jimmy Hoffa, the head of the Teamsters Union who is secretly in business with the Northeastern Pennsylvania crime family. Frank becomes Jimmy's bodyguard and close friend, while Jimmy becomes close to Frank's wife, Irene, and daughter, Peggy, becoming more of a father to the latter than Frank himself.

Jimmy eventually goes to prison for jury tampering, and Frank reluctantly works for his equally corrupt replacement, Frank Fitzsimmons, until President Richard Nixon commutes Jimmy's sentence. Jimmy immediately begins consolidating his power in the union and pushing the mob out, angering Russell, who tells Frank to rein him in. Frank tries to persuade Jimmy to back down, but Jimmy nonetheless tries to keep the Mafia out of the union. Finally, Russell tells Frank that Jimmy has been marked for getting whacked, and that Frank has been chosen to perform the killing to keep him from warning Jimmy. Reluctantly, Frank agrees to go through with it.

Whacking Jimmy Hoffa

Frank flies out to Detroit to meet Jimmy, with Jimmy's unsuspecting foster son Chuckie O'Brien and loan shark Sally Bugs in tow. They tell Jimmy that the meeting he is set to go to has been moved, and drive him to a secluded house where they claim his associates are waiting for him. Frank goes inside the house with Jimmy, and shoots him dead at point-blank range. He and two other gangsters dispose of the body.

Aftermath

Frank is brought before a grand jury on suspicion of whacking Jimmy, and while he manages to beat that charge, is convicted of several other crimes and imprisoned. He is released from prison after serving several years, and moves into a nursing home. He tries to reconcile with his daughter, but Peggy refuses to see him, having never forgiven him for whacking Jimmy. In the film's final scene, Frank seeks absolution from a priest for his many sins, but only truly shows remorse when confessing to whacking Jimmy. As the priest leaves, it is implied that Frank dies.