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| “ | These idiots, they're always trying to screw you. That's the problem with this business... soon every mom and pop will think they can sell gallo in Vice City! | „ |
| ~ Ricardo Diaz to Tommy Vercetti. |
| “ | Life is amazing. Look at me. I got porn. I got drugs. I got money. I'm happy. | „ |
| ~ Ricardo Diaz to Victor Vance and also his most famous quote. |
Ricardo Diaz is the secondary antagonist in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and a major character in its 2006 prequel Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
In his characterisation, he is a vicious crime lord who initially employed Tommy Vercetti to work for him; it is soon revealed that Diaz was responsible for the events of Tommy's botched drug deal that resulted in the death of Victor Vance, which in turn prompted Victor's brother Lance to swear revenge on him. Diaz's actions consequently led the events of the story, with both Tommy and Lance getting revenge on him, thus serving as Lance’s overall archenemy in the process.
He was voiced by Luis Guzmán, who also played Raoul "El Cid" Hernandez in Oz and the Bald Man in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
History[]
Not much is known about Ricardo Diaz and his backstory; at one point, though, he came to Vice City and ended up becoming one of the city's most violent and powerful drug barons to date.
Originally he has a more fairly reasonable side in GTA Vice City Stories, helping Victor in his vendetta against Sergeant Jerry Martinez and the Mendez Brothers. Diaz puts his money in an expensive mansion in Starfish Island. While he built, he does business with Victor and Lance. Upon successful completion of the case, he continues to give the job to Victor. After Diaz learned that Gonzalez gave Juan Cortez, Ricardo takes him under his wing and informs all the actions of Cortez.
However, his true nature was revealed in GTA Vice City when he was shown to be responsible for Tommy Vercetti's drug deal to go awry knowing it thanks to Gonzalez. While trying to avenge his brother's death in the ambush, Tommy's friend Lance Vance, who worked with Diaz, is captured and tortured by Diaz's men until Tommy rescues him. The two later assault Diaz at his mansion, dispatching all his goons before eventually killing Diaz himself in the end. Tommy and Lance then proceed to takeover over his business, using it as their new base of operations - though Tommy would later kill Lance for betraying him in favor of his former mob boss Sonny Forelli, whom Tommy also kills to officially succeed in becoming the undisputed gangland kingpin of Vice City.
Personality[]
A trigger-happy drug lord, Diaz is quite wrathful. He is prone of violent outbursts, and often lashes out at his goons, as well as destroying various things (even expensive material) inside his villa such as brutally destroying a Ming vase in front of Tommy. A greedy egomaniacal, he is incredibly envious of others, going so far that he orders Tommy to steal a boat in order to keep the fastest boats of the east coast.
In spite of his short temper - which often leads him to take bad decisions - Diaz should not be underestimated as he can be deceitful and traitorous when money is at stake.
Diaz can also be friendly when everything is going well and according to his plans, and treats his associates in a somewhat fatherly manner. That is why he is surprised of Tommy's betrayal and assault of his palace, as he was not aware of Tommy's presence in the ambush, and thought Tommy could have been a great right-hand.
In 1984, Diaz is somehow more lucid and menacing than his next appearance in Vice City. It is possible that heavy cocaine use, stress, and paranoia affected Diaz's mental health and made him more likely to make bad decisions. Something that Tommy soon realized after meeting him, and realizing that it would be extremely easy to take down the biggest drug trafficker in Florida. Diaz's downfall is reminiscent of Tony Montana, who also finds himself losing his power after using his own product, and his total distrust of everyone around him. Ironically, Diaz trusts Tommy, who ends up being responsible for his death.
Trivia[]
- Diaz is based on Frank Lopez from Scarface. Though his personality is more based on Tony Montana. Like Tony, Diaz gets addicted to his own cocaine supply and gets killed in a shootout at his mansion.
- Because of his true nature, Diaz was technically the main antagonist of the game, but because of him already being killed and with Sonny Forelli being responsible for Tommy’s actions as well as his imprisonment, Diaz is arguably the overarching antagonist, despite not having any connections to Sonny whatsoever.
Gallery[]
