Leon S. Kennedy

Leon Scott Kennedy
Resident Evil series character
File:Leon kennedy.png Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil 4.
First game	Resident Evil 2
Created by	Shinji Mikami
In-universe information
Occupation	R.P.D. officer (Resident Evil 2), Anti-Umbrella activist (Resident Evil Gaiden and Resident Evil Code: Veronica), U.S. Government Agent (Resident Evil 4)

Leon Scott Kennedy is a fictional video game character from the Resident Evil survival horror series. He is one of the two main playable protagonists in Resident Evil 2 and the main protagonist of Resident Evil 4.

History

Leon is one of the two protagonists in Resident Evil 2; the other being Claire Redfield. At the beginning of the game, Leon is a recently-hired police officer for the Raccoon Police Department. He arrives late to Raccoon City on his first day, only to find the town already overrun by zombies and encounters a civilian, Claire, who is looking for her brother, Chris. The two decide to seek refuge in the city's police station, and from there on in, they attempt to escape the city alive by finding important items required to unlock passages that lead into the sewers. Leon maintains radio contact with Claire and is partnered with Ada Wong, an Asian woman claiming to be looking for her missing boyfriend, John. Leon's attempt to find an escape route are almost thwarted by a mysterious new Tyrant and an ever mutating monster. Leon eventually ends up in Umbrella's underground laboratory, where he confronts several of Umbrella's mutant creatures. Just prior to making his escape, Leon learns that Ada is actually working for a rival corporation of Umbrella's and was sent to steal the G-Virus. Ada is shot in the shoulder and nearly falls down a pit, or is wounded during an encounter with the Tyrant, leaving Leon to escape along with Claire and Sherry Birkin.

The epilogues of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis expand on Leon's fate following Resident Evil 2. After escaping the city, Claire set out on her own to search for her brother, while Leon and Sherry were approached by the US military, and Leon made an undisclosed deal with a representative of the US government. In Resident Evil: Survivor and Resident Evil Code: Veronica Leon has joined an anti-Umbrella force. In Survivor, he is mentioned to be the one who sent the game's protagonist, Ark Thompson, to Sheena Island. In Code: Veronica, Claire gets in touch with Leon when she is trapped on Rockfort Island, and Leon relays the information to Chris Redfield.

Leon returned as the protagonist of Resident Evil 4 which is set six years after the events of Resident Evil 2, Leon has become an agent for the US government and is assigned to rescue the newly-elected President's daughter, Ashley Graham, who is being held at an undisclosed location. Leon goes to the village with two escorts, and is attacked by the vilagers. By reading various notes, Leon discovers that Ashley's kidnappers are members of a cult known as Los Illuminados,. which has taken control of the local villagers with parasites known as Las Plagas and their leader, Osmond Saddler orders his minions to recapture them. Leon teams up once again with Ada Wong, who is in Europe seeking to steal a Plagas sample for her unknown employer, and Luis Sera, a former researcher for Osmund Saddler, the cult leader meets up with Leon occasionally as well. Leon later confronts Jack Krauser, a former acquaintance who disappeared two years prior to the events of the game, now working for Albert Wesker. Leon overcomes every threat, and escapes with Ashley via jet-ski.

In other media

• Brad Renfro portrayed Leon Kennedy in two television commercials, directed by George Romero, that aired in Japan to promote the release of Resident Evil 2.
• The trailer included with the Resident Evil: Extinction DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases confirms the appearance of Leon in the CG film Resident Evil: Degeneration.