This article refers to the character in the HD Universe.
For the character in the 3D Universe, see Jack Howitzer (3D Universe).
Jack Howitzer is a character appearing as a media personality in the HD Universe of the Grand Theft Auto series.
He is voiced by Randy Pearlstein.
History[]
Background[]
Howitzer claims to have appeared in over 40 films before his prison stint. Howitzer's most notable role was as Tim, a war hero from the Evacuator films.
Jack Howitzer's earliest known film, Loincloth, was released in 1984. In 1986, he appeared in the Evacuator sequel, titled Exploder: Evacuator Part II. In the next three years, he appeared in films titled Annihilator, and Zero Seconds to Death. Howitzer also frequently used steroids during his film career, leading to many film critics and talk show hosts mocking the fact they had apparently shrunk his genitals.
By 1989 Howitzer's popularity had eventually declined and his career slowed down. He released Special Needs Cop in 1992, a severely politically incorrect film in which he endangers the lives of special needs children and other innocents. He also became delusional, believing that his movies were real and the Soviet Union could still attack (despite the fact they had collapsed in 1991).
Events of The Ballad of Gay Tony[]
In The Ballad of Gay Tony, the Weazel News website reveals that Howitzer instead served 15 years in prison for shooting radio show host in the 1990s, was paroled by 2008, and was now set to have his own reality show.[2]
Despite being paroled in 2008, sometime between 2008 and 2013, he had a car accident while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and Howitzer was sent back to prison.
Events of Grand Theft Auto V[]
By 2013, Howitzer was finally released from Bolingbroke Penitentiary. He is still clearly disturbed and uses "Ho Chi Sock", a sock puppet dressed as an Asian, to cope with his situation, as well as continuing to believe that the 1980s aren't over. According to him, the mid '80s to the early 1990s was the greatest time in the history of America. Howitzer is seen living in a room at The Motor Motel and is being filmed as part of a reality show. In the show, a talent agent named Rufus Bellows is trying to talk Jack down from doing anything impulsive and to pitch a comeback film about Jack Howitzer, though apparently no one wants to be a part of it or make it, presumably because of Howitzer's current unpopularity, his mental and emotional instabilities, and because the script is apparently too dated for the present day.
As part of the show, Rufus gets Jack to set up a Lifeinvader and Bleeter account, and Jack is seen posting a response to Moe Chinpoko who is trolling his page. Jack is then seen burning down Moe's house in Mirror Park.
Events of Grand Theft Auto Online[]
Throughout Grand Theft Auto Online, reruns of his show continue to be played on TV.
In 2019, as part of The Diamond Casino & Resort update, the player can buy Howitzer's movie posters (Evacuator, Exploder: Evacuator Part II and Push-Up - The Movie) and props used by him to decorate their Master Penthouse.
Character[]
Influence[]
- Arnold Schwarzenegger: Many of the films are Schwarzenegger movie parodies, such as Commando (Evacuator Part II; both are soldiers with their families kidnapped), Terminator (Annihilator, possibly in name only) and Kindergarten Cop (Special Needs Cop).
- Sylvester Stallone: Stallone's films are also largely parodied, such as Rocky (Push-Up) and the Rambo saga (Evacuator saga). Howitzer also speaks in a normal, if not aggressive, American accent which is closer to Stallone's.
- On Jack's TV show in GTA V, much of his insanity is likely inspired by famous engineer Howard Hughes. Jack lives in a motel and urinates in bottles, similar to what Hughes did in his older years.
Filmography[]
| Year | Title | Poster/Image | Notes/Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Loincloth | Unknown | |
| 1984 | Evacuator | Tim | |
| 1984 | Push-Up - The Movie | Poster for Push Up. |
Bruno |
| 1986 | Exploder: Evacuator Part II | Tim | |
| Pre-1992 | Zero Seconds to Death | Unseen | Unknown |
| Pre-1992 | Annihilator | Unseen | Unknown |
| 1992 | Special Needs Cop | ||
| ? | Wasteland | Unknown | |
| 2013 | Jack Howitzer (TV) | Himself |
Website[]
He has his own website in GTA V: JackHowitzer.com.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
General[]
- A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant. The reference is explained by Howitzer's career in war films.
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
- A pedestrian standing near a news stand in Algonquin states that Howitzer is getting his own reality show. He then says that Howitzer can suck Ho Chi's balls.[ref?]
- If the player startles a certain female pedestrian, she will say out loud "Jack Howitzer's ballsack!"[ref?]
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- A Weazel News report mentions that Jack was jailed for shooting a radio host in the early 1990s. This is a reference to the previous incarnation of Jack Howitzer's character in the 3D Universe accidentally shooting Billy Dexter on Entertaining America in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, although not revealing the name of the show or the radio host killed in the HD Universe.
- The reporter talks about Jack resurfacing after shooting a radio host in the early '90s, and then continues to talk about people's complaints with his new show.
- Jack makes a reference to the television comedy, M*A*S*H, on his reality TV show. He is heard saying, "I never meant to kill that baby! I thought it was a chicken!", a nod to the emotional finale of M*A*S*H.
References[]
- ↑ His birthday is May 17, as stated in his real life Lifeinvader page. The year, however, is never revealed.
- ↑ "Reign of Flower People" - S. Fiona Scott, publiclibertyonline.com