Roman Bellic

Background

Roman Bellic is Niko's cousin and the reason Niko comes to Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV. Roman left Europe years earlier and spent his letters and emails describing a life of mansions, sports cars and women. In reality he runs a small cab firm, Roman's Cab Depot, in Hove Beach, Broker, lives in a cockroach-infested apartment and owes large sums to loan sharks because of a serious gambling habit.

Events of Grand Theft Auto IV

Roman meets Niko at the docks in The Cousins Bellic and drives him to the apartment, admitting much of what he wrote was exaggerated. Early missions such as It's Your Call, Three's a Crowd and Easy Fare see Niko helping with the cab business, while Bleed Out has Niko rescue Roman from the Albanian loan sharks Bledar and Dardan. Roman introduces Niko to Little Jacob, Vlad Glebov and Brucie Kibbutz, and he also encourages Niko to get online in Logging On.

Roman's debts make him a target for Vlad and later for Mikhail Faustin, whose men beat him. After Dimitri Rascalov betrays the cousins, the apartment and cab depot are burned in Roman's Sorrow and they move to a small flat in South Bohan. Later Roman is kidnapped by Dimitri's men and Niko frees him in Hostile Negotiation. An insurance payout lets Roman move his business to Algonquin, where he gives Niko a comfortable apartment in Middle Park East.

Roman proposes to Mallorie and the wedding takes place in Mr. and Mrs. Bellic. In the Deal ending he is killed by a hitman working for Dimitri. In the Revenge ending he survives, mourning Kate McReary, and later tells Niko Mallorie is pregnant.

Personality

Roman is cheerful, boastful and endlessly optimistic. He talks big about women and success but panics in danger, and his gambling repeatedly drags Niko into trouble. Under the bravado he is warm and genuinely devoted to his cousin.

Relationships

• Niko Bellic is the person Roman trusts most, even if Niko often grows tired of rescuing him.
• Mallorie Bardas is his long-term girlfriend and later wife.
• Brucie Kibbutz and Little Jacob are friends from his Broker days; Mohammed is one of his drivers.

Trivia

• Roman is voiced by Jason Zumwalt.
• As a friend, Roman's special ability is a free taxi service that will pick Niko up even when he has a wanted level.
• Roman likes to take Niko bowling, a running joke among players because of how often he calls to ask.