Franklin Clinton

Background

Franklin Clinton is the youngest of the three protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V. He grew up in South Los Santos and lives with his aunt Denise in her house in Strawberry. Like his childhood friend Lamar Davis he ran with the Families, sold drugs and spent time in juvenile detention, but by 2013 he wants something better than corner hustling. He works as a repo man for Simeon Yetarian at Premium Deluxe Motorsport, taking back cars from customers who stopped paying.

Events of Grand Theft Auto V

Franklin's story starts with Franklin and Lamar, in which the two friends repossess sports cars and race them back to the dealership, and Repossession, where they take a motorcycle from the Vagos. In Complications Simeon sends him to a Rockford Hills mansion to take a car, and Franklin ends up with Michael De Santa holding a gun to his head in the back seat. Michael forces him to crash the car through Simeon's showroom, ending his job but starting a partnership.

Franklin helps Michael in Father/Son and Marriage Counseling, adopts Lamar's dog Chop and is dragged into Lamar's gang drama with the Ballas and the returning Stretch. His first big score comes in The Jewel Store Job. Lester then uses him for a string of stock-market assassinations, beginning with The Hotel Assassination, and the proceeds let Franklin move into a house in the Vinewood Hills.

Through Michael he meets Trevor and becomes part of the FIB jobs, Blitz Play and The Paleto Score. He also steals supercars for billionaire Devin Weston in I Fought the Law..., Eye in the Sky, Deep Inside and Pack Man. When Trevor abandons Michael to the Triads, Franklin finds and frees him in Fresh Meat. He later plays a key part in The Bureau Raid, rescues Lamar from the Ballas at a Paleto sawmill in Lamar Down, and drives part of The Big Score.

The story ends with Franklin facing a choice. Haines and Norton want him to kill Trevor, Devin wants him to kill Michael, and the third option is to stand with both men against everyone who wants them dead. The canonical ending, The Third Way, sees Franklin kill Wei Cheng while the others take out Stretch and Haines.

Personality

Franklin is calm, observant and ambitious. He is more level-headed than his two older partners and often acts as the go-between when they fight. He is loyal to Lamar even when Lamar's schemes put him in danger, but he openly questions gang life and wants to be taken seriously as a professional. His special ability slows time while driving, making him the best wheelman of the three.

Relationships

• Lamar Davis: his oldest friend, whose recklessness keeps pulling Franklin back to the streets.
• Michael De Santa: a mentor and father figure who opens the door to big-money jobs.
• Trevor Philips: unpredictable, but he comes to respect Franklin.
• Denise Clinton: his aunt, with whom he has a bickering relationship.
• Tanisha Jackson: his former girlfriend, who has moved on and wants him out of the life.
• Chop: Lamar's Rottweiler, who becomes Franklin's companion.

Trivia

• Franklin is voiced and motion-captured by Shawn Fonteno.
• He returns as a major character in the GTA Online update The Contract.