Big Bear

Background

Barry "Big Bear" Thorne is one of the longest-serving members of the Grove Street Families and was once a feared enforcer. Between 1987 and 1992 he became addicted to crack, and by the time CJ comes home he is working as B Dup's servant in exchange for drugs.

He was one of the most respected soldiers in the gang before his addiction, which makes his fall all the more striking to CJ.

Events of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

CJ and Ryder find Big Bear cleaning B Dup's house in Cleaning the Hood, a sign of how far the Families have fallen. In Beat Down on B Dup, CJ and Sweet go after B Dup in Glen Park. When B Dup orders Bear to kill them, Bear snaps, punches his boss and asks to rejoin the Grove Street Families. Sweet drives him to rehab.

Personality

Bear is gentle and ashamed of what addiction has done to him. His return to the gang is one of the few redemption stories in the Los Santos arc.

Standing up to B Dup, after years of doing his chores for crack, is the bravest thing he does in the story.

Trivia

• Big Bear is voiced by radio host Kurt Alexander, known as Big Boy.