Sean Dillon (character)

Last updated

Sean Dillon
First appearanceEye of the Storm
Last appearanceThe Midnight Bell
Created by Jack Higgins
Portrayed by Rob Lowe in 2 films;
Kyle MacLachlan in 2 films
In-universe information
GenderMale
OccupationAssassin, mercenary, spy
NationalityIrish

Sean Dillon is a fictional Irish character who is the hero of a series of Jack Higgins novels.

Contents

Fictional biography

Sean Dillon is described in Higgins' works as a short, fair-haired man. Born in Northern Ireland in 1952, he initially aspires to be an actor until his father is killed in the crossfire of a Belfast gunfight between the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and British Army. Seeking revenge for his father's death, Dillon joins the IRA, where he becomes a protégé of Liam Devlin. [1] [2] He is taught several things by Devlin, including the 'eerie dog-whistle'.

An excellent gunman and a good actor, he very soon earns the nickname "The Man of 1000 Faces" from the British authorities for his ability to evade detection. He is noted for his part in the Downing Street bomb blast, which fails to kill or injure anyone. His disapproval of the IRA's indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians prompts him to abandon the cause and offer himself out as a mercenary for hire, working indiscriminately for the Palestine Liberation Organization, Israel, the Red Brigades and even the KGB. Although the British government makes several attempts to capture him, all are unsuccessful. For more than 20 years the elusive and resourceful Dillon—who shunned the publicity favoured by other terrorists—slipped through the fingers of the authorities on every continent. He is finally caught by the Serbs while running medicine for children into Bosnia.

It is revealed that the shipment contained Stinger missiles without his knowledge, and he is sentenced to death. Dillon is plucked out of prison by Brigadier Charles Ferguson of the elite MI6 antiterrorist unit Group 4, who offers him a clean slate in exchange for his services. Soon after joining Group 4, it is revealed that Dillon's capture by the Serbs was actually set up by Ferguson. Dillon — an expert pilot and scuba diver as well as a master of disguise and languages — subsequently becomes Ferguson's most effective agent, at one point even foiling an assassination attempt upon the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the president of the United States. Dillon soon meets Ferguson's right-hand woman Hannah Bernstein, and is slightly romantically inclined towards her. He also befriends the President's right-hand man, Blake Johnson, and famous London gangsters Harry Salter and his nephew Billy Salter.

Tastes

Dillon's favourite handgun is a Walther PPK with Carswell silencer and his favourite rifle is an AK-47. His preferred explosive is Semtex. His favorite 'hide-out' gun is a .25 Colt strapped to his ankle.

Dillon's drink of choice is non-vintage Krug champagne, due to the grape mix, and his second drink of choice is Bushmills Irish whiskey.

Appearances

In other media

Television films

References

  1. ↑ Higgins, Jack (1992). Eye of the Storm. Harper. ISBN   978-0007456024.
  2. ↑ Jack Higgins. "Characters". Jack Higgins Blog. Retrieved 30 November 2013.


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