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The Tracy family are the
main character A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a ...
s in the 1960s British
Supermarionation Supermarionation (a portmanteau of the words "super", " marionette" and "animation")La Rivière 2009, p. 67. is a style of television and film production employed by British company AP Films (later Century 21 Productions) in its puppet T ...
television series '' Thunderbirds'' and its adaptations, set in the 21st century. Originating from the United States, the family live on
Tracy Island Tracy Island is the secret headquarters of the International Rescue organisation in the 1960s British Supermarionation television series '' Thunderbirds'' and its adaptations. In the original series, the heavily camouflaged island is located in ...
in the
South Pacific Ocean South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
. Headed by Jeff, an industrialist and philanthropist, the Tracys run International Rescue, a
search-and-rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
organisation operating on land and sea, in air and in space. They carry out their missions using a range of technologically advanced vehicles and equipment headed by a fleet of five craft called the ''Thunderbird'' machines, piloted by Jeff's sons.


First generation


Grandma Tracy

Grandma is the mother of Jeff and grandmother of Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan. The character was originally voiced by Christine Finn and the puppet was sculpted by either John Blundall or Carolyn Turner. Grandma's chronology is unclear in that she does not move to Tracy Island until " Moveand You're Dead" (production number 9), despite being mentioned in "
Sun Probe "Sun Probe" is an episode of '' Thunderbirds'', a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company AP Films (APF) for ITC Entertainment. Written by Alan Fennell and directed by ...
" (production number 4) and appearing in all four episodes filmed in between. In the original broadcast order, Grandma appears in even more episodes prior to "Moveand You're Dead". While the character was intended to debut in that episode, she was written into the preceding episodes after the series' runtime was doubled to 50 minutes by order of
Lew Grade Lew Grade, Baron Grade, (born Lev Winogradsky; 25 December 1906 – 13 December 1998) was a Ukrainian-born British media proprietor and impresario. Originally a dancer, and later a talent agent, Grade's interest in television production ...
, forcing the writers to devise additional scenes and subplots to extend the episodes that had already been filmed.


Original depiction

Little is known about Grandma's past, and her real name is never mentioned on screen. The other characters, including her son Jeff, call her "Grandma". As a girl, she travelled on the
London Underground The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or as the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent home counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England. The Undergro ...
with her own grandmother, a fact that would later prove useful for International Rescue (" Vault of Death"). She was married to a
Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
wheat farmer but was widowed some time before the founding of International Rescue. She helped Jeff bring up his five sons after the death of his wife. During International Rescue's early days she lived alone near San Miguel, somewhere in the
Western United States The Western United States (also called the American West, the Western States, the Far West, the Western territories, and the West) is List of regions of the United States, census regions United States Census Bureau. As American settlement i ...
. However, she began to miss feeling useful, so decided to move to
Tracy Island Tracy Island is the secret headquarters of the International Rescue organisation in the 1960s British Supermarionation television series '' Thunderbirds'' and its adaptations. In the original series, the heavily camouflaged island is located in ...
. After winning the Parola Sands Race, her youngest grandson Alan picks her up so she can move to Tracy Island. A racing competitor of Alan's takes revenge and Alan and Grandma find themselves having to stay motionless on a bridge spanning the San Miguel River due to a bomb that their enemy has placed under it – should either of them move, the bomb will detonate and the bridge will be destroyed. They are rescued by Alan's brothers. (" Moveand You're Dead"). Grandma then moves into the Tracy household. As the family matriarch, Grandma keeps the Tracys together, offering wisdom and advice for them and others in the household, such as Alan's love Tin-Tin. It is Grandma who keeps Alan and Tin-Tin together when Tin-Tin's ex-boyfriend pays a visit (" End of the Road"). Along with Kyrano and Tin-Tin, Grandma takes care of domestic chores in the Tracy household, though she can sometimes be confused by technology – at one point mixing tracking bugs into a pie (" Day of Disaster"), but later being able to work a nuclear oven (" Give or Take a Million"). Though not an active member of International Rescue, Grandma still plays a role when needed. She helps her grandsons organise equipment that they need ("
Sun Probe "Sun Probe" is an episode of '' Thunderbirds'', a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company AP Films (APF) for ITC Entertainment. Written by Alan Fennell and directed by ...
") and it is she who comes up with a solution for a rescue at the
Bank of England The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the Kingdom of England, English Government's banker and debt manager, and still one ...
when everyone else is out of ideas ("Vault of Death"). She also attends the filming of an edition of the ''Ned Cook Show'' in which the host thanks International Rescue for saving his life (" Terror in New York City"). Grandma has never visited a stately home but hopes to do so one day, especially after meeting
Lady Penelope Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward is a fictional character introduced in the British 1960s Supermarionation television series '' Thunderbirds'', which was produced by AP Films for ITC Entertainment. The character also appears in the film sequels '' ...
(" The Mighty Atom").


In adaptations

Grandma briefly appears in the film ''
Thunderbird 6 ''Thunderbird 6'' is a 1968 British science fiction puppet film based on '' Thunderbirds'', a Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by ...
'' but has no dialogue. She is absent from the 2004 live-action film. Grandma returns in the remake '' Thunderbirds Are Go'', voiced by
Sandra Dickinson Sandra Dickinson (née Searles; born October 20, 1948) is an American-British actress. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She has often played characters within the trope of a dumb blonde with a high-pitched voice ...
. In the remake, she has a different personality: she has taken over the role of head of the family following Jeff's disappearance, is tougher than the puppet version, and is a poor cook. In series 2, her first name is revealed to be Sally. Carolyn Percy of the ''
Wales Arts Review ''Wales Arts Review'' is a critical writing hub for Wales. Originally published fortnightly, the site has published daily since 2016. It offers a critique, by Welsh and Wales-based writers, of various social and cultural aspects of Wales. Histo ...
'' comments that the remake character's "loving but no-nonsense" personality is in contrast with the original puppet character, who was played as more of a "stereotypical sweet little old lady".


Second generation


Jeff Tracy

Jeff is the leader of International Rescue. The character was originally voiced by
Peter Dyneley Peter Dyneley (13 April 1921 – 19 August 1977) was an English actor. Although he appeared in many smaller roles in both film and television, he is best remembered for supplying the voice of Jeff Tracy for the 1960s "Supermarionation" televis ...
.


Original depiction

The son of a
combine harvester The modern combine harvester, also called a combine, is a machine designed to harvest a variety of cultivated seeds. Combine harvesters are one of the most economically important labour-saving inventions, significantly reducing the fraction of ...
driver on a Kansas wheat farm, Jeff joined the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
and reached the rank of
colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
. Later, he transferred to the Space Agency to become an early lunar astronaut. He married Lucille, with whom he had five sons:
Scott Scott may refer to: Places Canada * Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec * Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380 * Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Sas ...
,
John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
,
Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro (; 15 October 70 BC21 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Rome, ancient Roman poet of the Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Augustan period. He composed three of the most fa ...
,
Gordon Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Gordon Heuck ...
and
Alan Alan may refer to: People *Alan (surname), an English and Kurdish surname * Alan (given name), an English given name ** List of people with given name Alan ''Following are people commonly referred to solely by "Alan" or by a homonymous name.'' * ...
. Each was named after one of the
Project Mercury Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States, running from 1958 through 1963. An early highlight of the Space Race, its goal was to put a man into Earth orbit and return him safely, ideally before the Soviet Un ...
astronauts:
Scott Carpenter Malcolm Scott Carpenter (May 1, 1925 – October 10, 2013) was an American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, astronaut, and aquanaut. He was one of the Mercury Seven astronauts selected for NASA's Project Mercury ...
,
John Glenn John Herschel Glenn Jr. (July 18, 1921 – December 8, 2016) was an American Marine Corps aviator, astronaut, businessman, and politician. He was the third American in space and the first to orbit the Earth, circling it three times in 1 ...
, Virgil Grissom,
Gordon Cooper Leroy Gordon Cooper Jr. (March 6, 1927 – October 4, 2004) was an American aerospace engineer, test pilot, United States Air Force Aviator, pilot, and the youngest of the Mercury Seven, seven original astronauts in Project Mercury, the f ...
and
Alan Shepard Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. (November 18, 1923 – July 21, 1998) was an American astronaut. In 1961, he became the second person and the first American to travel into space and, in 1971, he became the List of Apollo astronauts#Apollo astr ...
. According to a 1993 tie-in comic strip, Lucille and Jeff's father, Grant Tracy, were both killed in an avalanche. A 2008 novel had Lucille die from a road accident in which her vehicle fell off a cliff. Jeff founded a
civil engineering Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...
, construction and aerospace business that made him one of the wealthiest men in the world. He later became a philanthropist and founded International Rescue. As the family patriarch, Jeff spends most of his time on Tracy Island, remotely coordinating rescue missions.


2004 film

Bill Paxton William Paxton (May 17, 1955 – February 25, 2017) was an American actor, filmmaker and musician. A versatile character actor known for his distinctive Texan drawl and everyman screen persona, he was a four-time Golden Globe Award and a Prime ...
, who played the live-action version of Jeff, described the character as "a kind of teacher, this
father figure A father figure is usually an older man, normally one with power, authority, or strength, with whom one can identify on a deeply psychology, psychological level and who generates emotions generally felt towards one's father. Despite the literal t ...
who has to teach his sons, particularly his youngest son Alan, these basic lessons of ethics and integrity, about doing the right thing."


Remake

In the remake ''Thunderbirds Are Go'', Jeff vanished six years prior to the start of the series, for which
The Hood The Hood (Parker Robbins) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan, and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell (comics), Eric Powell, the character was introduced in his own sel ...
is shown to be responsible ("Ring of FirePart 2"). Scott, as the eldest of the brothers, appears to have assumed command of International Rescue in his father's place. The origins of International Rescue are gradually explained throughout the series. Originally, Jeff was the only member with one ship: the ''TV-21'', an ultra-high-speed rocket that according to Brains' was faster than any of the ''Thunderbirds''. Following the loss of the ''TV-21'', the ''Thunderbirds'' were built. Jeff finally appears in series 3, initially in recordings in the two-part episode "Signals", which reveals that he was last seen trying to stop The Hood stealing the ''
Zero-X ''Zero-X'' is a fictional Earth spacecraft that first appeared in two of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation productions, the film '' Thunderbirds Are Go'' (1966) and the television series ''Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons''. Althou ...
'' spacecraft. When The Hood's actions nearly caused ''Zero-X''s engine to overload, potentially creating an extinction-level event, Jeff took the ship into space. There was an explosion and both Jeff and ''Zero-X'' were believed lost. However, at the end of the episode "SOS", Brains discovers that rescued robot Braman was not sending a distress call, but was actually acting as a relay to send the message to Earth, and finds a coded message within the distress call that could only have come from Jeff. After recovering The Hood's escape pod, Brains realises that the explosion was a shockwave created by the ship's
faster-than-light Faster-than-light (superluminal or supercausal) travel and communication are the conjectural propagation of matter or information faster than the speed of light in vacuum (). The special theory of relativity implies that only particles with zero ...
drive, which propelled Jeff into deep space. Working with former adversary The Mechanic, Brains builds the ''Zero-XL'', a ship powered by the same engine as the ''Zero-X'' and capable of transporting all the ''Thunderbirds'', allowing the Tracy brothers to follow the signal back to its source. At the end of "The Long ReachPart 1", Scott, while trying to make his way back to '' Thunderbird 1'' after investigating the cave that was the source of the signal, almost falls into the reaches of space after two asteroids collide with each other. He is caught by an unseen figure who is revealed to be Jeff (voiced by
Lee Majors Lee Majors (born Harvey Lee Yeary; April 23, 1939) is an American actor. He portrayed the characters of Heath Barkley on the American television Western series '' The Big Valley'' (1965–1969), Colonel Steve Austin on the American television sc ...
). In "The Long ReachPart 2", The Hood is defeated and Jeff is reunited with his sons.


Third generation

All of Jeff's sons are introduced in the first episode, " Trapped in the Sky", and live with him on
Tracy Island Tracy Island is the secret headquarters of the International Rescue organisation in the 1960s British Supermarionation television series '' Thunderbirds'' and its adaptations. In the original series, the heavily camouflaged island is located in ...
.


Scott Tracy

Scott is Jeff's eldest son. He is the pilot of International Rescue's primary craft, the reconnaissance rocket plane '' Thunderbird 1''. The puppet was voiced by
Shane Rimmer Shane Lance Deacon (May 28, 1929 – March 29, 2019), known professionally as Shane Rimmer, was a Canadian actor and screenwriter who spent the majority of his career in the United Kingdom. The self-proclaimed "Rent-A- Yank" of the British ente ...
and its facial features were based on those of
Sean Connery Sir Thomas Sean Connery (25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to Portrayal of James Bond in film, portray the fictional British secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in motion pic ...
.


Original depiction

Educated at
Yale Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and one of the nine colonial colleges ch ...
and
Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
Universities, Scott was decorated for valour during his service with the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
before taking up his duties with International Rescue. As pilot of ''Thunderbird 1'', he is usually first at the danger zone and acts as field commander during rescue operations. He also takes on secondary duties as co-pilot of ''Thunderbird 3'', is an occasional relief occupant on ''Thunderbird 5'', and leads the organisation from Tracy Island when his father is absent. As the eldest brother, Scott usually assumes a leadership role during operations. Despite the secretive nature of their work, Scott will collaborate with officials from other organisations who request International Rescue's aid. Of the five brothers, it is Scott who keeps a cool head, and who is quick-thinking when the situation calls for it – particularly when he is at the receiving end of a gun or when the security of International Rescue is compromised.


In adaptations

In the 2004 film, Scott is played by
Philip Winchester Philip Winchester is an American actor. He is known for his roles in '' The Patriot'', ''The Hi-Line'', '' LD 50 Lethal Dose'', '' Thunderbirds'', '' CSI: Miami'', ''King Lear'', '' Strike Back'', '' Flyboys'', '' In My Sleep'', ''The Heart of t ...
. According to Alex Pang's ''Thunderbirds: X-Ray Cross Sections'', he is, like the original, the eldest brother at 24 years of age. He is said to have "graduated from Wharton Academy" (the school that Alan attends at the start of the film) with "record grades" that remain unmatched by his brothers, "a fact he constantly reminds them of". In the remake ''Thunderbirds Are Go'', Scott is voiced by
Rasmus Hardiker Rasmus Hardiker (born 31 January 1985) is a British actor. He is best known for voicing Scott and Alan Tracy in the reboot animated television series '' Thunderbirds Are Go''. He played Raymond in Steve Coogan's sitcom '' Saxondale'' and Ben i ...
. He is still the eldest and most experienced brother and is bold and fearless in action. He is also the team leader. However, he also possesses a short temper, as shown whenever a member of his family is put at risk by human error.


John Tracy

John is one of Jeff's younger sons. Alternating with Alan, he is both operator of the '' Thunderbird 5'' space station and pilot of the '' Thunderbird 3'' rescue spacecraft. The character was originally voiced by
Ray Barrett Raymond Charles Barrett (2 May 19278 September 2009) was an Australian actor. During the 1960s, he was a leading actor on British television, where he was best known for his appearances in '' The Troubleshooters'' (1965–1971). From the 1970s, ...
and the puppet sculpted by Mary Turner. John was originally intended to play a larger role in ''Thunderbirds''. However,
Gerry Anderson Gerald Alexander Anderson (; 14 April 1929 – 26 December 2012) was an English television and film producer, director, writer and occasional voice artist, who is known for his futuristic television programmes, especially his 1960s production ...
took a dislike to the character, who ended up appearing less often than planned. He was the first of the brothers to be voice-cast; Barrett was so impressed with the puppet, whose looks were modelled on
Adam Faith Terence Nelhams Wright (23 June 1940 – 8 March 2003), known as Adam Faith, was an English singer, actor, and financial journalist. As a British rock and roll teen idol, he scored consecutive No. 1 hits on the UK singles chart with " What ...
and
Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008) was an American actor. He gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous Cinema of the United States, Hollywood films including biblical epics, science-fiction f ...
, that he immediately told
Sylvia Anderson Sylvia Beatrice Anderson (; 25 March 1927 – 15 March 2016) was an English television and film producer, writer, voice actress and costume designer, best known for her collaborations with Gerry Anderson, her husband between 1960 and 1981. In ...
that he wanted to play the studious young astronaut with the boyish quiff.


Original depiction

John is a noted scholar of astronomy, and has authored several popular astronomy textbooks. He is a graduate of
Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
with a degree in advanced telecommunications. His quiet intellectual nature and interest in astronomy make him the natural choice for the solitary life as the occupant of ''Thunderbird 5'', monitoring for distress calls from around the world. He is seen to be physically involved in a rescue in only one episode, " Danger at Ocean Deep" (although he remarks in that episode that he has already been on a "dozen" rescues). John is known to be patient, kindly and gracious, and possessed of both great intelligence and poise as gifts inherited from his talented mother.


In adaptations

In the 2004 film, John is played by
Lex Shrapnel Alexander Carey Shrapnel (born 6 October 1979) is an English actor. Early life Shrapnel was born on 6 October 1979 in London, the second of three boys for actor John Shrapnel and Francesca Ann (née Bartley). He is the brother of director/write ...
. According to Alex Pang's ''Thunderbirds: X-Ray Cross Sections'', he is 22 years old and a "computer whizz kid". John's tours of duty on ''Thunderbird 5'' last for three weeks at a time, after which has a week's rest and relaxation on Tracy Island. Over the course of the film, John is nearly killed by
The Hood The Hood (Parker Robbins) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan, and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell (comics), Eric Powell, the character was introduced in his own sel ...
, who launches a missile at the space station to lure International Rescue away from Tracy Island. In the remake ''Thunderbirds Are Go'', John is voiced by
Thomas Brodie-Sangster Thomas Brodie-Sangster (born 16 May 1990) is an English actor. As a child actor, he gained recognition for his roles in the commercially successful films ''Love Actually'' (2003) and ''Nanny McPhee'' (2005). He voiced Ferb Fletcher, Ferb in the ...
. He is still on ''Thunderbird 5'' but his role is expanded beyond receiving calls for help; he often helps to coordinate rescue missions through long-distance communication. He is now a redhead instead of blond. He is an emotional
introvert Extraversion and introversion are a central trait dimension in human personality theory. The terms were introduced into psychology by Carl Jung, though both the popular understanding and current psychological usage are not the same as Jung's o ...
who enjoys eating bagels, watching TV (his favourite show is ''
Stingray Stingrays are a group of sea Batoidea, rays, a type of cartilaginous fish. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae (sixgill stingray), Plesiobatidae (deepwate ...
'') and stargazing. He is generally a
loner A loner is a person described as not seeking out, actively avoiding, or failing to maintain interpersonal relationships. There are many potential causes for this solitude. Intentional causes include introversion, mysticism, spirituality, reli ...
and dislikes spending more time on Earth than he has to. He is the sole operator of ''Thunderbird 5'' until the arrival of EOS, an AI program that he designed.


Virgil Tracy

Virgil is one of Jeff's younger sons. He is the pilot of the transporter aircraft '' Thunderbird 2'' and has specialist expertise in
demolition Demolition (also known as razing and wrecking) is the science and engineering in safely and efficiently tearing down buildings and other artificial structures. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction (building), deconstruction, which inv ...
, heavy lifting and
logistics Logistics is the part of supply chain management that deals with the efficient forward and reverse flow of goods, services, and related information from the point of origin to the Consumption (economics), point of consumption according to the ...
. In series 1, Virgil was voiced by American actor
David Holliday David Holliday (August 4, 1937March 26, 1999) was an American Broadway actor and television voice actor. He is best known as the voice of Virgil Tracy, pilot of '' Thunderbird 2'', in the first series (26 episodes) of '' Thunderbirds'' (1965&n ...
. After Holliday returned to the United States, British-Canadian actor
Jeremy Wilkin David Jeremy Wilkin (6 June 1930 – 19 December 2017) was an English actor, best known for his contributions to the television productions of Gerry Anderson. Born in Byfleet, Surrey, Wilkin emigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada after completi ...
provided the voice in series 2 and the films '' Thunderbirds Are Go'' and ''
Thunderbird 6 ''Thunderbird 6'' is a 1968 British science fiction puppet film based on '' Thunderbirds'', a Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by ...
''.


Original depiction

After studying at
Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
School of Advanced Technology, Virgil took up his role in International Rescue as pilot of ''Thunderbird 2''. Besides flying the transporter aircraft, he is often called upon to operate the rescue vehicles that it carries. Virgil also occasionally pilots other ''Thunderbirds'': in "
Ricochet A ricochet ( ; ) is a rebound, bounce, or skip off a surface, particularly in the case of a projectile. Most ricochets are caused by accident and while the force of the deflection decelerates the projectile, it can still be energetic and almost ...
", he is seen piloting ''Thunderbird 3'' to investigate a communications blackout between ''Thunderbird 5'' and Tracy Island. He is as dedicated to his calling as any of his brothers. In " Terror in New York City", after he is seriously injured when ''Thunderbird 2'' is mistakenly attacked by a warship, his first thoughts on waking are alarm at the fact that his craft is out of service when it could be needed at any moment. When just such an emergency occurs, he has to be ordered back to bed by Jeff. With an off-duty demeanour much less boisterous than that of his brothers, Virgil spends his free time painting and playing the piano. Writing for ''
Broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...
'' magazine, Ross Bentley praised the character: "Virgil was my complete favourite. He remains, in my book, the ultimate role model for any aspiring
renaissance man A polymath or polyhistor is an individual whose knowledge spans many different subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. Polymaths often prefer a specific context in which to explain their knowledge, ...
..He not only painted but he was also an accomplished pianist. Forget
Bobby Crush Robert Nicholas Crush (born 23 March 1954) is an English pianist, songwriter, actor and television presenter from Leyton in East London. Biography Crush was born, on 23 March 1954, in Leyton, London, England, to Tom and Peggy. He attended Bar ...
or
Mrs Mills Gladys Mills (; 29 August 1918 – 24 February 1978), known as Mrs. Mills, was an English pianist who was active in the 1960s and 1970s, and who released many records. Her repertoire included many sing-along and party tunes made popular in the ...
(my only points of TV pianistic reference as a child), Virgil was the business." Former England cricket captain
Michael Vaughan Michael Paul Vaughan (born 29 October 1974) is an English cricket commentator and former cricketer who played all forms of the game. He served as England cricket captain, England captain for the England test team, test team from 2003 to 2008 ...
is nicknamed "Virgil" for his likeness to the character.


In adaptations

In the 2004 film, Virgil is played by Dominic Colenso. According to Alex Pang's ''Thunderbirds: X-Ray Cross Sections'', he is 20 years old. He is described as a fitness fanatic, taking part in
triathlon A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of Swimming (sport), swimming, Cycle sport, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the ...
s and other sporting events when not on duty. In the remake ''Thunderbirds Are Go'', Virgil is voiced by
David Menkin David Menkin (born 10 May 1977) is a Norwegian-born American actor. He is best known for his voice roles as Porter and Jack in the US dub of ''Thomas & Friends'' (2013–2021) and as Virgil and Gordon Tracy in the 2015 reboot series '' Thunderb ...
. This version of the character is the largest and strongest of the brothers, and is skilled in engineering and mechanics. Calm and level-headed, he is also the peacemaker in the family.


Gordon Tracy

Gordon is one of Jeff's younger sons. He is the pilot of the '' Thunderbird 4'' rescue submersible and co-pilot of ''Thunderbird 2''. The character was originally voiced by David Graham.


Original depiction

Gordon revels in aquatic sports from skin diving to water skiing. He is a highly trained
aquanaut An aquanaut is any person who remains underwater, breathing at the ambient pressure for long enough for the concentration of the inert components of the breathing gas dissolved in the body tissues to reach equilibrium, in a state known as sat ...
, having served in both the Submarine Service and the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASPthe organisation featured in ''Stingray''). During his time with the WASP, Gordon captained a
bathyscaphe A bathyscaphe () is a free-diving, self-propelled deep-sea submersible, consisting of a crew cabin similar to a '' Bathysphere'', but suspended below a float rather than from a surface cable, as in the classic ''Bathysphere'' design. The floa ...
and investigated marine farming methods. An expert
oceanographer Oceanography (), also known as oceanology, sea science, ocean science, and marine science, is the scientific study of the ocean, including its physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of top ...
, he is also the designer of a unique underwater breathing apparatus, which he has modified and improved for use by International Rescue. Shortly before International Rescue began operations, Gordon was involved in a
hydrofoil A hydrofoil is a lifting surface, or foil, that operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to aerofoils used by aeroplanes. Boats that use hydrofoil technology are also simply termed hydrofoils. As a hydrofoil craft gains sp ...
speedboat crash when his vessel capsized at . The craft was destroyed and Gordon spent several months in hospital. Good-natured and high-spirited, he possesses a strength and tenacity that make him a respected leader and commander. He is one of the world's fastest
freestyle swimmer Freestyle is a category of swimming competition, defined by the rules of World Aquatics, in which competitors are subject to only a few limited restrictions on their swimming stroke. Freestyle races are the most common of all swimming competit ...
s and an
Olympic champion This article includes lists of all Olympic medalists since 1896, organized by each Olympic sport or discipline, and also by Olympiad. Medalist with most medals by sport Summer Olympic sports Sports that will appear in the 2028 Summer Olympics ar ...
in
butterfly stroke The butterfly (shortened to fly) is a List of swimming styles, swimming stroke swum on the chest, with both arms moving symmetrically, accompanied by the butterfly kick (also known as the "dolphin kick") along with the movement of the hips an ...
. Gordon is the funny one in the family and is sometimes admonished by Jeff for his flippant sense of humour. In " Day of Disaster", when an unknown party ingests Grandma's edible transmitter, Gordon proves his innocence by saying that he would know if he had swallowed a transmitter, to Jeff's annoyance. Gordon's favourite pastimes are playing chess, going fishing and playing the guitar.


In adaptations

In the 2004 film, Gordon is played by Ben Torgersen. According to Alex Pang's ''Thunderbirds: X-Ray Cross Sections'', he is 18 years old and a recent graduate from Wharton Academy, the school that Alan attends in the film. He is noted to still be training on the ''Thunderbirds'' craft, with a year remaining until he is permitted to fly solo. In the remake '' Thunderbirds Are Go'', Gordon is voiced by
David Menkin David Menkin (born 10 May 1977) is a Norwegian-born American actor. He is best known for his voice roles as Porter and Jack in the US dub of ''Thomas & Friends'' (2013–2021) and as Virgil and Gordon Tracy in the 2015 reboot series '' Thunderb ...
. As well as ''Thunderbird 4'', he pilots various devices transported by ''Thunderbird 2'', such as the Elevator Cars in the episode "Fireflash". He is again the funny one, and is also described as having a loud voice, dwarfed only by his clothing tastes. His International Rescue uniform comprises a scuba-diving mouthpiece attached to his sash.


Alan Tracy

Alan is Jeff's youngest son. Alternating with John, he is both pilot of '' Thunderbird 3'' and operator of '' Thunderbird 5''. The puppet's facial features were based on those of
Robert Reed Robert Reed (born John Robert Rietz Jr.; October 19, 1932 – May 12, 1992) was an American actor. He played Kenneth Preston on the legal drama '' The Defenders'' from 1961 to 1965 alongside E. G. Marshall, and is best known for his role as pa ...
. In
the first episode ''Dream On (TV series), Dream On'', an adult-themed Situation comedy, sitcom created by David Crane (producer), David Crane and Marta Kauffman, aired on HBO from July 8, 1990, to March 27, 1996. The series aired for a total of six seasons, cons ...
, the character was voiced by
Ray Barrett Raymond Charles Barrett (2 May 19278 September 2009) was an Australian actor. During the 1960s, he was a leading actor on British television, where he was best known for his appearances in '' The Troubleshooters'' (1965–1971). From the 1970s, ...
. Matt Zimmerman was then added to the series' cast and voiced the character for the remainder of his 1960s appearances. Zimmerman had been recommended to the Andersons by
David Holliday David Holliday (August 4, 1937March 26, 1999) was an American Broadway actor and television voice actor. He is best known as the voice of Virgil Tracy, pilot of '' Thunderbird 2'', in the first series (26 episodes) of '' Thunderbirds'' (1965&n ...
, the voice of Virgil. In an interview, Zimmerman remembered of his casting: "They were having great difficulty in casting the part of Alan Tracy as they wanted a certain sound for him ...As I walked in ylvia Andersonlooked at me and said, 'Don't talk! Oh, my god, you've got those big eyes and the cleft in the chin and the cheek bones, and if you were blond you'd look very much like Alan.' She said, 'Now, sit down. What's your name again?' And I said, 'My name is Matt Zimmerman and I'm from Detroit, Michigan,' and she said, 'That's the voice!' And that's how I got the job." Zimmerman spoke warmly of the character's conception and development, commenting that "Alan was the one character that showed emotion. He used to get upset if he couldn't go on a mission, he got jealous if Tin-Tin talked to another man, and he was a very real character."


Original depiction

An accomplished sportsman and former racing driver, Alan can at times be bad-tempered and reckless. He studied at Colorado University, where his impetuousness led to trouble with the authorities over the launch (and subsequent crash) of an unsanctioned, self-built rocket. His father took charge of the situation, steering the boy's interest toward more constructive ends, ultimately resulting in Alan's role as pilot of ''Thunderbird 3''. " Moveand You're Dead" shows that Alan is a skilled racing car driver but gave up this career on joining International Rescue. In " Atlantic Inferno", Alan pilots ''Thunderbird 1'' and coordinates a rescue at sea while Scott remains on Tracy Island to fill in for Jeff, who is on holiday. The most romantic of the brothers, Alan is involved with
Tin-Tin Kyrano Tin-Tin Kyrano is a fictional character introduced in the 1960s British Supermarionation television series '' Thunderbirds''. In the original TV series and its film sequels, Tin-Tin is voiced by Christine Finn, while in the 2004 live-action f ...
. He is also seen to be attracted to
Lady Penelope Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward is a fictional character introduced in the British 1960s Supermarionation television series '' Thunderbirds'', which was produced by AP Films for ITC Entertainment. The character also appears in the film sequels '' ...
in " The Perils of Penelope" and '' Thunderbirds Are Go''.
John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), better known as John Peel, was an English radio presenter and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from ...
considers Alan to be evidence of the series' aptitude for strong characterisation, summing up his character as "love-struck and annoying", yet simultaneously "so human". Martin Anderson of
Den of Geek ''Den of Geek'' is a UK and US-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture. The website also issues a biannual magazine. History ''Den of Geek'' was founded in 2007 by Simon Brew in London. In 2012, DoG Tech LLC licensed ' ...
describes Alan in less enthusiastic terms; according to Anderson, the character "was unfortunately relegated to the role of
designated driver The terms "designated driver" and "designated driving" (commonly known as DD) refer to the selection of a person who remains sober as the responsible driver of a vehicle whilst others have been allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. Thus, as a pr ...
" for the purposes of ferrying supplies from Tracy Island to John on ''Thunderbird 5''. Mark Radcliffe argues that the character is overshadowed by Scott and Virgil, who direct most of the rescue missions: "Poor Alan, despite having a rocket with much cooler fins than 'Thunderbird 1'' would then be dispatched to sort of see that everything was going OK. Pretty demeaning work for a guy who's been to puppet Colorado University." Jeff's logic in entrusting ''Thunderbird 3'' (the largest moving ''Thunderbird'') to Alan (his youngest son) has also been questioned.


In adaptations

Alan is the protagonist of the 2004 film, in which the character (played by
Brady Corbet Brady James Monson Corbet ( ; born August 17, 1988) is an American filmmaker and former actor. He had roles in films such as ''Thirteen (2003 film), Thirteen'' (2003), ''Mysterious Skin'' (2004), ''Funny Games (2007 film), Funny Games'' (2007), ...
) is 14 years old and attends boarding school. Together with Tin-Tin (
Vanessa Hudgens Vanessa Anne Hudgens ( ; born December 14, 1988) is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in '' Thirteen'' (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the ''High School Musical'' film series (200 ...
) and Brains' son Fermat (Soren Fulton), he defeats The Hood's efforts to kill his father and brothers on ''Thunderbird 5'' and rob the Bank of London. He still has a crush on Tin-Tin. A retrospective on
Den of Geek ''Den of Geek'' is a UK and US-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture. The website also issues a biannual magazine. History ''Den of Geek'' was founded in 2007 by Simon Brew in London. In 2012, DoG Tech LLC licensed ' ...
drew parallels between the new Alan and
Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven Fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...
, alluding to a reversal of the story concept "of a boy at home thrust into an adventurous world". In the remake ''Thunderbirds Are Go'', Alan (voiced by
Rasmus Hardiker Rasmus Hardiker (born 31 January 1985) is a British actor. He is best known for voicing Scott and Alan Tracy in the reboot animated television series '' Thunderbirds Are Go''. He played Raymond in Steve Coogan's sitcom '' Saxondale'' and Ben i ...
) is still pilot of ''Thunderbird 3''. Like the 2004 version, he is a teenager and sometimes treated mockingly by his brothers. He occasionally co-pilots ''Thunderbird 3'' with Scott or Kayo Kyrano. Alan's equipment includes an orbital conveyance platform which allows him to make close approaches to objects, such as the Sat-Mine in the episode "Space Race". His immaturity is shown by his love of sleep and constant urge to play computer games on ''Thunderbird 3'' (as shown in "Slingshot"). He matures over the course of the series.


Reception

Comparing the premises of ''Thunderbirds'' and ''Flipper'', Ian Haywood likened the Tracy sons to
knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...
s in service, and the ''Thunderbirds'' that they pilot to "steeds": the sons "command the technology, and are commanded in turn by their father, ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy." Haywood also noted Tracys' "luxuriously leisured" off-duty activities, viewing these as the "reward to the sons for risking their lives". Such "pleasures of consumption and acquisition" are absent from ''Flipper'' due to the latter's "spartan ruralism". In a review of the 2004 film on website The Spinning Image, Graeme Clark wrote that Brady Corbet's Alan was the only brother to be given a distinct personality; his siblings, on the other hand, were "totally interchangeable".
Mark Steyn Mark Steyn () is a Canadian author and a radio, television, and on-line presenter. He has written several books, including The New York Times Best Seller list, ''The New York Times'' bestsellers ''America Alone'', ''After America (Steyn book), A ...
, film critic for ''
The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British political and cultural news magazine. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving magazine in the world. ''The Spectator'' is politically conservative, and its principal subject a ...
'', criticised the "sidelining" of the rest of the Tracys in favour of the "dull" trio of Alan, Tin-Tin and Fermat, calling it a "transparent grab for the ''
Spy Kids ''Spy Kids'' is an American media franchise centered on a series of spy action comedy films created by Robert Rodriguez. The plot follows children siblings, who discover that their respective parents are spies and become involved in an espionag ...
'' audience". He argued that the Tracys had been "reduced to
bit player In acting, a bit part is a role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United States, or under sixes in British television, ...
s in their own movie", commenting that "all they do for the rest of the movie slie on the floor of a shattered ''Thunderbird 5'', gulping for air. For all you get to see of the Tracy brothers, it might as well be
The Osmonds The Osmonds were an American family music group who reached the height of their fame in the early to mid-1970s. The group had its best-known configurations as a quartet (billed the Osmond Brothers) and a quintet (the Osmonds). The group has c ...
up there." Writing that the original John was the least developed Tracy brother because he was disliked by Gerry Anderson, Carolyn Percy of ''
Wales Arts Review ''Wales Arts Review'' is a critical writing hub for Wales. Originally published fortnightly, the site has published daily since 2016. It offers a critique, by Welsh and Wales-based writers, of various social and cultural aspects of Wales. Histo ...
'' noted the "deeper characterisation" of the 2015 version, who had "evolved into something of a
breakout character A breakout character is a character (arts), character in Serial (literature), serial fiction, especially a member of an ensemble cast, who becomes much more prominent, popular, discussed, or imitated than expected by the creators. A breakout c ...
" with his casting as a "slightly anti-social loner". Meanwhile, Gordon – another character viewed by Percy as less developed in the original – had become a "light-hearted joker".


References

{{Thunderbirds Characters in animated television series Fictional American people in television Fictional families Thunderbirds (TV series) characters