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Mike Ehrmantraut is a fictional character in the TV series Breaking Bad and its spinoff Better Call Saul. Mike is a United States Marine Corps veteran and former Philadelphia Police Department officer who works for Gus Fring as a private investigator, head of security, cleaner, and hitman. Mike's daughter-in-law Stacey and granddaughter Kaylee are all that matter to him, and he enters the criminal world to support his family. Mike's son Matt, who is Stacey's husband and Kaylee's father, is killed in Better Call Saul, leading Mike to move to Albuquerque to watch over and financially support his family.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Mike Ehrmantraut |
Occupation | United States Marine Corps veteran and former Philadelphia Police Department officer |
Portrayed by | Jonathan Banks |
Family | Daughter-in-law Stacey, granddaughter Kaylee, son Matt (deceased) |
Reason for entering the criminal world | To support his family |
What You'll Learn
- Mike's son Matt is killed by corrupt cops in Philadelphia
- Mike moves to Albuquerque to support his daughter-in-law Stacey and granddaughter Kaylee
- Mike works as a parking lot attendant and does security jobs to support his family
- Mike is a former US Marine Corps veteran and Philadelphia Police Department officer
- Mike works for Gus Fring as a private investigator, cleaner, and hitman
Mike's son Matt is killed by corrupt cops in Philadelphia
Mike's son, Matt, was indeed killed by corrupt cops in Philadelphia. In the Better Call Saul episode "Five-O", we learn about the tragic event that led Mike to leave his job as a police officer and move to Albuquerque.
Matt, a rookie cop in Philadelphia, was killed in the line of duty when he and his partner, Officer Troy Hoffman, and Sergeant Jack Fensky, were ambushed while responding to a routine call. Hoffman and Fensky escaped the attack but were later killed in a similar ambush six months after Matt's death.
It was eventually revealed that Hoffman and Fensky were corrupt cops and had orchestrated Matt's killing. They feared that Matt would expose them as he was an honest cop who refused to take part in their corrupt activities. Mike, who was also a corrupt cop, discovered the truth and took matters into his own hands. He confronted and killed Hoffman and Fensky, and then moved to Albuquerque to be closer to his daughter-in-law, Stacey, and granddaughter, Kaylee, who were left behind after Matt's death.
In the episode, we see Mike struggling with the aftermath of his son's death and trying to protect his family. He is haunted by the knowledge that his own involvement in corruption indirectly led to Matt's death. Mike's past catches up with him when Philadelphia detectives come to Albuquerque to question him about the murders of Hoffman and Fensky. With the help of his lawyer, Jimmy McGill, he is able to buy himself some time and eventually leaves for Albuquerque, starting a new chapter in his life.
The episode "Five-O" provides a deeper understanding of Mike's character and the events that shaped him. It showcases the lengths Mike is willing to go to protect his family and the guilt he carries for his role in his son's death.
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Mike moves to Albuquerque to support his daughter-in-law Stacey and granddaughter Kaylee
Mike's motivation for moving to Albuquerque is made clear in the sixth episode of the first season of Better Call Saul, titled "Five-O". In this episode, viewers learn that Mike's son Matt, a police officer in Philadelphia, was killed by corrupt cops. After Mike avenges his son's death, he moves to Albuquerque to be closer to his daughter-in-law Stacey and granddaughter Kaylee.
Mike's primary motivation for this move is to support and protect his family. He takes on a job as a parking lot attendant at the courthouse and also engages in security and "muscle" jobs to earn money to support Stacey and Kaylee financially. In addition, he provides emotional support to Stacey, who is struggling to cope with the loss of her husband. Mike also forms a close bond with Kaylee, often babysitting her and even gifting her a dog.
Mike's past as a corrupt cop in Philadelphia indirectly led to his son's death. When Matt was offered a bribe by other corrupt officers, he turned to his father for advice. Mike counselled him that refusing the money would put him and his family in danger, so Matt accepted the bribe. However, the officers killed Matt anyway out of fear that he would expose them.
After Matt's death, Stacey and Kaylee moved to Albuquerque, and Mike followed them there. In Albuquerque, Mike is shown to be a devoted and protective grandfather and father-in-law, willing to do whatever it takes to keep his family safe and provide for their needs.
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Mike works as a parking lot attendant and does security jobs to support his family
Mike Ehrmantraut, a former Philadelphia Police Department officer, works as a parking lot attendant at the Bernalillo County Courthouse and performs security and "muscle" jobs on the side to support his family—his daughter-in-law Stacey and granddaughter Kaylee.
Mike's work as a parking lot attendant is a low-profile job that allows him to keep a low profile and fly under the radar, especially after killing two corrupt cops in Philadelphia. It also provides him with the opportunity to keep tabs on the comings and goings of people being prosecuted, which could be useful information for a former cop.
Additionally, the job offers him a legitimate source of income to support his family, and he can work flexible hours, allowing him to spend more time with his granddaughter.
Mike's security and "muscle" jobs, on the other hand, are more lucrative and help him earn money to support his family, especially after his daughter-in-law and granddaughter move to Albuquerque following his son's death. These jobs often involve protecting individuals during drug deals or acting as a bodyguard, and he is known for his calm and controlled demeanor in these situations.
Mike's work as a parking lot attendant and his security jobs thus serve different purposes—the former helps him maintain a low profile and earn a legitimate income, while the latter provides him with more financial support for his family.
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Mike is a former US Marine Corps veteran and Philadelphia Police Department officer
Mike Ehrmantraut is a fictional character in the television series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. He is portrayed by Jonathan Banks and is a former US Marine Corps veteran and Philadelphia Police Department officer. Mike served in the Vietnam War and has extensive knowledge of surveillance equipment, likely from his time in the military.
Mike's career as a police officer was marred by corruption, with his fellow officers pressuring him to accept bribes and participate in protection rackets. When his son Matt joined the force, Mike was forced to persuade him to go along with the corruption as well. Unfortunately, Matt's partner and sergeant murdered him because they believed his hesitation meant he would turn them in. Devastated by his son's death, Mike fell into a cycle of alcoholism and depression. He eventually decided to take action and got his revenge on his son's killers, shooting them both and suffering a shoulder wound in the process.
Mike then left Philadelphia and moved to Albuquerque, where he reconnected with his daughter-in-law Stacey and granddaughter Kaylee. He worked as a parking lot attendant at the courthouse and took on security and "muscle" jobs to support his family. Mike's skills and knowledge of police procedures made him a valuable asset, and he was hired by Gus Fring and Saul Goodman for various criminal enterprises, including working as a private investigator, head of security, cleaner, and hitman. Despite his criminal activities, Mike maintained a strong sense of loyalty and protectiveness towards his family, even going to great lengths to ensure their safety.
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Mike works for Gus Fring as a private investigator, cleaner, and hitman
Mike Ehrmantraut is a fictional character in the television series Breaking Bad and its spinoff Better Call Saul. He is portrayed by Jonathan Banks and is a United States Marine Corps veteran and former Philadelphia Police Department officer. In the show, Mike works for Gus Fring as a private investigator, cleaner, and hitman.
As a private investigator, Mike does background checks and provides information to Gus. For example, he does a background check on Walter White for Saul Goodman and advises against working with him. He also investigates the cartel's tactics to protect future drug shipments for Gus.
As a cleaner, Mike removes evidence of criminal activity. For example, he cleans Jesse's apartment of drugs and provides him with advice to avoid incriminating himself after Jesse's girlfriend Jane dies of a heroin overdose.
As a hitman, Mike kills those who pose a threat to Gus's operations. For example, he kills four cartel operatives holding hostage one of Gus's chemical suppliers. He also kills one of Tuco's cousins, who intend to kill Walter White, and protects Jimmy from several gunmen who try to kill him.
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Frequently asked questions
Stacey Ehrmantraut is Mike's daughter-in-law in Breaking Bad.
Stacey is married to Matt Ehrmantraut, Mike's son.
Stacey and Mike's son, Matt, was killed by corrupt cops after he was offered dirty money.
Mike moved to Albuquerque to watch over and financially support his daughter-in-law Stacey and granddaughter Kaylee.
Yes, Stacey appears in Better Call Saul.