Martin Riggs
A suicidal detective turned lethal partner.
Martin Riggs is a fictional character from the *Lethal Weapon* film series, created by Shane Black. Mel Gibson portrayed him in all four films (1987–1998), and Clayne Crawford played the role in the Fox television series (2016–2018). Riggs is a former U.S. Army Special Forces operative and LAPD detective, notorious for his reckless behavior and suicidal mindset after his wife’s death.
**Career** Riggs enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 19, joining the Special Forces and receiving training in weapons and hand-to-hand combat. He spent most of his military service in Vietnam, working as an assassin for the CIA’s “Phoenix Project.” During this time, he shot a man from 1,000 yards in Laos with a sniper rifle. Though this skill as a trained killer later harmed his mental health, he considered it “the only thing I was ever really good at.”
**Family** Riggs’s wife of 11 years, Victoria Lynn, died in a car accident around 1985—two years before the events of the first film—plunging him into deep depression. Grief drove him to the edge of suicide, and he regularly put himself and others in danger, hoping someone would kill him. This total disregard for his own life made him fearless, earning him the nickname “Lethal Weapon.” By the end of the first film, he vowed to move on. In the second film, it was revealed that Victoria was actually murdered during an attempt on Riggs’s life.
**In the films** In *Lethal Weapon*, Riggs is transferred from narcotics to homicide after a shooting incident. He is partnered with Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh, a straight-laced veteran meant to keep him in line. After a rocky start, they become best friends, though Riggs constantly irritates Murtaugh. By the film’s end, they rescue Murtaugh’s daughter from drug lords and mercenaries.
In *Lethal Weapon 2*, Riggs learns that South African crime lord Arjen Rudd ordered his death in 1984. Rudd’s enforcer, Pieter Vorstedt, killed Victoria Riggs by mistake and staged it as a car accident. After avenging Victoria and Rika van den Haas—a woman Riggs had romanced before she was murdered by Rudd—he moves on. Riggs and Murtaugh are also assigned to protect loudmouthed witness Leo Getz, who becomes a close friend.
In *Lethal Weapon 3*, Riggs meets Internal Affairs Sergeant Lorna Cole during an investigation into missing LAPD weapons. They connect immediately and work together to clear Mur
- born
- Not specified
- died
- In the television series, mortally wounded by his half-brother Garrett and dies from a gunshot wound in the hospital
- field
- Law enforcement
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Being a 'Lethal Weapon' due to his fearlessness and disregard for his own safety
Lore & Background
Martin Riggs joined the U.S. Army at age 19, eventually becoming a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces. He served in Vietnam as an assassin under the CIA's 'Phoenix Project', where he shot a man with a sniper rifle from 1,000 yards in Laos. This experience as a trained killer later affected his mental health. After his wife Victoria Lynn died in a car accident around 1985, Riggs fell into a deep depression and regularly put himself in danger, hoping someone would kill him. This made him completely fearless, turning him into a 'Lethal Weapon'. By the end of the first film, he vowed to move on with his life. In the second film, it was revealed that Victoria was actually murdered during an attempt on Riggs's life.
Reader's Guide
Martin Riggs is a central figure in the Lethal Weapon franchise, representing the archetype of a damaged, suicidal cop who becomes an effective but unpredictable partner. His character arc spans four films and a television series, exploring themes of grief, redemption, and found family. Critics have given the character a positive reception, praising his dramatic fight scene with Mr. Joshua and the sharp dialogue provided by Shane Black. Empire magazine ranked Martin Riggs number 100 on its list of 'The 100 Greatest Movie Characters'. The character's legacy includes influencing the buddy-cop genre and demonstrating how personal trauma can be channeled into professional effectiveness.
Did You Know?
- Martin Riggs was originally played by Mel Gibson in all four films from 1987 to 1998.
- In the television series, Riggs kills his abusive father during a fight after rescuing Murtaugh's wife.
- Riggs's wife Victoria was actually murdered by Pieter Vorstedt, an enforcer for crime lord Arjen Rudd, who made it look like a car accident.
- Riggs marries Lorna Cole while she is giving birth to their son named Billy.
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