Captain Salazar
A cursed ghost seeking revenge on Jack Sparrow and determined to kill every pirate at sea.
Captain Armando Salazar is a Spanish Navy pirate hunter who, after being tricked into the Devil's Triangle by a young Jack Sparrow, died and became a cursed ghost commanding a crew of undead soldiers. He escaped from the Devil's Triangle determined to kill every pirate at sea and take revenge on Sparrow. Javier Bardem portrays Salazar, describing him as "a little supernatural" and on "a real mission of vengeance for something Jack did to him when he was 18." Bardem imbued the character with "a rage based on dented pride" from his spectacular fall from high-ranking commander to being betrayed and trapped in hell by Jack.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Armando Salazar
- Role
- Main Antagonist
- Affiliation
- Spanish Navy (Former), Ghost Fleet
- First appearance
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
- Portrayed by
- Javier Bardem
Lore & Background
Salazar was once the greatest pirate hunter who ever roamed the seas as Captain of the Silent Mary for the Spanish Navy. He became an old nemesis of Jack Sparrow after the young pirate tricked him into entering the Devil's Triangle, causing his death and inadvertently cursing his ship and crew as the undead. The curse trapped Salazar and his ghostly crew in the Triangle until Jack traded his compass for a drink, an act that destroyed the Devil's Triangle and freed Salazar to seek revenge.
Salazar's crew cannot go on land, a limitation discovered when Jack, Henry, and Carina fled to an island. Salazar pursues the Dying Gull and later battles the Black Pearl until it runs aground on the Trident's island. During the final confrontation, Salazar captures Henry and possesses him to walk on the ocean floor and seize the Trident. After the Trident is destroyed, breaking all curses upon the sea, Salazar's crew is restored to life, but Salazar himself is killed when Barbossa sacrifices himself to save the others.
Reader's Guide
Captain Armando Salazar is the main antagonist of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, portrayed by Javier Bardem. He was once the greatest pirate hunter for the Spanish Navy, commanding the Silent Mary, until a young Jack Sparrow tricked him into the Devil's Triangle, causing his death and cursing him and his crew as undead ghosts. Salazar escaped the Triangle when Jack traded his compass, and he then pursued Jack, Henry, and Carina to find the Trident of Poseidon.
Salazar's ghostly crew cannot go on land. He captured Henry and possessed him to seize the Trident, but Henry destroyed it, breaking all curses. Salazar's crew was restored to life, but Salazar was killed when Barbossa sacrificed himself. Bardem described Salazar as having "a rage based on dented pride" from his fall from high-ranking commander to being trapped in hell by Jack.
It took three hours a day to apply Bardem's makeup, which he referred to as having "cold chicken breasts" glued to his face.
More in Pirates & Heroes
Elsewhere in Pirates of the Caribbean
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced