Ed Traxler
A police lieutenant who tried to protect Sarah Connor and was shot down by the Terminator.
Ed Traxler, portrayed by Paul Winfield, is a lieutenant at the Los Angeles Police Department in 1984 in The Terminator. With his partner Vukovich he is a primary investigator in the Phone Book Killer case, in which two women named Sarah Connor are murdered in their homes. When Sarah Connor reports that she is being stalked, Traxler advises her to stay in a public place until the police arrive to pick her up.
Quick Facts
- Notable association
- Sarah Connor, Kyle Reese
Lore & Background
After the Terminator attacks Sarah and Kyle Reese rescues her, the police arrest Reese, believing him to be the killer. Traxler and Vukovich watch Reese explain to Dr. Silberman that the Terminator was sent from the future to kill Sarah. Though Traxler becomes concerned, he tries to pacify Sarah by claiming that the Terminator is most likely an ordinary man on drugs and wearing body armor, and arranges for her mother to pick her up.
Reader's Guide
When the Terminator attacks the police station, Traxler tries to gun it down, but the cyborg is unfazed and returns fire, mortally wounding him. In a deleted scene the dying Traxler begs Reese to keep Sarah alive no matter what and hands him his revolver, showing that he now believes Reese's story.
More in Characters & Terminators
Elsewhere in The Terminator
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