Characters / Olympus Has Fallen

Main characters

Mike Banning

Mike Banning

Portrayed by: Gerard Butler

With all due respect, I'm the best hope you've got.

Mike worked as a US Army Ranger (previously) and a Secret Service agent for years before the accident that left the FLOTUS and two agents dead.

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• 10-Minute Retirement: More like a months-long transfer to the Treasury Department while in sight of the White House.
• Action Dad: Before Lynne's birth, Mike had been fending off against Aamir Barkawi's men in London.
• Action Hero: Mike did whatever it took to save Ben in the first movie, thwart a terrorist plot in London in the second movie, and even protect Allan in the third movie.
• Always on Duty: Mike worked at the Treasury in sight of the White House.
• Big Damn Heroes: Mike and the Secret Service Agents defended the White House before it was eventually taken.
• The Cavalry: Mike is this to the defending Secret Service agents when he showed up at the White House to take down the mooks.
  • Bonus points when he saved Ruth from execution in front of the media.
• Ceiling Smash: Mike fell 2 stories down to avoid a fiery helicopter crash after the Hydra 6 oblierated it.
• Clear My Name: What Mike did in the third movie after the failed attempt on President Trumbull's life.
• Curb-Stomp Battle: Mike and Kang in the bunker sums it up.
• The Hero: As mentioned above, Mike is one in the movie trilogy, during the White House siege and reclamation, bringing down every Kang loyalist one by one.
  • Same applies in the sequels (ranging from saving the President from Aamir's mooks or trying to clear his name).

Ben Asher

Benjamin "Ben" Asher

Portrayed by: Aaron Eckhart

The United States of America doesn't negotiate with terrorists.

The President of the United States, Ben had been a longtime friend to Mike. When he was attacked by Kang loyalists and (in the sequel) Aamir's footsoldiers, Mike did whatever it took to save him.

• Best Friend: To Mike in times of need.
• Defiant to the End: Ben refuses to give up his Cerebrus code (as Joe and Ruth had already given theirs to be spared), until Kang brute forces it.
• The Leader: More like President.

Allan Trumbull

Allan Trumbull

Portrayed by: Morgan Freeman

The Speaker of the House, having been placed under Secret Service protection as the acting president of the United States after the White House attack. He laters gets sworn in as the President of the United States before the events of the third film.

• The Leader: Acting leader, more likely (in the first). He takes it again in the 2nd.

Supporting characters

Banning family

Leah Banning

Leah Banning

Portrayed by: Radha Mitchell (up until London Has Fallen), Piper Perabo (Angel Has Fallen)

Mike's wife and nurse at an unnamed hospital.

• Doting Parent: Leah had always reached out to Mike whenever he's - or she's - in trouble or going through a crisis.

Asher's Presidential Cabinet

Charlie Rodriguez

The Vice President of the United States, Charlie worked alongside Ben until Kang executed him for Allan's foolish undertaking of launching a heli assault on the White House.

• Blue Blood: More like Vice President of the US.

Ruth Mc Millan

Ruth Mc Millan

Portrayed by: Melissa Leo

How's my hair?

Ben's Secretary of Defense, Ruth seems to be in love with him after the demise of the FLOTUS and his two secret service agents.

• Defiant to the End: Ruth refused to give up her Cerebrus code and ordered Kang's men to beat her up until Ben urged her to.

Joe Hoenig

Joe Hoenig

Portrayed by: James Ingersoll

Tango, Juiliet, 1, 9, 3, 3, 4

Ben's General to the Joint Chiefs. He was executed along with Mary Jane and Kang's dwindling forces.

Mary Jane Fuller

Mary Jane is a top official in Ben's cabinet too.

Lee's Cabinet

Lee-Tae Woo

Lee Tae-Woo

Portrayed by: Keong Sim

The Prime Minister of South Korea, Lee held a meeting with Ben until his security detail turned on him and took the latter and his top official (several of them) hostage in the Bunker. He then gets executed in the live feed.

• The Leader: He's the Prime Minister of South Korea indeed. Or was.

Antagonists

Koreans for United Fredom (K.U.F.)

Kang Yeonsak

Kang Yeonsak

Portrayed by: Rick Yune

The leader of the KUF, he plans to - as his group's name would suggest - reunify both Korean countries. Additionally, he seeks vengeance for his parents' demise in different ways.

• Big Bad: Kang perpetrated the attack on DC before taking control of the White House.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Kang was brought to the north as a child after his parents died in different ways (his mother crossing a landmine, his father being executed for crimes against the state).
• The Leader: Kang leads the Koreans for United Freedom, or KUF in short.