# Virgil Tracy

Virgil Tracy is a fictional character in Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's 1960s Supermarionation television series Thunderbirds and its adaptations. He is the pilot of International Rescue's transporter aircraft, Thunderbird 2, and has specialist expertise is in demolition, heavy lifting and logistics.

## Original series depiction

Second son of Jeff Tracy (instigator and financier behind International Rescue), Virgil was named after astronaut Virgil Grissom. Sources vary as to the character's age and birth date. In the fact file on the DVD box set, Virgil's birthday is stated as 15 August 1999 or 2038, making him 27 years old.
After studying at Denver School of Advanced Technology, he took up his role in International Rescue as principal pilot of Thunderbird 2. Besides piloting the transporter aircraft, he is usually called upon to operate the auxiliary rescue vehicles that it carries and effect the rescue on site.
Virgil occasionally pilots other Thunderbirds. For example, in "Ricochet", he is seen piloting Thunderbird 3 on return from Thunderbird 5 after helping sort out a communications blackout that put International Rescue out of operation for a couple of hours.
Virgil is as dedicated to his calling as any of his brothers. In "Terror in New York City", after Virgil is seriously injured when Thunderbird 2 is mistakenly attacked by a US warship, his first thoughts upon re-awaking are his alarm at the fact that his craft is out of service for repairs when it could be needed at any time. Later, when such an emergency occurs, he has to be ordered back to bed by his father. With an off-duty demeanour much less boisterous than that of his brothers, he spends his free time painting and playing the piano.
Along with Jeff and Scott, Virgil is one of only three Tracys to appear in all 32 episodes. However, he does not play a role in every rescue. He is the first character to use the International Rescue radio code "F.A.B." in the first episode.
Virgil was voiced by American actor David Holliday for series 1. After Holliday returned to the United States, British-Canadian actor Jeremy Wilkin provided the voice for the six-episode series 2 (1966) and the feature films Thunderbirds Are Go and Thunderbird 6.

## 2004 film

Dominic Colenso portrayed Virgil in the 2004 live-action film. As the film focuses on Alan Tracy, not much is known about this version of Virgil. According to Alex Pang's Thunderbirds: X-Ray Cross Sections, he is 20 years old. He is described as a fitness fanatic, taking part in triathlons and other sporting events when off duty.

## Remake series

David Menkin voiced Virgil in the remake series. This version of the character is the largest and strongest of the Tracy brothers, and is skilled in engineering and mechanics. Calm and level-headed, he is also the peacemaker in the family.

## Reception and influence

Writing about the original Thunderbirds for Broadcast magazine, Ross Bentley praises the character: "Virgil was my complete favourite. He remains, in my book, the ultimate role model for any aspiring renaissance man [...] He not only painted but he was also an accomplished pianist. Forget Bobby Crush or Mrs Mills (my only points of TV pianistic reference as a child), Virgil was the business."
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan is nicknamed "Virgil" for his likeness to the character.