Lester Burnham

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Lester Burnham is a fictional character appearing in the 1999 film American Beauty, from which he serves as the protagonist. He is portrayed by Kevin Spacey. He received an Oscar as "Best Actor" for his role in 1999.
== Biography ==
Lester Burnham is married to Carolyn Burnham and father to his teenage daughter Jane Burnham. He caught himself in a mid-life crisis which leads to several abnormal decisions made by him including a sexual obsession with his teenage daughter's best friend, Angela Hayes, smoking weed, and blackmailing his boss at his advertising job to gain financial freedom.
== Mid-Life-Crisis ==
In his early life, Lester is described as an overall content individual, marrying his free spiritual wife and getting his job at a company. His picture-perfect life would eventually rapidly decline in his 40's due to his lacking sex life with Carolyn Burnham, his boring office job and his daughter hitting puberty and growing distant from him.
At his daughter's High School Cheerleading Gig Lester first lays eyes on Angela Hayes and instantly becomes obsessed with her, fantasizing about passionate scenes with the 16-year-old girl.
Soon after he accompanies his wife to a real-estate work party where he meets Buddy Kane who will eventually become Carolyn Burnham's affaire. While his wife is drunkenly flirting with the real-estate agent behind Burnhams back, Ricky Fitts, the new next-door neighbor and schoolmate of Jane Burnham is introducing himself to Lester. Both have a chat outside while smoking weed. Ricky promptly quits his job, sparking astonishment in Burnham. Fitts admits to being a drug dealer and they agree to meet up in the future so Lester can buy more drugs. At home, Lester listens in on his daughter having a sleepover with Angela Hayes. Hayes teasingly expresses her sexual attraction to Lester while explaining that he just needs to work out to improve his looks. He starts running and working out. In mids of everything he buys expensive weed from Fitts and blackmails his Boss for a year's salary, which he uses to buy his dream car and more drugs. He quits and starts working at the fast food chain Mr. Smileys. This is inspired by Ricky, who uses his occupation to conceal his high income. Lester becomes growingly more confident with getting in shape, consuming drugs, successfully soliciting money, and putting his wife in place. While working his shift he catches Carolyn cheating on him with Buddy Kane.
== His last day ==
On Lester Brunhams last day, he realizes that he has run out of weed. He calls Ricky to purchase more of the substance, who comes over and rolls him a blunt in his garage. He starts working out when he sees Frank Fitts, Ricky's father, approaching in the pouring rain. He lets him in and has a short comforting talk with the sobbing man. Frank initiates a kiss, which Lester rejects. The man leaves again. Inside he sees Angela Hayes crying. They are about to have sex when Hayes reveals that she is still a virgin. Lester Burnham interrupts contact and makes her a meal. Shortly after he gets shot by Frank Fitts.
==Appearances==
*American Beauty (1999)
Category:Characters
Category:Male characters
Category:American Beauty characters
Category:Characters portrayed by Kevin Spacey