John Donovan

Agent John Donovan is a major character in the Mafia video game series, serving as the deuteragonist of the 2016 video game Mafia III and its story expansion Stones Unturned. He's a former CIA agent and Vietnam veteran who helped Lincoln Clay in his mission of taking down the Marcano Crime Family and exacting his revenge on Sal Marcano for killing his adoptive family, as well having a personal vendetta of his own against another former CIA agent, Connor Aldridge, who sold information to the North Vietnamese government. 
He serves the role of being the antithesis to Father James, who actively tries to convince Lincoln to give up on his quest for revenge. Meanwhile, Donovan actively encourages it and assists Lincoln by providing him crucial intel about his targets. 
He was voiced and motion captured by Lane Compton. 
==Biography==
===Background===
In 1953, John Donovan graduated from Princeton University and was promptly recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a paramilitary operations officer. His CIA career led him to Vietnam, where he conducted covert operations against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces. In April 1966, while on a mission, Donovan encountered Corporal Lincoln Clay, a remarkable soldier who demonstrated exceptional battlefield leadership and bravery, notably saving fellow soldiers PFC P. Ellis and Q. Doroquez despite his own injuries. This encounter marked the beginning of a close friendship and partnership between Donovan and Clay during their time in Vietnam.
===Helping Lincoln dismantle the Marcano Crime Family===
Donovan reconnects with Lincoln in New Bordeaux, resuming his role as Lincoln's partner and a valuable source of intelligence and advanced government technology. He aids Lincoln in his mission to dismantle the Marcano Crime Family. Donovan eventually departs from the CIA in 1969 due to his actions. During Lincoln's recovery, Donovan sets up a surveillance base at the Blue Gulf Motel, equipped with stolen FBI surveillance gear. From there, he monitors the Marcano Crime Family and potential recruits for Lincoln's cause, including civilian informants who help track the activities of Marcano's associates.
===Stopping Connor Aldridge===
While assisting Lincoln in his mission against the Marcanos, Donovan also had a personal vendetta against former CIA officer Connor Aldridge, who had betrayed him in Vietnam. With the help of Robert Marshall, a fellow former CIA officer turned bounty hunter, Donovan uncovered Aldridge's involvement in a violent incident at a Cuban restaurant in the French Ward. After interrogating the sole survivor of the restaurant massacre, Lincoln and Donovan proceeded to a CIA Safe House in Bayou Fantom. There, they eliminated the mercenaries hired by Aldridge but were unable to prevent him from stealing classified information related to a Cuban plane crash carrying a Russian missile's nuclear warhead.
Tracking down a survivor of the plane crash in Frisco Fields, Lincoln and Donovan rescued him from Aldridge's mercenaries and learned the crash site was on an island off the coast of Mexico. They journeyed to the island, which was overrun by Aldridge's forces, only to discover that Aldridge had already taken the warhead with the intention of selling it to the NVA. After a series of intense confrontations with Aldridge's mercenaries, Lincoln and Donovan infiltrated a Soviet bunker on the island, suspecting that Aldridge was headed to a submarine bay to transport the warhead to Cuba. While Lincoln waited outside, Donovan confronted Aldridge on the submarine and ultimately killed him. With the warhead still intact, they retrieved it and arranged for its return to the American government with the help of a helicopter, then made their way back to New Bordeaux after dealing with the remaining mercenaries.
===Taking Down Sal Marcano===
As Lincoln corners Sal Marcano and Giorgi Marcano at the Paradiso Hotel & Casino, Donovan burns down his makeshift surveillance center to eliminate evidence. Later, he meets with Lincoln and Father James at Saint Jerome's Catholic Church, advising Lincoln to take control of New Bordeaux's criminal underworld and eliminate his remaining underbosses before they turn on him. Following this, Donovan leaves the city.
===Hearing with Senate===
In August 1971, John Donovan was summoned to testify before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence regarding his involvement in Lincoln Clay's violent campaign against the Marcano Crime Family. During the hearings, Donovan recounted a disturbing story from his past in Vietnam, where he resorted to extreme measures, dismembering an old woman to extract information from her son, an NVA officer. He emphasized that the intelligence he gained from this act saved the lives of 42 soldiers.
As Senator Blake attempted to dismiss Donovan, Donovan insisted on continuing. He revealed his belief that Sal Marcano and a group of conspirators were responsible for the assassination of President Kennedy. Senator Blake dismissed this as absurd, leading Donovan to pull out a silenced pistol and reveal incriminating evidence linking the Senator to the conspiracy. Donovan then shot the Senator, declaring his intention to expose others involved.
Donovan left the room, vowing to continue his mission. His fate afterward remains unknown.
==Personality==
Donovan is fiercely loyal to his close ally and best friend, Lincoln Clay, offering unwavering support and assistance in their shared quest for revenge against the Marcano Crime Family. His resourcefulness is apparent as he utilizes his former CIA operative skills to gather vital intelligence and equipment, proving to be an invaluable asset to Lincoln's mission. However, his determination to seek justice and revenge is palpable, and he's willing to take extreme actions and make morally challenging decisions to achieve his objectives. 
It's shown in several interactions with Lincoln and others that Donovan is haunted by his past, bearing the weight of guilt and remorse for the ruthless deeds he carried out during his CIA service. His experiences have also made him somewhat cynical, critical of government operations, and not easily swayed by political rhetoric. Yet, he remains a protective and calculating strategist, resilient in the face of adversity and occasionally ruthless when he deems it necessary for the greater good.
==Gallery==
File:D24ed1aaf19303b2-600x338.jpeg|Donovan listening in on someone's conversation to gather intel
File:John Donovan 2.jpeg|Donovan and Lincoln smoking together
File:Donovan Ending 2.webp|Donovan pulls gun on Senate Committee 
File:Donovan Ending 3.webp|Donovan about to kill Senator Jacobs
File:Apps.42951.68989876223961568.787d8f5c-9e35-403d-ae13-446f3babb647.jpeg|Donovan in the "Stones Unturned" DLC
==Trivia==
*Donovan drives an orange Potomac Independent, and a blue Bulworth Banyan, which he uses as a mobile tac-center.
*If the player manages to get Donovan killed through an exploit, a special cutscene will play with Jonathan Maguire explaining that after Donovan's passing, Lincoln was unable to wage his war against Sal Marcano and was killed a short time after.
==External Links==
*John Donovan on the Villains Wiki
*John Donovan on the Mafia Wiki
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