Herschel Biggs

Detective Herschel Biggs is the tritagonist of the 2011 noir/crime video game L.A. Noire.
He serving as overarching protagonist in Patrol Desk Chapter, and also a minor character in Traffic Desk Chapter and a tritagonist in Arson Desk Chapter.
An old and cynical detective of the arson desk, Biggs served in World War I and was left traumatized from his experience, turning him into a social recluse. He is partnered with Cole Phelps following the latter's demotion, and assists him and Jack Kelso in uncovering and exposing the Suburban Redevelopment Fund. He also act's as the game's narrator during Cole's time in the patrolmen desk at the beginning of the game.
He was voiced and motion-captured by Keith Szarabajka, who also voiced Joshua Graham in Fallout: New Vegas and Russman in Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
==Biography==
===Background===
Herschel Biggs was born in the United States in 1892 to unnamed parents, and from his own words grew up poor and only wanted food on the table when he was kid. In adulthood, he joined the United States Marine Corps during World War I, serving in the 2nd Marines until the war's end in 1918. In Belleau Wood, Biggs was trapped inside a barn alongside his squad mates, and witnessed them burn alive. He was left traumatized from the incident, turning him into a social recluse who preferred to work alone once he joined the Los Angeles Police Department. While doing arson cases, he became acquainted with Fire and Life insurance investigator Jack Kelso.
===L.A. Noire===
In 1947, Cole Phelps is promoted to the traffic squad for solving the Everett Gage murder, and Biggs shoves him when reaching to his desk in the detective's room. Some time later, Cole's affair with Elsa Lichtmann is exposed, resulting in him being demoted to the arson desk, where captain Lachlan McKelty assigns him to partner with Biggs. Despite his initial protest, Herschel works with Cole on investigating a recent house fire, ending with them arresting and charging the suspect Matthew Ryan for causing it. When investigating another house fire, Phelps begins to suspect a connection between them since each home owner won a competition, but Herschel believes the detective is trying to receive glory once again. However, Biggs began to stick up for Cole against other officers who looked down on him for his affair with Elsa.
When investigating another house fire, Herschel becomes startled when witnessing the family's burnt bodies crumble, and tells Cole of his experience back during the war. Continuing their investigation, Biggs starts to believe Cole's claim of a connection, and the two detectives interrogate Elysian Fields Development owner Leland Monroe due to his flyers appearing in the burned down areas. However, Biggs was warned to end their search into Leland by McKlety while Cole was threatened by Roy Earle on the orders of the Suburban Redevelopment Fund. The detectives resolved the house fire case when stopping Herbert Chapman, but Phelps decided to send Elsa to speak with Kelso on Elysian Fields. This allowed the detectives to work on other cases, such as the Nicholson Electroplating explosion while Kelso discovered the redevelopment fund's corruption and control over the city and police department.
Later on, the detectives investigated the death of Courtney Sheldon and Dr. Harlan Fontaine, and Cole deduced that the redevelopment fund was extorting the city for their own gain. The two then received information from Kelso and aided him in reaching the waterways of the city, but Biggs stayed up top as Cole and Jack rescued Elsa. Following Cole's death, Biggs attends his funeral alongside Elsa and Jack, and briefly spoke with Kelso about his complex relationship with Cole.
==Quotes==
==Trivia==
*He is the oldest partner Cole works with.
*In the earlier trailers of L.A. Noire, the character had a different appearance.
Category:Male
Category:Video Game Heroes
Category:Officials
Category:Military
Category:Narrators
Category:Tragic
Category:Jerks
Category:Sympathetic
Category:Selfless
Category:Honorable
Category:Pessimists
Category:Fighters
Category:Lethal
Category:Protectors
Category:Supporters
Category:Determinators
Category:Successful
Category:Lawful Good
Category:Localized Protection
Category:Truth-Seekers
Category:War Heroes
Category:Protectors of Innocence
Category:Elderly
Category:Pragmatists