Shaun Riley

Shaun is the titular protagonist of the 2004 live-action comedy/horror film, Shaun of the Dead.
Shaun is played by Simon Pegg, who also plays Nicholas Angel in Hot Fuzz, Graeme Willy in Paul, Scotty in Star Trek, Gary King in The World's End, Jack in A Fantastic Fear of Everything, and Buck in Ice Age, Reepicheep in Narnia 
==Biography==
Shaun is shown at the beginning of the film with his girlfriend Liz at the Winchester Tavern. Liz expresses her annoyance at them not doing stuff alone together (with Shaun bringing his friend Ed, making Liz bring her flatmates Diane and David).
The next day, after a bad day at work (including a meeting with his estranged step-father Phillip), Shaun meets Yvonne, an old friend of his. When she asks Shaun what he and Liz are doing for their anniversary, Shaun remembers that he forgot to book a table at Liz's favourite restaurant.
When he suggests the Winchester, she breaks up with him. Shaun drowns his sorrows with Ed at the Winchester, before they later return home drunk, unknowingly encountering a coupe of zombies on the way. After waking his other housemate Pete by spinning electro discs, the two of them get into a heated argument, with Pete telling Shaun to "sort his fucking life out".
The next day, Shaun and Ed notice a girl in their back garden. They assume she is simply drunk, until Shaun accidentally shoves her onto a pipe after she goes to bite him, impaling her, but not causing her death or even any signs of pain. Just then, a very large, blood-stained man comes in, behaving the same way.
After sealing themselves inside, Shaun and Ed correctly come to the conclusion that the people in the garden are zombies. The two fight them off with electro records (but only the ones the duo dislikes) until Shaun and Ed finally arm themselves with a cricket bat and shovel from the shed, beating the two zombies to death.
Back in the house, Shaun calls his mother Babara, who reveals that Phillip was bitten by a zombie. After a minute, Shaun and Ed formulate a plan to take Pete's car to Shaun's mum's house, kill Phillip, then rescue Liz from her flat, and hold out at the Winchester.
Before they leave, Shaun uses the toilet, where he discovers a zombified and completely nude Pete behind the shower curtain. Shaun and Ed then hurriedly drive to Barbara's house. Upon getting to his mother's house, Shaun goes to kill Phillip, only to find he is still alive.
Things are further complicated as Ed purposely crashes Pete's car in order to drive Phillip's Jaguar. Shaun drives to Liz's apartment and convinces her to come with him, and he grudgingly allows Diane and David to come along. Phillip soon dies of his bite after making peace with Shaun, before he reanimates shortly after and attacks the group.
The group abandon the car with Phillip still inside, and they walk through the gardens. The group then breifly run into Yvonne and her group, before they part ways and press on to their destinations. They later arrive in the pub after pretending to be zombies.
However, when Ed plays a noisy machine in the pub, it attracts the zombies and initiates an attack on the pub. Barbara then reveals that she was bitten earlier, forcing Shaun to shoot her in the head with the pub's Winchester Repeater, which he had been using on zombies.
During the attack, David is torn to pieces, prompting Diane to run out of the pub and past the zombies. Ed gets bitten by a zombie Pete, who is then killed by Shaun, before the three survivors go to the cellar. Shaun and Liz escape to the streets through an elevator, while the bitten Ed stays and defends the cellar as zombies break in. On the street, the army arrives in the nick of time to save Shaun and Liz.
== Personality ==
Shaun Riley is not your typical hero. He’s not the strongest or the bravest, and he certainly doesn’t have any special skills or talents. But what he lacks in traditional heroic traits, he makes up for in his relatable, everyday persona and his unexpected ability to rise to the occasion when faced with a crisis.
At first glance, Shaun may seem like a bit of a slacker. He works at an electronics store, lives in a small flat with his best friend Ed, and spends most of his free time at the local pub. He’s content with a simple, routine life and doesn’t seem to have any real motivation or ambition. However, beneath his laid-back exterior, there’s a kind and caring heart that is often overshadowed by his love for a good time.
One aspect of Shaun’s personality that stands out is his friendship with Ed. The two have been best friends since childhood, and their bond is unbreakable. However, Shaun’s loyalty to Ed can often lead him down a reckless path, as Ed has a bad influence on him. He often participates in Ed’s immature and irresponsible antics, which can cause trouble for them both. But despite their differences, their friendship remains strong throughout all the chaos of the zombie apocalypse.
Shaun’s love life is also a reflection of his lack of responsibility. He’s been in a relationship with Liz for some time, but his slacker ways have caused her frustration and disappointment. The final straw comes when he forgets to book a table for their anniversary, a mistake that Liz can no longer overlook. However, when faced with the threat of a zombie outbreak, Shaun realizes what’s truly important to him and makes it his mission to keep Liz safe.
During the zombie apocalypse, Shaun’s true character is revealed. Though he may not have been the most reliable or responsible before, he proves to be quick-thinking, resourceful, and efficient when it matters most. He navigates through dangerous situations with a mixture of determination and luck, often using his quick wit to outsmart the zombies. He also shows a surprising amount of strength and courage, putting himself in harm’s way to protect those he cares about.
But perhaps the most significant change in Shaun’s personality comes in his growth as a romantic partner. As he fights his way through the zombie horde to reunite with Liz, he realizes the mistakes he’s made in their relationship. He becomes more attentive, caring, and selfless, proving to Liz that he is more than just a slacker. By the end of it all, he has transformed into the devoted and reliable partner that Liz has always deserved.
In the end, Shaun may not have the typical traits of a hero, but that’s what makes him stand out. He’s an everyday person who rises to the challenge when faced with a crisis, and through his growth and development, he becomes a true hero. Shaun Riley’s personality is a mix of flaws and strengths that ultimately make him a relatable and lovable character.
==Trivia==
*Shaun and Ed make a cameo appearance in , with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reprising their roles.
*Parody characters of Shaun and Ed appeared in the spoof film The Walking Deceased.
*Shaun ultimately got everyone but his girlfriend killed due to putting too much faith in Ed. To quote Pete, "He's a f**King idiot."
**He let Ed stay behind and inadvertently crash Pete's car, just because Ed wanted to drive Phillip's Jaguar.
**Ed wasted time that could have been used to get tro Winchester by purposely missing a turn.
**Again, his waste of time allowed Phillip to zombify and force them to abandon the car AND their weapons.
**GHe contributed nothing to helping Shaun fight the bathrobe zombie.
**Ed answers a call while they're supposed to be camouflaged to avoid a zombie attack.
**He plays a loud game that attracted the zombies from outside the pub.
**He holds up David shooting Barbara before she could zombify.
**Ed for bit by zombie Pete due to not paying attention.
*Shaun doesn't know why the shed of his home was locked. Apparently none of the three of them did.
*Shaun looks older than 29, his real age in 2004, due to all the smoking and beer he drinks regularly. 
**Liz looks younger than him due to the fact she quit smoking sooner and barely drinks.
*Shaun met Liz in Greece at a rave he DJ-d at.
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