Budrow MacKenzie

Smiler

* Biological Mother

**Kevin MacKenzie †**

* Biological Father

**Budrow "Buds" MacKenzie** is a character role-played by TJ Pinkerton.

## General Information

> Cannabis Connoisseur, Entrepreneur, BMX Extraordinaire
>
> - Budrow "Buds" MacKenzie

The surname "MacKenzie" is of Scottish origin and means "son of the fair one" or "son of the handsome one." The name is derived from the Gaelic "MacCoinnich," which is composed of "mac" meaning "son of" and "Coinneach" meaning "fair" or "handsome." Typically used as a surname; the name "Budrow" is of French origin and is believed to have originated from the words "beau" meaning handsome and "rivage" meaning shore or bank, possibly indicating a person who lived near a beautiful waterfront. Buds' was given the name Budrow by his Father who later nicknamed him Buds because it reminded him of the dog from the beer commercials, Spuds MacKenzie.

## Backstory

Budrow "Buds" MacKenzie was born on April 20, 1961, in Vancouver, Canada.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck Buds at an early age when both his parents died in a car accident when he was only seven months old. He was then raised by his maternal grandparents, who also died in a tragic car accident when he was only seven years old.

After his grandparents' death, Buds was left alone and had to fend for himself. He resorted to living in their house and working a paper route to earn money while scrounging for food. Despite his difficult circumstances, Buds would always find time to organize games of hockey or baseball with other neighborhood children.

Unfortunately, Buds' grandfather's mortgage couldn't be paid, and he received a foreclosure letter. Buds lived in the house as a squatter for two years while working his paper route and committing petty crimes to try and pay the mortgage. One day, the sheriff arrived to remove Buds from the house, but he mistook the sheriff for someone coming to arrest him for his crimes. In a moment of panic, Buds struck the sheriff with a baseball bat, causing fatal injuries. Fearing for his life, Buds set fire to the house and fled on his bike, eventually passing out from exhaustion in Alberta.

Buds was saved by a family driving to Ottawa, who offered him a ride. Once he arrived in Ottawa, he found a paper route and started working. However, he was soon attacked by a gang of teenagers, who robbed him and beat him up. Two Italian men, Carlo and Leo Gambino, came to his aid and brought him to the hospital.

After learning about Buds' difficult life, they offered him a job in Liberty City. Buds worked for Carlo and Leo performing simple jobs, delivering messages on his bike and gathering information. He learned to drive, and Carlo eventually bought him a car.

Buds had finally found a sense of belonging with Carlo and Leo, who had taken him in and given him opportunities he never thought possible. However, his newfound happiness would be short-lived.

One day, Buds was offered the chance to become a full member of the Gambino Crime Family. Despite the allure of power and prestige, he knew deep down that this was not the life he wanted to lead. So he respectfully declined the offer, intending to leave the criminal underworld behind him.

But his refusal did not sit well with some members of the family. One night, as he tried to leave, Buds felt the cold barrel of a revolver pressed against the back of his head. Fearful for his life, he begged for mercy and pleaded with Carlo and Leo to spare him.

After some tense negotiations, the two older men decided to show mercy. They realized that Buds had only been with them for a short time and was still learning the ropes. They also felt a deep affection for the young man, who they had come to see as a son. So instead of killing him, they told him to leave Liberty City and never come back.

Buds was grateful to be alive, but his heart was heavy with sadness. He knew that he could never go back to the life he had known before, and that he would have to start anew. As he walked away from Carlo and Leo's pawn shop for the last time, he wondered what the future would hold for him.

## Arriving in Los Santos

After leaving Liberty City Buds would book a one way flight to Los Santos, San Andreas and never look back!