Who is Ghost mw2 in real life?

Simon "Ghost" Riley is one of the most mysterious yet beloved characters in Call of Duty history. First introduced in 2009‘s blockbuster hit Modern Warfare 2, this skull-masked British special forces operator has built a reputation as a stealthy, ruthless fighter and a bit of an enigma. But who is the man behind the mask?

Ghost‘s Real-Life Counterpart: Actor Samuel Roukin

While Ghost the character is fictional, he is brought to life through the superb performance of English actor Samuel Roukin. Roukin not only voices Ghost, but provided extensive motion capture acting for his animations and mannerisms as well. So when we see Ghost sneak through shadows, quick-fire his weapons, or tragicly betray by Shepherd, that‘s really Roukin‘s acting being translated digitally.

“Getting to portray Ghost has been a dream come true. I put everything into the role and absolutely loved revisiting it for Modern Warfare 2019." – Samuel Roukin

Fun fact: Roukin is an avid Call of Duty player himself in his spare time!

Roukin‘s Acting Career

Roukin has had an impressive acting career extending well beyond Call of Duty. Some highlights include:

• Major roles in the TV series Turn: Washington‘s Spies and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
• Film appearances in The Last Days on Mars and Happy-Go-Lucky
• Numerous stage acting credits in Shakespearan and other productions
• Voice acting as Josiah Trelawny in Rockstar‘s acclaimed Red Dead Redemption 2

So Ghost fans may recognize Roukin from his other on-screen work as well!

Ghost‘s Backstory and Origins

According to the Call of Duty wiki and developer info, Simon Riley was born in Manchester, England. After witnessing the shocking events of the September 11 terrorist attacks, he was stirred to enlist with the British Armed Forces. Excelling during combat deployments, Riley was recruited into the elite Special Air Service (SAS) special forces unit. There he earned the nickname "Ghost" for his stealth tactical prowess and lone wolf operations.

Ghost became known for his secrecy and ability to pull missions no one else could. But still little is truly known about the man behind the mask even by his own allies.

From the SAS, Ghost was assigned to Task Force 141 led by Captain John Price. Serving alongside fellow Tier 1 operators like John "Soap" MacTavish, Ghost took part in dramatic hostage rescues, base infiltrations, and other dangers missions during Modern Warfare 2‘s Global War on Terror.

Ghost‘s Combat Style and Legacy

As a Tier 1 SAS commando turned special operations warrior, Ghost has an extensive combat skillset:

• Expert Marksman: Skilled with a wide range of firearms like assault rifles, snipers, shotguns, and machine pistols
• Stealth Tactics: Camouflage, suppressed weapons, night vision goggles, and more enable discrete infiltration and ambushes
• CQC Master: Devastating killer up close relying on handguns, melee knives, and hand-to-hand techniques
• Methodical Approach: Ghost carefully surveys each battlefield and plans his exact attack strategy reviewing intel and maps

This versatility is part of what has made Ghost such an admired operator within the Call of Duty lore. Some fans even debated if Ghost had surpassed venerable characters like Captain Price in popularity – but Price himself put such talk to rest:

"Ghost is a hell of a soldier. The best I‘ve ever served with. If I ever need someone watching my back, he‘ll be the one." – Captain Price

Tragically, Ghost‘s story met a brutal end in Modern Warfare 2 when he was betrayed and killed by General Shepherd – shot and left to be burned alive. The mask and skull emblem he wore became an iconic symbol and memorial within Call of Duty from that day forward.

Ghost‘s Popularity By the Numbers

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2‘s stunning commercial success cemented Ghost‘s place in gaming history. To this day MW2 still has some of most impressive metrics of any first-person shooter:

Ghost‘s memorable moments were a key part of that. Fans loved his mysterious masked look, sardonic one-liners, and brutal finishing moves. And demand to know more about Simon "Ghost" Riley was palpable even a decade later when he returned in 2019‘s Modern Warfare series reboot.

Ghost Lives on in New Call of Duty Games

The epic conclusion of Modern Warfare left many believing we had seen the last of Ghost. But amazingly he was revived in recent Call of Duty projects, establishing Simon Riley and his trademark mask as immortal icons now ingrained in CoD lore.

Ghost‘s Return: Call of Duty Timeline

Rumors continue to swirl around the mystery of Simon Riley‘s resurrection. Perhaps we may one day even see the face behind Ghost‘s mask. But some secrets are better left unknown to preserve the legend…

The Legacy of Call of Duty‘s Ghost

Ghost‘s impact on players and Call of Duty overall cannot be understated. Many gamers have been inspired to join the military or special forces after being awed by his dedication and tactical prowess decade after decade.

Others continue to ask for a Ghost spinoff game exploring his backstory, or even a live-action Call of Duty Cinematic Universe movie starring him as the main character. Fan art, cosplay, Halloween costumes, airsoft loadouts, and more pay tribute to this legendary soldier years later.

For Samuel Roukin‘s part, he could not be more fulfilled to have portrayed Simon "Ghost" Riley so unforgettably:

"Being Ghost was a life-changing experience. The way fans have embraced the character blows me away constantly. I hope we see more of his story for years to come!"

So while Ghost remains masked and mystery shrouds many details of his life, one thing is clear:

Lieutenant Simon "Ghost" Riley has permanently cemented his reputation as an all-time Call of Duty icon through the remarkable collaboration between developers and actor Samuel Roukin. The Ghost legend will live on in gamers‘ hearts and hands whenever they suit up for combat.