Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) is a very capable man in The Equalizer movies, which is explained by his somewhat mysterious backstory. After Edward Woodward played McCall in The Equalizer television series, Washington stepped into the role for 2014’s The Equalizer, following this isolated man who becomes a protector to the vulnerable.
The first movie sees McCall working at a hardware store and looking out for his coworkers, but he also gradually shows his skills in combat, stealth, and weaponry when he is forced to take on the Russian mob. Washington returned for The Equalizer sequels, which added more to McCall’s backstory as he continued his impressive vigilante work.
McCall has become one of Washington’s most iconic characters, and it is possible he could return in The Equalizer 4. However, McCall is also a character who operates in the shadows, and understanding his past and where he comes from requires a deeper dive.
Robert McCall’s Past Jobs Before The Equalizer Explained
McCall Was In The Marines And Then The Black-Ops
Not surprisingly, given how many people Robert McCall has killed in The Equalizer movies, he comes from a military background. McCall was originally in the Marines, with a pH๏τo of him in his military uniform suggesting he was a Gunnery Sergeant. At a certain point, he left the Marine Corps and began working for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Working for the DIA, McCall was part of a black-ops team, and it is hinted that he was responsible for ᴀssᴀssinations and covert operations. It was during this time that McCall connected with some key people who would play a role in The Equalizer franchise, including CIA agent Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo) and DIA operative Dave York (Pedro Pascal).
How McCall Ended Up Retired & Working In A Hardware Store
McCall Found Love And Left His Old Life Behind
Given Robert McCall’s background, it is surprising to find him working in a hardware store at the beginning of the first The Equalizer movie. However, McCall’s backstory is a bittersweet one, as he found a reason to leave behind his morally gray position in the military and start a new life, only to lose that reason.
In order to be with Vivienne, McCall faked his own death with a car bomb.
During McCall’s time in DIA, he met and fell in love with a woman named Vivienne. McCall explained that he did “some bad things in my life,” but made a promise to Vivienne to leave that life behind for her. In order to be with Vivienne, McCall faked his own death with a car bomb.
Sadly, Vivienne died of cancer sometime later. He keeps her memories alive, including finishing her quest to read “the 100 Books Everybody Should Read.” She also inspired his vigilante work, as McCall is drawn back into the violent world in The Equalizer, but uses his skills to help people out of respect for his promise to her.
