Niko (The Mask)

Niko or Don Niko is a fictional character from Chuck Russell's 1994 film, The Mask. He was portrayed by Cuban-American actor Orestes Matacena.

The Mask (1994 film)
Little is known about Niko's background and life, other that he is a feared Mafia Don in Edge City and the owner of the Casino/Club named Coco Bongo, as well as several other businesses. He is never seen without his cuban cohorts, who are his personal bodyguards. He also has a group of gangsters who work under him, led by his right-hand man, Dorian Tyrell.

Through reports by his henchmen, Niko learns that Tyrell's criminal activities have been attracting unwanted attention from the police and that the Coco Bongo was on the verge of being shut down by them. In addition, Niko learns through his henchmen that Tyrell has been deliberately hiding his schemes from Niko and a number of bodyguards have pledged allegence to Tyrell himself. Worried that Tyrell's schemes will attract unwanted attention from the police and Tyrell may attempt to overthrow his position, Niko tells his cohorts to summon Tyrell to him personally for a meeting to discuss the issue. However, the meeting soon turns sour, as Niko's henchmen force Tyrell to the floor at gunpoint. One of the henchmen then proceeds to place a golf tee in Tyrell's mouth and then places a golf ball on top of it. Niko then informs Tyrell the reason for this rough treatment is that he has grown weary of Tyrell's schemes, and can not tolerate such behaviour. He taunts Tyrell by waving a golf club in front of him before swinging the club, hitting the golf ball and narrowly avoiding making contact with Tyrell's skull. He then informs Tyrell that he will not kill him immediately, but allow him one week to flee from town. Niko's henchmen escort Tyrell out.

Two nights later, Niko attends a Charity Ball at the Coco Bongo, believing that Tyrell has left Edge City by now. Smoking rich cigars and drinking whisky, Niko celebrates with his men. However, the celebration is cut short when the Coco Bongo doors are blown apart in an explosion. Tyrell, under the power of Loki from the mask stolen from Stanley Ipkiss, enters with his henchmen. Niko identifies the man to be Tyrell, despite being astonished at his appearance. After a verbal confrontation, a bloody gunfight between Niko and Tyrell's gangs ensues. Some of Tyrell's men are killed, but eventually, all of Niko's men are killed. Tyrell then challenges Niko to shoot him square in the stomach. Niko does so, but the bullets do not harm Tyrell. While Niko looks on in disbelief, Tyrell uses his supernatural abilities to breathe the bullets into his mouth and fire them back at Niko, killing him instantly.

It is unclear what happens to Niko's areas of influence and assets upon his death. As Tyrell's death occurs shortly after the death of Niko in the film, no natural successor to his operations is determined or acknowledged. No mention is made in the sequel Son of the Mask of Niko's successor either.

The Mask: The Animated Series
The now-deceased Niko does not appear in the animated series. However, an early draft of one episode was to have the ghosts of Niko, Tyrell and their deceased henchmen to return to Edge City and wreak havoc. The plot was to involve both of the ghosts and their gangs to break the remaining gang members out of jail, regain their areas of influence and resume their war against one another. Eventually however, the script would determine that they join forces in an effort to extract revenge against Ipkiss. Both Orestes Matacena and Peter Greene were approached in order to reprise their roles of Niko and Tyrell respectively, but eventually the episode was scrapped.