Rick O'Connell

Richard "Rick" O'Connell is a fictional character and the primary protagonist from the 1999 film The Mummy, as well as the sequels The Mummy Returns, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. He appears to be somewhat based of fellow action hero Indiana Jones, even sharing the same birthyear and wearing the same general attire.

Fictional biography
Raised in St. Mary Mead's orphanage along with Babe Ruth in Baltimore, Maryland after his mother died and his father was nowhere to be found. (The Mummy: The Animated Series)

The Mummy
set in 1926 In The Mummy, Rick is an American serving as an officer in the French Foreign Legion. He promises to take Evelyn Carnahan and her brother Jonathan Carnahan to Hamunaptra, the city of the dead, and back again. However, Evelyn reads from the book of the dead and unleashes the immortal spirit of Imhotep - once a High Priest to the god-kings of Egypt, now resurrected in his mummified form. Rick then decides to take a modicum of responsibility for the situation and help them {mostly for Evelyn who Rick fell in love with} However Evy is eventually captured. Rick then goes to rescue her and gets in a fight. He kills many mummies then finally fights Imhotep. After Evy makes Imhotep mortal, Rick impales Imhotep, killing him. They then have to escape as the building collapses. The movie closes with them riding off on camels with gold unknowingly hanging in the saddle bag and Evelyn in Ricks love and protection.

The Mummy Returns
set in 1933 In The Mummy Returns, Rick is now married to Evy and has a son, named Alex. Alex is kidnapped and they must go on a quest to get him back and stop Imhotep. However, in a dig in Hamunaptra, Rick and Evelyn O'Connell discover the Bracelet of Anubis, meaning that they have the key to resurrecting the Scorpion King. When they return to London Rick's son Alex O'Connell puts on the Bracelet and forces a countdown until the awakening of the Scorpion King. Rick now has to journey to Ahm-Shere to stop the Scorpion King, and, simultaneously, stop Imhotep, who desires the Army of Anubis to conquer the world. While on his way to rescue Alex, Rick finds out that he is a holy Medjai destined to protect Evelyn (who is the reincarnated version of Nefertiri, protector of the Bracelet of Anubis) and of Alex (The key to the Scorpion King). Rick is eventually forced to fight the mutated Scorpion King who has been told by Imhotep that Rick is the one sent to slay the Scorpion King. After a long battle with both the Scorpion King and the Army of Anubis via the Medjai, Rick manages to gain hold of the Scepter of Osiris and plunges it into the Scorpion King's heart, whereupon he explodes into darkness. The self-destruction of the oasis leaves Rick and Imhotep hanging off a ledge which leads to hell. Rick orders Evelyn to flee; she runs to his safety and saves him. Imhotep begs his lover Anck-su-namun to rescue him; she flees instead and is consumed in a pit of scarab beetles. Imhotep chooses death and falls into hell. Rick, Evy, Alex and Jonathon are rescued in Deus Ex machina fashion by Rick's friend Izzy. Rick and Evy kiss passionatley.

In a conversation with Ardeth Bay, he mentions that he was "in a Cairo orphanage" where he acquires a scorpion shaped tattoo. How long he was there is undetermined as he speaks with a distinctly American accent.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
set in 1946 It is learned in this film that since the events of The Mummy Returns, Rick's relationship with his son, Alex (who is now twenty) has become strained. He is also revealed to have done some espionage work for the Allies during World War II and is shown to dislike retirement. He misses his fighting days and attempts to adopt some normal hobbies such as fly fishing. When the Dragon Emperor is brought back to life, Rick and his son reconcile their differences through a series of events, and with their relationship healed,they defeat the evil Emperor.