| Proinsias Cassidy | |
|---|---|
| Preacher and The Boys character | |
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| First appearance |
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| Last appearance |
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| Created by | Garth Ennis Steve Dillon |
| Adapted by | Sam Catlin Seth Rogen Evan Goldberg |
| Portrayed by | Joe Gilgun (Preacher) |
| Voiced by | Michael John Casey (The Boys) |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Proinsias Cassidy |
| Nickname | Proinsias Cassidy |
| Species | Human Vampire (formerly) |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Bartender Easter Rising Freedom fighter (formerly) |
| Affiliation | Irish Volunteers (formerly) |
| Weapon | Axe (The Boys) |
| Family | William "Billy" Cassidy (brother) |
| Significant others | Tulip O'Hare Eccarius (formerly; season three) |
| Children | Denis (son) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Sponsor | Billy Butcher |
| Abilities |
Television series:
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| Weaknesses |
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Proinsias Cassidy, also known mononymously simply as Proinsias or Cassidy, is a fictional character and antihero in the Garth Ennis comic book series Preacher and The Boys, respectively co-created with Steve Dillon and Darick Robertson, and the former's spin-off prequel Cassidy: Blood and Whiskey. Introduced as a drug-and-alcohol-addicted Irish vampire en route to Dallas to open a bar called "The Grassy Knoll", Cassidy ultimately joins Jesse Custer and Tulip O'Hare on their search for God, becoming Jesse's best friend and falling in love with Tulip. After Jesse's apparent death, Cassidy and Tulip form a romance, which ends on Jesse's return, with their rivalry leading to a duel. Wishing to atone for all that he has done in life, Cassidy walks into the sunlight to die. However, having made a deal with God before his confrontation with Jesse, in order to allow Genesis (deemed a threat to God) to be destroyed, Cassidy ensures that both he and Jesse will be resurrected, before God himself is killed by the Saint of Killers. As Jesse leaves looking for Tulip, the redeemed Cassidy watches his first sunset in years as a human being, pledging to act like a man. In an epilogue in the fourth volume of The Boys, set years later, a more heavyset Cassidy (now going by his first name) has finally opened his "The Grassy Knoll" bar (albeit in New York City instead). Closing his bar on St. Patrick's Day so that he and fellow former alcoholic and friend Billy Butcher can speak in peace, the two discuss their struggles with addiction before Butcher's protégé Hughie Campbell arrives, and Cassidy closes up his bar, smiling.
Cassidy is portrayed by Joe Gilgun in AMC's 2016–2019 television series adaptation of Preacher, and voiced by Michael John Casey in GraphicAudio's 2020 audio play series adaptation of The Boys. The character has received a positive critical reception, with the comic series' version analysed as a stereotypical example of European people,[1] and the television series' version and Gilgun's portrayal praised for their depiction of interpersonal relationships, bisexuality, and a different character ending.