Character Application - James Wilson (for aternatopia)
Character Demographics:
Fandom: House, M.D.
Name: James Evan Wilson
Age: 38
Physical Appearance: On the short side of forty, James Wilson is often mistaken for a much younger man. Dark brown hair swept over his forehead, sometimes lapped over his brow in a seemingly petulant smear. Dark brown eyes and somewhat babyish face.
Occupation: Medical doctor, speciality in oncology
Significant Other: None
Sexual Preference: Ambiguous; canonically heterosexual
Character Biography:
James Wilson was born into an upper-middle class household in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he was the middle of three very headstrong Wilson sons. Growing up, his desire to play "peacemaker" within his family earned him the nickname of "the great mediator" -- a name that his older brother still playfully teases him with. Wilson's mother and father encouraged their son's strong aptitude for science and the humanities and he was ranked at the top of his high school class, earning a prestigious scholarship at McGill University.
After completing his undergraduate work at McGill, Wilson went on to do sub-specialty work at Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania. At some point during his post-graduate work, Wilson met the first of his three wives. The union did not last long and, shortly after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, his wife filed for divorce. It was during this time that Wilson attended a medical conference in New Orleans, where he got into a scuffle at a bar, was arrested, and was subsequently bailed out by another conference attendee -- Gregory House. It was the beginning of a long, strange friendship. Wilson would go on to weather another marriage and divorce after a move to Princeton, New Jersey.
The fallout of his marriage was balanced by the relationship he had formed with House, whose friendship was often cited by his ex-wife as a reason for the split. Wilson was given a position at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, where he worked his way up the administrative ladder ("through good behavior and bribes", according to House) until he obtained the position of head of Oncology. He was at House's bedside when his friend's infarction occurred, and played a substantive role in his life as he slipped further and further into a gloomy melancholy. Wilson's third wife, Julie, divorced him six years later, leaving the young oncologist 0 for 3 in the romance department. Wilson's dependency on House increased substantially during this period.
He met Amber Volakis, one of House's fellowship candidates, and began to pursue a relationship with her until her tragic death. Angry at House for the role he believed he played in Amber's death, Wilson cut himself off from his friend and even changed jobs temporarily in an effort to relieve himself of old memories. In the end, Wilson decided to cut all ties to House and Princeton. He moved to Canada to start his own practice and to, hopefully, forget about the loss of Amber and the guilt he felt at leaving House behind.
Incidentals:
Personality in seven words or less: Is there any way I can help?
How Others Perceive Your Character: A reliable, down-to-earth guy who will always bend an ear (and bend over backward) to help out a friend.
Beliefs, Convictions, Morals: Wilson has a very strong moral compass, believing that there is good in everyone. He is quick to believe that people do things for the right reasons, but he can be realistic when the odds of a situation are unfavourable. His personal faith does not appear to be a driving factor in his life (although he was raised in a typically Jewish household), although he believes in the afterlife and the presence of universal "rights and wrongs."
Reason(s) for Escaping to Canada: To avoid House; to rebuild his practice.
Their DHAs [Dreams, Hopes, and Aspirations] for Canada: Wilson would like to open a small practice (or be absorbed into a larger health care facility) where he can treat patients and provide consultations. He would very much like to forget the last two years in New Jersey.
Twenty-Questions for the Characters:
1. What turns them on: Old-timey movies
2. What turns them off: Selfishness
3. Would they see a shrink: He should.
4. Worst Childhood experience: The loss of his brother (young adulthood)
5. Favorite Film: "Citizen Kane"
6. Favorite Song: "Nowhere Man" - The Veils
7. Favorite Word: Need
8. Least Favorite Word: Alone
9. Favorite Curse Word: Fuck
10. Best gift ever received: Medical degree
11. Sound or Noise they hate: "Wilson!"
12. Sound or Noise they love: "Wilson?"
13. Do they know the answer to 64 million dollar question: The answer is in the last stanza of a poem by Eliot.
14. [Complete the sentence] ... All the world's a stage... : "And I'm waiting in the wings for my big scene"
15. Did Yoko Ono really break up the Fab Four: "She might as well have broken up my marriage."
16. Chuck Norris or Bruce Lee: Bruce Lee
17. Half full or half empty: Half full
18. Coke or Pepsi: Coke
19. If they were a Jellybean flavor, which one: Cherry
20. And, finally, if Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God
say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?: "Is House behind you?"