Charles Heller

Charles "Charlie" Heller is the protagonist of The Amateur, a CIA cryptographer who seeks revenge after his wife is killed in a terrorist attack, using his exceptional intelligence and hacking skills to hunt down her killers when the agency won't. He is portrayed as a brilliant but introverted "nerd" who is underestimated by his superiors, but his grief fuels a dangerous quest for justice, transforming him from an "amateur" into a formidable force. The character appears in both a 1981 film and a 2025 remake, both based on Robert Littell's novel. Character profile Profession: CIA cryptographer and decoder. Skills: Exceptional at decryption, hacking, and using technology to track people and access information. In the 2025 film Portrayed by: Rami Malek. Plot: After his wife's death, he uncovers a conspiracy within the CIA and goes rogue to hunt down the perpetrators, including the mastermind Horst Schiller. Key relationships: His wife, Sarah (played by Rachel Brosnahan), and a field agent, Jackson O'Brien (played by Jon Bernthal).