William "B.J." Blazkowicz

William Joseph Blazkowicz ( pronounced: Blaz-ko-vitch) is fictional protagonist of the Wolfenstein series of video games.

Fictional character's biography
William Blazkowicz was born on August 15, 1911 to a family of Polish immigrants. Nicknamed "B.J." by his friends, he's known for his physical condition, standing 6 ft tall and weighing 210 lb.

During World War II, Blazkowitz is one of the top agents for United States Office of Secret Actions and U. S. Army Ranger. His talents are needed to investigate rumors of strange goings-on within the Third Reich. Blazkowicz is ordered to find out the truth behind reports of occult activity in the German hierarchy at the Wolf's Lair. During his service he was accoladed with Medal of Honor and other military decorations.

Military career
During his recon of Kugelstadt, a fictional city in Germany, he was captured and thrown into a Nazi's dungeon.

Inside the Castle Wolfenstein
Being captured and beaten by SS servicemen, Blazkowicz finds himself in a prison cell located in Castle Wolfenstein. Blazkowicz stands and stretches, knocking his knuckles on the low ceiling. He makes his way to the single, tiny window that decorates his cell. Out the window, he can see Castle Wolfenstein across the lake. Screams of pain and terror there are not muffled. Thankfully for nazi's negligence, Blazkowitz still has his combat knife. He turns to the dungeon's door, removes his knife from his boot and calls for the guard...

Family
William got married after the war, at age 40, to Julia Marie Peterson. Their son, Arthur Kenneth Blazkowicz became a television host in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Being a TV host, Arthur changed his last name to Blaze. Then, he married Susan Elizabeth McMichaels. They had one son, which was named after Arthur's father, William Joseph Blazkowicz II, or as he signed his grade school homework, Billy Blaze.

In the Wolfenstein series
His first official appearance was Wolfenstein 3D, and starred all further Wolfenstein games followed it (except the multiplayer Enemy Territory). In Return to Castle Wolfenstein, he is said to be an U. S. Army Ranger now working for the Office of Secret Actions (OSA), a fictional version of the Office of Strategic Services. In Return to Castle Wolfenstein, he was voiced by Matthew Kaminsky, and in Wolfenstein by Peter Jessop.

In movies
In 2005' German movie Der Goldene Nazivampir von Absam, William "B.J." Blazkowicz (portrayed by Daniel Krauss) tracking down Nazi scientists in secret laboratories located in the Austrian Alps, in order to disclose the secret of "miracle weapons" and Dracula's bones, and to find that events occurring in the Kottlitz Castle are beyond imagination.

Character's importance for PC gaming industry
Widely recognized face of the avatar directly in the player's view, well-defined as caucasian male with a military background became a basis for further of number of other FPSs (First Person Shooter). The same were End Of Dragons, Blake Stone, Doom II, released shortly after. Michael Hitchens from Macquarie University regarded them as "B.J.'s Family".