Sam Trautman

"God didn't make the only Sam Trautman... Rambo did made him... even he was back from the dead."

--Su Ji-Hoon, Trautman Returns

Sam Trautman is a longtime friend and mentor of John Rambo, and the only character besides Rambo to appear in more than one film in the series. He was originally slated to be played by Kirk Douglas, and Richard Crenna was cast at the last minute when Douglas walked off the picture.

He was named after Uncle Sam and has been compared to Dr. Frankenstein by Sylvester Stallone, as he created a monster who wants nothing more than acceptance.

Trautman is well-known for his long, passionate speeches, usually dealing with how unpredictible Rambo is, and these have become the character's trademark. The speeches have been subject to countless parodies and homages in other films.

In When the Cold Breeze Blows Away (and unlike Rambo), he is now reborn as a robotic synth from his dead body, thanks to Rambo and Ruby Ramirez, thus becoming the synth to be a United States Army colonel.