Reni Wassulmaier is a main character in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and a DJ for Flashback FM circa 1998 in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
She is voiced by Barbara Rosenblat.
History
Background
Reni was born a woman, presumably in Munich, Germany. Prior to 1984, she had her first sex change to become a man, later transitioning back to a woman, and then a man again. Surgical sex changes date back to Berlin, Germany as early as 1930, though the surgery is generally considered irreversible in real life, as opposed to Reni's multiple transitions. In Europe, she became famous for shooting avant-garde art films which included child torture in a Berlin pizza parlor and a rhinoceros making love to a neon sign. On Flashback FM, she also mentions having been a prostitute and being in pornographic films (while female).
Events of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Reni eventually moved his entire production company to Vice City, where he produced commercials and "edgy" pop music videos. Frankie served as his assistant throughout much of this time. His associates included Ricardo Diaz, a drug supplier, Diego Mendez, another drug dealer and former lover, Barry Mickelthwaite, the manager of Phil Collins who slept with Reni in Monaco while drunk, Spitz, another film director who was also interested in buying coke, Vic Vance, a drug dealer who Spitz put Reni in contact with and Gonzalez, another drug dealer Reni was in contact with.
Eventually his life was threatened by Diego Mendez, who was at war with Vic Vance, but mainly because Reni put Vic in contact with Ricardo Diaz, a major rival of Diego and his brother Armando. Coincidentally, he admitted to Vic that he and Diego used to be an "item" when Reni was a woman. Vic protected him until he received his fourth sex change into a woman once more and she returned to Europe to be a porn star.
Events of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
For most of the 1980s and 1990s, Reni had a promising career in adult film. In 1998, she became the DJ for Flashback FM in Liberty City, where she talked extensively about her own sexual experiences (like having to poison her pet dog as a child before being abused by her uncle). Sometime between 1998 and 2001, she was replaced by Toni as the DJ. Her life after this point is unknown.
Non-chronologically, this was her first appearance in the Grand Theft Auto universe, around which the rest of her character was built.
Character
Influence
The name Reni Wassulmaier may be based on that of Leni Riefenstahl, a controversial German director. It may also be a reference to the actress Renée Zellweger.
Reni's appearance and mannerisms may have been based on Grace Jones, Pete Burns and Boy George, 1980s artists known for their characteristic androgynous appearances, with the former being known for her sexualized performances, photo shoots, and demeanor.
Mission Appearances
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- Accidents Will Happen (Boss)
- Turn on, Tune in, Bug out (Post-mission pager message)
- The Colonel's Coke (Boss)
- Kill Phil (Boss)
- Say Cheese (Boss)
- Kill Phil: Part 2 (Boss)
- Blitzkrieg Strikes Again (Post mission pager message)
- So Long Schlong (Boss)
- In the Air Tonight (Boss)
Gallery
Trivia
- Reni is one of five radio DJs in the Grand Theft Auto series who have appeared in person. The others are Vladivostok FM's DJ Paul, Jesco White from Rebel Radio, Lazlow Jones, and DJ Pooh from West Coast Classics.
- In Grand Theft Auto V, Reni is one of the honored celebrities on the Vinewood Walk of Fame.