Bruce Harwood :: Character Guides

John Fitzgerald Byers was born on November 22, 1963 in the town of Sterling, Virginia. He was named after John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated on that same day. Byers idolized Kennedy, but he was always curious about Kennedy's true cause of death.

Until 1989, Byers worked as a public affairs officer for the FCC in Baltimore, Maryland. It was then that he met and fell for Suzanne Modeski at a computer electronics show. Suzanne worked for the Army Advanced Weapons facility as a scientist and looked to him to help stop one of the developments that was being used on innocent civilians. He was helped by Melvin Frohike and Richard Langly, and while the group succeeded, Modeski was kidnapped. From that point, the group had a desire to reveal the truth, and that led to the formation of "The Lone Gunman" newsletter. The newsletter gave information on conspiracy theories and governmental cover-ups. This move estranged Byers from his father.

Byers is hardly ever seen without his suit and tie, and is easily the most clean and well-kept member of the Lone Gunmen. He often goes undercover whenever the group needs somebody who looks respectful and professional. He is a specialist in biology and chemistry, and is also able to interpret strands of DNA.

In the episode "Jump the Shark," all three of the Lone Gunmen died when they sacrificed themselves to save thousands of people by using fire doors to seal themselves in a hallway with a man carrying the plague created by terrorists. Skinner arranged for the three to be buried at Arlington International Cemetery to honor their bravery.