Gary Camacho

Gary Camacho was the eldest son of Rodney and Kelly Camacho and the older brother of Scott Camacho. A kind-hearted and fatherly individual, Gary had always been considered wise beyond his years and a role model to anyone who knew him. His fascination with war planes led him to pursue a career in aeronautics — however, he was drafted into the Vietnam War and was forced to leave his parents and young brother. Despite being apart, Gary maintained a strong relationship with Scott and communicated with him primarily through mail, serving as Scott’s primary source of advice and comfort. Following the end of the war, Gary chose to stay in Vietnam to help its citizens rebuild, but was eventually taken hostage by a violent rebel group and was killed when he took the bullet for another hostage. Gary’s death led to the Camacho family moving to Sunnyvale for a fresh start, and it was his absence that was the primary source of Scott‘s inner struggle as a child and teenager.

A framed image of Gary served as an object of comfort for Scott through his childhood and adolescence, which he talked to when he felt lonely. For a long time, Scott is incredibly attached to it, so much that when the frame is accidentally dropped and shattered by Richard when the two of them are 18, Scott becomes so distraught that he demands Richard to leave him alone. It is after this that Scott begins to realize just how much he has been clinging to the past -- so much that it is hurting Richard. Scott's inner turmoil over the loss of his brother -- which is reignited during this argument after a long period of stagnance -- is not settled fully until after Stuart Greenhill has taken him and Richard hostage. After Scott knocks himself partially unconscious after tipping over in his chair and hitting his head on the ground, he is engulfed by a vision of white, during which Gary's spirit comes forth and speaks to him and revealing Scott's inheritance of their grandmother's abilities. Gary gives Scott anchoring words and advice, providing him with the comfort he needed all of this time, but also insisting Scott take control of the situation or Richard will perish. He gives Scott his signature pocket knife that had once been lost in Vietnam before the vision fades, the only proof of it being the physical knife in Scott's bound hands, which he uses to cut his binds before freeing himself and later killing Stuart.

Gary's spirit visits Scott periodically, but not very often, because he does not want Scott to live in the past. Richard is unable to see him, but due to his supernatural connection, he is able to sense Gary's presence.

Trivia

 * Gary is the only one in his family who did not need or wear glasses
 * He takes light inspiration from Disney character Tadashi Hamada.