Angus MacGyver - Personality

Personality

The character is portrayed as an outspoken advocate of gun control, although the pilot episode shows MacGyver using a gun on a mission shown in the opening gambit, but only as a distraction by rigging it to fire into the air. Even in cases where his improvised devices are used to attack hostile opponents, he is always doing so in self-defense and, if possible, subduing or disabling rather than killing. He is often suspicious of militaristic attitudes within the government; he sees his Phoenix Foundation employer as an alternative to the more conventional (and violent) means of law enforcement.

MacGyver is also passionate about social causes, having on several occasions volunteered to help the less-privileged. For example, he conducts hearing research at a school for deaf children, and helps out in a mountain excursion for delinquent youths.

MacGyver's persistence and the improvisational nature of his plans make him difficult to thwart, as his nemesis Murdoc pointed out, because not even MacGyver himself knows what he's going to do next. Unlike stereotypical "macho" or stoic action heroes, MacGyver exhibits open fear in perilous situations and shows pain after a fight.

MacGyver is proficient to a greater or lesser extent in Russian, German, French, Italian and American Sign Language, and knows how to use International maritime signal flags and Morse code. He's an avid outdoorsman with skills including snow skiing, fishing, nature hikes and camping, living off the land, and despite his acute fear of heights he's highly skilled at mountain climbing. His other hobbies include ice hockey, racing, and has shown an interest in the arts of painting and guitar, as shown in the episode "The Negotiator". The guitar is an instrument he's played since he was a child, as stated in "The Madonna".

His (iconic) haircut is that of a "mullet", in a clean-cut, lightly gelled variation on the classic hairstyle.