Burton

Burton
Biographical information
Status	Alive
Gender	Male
Occupation(s)	Soldier
Affiliation(s)	FEDRA (formerly) Washington Liberation Front
Resides	Seattle, Washington
Behind the scenes
Appears in	HBO's The Last of Us (season 2)
Portrayed by	Ben Ahlers

Burton is a supporting character in the second season of HBO's The Last of Us.

Biography

Background and early life

Not much is known about Burton except that he was young enough that he had no memory of the early years after the outbreak of Cordyceps brain infection in 2003. He lived in Seattle by 2018 and joined FEDRA because he was so young, he was unaware of much of FEDRA's malicious practices and how they had taken away many of the citizens' rights in the city. He was deployed under Sergeant Isaac Dixon's command and was in the same squad as Janowicz.

Events of HBO's The Last of Us

Season 2

On patrol in an armored car, Burton listened to Janowicz's story of how his former sergeant Greenberg abused a group of religious people while on patrol. He asked why they called them "voters", which Janowicz didn't know, leading Isaac to reveal it was because of FEDRA taking away their right to vote. The car then stopped as the path was blocked by a school bus, with citizens who were members of the WLF, a local resistance group, approaching the car. Burton prepared to prime his assault rifle, but Isaac ordered the squad against it, revealing his intentions to talk to them. He then singled out Burton to join him on the promise that he would "learn something". Burton did so, keeping his rifle aimed at the WLF members. He watched as Isaac met their leader, Hanrahan and was shocked further as Isaac then tossed grenades into the armored car, killing the rest of the squad. Having openly defected from FEDRA to the WLF, Isaac then offered Burton the choice to join him. Burton chose to do so and helped the WLF overthrow FEDRA by 2024.

By 2029, he was present when Isaac tortured a Seraphite prisoner, fully supporting Isaac's decision to kill the man. Two days later, he and his patrol of five other WLF soldiers found a Seraphite male who had snuck behind their lines. They chased him through the streets, cornering him in the rain at a garage where Jesse and Ellie where hiding. Burton listened as the Seraphite surrendered to his squad and began to pray. Angered, he struck the man with his rifle and ordered his squad to strip him and drag him out into the rain.

Physical appearance

Burton was a young man with dark short hair and brown eyes. Idealistic, he tended to smile when listening to others. He initially wore FEDRA gear and carried an assault rifle in 2018. However, by 2029, he now wore WLF body armor but still used an assault rifle. However, he was bitter, tending to stand without expression when on guard duty.

Personality

Burton was initially young and naive, ignorant to the oppressive rule that FEDRA had over the citizens of Seattle. This naivety led Isaac to give him a chance to join the WLF rather than die with FEDRA. Burton did so but became more detached and has grown more cynical by 2029, sullenly supportive of murdering Seraphites and standing by to let Isaac torture them when possible.

Behind the scenes

Ben Ahlers, the actor who portrays Burton.

• Burton is portrayed by American actor and producer Ben Ahlers. His casting was officially announced by HBO on March 5, 2025.

Gallery

Official stills

Appearances

• HBO's The Last of Us
  • Season 2
    • Episode 4: "Day One" (first appearance)
    • Episode 7: "Convergence"