Robert Patrick Modell

Xfiles character


name=Robert Modell
affiliation=None
first=Pusher
last=Kitsunegari
portrayer=Robert Wisden

Robert Patrick Modell, also known as Pusher, is a character from the TV show, "The X-Files". He is played by Robert Wisden. He appeared in Season 3's Pusher and returned in Kitsunegari.Strangely, actor Robert Patrick, who would later play Agent John Doggett, shares the same first and middle name as Modell's first and last, "Robert Patrick" Modell.

Modell has the ability to alter human perception and telepathically control people. Before he attained this ability, he was just an average, though ego centered, Joe. He joined the military, with the intent of becoming either a Navy SEAL or a Green Beret, but washed out of both programs and served the remainder of his enlistment as a supply clerk at Fort Bragg. After a general discharge from the military, he applied to the FBI academy, but failed the psychological evaluation. Some time after, Modell developed a brain tumor, which brought on his abilities. His power was mainly transmitted through the use of his voice, and he needed to consume high amounts of energy bars and drinks, as the ability was quite taxing. He began working as a self-employed hitman, naming himself "OSU" (a Japanese word, meaning "to push"), after his method of "pushing" people, by use of his mental abilities, into killing themselves (the translation into Japanese to reflect his fascination with bushido). After leading Mulder and Scully on a cat and mouse chase, he lured Mulder into a game of Russian Roulette. Mulder eventually managed to break free of Modell's mental hold and shoot Modell, putting him into a coma.

For about two years, Modell is incarcerated in a seemingly vegetative state. After he secretly returned to normal mental functioning and regained his abilities, he escapes. Mulder and Scully are again assigned to catch Modell, as they believe he is out to cause more havoc. However, it is discovered that Modell is not trying to kill again, but escaped in order to stop his fraternal sister, named Linda Bowman and who also had the same power, from revenge-killing Mulder and Scully. Before this is learned, however, Bowman was placed in protective custody, as it was believed that Modell was out to kill her. Modell eventually confronts his sister, during which he is caught and wounded by a gunshot from Skinner. Modell is then hospitalized, and Bowman follows him there, where she mercy-kills Modell by telling him to stop his heart. She is later apprehended by Mulder and Scully.