Leon S. Kennedy, a prominent character in the Resident Evil franchise, made his debut in 1998's Resident Evil 2. Initially a rookie cop at the Raccoon Police Department, Leon found himself amidst a devastating zombie outbreak in Raccoon City, resulting in the death of his fellow officers. However, due to his remarkable skills in combating the infected, he was handpicked by STRATCOM to be trained as a highly skilled special agent. Leon's next appearance was in Resident Evil 4, where he embarked on a dangerous mission to rescue the President's daughter, Ashley Graham, from the clutches of the sinister Los Illuminados.
Over the course of the Resident Evil series, Leon has made appearances in various video games and movies, captivating the hearts of many fans. His enigmatic backstory has intrigued followers, leading to discussions about his true age as he continues to maintain a youthful appearance throughout the franchise. Fortunately, there is a logical explanation for this intriguing aspect of his character.
How Old is Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil?
Leon, born in 1977, joined the Raccoon Police Department at the age of 21 after graduating from a police academy in 1998. Following the events of Resident Evil 2, he appeared in the epilogue of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, which was believed to have taken place a few months later. During this encounter, a member of the US government approached Leon, seemingly recruiting him to become an FBI agent.
Fast forward six years, Leon found himself in a rural village in Spain on a mission to rescue Ashley from a religious cult known as the Los Illuminados. Based on calculations, he would have been 27 years old in 2004. While in Spain, both Leon and Ashley were captured and injected with Las Plagas, the same virus that infected the villagers. Although they received Antigen Medication to eliminate the virus, some fans speculate that traces of it may have remained in Leon's system, causing him to age slower or not at all.
Leon's most recent appearance in a video game was in 2013's Resident Evil 6, where he assumed the role of a Division of Security Operations agent. At that time, he was 36 years old. Although he survived until the end of the game, players have not encountered him in the two most recent Resident Evil installments. In contrast, his colleague Chris Redfield has been prominently featured. The only other instance where Leon made an appearance was in 2017's Resident Evil: Vendetta.
Fans of the Resident Evil series had to wait for the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 to once again assume the role of Leon. Based on the information available, it can be assumed that he is still alive, making him 46 years old in the year 2023. However, it remains uncertain when he will make his next appearance in the mainline games. Many fans were hopeful that Leon would be included in the Resident Evil Village DLC called Shadows of Rose, but unfortunately, he was absent from the game, which primarily focused on the characters Rose Winters and her father Ethan Winters.
Resident Evil Village took place in 2021, while Shadows of Rose was set 16 years later in 2037, marking the largest time jump in the franchise's history. This suggests the introduction of a new generation of characters in the Resident Evil series. If Leon were to continue appearing in future installments, he would be approximately 60 years old and potentially retired from his role as a special agent, unless the alleged infection had halted his aging process. However, there remains a possibility that Capcom may release an official conclusion for the previous Resident Evil era, featuring the original cast. It could even include a game where Leon and Jill Valentine find closure.