Dr. Nefario

Do-gooder

Full Name

Joseph Albert Nefario

Alias

Doctor Nefario

Origin

Despicable Me

Occupation

Owner of Criminal Records (formerly)

Gru's mad scientist and gadgeteer (later El Macho's, temporarily)

Powers / Skills

Genius-level intelligence (if not a little hard of hearing)

Inventing skills
Leadership

Hobby

Plotting evil schemes.

Kidnapping Minions (both formerly).
Helping Gru create weapons and cool vehicles.

Goals

Steal the Moon (succeeded/formerly).

Kidnap Gru's Minions for El Macho so he can mutate them and take over the world (formerly).
Stop El Macho with the help of his friends (succeeded).

Family

Unknown

Friends / Allies

Felonious Gru (best friend)

Minions
Margo Gru
Edith Gru
Agnes Gru
Miss Hattie (formerly)
Lucy Wilde
El Macho (formerly)
Gru Jr.

Enemies

Vector

El Macho
Evil Minions
Vicious 6:

Type of Hero

Supportive Scientist

“	El Macho: I am not afraid... of your jelly guns. Dr. Nefario: Oh, this ain't a jelly gun, sunshine.	„
	~ Dr. Nefario defeating El Macho

“	We have to warn Gru! And FAST!* (proceeds to ride his motorbike very slowly)*	„
	~ Dr. Nefario

Dr. Joseph Albert Nefario, simply known as Dr. Nefario, is a major character in Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me franchise.

He is an elderly, hearing-impaired scientist, gadget man and long time partner and best friend of Gru. Being hearing-impaired causes him to mistake Gru's order for cookie robots and a dart gun for "boogie robots" and a "fart gun", respectively. He did briefly leave Gru to work for El Macho before redeeming himself and returning to work for Gru.

Dr. Nefario also appears in the 2015 Despicable Me prequel Minions as a young man taking part in the 1968 Villain Con where he shows off his invention the Freeze Ray whilst being watched on by a then 8-year-old Gru.

He is voiced by Russell Brand who also voices E.B. and Creek. Boardwalk. In Despicable Me 4, Nefario is now voiced by Romesh Ranganathan.

Personality[]

Dr. Nefario is Gru's closest and most loyal friend who always comes to his rescue. He has a very high respect for Gru and even believes he is the greatest villain in the world, but he often doubts his abilities and motives. He is also quite eccentric with rather bad hearing due to his age, but although he seemed a little odd at times, he did not seem to be going senile.

Dr. Nefario doesn't like to be unproductive, as he has constantly been seen working on projects to aid in Gru's crimes, and even decides to work for someone else after Gru renounces his former life of villainy.

His accent suggests a British family lineage. Dr. Nefario seems to enjoy disco dancing and is even briefly shown doing so alongside Marlena Gru, and in the Boogie Robot scene.

Trivia[]

Danny DeVito, Laurence Fishburne, Ray Romano, Bill Murray, Albert Brooks, Brendan Fraser, the late Robin Williams, Antonio Banderas, Justin Long, Jason Lee, Tom Kenny, Rob Paulsen and Steve Martin were all considered for the role of Dr. Nefario before Russell Brand was cast.
His full name is confirmed on a concept poster designed by concept artist Gregory Georges.
Dr. Nefario being frozen in a giant block of carbonite in Despicable Me 3 is likely a reference to the Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back, when Han Solo is frozen in a giant block of carbonite.