Paul Kersey is a fictional character created by author Brian Garfield. He is best known as the protagonist in the novel "Death Wish," published in 1972. Kersey is depicted as a mild-mannered architect who becomes a vigilante after his family is victimized by crime. The character gained further popularity through a series of films, starting with the 1974 movie adaptation starring Charles Bronson. In these films, Kersey takes the law into his own hands, seeking justice for victims of violent crime. The character has since become a symbol of vigilante justice in popular culture.