Basie — Empire of the Sun Character Profile

About Basie

American hustler who takes in the orphaned Jim. Initially intends to abandon him but later bonds closely within the internment camp. Observes Jim's survival attempts, places a winning bet on his life, and eventually flees the camp, leaving Jim behind.

Basie — Character Profile

Character Facts

Played by

John Malkovich

Appears in

Empire of the Sun (1987)

Role

Protagonist

Relationships (4)

• Basie — Alliance Partner — Jim (Christian Bale)

  Hustler and survivor who becomes Jim's primary companion and protector.

• Basie — Alliance Fellow Prisoner — Dr. Rawlins (Nigel Havers)

  Co-inmates who share the same national identity and internment fate.

• Basie — Alliance Fellow Prisoner — Mrs. Victor (Miranda Richardson)

  Share the same camp environment and forced relocation route.

• Basie — Alliance Partner — Dainty (Ben Stiller)

  Part of Basie's inner circle of expatriate hustlers and camp survivors.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of Empire of the Sun

More characters from Empire of the Sun

• Jim (Christian Bale)
• Mrs. Victor (Miranda Richardson)
• Dr. Rawlins (Nigel Havers)
• Kamikaze Boy Pilot (Takatarô Kataoka)
• Frank Demarest (Joe Pantoliano)
• Tiptree (David Neidorf)
• Cohen (Ralph Seymour)
• Dainty (Ben Stiller)
• Maxton (Leslie Phillips)
• Mr. Radik (James Walker)
• Sgt. Uchida (Guts Ishimatsu)
• Mr. Lockwood (Robert Stephens)