You’re probably here because you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or deep-diving into a subreddit and someone mentioned Thomas from Squid Game. It sounds like a simple enough query. You’d think a show that literally became the biggest streaming sensation in history would have a character list as clear as day.
But here’s the thing. There isn't a character named Thomas.
At least, not in the way you might think. If you rewatch the entire first season of the Netflix hit, scouring the subtitles for a "Thomas," you’re going to come up empty-handed. No player. No guard. No VIP. It’s a bit of a Mandela Effect moment for the internet.
So, where did this come from?
The Mystery of Thomas from Squid Game Explained
The "Thomas" phenomenon is actually a fascinating look at how internet memes and mistranslations take on a life of their own. Usually, when people are hunting for information on Thomas from Squid Game, they are actually looking for one of two things: a specific background actor who became a viral sensation or a total fabrication from a "Squid Game" parody/mod.
Let's talk about the background actors first. Squid Game featured hundreds of players, many of whom were non-Koreans living in Seoul. These actors often go uncredited in the main cast lists. Fans often assign Western names to background players they find attractive or intriguing. We saw this happen with "Player 067" (Jung Ho-yeon) before her name was widely known, and it happened with several of the "VIP" actors as well.
However, there is a much weirder explanation.
Was He a Deleted Character?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: People love a good conspiracy. There was a rumor circulating on Discord servers and some smaller fansites that a character named Thomas was supposed to be an American player who infiltrated the games. The theory claimed he was cut during the final edit to keep the focus strictly on the Korean debt crisis.
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Honestly, it’s total fiction.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk has been incredibly transparent about the script's decade-long development process. He has discussed deleted scenes and alternate endings, such as Gi-hun getting on the plane. Not once has he mentioned a "Thomas." The show is a tightly woven allegory of South Korean society. Inserting a random Westerner named Thomas into the player pool wouldn't have just been a distraction; it would have diluted the specific social commentary the show was aiming for.
The VIP Connection and Misidentification
If you're dead set on finding a Thomas from Squid Game, the closest you'll get is among the VIPs. These are the masked, wealthy foreigners who arrive in the later episodes to watch the carnage.
The actors playing the VIPs included:
- John D. Michaels (VIP 1)
- Daniel C. Kennedy (VIP 2)
- David Jensen (VIP 4)
- Geoffrey Giuliano (VIP 4 - the one who interacts with Jun-ho)
None of their characters are named Thomas in the script. They are simply numbered. But because their acting was... let's say divisive... they became the subject of intense online scrutiny. It's highly likely a fan-edit or a "Who is this actor?" thread mistakenly labeled one of them as Thomas, and the name stuck in the SEO ether.
Why the Internet Can't Let Thomas Go
The internet is a giant game of telephone.
Someone makes a "Squid Game in Roblox" video. They name their character Thomas. That video gets five million views. Suddenly, thousands of kids are searching for Thomas from Squid Game thinking he’s a secret character or a legendary player from a spin-off.
Then you have the "Squid Game" clones. Since the show's release, there have been hundreds of mobile games and YouTube challenges using the branding. Many of these use generic Western names for their protagonists. If you played a knock-off version of the "Red Light, Green Light" game, you might have literally played as Thomas.
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But in the canon of the Netflix series? He doesn't exist.
Real Players You Might Be Thinking Of
If you’re trying to remember a specific guy and the name "Thomas" is just the only thing popping into your head, you might be thinking of these actual characters:
The Math Teacher (Player 062): He’s the one who tries to use logic and probability during the Glass Bridge game. He has a very distinct, intellectual vibe that some viewers associated with a "Thomas-type" character.
Abdul Ali (Player 199): While his name is obviously Ali, he is the primary "outsider" character. As a Pakistani migrant worker, he represents the non-Korean experience within the games. If you’re remembering a character who felt like they didn't "fit" the traditional Korean demographic of the show, it's Ali.
The Front Man's Brother (Hwang Jun-ho): The police officer. He’s the one we follow for most of the B-plot. While his name is Jun-ho, some international fans who struggled with Korean names early on might have substituted a familiar Western name when discussing the show with friends.
The Impact of Squid Game Season 2
With Season 2 finally hitting screens, the search for Thomas from Squid Game has spiked again. Why? Because the new cast has been announced, and people are looking for returning characters or names they might have missed.
The new cast includes heavy hitters like Im Si-wan and Kang Ha-neul. Again, no Thomas.
The reality is that Squid Game is a global phenomenon that transcends its original language. This leads to a lot of "lost in translation" moments. Sometimes, a name just captures the collective imagination of a niche part of the fandom, even if it has no basis in reality.
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How to Fact-Check Squid Game Characters
If you want to be sure you aren't chasing a ghost, stick to these sources:
- The official Netflix cast list.
- The ending credits (though you'll need a translation app for some).
- The official Squid Game screenplay books (which were released in Korean).
It’s easy to get sucked into the "secret character" rabbit hole. YouTube is full of "Top 10 Secret Characters in Squid Game" videos that are 100% clickbait. They use red circles and arrows to point at background extras and claim they are "Thomas" or some other invented figure. Don't fall for it.
What You Should Do Now
If you were looking for a specific actor to follow their career, your best bet is to look up the Player Number instead of the name. Every single person in that show—even the extras who died in the first five minutes—has a number.
- Identify the scene where you saw "Thomas."
- Pause and look for the three-digit number on his tracksuit.
- Search "Squid Game Player [Number] actor."
- Check IMDb under "Full Cast & Crew."
This is the only way to find the real person behind the mystery. You’ll often find that these background actors are incredibly talented people who have been working in the Korean indie scene for years.
Honestly, the hunt for Thomas from Squid Game is a perfect example of how we interact with media in 2026. We don't just watch a show; we remix it, meme it, and occasionally, we invent people who were never there in the first place. It’s kinda wild when you think about it.
Stop looking for a ghost. Start looking for the numbers. That’s where the real stories are.
Actionable Insight:
To accurately track down any obscure character from a foreign language series, always cross-reference the character's designated ID (like a player number) on sites like MyDramaList or IMDb, rather than relying on fan-generated names from social media. If a name doesn't appear in the official Netflix subtitles, it is likely a fan-created alias or a mistranslation.