Ian Gallagher

Ian Clayton Gallagher was born in 1996 in Illinois, and is the third oldest child in the Gallagher family. He is presumably the product of a PCP-fueled affair between his mother Monica Gallagher and Frank Gallagher's brother, Clayton Gallagher, in the summer of 1995. Ian has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder; he currently refuses to visit the doctor and does not believe he needs to take medication. For these reasons his behavior has been erratic and out of control, worrying his family. He is a high school drop out, having left his education behind when he illegally enlisted in the army at the end of Season 3. While in the army, Ian attempted to steal a helicopter, and was a wanted criminal on at least two charges: attempted theft of government property and impersonating his older brother, Phillip Gallagher. He has been in an on-again-off-again relationship with the aggressive neighborhood thug, Mickey Milkovich. Quiz

Ian is not as intelligent as Lip, but he is more physically fit. He is described by Frank to having an excellent work ethic in nearly everything he does. He is often uncertain of what he wants to do in his life, but once he makes a goal for himself he goes after it 100 percent.

Ian is also self-conscious of his bipolar condition, which he inherited from his mother and often feels inadequate as it prevents him from certain things. He sometimes refuses to admit that he has a problem when his condition causes him to go off his usual path.

Ian gets along with all his siblings who were aware of his sexuality long before he revealed it and accepted regardless. He is closest to Lip and Fiona but does get along with his younger siblings and often help shield them from Frank's influence. Ian was devastated by the betrayal of Samantha Slott who told the army of his AWOL choices. However, he did try to redirect Samantha's son Chuckie Slott from his misguided views from juvie.

Like his siblings, Ian resents his father Frank for his neglect and his treatment of him since his mother Monica left them. For some time, Ian felt his father despised him the most. However, he was greatly surprised to learn Frank wasn't his biological father but rather his uncle. After meeting his presumed father (Frank's brother), Ian chose not to broach the subject and accepted Frank was his father, just as Lip and the others are his siblings. Interestingly enough, Frank also claims Ian is still his son while not scorning his sexuality and accepting him no matter what. Despite stating he hates him, Ian was worried when Mickey plotted to kill Frank for discovering he was gay. Ian also warned Frank of the danger he was in but listened to his father's words about his life. Ian was even present for Frank's time in the hospital when it looked he was going to die from liver failure and even seemed sad. However, he went back to his usual reaction to Frank after he got a new liver and survived. After Frank ruined Fiona's wedding, Ian took part in throwing Frank off the bridge, he wasn't surprised to see him alive when he returned and didn't try to help him in his moment of pain. Ian also expressed pleasure in Frank's disownment until Frank took revenge by taking Liam and blocking the family out of the house. This tension skyrocketed to the point where he and Lip were tortured by Frank with a raccoon and Frank created a new family while sending him away. Ian's anger mellowed when he introduced Trevor to Frank and still called Frank his father. However, his dislike remained as he tried to attack his father after he tried to return home but soon relented and slowly forgave his father when he helped Liam and fix the house. Ian made full amends with Frank after seeing his grief at Monica's death and hearing him express pride in them, despite their past. In the month after, Ian was also surprised to see Frank put in the effort to change and saved him along with the rest of the family from an armed meth-head while realizing Frank was holding back on him for years in his attacks on him. Though not entirely convinced but grateful for the rescue, Ian seemed to encourage Frank's actions and was pleased that he put in the effort to bond with Liam. Regardless, Ian does show that he cares for Frank and was pleased to see him happy when he turned his and Mickey’s wedding. When Ian discovered that Frank was suffering from dementia, he appeared concerned and no longer became hostile towards Frank showing a deep down that he does love him.