How Tall is the Mysterious Ghost in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2?
The elusive skull-masked British special forces operator known as Ghost towers at around 6‘2" or 1.89 meters in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series according to most sources. But behind this imposing height lies an even more imposing aura of mystery around Ghost‘s classified identity.
From SAS Soldier to Iconic Masked Mercenary
Very little is confirmed about Simon "Ghost" Riley‘s background prior to his dramatic debut in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Based on bits and pieces of intel, Ghost likely served with the elite British SAS special forces group before being handpicked by General Shepherd for the 141 Task Force due to his exceptional skills in urban combat tactics.
His stealthy expertise and proficiency in "cleaning house" earned him the nickname "Ghost" among his fellow Tier 1 operatives. This moniker reflected the silent, invisible nature of his lethal approach on covert missions.
SAS soldier height requirements. Image via Pinterest.
In fact, based on typical height standards for SAS operatives, Simon Riley fell squarely in the acceptable range standing at 6’2”:
SAS Height Requirements
| Height Range | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 5‘10" – 6‘2" | 68% |
| 6‘3" – 6‘6" | 29% |
| 6‘7" and above | 3% |
With his elite SAS combat training and distinguished service record, Ghost emerged as a critical part of the legendary Task Force 141 squad.
Masking His Identity
Ghost‘s signature look features a hand-painted white balaclava emblazoned with a skull. This menacing mask completely concealed his face and identity from enemies and allies alike.
Fans speculate on several theories behind the mask:
- To intimidate foes with his skeletal facade
- To protect his classified identity and role as a covert operative
- As a symbolic representation of the dangers he deals to enemies
- Possibly to allow multiple soldiers to assume the "Ghost" persona
On Task Force 141 missions, Ghost relied on his training in stealth infiltration, precision sniping, and CQB breaching to swiftly eliminate threats before they realized what was happening – earning him reputation as a veritable ghost haunting his enemies.
Ghost‘s signature skeleton mask. Image via Infinity Ward.
Under this mask, Ghost kept his real face concealed throughout the Modern Warfare series, adding to his mystique. Fans eagerly speculated about what lay behind the skull balaclava – until his reveal during the MW2 campaign remaster…
Multiplayer Model vs In-Game Height
An interesting discrepancy exists between Ghost‘s height in the MW2 single player campaign compared to the multiplayer mode.
In cinematic campaign scenes, Ghost appears to stand around 6‘2" tall, towering over other characters like Soap. However, his multiplayer character model is shorter – estimated to be 6‘0" or less based on model scaling.
This may simply be a development issue between scaling the character models for solo vs multiplayer gameplay. Or it could hint that maybe "Ghost" is portrayed by different soldiers in each game mode!
| Mode | Height |
|---|---|
| Singleplayer | ~6‘2" |
| Multiplayer | ~6‘0" |
No matter the mode, Ghost typically stands as one of the tallestoperators – perfect for intimidating enemies.
Simon "Ghost" Riley – The Man Beneath the Mask
Ghost‘s real name was finally revealed as Simon "Ghost" Riley in the Modern Warfare 2 comic book prequel series published in 2009 parallel to the game‘s release.
The comics depict Simon Riley‘s friendship with Lt. Simon "Soap" MacTavish from the SAS, and show how Riley later joined Task Force 141 under the callsign "Ghost" at Soap‘s recommendation due to their shared SAS history.
Ghost Riley unmasked in MW2 comic. Image via r/ModernWarfareII.
The comics establish Ghost as a witty, savvy soldier who watches his teammate‘s backs, though he remains an enigmatic loner within the unit. This characterization aligned closely with fan perceptions of Ghost from the games.
Ghost and Soap – Partners or More?
Ghost‘s close friendship with Simon "Soap" MacTavish made him a prime character for fanfic shipping. On Reddit and other fan communities, the r/SoapxGhost subreddit is devoted to fans who ship the two soldiers as possible romantic partners based on their nicknames and close camaraderie.
Analyzing their dynamic, Soap acts as the energetic young rookie contrasted by the calm, hardened Ghost as the veteran – a classic buddy cop pairing. Ghost calling Soap "Johnny" implies an intimacy beyond their military rapport. Whether as friends or more, Ghost and Soap demonstrate true brotherly bonds of trust and sacrifice.
Height Comparison – Ghost vs Captain Price
Ghost stands among the tallest of the Task Force 141 ops. For comparison, Ghost is taller than his teammate Soap by a few inches but remains shorter than the towering Captain Price, who reportedly stands at around 6‘4" based on statements by his real-life model actor Barry Sloane.
Fan height analysis of Price vs Ghost. Image via r/modernwarfare.
This height difference reinforces their personality contrasts, with Price as the bulky towering leader while Ghost operates as the swifter silent specialist.
Live Adaptations of Ghost
Several real-world actors and musicians have portrayed Ghost in live promotional materials and performances over the years.
In 2009 commercials, actor Craig Fairbrass voiced Ghost to promote MW2‘s launch. For live concerts, such as Dr. Dre‘s 2012 Coachella show, various taller musicians around 5‘9" have donned Ghost‘s signature mask and balaclava to perform classic songs from the MW2 soundtrack for crowds of cheering fans.
While their heights and faces remain classified, these performers help add to the mystique of Ghost‘s character by representing him in-person.
Unmasking Ghost in MW2R
Finally in 2022‘s release of the Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered, players experienced Ghost under the mask, if only briefly.
In the controversial mission "Loose Ends" where Ghost meets his demise, there is a quick scene where Ghost takes off his mask and looks at Soap before being gunned down. Underneath, Ghost was modeled after his original voice actor Craig Fairbrass but with some artistic liberties:
Ghost‘s finally revealed face in MW2R. Image via r/ModernWarfareII
Fans reacted strongly to this long-awaited reveal:
"Kinda looks like the love child of Craig Fairbrass and Ozzy Osbourne" – Reddit user km1s7
"They tried too hard to make him look cool. He looks like such a try-hard." – Twitter user @cod_fail
While Ghost‘s identity is finally visible, the reveal leaves many questions for fans as Infinity Ward moves forward with the Modern Warfare universe. Will this likeness remain Ghost‘s canon face, or could a new actor assume the role in future titles?
For now, the Ghost remains masked in mystery and towering in height over enemies and allies alike as he haunts the battlefields of the Call of Duty franchise.
