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Engelburt "Burt" Jebbidiah Chance is the husband of Virginia, father of Jimmy Chance, grandfather of Hope and the grandson-in-law of Barbara June Thompson and one of the main characters in Raising Hope. He is portrayed by Garret Dillahunt.

Character Biography[]

Early Life[]

Burt was born to Ralph and Christine Chance on June 8, 1971. He has one older brother named Bruce, born sometime around 1968.

Teenage Years[]

Burt met Virginia when he was dating Virginia's cousin Delilah. Virginia eventually stole him away from Delilah.

Burt was 17 at this time, making him 18 at Jimmy's birth.

Personality[]

Despite his apparent lack of intelligence, Burt is a good man with a positive disposition. He deeply loves his wife Virginia and has remained faithful to her throughout the years (as evidenced when he admits to only ever sleeping with her). Burt is a devoted father and has a strong relationship with his son Jimmy.

Jimmy states that Burt and Virginia never made him feel that his birth was a mistake, which may contribute to him not wanting to abandon Hope despite their financial position ("Pilot"). Burt used to disguise himself every Halloween to scare Jimmy so he would run back to Burt for a hug. He admits to doing this because he sometimes missed how Jimmy would come to him and hold him tightly ("Happy Halloween").

Burt's love for his granddaughter is evidenced by his distress when Hope falls ill and Jimmy is unable to take her to the doctor due to not having any health insurance ("The Sniffles").

Although Burt is generally an upright man, he tends to flirt harmlessly with some of his female clients. However, realizing the effect this had on this family (given the disastrous results when Jimmy and Virginia try some flirting of their own), he stops, and allows Jimmy to take over that particular position ("Everybody Flirts... Sometimes").

Relationships[]

Parents[]

Burt's parents, Ralph and Christine, are always on him and are not overly proud of what he has done with his life, and they have made clear the fact that they like his brother Bruce more than they like him. He was conceived during a family event and his parents are actually third cousins ("Snip Snip").

Virginia Chance[]

Virginia and Burt have been together since their teens, and it was revealed that they got married while Virginia was in labor. They've been together ever since and are happily married with their son Jimmy and granddaughter Hope.

Jimmy Chance[]

Jimmy is Burt's son and was conceived during Virginia's friend's sweet sixteen party. Burt has always wanted more attention from Jimmy. Jimmy once worked for Burt. Jimmy chance is a HECK OF A GUY

Lucy Carlyle[]

The night that Hope was conceived, Jimmy was supposed to go out and get bubblegum ice cream, but that didn't happen when he met and had a one night stand with wanted serial killer Lucy instead after helping her escape from her boyfriend (that he thought was going to harm her).

The next morning Lucy pronounced the name of a "nutty Eurasian guy", which Burt finds funny, but after finding out about her serial killer tendencies, Burt becomes scared of Lucy and is later scared that Hope will turn out like her, but knows that will never happen.

Hope Chance[]

Burt has always been protective of his granddaughter Hope and deeply loves her. It is shown he's had concerns about Hope's behavior, but is not too worried.

Maw Maw[]

Burt deeply cares about Maw Maw and helps her with her dementia.

Trivia[]

  • Burt works as a professional landscaper and owns his own business.
  • If people tell Burt to think, all he can think of is the word "think".
  • In the episode "Blue Dots", while trying to get Hope into preschool, Jimmy looks online and it is revealed that Burt was once charged with statutory rape as he was 17 and Virginia was 15 when they conceived Jimmy. His blue dot gets revoked later in the episode.
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