Dr. Abraham Erskine is a supporting character in the Marvel Studios film Captain America: The First Avenger. A key figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is the scientist responsible for developing the Super-Soldier Serum that turns Steve Rogers into Captain America. He is portrayed by Stanley Tucci.
History[]
Dr. Abraham Erskine was a Bavarian scientist during the rise of Nazi Germany. Nazi officer and head of HYDRA, Johann Schmidt, forced Erskine to give him his prototype of the Super Soldier Serum. Unfortunately Erskine's formula transformed Schmidt into a madman and gave rise to his nickname, the Red Skull. After that Erskine fled to America eventually settling in Queens, New York.
When World War II started, Erskine joined the U.S. government's Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) under Colonel Chester Phillips. Erskine was at the Modern Marvels of Tomorrow Exhibition when Steve Rogers was enlisting for the fifth time. Dr. Erskine later asked Rogers if he wanted to kill Nazis. When Rogers said that he didn't like bullies, Erskine approved Rogers' draft card as 1-A. At Camp Lehigh, Phillips didn't like the idea of bringing a frail boy into this, but Erskine was sure that he had made his choice for the Super Soldier program.
After Rogers is selected, Erskine came to the private quarters to offer Steve a drink from Ausburg, but didn't give it to him because the experiment was tomorrow so Steve couldn't have any liquids. Erskine tells Rogers of his early experiments, Schmidt, and his reason why he chose Steve for the experiment.
Death[]
Erskine's experiment proved to be successful and Rogers' body was enhanced to the peak of human physical perfection. However, State Department representative Fred Clemson was actually a HYDRA spy sent to assassinate Erskine and steal the Super-Soldier serum. He blew up the observation booth to cause a distraction and then shot the doctor before snatching the last vial of serum and fleeing. As Dr. Erskine lay dying, he reminded Rogers to stay true to who he was, not the perfect soldier but a good man.