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Percy Jackson

Percy Jackson is a fictional demigod and the title character of Rick Riordan’s *Percy Jackson & the Olympians* series.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Percy Jackson is a fictional demigod and the title character of Rick Riordan’s *Percy Jackson & the Olympians* series. He is the son of the mortal Sally Jackson and the Greek god Poseidon, and serves as the narrator and protagonist of the core novels. The character has also appeared in later books, films, and a Disney+ television adaptation.

Character overview

Percy Jackson is a fictional Greek demigod who is the central character in Rick Riordan’s fantasy novels. He is known as the protagonist, narrator, and title character of the original series.

Book series

Percy is the focus of *Percy Jackson & the Olympians*, a five-book series published from 2005 to 2009. He also appears in later related works, including *The Senior Year Adventures*.

Age and identity

Percy is first introduced as a 12-year-old boy in *The Lightning Thief*. Over the course of the original series, he grows from early adolescence to age 16.

Adaptations

Percy Jackson has been adapted into live-action films and a Disney+ television series. The character has been portrayed by Logan Lerman in the films and Walker Scobell in the series.

Key facts

  • Percy Jackson is the main protagonist and narrator of the *Percy Jackson & the Olympians* series.
  • He is a demigod, the son of Sally Jackson and Poseidon.
  • He is introduced at age 12 in *The Lightning Thief* and is 16 by the end of the original five-book series.
  • Rick Riordan created the character for the *Camp Half-Blood Chronicles*.
  • The character has been adapted for film and television, including portrayals by Logan Lerman and Walker Scobell.
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Canadian context

The series is widely read in Canada and is commonly found in Canadian school and public library collections.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Percy Jackson?
Percy Jackson is a fictional demigod and the main character in Rick Riordan’s *Percy Jackson & the Olympians* series. He is the son of Sally Jackson and the Greek god Poseidon.
How old is Percy Jackson?
He is 12 years old in *The Lightning Thief*, and 16 by the end of the original five-book series.
What is Percy Jackson about?
The series follows Percy, a demigod who discovers his identity and becomes involved in quests and conflicts involving Greek mythology, gods, monsters, and other demigods.
How many Percy Jackson books are there?
The original *Percy Jackson & the Olympians* series has five books.
Who wrote Percy Jackson?
Percy Jackson was created by Rick Riordan.
Is there a Percy Jackson movie?
Yes. Percy Jackson has been adapted into feature films, and there is also a Disney+ television series based on the books.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Jackson
    Supports: Character identity, creator, role in the series, age in first and last original novels, and adaptations.
  2. EBSCO — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/percy-jackson-and-olympians-analysis-major-characters
    Supports: Percy as a 12-year-old demigod, son of Poseidon, and character traits.
  3. LitCharts — https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-lightning-thief/characters/percy-jackson
    Supports: Percy’s age in *The Lightning Thief* and the basic premise of the first book.
  4. D23 — https://www.d23.com/meet-the-characters-of-percy-jackson-and-the-olympians/
    Supports: Disney+ adaptation details and Walker Scobell portrayal.
  5. SparkNotes — https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/lightning-thief/character-percy-jackson/
    Supports: Percy’s role as protagonist and the series premise.