Sander Cohen

 Summary

One of the more entertaining characters of Bioshock, Sander Cohen was specifically chosen by Andrew Ryan to become a part of Rapture due to his amazing artistic talents.  Before Rapture's descent into anarchy, Cohen owned an art gallery in the Fort Frolic portion of Rapture, produced multiple theatrical performances (Including "Patrick and Moira", which is most likely where Frank Fontaine coined the names of his pseudo family from).  Cohen held an outstanding envy and hatred toward a rival performer, known as Anna Culpepper.  She referred to Cohen as "Ryan's Songbird."  Having ties with Andrew Ryan, Cohen had Security Chief Sullivan kill her in order to remove her from the picture.

When Rapture descended into madness, Cohen went insane partly due to the side effects of splicing and also the lack of appreciation he felt that he and his work deserved.  As such, he assumed control of Fort Frolic and locked it down, sealing in the remaining survivors there after being given the key to the area by Andrew Ryan.  Cohen had four disciple (Silas Cobb, Martin Finnegan, Hector Rodriguez and Kyle Fitzpatrick), who he orders the main character (referred to as Cohen's "little moth") to kill and take pictures of their corpses in order to complete his Quadtych masterpiece.  Upon it's completion, Cohen reveals himself (and it can be seen that he has a unique character model when compared to Dr. Steinman or Professor Julie Langford).  Although killable, if he is left alive in Fort Frolic, Cohen will appear again in his apartment in Olympus Heights, saying "I hear your wings, flapping in my home.  Flip flap flip flap flip flap.  Come into the light little moth.  Come in..."

Some conceptions about Cohen include that he is partly based off of the surreal artist, Salvador Dali, as well as he may be a homosexual who loved Ryan.  While the latter conception cannot be proven, there are possible hints in the game such as multiple recorded messages of characters referring to him as an "Old Fruit" as well as Cohen referring to Ryan as the "man I once loved." 
 

Trivia 

• If the player leaves Cohen alive, he will allow the player to access a secret room in his apartment with a power to the people station. If he is killed, it is inaccessible.

  
Sander Cohen's physical appearance is based off  the real life impressionist artist Salvador Dali, while his name derives from George Cohan a real life playwright , actor ,composer, and dancer.