In "The Princess Bride", what is the name of the hero?

In The Princess Bride, the hero's name is Westley. He begins the story as a farmhand in love with Buttercup, but after leaving to seek his fortune, he returns under the identity of the mysterious Dread Pirate Roberts. His apparent death and later reappearance drive the film's central romance and adventure.

Westley is played by Cary Elwes in the 1987 film. He uses disguises, swordsmanship, wit, and perseverance to rescue Buttercup from Prince Humperdinck and confront the threats surrounding her. The character is often remembered for his calm declaration of devotion and for the repeated exchange associated with his identity, but his defining role is the resourceful romantic hero.

Directed by Rob Reiner, The Princess Bride adapts William Goldman's 1973 novel, which Goldman also adapted for the screenplay. The film combines romance, fantasy, comedy, swashbuckling adventure, and a framing story in which a grandfather reads the tale to his sick grandson. Fezzik and Inigo Montoya are important allies, while Prince Humperdinck is the principal antagonist—not the hero.