Nate Ford is a former insurance investigator who has found a new purpose in life by helping the down-trodden get even against corrupt bigwigs. Because of his previous job, Nate is well-versed in the techniques thieves and grifters use, and he puts those skills to use through the complex schemes he and his team use. He is talented at playing characters and inserting himself into any situation, but he also has problems controlling his passions, as well as his drinking. But, when it comes to the latter, he is finally showing signs of recovery. As the first season came to a close, Nate called upon his ex-wife to help the team bring down the insurance exec they blame for the death of their son. Now that he has found some closure on that issue, he's ready to begin the process of accepting himself as a thief.Nate has strong if somewhat repressed feelings for Sophie, fellow 'Leverage' colleague and grifter extraordinaire. He adores sparring with her, and both seem to enjoy the somewhat combative, but deeply caring relationship they developed over the years of him chasing her as an insurance investigator. He at last kisses her right before going to jail at the end of season two, but she is apparently still angry enough about his plan to get himself arrested and wary enough of his alcoholism potentially resurging to avoid becoming involved with him romantically on a more physical basis. Otherwise, Nate is the 'father' of the rest of the team. He provides the sense of safety, security and human decency that neither Parker, Eliot, nor Hardison ever knew in a father before. Show less «