| "Curly always said you were a good kid. Curly's in the reformatory for the next six months." |
| — Tim to Ponyboy before the rumble. in The Outsiders, page 139 |
Timothy "Tim" Shepard is one of the greasers, a minor character in The Outsiders, and runs a subsection of the Greasers, "The Shepard Gang" that frequently teams up with Ponyboy Curtis' gang.
Appearance
Tim is described as "catlike," with curly black hair and dark blue eyes. His nose had been broken twice (three times as of the rumble which took place near the end of the novel). He has a long scar from his temple to his chin where he was belted with a broken pop bottle. He is eighteen years old, three years older than his little brother, Curly Shepard, who is said to resemble him.
Even though he is described as having curly black hair in the book, in the movie he appears to have long brown hair.
Personality
Tim is one of the few that enjoys being a hood, and he is the leader of the Shepard gang. He has a grim and bitter smile, like Dallas Winston and the Brumly Boys. He's a strict leader who always makes sure his gang abides by the rules.
He has a neutral relationship with Ponyboy's gang, and was once found in their living room in the morning, reading the newspaper. He has a little brother named Curly, who was in the reformatory for the whole of the book.
In The Outsiders
Tim is first seen at the drive-in where he is looking for Dally, since he slashed Tim's tires. Later that night it is revealed that Tim was at Buck's where Dally was, and had broken Dally's ribs.