The protein kinase Cs (PKCs) are variously involed in the control of cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis (i.e., programmed cell death). This review focuses on the seemingly special roles of the novel PKC-δ in apoptosis (and cell proliferation) emphasizing its endoproteolytic processing, its subcellular compartmentalization, the factors that influence it, and its behavior in response to various apoptosis-inducing agents. Its behavior is discussed against the background of what we know about the roles of the other PKC isoforms in apoptosis.