Real names of televison characters

[Shoeless]

I've been watching my DVDs of Season 1 and 2 of "NewsRadio" this weekend. There was an episode where Bill MacNeil announced Catherine Duke's age on the air on her birthday. She spent the rest of the episode trying to get back at him. She eventually gets ahold of a copy of his birth certifcate and learns not only his birth date, but that his real first name is "Evelyn".

This prompted me to remember a similar situation with a couple of characters on "Night Court". In one episode we learn that Dan Fielding's real name is "Reinhold", and in another episode Bull Shannon's real name was revealed to be "Nostradamus" (after the famous hunchback ;) ).

And of course there is "Cosmo" Kramer from "Seinfeld", who only went by his last name for several seasons.

So, any other TV characters you can think of where during the course of the series we find out their "real name"?

[NDP]

During this last season on The Simpsons, we learned the Comic Book Guy's real name is Jeff Albertson.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

This prompted me to remember a similar situation with a couple of characters on "Night Court". In one episode we learn that Dan Fielding's real name is "Reinhold", and in another episode Bull Shannon's real name was revealed to be "Nostradamus" (after the famous hunchback ;) ).

In an earlier Night Court, Dan Fielding's real last name was revealed to be "Elmore," and he changed that to distance himself from his simple, "Ma and Pa Kettle"-like parents and humble, rural beginnings. The "Reinhold" revelation came later, and everyone reacted by laughing at him -- probably as a joke at the expense of series creator Reinhold Weege.

[Steve Wright]

I'm not sure if it's even mentioned in the TV shows, but Reggie Perrin's boss C. J. is "Charles Jefferson" ...

(The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, and sequels)

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

On Arrested Development, GOB's name is actually an acronym for "George Oscar Bluth," and younger brother Buster Bluth's real name is Byron.

[Hail Ants]

During this last season on The Simpsons, we learned the Comic Book Guy's real name is Jeff Albertson.We did?! Which episode was this in, cause I must've missed it...

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

We did?! Which episode was this in, cause I must've missed it...
It was the most recent Super Bowl episode, where Flanders directed bloody religious epic movies like Passion of the Christ.

[Troy McClure SF]

During this last season on The Simpsons, we learned the Comic Book Guy's real name is Jeff Albertson.

I could be wrong, but I thought is was Jeff Anderson.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I could be wrong, but I thought is was Jeff Anderson.

Albertson (http://www.tv.com/simpsons/homer-and-neds-hail-mary-pass/episode/346864/summary.html)

[Peter Morris]

The Smoking Man in The X-Files was eventually named as CGB Spender.

[KJ]

I don't know if they made a big deal of it like with Kramer, but I remember an episode of Futurama where they reveal that Leela's full name is Turanga Leela.

[Snowboarder Bo]

In one episode we learn that Dan Fielding's real name is "Reinhold", and in another episode Bull Shannon's real name was revealed to be "Nostradamus" (after the famous hunchback ;) ).

<nitpick> Nostradamus was the seer, Quasimodo was the hunchback.

[The Hook]

<nitpick> Nostradamus was the seer, Quasimodo was the hunchback.

That's the joke.

[RealityChuck]

Though it's listed in the IMDB, most people don't know that in Gilligan's Island{/b], the Skipper's real name is Jonas Grumby and the Professor was Roy Hinkley. Their names were mentioned in the first couple of episodes, but never again.

Bob Denver is on record as saying Gilligan's first name was "Willy," though it was never used in the show, and some dispute that.

Though we don't know his first or last name, the middle name of the Chief from [b]Get Smart is "Thaddeus." The IMDB does mention this, but does not indicate it's his middle name.

[Peter Morris]

In one of the later episodes of Columbo, someone asks what his first name is, and he replied : Lieutenant

[Hoops]

I don't know if they made a big deal of it like with Kramer, but I remember an episode of Futurama where they reveal that Leela's full name is Turanga Leela.

This has got to be one of the most obscure references in pop-culture history. The name is taken from the great (IMO) French 20th century composer Olivier Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2005/Jan05/Turangalila.htm).

It actually is somewhat appropriate, as some parts of it have kind of a science fictiony quality (it features, for example, an Ondes Martinot, an early electronic instrument that sounds quite a bit like the iconic Theremin with its early sci-fi movie associations).

(And for those who doubt, here's (http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening93.html) an interview with Matt Groening in which he specifically mentions Messiaen.)

[want2know]

ALF 's real name is Gordon Shumway.And the real name of "Speed" (Felix & Oscar's poker buddy on "The Odd Couple") is Homer Deegan.
"Whaddya think, my mother named me "Speed"?"

[Earl Snake-Hips Tucker]

Columbo's first name has been revealed to have been ''Frank','' sorta (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6271305&postcount=14)

"Sarge's" real name from "Cleopatra 2525" was "Rose."

"Lamont" from "Sanford and Son" didn't have a first name. Fred and Elizabeth had decided on "Lamont" for a middle name, but never got around to picking a first name.

"The Soup Nazi's" real name was "Yev Kaseem."

"Thurgood Stubbs's" middle name from "The PJs" was "Orenthal."

[Hail Ants]

It was the most recent Super Bowl episode, where Flanders directed bloody religious epic movies like Passion of the Christ.Has this episode not been rerun yet, because I did miss it!

More than CBG's name, I definitely would have remembered Ned saying, "I'm like Michael Moore, except I'm skinny, my jeans are washed, and God loves me."

[Dr. Rieux]

On The Rockford Files, Angel Martin's real first name was Evelyn.

[JThunder]

Potsie = Warren Weber

[Superdude]

No one's mentioned that Shaggy is really Norville Rogers?

Or that MacGuyver's first name was Angus?

[Margaret Drysdale]

Though it's listed in the IMDB, most people don't know that in Gilligan's Island{/b], the Skipper's real name is Jonas Grumby and the Professor was Roy Hinkley. Their names were mentioned in the first couple of episodes, but never again.

Bob Denver is on record as saying Gilligan's first name was "Willy," though it was never used in the show, and some dispute that.

Though we don't know his first or last name, the middle name of the Chief from [b]Get Smart is "Thaddeus." The IMDB does mention this, but does not indicate it's his middle name.

and isn't Thaddeus the "T" in Capt. James T. Kirk? Although that's along the lines of unknown middle names, like Richie "Rosebud" Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

I think that Mary Ann's last name was Summers. I'm pretty sure in one episode they hear their names on the radio, but I could be wrong.

[aruvqan]

and isn't Thaddeus the "T" in Capt. James T. Kirk?

Tiberius

[Superdude]

and isn't Thaddeus the "T" in Capt. James T. Kirk? Although that's along the lines of unknown middle names, like Richie "Rosebud" Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

I think that Mary Ann's last name was Summers. I'm pretty sure in one episode they hear their names on the radio, but I could be wrong.


The "T" stands for Tiberius.

Speaking of Gilligan's Island, wasn't it revealed once that Mrs. Howell's real first name isn't Lovie?

[RealityChuck]

I don't believe it was ever established the "Lovie" was her actual name; it was merely Howell's nickname for her. The IMDB gives her actual first name as "Eunice."

[cmkeller]

B. J. Hunnicutt's (from M*A*S*H) initials stand for Bea (his mother's name) and Jay (his father's name).

[Mahaloth]

B. J. Hunnicutt's (from M*A*S*H) initials stand for Bea (his mother's name) and Jay (his father's name).

Though Hawkeye doesn't believe this.

[Superdude]

I don't believe it was ever established the "Lovie" was her actual name; it was merely Howell's nickname for her. The IMDB gives her actual first name as "Eunice."

I recall very distinct reading somewhere (I'll try to dig up the cite) that Lovie WAS her real name, but they identifed her as Eunice on a radio broadcast the Professor picked up.

[Linus Van Pelt]

The Master Speaks (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971031a.html)

[Miss Mapp]

After many years of dodging the question, Inspector Morse finally revealed that his first name was Endeavor (he was named after Captain Cook's ship).

[Annie-Xmas]

On Roseanne, Mark Healy's younger brother was initially introduced as "Kevin." Later, when he became Darlene's boyfriend, he was "David."

Roseanne later said that "David's not even his real name. It's just something Darlene started calling him." Obviously someone caught the mistake.

[plnnr]

Richie Petrie, son of Rob and Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, has an unusual middle name: Rosebud. They did an entire show on it (he got it because all of his relatives wanted him to be named after them and so they put the first letters of all their names together and came up with "Rosebud").

[GuanoLad]

In the British version of Dear John (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090416/combined) Kirk St. Moritz's real name was Eric Morris.

It really annoyed me that the character in the US version was named Kirk Morris, completely losing the joke of the name in the first place.

[scott evil]

Venus Flytrap: Gordon Sims.

[Garfield226]

On Roseanne D.J. Connor's initials stand for David Jacob. On Full House D.J. Tanner's initials stand for Donna Jo (or Joe).

On that show, Jesse was initially introduced as Jesse Cochrain (that's a phonetic spelling...), but later on when it became more convienient for him to be of Greek heritage it changed to Jesse Katsopilous (again, phonetic). There was also an episode which revealed each of Jesse, Joey and Danny's middle names, but I can't recall what they were.

[Acsenray]

In the British version of Dear John (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090416/combined) Kirk St. Moritz's real name was Eric Morris.

It really annoyed me that the character in the US version was named Kirk Morris, completely losing the joke of the name in the first place.

What's the joke?

[Annie-Xmas]

On Roseanne D.J. Connor's initials stand for David Jacob. On Full House D.J. Tanner's initials stand for Donna Jo (or Joe).

On that show, Jesse was initially introduced as Jesse Cochrain (that's a phonetic spelling...), but later on when it became more convienient for him to be of Greek heritage it changed to Jesse Katsopilous (again, phonetic). There was also an episode which revealed each of Jesse, Joey and Danny's middle names, but I can't recall what they were.

When Full House started Jesse had a band. It was established that "Cochrain" was his (non-ethnic) stage name, and his real last name was Katsopilous.

I've always wondered about D.J. Tanner's paternity. Her middle name is "Joe," and she looks an awful lot like Joey.

Homer J. Simpson's middle name is "Jay."

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

On wrestling:

Hulk Hogan - Terry Bollea
Shawn Michaels - Michael Higginbotham
The Rock - Dwayne Johnson
Stone Cold Steve Austin - Steve Williams
Triple H (Hunter Hearst Helmsley) - Paul Levesque
Kane - Glen Jacobs
Undertaker - Mark Calloway
Hurricane - Gregory Helms
Lita - Amy Dumas
Edge - Adam Copeland
Akio - Jimmy Yang
Eugene - Nick Dinsmore
Chris Jericho - Chris Irvine
Rob Van Dam - Robert Szatowski
Raven - Scott Levy
Farooq - Ron Simmons

[Cliffy]

I don't know if they made a big deal of it like with Kramer, but I remember an episode of Futurama where they reveal that Leela's full name is Turanga Leela.

Also, Fry's full name is Philip J. Fry and Dr. Zoidberg's first name is John.

--Cliffy

[plnnr]

In Sex In The City , Mr. Big's real name is revealed to be "John" in the last scene of the last episode.

[Mangetout]

There was a big thing about secrecy over the first name of Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse - it was revealed to be 'Endeavour' in one of the later episodes.

[Dewey Finn]

On Roseanne D.J. Connor's initials stand for David Jacob.

I assumed that D.J. was named for his father and the nickname stood for Dan, Junior.

[Nonsuch]

I assumed that D.J. was named for his father and the nickname stood for Dan, Junior.
No, DJ's teachers (when seen) always referred to him as "David Jacob."

And David (née Kevin) Healey's middle name was Maurice.

Ace's real name (from Doctor Who) is Dorothy, a pun on the Wizard of Oz-like way in which she was thrown into the future.

[Scott Plaid]

Ace's real name (from Doctor Who) is Dorothy, a pun on the Wizard of Oz-like way in which she was thrown into the future.Actually, her full name is Dorothy Gale, another reference.

[Mangetout]

Oops; I think I misunderstood the intent of this thread; please ignore my post above.

[Scott Plaid]

Albertson (http://www.tv.com/simpsons/homer-and-neds-hail-mary-pass/episode/346864/summary.html)Actuaaly, his name is Louis Lane. Except, it isn't, it is Albertson, after all. Weird (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6123301&highlight=Albertson#post6123301) .

[Scott Plaid]

Actually, her full name is Dorothy Gale, another reference.Whoops, I misremembered. That was an alias. http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/acedorot.htm

[WOOKINPANUB]

On Friends, there was a joke about Chandler's middle name. Anyone remember what it is?

[Cliffy]

Chandler's middle name is Muriel.

--Cliffy, whose real name is Alex

[ouryL]

Wasn't McGyver's name the same as his grandfather's? :confused: :confused: :confused:

[monster]

On Cheers, Norm's first name is Hilary.

[Superdude]

The Master Speaks (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971031a.html)

Well, there ya go. I suppose both sides could claim victory. Or defeat.

[Annie-Xmas]

Mrs. Brady was Carol Martin Tyler Brady. Yet her (and Mr. Tyler's) daughters were called Brady from the first episode.

[Annie-Xmas]

Another one from Roseanne--Her younger sister was always called Jackie. In one episode, their mother Bev revealed that Jackie had been named Marjorie (or was it Mary Jane?). Two year old Roseanne heard the name and thought they were saying "My Jackie."

Jackie: So you'll telling me you don't even remember what my real name is?

[Acsenray]

Another Cheers one -- Eddie Lebeck's real name was Guy Lebeck (pronounced, a la Francaise, to rhyme with "key").

[Morbo]

Dr. Johnny Fever from WKRP's real name was John Caravella.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Dr. Johnny Fever from WKRP's real name was John Caravella.And had to look at his coffee mug to remember who he was!

[Peter Morris]

Anyone remember the British comedy series Chelmsford 123 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094432/) set in Roman Britain? The leaderof the Britons was Badvoc. Except that in one episode we meet Badvoc's brother Basil, and learn that his parents were obsessed with herbs. Badvoc is really called Rosemary.

[rjung]

Though it's listed in the IMDB, most people don't know that in Gilligan's Island, the Skipper's real name is Jonas Grumby and the Professor was Roy Hinkley.
In a related vein, the teacheer on The Greatest American Hero was originally named Ralph Hinkley. After President Reagan was shot, however, his name was temporarily changed to "Ralph Handley" for about a half-dozen episodes, IIRC.

[Earl Snake-Hips Tucker]

This chap (http://clampettstudio.com/images/opc/june2004/wb/27)-RC2741-Gossamer.jpg) had no given name in his first cartoon appearance. In his second appearance, which was so innnnnnnteresting, he was called "Rudolph." Many years later, he was called "Gossamer" in different cartoon. That's the name that stuck.

[Odinoneeye]

Star Trek: Scotty's full name is Montgomery Scott. (I won a trivia contest with this once)

[Phèdre nó Delaunay]

"Hoss" Cartwright's real first name is Eric.

[GuanoLad]

In a related vein, the teacheer on The Greatest American Hero was originally named Ralph Hinkley. After President Reagan was shot, however, his name was temporarily changed to "Ralph Handley" for about a half-dozen episodes, IIRC.
That's when they began calling him "Mr H".

What's the joke?
That he named himself after a resort in Switzerland. And he pronounced it incorrectly.

[astorian]

The real name of Batman's enemy, the Mad Hatter, was Jervis Tetch.

In one episode of "Get Smart," 99 gives her real name as Susan Hilton... but by the end of the episode, she's revealed that isn't her real name, after all.

On "All in the Family," Archie Bunker's best friend is Stretch Cunningham. Archie doesn't find out until the day of Stretch's funeral that Stretch was Jewish, and that his real name was Jerome Kuhner-Chaim.

[Oslo Ostragoth]

In Sex In The City , Mr. Big's real name is revealed to be "John" in the last scene of the last episode.
I plead ignorance here, having never seen the show: was there a character actually addressed by other characters as "Mr. Big"?

[Antonius Block]

After many years of dodging the question, Inspector Morse finally revealed that his first name was Endeavor (he was named after Captain Cook's ship).Good call, but with a slight nitpick:


Actually, it's Endeavour. Although usually I wouldn't make a big deal of the "o/ou" US/UK difference, in this case it's relevant because
It's the name of a historical ship.
In the episode in which it is revealed, Morse gives the clue that it is an anagram of [i]"Around Eve"[i], which only works with the UK spelling.

[I *love* Sgt. Lewis' response when he learns Morse's first name. "You poor sod."]

[Marley23]

I plead ignorance here, having never seen the show: was there a character actually addressed by other characters as "Mr. Big"?
I wasn't a regular viewer, but I think that was just the name Carrie made up for him when discussing their relationship with the others. He was a prominent businessman and I guess she wanted to keep his identity a secret.

[Earl Snake-Hips Tucker]

The Master Speaks (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971031a.html)

Uh-huh. The source is not Sherwood Schwartz, nor either of the by-then-deceased Howells, but Russell Johnson. He only played a guy who knew everything. He wasn't that way in real life. Unless there's further corrobboration, I wouldn't give that much credence.

[Cliffy]

I plead ignorance here, having never seen the show: was there a character actually addressed by other characters as "Mr. Big"?

Not to his face, but that was the name the characters used when talking about him, and his actual name was unrevealed until the last episode.

Sex in the City was based on the book and New York Observer column of the same name by Candace Bushnell, who wrote about her own life pseudononymously in the column. For a while she dated publishing bigwig Ron Galotti and gave him the nom de guerre Mr. Big in her column. When Bushnell assembled a book from her columns, Mr. Big was a major character, and so when the book was adapted for television, he was included.

I liked how they handled the alias in the book better -- "Mr. Big" was just the guy's name, and he introduced himself that way. In the show, the writers sometimes had to do backflips to avoid having any character use Big's name when he was in the room. I guess it makes sense, though -- you can imagine when reading that all the names are just substitutes, but on screen it's awkward to do the same thing.

--Cliffy

[Acsenray]

In a related vein, the teacheer on The Greatest American Hero was originally named Ralph Hinkley. After President Reagan was shot, however, his name was temporarily changed to "Ralph Handley" for about a half-dozen episodes, IIRC.

"Hanley," I think.

[Acsenray]

I plead ignorance here, having never seen the show: was there a character actually addressed by other characters as "Mr. Big"?

He was referred to as "Mister Big," but the show took pains to avoid having any of the characters address him by name. The character was based on publisher Ron Galotti, I understand.

[cmkeller]

Chef's (from South Park) real name is Jerome MacElroy.

[Swede Hollow]

Bob Denver is on record as saying Gilligan's first name was "Willy," though it was never used in the show, and some dispute that.

The name "Willy" was never used in the TV show, but it was mentioned in the original treatment that was used to sell the story to the networks. The Howells didn't have a name at that point, but Willy Gilligan was named.

Also, Cecil's article (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971031a.html) gives the name as "Dr. Roy Hinkley", but he was a Professor and never a Doctor.

Source: The extras in the DVD sets.

[kunilou]

In one episode of "Get Smart," 99 gives her real name as Susan Hilton... but by the end of the episode, she's revealed that isn't her real name, after all.

And in another episode, Max calls her "Ernestine" which obviously touched her. Until she pointed out that wasn't her name, either.

[Sternvogel]

On the sitcom One Day at a Time, Pat Harrington played apartment building superintendent Dwayne F. Schneider. After several seasons, Schneider revealed that his middle name was Flo, after showman Florenz "Flo" Ziegfeld.

By the way, Chris Noth played Mr. Big on Sex and the City.

[Earthing Continuity Resistance]

Ned Flanders' full first name is Nedward. Heh.

[Loopus]

RealityChuck: Where do you get that "Thaddeus" was the Chief's middle name? I remember that the name comes from a couple of episodes when the previous (old and kinda senile) Chief of CONTROL visits and constantly calls the Chief "Thaddeus," harkening back to the days when the Chief was a mere agent and his name wasn't classified. I always thought it was his first name.

Also, Cecil's article gives the name as "Dr. Roy Hinkley", but he was a Professor and never a Doctor.
But he was a PhD, and PhDs may properly be called "doctor."

I distinctly remember an episode where there was a bit in which the Professor says something like, "I got a BA from USC, a BS from UCLA, an MA from SMU, and a PhD from TCU."

[Sampiro]

Since I came in to mention the two that are in the OP, I guess I'll have to go with another...

At risk of solving a mystery some may not want solved, Fred G. Sanford's middle-name was

Glenn

My reason for saying this: as most S&S enthusiasts know, Redd Foxx (born John Elroy Sanford) named the character for his older brother, Fred G. Sanford, Jr., who died in an accident in 1963 (thus ironically immortalizing a middle aged factory worker as an old junk man). That was his brother's middle name. (Lamont was named for Lamont Ousley, one of Redd's oldest friends and former show biz partners- according to one source he considered the name Malcolm after his former friend and co-worker Malcolm Little [aka "Detroit Red", aka Malcolm X] but decided it was too militant [Foxx disagreed with Malcolm's politics/religion and the two never spoke after working together in the 40s).

[DrMemory]

nobody mentioned Hawkeye's name? He was Benjamin Franklin Pierce

[Acsenray]

Also, Cecil's article (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971031a.html) gives the name as "Dr. Roy Hinkley", but he was a Professor and never a Doctor.

Most professors are also correctly identified as "Dr."

[Monkey Chews]

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Oz's real name was Daniel Osbourne.

In the final episode of The Nanny, it was revealed that CC's name was Chastity Claire.

[BobLibDem]

The Honeymooners were Ralph Francis Kramden and Ed Lilywhite Norton.

[Nonsuch]

The Honeymooners were Ralph Francis Kramden and Ed Lilywhite Norton.
And Trixie's first name was actually Thelma.

[Superdude]

According to IMDB, Boomhauer's first name has never been revealed on King of the Hill, but many websites list it as Jeff.