# Any Professions NOT Used In Films/TV Shows For Lead Characters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442 "2011-08-20T17:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/1 "2011-08-20T17:18:22Z")
We of course have hundreds of films starring characters who are lawyers, singers, doctors, teachers, sports figures, cops, detectives, etc. Can you think of any profession that has NOT been used for a lead character in a film/TV series? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/2 "2011-08-20T17:40:49Z")
Define profession. \*The Life of Reilly \*featured someone who worked on an aircraft assembly line. Does that cover all plant workers on TV? Does \*Norma Rae \*cover all plant workers on film? I can’t remember ever seeing anything featuring a metalurgist, actuary, army quartermaster or payroll specialist. For that matter, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an HR rep in a lead role. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/3 "2011-08-20T17:40:54Z")
Butcher Baker Candlestick Maker Sommelier Sous-chef or, if we restrict ourselves to professions that require universtiy exams or earning a License: Land Surveyor HVAC engineer (=heating,ventilation and air con) Agronomist colonoscopy technician Sewage treatment plant operator (yes, it requires certification and a license) ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/4 "2011-08-20T23:08:54Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > For that matter, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an HR rep in a lead role. _The Drew Carey Show_ ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/5 "2011-08-20T23:11:10Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Baker _Pushing Daisies_ ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/6 "2011-08-20T23:22:49Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Sommelier Not specifically about a restaurant sommelier, but Sideways, Bottle Shock, and French Kiss are all about wine/vinyards. > [@chappachula](#): > > Sous-chef Chef from Apocalypse Now was a saucier. > [@chappachula](#): > > Butcher So I Married an Ax Murderer The Butcher’s Wife (obviously) > [@kunilou](#): > > army quartermaster Buffalo Soldiers Sgt Bilko ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/7 "2011-08-20T23:24:41Z")
Porta-pottie emptier. Is there an actual name for that? We used to call the truck they emptied the stuff into the “honey truck” when at Pennsic. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/8 "2011-08-20T23:24:56Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Sewage treatment plant operator (yes, it requires certification and a license) Ed Norton from The Honeymooners was a sewage worker. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/9 "2011-08-20T23:26:57Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Porta-pottie emptier. Is there an actual name for that? We used to call the truck they emptied the stuff into the “honey truck” when at Pennsic. Ready to Rumble staring David Arquet and Scott Caan. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/10 "2011-08-21T00:00:09Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I can’t remember ever seeing anything featuring a metalurgist … The female lead in the first Highlander movie, IIRC. > [@](#): > > , actuary, army quartermaster … Not a lead role, but an important one, Q in the bond movies is Quartermaster. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/11 "2011-08-21T00:04:09Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Porta-pottie emptier. Is there an actual name for that? We used to call the truck they emptied the stuff into the “honey truck” when at Pennsic. The wonderful Austrailian independent film Kenny is about an employee of a porta pottie company employee. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/12 "2011-08-21T00:05:24Z")
Industrial Engineer. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/13 "2011-08-21T00:12:23Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Butcher [Marty](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048356/) ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/14 "2011-08-21T00:19:40Z")
Psychiatrist / Psychologist. It seems the only ‘heroic’ shrink is Doc Samson. (I swear this is a trope, but 1) I’m too lazy to look for it and 2) I’ll spare you the tab explosion that is tvtropes) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/15 "2011-08-21T00:32:03Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > Psychiatrist / Psychologist. It seems the only ‘heroic’ shrink is Doc Samson. (I swear this is a trope, but 1) I’m too lazy to look for it and 2) I’ll spare you the tab explosion that is tvtropes) The Bob Newhart Show. ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/16 "2011-08-21T00:32:08Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > Psychiatrist / Psychologist. It seems the only ‘heroic’ shrink is Doc Samson. (I swear this is a trope, but 1) I’m too lazy to look for it and 2) I’ll spare you the tab explosion that is tvtropes) Wasn’t the first Bob Newhart series him as a Psychiatrist? When his character was married to Suzanne Pleshette. ETA ninja’d by **hajario** ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/17 "2011-08-21T00:42:28Z")
We’re still looking for a film starring someone as an actuary. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/18 "2011-08-21T00:48:53Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > We’re still looking for a film starring someone as an actuary. Double Indemnity. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/19 "2011-08-21T01:11:09Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > Psychiatrist / Psychologist. It seems the only ‘heroic’ shrink is Doc Samson. (I swear this is a trope, but 1) I’m too lazy to look for it and 2) I’ll spare you the tab explosion that is tvtropes) Also _Huff_. And _The Sopranos_. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/20 "2011-08-21T01:13:42Z")
I can’t recall ever seeing my profession in a lead role in either TV or film: stagehand. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442.md?page=2)