# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/41 "2011-08-21T03:00:29Z")
Quality Assurance Representative, ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/42 "2011-08-21T03:02:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Quality Assurance Representative, Creed from The Office, but I suppose he’s a supporting character. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/43 "2011-08-21T03:05:26Z")
How about a printer? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/44 "2011-08-21T03:07:31Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > How about a printer? What kind of printer or doesn’t it make a difference? In Catch Me If You Can, he printed money…does that count? ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/45 "2011-08-21T03:16:11Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Dietitian > Bikini waxer Not quite the same thing, but I remember a made-for-TV movie about a young woman who was studying to become a electrolysis technician. Looking over IMDb, I want to say it was [Breathing Lessons](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breathing_Lessons). > [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > Some off the top of my head, but I could be wrong: > > Foundry worker. Most of the guys in [The Deer Hunter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deer_Hunter) were foundry workers. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/46 "2011-08-21T03:18:18Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > In “Californication,” the second female lead (or maybe she’d be third), Charlie Runkel’s ex-wife, is a waxer. The OP specified professions by the lead character. On Califonication the lead is Hank, no? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/47 "2011-08-21T03:19:22Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > Wasn’t the first Bob Newhart series him as a Psychiatrist? When his character was married to Suzanne Pleshette. > > ETA ninja’d by **hajario** As I recall, in that show, Bob was a psychologist. He had a Ph.D. in psychology (which allowed him to counsel patients), but not the MD that would let him prescribe medications, like Frasier and Niles Crane; both of whom were psychiatrists. It is my understanding that a psychiatrist is an MD who specializes in mental health; while a psychologist is not an MD, but one who can counsel people as to mental health, without being able to write prescriptions. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/48 "2011-08-21T03:30:50Z")
Awesome thread! I came in to discuss Double Indemnity, but **hajario** beat me to it, as well. And as was pointed out, it wasn’t really about an actuary. Still, really good question. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/49 "2011-08-21T03:32:04Z")
Wasn’t Chandler Bing an actuary? Before he went into advertising, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/50 "2011-08-21T03:34:12Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > How about a printer? J. Jonah Jameson owns his own printing presses, so he’s a printer as well as a publisher. He’s not the lead character in **Spider-Man** , though… How about Charles Foster Kane? ---
**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, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/51 "2011-08-21T03:34:56Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > Snow remover . Homer Simpson/ Mr Plow ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/52 "2011-08-21T03:40:20Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Quality Assurance Representative, > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Creed from The Office, but I suppose he’s a supporting character. Homer Simpson at some point…? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/53 "2011-08-21T03:43:20Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Bikini waxer Definitely not a lead character, but Suzanne Whang did a wonderful job playing the bikini waxer at the hotel on the _Las Vegas_ television series. In addition to Dr. Frasier Crane, Billy Crystal’s character in _Analyze This_ and _Analyze That_ is a psychiatrist. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/54 "2011-08-21T03:44:01Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Industrial Engineer. I think Engineers of all sorts are underrepresented - Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil etc. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/55 "2011-08-21T03:44:14Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Alto Trombonist. > Bass Flautist. Paul Sand played a symphonic musician in **Friends and Lovers** ; I forget which specific instrument, though. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/56 "2011-08-21T03:47:03Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > I think Engineers of all sorts are underrepresented - Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil etc. Hank Morgan, **A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court**. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/57 "2011-08-21T03:47:44Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Industrial Engineer. The 1950 film _Cheaper by the Dozen_ was about the industrial engineer Frank Gilbreth and his family, although obviously it focused more on family life than on his professional life. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/58 "2011-08-21T03:48:38Z")
How about reckless maverick cop with drinking/marital problems? Can’t be too many of those… ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/59 "2011-08-21T03:49:43Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The 1950 film _Cheaper by the Dozen_ was about the industrial engineer Frank Gilbreth and his family, although obviously it focused more on family life than on his professional life. He was a self-described “efficiency expert,” although that might be the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/60 "2011-08-21T03:50:21Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Wasn’t Chandler Bing an actuary? Before he went into advertising, I mean. Statistical analysis and data reconfiguration. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442.md?page=4)