# 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:** 6
**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, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/101 "2011-08-21T15:46:08Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > How about a machinist? The Machinist ---
**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, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/102 "2011-08-21T15:46:52Z")
I’m assuming that’s a whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/103 "2011-08-21T15:47:49Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > 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). > Most of the guys in [The Deer Hunter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deer_Hunter) were foundry workers. As well as Rudy and his family before he went to Notre Dame. Actually, pretty much any film set in the Rust Belt. > [@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) Frasier? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/104 "2011-08-21T15:52:04Z")
Actuary: _About Schmidt_. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/105 "2011-08-21T15:52:26Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Has there ever been a prison movie where the guard is the main character. In every one I can think of, the main character was a prisoner, with the guards being secondary characters. Not a prison movie, but Andy Garcia’s character in City Island is a prison guard (corrections officer). > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Wait, what? You’ve got Jeff Bridges in **Tucker: The Man And His Dream** , Wentworth Miller in **Prison Break** , Ben Affleck in **Paycheck** , Robert Downey Jr in **Iron Man** , and I’m pretty sure Richard Dean Anderson qualifies in **MacGyver** : using his academic background to put out a fire in an oil well and rebuild the equipment easy as conducting environmental-impact studies and changing operations at a nuclear power plant, or whatever. The Aviator (Howard Hughes was an engineer). ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/106 "2011-08-21T15:55:05Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Landscapers are strangely underrepresented. You see the pool guys all the time, but never the landscapers. _Something New_, starred Simon Baker and Sanaa Latham and is a HOT HOT sexxxay movie. ---
**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, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/107 "2011-08-21T16:04:22Z")
nvm ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/108 "2011-08-21T16:11:31Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Alto Trombonist. > Bass Flautist. Woodwind doubler. These are the folks in your friendly neighborhood orchestra pit who must play saxes of every size plus either flutes/clarinets or double reeds. One of the more thankless tasks in music - all competency, no individuality. Those I’ve known are usually Type A+ personalities or drinkers. Might make a good Britcom, although musicians in general are a bit more relaxed over there. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/109 "2011-08-21T16:15:26Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > No one’s mentioned this yet, so I’m going to feed this one to myself. How about a machinist? > [@Joey\_P](#): > > The Machinist > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m assuming that’s a whoosh? [IMDB entry for The Machinist](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361862/) ---
**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, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/110 "2011-08-21T17:33:07Z")
> [@MostlyClueless](#): > > [IMDB entry for The Machinist](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361862/) I meant that I assumed that Joey P was aware of that film. ---
**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, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/111 "2011-08-21T17:44:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I meant that I assumed that Joey P was aware of that film. Yes, I was waiting for someone to mention that profession hoping to stump us, but so far no one said it, so I decided to lob it to myself…kinda like playing t-ball. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/112 "2011-08-21T17:54:07Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > If any show ever features a professional indexer as a main character, I will faint dead away. Are you okay with a fictional file clerk as a lead character, like in American Splendor? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/113 "2011-08-21T17:58:20Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Gynecologist This might be a bit of stretch, since he wasn’t actually a gynecologist in the film, but didn’t we find out at the end of **Animal House** that Eric Stratten became a Beverly Hills gynecologist? Oooh, wait… what about that movie with Richard Gere a few years back - **Dr T and the Women**? (Checks IMDB) Yup! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/114 "2011-08-21T17:58:41Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I think we should move this to a new thread and turn it into a game. > > Mention a profession. The next poster has to name a movie or TV show where the lead role has that profession then they pick a new profession for the next person. No need; we’re already doing this. This is great – my first reaction was “Well, I bet there are hundreds of unsung minor professions!” I hadn’t figured on the encyclopedic brains here. Carry on, brainiacs! digs …who’s wondering when someone here’ll mention a film with a (tortured-yet-heroic, deep-yet-fun) Pre-Press/Graphic Design professor… ---
**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, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/115 "2011-08-21T18:09:24Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > If any show ever features a professional indexer as a main character, I will faint dead away. Not sure if this is enough to make you faint, but I’ll point out that many professional indexers are former technical writers–and a technical writer was the lead character in [_Andy Richter Controls the Universe_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Richter_Controls_the_Universe). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/116 "2011-08-21T18:23:03Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Landscapers are strangely underrepresented. You see the pool guys all the time, but never the landscapers. Ditto roofers. The two male leads in the tv show “Raising Hope” have a landscaping business. They happen to do pools too but they are shown mowing lawns and leaf blowing etc. The main lead does quit the business but the other (his dad) continues as a landscaper. ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/117 "2011-08-21T18:26:28Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Does “farmer” count? Hank Kimball of Green Acres was an Extension Agent. They’re agronomists, right? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/118 "2011-08-21T18:28:51Z")
> [@Boer777](#): > > Veterinarian? > [@Krokodil](#): > > Uma Thurman, **The Truth about Cats and Dogs** The Uma Thurman character was a professional model. The Janeane Garofalo character had a radio show about pets. I can’t remember for sure if she was actually a vet, but she was apparently some kind of pet expert so probably so. The first pop culture veterinarian who spring to mind for me is James Herriot, whose semi-autobiographic books have been adapted for both film and television. The old _All Creatures Great and Small_ BBC series still runs on PBS in the US. I was about to say that Dr. Dolittle (originally a literary character, but adapted for film and television many times) is probably the most famous wholly fictional veterinarian, but IIRC that character was actually trained as a medical doctor for humans. So while his patients were primarily animals, he may not technically be a veterinarian. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/119 "2011-08-21T20:59:07Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Has there ever been a prison movie where the guard is the main character. In every one I can think of, the main character was a prisoner, with the guards being secondary characters. Brubaker Robert Redford is a new warden who comes in undercover as an inmate. how about a paving contractor? ---
**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, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/120 "2011-08-21T21:05:18Z")
> [@Cub\_Mistress](#): > > Brubaker Robert Redford is a new warden who comes in undercover as an inmate. Also there’s “The New Warden” the play/movie within the show Arrested Development. > [@](#): > > how about a paving contractor? Not a contractor, but a lot of the guys (including one of the main characters) work for the Parish (county) on True Blood. I believe we’ve seen them paving roads in the earlier seasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442.md?page=7)