# Favorite recurring TV character who was never seen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2006, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829 "2006-01-27T08:15:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Captain\_Wawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Captain\_Wawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Wawa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/41 "2006-01-27T21:47:29Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > We saw him once in silouette in a dark room…or perhaps he was an actor hired by the real RM, Higgins, to play him! Really? I can’t find of reference to this anywhere. Do you happen to know the episode, or what the story was? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/42 "2006-01-28T00:59:51Z")
Ralph the Archangel was Tommy Smothers supervisor on a short-lived Smothers Brothers sitcom. Ralph Orson provided the voice, but never the body, of Orson on _Mork and mindy_. Coulda been only one Ralph, though, I can’t find Ralph the angel on imdb… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/43 "2006-01-28T01:05:59Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Ralph Orson provided the voice, but never the body, of Orson on _Mork and mindy_. I think you mean [Ralph James](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0416850/). ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/44 "2006-01-28T01:31:03Z")
How about Lars Lindstrom–often mentioned on the Mary Tyler Moore show. As far as I can remember we never actually saw him. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/45 "2006-01-28T02:40:36Z")
The P.A. announcer on _M_A_S_H\*\*. From what location was this guy making the announcements? ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/46 "2006-01-28T07:45:17Z")
Going back to a short lived series - Moose from [Hot L Baltimore](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072512/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxxPUhvdCBMIEJhbHRpbW9yZXxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8aHRtbD0x;fc=1;ft=17). “Moose is upstairs buttering the Hallway!” ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/47 "2006-01-28T11:58:41Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > The P.A. announcer on _M_A_S_H\*\*. From what location was this guy making the announcements? For the most part that was Radar O’Reilly broadcasting from his office. Remember the episode where he was training Klinger on how to make the announcements? There was also the one where Radar became a DJ during the busy period. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/48 "2006-01-28T13:13:22Z")
The Millionaire on the 1950s TV series of that name was merely represented by someone and, I believe, not seen. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/49 "2006-01-28T13:14:45Z")
> [@Sgt Schwartz](#): > > For the most part that was Radar O’Reilly broadcasting from his office. Remember the episode where he was training Klinger on how to make the announcements? There was also the one where Radar became a DJ during the busy period. a lot of the announcements were made by an unseen individual, whose also appeared as a random wounded soldier on at least two different episodes. I can picture him but not think of his name ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/50 "2006-01-28T13:34:11Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > The Millionaire on the 1950s TV series of that name was merely represented by someone and, I believe, not seen. That squares with my memory. John Beresford Tipton (sp?) was the guy with the funds and Michael Anthony was the messenger. For whatever reason that actor and Martin Milner (of _Route 66_ and _Adam 12_ notoriety) are easily confused for me. Their names, not their appearance. Now I’ll have to go look them up! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/51 "2006-01-28T14:04:41Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > a lot of the announcements were made by an unseen individual, whose also appeared as a random wounded soldier on at least two different episodes. I can picture him but not think of his name You are thinking of Sal Viscuso as the unseen PA announcer. :smack: Can’t believe I forgot him. Too much time living MASH and not enough watching it, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/52 "2006-01-28T20:26:48Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > The P.A. announcer on _M_A_S_H\*\*. From what location was this guy making the announcements? And doesn’t the Colonel keep mentioning some guy named Ache-Cue? 😃 _ducks and flees_ ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/53 "2006-01-29T11:48:11Z")
Was Sekulovich ever seen on _The Streets of San Francisco_ ? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/54 "2006-01-29T13:56:31Z")
In The Nanny, Sylvia Fine’s hudband Morty is never seen except a few times from behind in order to make toupee jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/55 "2006-01-29T15:29:05Z")
There was a stretch of _Sanford and Son_ where the lead character was absent (Redd Foxx was in a contractual dispute with the network or something) but they kept the show going anyway. Every episode for months began with Lamont getting the mail, opening a letter, and saying “Well, Pop’s still visiting in St. Louis…” and then carrying on without the lead character. (eventually RF resolved the dispute and went back to the show) The only example I can think of apart from _Waiting for Godot_ where the lead character doesn’t appear. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/56 "2006-01-29T18:51:39Z")
> [@Patty O'Furniture](#): > > In The Nanny, Sylvia Fine’s hudband Morty is never seen except a few times from behind in order to make toupee jokes. Actually he is played in the second to the last episode by Steve Lawrence (of Steve and Eydie fame.) He appears and sings at Fran and Maxwell’s anniversary party. I think, but am not sure, that he also appears in an episode where everyone thinks Sylvia is having an affair with her doctor. Maris from \*Frasier \* is my favorite unseen character as well. But I always thought that Lara Flynn Boyle, with a little makeup to age her a bit, would have been perfect in the role. She’s skin and bones, and has the right attitude for it. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/57 "2006-01-30T06:37:26Z")
All the adult characters in the _Peanuts_ television specials. Even their offscreen voices have been replaced by sound effects. Their presence is pure suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829/58 "2006-01-30T15:43:37Z")
Something I read above reminded me of **The Red Green Show** , which boasted (boasts? is it still on?) a large unseen cast. Red told stories about lots of the people in town: Old Man Sedgewick, Moose Thompson, Junior Singleton, and of course Stinky Peterson, were often mentioned but never seen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-recurring-tv-character-who-was-never-seen/341829.md?page=2)