# Fictional heroes who are overweight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2021, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366 "2021-07-13T04:09:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/102 "2021-07-14T23:46:58Z")
And he posts here, too! ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/103 "2021-07-15T02:08:55Z")
[Fruitman!](http://majorspoilers.com/2007/04/22/retro-review-fruitman-special-1-december-1969/) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/104 "2021-07-15T12:11:27Z")
Santa? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/105 "2021-07-15T15:46:54Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Ninja’d you on Tuf, back in post #20. I did wonder how I sneaked that one in before you! So you did - bravo! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/106 "2021-07-15T18:27:38Z")
I’ve made quite a few recipes from that book, and they were for the most part delicious. True, the ingredients & methods are somewhat different from what we’re used to today, but apart from the Strasbourg Pie, they were hardly “made entirely of fat”. Here’s a thread where a Doper [hosted a dinner party with recipes from the book.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913) ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/107 "2021-07-15T18:42:10Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > . . . but apart from the Strasbourg Pie, they were hardly “made entirely of fat”. Well, yes. I was being a bit facetious (although “delicious” is in the palate of the taster, obviously). But certainly Jack Aubrey is often described as being overweight, dangerously so, by Maturin. Especially when on shore. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/108 "2021-07-15T18:46:40Z")
Indeed. “You portly men of a sanguine complexion often die suddenly, from unconsidered exertion in the heat. Apoplexy - congestion.” I wish, I wish you would not say things like that, Doctor," said Jack, in a low tone; they all looked at Stephen with some reproach and Jack added, “Besides, I am not portly.” “The captain has an uncommon genteel figgar,” said Mr. Marshall. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/109 "2021-07-15T18:47:45Z")
Jupiter Jones of the Three Investigators. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/110 "2021-07-15T18:50:33Z")
Huge three investigators fans in my youth. I was very disturbed to see that Alfred Hitchcock (also portly) had been replaced in recent editions. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/111 "2021-07-15T18:56:24Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Here’s a thread where a Doper [hosted a dinner party with recipes from the book.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-meal-for-captain-aubrey-and-friends/567913) Fond memories of my [dinner party](https://www.raggedclown.com/2011/01/17/the-captains-table/), still. Two favourites that I still make on occasion are: the eponymous Lobscouse which is absolutely delicious (and not that much fat) and a spotted dog (lots of fat). ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/112 "2021-07-15T20:53:58Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Stanley Yelnats in the book Holes by Louis Sachar. Not obese in the movie version. Which really detracted from his character, despite the film being otherwise good. And I’d say he does sort of count as a hero, rather than merely the protagonist. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/113 "2021-07-15T21:32:39Z")
Maybe not quite a hero, but Hyram Graff of the _Ender’s Game_ series (played in the movie by Harrison Ford, who was far too vain to put on a fatsuit.) I also seem to recall Sister Carlotta (of the _Ender’s Shadow_ series) as being pretty plump in the books, and she’s definitely a hero. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/114 "2021-07-15T21:38:39Z")
Melissa McCarthy has played a few overweight heroes: “The Hammer” from the Netflix movie, [_Thunderforce_.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Force_(film)#Cast) (Her partner, “Bingo”, is also played by an overweight actor). Susan Cooper from [_Spy_ (2015 film).](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spy_(2015_film)) Detective Connie Edwards from [_The Happytime Murders_.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Happytime_Murders) ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/115 "2021-07-15T22:33:22Z")
What kind of schtick was the name “Stanley Yelnats?” ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/116 "2021-07-15T22:44:41Z")
It makes sense in the book, which is well worth reading even if you’re not a young adult. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/117 "2021-07-15T23:18:40Z")
Stanley Yelnats is absolutely the hero of _Holes_. And I’m annoyed at myself for not thinking of him. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/118 "2021-07-15T23:35:02Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Stanley Yelnats is absolutely the hero of _Holes_ . And I’m annoyed at myself for not thinking of him. He’s one of the first I thought of too, just wasn’t sure what was meant by hero, but thinking about it more, he’s a good call. Protagonist doesn’t count, which is why I also ruled out Falstaff. Overweight protagonists is a different topic. Louis Sachar is an amazing YA writer. All of his books are definitely aimed at the younger end of YA fiction, but they deal with topics in a way that most adult fiction doesn’t, in a way that doesn’t bludgeon you with meaning. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/119 "2021-07-16T00:42:13Z")
Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexford is overweight in the first 6 books of the series; then he develops heart problems and is ordered to lose weight, which he does reluctantly over the next several books. Count Pierre Bezukhov in _War and Peace_ is described as awkward, “stout, heavily built”. He’s been played by actors who are on the heavier side like Anthony Hopkins, but also by slim ones like Henry Fonda and Paul Dano. Josh Groban wore padded shirts or coats to play him on Broadway. The 2016 BBC adaptation of _War and Peace_ was well reviewed and had a great cast, but too many of them, not just Paul Dano, don’t look like the characters described in the books. Blonde Lily James plays dark-haired Natasha; dark and sharp-eyed Tuppence Middleton plays Helene who’s supposed to be blond, very beautiful and slow. Jim Broadbent, who’ 6’2" and bulky, plays Prince Bolkonsky, who’s supposed to be small and thin. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/120 "2021-07-16T02:31:53Z")
There’s Bess in the original Nancy Drew books. I don’t know whether they changed her in the later ones. Not sure whether she counts as a hero; but IIRC she often did come through when it counted. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366/121 "2021-07-16T02:42:37Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Bess in the original Nancy Drew books. Pleasingly plump! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-heroes-who-are-overweight/946366.md?page=7)