# I like fictional butlers/valets. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247 "2005-03-19T00:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/1 "2005-03-19T00:59:55Z")
Particularly I like the fictional highly intelligent, highly trained, hyper-polite, hyper-organised butler/valet of the misguided, self-important, bumbling (but likeable) toff. For these reasons I adore Jeeves (of Jeeves and Wooster - P.G. Wodehouse) and also the one time butler of Frasier - Ferguson (I particularly liked his concern for Daphne, whom he seemed to consider an equal) Maybe this Is why I like Asimov’s robots so much. They are every bit the valet, in all but biology. Despite their ultimate superiority to their masters (humans) they remain completely loyal. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/2 "2005-03-19T01:07:14Z")
Well, he isn’t a butler, but he is in service. Henry, the waiter to Asimov’s Black Widowers. Seems like Henry is always the one who comes up with the solutions to the mysteries presented. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/3 "2005-03-19T01:12:29Z")
This is the mandatory mention of Alfred Pennyworth (Bruce Wayne’s butler et al) Tho I wouldn’t call Batman bumbling. But who do you think gets him prepared? Brian ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/4 "2005-03-19T01:19:01Z")
My favorite portrayer of valets is Eric Blore, who played sidekick to Edward Everett Horton in several early Astaire-Rogers films. “Wh-ither thou goest, sir, th-ither I!” ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/5 "2005-03-19T01:23:07Z")
Ooh–and all the butlers in the Agatha Christie books etc. I like their aplomb. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/6 "2005-03-19T01:38:56Z")
My favorite butler was Jack Lemmon’s butler in **How To Murder Your Wife** , played by Terry-Thomas. ---
**Author:** ![Skellington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Skellington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skellington)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/7 "2005-03-19T01:48:25Z")
The fav must be Jeeves (three books on my bedside table, one in my bag, approx 150 in the book shelf and the whole box set of videos). And that’s just the tip. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/8 "2005-03-19T01:56:26Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > My favorite portrayer of valets is Eric Blore, who played sidekick to Edward Everett Horton in several early Astaire-Rogers films. “Wh-ither thou goest, sir, th-ither I!” Blore was also a very funny butler in Preston Sturges’ _Sullivan’s Travels_ (and was even funnier, but not a butler, in _The Lady Eve_). But for my money, with apologies to Ruggles & Godfrey & Hobson, the greatest screen butler ever was the riotously hilarious Arthur Lowe as Tucker in **The Ruling Class**. ---
**Author:** ![Skellington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Skellington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skellington)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/9 "2005-03-19T01:56:51Z")
Yes I do realise that I may have a problem! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skellington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Skellington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skellington)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/10 "2005-03-19T01:57:59Z")
Yes I do realise that I may have a problem! ---
**Author:** ![Skellington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Skellington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skellington)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/11 "2005-03-19T01:59:15Z")
and I have no idea why that sent twice ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/12 "2005-03-19T02:00:40Z")
I’m rather fond of Roarke’s majordomo, the snide and nasty Summerset, in JD Robb\*'s Eve Dallas mysteries. (\*Nora Roberts) ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/13 "2005-03-19T02:13:37Z")
Some other great Butlers Beeker from Robert Asprin’s Phule series Wadsworth from Clue (played by Tim Curry) and Bensonmum from Muder By Death ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/14 "2005-03-19T02:28:06Z")
Does “C-3PO, human-cyborg relations” count? ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/15 "2005-03-19T02:49:09Z")
I like Dorothy L. Sayers’ Bunter, valet to Lord Peter Wimsey. Sidekick, valet, friend. When Peter came back from the Great War suffering from shellshock, only Bunter was able to get through to him. When Peter and Harriet Vane married, Bunter was worried how she’d treat Peter, and she worried that Bunter would be able to accept her. StG ---
**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:** [March 19, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/16 "2005-03-19T02:56:35Z")
Putting in a vote for Lugg, manservant to Albert Campion. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/17 "2005-03-19T02:59:22Z")
Preserved Killick, steward to Captain Jno. Aubrey. Which he is already ‘ere, ain’t ‘e? An’ with the toasted cheese which we is almost out of cheese and you’ll probably be wantin’ the port next which we is almost out of it too. ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/18 "2005-03-19T03:20:51Z")
**Hellsings** Walter (last name too freaking difficult to spell) Butler extraorinare, cool guy with spectacle, weilder of the Killer Floss of Doom. 😃 (And he looked pretty hot back during the War, too _fans self_) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/19 "2005-03-19T03:42:28Z")
Isn’t anybody going to speak up for monkey butlers? Okay how about Edmund (Blackadder III), Harold (A New Leaf), Hobson (Arthur), Hudson (Upstairs Downstairs), Jarvis (The Avengers), and the Admirable Crichton? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247/20 "2005-03-19T04:25:51Z")
The thing I like best about Jeeves, and this is brought out very well in the Fry and Laurie films, is that Jeeves is not all that brilliant, he’s just smarter (and somewhat less drunk) than Bertie. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-fictional-butlers-valets/295247.md?page=2)