# I Salute thee, Paul Wilson from Cheers and other important minor-characters! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 28, 2001, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104 "2001-07-28T20:09:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/21 "2001-08-01T12:20:50Z")
> [@](#): > > **Loudon Wainwright III as Capt. Calvin Spaulding** The African explorer? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mystery\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Mystery\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mystery_Dog)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/22 "2001-08-01T12:59:36Z")
If Kawliga’s going to bring up “Homicide”, then I have to mention Zeljko Ivanek as State’s Attorney Ed Danvers, because (a) he was a great supporting player, and (b) it’s fun to type “Zeljko”. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/23 "2001-08-01T14:18:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > **Loudon Wainwright III as Capt. Calvin Spaulding** > > The African explorer? 😃 \*\* Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Good one Scarlett, That was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/24 "2001-08-01T14:25:06Z")
A few other under-appreciated characters that come to mind: Felipe, Jack’s assistant chef, from “Three’s Company” In “What’s Happening”, all the people in Rob’s Diner that would laugh at one of Roger’s jokes, or clap when Rerun danced, and then keep quiet the remainder of the time. I’ll throw in Rob too. He was very under-appreciated. Dave the cook from “Northern Exposure” I’m noticing that under-appreciated characters often work in the food preparation field. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/25 "2001-08-01T15:06:52Z")
Joan Shawlee? Hmmm, same Joan Shawlee as in “Conquest of Space”? Hubba hubba. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/26 "2001-08-01T15:18:18Z")
“Hello, this is Carleton, your doorman…” Suzie Plakson as K’Eylarh and Dr. Selar in Star Trek: Next Generation. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/27 "2001-08-01T15:52:41Z")
Well, then. How about the greatest “role-that-could-have-been”? Timothy Brown, who was in the original cast of M_A_S\*H as Spearchucker Jones, but was then removed since they realized there were no black surgeons in the Korean War. Can you imagine? He never amounted to anything and he was there in the beginning! If only they had decided to haze over the fact he was black, he could have been forever famous(at least as famous as Wayne Rogers). Poor, poor, Timothy Brown. In all fairness, though, things are looking up for Tim. He recently played the important role of “Roof Man Billy” in Frequency. That’s almost as good as being on one of the greatest shows ever. Really. Here is his link, by the way. [http://us.imdb.com/Name?Brown,+Timothy+(I)](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Brown,+Timothy+(I)) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/28 "2001-08-01T15:53:47Z")
Copy and paste that link. The comma through it off. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/29 "2001-08-01T15:57:12Z")
Sweet frelling mercy! I’ve been on this board for 3 1/2 years and this is the first time I’ve had to post three times in a row. It should have said, “threw” it off, not “through”. Sometimes, I revert to a state of mental retardation. Excuse me while I go bang my head on a wall and scream wildly. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/30 "2001-08-01T16:34:13Z")
…but wasn’t Paul’s last name **Smith** , not **Wilson**?? Most underrated and missed character from that show was definitely **Coach**. He had the most hilarious lines!! **Night Court** had several silly recurring characters: Mel Torme, the people (can’t remember names) that ran the snack bar (the man played by **Brent Spiner** , otherwise known as **Data** ) and other various weirdos for Dan Fielding to make jokes about. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/31 "2001-08-01T16:40:48Z")
Oooh—Baby Gerald on “The Simpsons!” You know, the one who looks just like Helena Bonham-Carter? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/32 "2001-08-01T17:20:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Old man in his 70s (or late, late sixties) sitting at the bar. Don’t remember his name. Wasn’t he credited as “The Man Who Said ‘Sinatra’” whenever he appeared, based on his first-ever line? I’ll pick the Log Lady and Albert from “Twin Peaks.” Never the main characters, but some darned amusing initial subplots, and Albert had perhaps the funniest line of the show. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/33 "2001-08-01T18:31:27Z")
How about the guy who ran the tailor shop in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”? Never said a word, but always nodded as Napoleon Solo went by. The Butler in “The Prisoner” appeared as a regular but never said a word. Then there’s Morg from Star Trek: Deep Space 9. He was always hanging around at Quark’s bar. The actor is trying to make money by appearing at SF conventions. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/34 "2001-08-01T18:34:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > **Loudon Wainwright III as Capt. Calvin Spaulding** > > The African explorer? 😃 \*\* Oooohhh… that calls for a groucho smilie! Too bad there isn’t one… How about ‘Moose’ from _Hot l Baltimore_. One time he glued himself to the ceiling. One line from that show has stuck in mt head for years… Charlotte Rae’s character: “Moose is upstairs, buttering the hallways.” ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/35 "2001-08-01T20:05:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by omni-not \* > > **Old man in his 70s sitting at the bar.** > > That was Philip Perlman, Rhea Perlman’s RL father. \*\* Unless omni-not is talking about [Al](http://s9000.furman.edu/~ejorgens/cheers/characters/others.html#al), the other old guy - the dishevelled drunk guy who usually wore a hat. [Phil](http://s9000.furman.edu/~ejorgens/cheers/characters/others.html#phil) was a relatively (compared to Al) sober old guy with big old-guy glasses. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/36 "2001-08-01T21:30:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HelloKitty \* > \*\*…but wasn’t Paul’s last name **Smith** , not **Wilson**?? > > Most underrated and missed character from that show was definitely **Coach**. He had the most hilarious lines!! > > \*\* The actor’s name was Paul Wilson. The character’s name was Paul Krapence. Yeah, Coach was the best. I loved Woody(Huckleberry), but Coach was something else. [Cheer’s Phone Rings] Coach: Cheers, hello? [pause] _Coach puts phone down_ Coach(yelling): Is there an Ernie Pantusso here? Sam: That’s you, coach. _Coach puts phone back to mouth_ Coach: Speaking. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/37 "2001-08-02T00:19:44Z")
Yes! YES! Finally got it straight. It’s Al Rosen I was thinking of. Not Phil (more of a drab character, IMO). Al always had those zingers. And I realized I was pretty generous giving him 30 seconds airtime. T’was more like 10. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/38 "2001-08-02T02:44:57Z")
Paul Willson (note the spelling) was in _Office Space_ actually. He was great. And he was Leonard Smith in “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” who was always introduced as “_sigh_ Oh no, it’s Leonard Smith!” One of my favourite supporting character actors is Wallace Shawn, but he’s getting to be more famous these days, so I won’t count him. So my next-in-line choice is Doris Roberts - currently starring in _Everybody Loves Raymond_ but has been a favourite of mine all through _Angie_, _Remington Steele_, and various guest spots everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/39 "2001-08-02T12:53:48Z")
From the original Star Trek, Lt. Kevin O’Reilly, placed by Bruce Hyde. He was on two episodes. I had such a crush on the guy. Selby on Mad About You. He was Paul’s best friend the first season. Phased out in favor of Ira, Paul’s cousin. Also Ursula the waitress, who later become her twin sister Phoebe on Friends. Three’s Company had a sequel, Three’s a Crowd. Jack’s assitant, E.Z., was played by Alan Campbell. I loved him, and was totally amazed when the actor got the lead in the US version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Blvd,” being a huge ALW fan. I’m one of the few people who even remember the series and actor (Dorothy Parker’s second & third husband was also named Alan Campbell. And they had a Norma/Joe relationship). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104/40 "2001-08-02T14:19:53Z")
I loved Jack Riley as Eliot Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show, and Stuart Margolin as the great weasel Evelyn “Angel” Martin on The Rockford Files. “Don’t worry, I’ll stonewall 'em, Jimmy!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-salute-thee-paul-wilson-from-cheers-and-other-important-minor-characters/74104.md?page=3)