# Real names of televison characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 4, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064 "2005-07-04T22:20:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/41 "2005-07-05T13:51:10Z")
In **Sex In The City** , Mr. Big’s real name is revealed to be “John” in the last scene of the last episode. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/42 "2005-07-05T14:02:26Z")
There was a big thing about secrecy over the first name of Colin Dexter’s _Inspector Morse_ - it was revealed to be ‘Endeavour’ in one of the later episodes. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/43 "2005-07-05T14:07:16Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > On _Roseanne_ D.J. Connor’s initials stand for David Jacob. I assumed that D.J. was named for his father and the nickname stood for Dan, Junior. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/44 "2005-07-05T14:30:21Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > I assumed that D.J. was named for his father and the nickname stood for Dan, Junior. No, DJ’s teachers (when seen) always referred to him as “David Jacob.” And David (née Kevin) Healey’s middle name was Maurice. **Ace’s** real name (from Doctor Who) is Dorothy, a pun on the Wizard of Oz-like way in which she was thrown into the future. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/45 "2005-07-05T14:33:49Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > **Ace’s** real name (from Doctor Who) is Dorothy, a pun on the Wizard of Oz-like way in which she was thrown into the future. Actually, her full name is Dorothy Gale, another reference. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/46 "2005-07-05T14:38:07Z")
Oops; I think I misunderstood the intent of this thread; please ignore my post above. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/47 "2005-07-05T14:39:45Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > [Albertson](http://www.tv.com/simpsons/homer-and-neds-hail-mary-pass/episode/346864/summary.html) Actuaaly, his name is Louis Lane. Except, it isn’t, it is Albertson, after all. [Weird](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6123301&highlight=Albertson#post6123301) . ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/48 "2005-07-05T14:41:08Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > Actually, her full name is Dorothy Gale, another reference. Whoops, I misremembered. That was an alias. [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/acedorot.htm](http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/acedorot.htm) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/49 "2005-07-05T15:26:32Z")
On Friends, there was a joke about Chandler’s middle name. Anyone remember what it is? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/50 "2005-07-05T15:57:56Z")
Chandler’s middle name is Muriel. –Cliffy, whose real name is Alex ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/51 "2005-07-05T16:19:56Z")
Wasn’t McGyver’s name the same as his grandfather’s? 😕😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/52 "2005-07-05T17:09:33Z")
On Cheers, Norm’s first name is Hilary. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/53 "2005-07-05T17:09:41Z")
> [@Linus Van Pelt](#): > > [The Master Speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971031a.html) Well, there ya go. I suppose both sides could claim victory. Or defeat. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/54 "2005-07-05T17:14:10Z")
Mrs. Brady was Carol Martin Tyler Brady. Yet her (and Mr. Tyler’s) daughters were called Brady from the first episode. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/55 "2005-07-05T17:32:39Z")
Another one from _Roseanne_–Her younger sister was always called Jackie. In one episode, their mother Bev revealed that Jackie had been named Marjorie (or was it Mary Jane?). Two year old Roseanne heard the name and thought they were saying “My Jackie.” Jackie: So you’ll telling me you don’t even remember what my real name _is?_ ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/56 "2005-07-05T18:31:02Z")
Another _Cheers_ one – Eddie Lebeck’s real name was Guy Lebeck (pronounced, a la Francaise, to rhyme with “key”). ---
**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:** [July 5, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/57 "2005-07-05T18:39:14Z")
Dr. Johnny Fever from WKRP’s real name was John Caravella. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/58 "2005-07-05T19:16:36Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > Dr. Johnny Fever from WKRP’s real name was John Caravella. And had to look at his coffee mug to remember who he was! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/59 "2005-07-05T19:33:30Z")
Anyone remember the British comedy series [Chelmsford 123](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094432/) set in Roman Britain? The leaderof the Britons was Badvoc. Except that in one episode we meet Badvoc’s brother Basil, and learn that his parents were obsessed with herbs. Badvoc is really called Rosemary. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064/60 "2005-07-05T19:35:13Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Though it’s listed in the IMDB, most people don’t know that in **Gilligan’s Island** , the Skipper’s real name is Jonas Grumby and the Professor was Roy Hinkley. In a related vein, the teacheer on **The Greatest American Hero** was originally named Ralph Hinkley. After President Reagan was shot, however, his name was temporarily changed to “Ralph Handley” for about a half-dozen episodes, IIRC. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-names-of-televison-characters/311064.md?page=4)