# The most famous non-existent people on TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340 "2007-01-24T23:53:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/41 "2007-01-25T16:16:17Z")
Yeah, but **Sir Prize** , my question isn’t “who were the actors that played these guys?”, but “Who was this voice supposede to be?” The announcer (it wasn’t just “incoming wounded” – the speaker also announced movies, partiers, social events, and other things. In the last episode, IIRC, it announced the names of the depatrting characters) didn’t correspond to any actual character i the series – you never saw anybody else, besides Radar or Klinger or occasionally someone else (like Hawkeye) ever speaking on the microphone. Colonel Potter never said “Have Corporal (Blank) read this announcement”. The disembodied Magic Voice of the 4077th hovered over the series as if it drifted in from an alternate reality. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/42 "2007-01-25T16:18:40Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Charlie of Charlies Angels. His voice was in every episode, but he never made a physical appearance. [/QUOTE] He did appear in a film - does that count? In ‘Home Improvement’, we never saw the next door neighbour’s face - does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/43 "2007-01-25T16:20:42Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] Robin Masters on _Magnum PI_, unless you buy the Higgins as Masters theory… [/QUOTE] Sorta. You never saw his face, but you did see his body in the back of his limo in [J. Digger Doyle](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0639668/). Orson Welles supplied the voice, but I suspect Bruce Atkinson supplied the body. ETA: BTW, it was a flashback 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:** [January 25, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/44 "2007-01-25T16:23:48Z")
[QUOTE=randwill] Two characters we originally weren’t going to see when the shows were developed, but did, were the President in “The West Wing” and Alan Brady in “The Dick Van Dyke Show”. [/QUOTE] And Bracken in [Bracken’s World](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracken's_World) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/45 "2007-01-25T16:25:44Z")
There’s always John Beresford Tipton, **The Millionaire**. You saw portions of him, but it was like Carlton, the Doorman: > **[The Millionaire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Millionaire)** > > The Millionaire or The Millionaires may refer to: ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/46 "2007-01-25T16:53:54Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Another unseen M_A_S\*H character was Sparky. [/QUOTE] Nope, he appeared in one episode (last name “Pryor”). Carlton the Doorman had an animated special and so appeared as a cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/47 "2007-01-25T17:04:41Z")
Also from Happy Days is Clarance or Clairabell, I don’t remember which, who supposedly worked in the kitchen at Arnolds. ---
**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 25, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/48 "2007-01-25T17:06:34Z")
One of my all time favorites was Tino from **My So-Called Life**. Tino was _the man_. He brings Chinese food. He’ll give you a ride to the hospital. He’ll sell you a fake I.D. Band practice cannot start until Tino gets here! But you never actually saw Tino. Also, you never saw the Chase family cat, although they frequently talk about feeding the cat, did you remember to buy kitty litter, stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/49 "2007-01-25T17:09:47Z")
[QUOTE=adam yax] Also from Happy Days is Clarance or Clairabell, I don’t remember which, who supposedly worked in the kitchen at Arnolds. [/QUOTE] And, technically, we never saw “Arnold,” either. That sign was already there when Mr. Takahashi took it over. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/50 "2007-01-25T17:16:35Z")
Have we yet seen Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration? ---
**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:** [January 25, 2007, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/51 "2007-01-25T17:20:42Z")
On the TV series created and produced by Erma Bombeck [Maggie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081897/combined) the family had a teenaged son that was never seen, but was always on the other side of the closed door to his room. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/52 "2007-01-25T17:24:49Z")
[QUOTE=adam yax] Also from Happy Days is Clarance or Clairabell, I don’t remember which, who supposedly worked in the kitchen at Arnolds. [/QUOTE] We did see Clarence eventually. He was a midget. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/53 "2007-01-25T18:36:02Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] All the grownups on any Peanuts special [/QUOTE] There were a few grownups seen from the neck down in a couple specials, and a few in the 1980s where they spoke clear English instead of mumbling. Various (adult) historical figures appeared full-body and spole clearly in a few educational specials such as the miniseries _This Is America, Charlie Brown_. (Of course, it’s hard to tell whether or not the TV specials are considered _Peanuts_ canon, since the Little Red-Haired Girl appeared and was given a name, Heather, in two specials, whereas she was only hinted to in the strip- the closest we saw her was in siloheutte. To this, it should be pointed out that adults appeared from the waist down in a series of strips which involved a golf tournament, and there were a few other cases early on in which adults were “heard” or parts of their body were seen.) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/54 "2007-01-25T18:41:51Z")
Number 1 in _The Prisoner_? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/55 "2007-01-25T18:48:59Z")
How about way back on **the Carol Burnett Show** during the ‘family’ skit (that eventually became ‘Mama’s Family’). Mama’s husband (Eunice’s father) was perpetually in the bathroom. Eventually the character was killed off, but Mama spoke of seeing his ghost ‘still sittin’ there on the can late at night.’ On **the Simpsons** , Marge has made occasional references to an uncle (name I can’t remember) who wound up in a shotgun standoff with a dozen federal marshalls. - Not let us never speak of him again! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/56 "2007-01-25T18:51:04Z")
Shite! Actually, Marge always says '_Now_ let us never speak of this again!" after mentioning her uncle. Then she goes on to hum as loud as possible to block out the half-hearted questions from the kids. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/57 "2007-01-25T18:57:56Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Charlie of Charlies Angels. His voice was in every episode, but he never made a physical appearance. [/QUOTE] Actually, he was kidnapped once in the original series and escaped by swimming away, IIRC. They showed the back of his head, so I don’t think he qualifies for the OP. And **CalMeacham** , it was the 4077th. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/58 "2007-01-25T19:00:50Z")
There were a number of jokes on _The Simpsons_ about obscure relatives- I recall one about some distant relative who had a sex change, joined a cult, and changed his/her name to Mother Shabubu. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/59 "2007-01-25T19:15:14Z")
Typo in #37 – I typed “4077” in #41. ---
**Author:** ![dbuzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de0a6/32.png) [@dbuzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbuzman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340/60 "2007-01-25T22:39:33Z")
[QUOTE=dbuzman] Vera was shown. She either had an affair or Norm thought she was having one. But she did appear on the show. [/QUOTE] I just realized I got Vera confused with the wife of the man Vera was suspected of having the affair with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-non-existent-people-on-tv/389340.md?page=4)