# Unnamed lead characters in movies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930 "2007-12-22T13:45:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/21 "2007-12-22T20:47:22Z")
[QUOTE=MsWhatsit] IIRC, Michael Douglas’s character in _Falling Down_ was not named in the movie. IMDB lists the character name as William Foster, but I don’t remember him being called that during the film. [/QUOTE] He was listed as D FENS (his license plate) in the credits. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/22 "2007-12-22T21:25:42Z")
[QUOTE=MsWhatsit] IIRC, Michael Douglas’s character in _Falling Down_ was not named in the movie. IMDB lists the character name as William Foster, but I don’t remember him being called that during the film. [/QUOTE] Yes, they do discover and use his name in the film, the credits notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/23 "2007-12-22T21:34:33Z")
An early Russell Crowe flick, _The Silver Brumby_, has him listed as “The Man”. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/24 "2007-12-22T23:27:05Z")
Of the twenty-six characters listed in the credits of the 1978 film _The Driver_, not a single one is given a name. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/25 "2007-12-22T23:29:52Z")
In Withnail & I the protagonist’s name is never revealed, and he’s listed in the credits as I. ---
**Author:** ![Mapache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@Mapache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mapache)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/26 "2007-12-23T01:53:41Z")
In the last two Mad Max movies, Mel Gibson’s character’s name is never mentioned; he’s ‘The man from the desert’ or ‘The Man With No Name.’ (Dr. Dealgood describes him thus just before he fights Blaster in the Thunderdome) Likewise, most of the other characters are identified as ‘the Warrior Woman’ or ‘the Gyro Captain’ and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/27 "2007-12-23T04:50:12Z")
There have been at least three Doctor Who movies. ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/28 "2007-12-23T04:55:58Z")
The entire cast of The Driver are listed by what they do, rather than by name. - Edited to add - Bah! Beaten by four posts… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/29 "2007-12-23T05:14:57Z")
[QUOTE=LurkMeister] Clint Eastwood’s character in _A Fistful of Dollars_, _For a Few Dollars More_, and (I believe) _The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly_ is referred to as “The Man With No Name”, although IMDB does list the character name as, respectively, Joe, Monco, & Blondie. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen any of them, so I can’t recall any details of how the character is referred to in the movies. [/QUOTE] “Blondie” is what Eli Wallach calls Eastwood in _The Good, the Bad and the Ugly_. An impromptu nickname. I love that film. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/30 "2007-12-23T05:17:26Z")
I think Harvey Keitel is listed as “The Cleaner” in _Pulp Fiction_. Does that count, since it’s not a name? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/31 "2007-12-23T05:23:31Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] I think Harvey Keitel is listed as “The Cleaner” in _Pulp Fiction_. Does that count, since it’s not a name? [/QUOTE] Nope, he introduces himself to Jimmy, THE WOLF: You’re Jimmie, right? This is your house? JIMMIE: Yeah. THE WOLF: (stick his hand out) I’m Winston Wolf, I solve problems.CMC +fnord! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/32 "2007-12-23T05:35:50Z")
Okay, got another one; the two main characters in _The Polar Express_ are unnamed. In the credits they are listed as “Hero Boy” and “Hero Girl”. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/33 "2007-12-23T05:54:28Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] I thought her name was Beatrix Kiddo? At least, that’s what the overly dramatic bit in Kill Bill 2 where they revealed her name told me. [/QUOTE] True, but in the first movie they never reveal her name. They even bleep out her name in a line that Vernita Green speaks. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/34 "2007-12-23T06:25:18Z")
[QUOTE=Mapache] In the last two Mad Max movies, Mel Gibson’s character’s name is never mentioned; he’s ‘The man from the desert’ or ‘The Man With No Name.’ (Dr. Dealgood describes him thus just before he fights Blaster in the Thunderdome) Likewise, most of the other characters are identified as ‘the Warrior Woman’ or ‘the Gyro Captain’ and the like. [/QUOTE] In “The Road Warrior,” I distinctly recall the leader of the oil refinery calling him “Max” while he is trying to get him to drive the truck. He says something about him wondering around, being a bum, etc., and says something like, “Is that all you are, Max?” Surely, I’m not misremebering. Somebody confirm, please. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/35 "2007-12-23T06:39:53Z")
Not quite a lead, but Ralphie’s parents in “A Christmas Story” are just “Mrs. Parker” and “The Old Man.” ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/36 "2007-12-23T07:11:23Z")
No love for _Hero_? The main character says outright in the beginning that he has no name; “Nameless” is as close as he comes. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/37 "2007-12-23T08:03:48Z")
[QUOTE=Sir Rhosis] In “The Road Warrior,” I distinctly recall the leader of the oil refinery calling him “Max” while he is trying to get him to drive the truck. He says something about him wondering around, being a bum, etc., and says something like, “Is that all you are, Max?” Surely, I’m not misremebering. Somebody confirm, please. Sir Rhosis [/QUOTE] I believe you are correct. Plus, there was the earlier movie, “Mad Max”. I am reasonably sure both words referred to Mel Gibson. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/38 "2007-12-23T08:22:55Z")
[QUOTE=crowmanyclouds] Nope, he introduces himself to Jimmy, THE WOLF: You’re Jimmie, right? This is your house? JIMMIE: Yeah. THE WOLF: (stick his hand out) I’m Winston Wolf, I solve problems.CMC +fnord! [/QUOTE] Ah yes, indeed. I see now I was confusing him with a similar character of his in the remake “Point of No Return,” the American remake of “La Femme Nikita.” However, I see now Keitel was “Victor the Cleaner” in that rather than just “The Cleaner.” ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/39 "2007-12-23T08:33:07Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] … Plus, there was the earlier movie, “Mad Max”. I am reasonably sure both words referred to Mel Gibson. [/QUOTE] Max Rockatansky, there’s at least one use (assuming these transcripts are accurate) of “Max” in each film, [Mad Max](http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/m/mad-max-script-transcript-gibson.html) [Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior](http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/m/mad-max-road-warrior-script.html) [Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome](http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/m/mad-max-3-thunderdome-script.html) CMC +fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930/40 "2007-12-23T08:55:39Z")
In the BMW **The Hire** short films, we never learn the Driver’s name (or, for that matter, much about him, save that he has no kids and is no longer married). IIRC, we never learn Kevin Costner’s character’s name in **The Postman** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unnamed-lead-characters-in-movies/430930.md?page=3)