How many TV characters can you think of who were heard or discussed, but never actually seen? I can think of…
ANy others come to mind?
Norm’s wife on Cheers.
God, on countless televangelists’ programs every Sunday morning.
Orson, from “Mork & Mindy”
Wilson on Home Improvement is a special case, since only his face wasn’t seen.
Maris from Frasier
Mary Tyler Moore played a pair of legs on Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1959). Her character, Sam the answering service girl, was only seen from the waist down.
There was a surgeon on “St. Elsewhere” who has only heard, but never seen and was widely disliked by the other characters.
Don’t forget the greatest of them all!
The Gooch, Arnold’s ever-present yet elusive tormentor from “Diff’rent Strokes”.
Although, IIRC he actually – and unfortunately – did make an appearance in an episode in a later season.
It seems the best fan site confirms my first suspicion, that The Gooch was never seen in all 8 seasons.
Sheridan, son of Hyacinth, on “Keeping Up Appearances.”
Norm’s wife actually appeared on the Thanksgiving feast at Carla’s house. She was only shown from the rear until she got a faceful of mashed potatoes in the food fight.
There’s Vinnie on Just Shoot Me, who’s Nina Van Horn’s drinking buddy.
Norm’s wife actually appeared on the Thanksgiving feast at Carla’s house.**
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You might also be interested to know that the woman who played his wife in that episode was also his wife in real life.
Ouch! That hurt.
Corrections
[ul]
[li]Binnie, Nina’s drinking buddy, on “Just Shoot Me”, has appeared once, in episode The Mask[/li][li]Robin Masters was played by Orson Welles on “Magnum, P.I.” from 1981 to 1985.[/li][li]One I thought of, but dismissed: Dr. Selar on “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. She was played by Suzie Plakson in one episode, “The Schizoid Man”.[/li][/ul]
.
Oops…
I thought Welles had appeared on-screen as Robin Masters. But according to an episode guide, he was only the voice. However, Magnum once mentioned that Masters looked like Orson Welles.
George Steinbrenner on “Seinfeld” (you only saw the back of his head).
Mammy Two-Shoes from the old “Tom and Jerry” cartoons. You only saw her feet. Okay, so it’s not a TV show, but I saw it on TV.
Sparky, the radio operator friend of Radar, on “MAS*H.”
Guy Propski:
For some reason, Sparky did appear briefly in one episode. IIRC, he was a slim guy (w/ glasses), with a ‘farm-country’ accent. He was reading a comic book when Radar called him (perhaps Radar had sent him the comic book, I don’t remember).
IIRC, wasn’t she in bandages, having had a face lift? Or we only saw her from the back? I don’t think we’ve ever actually seen her face.
But there was another character on MAS*H you never saw… the guy on the P.A. system who announced incoming wounded.