# What a great leading character with my name! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006 "2017-10-27T18:23:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/21 "2017-10-28T18:00:45Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > My name, Paul, is rarely used for any character, let alone a lead or hero. Also true in the real world, it’s lost favour in the last few decades. > > The majority of leading men are named John or Jack, or sometimes Jake. J names are popular for both genders, really, with lots of Jennifers and Jessicas around too. Also reflective of the real world, of course. There’s a Jack Nance character that should make you very proud of your name. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehp4PCcKHCM&t=4484) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/22 "2017-10-28T20:18:11Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > John Wayne Gacy? I won’t tell, the FBI won’t like it, I may be in a witness protection program. Shh!! ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/23 "2017-10-28T20:50:43Z")
I’ve got Kevin Flynn from Tron. Does Kevin from Home Alone count? ������ ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/24 "2017-10-28T21:26:11Z")
Let’s see. I’ve got a crossbow wielding redneck, two mute brothers, and Thor’s Australian buddy. Not a great track record. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/25 "2017-10-28T23:09:09Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > How about the hair care product mentioned in _O Brother, Where Art Thou_? Daper Dan? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/26 "2017-10-28T23:13:43Z")
Marty McFly, of course. Or Marty Riggs. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/27 "2017-10-28T23:53:25Z")
I was mentioned in a Beyonce song. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/28 "2017-10-29T00:01:03Z")
Is Michael Meyers the lead character of the Halloween movies? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/29 "2017-10-29T00:32:59Z")
Some folks at work tried to tie me with the name of a significant character from _Forrest Gump_ – curiously, the boss in our department was named Forrest, but no one ever tried to tease that surly man so. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/30 "2017-10-29T00:55:02Z")
It’s not my first name, but my _last_ name. And it’s the main “villain” of _Birth of a Nation_ (the pro-KKK one). So I got referred to as “Evil Senator Stoneman” after we had to watch it in high school. My nephew’s name actually matches a movie main character’s name; don’t think he’s too impressed with having a namesake, though. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/31 "2017-10-29T01:08:27Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > My name, Paul, is rarely used for any character, let alone a lead or hero. One of my favorite movies: [Paul](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1092026/) I have a namesake character noted for his absence in a famous stoner comedy bit. And a Kevin Kline movie too. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/32 "2017-10-29T06:49:35Z")
I’ve only watched a few “Murder She Wrote” but I always felt proud that the lead was Jessica Fletcher. In most situations I go by JJ but I rarely consider the fact that I share a name with JJ Evans. It’s like boy JJ and girl JJ are two different names 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/33 "2017-10-29T13:22:37Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Spider-Man: Homecoming is now on my must-see movie list. I recommend the movie but I will point out that Michele is a supporting character in it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/34 "2017-10-29T13:27:34Z")
There’s a character named after me in a Harry Turtledove book. I don’t mean a character with my name; I mean one specifically named after me. I used to be a regular member on a SF forum on AOL and several authors, including Turtledove, were also members. When he was writing his [World War series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwar_series), he used the names of several people, including me, for the aliens. He just reversed the spelling of our names to make them sound alien. My namesake was not, however, a leading character. “I” only appeared in a couple of scenes. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/35 "2017-10-29T15:18:17Z")
There’s [this guy](https://i.redd.it/pkswp8l5dx8x.jpg), though he wasn’t the lead. And then there’s [this other guy](http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/002/357/400px-khan.jpg), who was. I think I’m prouder of the first one. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/36 "2017-10-29T16:14:40Z")
Well, I guess I have Rick Sanchez from “Rick & Morty.” ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/37 "2017-10-30T01:19:47Z")
Not a _leading_ character, but those of you who are well-versed in Arthurian legend might recall a rather notable enchanter who shares my name. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/38 "2017-10-30T02:08:29Z")
Nothing much interesting with my first name (though there was a TV show that used it). My last name, however, was the last name of the title character of _Max_, a fascinating movie. And he gets a great line: “You’re an awfully hard man to like, Hitler, but I’m gonna try.” ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/39 "2017-10-30T02:38:18Z")
The only Nate in movie I can think of off the top of my head is in Deathproof, and he’s a bit of a douche. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006/40 "2017-10-30T03:45:37Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, I guess I have Rick Sanchez from “Rick & Morty.” [I can think of another great leading character named Rick.](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6b/02/38/6b02389caf2d6b02d6c9ddb42590f8ac--casablanca-movie-casablanca-.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-great-leading-character-with-my-name/800006.md?page=3)