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TV Characters with one name

Markxxx

Markxxx

The post on the sad passing of Bob Denver got me to wondering about other TV characters with one name. Or HAD one name for most of the run.

Two obvious ones are Kramer, later revealed as Cosmo Kramer -

And Benson, later to be Benson DuBois.

I never liked revealing either name because Cosmo, at least to me, didn't seem to fit and Benson sounded like a last name. Don't people call butlers by the last name?

Any other characters with one name or mostly one name throughout the series run

And NO I'm not counting Cher or people like her. She wasn't a character on her TV show she was a REAl perosn... LOL :eek:)<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
 
A few I thought of in no particular order:

-Carlton the doorman on Rhoda

-Bosley on Charlie's Angels. The character's first name was John but Charlie and the Angels always called him Bosley.

-This one is almost Trivial Pursuit material..maybe it doesnt even fit the subject..and lasted for just 1 season: David Schwimmer of Friends fame (but before Friends) was in the first season of NYPD Blue. He lived in the same apartment building as Detective John Kelley's (David Caruso's) ex-wife, played by Sherry Stringfield who went on to ER fame. Detective Kelley could never remember Schwimmer's character's name so he always called him a certain name based on a certain something. For a year's supply of WD-40 and Wesson cooking oil, what did Detective Kelley call Schwimmer's character?? Anyone? Anyone??
 
Columbo

> Any other characters with one name or mostly one name
> throughout the series run

The rumpled detective played by Peter Falk never had a first name. His wife (played in a later series, Mrs. Columbo aka Kate Loves a Mystery, by Kate Mulgrew) did: Kate.

AFAIK, they never appeared together on-screen.
 
Re: Columbo

> > Any other characters with one name or mostly one name
> > throughout the series run
>
> The rumpled detective played by Peter Falk never had a first
> name.

Actually, he did have a first name Frank:
<img src=http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/9/9e/Columbo-Signature.jpg>

> His wife (played in a later series, Mrs. Columbo aka
> Kate Loves a Mystery, by Kate Mulgrew) did: Kate.
>
> AFAIK, they never appeared together on-screen.

My understanding was that this this show was sort of explained away as her not being Mrs. Columbo at some point.<P ID="signature">______________
WCBS = We're Crazy Buffoons and Schmucks
<a href=http://chuck.spotteddogs.org/tv/>Spotted Dog TV Talk - for all your non-news TV Talk</a></P>
 
Re: Frank Columbo

> > > Any other characters with one name or mostly one name
> > > throughout the series run
> >
> > The rumpled detective played by Peter Falk never had a first name.
>
> Actually, he did have a first name Frank:

There are several sites with that close-up, but did anyone ever address him by his first name, or did he use it himself? I don't remember a first name ever being mentioned during the run of the show or the TV movies that followed for years thereafter.
 
Re: Frank Columbo

> > > > Any other characters with one name or mostly one name
> > > > throughout the series run
> > >
> > > The rumpled detective played by Peter Falk never had a
> first name.
> >
> > Actually, he did have a first name Frank:
>
> There are several sites with that close-up, but did anyone
> ever address him by his first name, or did he use it
> himself? I don't remember a first name ever being mentioned
> during the run of the show or the TV movies that followed
> for years thereafter.
>
Not that I recall. Same with Quincy. I understand there was a shot of Quincy's business card with a first name (Robert? I don't remember.)... but I don't think he was ever addressed by a first name. Even when he got married, the minister said "Quincy, do you take this woman..."
 
Quincy's first name

> Not that I recall. Same with Quincy. I understand there
> was a shot of Quincy's business card with a first name
> (Robert? I don't remember.)... but I don't think he was ever
> addressed by a first name. Even when he got married, the
> minister said "Quincy, do you take this woman..."
>

I could be wrong, but I thought I read once where the minister did say Quincy's first name, but there was some noise at that point (intentional) so you couldn't hear it. And when reporters pressed Jack Klugman about the name, he got a little miffed, basically telling them that there were too many more important things in this world than a TV character's first name.
 
> Any other characters with one name or mostly one name
> throughout the series run

Here's a partial list:

Fonzie-Happy Days
Kookie, Roscoe-77 Sunset Strip
Paladin-Have Gun, Will Travel
Paris-Mission Impossible
Lt. Cdr Spock, Lt. Uhura-Star Trek
Lt. Cdr Data, Lt. Worf, Q-Star Trek, The Next Generation
Odo, Quark-Stark Trek Deep Space 9
Chakotay, Tuvok, Neelix-Star Trek Voyager
Spenser, Hawk-Spenser: For Hire
Tonto-The Lone Ranger
Lurch, Thing-The Addams Family
Grandpa-The Munsters
Police Chief O'Hara-Batman (Plus almost all the villians!)
The Chief (Thaddeus), Agent 99, Agent 13, Larrabee-Get Smart
Wishbone-Rawhide
Mother-The Avengers


I had a few more pop into my head, but they popped out just as quickly...<P ID="signature">______________
"Radio is like musical chairs. When the music stops, I sit down and say something."</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Newshawk on 09/08/05 02:43 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> The post on the sad passing of Bob Denver got me to
> wondering about other TV characters with one name. Or HAD
> one name for most of the run.
>
> Two obvious ones are Kramer, later revealed as Cosmo Kramer
> -
>
> And Benson, later to be Benson DuBois.
>
> I never liked revealing either name because Cosmo, at least
> to me, didn't seem to fit and Benson sounded like a last
> name. Don't people call butlers by the last name?
>
> Any other characters with one name or mostly one name
> throughout the series run
>
> And NO I'm not counting Cher or people like her. She wasn't
> a character on her TV show she was a REAl perosn... LOL :eek:)
>


Most of the A-Team went by only one name, but I don't rememebr if Hannibal or Faceman's real names were ever mentioned at times they were caught

Mr. Woodman on Welcome Back Kotter I don't rememebr ever being called by a first name
 
> Most of the A-Team went by only one name, but I don't
> rememebr if Hannibal or Faceman's real names were ever
> mentioned at times they were caught
>
> Mr. Woodman on Welcome Back Kotter I don't rememebr ever
> being called by a first name.

I used the Internet Movie Data Base to verify character names for the list I drew up, and it indicated everyone on the A-Team had a full name. It also indicated that Mr. Woodman's first name was Michael.<P ID="signature">______________
"Radio is like musical chairs. When the music stops, I sit down and say something."</P>
 
> Most of the A-Team went by only one name, but I don't
> rememebr if Hannibal or Faceman's real names were ever
> mentioned at times they were caught


I believe Face's name was revealed to be Templeton Peck and Hannibal was, believe it or not.... John Smith. :-D
 
Quincy

> Not that I recall. Same with Quincy. I understand there
> was a shot of Quincy's business card with a first name
> (Robert? I don't remember.)...

Just the initial. "Dr. R. Quincy" according to Brooks & Marsh.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
A couple of answers and several additions

> Fonzie-Happy Days

Arthur Fonzarelli. Mrs. Cunningham, you'll recall, always called him Arthur.

> Kookie-77 Sunset Strip

Gerald Lloyd Kookson III.

> Lt. Cdr Data, Lt. Worf, Q-Star Trek, The Next Generation

Also Guinan.

> Odo, Quark-Stark Trek Deep Space 9

And Nog.

> Chakotay, Tuvok, Neelix-Star Trek Voyager

Kes.

> Police Chief O'Hara-Batman (Plus almost all the villians!)

I don't remember Commissioner Gordon being referred to by his full name (James Gordon) in the television show, although he certainly was in the comic books and animated series.

> The Chief (Thaddeus), Agent 99, Agent 13, Larrabee-Get Smart

What about Hymie the robot, and Siegfried's hapless henchman Starker?<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
Well since no one knew or bothered to answer my little trivia question above,Detective Kelley referred to David Schwimmer's character as "4B" because that was his apartment number. Thank you, thank you very much ;o)
 
Re: A couple of answers and several additions

>
> > Police Chief O'Hara-Batman (Plus almost all the villians!)
>
>
> I don't remember Commissioner Gordon being referred to by
> his full name (James Gordon) in the television show,
> although he certainly was in the comic books and animated
> series.

What about Alfred the butler and Aunt Harriet??

And speaking of butlers, what about (from Dynasty) Joseph, the Carrington's butler??
 
Re: A couple of answers and several additions

> >
> > > Police Chief O'Hara-Batman (Plus almost all the
> villians!)
> >
> >
> > I don't remember Commissioner Gordon being referred to by
> > his full name (James Gordon) in the television show,
> > although he certainly was in the comic books and animated
> > series.
>
> What about Alfred the butler and Aunt Harriet??
>
> And speaking of butlers, what about (from Dynasty) Joseph,
> the Carrington's butler??
>
Alfred's name was Alfred Pennyworth. Aunt Harriet was
Harriet Cooper. I don't know about Joseph.


A few other names that come to mind:

Cheyenne: Cheyenne Bodie
Ironside: Robert T. Ironside
Harry O: Harry Orwell
Longstreet: Mike Longstreet
Sugarfoot: Tom Brewster
Bronco: Bronco Layne (sometimes spelled Lane)
Inspector Henderson (Superman): William Henderson
Mrs. Trumbull (I Love Lucy): Matilda Trumbull
McCloud: Sam McCloud
Kojak: Theo Kojak
Gavilan (Robert Urich): Robert Gavilan
Brenner (CBS summer series from 1959-64 about
father and son cops):
Det. Lt. Roy Brenner (father) (Edward Binns)
Officer Ernie Brenner (son) (James Broderick)

Trials Of O'Brien (Peter Falk's overlooked
1965-66 gem): Daniel J. O'Brien
McMillan And Wife: Stewart and Sally McMillan

Harrigan And Son (Pat O'Brien's 1960-61 ABC
sitcom about father and son lawyers):
James Harrigan Sr. (O'Brien)
James Harrigan Jr. (Roger Perry)

Maude: Maude Findlay

I've always wondered if Samantha and her relatives
on Bewitched had last names (Stephens doesn't count,
since that's Samantha's married name).

And a real boner: Fred Mertz once identified his old
vaudeville partner as Ted Kurtz. But when Kurtz came
to visit the Mertzes, he was Barney Kurtz. The writers
MUST have had short memories.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by bpatrick on 09/09/05 10:13 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> > Most of the A-Team went by only one name, but I don't
> > rememebr if Hannibal or Faceman's real names were ever
> > mentioned at times they were caught
>
>
> I believe Face's name was revealed to be Templeton Peck and
> Hannibal was, believe it or not.... John Smith. :-D
>


I wasn't sure but I had a suspicion that it was revealed at one point. If I remember right didn't B.A. have an issue with Mad Dog's name? hehe Been forever since I watched it.
 
> > Most of the A-Team went by only one name, but I don't
> > rememebr if Hannibal or Faceman's real names were ever
> > mentioned at times they were caught
> >
> > Mr. Woodman on Welcome Back Kotter I don't rememebr ever
> > being called by a first name.
>
> I used the Internet Movie Data Base to verify character
> names for the list I drew up, and it indicated everyone on
> the A-Team had a full name. It also indicated that Mr.
> Woodman's first name was Michael.
>

I used to watch WBK religiously...I must have mis-remembered him being called by his first name here or there.
 
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