topic Re: TV Characters Without First Names in TV and Movies

TV Characters Without First Names

keri — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 02:05:18 GMT

Inspired by MamaWick's hilarious thread about TBBT's Penny having no last name, (and the fact that I'm a perpetual tax prep procrastinator), I wondered how many TV characters have no first names? Let's begin with the obvious: Columbo, because we know his given name wasn't "Lieutenant."

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

keri — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 02:26:02 GMT

On 4/5/2014 Hildegarde Withers said:
Columbo's first name is Frank.

Hildegarde, our beloved Mystery Maven, how did you discover that? Not even IMDb credits list a first name, however here's something posted in the Q&A section: "Columbo's first name is never explicitly revealed in the series. However, when Columbo flashes his badge in the episode "Dead Weight" (Season 1 Episode 3), the name 'Frank' can clearly be seen on his ID. In the german DUB befriended police detectives occasionally call him Frank." Elsewhere it's noted that "A trivia encyclopedia gave his first name as Philip, but this turned out to be a copyright trap - as the creators of Trivial Pursuit discovered when the book's author sued them for plagiarism. (He won, but the decision was reversed on appeal.)" Originally, Bing Crosby was offered the role of Lt. Columbo, but he declined, saying that it would interfere with his golf game.

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

SydneyH — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 02:31:46 GMT

G Callen from NCIS:LA, they have not given him a full first name..........

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

Helen852 — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 03:22:36 GMT

Newman - from Seinfeld

Would Mr Big from SATC count. We didn't know his name until the final episode.

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

Shelbelle — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 14:58:28 GMT

Quincy was just Dr Quincy.

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

MamaWick — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 15:22:06 GMT

and of course for years, we never knew Kramer's first name was Cosmo.

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

MamaWick — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 15:24:22 GMT

Mr Spock

Mr Sulu

Bones (the doctor on Star Trek)

Scotty...his last name? his first name?

Khan

I guess Star Trek didn't like full names except for Capt James T Kirk

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

Mmsfoxxie — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 15:25:39 GMT

I don't recall McGyver having a first name either.

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

Shelbelle — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 15:46:59 GMT

On 4/6/2014 Mmsfoxxie said:
I don't recall McGyver having a first name either.

It was Angus MacGyver.

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

Marsha2003 — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 18:18:57 GMT

On 4/6/2014 MamaWick said:
Mr Spock

Mr Sulu

Bones (the doctor on Star Trek)

Scotty...his last name? his first name?

Khan

I guess Star Trek didn't like full names except for Capt James T Kirk

S'chn T'gai Spock

Hikaru Sulu

Leonard McCoy

Montgomery Scott

Khan Noonien Singh (Khan was his first name)

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

Hooty — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 18:55:54 GMT

Not really a big deal to me .......... being married to someone in the military and also working for DOD, you are called by your last name!

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

KYToby — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 20:39:47 GMT

On 4/6/2014 Shelbelle said:
Quincy was just Dr Quincy.

Because he was called "Quincy" by everyone (including his wife) as well as "Dr. Quincy," there was a theory that his name could be Quincy Quincy. I do not know if I buy this, but I remember reading about it in a magazine years ago.

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

LoriLori — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 20:52:59 GMT

On 4/6/2014 KYToby said:
On 4/6/2014 Shelbelle said:
Quincy was just Dr Quincy.

Because he was called "Quincy" by everyone (including his wife) as well as "Dr. Quincy," there was a theory that his name could be Quincy Quincy. I do not know if I buy this, but I remember reading about it in a magazine years ago.

He is listed at IMDB.com as "Dr. R. Quincy." That is the web site where you can check on all character and actor names.

Here's one, and I checked on it:

Lurch

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

FlyersGirl — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 18:34:19 GMT

Mr Kaplan on The Blacklist. Somehow I don't think they ever plan on giving her a first name.

Cindy

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

Vamp — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 20:49:56 GMT

Ha! Funny thread!

What about Gilligan? I assume that was his first name, but if I think about it, I really have no idea. Was it his first name? Or last name? Did he have another name?

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

Shelbelle — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 21:08:12 GMT

Bob Denver as First Mate Gilligan, the bumbling, accident-prone crewman (affectionately known as "Little Buddy" by "the Skipper") of the S.S. Minnow. Denver was not the first choice to play Gilligan; actor Jerry Van Dyke was offered the role, but he turned it down, believing that the show would never be successful. He chose instead to play the lead in My Mother the Car, which premiered the following year and was cancelled after one season. The producers looked to Bob Denver, the actor who had played lovable beatnik Maynard G. Krebs in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. None of the show's episodes ever specified Gilligan's full name or clearly indicated whether "Gilligan" was the character's first name or his last. In the DVD collection, Sherwood Schwartz states that he preferred the full name of "Willy Gilligan" for the character. Denver, on various television/radio interviews (The Pat Sajak Show; KDKA radio), said that "Gil Egan" was his choice. The actor reasoned that because everyone yelled at the first mate, it ran together as "Gilligan." In the unaired pilot episode, it is unclear whether Lovey Howell refers to Gilligan as "Stewart" or steward. On Rescue from Gilligan's Island, the writers artfully dodged Gilligan's full name when the other names are announced. Little is revealed about Gilligan's past, except his occasional reference to best friend Skinny Mulligan. According to the creator, though the character was only referred to as "Gilligan," the original, unaired, pilot gave him the first name of "Willie."^[2]

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

Poppet1 — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 21:23:28 GMT

The Virginian - western series in the 1960's. James Drury (main character) was only called, "The Virginian". The show never revlealed his first or last name. Theory is he was an ex-Confederate soldier with a dark past. If his named was ever revealed he'd be in a boat load of trouble. His character in the series was a "Good Guy" tho'.

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

LoveShelties — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 21:40:00 GMT

I don't recall Howard's mother on The Big Bang Theory having a first name

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

keri — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 22:40:37 GMT

What about "Carlton, Your Doorman," who was never seen, but sounded so loopy as played by Lorenzo Music on Rhoda? Was "Carlton" his first or last name?

Re: TV Characters Without First Names

keri — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 22:47:06 GMT

On 4/6/2014 MamaWick said:
Mr Spock

Mr Sulu

Bones (the doctor on Star Trek)

Scotty...his last name? his first name?

Khan

I guess Star Trek didn't like full names except for Capt James T Kirk

Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) from the original Star Trek. Even IMDb lists no first name.