· 47 comments · Save ·
For Sale Apr 8, 2026 at 9:22 AM

Favorite unseen characters. (sitcoms)

Posted by rxFMS

Vera-Cheers. The Gooch-Different Strokes. Sparky-MASH 8063rd.
🚩 Report this post

47 Comments

Sign in to comment — or just click the box below.
🔒 Your email is never shown publicly.
gregplaysdrums Apr 8, 2026 +76
Maris in Frasier
76
Kwilly462 Apr 8, 2026 +17
Not only unseen, but unheard
17
deafened Apr 8, 2026 +9
This is by far the best answer
9
[deleted] Apr 8, 2026 -9
[deleted]
-9
deafened Apr 8, 2026 +13
They started with the premise that Maris would eventually be shown. However, as the descriptions of her got more outlandish they soon realized that they could never find an actress that would fit the bill. They did continue to use her as an off-screen character that impacted the other characters and the series itself.
13
ThingCalledLight Apr 8, 2026 +10
Because Frasier is a (mostly) grounded show, but the descriptions of Maris are often completely inhuman. She’s as thin as paper, as light as a feather, has essentially no nose. She defies physics.
10
OfficeChairHero Apr 8, 2026 +7
Maris affects entire plotlines without ever being seen. Some of the best storylines with Niles are all about Maris, yet she an unknown entity.
7
Sonichu- Apr 8, 2026 +9
Because the way they described her was hilarious.
9
AgentSnipe8863 Apr 8, 2026 +46
Bob Sacamano from Seinfeld
46
Dorf_ Apr 8, 2026 +5
Or Lomez
5
Plane-Tie6392 Apr 8, 2026 +32
Does Wilson from Home Improvement count?
32
Squiddlywinks Apr 8, 2026 +17
Only 90%
17
ButterscotchPast4812 Apr 8, 2026 +14
Maris is top tier in terms of unseen characters. 
14
dancepantz Apr 8, 2026 +21
Dr Richard Nygard
21
SaltpeterJohn Apr 8, 2026 +10
Let me nerd out for a second... the unseen character is a common thread through James Burrows sitcoms, and most of them have been mentioned: Lars Lindstrum (Mary Tyler Moore), Carlton the Doorman (Rhoda), Vera Peterson (Cheers), Maris Crane (Frasier), Karen's husband (Will & Grace) and probably some others The gag started with the radio show Duffy's Tavern, which was written by James Burrows's father, Abe Burrows. Duffy, the bars owner was never heard on the show. This information lives in my head. If I don't let it out sometimes, my brain will bore itself to death Edited for spelling
10
Briff1981 Apr 8, 2026 +24
Howard's mum big bang theory
24
m_Pony Apr 8, 2026 -1
she's got it going on
-1
apackagefromted Apr 8, 2026 +10
Ginger-Bob's Burgers
10
MoonageDayscream Apr 8, 2026 +12
Not a sitcom but Charlie from Charlie's Angels. 
12
Oirad20 Apr 9, 2026 +2
Don't worry, a lot of people actually consider it to be a sitcom ✌️
2
brickiex2 Apr 8, 2026 +7
Norm's wife Vera
7
Gilshem Apr 8, 2026 +6
One of the most touching moments in the whole show was when Norm almost cheated on Vera and then got ahold of himself and called Vera to tell her how much he loved her.
6
Wazzoo1 Apr 8, 2026 +2
Cheers took a lot of inspiration from the radio show Duffy's Tavern, which was created by Abe Burrows, the father of Cheers creator James Burrows. At the beginning of every episode of the radio show, the bar manager (Archie) would answer a phone call from the owner (Duffy). You never heard Duffy's voice, and he never appeared in an episode otherwise.
2
GoldshireEnjoyer Apr 8, 2026 +1
And Cliff’s mom!
1
OfficeChairHero Apr 8, 2026 +2
Cliff's mom is in a few episodes. She was played by Frances Sternhagen.
2
GoldshireEnjoyer Apr 8, 2026 +2
Oh I guess it's been a while since I watched it
2
MeasurementNo0 Apr 8, 2026 +3
Jacob from Lost but on 30 Rock
3
Mononoke77 Apr 9, 2026 +2
I would also add Jenna's fictional Mickey Rourke
2
MeasurementNo0 Apr 9, 2026 +1
Hahaha always trying to kill her.
1
da91392 Apr 8, 2026 +3
Heather Sinclair from Degrassi
3
President_Calhoun Apr 8, 2026 +4
Sarah, the telephone operator on The Andy Griffith Show.
4
davidgrayPhotography Apr 8, 2026 +3
Won Ton - Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
3
[deleted] Apr 8, 2026 +1
[deleted]
1
davidgrayPhotography Apr 11, 2026 +1
As crystal!
1
rexy8577 Apr 8, 2026 +2
The Drew Carey show had this trope in the first season. Drew's original boss was never seen. Until his departing episode where he was played by Kevin Pollack.
2
WimbledonWombat Apr 8, 2026 +2
Captain Mainwearing's wife in Dads' Army.
2
BlitheringEediot Apr 8, 2026 +2
Everybody has forgotten Carlton on Rhoda. I believe the same guy went on to voice Garfield (the cat) in a few half-hour cartoon specials.
2
SaltpeterJohn Apr 8, 2026 +2
Came here to say Carlton! His name is Lorenzo Music. He voiced Garfield and Peter Venkman on The Real Ghostbusters. Then Bill Murray voiced Garfield in the live action movies. Circle of life yall
2
Last-Horse-1347 Apr 8, 2026 +1
Socko - iCarly
1
kinisonkhan Apr 8, 2026 +1
Taxi, Danny Divito wasn't the boss, he always worked upstairs, but you never saw the boss.
1
somecasper Apr 8, 2026 +1
George Steinbrenner on Seinfeld
1
TootieSummers Apr 11, 2026 +1
I recently rewatched Mr. Belvedere and forgot how funny the entire Huffnagel family was.
1
planetalletron Apr 12, 2026 +1
Erica! - BoJack Horseman
1
dangerpet Apr 8, 2026 +1
Jessica Bojack Horseman.
1
pinkietoe Apr 8, 2026 +3
Wasn't she called Erica? 
3
dangerpet Apr 8, 2026 +2
Oh yeah right Erica
2
adder__ Apr 8, 2026 +1
Diane - Twin Peaks (no, the revival doesn't count :P )
1
← Back to Board