Unseen character

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Unseen characters are a common device in drama. They are continuing characters — characters who are currently in frequent interaction with the other characters and who influence current story events — who are never directly observed by the audience but are only described by other characters. Television shows and stage plays make use of characters who are not seen, and usually not heard, though some unseen characters are portrayed as an off-camera voice. Radio shows also feature "unseen" characters who never speak, while books can feature characters who are referenced by others, but whose actions and dialogue are never directly described. The characters as a device are more commonly featured in television, since the length of a series and visual medium makes it more unusual for someone who has common interaction with a main character never to be directly involved in a scene with that character.

[edit] Notable unseen characters

• The Andy Griffith Show:
  • Barney Fife's occasional fling, Juanita. She is spoken to by Barney (but never heard) in telephone conversations, usually overheard by Andy or Opie to Barney's chagrin.^[1]
  • Sarah, the Mayberry telephone operator^[2]
• In Bebe's Kids, even though she is the namesake of the movie, Bebe never appears.
• Becker Margaret's husband Lewis is never seen but mentioned frequently.
• Designing Women: Consuela, Suzanne Sugarbaker's housekeeper. (She is heard in one episode startling Suzanne in the kitchen off-screen.)^[3]
• Inspector Gadget: Dr. Claw, the partially-seen overlord of criminal syndicate M.A.D and nemesis of Gadget.
• Charlie's Angels: Charlie, the "Angels"'s employer, whom they have never seen. Only his voice is heard: he delivers instructions by calling them.^[4]
• Cheers: Vera Peterson, wife of Norm Peterson, was often referenced, but almost never seen, the only exception being a Thanksgiving episode during which she is hit with a pie before her face appears on screen.
• Chowder (TV series): Gazpacho's mother who still remains unseen. Seems to be very controlling of him.
• Columbo: Mrs Columbo, the lieutenant's wife, oft referred to but never seen.^[5]
• Dad's Army: Elizabeth Mainwaring, the highly-strung and reclusive wife of Captain Mainwaring never made an appearance in all 9 years that the show ran, despite being married to the main character.
• Degrassi: The Next Generation: Heather Sinclair, an enemy to all Degrassi students.
• Ed Edd n Eddy: Eddy's brother is never seen but Eddy is always talking about him, claiming him to be a whiz at whatever they are doing.
• Vern from the Ernest franchise.
• Eureka Seven: monsoono pilots: rarely ever made an appearance without their uniforms, except in episode 45.
• Father Ted: Father Bigley, who is described as having "big puffy fish lips" and big red blotches all over his face, looks dead, wears perfume and has tendencies to start fires (for which he was sectioned) and send weapons to Iraq.
• Frasier: Maris Crane, wife (and later ex-wife) of Niles Crane. While the producers once planned to reveal her, the list of Maris's unusual attributes and characteristics became so long that — despite plotlines as far-reaching as a murder — Maris was ultimately kept off screen. She is reported to have changed from excessively thin to excessively obese.^[6]
• Gavin & Stacey: Lucy, Smithy's 17 year old girlfriend. Whenever she was mentioned she would usually be in the middle of doing things normally associated with younger girls (trampolining, netball etc.) to illustrate that Lucy was significantly younger than Smithy (who was in his late twenties).
• Gilmore Girls: Al from "Al's Pancake World" is talked about quite frequently by Lorelai and Rory, but we never get to see him. He owns an establishment that specializes in cuisine from throughout the world. Mrs. Kims' husband is also talked about but never seen.
• The Golden Girls: Dorothy's brother Phil is mentioned frequently but never seen.
• Gossip Girl: The narrator of the show is never seen, although she often begins an episode and ends it with all the happenings within the show.
• Home Improvement: The only time Al Borland's mother was shown was when she waved at Tim Taylor and Jill Taylor. Likewise, Klaus or Marv where never seen, often referred-to members of the Tool Time crew. Also, Wilson Wilson (Tim's Neighbor) always has the bottom half of his face covered by an object.
• I'm Alan Partridge: All members of the Partridge Family, except for Alan Partridge, are never seen but are mentioned and spoken to over the phone.
• Jim Henson's Muppet Babies: Nanny, the muppets' caretaker, never has her face shown with only her voice (Barbara Billingsley) being heard off screen as the audience mostly sees only her feet. In addition, in one episode where the muppets are babysat, the babysitter is also only seen from the neck down.
• Just Shoot Me: Nina Van Horn's friend "Binnie" is frequently referred to but never shown. (With the exception of a quick, bandaged shot of her face.)
• Keeping Up Appearances: Sheridan, Hyacinth's son, who frequently calls by telephone but is never seen.^[7]
• Kenan & Kel: Chris, Kenan's boss at the grocery store, has mentioned about his mother many, many times and even references that he still lives with her. However, his mother is never seen. In one episode, Kenan admits that he's never seen Chris' mother.
• Laverne and Shirley: Shirley's new husband, Walter Meany, whom she married at the beginning of the 8th and final season. He was only seen fully covered up like a mummy in the hospital where the wedding was held. He never spoke and just blinked when it was his turn to say "I Do", and the actor who portrayed him was uncredited.^[8]
• Married with Children: To Al's benefit, Peggy's mom is never seen.
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Lars Lindstrom, husband of Phyllis. When Phyllis got her own spin-off show, the pilot episode revolved around the death of Lars.^[9]
• Minder (TV series): Arthur Daley's wife, referred to as "'er indoors", was frequently referenced but never seen in any episode.
• My So-Called Life: Tino, friend of Jordan Catalano and Rayanne, as well as lead singer of "Frozen Embryos", is never seen, despite being mentioned in every episode.
• The Proud Family: Wizard Kelly's face is never seen on screen. But in several episodes, we briefly see his mouth only.
• Rhoda: Carlton the doorman, who is heard but not seen throughout the life of the series.
• Rocky King, Inside Detective: Rocky's wife; Rocky would often speak to his wife from one room, while she was busy in another. Her offscreen replies to Rocky were all the audience would ever experience of Mrs. King.^[10]
• Seinfeld: Kramer's friends Bob Sacamano and Lomez were never seen in the show, nor was Jerry's Cousin Jeffrey (Uncle Leo's son). In addition, the owner of the Yankees, George Steinbrenner, frequently speaks to George Costanza, but is never seen. Rather, the back of his chair is always visible.
• Star Trek: Enterprise: the ship's chef, known as "Chef" was a mostly unseen character, though the lower part of his body was seen when he delivered meals in the episode "The Catwalk". Jonathan Frakes played the chef, in the final episode; via a holodeck program. Yet, "fanon" states Commander Riker might be a descendent of the chef. ^[11]
• The IT Crowd: Although their sons frequently are seen talking to them, neither Moss nor Roy's mothers are seen.
• The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Wilfred Tipton, the owner of the Tipton Hotel and father of London, has been voiced in several episodes, but has remained unseen.
• Waiting for Godot, play by Samuel Beckett: Godot, a m mysterious character who the two protagonists spend the entire play waiting for. He never appears. (Beckett also said that Godot is not God; nor is he the same as Pozzo, a chaaracter who does appear in the play.)
• Will & Grace: Karen Walker's husband Stanley is never seen.
• Quigley's Village Elephant, the trunk is seen in many scenes, however, it is never heard, nor seen in any other way. It even appears in the theme song.

[edit] Rarely seen characters

• The Nanny: Fran's father, Morty, was never seen throughout the series, except sometimes from the back, once actually using a dummy at the dinner table to depict the character. In the last episode, we finally meet Morty, played by Steve Lawrence.
• Alice: Henry's often named wife Chloe was shown only once, played by guest star Ruth Buzzi.
• Just Shoot Me: Jack Gallo's former wife Allie was unseen for four years, before appearing in two episodes. Incidentally the first episode was called "At Long Last Allie", a reference to the unseen character being depicted.
• The Dick Van Dyke Show: The face of Robert's boss, Alan Brady, was never shown during the early episodes. Eventually series creator Carl Reiner made regular appearances with his full face, and sometimes his toupee.
• The Dick Van Dyke Show: Buddy's wife, Pickles, is mentioned several times but is rarely seen. She is portrayed by two different actresses (Barbara Perry and Joan Shawlee) in five episodes. Later in the series her real name is given as "Fiona." As she explains it, "Where I grew up everyone named Fiona went by Pickles." She later reveals she was the only person in her neighborhood named Fiona.
• "South Park": Despite being one of the main characters of the show, Kenny McCormick's face is rarely seen as it is either always covered by his signature orange parka (which causes the viewer to barely be able to understand Kenny), occasionally (in episodes such as "Lice Capades") the viewer can only see the back of his head, or (in episodes such as "The Jeffersons") McCormick's face is covered by an object or mask.

[edit] References

Home Improvement: Wilson, (Tim's Neighbor), always has bottom half of face covered by an object.