Unseen character

Television shows: Examples

Heard but not seen

• Carlton, the doorman on Rhoda (although he was seen in a cartoon spinoff of the show)
• Robin Masters, the novelist, on Magnum P.I.
• Captain Mainwaring's wife Elizabeth, in Dad's Army (only her footsteps were heard)
• All adults on Charlie Brown cartoons (they speak in a weird, nonsensical way)
• John Beresford Tipton in The Millionaire
• White Fang and Black Tooth in The Soupy Sales Show
• The regular PA announcer in M*A*S*H
• The Village PA announcer in The Prisoner (voiced by Fenella Fielding)
• the radio announcer on Gilligan's Island
• Mr Bell on The Drew Carey Show (seen only on his final appearance)
• Management on Carnivàle
• Magic Voice on Mystery Science Theater 3000

Neither seen nor heard

• Abigail in Abigail's Party (originally a stage play)
• Godot in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot (originally a stage play)
• Vera, Norm Peterson's wife on Cheers (seen once with her face obscured by a thrown cake)
• Maris Crane, ex-wife of Niles Crane, on Frasier
• Karen's husband Stan and her children on Will & Grace
• 'Er Indoors, Arthur Daley's wife in Minder
• Mrs Axelby, Mrs Slocombe's friend in Are You Being Served?
• Mrs Slocombe's pussy, the source of much innuendo in Are You Being Served?
• Diane, Agent Cooper's secretary, on Twin Peaks
• Sheridan, Mrs Bucket's son in Keeping Up Appearances
• Mrs. Columbo, wife of Inspector Columbo in Columbo (a spin-off series entitled Mrs. Columbo was disowned by the makers of the original)
• Marion and Geoff in Marion and Geoff (In the series, the only character who appears is Keith, the pathetically optimistic ex-husband of Marion, and still best friend of Geoff who is now Marion's husband. However, an extended episode was later made in which Marion and Geoff do both appear.)
• Admiral Nagumo in Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• Phantom Dennis on Angel (does appear on-screen, but is invisible and inaudible)
• Alex, the suicidal common friend of The Big Chill
• Consuela, Suzanne Sugarbaker's housekeeper on Designing Women

Heard but never completely seen

• Charlie Townsend, the head of the detective agency on Charlie's Angels (In fact, Charlie is frequently seen from behind, except in the series finale where he appears in Surgeons mask and outfit.)
• Mum & Dad Cow & Chicken
• J. P. Pembrook in Fox Trot (only hands visible resting on desk)
• The "lady" in Tom and Jerry cartoons (legs only)
• Big Al in Police Squad and The Naked Gun (he is so tall his face is always cut off by the top of the screen)
• "Nanny" in Muppet Babies (like Big Al, her face is always off the top of the screen, since the series is presented from a child's-eye view)
• Miss Sara Bellum in The Powerpuff Girls (her face is either above the screen like Big Al's or otherwise obscured)
• Dr. Claw in the Inspector Gadget cartoon series (always seated in a high-backed chair, facing away from the camera; only his forearms and hands are ever seen)
• Victor Lewis-Smith in Inside Victor Lewis-Smith (possibly the only series whose star is never seen clearly; he or a body double appears wreathed in bandages after a car crash in the opening scene; he is also seen in highly distorted close-ups while making crank phone calls)
• "Troy", the extra-terrestrial father in Out of This World
• Alistair Crane on the NBC soap Passions

Unseen characters who were spoken of for a long time and then eventually seen

• Mary Jane Watson in the Spider Man comic book series
• Frasier's mother, on Frasier (she appeared in Cheers anyway)
• Number One on The Prisoner (debated)
• The father of The Nanny who was unseen or heard from until the final season, when he suddenly appeared during the final season of the show, played by Steve Lawrence. Previously, all you saw was the toupee on the back of his head.
• Emily, the "other sister" on Empty Nest, who was often spoken of, but never seen or heard during all the early years the show was on the air. Then several seasons later, Kristy McNicholl's character left the show, and Emily suddenly appeared and became a regular on the show.
• The Big Giant Head on 3rd Rock from the Sun was unseen for several seasons but finally appeared, played by William Shatner
• Wilson, the Taylors' neighbor, in Home Improvement. His face is seen only in the last episode, having previously been always obscured by picket fence or various other props.

Stage Plays: Examples

• Harvey, the title character of the play Harvey (movie). Elwood P. Dowd, who is the only character in the play who can see him, describes him as a six-foot tall rabbit, a pooka. Some directors show shadows of Harvey, but it is part of artistic licence. (This play has been made into a film several times, most famously with Jimmy Stewart playing the role of Dowd.)
• Godot in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
• Reg in Kevin Elyot's My Night with Reg
• Rosaline in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Referenced By