Famous people who don't exist

[Idaho]

The entire population of Yabby Creek in Home and Away.

Ooh good call

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Carlton, the doorman, on Rhoda.

The unseen neighbor on Home Improvement.

'The Banker' on Deal or No Deal.

Norman Bates' mother.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Freddy Kruger

 

[Lock&Light]

Norman Bates' mother.

But she does appear on screen. Some time dead, it's true, but she is seen.

 

[Dubversion]

Kilgore Trout.

and Luther Blissett, sort of.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

But she does appear on screen. Some time dead, it's true, but she is seen.

That's her mummified body. 'Mom', is no longer with us.

Norman talks to her like she's still there, though. He's talking to someone who's nonexistent.

 

[electrogirl]

Leroy in The Mighty Boosh?

Nah you see him playing in the folk/Kiss band with Vince.

My nomination, big Suze from Peep Show.

 

[Dhimmi]

JR Hartley- Author of "Flyfishing"

Although interestingly some folk believe he does... "He has his gentle smile of a flyfisher also."
http://www1.odn.ne.jp/bambriarsilk/my library.htm

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

All of Kramer's friends, on Seinfeld.

 

[subversplat]

JR Hartley- Author of "Flyfishing"

Although interestingly some folk believe he does... "He has his gentle smile of a flyfisher also."
http://www1.odn.ne.jp/bambriarsilk/my library.htm

Umm... He was the star of his own advert. He was in it all the way through.

 

[Ned Pointsman]

My nomination, big Suze from Peep Show.

Wasnt she in the half of the last series ?

EDIT, yeah see;

Big Suze.

 

[AverageJoe]

Alan Smithee.

I had to google the name so scuse the c'n'p

"Alan Smithee, Allen Smithee, Alan Smythee, and Adam Smithee are pseudonyms used between 1968 and 1999 by Hollywood film directors who wanted to be dissociated from a film for which they no longer wanted credit. It was used when the director could prove to the satisfaction of a panel of members of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers that the film had been wrestled from his or her creative control. The director is also required to keep the reason for the disavowal a secret."

So there you go, if you see a film that has been directed by Alan Smithee or such, it wasn't him at all, but a director who hated the film so much that he wouldnt put his name to it.

More here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Smithee

 

[Idaho]

Kilgore Trout.

and Luther Blissett, sort of.

Kilgore Trout is quoted regularly throughout Vonnegut's work - he is even the star of Timequake.

 

[Dubversion]

Kilgore Trout is quoted regularly throughout Vonnegut's work - he is even the star of Timequake.

I know. he also has at least one book in print in his name - in real life.

He still doesn't exist though

 

[Idaho]

Carlton, the doorman, on Rhoda.

The unseen neighbor on Home Improvement.

'The Banker' on Deal or No Deal.

Norman Bates' mother.

Don't know the first one. The second one doesn't count as he appears on screen and talks, just with his face obscured. You can have the third - but not the last

 

[Orang Utan]

All of Kramer's friends, on Seinfeld.

You never see George's boss's face either

 

[Idaho]

There doesn't seem to be any examples from classic literature. It seems that the unseen fictional character is largely used as a comic device of unseen menace ('er indoors, Granville's mother) or as cheap non-existent extras in soap operas.

 

[kakuma]

There doesn't seem to be any examples from classic literature. It seems that the unseen fictional character is largely used as a comic device of unseen menace ('er indoors, Granville's mother) or as cheap non-existent extras in soap operas.

waiting for godot

am sure there are a few characters i can't remember from heavier stuff that don't exist. akira from akira os one.

it's also used as an examination of myth, and our need to believe in something, or personify abstract concepts

 

[Santino]

Does Sauron appear in the Lord of the Rings books?

 

[Lock&Light]

Does Sauron appear in the Lord of the Rings books?

His face, or his eyes at least, appear on the palantirs.

 

[Idaho]

waiting for godot

am sure there are a few characters i can't remember from heavier stuff that don't exist. akira from akira os one.

it's also used as an examination of myth, and our need to believe in something, or personify abstract concepts

Godot is the big example where it is central to the story. However it doesn't seem to be used as a serious device very often. Perhaps in comedy the tension of not ever seeing someone makes it funny, whereas in non-comedy it would just be frustrating not to finally meet the person.

 

[kakuma]

i'd imagine it's been done in detective type stories. am sure there is at least one really famous story where he is on the trail of someone for years and it turns out they don't exist

 

[Mrs Magpie]

There's Bunbury, but it's known that he doesn't exist all through the play....

 

[Dirty Martini]

All of Kramer's friends, on Seinfeld.

Doesn't the Russian bloke that comes round to install cable in Jerry's flat count as one of Kramer's friends?

 

[Stigmata]

The chef, out of Star Trek: Enterprise. Jonathan Frakes in the last episode doesn't count.

 

[souljacker]

Let's have a list of famous characters who have never been seen or uttered a line on stage, in a book, etc.

Mr Poppadopolis, the owner of the launderette on Eastenders is my offering.

Mr Papadopolis was in it once.

 

[Idaho]

Mr Papadopolis was in it once.

He was? I want photographic evidence!

 

[Idaho]

i'd imagine it's been done in detective type stories. am sure there is at least one really famous story where he is on the trail of someone for years and it turns out they don't exist

Similar to Angel Heart. Gotta see that again one day. Might even download it later.

 

[Nine Bob Note]

Yes, Minister! - The prime minister
Only Fools & Horses - Paddy the Greek, Sunglasses Ron
Steptoe & Son - Dolly Clackett
Are You Being Served? - Mrs Axelby
I'm Alan Partridge - Fernando and Denise
Men Behaving Badly - Clive
Hi-De-Hi! - Joe Maplin
The Royle Family - Beverly Macker

 

[Stigmata]

^In Alan Partridge does Bill Oddie count? He got mentioned all the time but he never appeared.