When you think of television characters, chances are you remember the ones you can actually see. But this is a wildly unfair slight on a small but powerful minority: the characters who remain staunchly offscreen. For decades – mostly in comedies, with a handful of dramatic exceptions – these invisible workhorses have more than earned their keep, and they deserve their props.
Ugly Naked Guy from Friends was a nudist who lived across the street from Monica and Rachel. He never closed his curtains and slept in a hammock beside the window. Though seen from behind three times, his face remained hidden. Fans later discovered he was played by actor Jon Haugen.
Nobody knows what Erica from BoJack Horseman looks like, how she dresses, or even what species she is. Across six seasons, she was referred to endlessly by Mr Peanutbutter, with exclamations like: “Erica! How are you looking so beautiful? I’m furious!” and “Erica! Is that you? Who let you out of the burn ward?”
Other notable unseen characters include Norm’s wife Vera from Cheers, who appeared once with her face obscured by a pie; the men who run the country in The Thick of It; and Mrs Columbo, known only through her husband's descriptions. These off-screen figures have left a lasting mark on television history.
