Only 1 In 10 People Can Name All These Sitcom Characters
- by Dylan Dembrow
- – on
- in Movies and TV
When people talk about the greatest TV shows of all time, series like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and Mad Men will get mentioned more often than not. They are indeed amazing shows. But why do sitcoms rarely make the cut? They can provide just as much entertainment as the shows listed above. Not to mention that they give the viewer a certain amount of joy that isn't exactly the case with a hard-hitting drama.
While entertainment as a whole has shifted closer to realism, sitcoms aren't quite as popular as they were in decades past. Apparently, the idea of a show being filmed on a stage in front of a live studio audience just isn't as believable anymore, and audiences have largely turned to more unconventional sitcoms or animated shows to get their dose of comedy.
But when someone turns on a sitcom, they're hardly looking for realism anyway. Instead, these shows are about making people laugh. And if someone can form a connection with the characters, it's a huge plus. After all, nothing makes an individual more attractive than their ability to make someone laugh.
So let's try to name some of the greatest sitcom characters from today and years past to separate the true comedy nerds from the posers!
Name this character from The Office.
Easily one of the biggest sitcoms of all time, the American version of The Office ran for nine seasons between 2005 and 2013. But believe it or not, the show was actually not a smash hit right off the bat. But it did receive an enormous ratings boost when The 40-Year-Old Virgin solidified Steve Carell as a leading man, which came out prior to the second season of the show. Carrell played the lead on The Office for seven seasons of the sitcom.
Name this character from Friends.
Much like The Office, Friends is another sitcom that fans seem to watch on a continuous loop on Netflix. Though it’s been over 20 years since the series first debuted on NBC, something about these six friends living in New York City has a timeless quality. Jennifer Aniston played one of the show’s leads, and while all of the other main actors have enjoyed successful careers post-Friends, Jennifer Aniston has really sky-rocketed to fame with her successful career in film.
Name this character from Seinfeld.
If Seinfeld is considered one of the greatest shows of all time, then this standout character should also be considered one of the greatest characters of all time. The show ran for nine seasons between 1989 and 1998 and was one of the biggest rating’s juggernauts of that time. This character was the next door neighbor of Jerry who often bursts into Jerry’s apartment without warning. He was portrayed by comedic actor Michael Richards, who largely stepped away from the spotlight after the show ended.
Name this character from Parks and Recreation.
Thanks to the success of NBC’s The Office, Parks and Recreation was released on the same network in 2009, and the sitcom was also formatted as a mockumentary style series that was set within a workplace. SNL alum Amy Poehler starred at the show’s protagonist, who begins the series as a bureaucrat working at the Park and Rec department in the small town of Pawnee, Indiana. The role eventually earned Poehler a number of awards nomination, including one Golden Globe win.
Name this character from The Big Bang Theory.
At eleven seasons and over 250 episodes, this series is easily one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time. The show follows a group of highly-intellectual yet social awkward nerds living in Southern California. While Jim Parsons may be the star of the show, Johnny Galecki’s character has also appeared in every episode of the series to date. But this is far from Galecki’s first hit show, as he’s also one of the leads of Roseanne with his performance as David Healy.
Name this character from Modern Family.
Sitcoms used to be largely three camera shows that were performed on a sound stage in front of a live studio audience. But in the last few decades, sitcoms have been formatted a lot closer to something like Modern Family, which is often filmed on location — making for a much more realistic setting. However, the show also has a mockumentary format, which features each character talking into the camera during their individual interviews, including this series regular who is played by Sofia Vergara.
Name this character from How I Met Your Mother.
How I Met Your Mother was never one of the biggest sitcoms while it was on the air, though as the show continued on it pulled in a respectful following through online streaming. Jason Segal played one of the series regulars, and the comedic actor has since gone on to be one of the biggest stars from the show since it wrapped up. He’s popped up in a number of hit comedies, including Knocked Up, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall — which he also wrote.
Name this character from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Many people have a disdain for sitcoms because they often feel like cookie-cutter shows that rely on the same jokes which are constantly trying to appeal to the biggest audience. In which case, a show like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia may be a more suitable fit. This FX series, which has ran for 12 seasons with a 13th currently in the works, follows a group of five despicable individuals who work in a bar in South Phili. So which character does actor Charlie Day play on the show?
Name this character from Scrubs.
Network TV has always been overflowing with its fair share of medical shows. But few of them have been sitcoms. Scrubs originally ran on NBC from 2001 to 2010, and the series followed a team of doctors and nurses working at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital in California. Zach Braff played the lead character of the show, who begins the series as an intern as well as the show’s narrator. Braff has starred in a number of films since, as well as the short-lived sitcom Alex, Inc.
Name this character from The Office.
Jenna Fischer played this character on the American version of The Office, who begins the series as a bored secretary at the fictional paper company in Scranton, PA before she eventually works her way up to a sales position. The show helped launch Fischer’s career, and she has starred in a number of movies since, including Blades of Glory and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. She currently enjoys more success on the ABC sitcom Splitting Up Together, which was recently renewed for a second season.
Name this character from Everybody Loves Raymond.
Pretty much everyone could name Ray Romano’s character from Everybody Loves Raymond. After all, the show is named after him. But what about his wife’s name on the show? Patricia Heaton played this character on nine seasons of the massively popular sitcom, which aired on CBS from 1996 to 2005. She won two Primetime Emmys for her performance on the series, and she also went on to play the lead on the ABC sitcom The Middle — which concluded earlier this year.
Name this character from That ‘70s Show.
While the main cast members were required to be 18 to star in That ‘70s Show, Mila Kunis was cast in this role at only the age of 14 after she lied to the casting directors. But after she became a huge TV and film star as a result, it appears as though the lie was well worth it for this actress. She’s since starred in a number of big-budget movies, include Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Black Swan, and Ted. But what was her character’s name from this sitcom?
Name this character from Parks and Recreation.
While Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope may have been the star of the series, this supporting character played by Nick Offerman often ended up stealing almost every scene that he was in. Here, Offerman plays the director of the Parks and Rec department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. However, he is a Libertarian with very strong beliefs, including his hatred for all things related to the government. This, mixed with his affinity for steak, Scotch, and woodworking, all make for an iconic sitcom character.
Name this character from Seinfeld.
While Seinfeld was largely dominated by a cast of male character, this series regular played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus brought her own brand of humor to the series, which ended up winning her a number of awards in the process. While all of the main cast members have enjoyed their fair share of success after leaving the show, Louis-Dreyfus has continued to turn out one mainstream hit after the next, including The New Adventures of Old Christine and Veep — which is currently airing on HBO.
Name this character from Modern Family.
This Modern Family character is easily the king of contemporary dad humor, as his jokes often incite an equal mix of laughter and cringing. The character is portrayed by Ty Burrell, who has been working professionally since 2000, though he didn’t enjoyed mainstream success until he landed a spot on this show back in 2009. On top of the show winning a number of Emmys for Outstanding Comedy, Burrell has taken home a number of Emmys himself for his performance as this character.
Name this character from Two and a Half Men.
Though he may have been the tentpole of the series, Charlie Sheen’s character was eventually killed off of Two and a Half Men when the fellow cast and crew members were becoming fed up with the actor’s off-screen antics. Though Sheen has continued to pop up in movies and TV shows since, his work has never returned to the caliber he enjoyed with Two and a Half Men. He was eventually replaced with a totally new character portrayed by Ashton Kutcher from seasons nine to 12.
Name this character from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
On top of being one of the biggest sitcoms of the 1990s, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was responsible for launching Will Smith’s career, eventually making him one of the biggest movie stars of all time. However, Smith was far from the only standout on the series, and it’s hard to imagine his character being so funny without having his cousin — who was a polar opposite — to bounce jokes off of. This character was portrayed by Alfonso Ribeiro, who is also well known for his work as a singer and dancer.
Name this character from The King of Queens.
Though this sitcom may not have had as much sticking power as Seinfeld or Everybody Loves Raymon, The King of the Queens was still one of the most popular series of the ‘90s and early 2000s. The show featured comedian Kevin James in the leading role of a delivery driver who lives in Queens with his wife, Carrie, and her father. The show ran for nine seasons on CBS between 1998 and 2007, and in that time James was nominated for a number of Awards, including an Emmy.
Name this character from Arrested Development.
Although Arrested Development received universal acclaim during its original run, it failed to find an audience, resulting in the show being canceled after just three seasons. However, thanks to Netflix, the show has enjoyed a second life online with its fourth season being released in 2013 and its fifth season coming out just earlier this year. Stand-up comedian David Cross plays one of the fan favorite characters on the show, who has appeared throughout all five seasons. The character also had a bizarre cameo in this year’s Avengers: Infinity War.
Name this character from 30 Rock.
As if being the head writer and a long-running cast member of Saturday Night Live wasn’t enough, including being the host of Weekend Update, Tina Fey continued her successful comedy career post-SNL by playing the lead on this NBC sitcom, which just so happened to take place behind-the-scenes at a sketch comedy show. She appeared on the show for seven seasons between 2006 and 2013, and Fey was even awarded a Primetime Emmy for her performance along with two Golden Globes. But what's this character's name?
Name this character from The Big Bang Theory.
When The Big Bang Theory first began airing back in 2007, the sitcom revolved around four nerdy young men living across the hall from a female waitress and an aspiring actress, played by Kaley Cuoco. But outside of this massively popular sitcom, Cuoco has also appeared on a number of other hit show, including Charmed and 8 Simple Rules. She is set to reprise this character in the twelfth season of the show, which is expected out in the fall of this year.
Name this character from Scrubs.
This Scrubs character was portrayed by actress Sarah Chalke throughout nine seasons of the show, where her relationship with protagonist J.D. often served as a focal point of the series. Chalke has also appeared on a number of other hit sitcoms before and since, including Roseanne and How I Met Your Mother. The actress currently provides her voice for the character of Beth Smith on Rick and Morty, which was recently picked up for another 70 episodes on Adult Swim.
Name this character from Friends.
Matt LeBlanc has been working as a professional actor since the mid-‘80s, but his career really blew up when he landed this lead role on Friends. While the sitcom was made up of an ensemble cast, this character was eventually given his own spin-off show, though it only lasted for two seasons before being canceled. But LeBlanc has also starred in a number of shows since, including Episodes and Man with a Plan, which recently wrapped up its second season on CBS.
Name this character from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Though the show is mostly made up of male characters, Kaitlin Olson has been a series regular on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia since the show first debuted back in 2005. Here, she plays the sister of Dennis Reynolds and a part-owner of the South Phili bar, Paddy’s Pub, where a majority of the show takes place. Though she continues to star in this FX series, Olson also played the lead on the short-lived Fox series The Mick with her portrayal of Mickey Long.
Name this character from The Office.
There are plenty of standout characters from The Office, but few are as distinct and original as this series regular who was played by American actor Rainn Wilson throughout nine seasons of the show. The character has a number of bizarre hobbies and idiosyncrasies, which include beet farming and a respect for strong leadership. Since landing the role on the show, Wilson has also appeared in a number of films, including The Rocker and Super. But what was his character’s name in The Office?
Name this character from How I Met Your Mother.
This How I Met Your Mother character was portrayed by Alyson Hannigan throughout nine seasons of the show. While any sitcom that runs nine years would be a big enough success for any actor, Hannigan has actually starred in a number of other successful franchises as well, including the American Pie film series, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was the first project that brought the American actress mainstream attention. She is also set to provide her voice in a number of upcoming animated series.
Name this character from Parks and Recreation.
While plenty of actors on Parks and Recreation had already enjoyed mainstream success — including Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, and Rob Lowe — this series was the breakout role for Chris Pratt, who played one of the series regulars throughout seven seasons of the show. Pratt has since gone on to be one of the biggest action stars in recent years, thanks largely to his role as Peter Quill in the MCU, coupled with his leading roles in the new Jurassic Park movies.
Name this character from Seinfeld.
Though this character very much became a creation of his own throughout the nine seasons of Seinfeld, he was originally based off one of the series creators, Larry David, who is now best known for his HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. That being said, Jason Alexander definitely brought his own talent and personality into the role of this unlucky and often-bitter best friend of the series protagonist. Alexander is also known for his film and impressive stage work, which has earned the actor critical acclaim.
Name this character from Everybody Loves Raymond.
After largely working as a voice actor in TV and film for a number of years, actor and comedian Brad Garrett landed this role on Everybody Loves Raymond, where he played the lead character’s brother. But despite his imposing figure and profession as a police officer, this character often feels like he’s always getting the short end of the stick, often because he believes the world favors his younger brother more. More recently, Barrett has appeared on the Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here.
Name this character from That ‘70s Show.
Though That ‘70s Show features an impressive cast of characters, few are as memorable or distinct as this character, who was portrayed by Wilmer Valderrama throughout eight seasons of the show. The character is a foreign exchange studio with a peculiar accent and a strong fascination with the opposite sex. But it’s not until the later seasons that he actually has any luck with the ladies. Since the show ended, Valderrama has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy and Netflix's The Ranch.
Name this character from Modern Family.
Unlike her husband, who is a lot more laid back and wacky, this character from Modern Family is an upright perfectionist — though she is also an active member in both her family and the community. The character is played by Julie Bowen, who appeared on a number of other hit TV series before landing her role in Modern Family, including Dawson’s Creek, Lost, and Boston Legal. She’s won two Primetime Emmys courtesy of her performance, and she’s expected to reprise the role in the upcoming final season.
Name this character from Full House.
Full House original aired on ABC for eight seasons between 1987 and 1995, but the show has recently been brought back in the form of a spin-off, titled Fuller House, which can be found on Netflix. Not only is John Stamos back playing his character from the original series, but he played an instrumental role in getting Fuller House made in the first place. The character is a musician who is obsessed with his hair along with all things Elvis Presley.
Name this character from The Office (U.K.).
Sure, the American version of The Office may be far more well known, but it’s important to remember that the show would never have come into existence without the U.K. version that started it all. Anyone who’s watched this series will have found it to be a lot less laugh-out-loud funny and a lot more painfully awkward, which is largely thanks to this character. Here, the show’s protagonist and the office’s boss is portrayed by British stand-up comedian Ricky Gervais.
Name this character from Sex and the City.
This HBO sitcom original aired on HBO for six seasons between 1998 and 2004 before it was carried over into two feature films. The show centers around four women, their relationships with each other, romantic partners, and their work lives in New York City. This leading role was played by Sarah Jessica Parker, who won four Golden Globes for her portrayal of this character, along with one Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. So what was this character's first name?
Name this character from Arrested Development.
This Arrested Development character has been portrayed by American actress Alia Shawkat on every season of the show, including the two latest seasons that were released straight to Netflix. While this series was the first to bring her mainstream recognition, Shawkat has since landed a leading role on an unusual comedy series of her own with Search Party, which was recently renewed for a third season on TBS. The actress has also appeared in the feature films Green Room and 20th Century Women.
Name this character from 30 Rock.
Though Jack McBrayer had been working in Hollywood since the late ‘90s — including his appearances on Late Night Conan O’Brien — the comedic actor didn’t gain widespread recognition until he portrayed this character on NBC’s 30 Rock. Here, McBrayer plays the happy-go-lucky NBC page who gladly works at the studio despite a measly salary and little respect from his peers. Since the show debuted, McBrayer has starred in a number of feature films as well, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Name this character from Seinfeld.
Though he was never one of the show’s main cast, this supporting character popped up throughout Seinfeld as one of the antagonists to the main character, who just so happens to live in the same building as Jerry. Despite not getting along with Jerry, the character has a close friendship with Kramer, and the two often get involved in a number of hilarious high jinks together, including trying to transport returnable bottles and cans to another state for more money.
Name this character from Friends.
This Friends character was portrayed by Courteney Cox throughout the full 10 seasons of the NBC show. The character is the sister of David Schwimmer’s Ross and the romantic interest of Matthew Perry’s Chandler. While Friends is easily her most notable project, Cox has also starred in a number of other mainstream hits, including her recurring role as reporter Gale Weathers in the horror film series Scream and her leading role in the ABC/TBS series Cougar Town. But what is her character's name in Friends?
Name this character from Parks and Recreation.
Aubrey Plaza played this apathetic character who works at the Pawnee, Indiana Parks and Recreation department throughout seven seasons of the show. The character eventually goes on to form an unlikely relationship with Andy Dwyer, which eventually leads to the two getting married. Since the show ended, Plaza’s career has only continued to grow in notoriety, and she’s even played the lead in a number of feature films, Safety Not Guaranteed and Ingrid Goes West. She can currently be found on the FX series Legion.
Name this character from The Office.
Mindy Kaling not only played one of the main characters throughout nine seasons of the American version of The Office, but she also worked behind the scenes as one of the show’s writers and executive producers. The character is a customer service rep, who is often involved in an on-again off-again relationship with Ryan Howard. During the time of the show, Kaling was also involved in a real relationship with B. J. Novak, which was somewhat parodied in the series.
Name this character from Frasier.
Anyone who was born in the last few decades may have missed Frasier entirely. Not just because the show ended in 2004, but because it was geared mainly toward an adult audience — meaning anyone who is still young may feel little need to go back and check out this NBC sitcom. That being said, Frasier was one of the most popular sitcoms of the ’90s and early 2000s, as it ran for eleven seasons and turned out an episodes. This particular character was played by David Hyde Pierce.
Name this character from Community.
Because of its off-beat and extremely nerdy humor, Community was never a mainstream success, though it did develop a strong cult following that resulted in the NBC show enjoying a second life on Yahoo! Screen for a sixth and final season. This series regular was played by American actress Alison Brie. Brie’s stardom has only continued to grow since she debuted on Community, as she’s also popped up in a supporting role in Mad Men along with currently playing the lead on Netflix’s GLOW.
Name this character from Will & Grace.
Although this show first began airing back in 1998, Will & Grace has recently been brought back for a revival series with a ninth season that came out in 2017. Plans for a tenth and eleventh season are currently in the works as well. This sitcom was one of the first mainstream shows to cast gay characters as the series’ leads, and it received critical acclaim for its progressiveness as well as the quality of the writing and acting. This character was portrayed by Jack MacFarland, who is the best friend of the show’s protagonist.
Name this character from Malcolm in the Middle.
Before he was playing the drug kingpin on AMC’s Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston was primarily known as a sitcom actor thanks to his recurring role on Seinfeld and his main role on seven seasons of Malcolm in the Middle. Here, Cranston played the father of a dysfunctional family alongside his high-strung wife, Lois. Though Cranston was nominated for a number of awards for his portrayal of this character, he wouldn’t receive the recognition he deserved until he broke into more dramatic work.
Name this character from Workaholics.
Though this sitcom may not be as well known as many of the others on this list, naming the show’s characters might not be quite as challenging since they take their names from the actors who portray them. This has often been a trend in sitcoms, largely because the lead characters have already achieved fame as stand-up comedians and the shows are largely based off of their real lives. Similarly, Workaholics was mainly a creation of its three main actors, including Adam DeVine, Anders Holm, and this individual pictured here.
Name this character from Boy Meets World.
While Boy Meets World was largely geared toward a younger audience, the show could still be enjoyed by the whole family — which is rarely the case with the majority of Disney shows being turned out today. Therefore, anyone who grew up in the ‘90s has likely seen more than a few episodes of this sitcom in their life, which follows the coming-of-age story of Cory Matthews, along with his friends and family. This character, portrayed by Danielle Fishel, was the primary love interest of Cory throughout the entire series.
Name this character from Saved by the Bell.
While plenty of ‘90s sitcoms have aged surprisingly well — including shows such as Seinfeld and Friends — Saved by the Bell is a show that really shows its age upon rewatching the series. The show ran for five seasons on NBC from 1989 to 1993, and it follows a group of friends who attended Bayside High School together. The show often tackled various social and personal issues, and Saved by the Bell was meant to be educational to younger viewers as well as entertaining.
Name this character from Home Improvement.
Tim Allen has since become synonymous with a number of popular franchises, including Toy Story (where he provides his voice to play Buzz Lightyear), the Santa Clause film series, along with the sitcom Last Man Standing (which currently airs on Fox). However, he first enjoyed mainstream success with the ‘90s sitcom Home Improvement. Here, Allen plays a TV handyman, a husband, and a father of three boys. The show was one of the biggest of the decade, often ranking amongst the top ten most-watched shows of that time.
Name this character from Family Matters.
Although this character was originally conceived to be a guest star, he was quickly made into a series regular and eventually the lead character of the show thanks to a strong performance by Jaleel White. Family Matters ran for nine seasons on ABC and later CBS between 1989 and 1998. The show mainly focuses on the Winslow family, who lived in Chicago, Illinois. But the later seasons made their nerdy neighbor the star of the series. So what was this geeky character's first name?
Name this character from New Girl.
Even if someone has only watched the opening credit sequence of this Fox sitcom, they should be able to recall this character’s first name. Not only did Zooey Deschanel play the lead on this sitcom, but she also served as a producer. However, she did not create the show despite the character’s sensibilities and the brand of humor really seeming to line up with Deschanel’s real life persona. The show ran for seven seasons before wrapping up just earlier this year after nearly 150 episodes.