Do You Know...
They were on your television every week, getting laughs and sometimes stealing scenes from the people whose names appeared first in the credits.
Do you remember their characters? How about their actual names? Can you get to 5?
David Garrison
David Garrison played Steve Rhoades, Marcy’s first husband on “Married...with Children.” The supposedly respectable banker was surprisingly easy for Al Bundy to drag into trouble. Garrison left the regular cast in 1990 but returned as Steve for guest appearances in 1992, 1993, and 1995.
Screenshot from Married... with Children, Sony Pictures Television (1987-1997), Enhanced
Vicki Lewis
On “NewsRadio,” Beth’s red hair and unusual outfits made her easy to spot. Vicki Lewis made the sarcastic secretary just as memorable once she opened her mouth. In an office packed with strange personalities, Beth could hold her own without pretending she took the job particularly seriously.
Screenshot from NewsRadio, Sony Pictures Television (1995-1999)
Staci Keanan
Staci Keanan went from playing Nicole on “My Two Dads” to Dana Foster on “Step by Step.” Dana was the smart, sarcastic daughter who wasn’t exactly thrilled about her new blended family. Keanan spent years on sitcoms, giving viewers plenty of opportunities to recognize that unimpressed expression.
Screenshot from Step by Step, Warner Bros. Television (1991-1998)
John Henton
John Henton played Overton, the good-natured handyman on “Living Single.” His relationship with Synclaire gave the show some of its sweetest moments, while his homespun observations supplied plenty of laughs. He followed that role with another regular sitcom job as Milsap on “The Hughleys.”
Screenshot from Living Single, Warner Bros. Television (1993-1998)
Crystal Bernard
Crystal Bernard spent all eight seasons of “Wings” playing Helen Chappel, the airport lunch-counter operator who wanted to become a professional cellist. Helen could be warm, stubborn, and wonderfully impatient with the Hackett brothers. Running that counter apparently required almost as much effort as running an airline.
Screenshot from Wings, CBS Television Distribution (1990-1997)
Mary Page Keller
“Camp Wilder” didn’t last long, but Mary Page Keller held the family together as Ricky Wilder, a single mother also raising her younger siblings. The ABC sitcom ran during the 1992–1993 season. If you watched the Friday-night lineup religiously, her face might come back before the show’s name does.
Liz Torres
Liz Torres played Mahalia Sanchez, John Hemingway’s secretary on “The John Larroquette Show.” The bus-station setting offered plenty of opportunities for workplace chaos, and Mahalia wasn’t there to make her boss feel better about himself. Torres gave the supporting cast a reliably sharp comic presence.
Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Images
Patrick Bristow
Patrick Bristow was Peter Barnes on “Ellen,” a recurring character whose expressive face could do plenty of work before the punchline arrived. He also played Ian on the short-lived 1997 sitcom “Head Over Heels.” That second show is a considerably tougher memory test than the first.
Screenshot from Ellen, Touchstone Television (1994-1998), Enhanced
Amanda Bearse
You remember Marcy. You almost certainly remember Al Bundy making her furious. But does Amanda Bearse’s name come back as quickly? She played the Bundys’ neighbor throughout “Married...with Children” and also directed episodes, helping shape the comedy from both sides of the camera.
Screenshot from Married... with Children, Sony Pictures Television (1987-1997), Enhanced
Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell played Dexter Wilson, the sandwich-counter attendant on “The John Larroquette Show,” before becoming Leo Michaels on “Veronica’s Closet.” That gave him regular roles in two NBC workplace sitcoms during the decade. You may recognize him immediately while still trying to remember which office you know him from.
Greg Hernandez at https://www.flickr.com/photos/greginhollywood/, Wikimedia Commons
Angela Watson
On “Step by Step,” Angela Watson played Dana’s younger sister, who cared considerably more about appearances than Dana did. The contrast gave the show an easy source of sibling friction. Watson was part of the family throughout its seven-season run, making her a familiar Friday-night face.
David Schramm
Every small airport apparently needs one person who thinks he owns the place. On “Wings,” that was Roy Biggins, played by David Schramm. Roy ran rival airline Aeromass and brought enough bluster to fill the terminal. Schramm stayed with the sitcom through all eight seasons.
Screenshot from Wings, CBS Studios (1990-1997), Enhanced
Clea Lewis
If you watched “Ellen,” you probably remember Audrey’s squeaky voice before anything else. Clea Lewis played Audrey Penney, turning an easily recognizable delivery into a recurring source of comedy. Even surrounded by louder personalities and bigger names, she could make a simple exchange feel unmistakably hers.
Screenshot from Ellen, Touchstone Television (1994-1998)
Steve Hytner
Steve Hytner played Kenny Bania on “Seinfeld,” the fellow comedian whose enthusiasm Jerry could only tolerate in small doses. But Bania wasn’t his only 90s sitcom character. Hytner also played the sarcastic John Delaney on “Working,” which starred Fred Savage and lasted two seasons.
Screenshot from Seinfeld, Sony Pictures Television (1989-1998)
Hattie Winston
“Becker” arrived in 1998, with Hattie Winston playing Margaret Wyborn, the nurse working alongside Ted Danson’s famously irritable doctor. Margaret supplied the competence and common sense that his office badly needed. Dealing with patients was one thing. Dealing with Becker was practically a second job.
Screenshot from Becker, Paramount Television (1998-2004)
William Ragsdale
William Ragsdale was the actual Herman in “Herman’s Head,” which ran from 1991 to 1994. While four other performers represented different parts of his personality, Ragsdale handled the awkward situations happening outside his brain. It’s easy to remember the unusual premise and forget the actor holding it together.
Screenshot from Herman's Head, Buena Vista Television (1991-1994), Enhanced
Connie Ray
Connie Ray played Millicent Torkelson, the financially stretched mother raising five children on “The Torkelsons.” When the show became “Almost Home,” she moved to Seattle with three. Steven Floyd and Ruth Ann disappeared without explanation. Ray stayed at the center, even as the family suddenly got smaller.
Screenshot from The Torkelsons, NBC (1991-1992), Enhanced
David Anthony Higgins
Before he became Craig on “Malcolm in the Middle,” David Anthony Higgins played Joe Farrell on “Ellen.” Joe worked at the coffee shop inside Ellen’s bookstore, with an attitude that didn’t suggest enthusiasm for customer service. Higgins was making that sort of character funny well before the 2000s arrived.
Screenshot from Malcolm in the Middle, 20th Television (2000-2006)
Amy Yasbeck
Amy Yasbeck joined “Wings” in its later seasons as Casey, Helen’s older sister. Casey’s expensive tastes didn’t fit particularly well with her reduced circumstances or everyday life around the airport. Yasbeck gave the ensemble another source of friction, especially when Casey expected everyone else to accommodate her.
Screenshot from Wings, CBS Studios (1990-1997)
Dorien Wilson
Before playing Professor Oglevee on “The Parkers,” which debuted in 1999, Dorien Wilson was Eddie Charles on HBO’s “Dream On.” Eddie was a talk-show host and Martin Tupper’s best friend. Wilson also appeared as Terrence on “Sister, Sister,” giving 90s viewers several different reasons to recognize him.
Screenshot from The Parkers, CBS Studios (1999-2004)
Debbe Dunning
Pamela Anderson gets plenty of attention for her early “Home Improvement” appearances, but Debbe Dunning spent far longer as the “Tool Time” assistant. She played Heidi Keppert from 1993 to 1999. For much of the sitcom’s run, Dunning was the familiar face introducing Tim and Al’s latest television adventure.
Screenshot from Tool Time, Buena Vista Television (1991-1999)
Duane Martin
Duane Martin played Vidal Thomas on “Out All Night,” the 1992–1993 sitcom starring Patti LaBelle. Later in the decade, he starred as Milo Doucette on “Getting Personal.” Neither became a long-running hit, but both gave him a chance to show his comedy skills before “All of Us.”
Stephanie Hodge
Stephanie Hodge played Sandy Miller on “Nurses” before becoming Jennie Malloy on “Unhappily Ever After.” The second role placed her in a family sitcom that took dysfunction to some pretty strange places. If you remember the Malloys and their talking stuffed rabbit, you probably remember her too.
Jane Sibbett
You probably know Jane Sibbett as Carol, Ross’s former wife on “Friends.” But she had already been a regular on “Herman’s Head,” playing his ambitious coworker Heddy Newman. Those were two very different characters, which makes recognizing the actress easier than remembering where you first saw her.
Screenshot from Friends, Warner Bros. Television (1994-2004)
Jason Marsden
Jason Marsden turned up on “Full House,” “Boy Meets World,” and “Step by Step,” where he played Rich Halke. He also voiced Max in “A Goofy Movie.” And before you ask: no, he isn’t related to James Marsden. But you’re definitely not the first person to think so.
Screenshot from Step by Step, Warner Bros. Television (1991-1998)
So, Did You Remember Five?
Recognizing Steve, Beth, or Dana counts as remembering the character. Remembering the actor’s name without help? That’s the harder part. If you managed five or more, your 90s television habit clearly left a lasting impression. And if you remembered nearly everyone, you probably had a very busy viewing schedule.
Screenshot from Friends, Warner Bros. Television (1994-2004)
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