16 TV Characters We Never Actually Saw

TV is a visual medium that’s all about watching the action on screen. However, there are some iconic characters who never made an appearance – or at least not one where we could actually see their face to identify them. They may have been heard but not seen, yet they still had important roles that are part of our collective consciousness. Here are some of the best TV characters we never actually laid eyes on.

1. Charlie from Charlie’s Angels

The enigmatic character Charlie Townsend of Charlie’s Angels was the wealthy owner of the investigative agency the show centered around, but he was never actually seen from the front. John Forsythe voiced the role after being personally asked to by Aaron Spelling, who he later worked with on Dynasty. The gorgeous women hired to work for Charlie would get their mission briefings over the phone, and his face was kept hidden throughout the show’s life.

2. Orson from Mork and Mindy

In the TV show Mork and Mindy, Mork is sent to earth by his superior, Orson, to observe human behavior on the planet. The character remained unseen throughout the show (although you do see his rather large shadow occasionally) but kept in constant contact as Mork reported back to him about his studies at the end of each episode. Orson was voiced by the actor Ralph James.

3. Wilson from Home Improvement

The character Tim Taylor on Home Improvement was always getting into some sort of trouble, and no one gave better advice than his neighbor, Wilson, who he would talk to over (or through) the fence that divided their yards. Part of the schtick with Wilson was that we never saw all of his face at once, elevating him to a somewhat elusive all knowing presence as opposed to just the chatty guy next door.