TV Characters from the 1970s Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jeff Conaway

While all the choices above were actors on "Taxi" (1978-1983), Jeff Conaway played Bobby Wheeler, an aspiring, but usually unsuccessful actor. Jeff was also the deuteragonist (2nd protagonist) in the 1978 film "Grease" where he was Kenickie, opposite Stockard Channing as Rizzo; he also appeared on "Babylon 5" as Security Chief Zack Allan.

Unfortunately, he had an addiction problem and died in 2011.

Answer: Sally Kellerman

Did you confuse Sally Kellerman with Loretta Swit? It's understandable since they both played Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan (although in the movie, Kellerman's name was O'Houlihan; perhaps the TV writers thought it was redundant). Swit was on the television show "M.A.S.H." (1972-1983), while Sally Kellerman played the same role in the original 1970 movie, directed by Robert Altman.

Answer: The Mod Squad

Do you remember "The Mod Squad" (1968-1973)? It was sort of the precursor of "21 Jump Street" with a trio of "hippie cops" trying to apprehend criminals who preyed on the youth of Southern California. The trio was: Peggy Lipton (formerly married to Quincy Jones) as Julie, Michael Cole as Pete Cochrane, and Clarence Williams III as Linc Hayes.

They typified the era from which they came.

Answer: Cheryl Ladd

Farrah Fawcett-Majors was Jill Monroe; she got so popular (posters and all) that she left "Charlie's Angels" (1976-1979) in the second season and was replaced by her 'sister' Kris Monroe, played by Ladd. Fun fact: prior to this, in 1970, Cheryl Ladd was the singing voice of Melody on the animated series "Josie and the Pussycats".

The other choices, i.e., Hack and Roberts were later 'angels', and Priscilla Barnes replaced Jenilee Harrison who replaced Suzanne Somers on "Three's Company".

Answer: Jack's Bistro

Jack Tripper, played by the late John Ritter (son of Tex and father of Jason), was a cooking student when he met Janet Woods and Chrissy Snow on "Three's Company" (1977-1984). Jack later became a chef and then a restaurant owner of Jack's Bistro. The role was based on the character Robin Tripp from the British series "Man About the House" and "Robin's Nest".

Answer: Ricardo Montalban

"De plane, De plane" was how Herve Villechaize (as 'Tattoo') would invite us to watch "Fantasy Island" (1977-1984), but it was Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban, as the mysterious Mr. Roarke, who actually ran the place. All we knew was that he wore the same white suit all summer, but we were never told his first name or his history. We DO know Montalban also played the evil Khan Noonien Singh in a 1967 episode of "Star Trek" called "Space Seed", and reprised the role in the movie "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" in 1982, and that he had a long and successful career.

Answer: Diana Prince

Lynda Carter was TV's "Wonder Woman" from 1975-1979. "Wonder Woman" was 'born' as Diana, daughter of Queen Hippolyta and the first child born on Paradise Island (so-called, perhaps, because there were no men) since the Amazons lived there around 1200 B.C.

She established a secret identity in Boston, Massachusetts as a government agent called Diana Prince (no relation to the more recent Princess Diana). She was equipped with the 'Lasso of Truth', the 'Sandals of Hermes' and that amazing 'Invisible Jetplane'.

Answer: Kwai Chang Caine

"Grasshopper", as he was called by the blind Master Po, was actually a Shaolin monk whose name was Kwai Chang Caine. He traveled the American West looking for his half-brother Danny Caine, and 'putting things right' for put-upon Chinese people. "Kung Fu" (1972-1975) was an action series combining a Western theme with Eastern martial arts (sort of Matt Dillon meets Bruce Lee). David Carradine's unfortunate death will not be discussed here, nor will there be name-calling if you chose Hop Sing from "Bonanza" as your answer.

Answer: Cloris Leachman

Cloris Leachman is like the 'energizer bunny' of actresses. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards and a Daytime Emmy, in addition to winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1971 film "The Last Picture Show". In addition to playing Phyllis Lindstrom on "MTM" (1970-1977) and getting a spin-off called "Phyllis", she appeared in 3 Mel Brooks' movies, "The Facts of Life", and was the oldest contestant (at 82) to be on "Dancing with the Stars"...as so much more! If you are old enough, you might also remember her on a spooky "Twilight Zone" episode from 1961 called "It's a Good Life".

Answer: Basil Fawlty

"Fawlty Towers" (1975-1979) was a British sitcom written by John Cleese and his wife at the time, Connie Booth. Cleese played Basil Fawlty, the owner of a hotel in the seaside town of 'Torquay'; the comedy centered on Cleese (of course), his bossy wife Sybil (Prunella Scales) and a bunch of very odd and eccentric guests (sort of a pre "Newhart", on the other side of the Atlantic).

In 2000, the British Film Institute named "Fawlty Towers" as the best British television series of all time.