When culture starts to shift, as it did in the 70s, some take the lead, proudly proclaiming their progressive beliefs while others dig their heels in, declaring their preference for how things used to be. Some people straddle the line between the two extremes, choosing instead to navigate the changes with grace and acceptance.
This decade saw changes all around and in TV, those alterations were reflected in the situations and characters who graced screens in homes each week. Some characters say things that would never be accepted today and others choose a softer way, emanating a gentle, timeless wisdom.
Some of the characters in this list are contentious and grumpy, like Fred Sanford in “Sanford and Son” and Basil Fawlty in “Fawlty Towers,” but somehow it adds to their charm. Other characters are bold and outspoken, fearless in their unconventional ways like Maude Findlay in “Maude” and Laverne Defazio in “Laverne & Shirley.”
Some of the 70s characters we include are likable for their gentle and kind dispositions, offering up their grounded spirits to those who need a bit of direction, much like Edith Bunker in “All in the Family” and Mary Richards in the “Mary Tyler Moore Show.” The most likable TV characters of the 70s each had their own appeal. Though sometimes, you had to look a little harder to find it.
To put this list of the most likable TV characters of the 70s together, 247 Tempo reviewed IMDb for details on each television series and opinion-based websites like Reddit to explore how audiences perceived these well-known characters. (To further explore 70s pop culture, check out the most underrated movies of the ’70s.)
Alice Nelson
- Show: “The Brady Bunch” (1969)
- Played By: Ann B. Davis
Alice Nelson is the always-smiling housekeeper for the Brady bunch, a large blended family that includes six children and two parents. Nelson didn’t just take care of practical tasks around the home, she also took on the role of emotional support for the Brady children as well as a mediator for Mike and Carol Brady, the couple in the bunch. She is a jovial character whose humor keeps you giggling and whose sensibility makes her easy to appreciate.
Laverne Defazio
- Show: “Laverne & Shirley” (1976)
- Played By: Penny Marshall
Laverne Defazio is a rather cynical and outspoken character in the show who shares an apartment and works with her best friend, Shirley Feeney. She’s not the luckiest in love and she resents society for its perspective on women like her. Despite how others may view her, she’s not one to apologize for being who she is. She’s unconventional and though tough outwardly, she’s a softie, which only adds to her likable qualities.
Jack Tripper
- Show: “Three’s Company” (1977)
- Played By: John Ritter
Jack Tripper is a quick thinker, making up a lie about his sexuality (saying he’s gay) to stay in his apartment alongside his two female roommates. The co-ed situation was against the rules. He’s always concocting new plans and schemes and he keeps viewers laughing as he clumsily navigates them. Overall, he’s a caring person who dedicates himself to making sure the people around him are content.
Vincent “Vinnie” Barbarino
- Show: “Welcome Back, Kotter” (1975)
- Played By: John Travolta
Vincent Barbarino, known as Vinnie for short, is an endlessly flirty, handsome guy at Buchanan who’s not that great at school but fares well with the ladies. He’s an example of how charisma can cause you to overlook other, lesser desirable qualities in a person, like a limited intellect. He’s self-centered and gets easily confused, but that doesn’t keep anyone from liking him, including other characters and viewers.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Show: “Little House on the Prairie” (1974)
- Played By: Melissa Gilbert
Laura Ingalls Wilder is a frontier girl in the show who relishes adventuring in the outdoors. Though societal standards demand she be ladylike, she’s not interested in typical interests like cooking and embroidery. She’s a spirited girl who embraces her tomboy nature and doesn’t hesitate to quickly quip back when bullies try to speak poorly of her.
Alex Reiger
- Show: “Taxi” (1978)
- Played By: Judd Hirsch
Alex Reiger is a realist who accepts what life has handed to him. He’s the one others turn to when they can’t seem to find their footing in their own lives. His grounded, stable nature makes him an anomaly of sorts, but the kind that you admire because he doesn’t keep his head in the clouds. His sense of humor is dry, and his perspective results in reluctant but honest laughter.
Mary Richards
- Show: “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970)
- Played By: Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Richards is a spunky woman who works hard and has a penchant for throwing parties that often end in chaos. In her role as an associate news producer, Richards faces questionable ethics and sexism, but she’s strong and remains professional. She manages to navigate the often-challenging personalities she faces with class, elevating the group with her kindness.
Keith Partridge
- Show: “The Partridge Family” (1970)
- Played By: David Cassidy
Keith Partridge is the teen idol in the show who can be annoyingly headstrong but beneath the surface, he has a caring heart. He’s a teenager and behaves as such, though his life is quite different than that of his peers since he’s famous. When it comes down to it, you see Partridge’s personality shine as he steps in at different moments as a protector of his family.
Edith Bunker
- Show: “All in the Family” (1971)
- Played By: Jean Stapleton
Edith Bunker is married to loud-mouthed, short-tempered, and offensive, Archie Bunker. She contrasts him perfectly with her accepting and caring personality. Her non-judgmental mentality shines through, not just with people of all backgrounds, but with her own husband who is not the best at making a good impression (not that he tries). She’s an example of the strength it takes to navigate a changing world with kindness and acceptance.
George Jefferson
- Show: “The Jeffersons” (1975)
- Played By: Sherman Hemsley
The ever-ambitious George Jefferson manages to get his family a home in a deluxe apartment in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Jefferson is a businessman and owner of Jefferson Cleaners who focuses on making more and more money. He conjures up an array of schemes to this end and though he’s hot-headed and won’t shut up, he’s intriguingly clever. His interactions with the other characters in the show are both interesting and hilarious.
Arnold Jackson
- Show: “Diff’rent Strokes” (1978)
- Played By: Gary Coleman
Arnold Jackson is the short-statured younger brother of African-American descent in the show who was adopted by a white, wealthy family. Known for his catchphrase, “What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” he became a fan favorite despite his selfish ways. Ultimately, audiences fell in love with Jackson, who was always coming up with some new scheme that resulted in insuppressible laughter.
Jill Munroe
- Show: “Charlie’s Angels” (1976)
- Played By: Farrah Fawcett
The iconic character, Jill Munroe, once worked at the Charles Townsend Detective Agency before resigning and moving on to try her hand at racecar driving. She was talented through and through, able to handle guns and fight off opponents. She’s a sporty woman who takes on a host of responsibilities and maintains an air of mystery that keeps viewers fascinated.
Bob Hartley
- Show: “The Bob Newhart Show” (1972)
- Played By: Robert Hartley
Bob Hartley was the main character in the show. He’s a psychologist and the show follows his home and professional lives, which include a range of situations that allow for perfect one-liners from Hartley. For example, in one episode when he asks his wife where she put the bourbon, she replies, “In the chicken.” Without hesitating, he asks his friend if he’d “like a glass of chicken.”
Mork
- Show: “Mork & Mindy” (1978).
- Played By: Robin Williams
Mork is a manic character in the show whose sense of humor is lightning fast. He’s an alien from Ork who has been sent to Earth to study human behavior. Mork has a soft spot for Mindy, whom he falls in love with. He exudes a childlike innocence, which makes him endearing and the way he struggles as he navigates the vastness of the human experience makes him relatable to viewers.
J.J. Evans
- Show: “Good Times” (1974)
- Played By: Jimmie Walker
The lively character, J.J. Evans, was aptly played by a comedian. Evans is an artist and dreamer and though his head is often in the clouds, he makes it all sound good with his cleverness. He’s a witty character who knows how to sweet talk the ladies and puts his best foot forward by using his good looks and dynamic personality.
Miss Piggy
- Show: “The Muppet Show” (1974)
- Voiced By: Frank Oz
Miss Piggy is an endearing, lovestruck and demanding diva of a character. Though a bit delusional, you can’t help but smile at her antics. She behaves as if the world is her stage. She’s always performing, and confident in her abilities despite what others say. Though she’s egotistical and prefers to live in her own world, you can’t help but admire how headstrong she is.
Basil Fawlty
- Show: “Fawlty Towers” (1979)
- Played By: John Cleese
Basil Fawlty is the owner of Faulty Towers, a fictional hotel in the show. He’s a bit rude and uptight, which makes the encounters with his eccentric guests so humorous. He’s a flustered fella whose neuroticism fuels his actions. Dissatisfied with his current clientele, Fawlty dreams of welcoming guests of a higher class. With each new encounter, you giggle at how he thwarts his own attempts, getting in his own way constantly.
Maude Findlay
Bea Arthur
- Show: “Maude” (1972)
- Played By: Bea Arthur
The deep-voiced Maude was one of the main characters in “Maude” (1972). She was known for saying, “God’ll get you for that, Walter” to her husband in the show. Findlay was unafraid of speaking her piece and sharing her liberal values. She was a character who managed to navigate the difficult situations that women face and who spoke out on her progressive stance regarding birth control, menopause and even abortion.
Fred Sanford
- Show: “Sanford and Son” (1972)
- Played By: Redd Foxx
Redd Foxx gives shape to the character Fred Sanford in the show. He’s a straight talker who isn’t afraid to offend those with whom he speaks but who is good-humored and just looking to have a good time. Although he’s confrontational and often grumpy, beneath the surface is a caring single father who manages to find the good in his situation, continuously trying to make money, whether he’s selling junk and antiques or getting caught up in a get-rich scheme.
Florence “Flo” Castleberry
- Show: “Alice” (1976)
- Played By: Polly Holliday
The brassy character, Flo Castleberry, is a waitress in the show. She exudes strength, she loves to flirt, and when she’s inevitably bothered by Mel Sharples from Mel’s Diner, is known to exclaim, “Mel, kiss mah grits!” Castleberry is never without sass and her quick wit and no-nonsense personality wins audiences over, especially since she is creative and polite when she tells people off. (To get to know more hilarious and likable TV characters, read 24/7 Tempo’s article on The Best Sitcoms of All Time.)