The 1990s was a golden age of television. It’s the decade that gave us “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” and “Must-See TV,” after all. Not only were we still all gathering around the TV to watch prime-time network programming by the millions and talking about it around the proverbial water cooler the next day (something that rarely, if ever, happens anymore), but it was also the dawn of HBO and its slate of original programming. “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City” both premiered on HBO during the 90s, and it’s safe to say that TV has never been the same.
If the 90s was a great decade for television, it was also a great era for TV characters. The desire amongst TV writers to make their characters more three-dimensional, with a real inner life, real needs and desires, and real relatable storylines that kicked into high gear in the 80s really took off in the 90s, and many 90s TV characters really did come across as real people, not just caricatures.
To be a relatable character, they need to be a person audiences can identify with. Sure, very few people could identify with Tony Soprano’s life as a mob boss, but they could certainly identify with him trying to be a good father and working through issues in therapy (we didn’t include him in this list because “The Sopranos” was primarily a 2000s show, however).
Relatable characters face everyday problems like financial insecurity and relationship issues. They display real emotions and react realistically to whatever life throws at them. They’re not perfect, but they learn from experience. They reflect the viewers’ daily lives. These are some of the 90’s most relatable TV characters. (And these are the most relatable TV characters of the 1960s.)
Ross Geller from “Friends” (David Schwimmer)
Endearingly awkward and struggling romantically and professionally, Ross was quite possibly the one character on “Friends” that viewers could identify with the most, whether they admitted to it or not.
Rachel Green from “Friends” (Jennifer Aniston)
Perhaps no character on “Friends” went on a journey of emotional growth as much as Rachel. Going from a spoiled young woman to one who’s independent and career-driven resonated with audiences, as did her personal challenges with love and work.
Jerry Seinfeld from “Seinfeld” (Jerry Seinfeld)
Jerry’s permanent state of exasperation with friends and family, as well as the minutiae and mundanity of everyday life, reflected the experience of millions of viewers, whether they lived in New York City or not.
Cory Matthews from “Boy Meets World” (Ben Savage)
Perhaps the best “coming-of-age” show of the 90s, “Boy Meets World” starred Ben Savage as Cory, who spent the series dealing with school, family, friendship, first love, and all the trappings of being a teenager.
Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and the City” (Sarah Jessica Parker)
While navigating single life and a career in New York City, Carrie was incredibly candid about her journey with friendships, work, and (especially) her love life. Plenty of women identified with Carrie – or wanted to identify with her.
Andy Sipowitz from “NYPD Blue” (Dennis Franz)
Andy Sipowitz struggled with alcoholism and anger issues, and he showed a lot of emotional depth as he worked hard to overcome these flaws. He dealt with the everyday struggles of job stress, financial problems, and personal demons, and evolved over the course of the series, constantly striving to better himself.
Will Smith from “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (Will Smith)
Even though most of us won’t move from the mean streets of Philly to one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in America, it was easy to identify with Will’s issues with identity amidst such a major cultural adjustment, and his ability to face it with humor and charm.
Ally McBeal from “Ally McBeal” (Calista Flockhart)
As a lawyer who was also dealing with plenty of personal and career struggles while also searching for love, Ally McBeal was a well-written character with a lot of depth, and it was easy to identify with her.
Felicity Porter from “Felicity” (Keri Russell)
A college student dealing with friends, family, school, and love all while navigating adjusting to life in the big city, Felicity had a character arc that millions of others could relate to.
Tim Taylor from “Home Improvement” (Tim Allen)
A hilariously bumbling handyman and TV show host, Tim Taylor was certainly relatable in his efforts to balance his family life raising three sons with his TV gig and various home improvement projects, facing it all with a sense of humor.
Fran Fine from “The Nanny” (Fran Drescher)
Fran’s journey from a cosmetics salesperson to a wealthy family’s nanny, facing it all with a down-to-earth sensibility and a hilariously deadpan sense of humor was very relatable, especially when the show explored the themes of class difference and trying to find her place.
Frank Pembleton from “Homicide: Life on the Street” (Andre Braugher)
The breakout character on “Homicide,” Frank was an intelligent and passionate detective with emotional depth and moral complexity. As a Black detective, he confronted issues of race and identity and showed moments of deep vulnerability beneath his stoic exterior.
Martin Payne from “Martin” (Martin Lawrence)
As an energetic and fun-loving radio DJ and TV personality, Martin faced plenty of relatable everyday situations involving career aspirations, friends, and family.
Grace Kelly from “Grace Under Fire” (Brett Butler)
Grace was a single mother and recovering alcoholic, who spent the series raising three children on her own while working a blue-collar, dead-end job. She faced it all with resilience and a sense of humor.
Doug Heffernan from “The King of Queens” (Kevin James)
Doug was a blue-collar, working-class delivery driver. His struggles with work, family, and marriage made him a fully fleshed-out character that lots of viewers could identify with. It’s no wonder that the Heffernans were one of America’s most beloved TV families.