Television characters are often ed for their interesting lives, creative names, or both. There have been plenty of times where the actors on TV shows shared their real first names with their characters, probably happening more often than you realize.
This has occurred with popular stars of sitcoms, and it's a great way to bring along loyal fans. There have also been newcomers whose first names made it into the scripts. Sharing a character's name helps those stars become more recognizable. Even when the characters aren't necessarily anything like the actors, which shows have used real-life actors' names for fictional characters?
Cherie Johnson (Punky Brewster)
Cherie Johnson played Cherie Johnson in Punky Brewster (1984-1988) and reprises her role in the show's 2021 reboot. This is one of the only occasions where a character takes their actor's first and last name. Cherie's real-life uncle, David W. Duclon, created and executive produced the hit 1980s series.
Cherie won the role of Punky Brewster's best friend, and the character was modeled after Cherie. Because Cherie was only eight when the series started, she truly grew up in the role.
Kel Kimble & Kenan Rockmore (Kenan & Kel)
Kenan & Kel (1996-2000) Nickelodeon. Both stars' first names became part of their characters' identities. Kel tends to mess up Kenan's plans on the Chicago-based sitcom, but the friends work through their problems and try to fix their mistakes together.
Kenan is often the one to come up with a scheme, only to watch Kel spill orange soda all over it. Both actors still have huge fanbases today.
Joe, Matt, & Andy Roman (Brotherly Love)
From 1995-1997, the Lawrence brothers starred in Brotherly Love together. Unlike in real life, Joe is a stepbrother to Andy and Matt on the show. But like in real life, all three brothers on the series become quite close.
Joe becomes a father figure to his young brothers when their dad dies in a racing accident. He has to work with his stepmom on mentoring the boys. Joey Lawrence used his first name for a few other film and television projects, including his show Melissa & Joey with Melissa Joan Hart.
Mary Richards (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
Mary Richards is the The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977). After a break-up, Mary starts fresh in Minneapolis with an associate producer job at a news station. The series follows Mary's career struggles and friendships, emphasizing the fact that she doesn't need to be attached to a love interest to thrive and achieve her goals.
Mary Tyler Moore has been honored and loved for this role among many others in her career. Fans respect Mary the character and Mary the actress equally.
Bernie McCullough (The Bernie Mac Show)
Actor and comedian Bernie Mac played Bernie McCullough on The Bernie Mac Show (2001-2006) and narrated the series.
When his sister goes to rehab, Bernie and his wife, Wanda, must take care of their nephew and two nieces. Bernie McCullough takes his role as a guardian seriously, and the character was loosely modeled after the real-life Bernie Mac.
Amanda Bynes (The Amanda Show)
Amanda Bynes was the name and face of her own Nickelodeon show from 1999 to 2002. In addition to classic sketch characters like Judge Trudy and the Amanda-obsessed Penelope Taynt, Amanda played herself as host of the hit show. She was already well-known for her work on All That, but having her own show (with her name in the title) quickly launched Amanda to 2000s tween/teen stardom.
It wasn't long before fans started flocking to movie theaters to see her on teen films like What a Girl Wants and She's the Man.
Miley Stewart (Hannah Montana)
Miley Cyrus' first name went to half of her character on the other half being Hannah Montana, of course. Miley Stewart is the "normal" girl who goes to school by day and dresses up and performs as Hannah for sold-out crowds by night.
The name recognition for Miley was a huge benefit as she skyrocketed to stardom. Fans didn't always understand that Miley Stewart and Miley Cyrus weren't the same exact person, though.
Lucy Ricardo (I Love Lucy)
The iconic I Love Lucy forever has a place as one of the first sitcoms in television history. The series' stars, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, were already successful in the entertainment industry when I Love Lucy began in 1951.
Although Lucille Ball's name became connected to her character, Desi Arnaz was Ricky Ricardo on the show instead of being called Desi. Lucy soon became a legendary character for many reasons, including her hilarious facial expressions and the hysterical situations she gets into with her husband and her friends, Ethel and Fred Mertz.
Mary-Kate & Ashley Burke (Two Of A Kind)
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen used their real first names for their hit home video series, but most of their television and movie characters had completely different names. Two of a Kind (1998-1999) is an exception. The ABC show came in at the tail end of TGIF's first run and had the Olsen twins playing middle school girls in Chicago with a widowed father.
Mary-Kate Burke is the more athletic twin, which corresponds with how Mary-Kate Olsen was often cast. Ashley plays the fashionable twin, again in line with typical casting in other Olsen films.
Tia Landry & Tamera Campbell (Sister, Sister)
Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell are played by Tia and Tamera Mowry on Sister, Sister (1994-1999). The twins on the show are separated at birth and bring their lives together under one roof with their respective adoptive parents. Tia and Tamera's real names are such a big part of what makes the show feel real.
They look alike and have names that start with the letter "T," but the twins are quite different. Tamera is the more laidback twin who likes to have fun, and Tia is the dedicated student who sometimes needs Tamera's help socially. Their show is a beloved part of the 1990s chapter of sitcom history.