Felix Unger
Encyclopedia
Felix Unger was one of the principal characters in Neil Simon
's play The Odd Couple
. Felix was portrayed in the original Broadway production of the play by Art Carney
, in the film
by Jack Lemmon
, and in the television series
by Tony Randall
.
d, middle-aged man who shares a Manhattan
apartment with his friend Oscar Madison
. He is a compulsive neat freak, who can always be counted on to constantly clean the apartment, as well as a hypochondriac who always has a stash of prophylactics and medications nearby. Felix was originally an unseen character
in Simon's first play, Come Blow Your Horn
.
In the play and film, Felix is employed as a television news writer; on the TV series, he works as a commercial photographer. He has two children (named Leonard and Edna on the TV series) and maintains genial relations with his ex-wife (named Frances in the play and film, and Gloria on the series).
In 1982-1983, ABC
aired The New Odd Couple
, a remake of the television series with American
actors in the two leading roles. Felix was portrayed by Ron Glass
.
In 1985, a Broadway revival changed the lead characters to women. Felix's female counterpart, Florence Unger, was portrayed by Sally Struthers
.
In 1993, Tony Randall actor reprised his role as Felix in the TV-movie The Odd Couple: Together Again with TV series co-star Jack Klugman
. In the film, Felix tries to help Oscar as he recovers from throat cancer
. He also becomes overly involved in Edna's upcoming wedding, much to her and Gloria's dismay.
A 2005 Broadway revival of the play featured Matthew Broderick
as Felix.
Neil Simon
Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
's play The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple is a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing and...
. Felix was portrayed in the original Broadway production of the play by Art Carney
Art Carney
Arthur William Matthew “Art” Carney was an American actor in film, stage, television and radio. He is best known for playing Ed Norton, opposite Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden in the situation comedy The Honeymooners....
, in the film
The Odd Couple (film)
The Odd Couple is a 1968 comedy film written by Neil Simon, based on his play The Odd Couple, directed by Gene Saks, and starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau...
by Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon
John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III was an American actor and musician. He starred in more than 60 films including Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Mister Roberts , Days of Wine and Roses, The Great Race, Irma la Douce, The Odd Couple, Save the Tiger John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III (February 8, 1925June...
, and in the television series
The Odd Couple (TV series)
The Odd Couple is a television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970 to July 4, 1975 on ABC. It starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. It was based upon the play of the same name, which was written by Neil Simon.Felix and Oscar are two divorced men....
by Tony Randall
Tony Randall
Tony Randall was a U.S. actor, comic, producer and director.-Early years:Randall was born Arthur Leonard Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Julia and Mogscha Rosenberg, an art and antiques dealer...
.
Character overview
Felix is a divorceDivorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d, middle-aged man who shares a Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
apartment with his friend Oscar Madison
Oscar Madison
Oscar Madison is a character in The Odd Couple, which began as a Broadway play, then was a film and then a television series.In The Odd Couple, Oscar Madison is the everyman, and is a sportswriter for the New York Herald...
. He is a compulsive neat freak, who can always be counted on to constantly clean the apartment, as well as a hypochondriac who always has a stash of prophylactics and medications nearby. Felix was originally an unseen character
Unseen character
In fiction, an unseen character is a character that is never directly observed by the audience but is only described by other characters. They are a common device in drama and have been called "triumphs of theatrical invention". They are continuing characters — characters who are currently in...
in Simon's first play, Come Blow Your Horn
Come Blow Your Horn
Come Blow Your Horn was Neil Simon's first play, which premiered in the United States in 1961 and had a London production in 1962 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.-Act Summaries:Time: The Present...
.
In the play and film, Felix is employed as a television news writer; on the TV series, he works as a commercial photographer. He has two children (named Leonard and Edna on the TV series) and maintains genial relations with his ex-wife (named Frances in the play and film, and Gloria on the series).
In 1982-1983, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
aired The New Odd Couple
The New Odd Couple
The New Odd Couple is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1982 to 83, and was an updated version of the 1970s television series The Odd Couple. The New Odd Couple was the second attempt to remake a series of one of Neil Simon's plays with a primarily African-American cast...
, a remake of the television series with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actors in the two leading roles. Felix was portrayed by Ron Glass
Ron Glass
Ronald E. "Ron" Glass is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as the witty Det. Ron Harris in the television sitcom Barney Miller , and as the spiritual Shepherd Derrial Book in the short-lived 2002 science fiction series Firefly and its sequel film Serenity.-Early life:Glass was...
.
In 1985, a Broadway revival changed the lead characters to women. Felix's female counterpart, Florence Unger, was portrayed by Sally Struthers
Sally Struthers
Sally Ann Struthers is an American actress and spokeswoman, best-known for her roles as Gloria Stivic on All in the Family, for which she won two Emmy awards, and as Babette on Gilmore Girls.-Personal life:...
.
In 1993, Tony Randall actor reprised his role as Felix in the TV-movie The Odd Couple: Together Again with TV series co-star Jack Klugman
Jack Klugman
Jacob Joachim "Jack" Klugman is an American stage, film and television actor known for his roles in sitcoms, movies, and television and on Broadway...
. In the film, Felix tries to help Oscar as he recovers from throat cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
. He also becomes overly involved in Edna's upcoming wedding, much to her and Gloria's dismay.
A 2005 Broadway revival of the play featured Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
as Felix.