open/close all folders
Main Characters
Hazel
Hazel Burke
Played by: Shirley Booth
"Ain't that a doozie!"
Hazel is the no nonsense maid of the Baxter family. Originally employed by Dorothy's family she went to work for the Baxters after Dorothy married George. Despite the fact that she is a salaried employee she is considered a member of the family.
- Cool Old Lady
- Friendship Moment: Between George and Hazel. Despite their squabbling, they clearly care about each other and consider each other family.
- Kindly House Keeper: Hazel can be this at times.
- Mama Bear: If someone ever tries to hurt Missy, Harold, or George, they will surely get put in their place by Hazel.
- The Nick Namer: At least for the Baxter family, George is "Mr. B", Dorothy is "Missy" and Harold is "Sport".
- Old Retainer: Hazel was the maid for Dorothy's family and helped raise Dorothy, whom she calls "Missy".
- You Remind Me of X: Part of the reason why Hazel's the one and only person Harvey Griffin will acquiesce to is because she reminds him of his equally strong-willed mother. He even tells her as much, to her discomfort.
George
George "Mr. B" Baxter
Played by: Don DeFore
- Big Eater
- Happily Married: While George and Dorothy have the occasional disagreement, for the most part they are content and happy with each other.
- Papa Wolf: It's clear that George is protective of his son as well as his wife and even Hazel.
- Put on a Bus: Both Dorothy and George go to the Middle East because of George's job, as part of the Retool in the fifth season. Harold is left behind with George's younger brother Steve so they won't have to pull him out of school.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: George, while sometimes frazzled by Hazel, does not treat her or his family unfairly.
Dorothy
Dorothy "Missy" Baxter
Played by: Whitney Blake
- Mama Bear
- Put on a Bus: Both Dorothy and George go to the Middle East because of George's job, as part of the Retool in the fifth season. Harold is left behind with George's younger brother Steve so they won't have to pull him out of school.
Harold
Harold "Sport" Baxter
Played by: Bobby Buntrock
- Adorably Precocious Child: Harold has shades of this.
Steve
Stephen "Steve" Baxter
Played by: Ray Fulmer
- Happily Married: Much like George and Dorothy.
- Remember the New Guy?: When George and Dorothy were written out, George's younger brother Steve was introduced, despite the fact there was never any mention of him prior to the fifth season.
- Sibling Rivalry: Played with a bit. In the episode which introduces Steve, he feels he can control Hazel much better than George. Also, when there is a contest in which the domestic help in the neighborhood has to tell why they feel their boss is the best boss, when Hazel mentions perhaps she should nominate Mr. B. and Missy (who are in Saudi Arabia), Steve has a fairly strong reaction.
Barbara
Barbara Baxter
Played by: Lynn Borden
- Alliterative Name
- Remember the New Guy?: Or in this case, Gal. For the same reason given for her husband Steve.
Susie
Susie Baxter
Played by: Julia Benjamin
Steve and Barbara's daughter
- Cousin Oliver: Harold's first cousin, introduced along with her parents Steve and Barbara, who are Harold's aunt and uncle. She might have been based on the Baxters' daughter, Katie, from the comics.
- Only-Child Syndrome: Much like Harold at least until the final season.
- Remember the New Guy?: For the same reason as her parents.
Supporting Characters
Deirdre Thompson
Deirdre Thompson
Played by: Cathy Lewis
George and Steve's snobby sister. She frequently has clashes with Hazel and occasionally with her brother George.
- Aesop Amnesia: It seems that every time Deirdre appears to learn a lesson about not being so elite in her treatment of people, she's back to her old ways in the next episode.
- Rich Bitch: Which is much of the reason for Hazel and Deirdre's clashes.
Harvey Griffin
Harvey Griffin
Played by: Howard Smith
- Big Eater: Especially when Hazel is the one who's doing the cooking.
- Don't Call Me "Sir": When he's in a good mood, George will address him as Mr. Griffin, and Mr. Griffin's usual reply is "Call me Harvey" or "Call me Harv."
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Despite his gruff, almost confrontational exterior, he clearly is fond of Hazel and even the Baxter family.
- Running Gag: He frequently remarks that Hazel reminds him of his mother.
- The Thing That Would Not Leave: Largely due to Hazel's delicious cooking, Mr. Griffin frequently drops by at supper time and even, at times, spends the night.
Harriet and Herbert Johnson
Harriet and Herbert Johnson
Played by: Norma Varden and Donald Foster
- Born in the Wrong Century: Herbert has invested stocks in such obsolete products as harnesses and saddles, shoe button hooks, kerosene lamps, stereopticon slide viewers, and cornered the whalebone market, only to discover that corsets are nowadays made of elastic.
- Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense: Their complete ignorance of how to handle even the most basic aspects of life is.... unbelievable.
Rosie
Rosie Hammaker
Played by: Maudie Prickett
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Hazel and Rosie's relationship is sometimes like this; especially if there's a man involved.
Recurring Characters
Mrs. Baxter
Mrs. Baxter
Played by: Louise Lorimer
George's mother and the matriarch of the Baxter family. Unlike her daughter, Deirdre, Mrs. Baxter has a good relationship with Hazel.
- Cool Old Lady: She gets around pretty well for her age, and even runs a lawn servicing business.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: She's only in three episodes, albeit ones that establish what a Cool Old Lady she is.
