Some of the best characters in classic sitcoms didn’t live in the main house at all. They lived next door, across the hall or right upstairs, and they had a way of showing up at exactly the right moment. Here are 30 sitcom neighbors who turned every visit into a highlight.
Cosmo Kramer – Seinfeld
Jerry’s neighbor across the hall rarely bothered to knock, sliding through the door with some of the most memorable entrances on television. Michael Richards played him as a lovable schemer full of wild business ideas. The character was loosely based on Kenny Kramer, a real former neighbor of co-creator Larry David.
Gladys Kravitz – Bewitched
Nobody kept a closer eye on the Stephens house than Gladys Kravitz, the nosy neighbor across the street. Alice Pearce won an Emmy for the role after her death in 1966, and Sandra Gould took over the part. Her name is still used today as shorthand for a busybody.
Fred and Ethel Mertz – I Love Lucy
Lucy and Ricky’s landlords were also their best friends, and they got pulled into almost every one of Lucy’s schemes. William Frawley and Vivian Vance played the bickering couple who lived in the same Manhattan apartment building. Vance won an Emmy for playing Ethel.
Ed Norton – The Honeymooners
Ralph Kramden’s upstairs neighbor and best friend worked for the New York City sewer department and was proud of it. Art Carney turned Norton’s loose-limbed swagger into a TV classic. Carney went on to win six Primetime Emmy Awards over his career.
Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli – Happy Days
The Fonz started out as a side character and ended up living in the apartment above the Cunninghams’ garage. Henry Winkler made him the coolest guy in Milwaukee with a thumbs-up and a well-timed “Ayyy.” The character even gave pop culture the phrase “jumping the shark.”
Rhoda Morgenstern – The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Rhoda rented the attic apartment upstairs from Mary Richards and quickly became her sharp-witted best friend. Valerie Harper won four Emmy Awards playing her. She was so popular that she got her own spinoff, simply called Rhoda.
Stanley Roper – Three’s Company
As the landlord of the building, Mr. Roper refused to let unmarried men and women live together, and that rule set the whole show in motion. Norman Fell played him as a grump with a comeback for every situation. He and his wife, Helen, later moved on to their own spinoff, The Ropers, in 1979.
Kimmy Gibbler – Full House
D.J.’s best friend lived next door and seemed to spend more time at the Tanner house than her own. The adults found her loud and annoying, and that was a big part of her charm. Andrea Barber brought Kimmy back years later on Fuller House.
George Jefferson – All in the Family
Before he was movin’ on up, George Jefferson lived next door to Archie Bunker, and the two clashed at every turn. Sherman Hemsley played him as Archie’s combative match. The Jeffersons moved to Manhattan in their own hit show in 1975.
Marie and Frank Barone – Everybody Loves Raymond
Ray’s parents lived right across the street, which meant Marie could stop by with a casserole and an opinion at any hour. Doris Roberts won four Emmys as Marie, and Peter Boyle’s Frank was just as quick with a grumble. Their surprise visits were a running source of family drama.
Lenny and Squiggy – Laverne & Shirley
The two greasers lived upstairs from Laverne and Shirley and pestered them nonstop. Michael McKean and David Lander created the characters while they were theater students at Carnegie Mellon. Laverne and Shirley could even yell up to them through the dumbwaiter shaft that connected their apartments.
Mr. Wilson – Dennis the Menace
George Wilson, a retired salesman who just wanted some peace and quiet, happened to live next door to Dennis Mitchell. Joseph Kearns played him with a mix of frustration and affection. After Kearns died in 1962, Gale Gordon joined the show as his brother, John Wilson.
Winnie Cooper – The Wonder Years
Kevin Arnold’s first love lived in the neighborhood for the show’s first three seasons. Danica McKellar played Winnie, and the pair’s on-again, off-again story kept viewers hooked. McKellar later earned a math degree and wrote several books about math.
Willona Woods – Good Times
Florida Evans’ best friend and neighbor could walk in with a joke and the latest gossip at the same time. Ja’Net DuBois made Willona one of the funniest people in the building. She also co-wrote and sang “Movin’ On Up,” the theme song of The Jeffersons.
Mr. Heckles – Friends
Monica and Rachel’s cranky downstairs neighbor complained about noise even when the gang was being perfectly quiet, often by tapping on his ceiling with a broom. Larry Hankin played the eccentric old man. When Heckles died, he left his belongings to “the noisy girls upstairs.”
Mr. Bickley – Mork & Mindy
Mindy McConnell’s downstairs neighbor moved into the building after Mork arrived and spent much of his time complaining about the noise upstairs. Tom Poston played the grumpy Mr. Bickley in 54 episodes. Ironically, he made his living writing sentimental verses for greeting cards.
Marcy D’Arcy – Married… With Children
Al Bundy’s next-door neighbor was also his favorite sparring partner, and their insult battles were a highlight of the show.
Harry Bentley – The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons’ English neighbor got along with everyone except George, at least at first. Paul Benedict played Bentley, whose long, pointless stories about his relatives back in England became a running gag. Over time, even George warmed up to him.
Penny – The Big Bang Theory
When Penny moved in across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon in the very first episode, their lives changed for good. Kaley Cuoco played the aspiring actress, who spent years waiting tables at The Cheesecake Factory. She eventually married Leonard, the neighbor who fell for her on day one.
Arnold Ziffel – Green Acres
The Douglases’ neighbors, Fred and Doris Ziffel, treated their pig Arnold like a son, and everyone in Hooterville went along with it. Arnold could do just about anything a person could, at least according to the locals. Only Oliver Douglas seemed to think a pig was just a pig.
Newman – Seinfeld
Jerry’s archenemy lived in the same building, and every run-in started with a cold “Hello, Newman.” Wayne Knight played the mail carrier, who was also Kramer’s close friend. His habit of hiding undelivered mail in Jerry’s storage locker said a lot about his work ethic.
Raquel and Trevor Ochmonek – ALF
The Tanners had a furry alien hiding in their house, so the last thing they needed was nosy neighbors. Raquel and Trevor Ochmonek, played by Liz Sheridan and John LaMotta, lived next door and kept an eye on everything. Sheridan later played Jerry’s mother on Seinfeld.
George Feeny – Boy Meets World
Mr. Feeny was Cory Matthews’ teacher, principal, and next-door neighbor, all at once. William Daniels played the patient mentor Cory turned to whenever life got complicated. Over seven seasons, Feeny guided Cory, Shawn, and their friends, and he became a role model for Cory’s brother, Eric, too.
Julio Fuentes – Sanford and Son
Fred Sanford got a new next-door neighbor in 1973 when Julio Fuentes, a rival junk dealer from New York City, moved in. Gregory Sierra played Julio, who took Fred’s constant grumbling in stride. Lamont quickly befriended him and often stood up for him.
Howard Borden – The Bob Newhart Show
Bob and Emily Hartley’s next-door neighbor was an airline navigator with a habit of dropping by. Bill Daily played Howard as friendly and just a little bit pesky. Before that, Daily was best known as Roger Healey on I Dream of Jeannie.
Skippy Handelman – Family Ties
The Keatons’ next-door neighbor was Alex’s loyal friend and hopelessly in love with Mallory. Marc Price played Skippy in more than 50 episodes. Mallory turned him down again and again, but Skippy kept trying.
Larry Dallas – Three’s Company
Jack Tripper’s best friend lived in the apartment upstairs and sold used cars for a living. Richard Kline played Larry as a smooth talker who was often dragging Jack into his plans. Fans remember him as one of the building’s most entertaining residents.
Jack McFarland – Will & Grace
Will’s best friend spent plenty of time on his couch before eventually moving into the apartment across the hall. Sean Hayes won an Emmy for playing the flamboyant, attention-loving Jack. His friendship with Karen Walker gave the show some of its funniest moments.
Wilson – Home Improvement
Tim Taylor’s wise next-door neighbor shared his advice over the backyard fence, which hid most of his face. Earl Hindman played Wilson for eight seasons, and viewers mostly saw only his eyes and his hat. His full face was finally shown when the cast took their bows at the end of the last episode.
Steve Urkel – Family Matters
The nerdy kid next door was supposed to appear in just one episode, and then he took over the show. Jaleel White’s Steve Urkel was known for his thick glasses, suspenders and the catchphrase “Did I do that?” He spent years trying to win the heart of his neighbor, Laura Winslow.
