Alan from The Hangover is NOT Admirable
April 22, 2011 3:21 AM Subscribe
Examples of admirable fictional characters named Alan?
So, I've consumed a lot of media over the years and I've noticed that my first name is often used for nerdy or creepy characters. In fact, I can't think of any admirable fictional characters named Alan at all. Can you think of any?
So, I've consumed a lot of media over the years and I've noticed that my first name is often used for nerdy or creepy characters. In fact, I can't think of any admirable fictional characters named Alan at all. Can you think of any?
Best answer: Dr. Alan Grant from Jurassic Park
Alan Wake, from the video game of the same name
There's also a (human) Sesame Street character named Alan, who took over Mr. Hooper's store.
posted by Rhaomi at 4:13 AM on April 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Alan Wake, from the video game of the same name
There's also a (human) Sesame Street character named Alan, who took over Mr. Hooper's store.
posted by Rhaomi at 4:13 AM on April 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Alan Eppes is a central character on Numb3rs due to being the main characters' dad. He's notably an activist who worked hard for things like more parks, sustainability, etc. He also worked as an urban planner which sounds a little nerdy but compared to the actual nerdy stereotypes on that show is nothing. (Of course, Numb3rs has been canceled, but it had a good run.)
posted by anaelith at 4:15 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by anaelith at 4:15 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Alan Breck in Kidnapped has his faults like other folk, but he is brave and staunch and kind, God bless him!
Definitely not nerdy, he swordfights ten guys and wins, and then immediately writes a bragging song about it. SUCH a crush I have on that Alan..
posted by Erasmouse at 4:19 AM on April 22, 2011
Definitely not nerdy, he swordfights ten guys and wins, and then immediately writes a bragging song about it. SUCH a crush I have on that Alan..
posted by Erasmouse at 4:19 AM on April 22, 2011
Alan is Tron's human alter ego. Although I suppose that also falls under nerdy.
posted by condour75 at 4:20 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by condour75 at 4:20 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Alan Brady", Rob's abrasive boss, played by Carl Reiner on "The Dick van Dyke Show" and based on Milton Berle.
posted by orthogonality at 4:22 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by orthogonality at 4:22 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Alan Mendelssohn, the Boy from Mars. One of my absolute favourite books as a kid.
posted by the dief at 4:23 AM on April 22, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by the dief at 4:23 AM on April 22, 2011 [7 favorites]
There's Alan a Dale from Robin Hood ... who wikipedia tells me is the rooster narrator in the animated Disney film. Not creepy, possibly nerdy?
posted by Lebannen at 4:24 AM on April 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Lebannen at 4:24 AM on April 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Alanna from Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness series goes by Alan when she's disguised as a boy, for three of the four books. Still one of my favorite characters ever.
And I knew a real-life Allan who was one of the most amazing people ever to live: Allan Rosenfield, a giant in the world of public health, whose work and advocacy has saved more lives than we can ever imagine.
Maybe not exactly what you're looking for, but lots of people have good associations with the name!
posted by min at 4:37 AM on April 22, 2011 [5 favorites]
And I knew a real-life Allan who was one of the most amazing people ever to live: Allan Rosenfield, a giant in the world of public health, whose work and advocacy has saved more lives than we can ever imagine.
Maybe not exactly what you're looking for, but lots of people have good associations with the name!
posted by min at 4:37 AM on April 22, 2011 [5 favorites]
Chief Inspector Alan Banks, primary character in the terrific series of British police prodecurals by Peter Robinson.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:00 AM on April 22, 2011
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:00 AM on April 22, 2011
In Japanese anime, Allen is typically used for the heart-throb protagonist. So maybe the Japanese like the name Allen? I'm sure it sounds very exotic in non-western languages.
Here are some examples:
Allen Schezar from Vision of Escaflowne.
Alan from MAR
Allen Walker from D.Gray-man
posted by nikkorizz at 5:06 AM on April 22, 2011
Here are some examples:
Allen Schezar from Vision of Escaflowne.
Alan from MAR
Allen Walker from D.Gray-man
posted by nikkorizz at 5:06 AM on April 22, 2011
"Come back Alan you wanker!"
Alan! Alan! Alan!
Apologies if they're not heroic enough - they were the first two videos that popped into my head.
posted by hnnrs at 5:11 AM on April 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Alan! Alan! Alan!
Apologies if they're not heroic enough - they were the first two videos that popped into my head.
posted by hnnrs at 5:11 AM on April 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Alan Scott is the original Green Lantern.
posted by mrsshotglass at 5:32 AM on April 22, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by mrsshotglass at 5:32 AM on April 22, 2011 [5 favorites]
Alan Pangborn is the Sheriff of Stephen King's Castle Rock. He's a good guy.
posted by that's how you get ants at 5:49 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by that's how you get ants at 5:49 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding Alan Shore, who's one of my favorite characters of all time.
posted by you're a kitty! at 7:09 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by you're a kitty! at 7:09 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Richard Stark's Alan Grofield is a professional actor and sometimes thief. The admirable part is that he only steals to finance his theater company. Unlike his sometimes partner Parker, who has neither a first name nor any redeeming qualities.
posted by leaper at 7:15 AM on April 22, 2011
posted by leaper at 7:15 AM on April 22, 2011
I always liked Alan-a-Dale, the badass minstrel from Robin Hood!
posted by chatongriffes at 8:07 AM on April 22, 2011
posted by chatongriffes at 8:07 AM on April 22, 2011
I immediately thought of Alanna from the books by Tamora Pierce, who goes by the name Alan. When I was a kid, Alan was my favourite boy's name, and the name I would take when I disguised myself to become a knight. I don't know if I wanted to be Alan Mendolsohn, the boy from Mars, but I wanted to hang out with him. Alan-a-Dale was my favourite Robin Hood character (after Robin, of course).
Also, though he's played many villains, Alan Rickman is awesome and my favourite character of his is a hero.
posted by jb at 8:28 AM on April 22, 2011
Also, though he's played many villains, Alan Rickman is awesome and my favourite character of his is a hero.
posted by jb at 8:28 AM on April 22, 2011
Alan Bennett isn't fictional, but sometimes has written fictionalised versions of himself into his work.
In England 'Alan' is seen as a fairly old fashioned name - like Nigel or Maurice, it belongs firmly to the over-50s. In Scotland and Wales (Alun) it's still pretty popular, and there are lots of cool French Alains. How about Alan B'Stard, the dastardly Tory from The New Statesman? Or Richard Beckinsale's character in Rising Damp?
I can also think of one famous fictional Alan...
posted by mippy at 8:52 AM on April 22, 2011
In England 'Alan' is seen as a fairly old fashioned name - like Nigel or Maurice, it belongs firmly to the over-50s. In Scotland and Wales (Alun) it's still pretty popular, and there are lots of cool French Alains. How about Alan B'Stard, the dastardly Tory from The New Statesman? Or Richard Beckinsale's character in Rising Damp?
I can also think of one famous fictional Alan...
posted by mippy at 8:52 AM on April 22, 2011
Capt. Alan Carter, chief eagle pilot and head of reconnaissance section for Moonbase Alpha.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 9:41 AM on April 22, 2011
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 9:41 AM on April 22, 2011
If an extra L won't spoil the fun, don't miss Allen Quatermain.
posted by dpcoffin at 9:57 AM on April 22, 2011
posted by dpcoffin at 9:57 AM on April 22, 2011
(Drat; thought I'd checked; oh well, enjoy the link.)
posted by dpcoffin at 9:59 AM on April 22, 2011
posted by dpcoffin at 9:59 AM on April 22, 2011
Alan Partridge is not admirable.
posted by rhizome at 11:58 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 11:58 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
In the Song of Albion trilogy, Alun Tringard is an honored Celtic warrior.
posted by xedrik at 12:41 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by xedrik at 12:41 PM on April 22, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for all the great answers everyone!
Also thanks for confirming my suspicions that it's mostly television writers who besmirch the good name of Alans everywhere.
posted by minifigs at 4:38 AM on April 26, 2011
Also thanks for confirming my suspicions that it's mostly television writers who besmirch the good name of Alans everywhere.
posted by minifigs at 4:38 AM on April 26, 2011
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posted by joannemullen at 3:31 AM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]