Roz Doyle
Rosalinda "Roz" Doyle is one of the main characters on Frasier. She is played by Peri Gilpin. Lisa Kudrow was originally slated to play the character.
Roz is the producer of Frasier Crane's Dr. Frasier Crane Show on KACL 780AM. Although initially reluctant to take the job (it is revealed in a flash-back that Roz tries on several occasions to switch to another show early in her career with Frasier), she and Frasier soon become firm friends.
The character is named as a tribute to a producer of the television series Wings (having the same creators as Frasier), who died from breast cancer in 1991.
In the penultimate episode, "Crock Tales", it is revealed that her birthday is the 5th May, coinciding with Cinco de Mayo.
Background and role in the series
Roz was born in Bloomer, Wisconsin. Her mother Joanna was a longtime politician there and serves as Attorney General. She has one sibling, a sister, Denise, whose supposedly "perfect" life prompts a great deal of resentment by Roz. Roz's parents are divorced and she maintains relationships with both of them, until her father re-marries a younger woman, which confuses Roz greatly and ultimately ends her relationship with her dad. Her grandmother was an immigrant from Ireland. Frustrated with small-town Wisconsin, Roz moved to Seattle as an adult to pursue a career in radio.
Roz is a very attractive woman, with a euphonious voice. She has no shame about her promiscuity, which is the subject of many jokes and snide remarks, especially from Frasier's brother Niles. Roz has a Tweety Bird tattooed on her upper thigh (hinted at in Dark Victory, season 2, and revealed in The Dog that Rocks the Cradle, season 7). During the show's run, Roz is often worried about her appearance as she ages and worries that she will never fall in love and get married. She has several brief flings with co-workers, including Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe (much to her later chagrin). On one occasion, she sleeps with Frasier, but while they are mutually attracted, they agree their relationship works best as friends. Roz also is lusted after by co-worker Noel Shempsky, although the feeling is not reciprocated by any means.
Early in the series, Roz and Frasier have a rather strained relationship. But as the show goes on, they become extremely close, often consoling each other through hard times. Nevertheless, the teasing, sardonic element continues through their friendship.
Roz has a constantly antagonistic relationship with Frasier's brother, Niles; she teases him about his effete mannerisms and snobbery, while he teases her about her abundance of partners. Their mutual bickering fades gradually as the series progresses and they become more friendly, although it never completely vanishes. This is most likely due to the fact that Roz and Daphne, Niles' wife, are best friends.
Early in the fifth season, Roz discovers that she is pregnant with the child of a young college student with whom she had a brief fling. This occurrence serves as one of the main developing points for Roz's character. By the end of the season, Roz gives birth to her new baby girl, whom she names Alice May Doyle.
Late in the series, Roz finally manages to maintain a seemingly stable relationship with Roger, a garbageman. Roger meets Roz's needs and gets along very well with Alice. However, in the ninth season episode "Frasier has Spokane" it is revealed that Roz and Roger parted ways, after he explains that there aren't any more "fireworks," once again leaving Roz in a vulnerable position. Frasier consoles her, and this eventually leads to them having sex. Roz subsequently flees home to Wisconsin, while Frasier chases after her in an attempt to remedy the situation. Frasier ends up posing as Roger, whom the Doyle family had been very excited to meet, while being a bit skeptical due to Roz's romantic history. It is here that Roz and Frasier reconcile, and agree to remain friends.
Roz is also close to Frasier's father, Martin. She is the only regular character to address him as Martin. While Frasier and Niles are interested in high culture, Roz and Martin share a more down-to-earth view of life, and grow close over the series. Roz is often invited to join Martin's poker games, which his own sons are not.
Roz is also close to Martin's physical therapist, Daphne Moon, due to the fact that they are the only two women who were constant in the Crane men's lives. They end up becoming best friends, and Daphne invites Roz to be her maid of honor at her wedding to attorney Donny Douglas. She was also invited to be the maid of honor at Daphne's wedding to Niles; however, Daphne elopes with Niles in Reno, Nevada and Roz is not present for their real wedding.
Trivia
- In the show's final episode, Roz becomes station manager of KACL after the previous manager, Kenny Daly, decides to become a DJ again.