In case anyone doesn't know, Coco (played by Charles Levin) was a gay housekeeper in the girls' house. He was only seen in the pilot and then he was gone and never mentioned again.

Why was he dropped? Is there any story/more info. behind this that you know about? Thanks.

guess with 4 girls living together he was not needed anymore and was dropped im glad he was gone to doubt fans noticed anyway

I've always heard that the writers realized most of the girls' heart to heart conversations would happen in the kitchen, and having a guy there (gay or otherwise, lol) would get in the way. Plus with Sophia there, they didn't need a cook.

I've always heard that the writers realized most of the girls' heart to heart conversations would happen in the kitchen, and having a guy there (gay or otherwise, lol) would get in the way. Plus with Sophia there, they didn't need a cook.

Exactly. What I've always heard, to build on the above, is that they didn't realize just what gold they had in Estelle Getty. Once they realized that she was going to be such a strong character they didn't really need Coco anymore.

Was he even mentioned after the pilot? I don't remember him ever being mentioned. And true that they couldn't have those cheesecake scenes. Ever since I started watching this show, I call my closest friends who I can tell everything to my "cheesecake friends". My sister liked it, so she uses it too. If they don't get it, I tell them to watch better TV.

Like previous posters said, he was dropped for Sophia being added to the show full time.

Coco was funnie in the first episode

I agree with Scoobie, he was pretty funny.

They Should have Kept even with Dorothy Mom Moving in

Was he even mentioned after the pilot? I don't remember him ever being mentioned.

Far as I am aware, no. Coco was never mentioned again after the pilot and no mention of the girls ever having a gay cook.

He was also on Alice as Vera Husband

I think it would be cool if maybe Coco was a recurring character.

I really think with the four wonderful, amazing actresses already on the plate, another permanent character would have really been too distracting. Like everyone else has said, there was no need for a fifth Muskateer when you've already discovered gold with Bea, Betty, Rue and Estelle. Also, back in 1984, I don't know how ready the public was for an overtly gay character on a prime time sitcom. We don't think anything of it today of course, but it was a very different time back then, to say the least, and it could have affected the show's popularity, sad as it is to say.

Also, back in 1984, I don't know how ready the public was for an overtly gay character on a prime time sitcom.

Since you mentioned that you got me thinking, was that the reason the character Phil was never seen on the show; Sophia's cross-dressing son?

Was Coco supposed to be a live-in housekeeper? Since the girls often complained about money woes as part of the storyline, I find it hard to believe they could afford a full time, live-in housekeeper nor would they need one. None of the girls worked full-time anyway did they?

Yeah, I was thinking about that as well Soda.
Money issues were at the bottom of a few different episodes, so I don't think that would of worked with a live in house keeper.
Not to mention, why would Blanche ever want roommates from total strangers if she already had the cash to pay for everything herself.

Since you mentioned that you got me thinking, was that the reason the character Phil was never seen on the show; Sophia's cross-dressing son?


That's a possibility, but I believe Phil was just one of those stock characters popular sitcoms have often used over the years, the much-talked-about-but-never seen character. Characters such as Vera from Cheers (Norm's wife), Maris (Niles' wife) from Frasier, Wilson from Home Improvement (his face was always hidden from view) and Carlton the doorman from Rhoda. It's been a popular device used in situation comedies over the years, so I think Phil qualifies as this type of character on The Golden Girls. :)

I liked him in the first show, but feel it made sense for the future storylines (money worries, the girls cheesecake scenes) for him to have never existed.

That said, I feel sorry for the actor. It must have been frustrating to have been in episode 1, and then see the show go on to become such a success without him.

Some actors played different parts in guest appearances on the show. It would've been a nice gesture if the guy that played Coco had been invited back further down the line, to play a different 'one-off' character.

Exactly. What I've always heard, to build on the above, is that they didn't realize just what gold they had in Estelle Getty. Once they realized that she was going to be such a strong character they didn't really need Coco anymore.

From what I understand, Coco was supposed to be a regular supporting cast-member, and Sophia was supposed to be a semi-regular, or reoccurring.

I've always heard that the writers realized most of the girls' heart to heart conversations would happen in the kitchen, and having a guy there (gay or otherwise, lol) would get in the way. Plus with Sophia there, they didn't need a cook.

If this was the reason, it's a bad reason. Can you imagine the interplay between Sophia and the gay maid? I watch the pilot now and scratch my head wondering why they didn't keep him! Plus think about a potential relationship between the maid and Clayton? That's a 3 or 4 episode storyline they could've used.

I believe that in '84-'85 when the show was starting having a gay character in a sitcom...TV wasn't quite ready for such an out character at that time. Today you almost have to have a character along that vein, but 30 years ago I think the execs might've been afraid they'd lose the show.

I liked him in the first show, but feel it made sense for the future storylines (money worries, the girls cheesecake scenes) for him to have never existed.

That said, I feel sorry for the actor. It must have been frustrating to have been in episode 1, and then see the show go on to become such a success without him.

Some actors played different parts in guest appearances on the show. It would've been a nice gesture if the guy that played Coco had been invited back further down the line, to play a different 'one-off' character.

I would've liked to see him as Sophia's wedding planner in Season 4, great spot for him.

As others have said, Coco was written out because of the wealth of material for the others, and that Sophia was such a big hit to start with, they featured her more than originally planned.

I don't think it had anything to do with having a gay character on TV. Remember, Susan Harris had long since created Jodie Dallas on "Soap," played by Billy Crystal. If she had really wanted that character to stay, he would have stayed on. Susan called the shots in the development, and she had a big reputation of being a strong woman and didn't stand down for anybody.

Remember,though, that Jodie on Soap was gay but didnt fall in love with a woman towards the end of the series?


I remember Coco. I guess the gay cook was something they were testing in the pilot like they do with some pilots. Remember in the pilot of Golden Girls, wasnt Blanche's room where the deck was in later episodes?