Robert Hays as Ted Striker

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Robert Hays as Ted Striker is the bumbling yet ultimately heroic former fighter pilot protagonist of the 1980 parody film "Airplane!", known for his deadpan delivery amid escalating absurdity.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fictionalCharacterPortrayal
filmCharacter
protagonist
aircraftTypeInStory Boeing 707-like jet airliner
airlineInStory Trans American Airlines NERFINISHED
Airplane II: The SequelReleaseYear 1982
appearsIn Airplane! NERFINISHED
associatedCatchphraseResponse "I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley."
basedOn Zero Hour! (1957 film) NERFINISHED
characterArc overcomes fear and self-doubt to save passengers
characterName Ted Striker NERFINISHED
conflictType internal anxiety and guilt over past mission
countryOfFilmProduction United States NERFINISHED
culturalImpact helped popularize deadpan parody style in 1980s comedies
DrRumackPortrayedBy Leslie Nielsen NERFINISHED
filmDirectors David Zucker NERFINISHED
Jerry Zucker NERFINISHED
Jim Abrahams NERFINISHED
filmGenre disasterComedy
parody
filmReleaseYear 1980
genreConventionParodied 1950s–1970s airline disaster films
humorStyle straight-man performance amid absurd situations
languageOfFilm English
narrativeRole central viewpoint character
notableInteraction guided by Dr. Rumack in cockpit
notableQuote "Surely you can’t be serious."
notableRecognition widely cited as an iconic comedy film performance
notableScene drinking problem gag where he throws drink on himself
flashbacks to the war and relationship with Elaine
sweating profusely while attempting to land the plane
notableTrait deadpan delivery
fear of flying
war trauma
occupationInStory former fighter pilot
partOfFranchise Airplane! film series NERFINISHED
plotFunction reluctant pilot who must land a stricken airliner
portrayedBy Robert Hays NERFINISHED
primarySetting Trans American Airlines Flight 209 NERFINISHED
reprisesRoleIn Airplane II: The Sequel NERFINISHED
roleType bumbling hero
romanticInterest Elaine Dickinson NERFINISHED
romanticInterestPortrayedBy Julie Hagerty NERFINISHED
screenwriters David Zucker NERFINISHED
Jerry Zucker NERFINISHED
Jim Abrahams NERFINISHED
studio Paramount Pictures NERFINISHED

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Airplane! characterPortrayed Robert Hays as Ted Striker