List of Daria Characters - The Morgendorffer Family

The Morgendorffer Family

• Daria Morgendorffer (first appearance: Episode #1, "Esteemsters") — As the title character, Daria is present in every episode and central to almost every plot. Cynical and sardonic to a terminal degree, Daria's intellectuality and academic insight is often counterbalanced by her pronounced lack of motivation. Although Daria has been involved in school activities and social events, it usually takes bribery from her parents, threats upon her grades by Principal Li, or cajoling by either Jodie Landon (at school) or Jane Lane (in social situations) to enlist her participation. Her trademark characteristic is that she rarely changes her facial expression or the tone of her voice, except for a small satisfied smile akin to the Mona Lisa's when she is pleased, and sometimes a high-pitched "Eep!" sound when something is suggested or hinted that involves Jane's brother Trent. Bemused by the world around her, Daria usually reacts to the stupidity of her classmates, faculty and family with a caustic remark, and only lets her emotions show in times of deep frustration. In her spare time, Daria likes to write, but she is generally reluctant to make her work public. Daria is voiced by Tracy Grandstaff.

• Quinn Morgendorffer (first appearance: Episode #1, "Esteemsters") — Daria's materialistic and vain younger sister and school diva. She is a member of Lawndale High School's Fashion Club. Quinn's only interests are fashion and dating, and she holds a Vice Presidency in Lawndale High's self-appointed Fashion Club. Polar opposites, she and Daria rarely agreed on anything (except to disagree) for most of the series, and so ashamed was Quinn of her sister that she claimed status in her social life as an only child, variously referring to Daria as her cousin, a distant relative, or just "that girl who lives at my house". Quinn is occasionally hinted at as having high intelligence but simply disguising it. This intelligence begins to really manifest itself during her tutorial sessions in Is It Fall Yet? The final two seasons show a growth of her character, becoming gradually less superficial and more individualistic and intelligent. Quinn also begins to reconcile with her sister (going so far as to tell her entire class that Daria is her sister in "Lucky Strike", season 5), and by the end of the series she and Daria show some mutual respect. Quinn is voiced by Wendy Hoopes. John J. O'Connor of The New York Times describes Quinn as "ever-so-cute and empty-headed" and states that she becomes "an instant star" at her school. Anita Gates of The New York Times says that Quinn is "terminally cute" and popular. Quinn, described by John Allemang of The Globe and Mail as "silly" and "boy-crazy", pretends that she is not related to Daria. Quinn says that Daria is an unrelated person who lives with her, and that Daria is a cousin, instead of her sister. Gates said that Quinn is, for Daria, "the greatest burden on the home front."

In regards to both of Daria's parents, Gates said "The Morgendorffers don't even seem to notice that Daria constantly gives them lip."

• Helen Morgendorffer (first appearance: Episode #1, "Esteemsters") — Daria's mother, a workaholic corporate attorney and the family's principal wage earner. A former hippie, she and Jake lived with a colony of other hippies prior to officially getting married. After "outgrowing" her hippie years, she "sold out" and went to law school. She has a strained relationship with her two sisters, Amy and Rita, both of whom share similar personality traits with Helen's two daughters. She feels guilty about not being able to spend more time with her family, but as an attorney, is unable to do so. At a corporate retreat, the competitive and self-absorbed traits that Helen worries are so alienating to her family are the same traits that appear to put her on a fast track to a partnership (in the episode "Psycho Therapy"). At times it seems as if Helen's primary tactic as a parent is negotiation with Daria and Quinn. However, Helen does provide solid advice for Daria regarding school work (in "Write Where it Hurts") and her love life (in "Dye! Dye! My Darling"). Helen is voiced by Wendy Hoopes. Gates said that Helen is "a cell-phone-addicted workaholic lawyer." In one scene, when Helen says "There's no course that can teach you to be a perfect mother," Daria responds "That's obvious." Gates says that "nobody sends to her room."
• Jake Morgendorffer (first appearance: Episode #1, "Esteemsters") — Daria's father. He had a strict military father, "Mad Dog" Morgendorffer, who has died and an emotionally distant mother, Ruth, and because of this tends to have mood swings and go off on rants about his childhood. His efforts to run a consulting business from home are generally unsuccessful. Despite good-hearted attempts at parenting and a genuine love for his wife and daughters, Jake is quick to blame others (such as clients, his own deceased father, and various public servants) and becomes inordinately angry over minor setbacks. When he talks up the subpar college he attended because he's sure Daria will attend there (not aware that Daria's academic brilliance will ensure she ends up at a much better school), Helen wearily notes that Jake holds onto illusions about his life so he doesn't have to face and be ruined by the facts. Like Mr. DeMartino, he appears caught in his own personal "black hole", utterly unable to see the world beyond the self-imposed terms of his perpetual victimhood, ignorance and anxiety. Jake is voiced by Julián Rebolledo. Gates said that Jake, "er misguided father, who viewers learned in one episode was actually at Altamont (it was sort of the violent Woodstock), is usually oblivious" and that "e suffers from road rage and, when the pesto doesn't go right, stove rage."