Roz Doyle - Background and Role in The Series

Background and Role in The Series

Roz was born in Bloomer, Wisconsin on May 5. 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, and worked in the industry for about ten years before joining Frasier.

Roz is an attractive and promiscuous woman; her behavior is the subject of 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)). Roz worries about her appearance as she ages, and is concerned 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 almost sleeps with Frasier while at a conference, but they agree their relationship works best as friends. Roz and Frasier do eventually sleep together in season 9, episode 23: "The Guilt Trippers". Roz also is lusted after by co-worker Noel Shempsky, although the feeling is not reciprocated. In one episode, it is revealed that, like Sam Malone, Roz has a "black book" containing the names and numbers of her numerous past conquests.

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 this never completely vanishes from their relationship. This is most likely because Roz and Daphne, Niles's wife, are best friends. (Though their relationship had improved prior to the marriage). In the eleventh season episode Murder Most Maris, Roz defends Niles when he has a breakdown in Cafe Nervosa and takes off all his clothes after dealing with Maris' stint in the jail and the stress of Daphne's reaction to the situation..

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 them to sleep together. 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 very close to Frasier's father Martin. She is the only regular character to address him as Marty. 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. In one episode when Roz drops by Frasier's apartment, Martin greets her by asking "Hey, Roz, how's my girlfriend?" (Season 1, Ep 18 "And the Whimper is...")

Roz is also close to Martin's physical therapist Daphne Moon, as they are the only two women who are constant in the Crane men's lives. They become best friends, and Daphne invites Roz to be a bridesmaid at her wedding to attorney Donny Douglas. She is 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.

In the show's final episode, Roz becomes station manager of KACL after the previous manager, Kenny Daly, decides to become a DJ again.