Uncle Fester is a fictional character from the Addams Family, a macabre and eccentric family created by cartoonist Charles Addams. He is known for his bald head, sunken eyes, deranged smile, and ability to generate electricity. But who is he related to in the Addams clan? And how did he become such a bizarre and lovable character?
Uncle Fester’s Origins
Uncle Fester was derived from a character drawn by Charles Addams, although these were single-page cartoons, with no stories or character names. Nevertheless, the character is recognizable in a number of cartoons, both by his appearance and behavior. He is sometimes seen with the rest of the family, particularly on anthology covers, but he is also seen on his own more often than the others. He is sometimes indicated to live in a small shack surrounded by a wrought-iron fence.
According to Wikipedia, Fester has a strange ability to generate electricity. He would often demonstrate this by putting a light bulb in his mouth, which would illuminate, accompanied by a loud, crackling noise. He claims to possess 110 volts of power in one episode of the sitcom, while in another episode he demonstrated his “magnetic” quality by levitating a metal paperweight up to his hand.
Uncle Fester’s Family Ties
Uncle Fester’s relationship to the other Addamses has varied over time and across different media. In the original cartoons, he was not given a clear connection to the family, although he was sometimes implied to be Morticia’s uncle or brother. In the 1960s television series, he was explicitly Morticia’s uncle, and thus Gomez’s uncle-in-law. In the 1990s movies, he was retconned as Gomez’s long-lost older brother, who had been missing for 25 years after suffering from amnesia. In the 2019 animated film, he was again Morticia’s uncle.
Uncle Fester has also had various romantic interests over the years. In the 1960s series, he was briefly married to a woman named Debbie Jellinsky, who turned out to be a serial killer and tried to murder him for his inheritance. In the 1990s movies, he fell in love with another woman named Debbie Jellinsky, who also turned out to be a serial killer and tried to murder him for his inheritance. In the 2019 film, he had a crush on an online dating match named Svetlana.
Uncle Fester is also very fond of his nieces and nephews: Wednesday, Pugsley, Pubert, Wednesday Jr., and Pugsley Jr. He often plays with them and teaches them various tricks and skills. He is also close to his cousin Itt, who shares his eccentricity and hairlessness.
Uncle Fester’s Legacy
Uncle Fester has been portrayed by several actors over the years, most notably Jackie Coogan in the 1960s series and Christopher Lloyd in the 1990s movies. He has also been voiced by Rip Taylor and Nick Kroll in animated adaptations. He is one of the most popular and iconic characters of the Addams Family franchise, and has inspired many parodies and references in popular culture.
Uncle Fester is also the pen name of Steve Preisler, author of such controversial books as Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture and Silent Death.
Uncle Fester is a character that embodies the spirit of the Addams Family: weird, wild, and wonderful. He is related to them by blood or by marriage, but more importantly by love and loyalty. He is a loyal brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to the Addamses, and a source of amusement and awe to their fans.
