5 Famous Handyman Characters in Movies and TV

5 Famous Handyman Characters in Movies and TV

If you are like us, you enjoy great movies and the characters that make them memorable. But what about the characters who can actually fix things, build things, and figure out how things work?

At American Handyman, we put together our list of five great handymen, fix-it guys, and master engineers from movies and television. These are the characters who always seem to know how to solve a problem.

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5. MacGyver

Played by Richard Dean Anderson

Was there anything MacGyver could not build or fix?

This secret agent became famous for using science, creativity, and whatever materials he had available to solve complicated problems. His resourcefulness became such a part of pop culture that "MacGyver" eventually became a word for finding a creative way to fix something.

Here in East Tennessee, we might call it "rigging" something.

"Yeah, we can rig this hose and bucket to empty out this water."

MacGyver could look at almost any problem and figure out how to make things work.

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4. Q

Played most famously by Desmond Llewelyn in the James Bond series

When we think of Q, we think of the ultimate gadget guy.

Q could take ordinary objects and turn them into useful spy equipment. A camera hidden in a button. A pen that doubles as a weapon. An Aston Martin equipped with everything James Bond might need.

When we think about the ultimate hidden handyman, Q belongs on the list.

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3. Harry Tuttle

Played by Robert De Niro in Brazil

You may not know Harry Tuttle or the movie Brazil, but Tuttle is one of our favorite fix-it guys.

He is a handyman who secretly repairs homes and air conditioning in a dystopian world where the government wants paperwork for everything.

Tuttle reminds us of the backyard mechanics and home builders many of us grew up around. They didn't always ask permission. They just figured out how to get things working.

Maybe there is something to that Appalachian tradition!

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2. Al Borland

Played by Richard Karn on Home Improvement

Al Borland was Tim Taylor's trusted sidekick on Home Improvement. Unlike Tim, Al actually knew how to repair things.

He was not flashy or arrogant. He was simply the guy who knew how to do stuff, and he did it well.

Most of us have known someone like Al. A dad, grandfather, neighbor, or friend who could fix almost anything.

At American Handyman, we want to be a little more like Al Borland.

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1. Walt Kowalski

Played by Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino

Walt Kowalski is our number one.

Walt represents the hardworking, hands-on guy who takes pride in his home, his tools, and taking care of what he owns.

His garage was filled with tools, and he knew how to use them. He was the kind of guy who could look at a problem and figure out how to fix it.

In many ways, Walt reminds us of our fathers and grandfathers. They worked hard, took care of their families, maintained their homes, and knew how to do things themselves.

That's the kind of handyman we admire.

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Honorable Mentions

There were plenty of others we considered, including Duane Schneider, Nathan Bookman, Chewbacca, George Utley, Mike Delfino, and Bob the Builder.

There have always been fix-it guys and handymen who could repair almost anything.

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Who Did We Miss?

This list could have been much longer. Who is your favorite handyman or fix-it character from a movie or TV show? We would love to hear your ideas!

And if you’d rather spend your time rewatching these classics than tackling the next home project, that’s exactly what we’re here for. You enjoy the movies and we’ll handle the repairs.

You don’t have to be MacGyver to get things fixed around your home. That’s where a good handyman comes in.

American Handyman serves homeowners throughout the Knoxville area with repairs, installations, and home maintenance projects.

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