This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BC chapter.

I love watching movies, like Mona Lisa Smile, and TV shows, like Gilmore Girls, that are about people my own age, but I can never help feeling a bit jealous about these fictional characters going to other universities. What is wrong with Boston College? It’s a great school! Why wouldn’t they want to have a character go here? After doing some research, I found several fictional alumni of Boston College.

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1. Joe Hackett from Wings (1990-1997)

One of the main characters in this ensemble show, Joe graduated from Boston College and then entered into flight school. Now, he owns his own small private airline in Nantucket and works with a whole cast of characters including his brother, Brian, and childhood friend, Helen.

(Watch Episode 13 from Season 2, entitled “Love is Like Pulling Teeth,” which highlights BC’s basketball team in an intensive match.)

(Portrayed by Tim Daly)

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2. Tobias Fünke from Arrested Development (2003- Present)

One of the supporting cast members in this show, Tobias graduated from Boston College and was a psychiatrist. Now, he switches between different career paths and adds to the hilarious drama that plagues Michael Bluth, the main character.

(Watch the Pilot of the series in which Tobias announces his alma mater.)

(Portrayed by David Cross)

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3. Harvey Kinkle from Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003)

One of the supporting characters, Harvey was Sabrina’s boyfriend in high school and her one true love. While at Boston College, he played hockey, and upon graduation, he planned to move to California, but then changed his plans remaining in Boston.

(Watch Episode 6 from Season 6, entitled “Thin Ice,” which highlights BC’s hockey team in an intensive match.)

(Played by Nate Richert)

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4. Jack Ryan from the Jack Ryan series, John Clark series, and Jack Ryan Jr. series all by Tom Clancy (1984 – Present)

The main character in this book series turned movie series, Jack graduated from Boston College with a major in Economics and a minor in History. After working in a variety of fields and attaining a Ph.D., Jack Ryan became a member of the CIA, where he is an analyst tracking down terrorists.

(The books by Tom Clancy have this background for the character, whereas the movies deviated with a different back story or did not mention BC.)

(Played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine)

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5. Jason and Maggie Seaver from Growing Pains (1985-1992)

While we may know them as the parents of the Seavers, they are also both graduates of Boston College. After having met while undergraduates, they went on to become a psychiatrist (Jason) and a reporter (Maggie) and raise their children, Mike, Carol, Ben, and Chrissy.

(Watch Season 2 Episode 20 as Jason shows Mike BC to convince him to go to college and Season 4 Episode 18 as Jason and Maggie try to convince Carol to go to BC.)

(Played by Alan Thicke and Joaana Kerns)

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6. Ken Reeves and Jim Willis from The White Shadow (1978-1981)

Ken Reeves is the main character, and Jim Willis is a supporting character on this television series. Both played basketball together at Boston College and then went their separate ways. After playing professional basketball, Ken joins Jim, a principal, at a Los Angeles high school where he coaches the basketball.

(Watch the Pilot as Ken does a favor for Jim by coaching the high school basketball team because of the bond that they formed at BC.)

(Played by Ken Howard and Ed Bernard)

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7. Jane Rizzoli from Rizzoli & Isles (2010-Present)

One of the two main characters in this series, Jane did not actually go to Boston College, but she was accepted to Boston-Cambridge University. Before you start questioning my sanity, Boston-Cambridge University IS Boston College, at least in photographs. Whenever they have an aerial view, it is always of a different part of campus. As a result, although she could not afford to attend BCU, she will remain an honorary graduate of both BCU and BC.

(Watch both Season 1 Episode 4 and Season 2 Episode 6 for actual photographs of Boston College.)

(Played by Angie Harmon.)

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Next time you want to want to show your BC pride, watch one of these TV series, and be proud of being an Eagle.

Information Courtesy of:

IMDb

Wikipedia

http://wings.wikia.com

http://arresteddevelopment.wikia.com

http://sabrinatheteenagewitch.wikia.com

http://tomclancy.wikia.com/wiki/Jack_Ryan,_Sr.

http://www.answers.com/topic/growing-pains-the-recruiter-tv-episode