Ages of the Characters [Archive]

bbbear97

10-06-2006, 11:59 AM

Anyone have any guesses on the ages of the characters from when the show was airing of course. I've heard many references to the fact that "Face" may have been the youngest, but I can't see this being true as he was a LT. I always though that "B.A." was always the youngest of the team.

My best guess is that Hannible was around 50, Face and Murdock about 35 and B.A. about 32.

Any thoughts?

MrsSpooky

10-06-2006, 01:54 PM

Anyone have any guesses on the ages of the characters from when the show was airing of course. I've heard many references to the fact that "Face" may have been the youngest, but I can't see this being true as he was a LT. I always though that "B.A." was always the youngest of the team.

My best guess is that Hannible was around 50, Face and Murdock about 35 and B.A. about 32.

Any thoughts?

That's about what I figured. In my own head, I just counted the characters' ages as being the same as the actors'. Which again, would leave B.A. as the youngest. :)

bbbear97

10-06-2006, 04:02 PM

Any idea/thoughts why many feel that "Face" may have been the youngest of the team?

MrsSpooky

10-06-2006, 04:38 PM

Any idea/thoughts why many feel that "Face" may have been the youngest of the team?

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that it's because Hannibal always called him "kid." He did seem to be rather paternal towards him (if you read the A Team fanfic, he was VERY paternal). Probably the "kid" part would make one thing that Face was the youngest. I always thought he was the youngest too, and that's probably why.

There may be other reasons, but that seems to be mine. :)

bbbear97

10-06-2006, 05:18 PM

Strange, I never got that impression from watching the shows. I figured Hannible's fatherly ways were due to the fact that Face was an orphan and had no family. To me it seemed natural that Face was the second oldest due to his rank.

I have read some fan fic and this is what sparked my question.

MrsSpooky

10-06-2006, 05:41 PM

Strange, I never got that impression from watching the shows. I figured Hannible's fatherly ways were due to the fact that Face was an orphan and had no family. To me it seemed natural that Face was the second oldest due to his rank.

I have read some fan fic and this is what sparked my question.

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm not sure though, that I would use rank as an estimate of age.

I don't think people get promoted at the same speed. That is, after so many years of service, you're promoted to this rank, so many years later, promoted to the next rank, etc. Service record has a lot to do with it too (I think, no expert here :) ).

Looking at B.A, I can see where he might not progress as quickly as a Hannibal or Face because of his attitude. Maybe he wasn't interested in promotion. It's possible he found his comfort level and decided that that's where he wanted to be.

Interesting subject! Something I've always wondered about. :D

Denise Ross

10-07-2006, 10:23 AM

If you go in order of rank then Murdock is second oldest because he is a Captain and out ranks Face. He was always supposed to be second in command but, they could never trust him to not be crazy. I agree with both statements about Hannibal calling him kid maybe because of his baby face? In real life he is second oldest though.

ostarella

10-07-2006, 05:33 PM

If you go to the A-Team Canon site

http://www.threebluestars.com/ateam/

it tells about the various birthdates - Hannibal, of course, oldest. Then usually Murdock, although his age (like his name) is never disclosed on the show. Then comes Face, with BA the youngest.

Oh, and Murdock couldn't be second in command because he wasn't Special Forces, thus not an official member of the team even in Nam - he was only the pilot that usually flew the team on its missions.

I'd check out the above site for almost all info on the show - an excellent site. :-)

bbbear97

10-09-2006, 11:53 AM

If you go to the A-Team Canon site

http://www.threebluestars.com/ateam/

it tells about the various birthdates - Hannibal, of course, oldest. Then usually Murdock, although his age (like his name) is never disclosed on the show. Then comes Face, with BA the youngest.

Very interesting site, I'd never come across it before. I'll have to wait for Season 5 to be delivered so that I can watch Dishpan Man again for the info that they have described.

Mrs. Spooky, interesting take on B.A. not wanting to be promoted. You're right, it is an interesting topic, too bad the writers didn't disclose more.

Denise Ross

10-10-2006, 11:14 AM

There is a scene I can't remember which episode, where the Team talk about Murdoch being the second in command because he out ranks Face he is just to crazy to be trusted. Face was the second in command when they were in Nam. Murdoch was not technically a member of the team but, he did seem to know a lot about what they did in Nam especially Faces scams.

ostarella

10-10-2006, 11:21 AM

Well, this is again from the Canon site (FAQ):

"3.9) Why did they call Face the 2nd in command even though Murdock has a higher rank?

Murdock wasn't in their chain of command. Hannibal, Face and BA were all members of the 5th Special Forces Group, while Murdock was part of the 1st Aviation Brigade. Special Forces didn't have their own pilots, so they "borrowed" pilots from other groups. These pilots didn't report to the Special Forces leader, they still reported to their own commanding officer within their own brigade. So Face, even though he was a rank lower than Murdock, would've had seniority within the group after Hannibal. This is shown in the show a few times, specifically in The Road to Hope, when Hannibal is accidentally kidnapped. Face is the one who assumes leadership."

Please let us know if you can remember the episode you mentioned - were they talking about Nam or when they were back in the States? Although I don't think they would have changed the command structure, since that's the way they were used to working...

bbbear97

10-10-2006, 06:39 PM

Please let us know if you can remember the episode you mentioned - were they talking about Nam or when they were back in the States? Although I don't think they would have changed the command structure, since that's the way they were used to working...

Funny how we talk about these guys like they were real (LOL :lol: ) I guess we all need to dream/believe that such heros actually could exist!

ostarella

10-10-2006, 10:15 PM

Funny how we talk about these guys like they were real (LOL ) I guess we all need to dream/believe that such heros actually could exist!

Oops :oops: Slipped into fanfic mode there for a second :lol:

bbbear97

10-11-2006, 11:37 AM

Funny how we talk about these guys like they were real (LOL ) I guess we all need to dream/believe that such heros actually could exist!

Oops :oops: Slipped into fanfic mode there for a second :lol:

No need to be embarrassed. I wish they were real everyday :D The world may be a nicer place. And since I live in L.A. I would have a good chance of seeing them around keeping the streets safe! I always wondered though how they could be right out in the open shooting off machine guns and grenades and nobody called the cops. They just stood around and watched. LOL!

facemansgirl

10-12-2006, 06:28 AM

I live the life of a military wife. :lol: There is no question about Smith being the highest rank. Then Murdock ( not special forces) followed by Peck, then B.A. You were right about that. :D The sad truth is that poor Murdock just was not trusted, being "crazy" and all. In one episode I recall Murock coming up with the plan to rescue Hannibal. When Hannibal ask who came up with the plan, Face & B.A. both said with confusion that it was Murdock.
Not to change the subject But does anyone else think that both Face & Murdock are just too dreamy?

MrsSpooky

10-12-2006, 08:35 AM

I live the life of a military wife. :lol: There is no question about Smith being the highest rank. Then Murdock ( not special forces) followed by Peck, then B.A. You were right about that. :D The sad truth is that poor Murdock just was not trusted, being "crazy" and all. In one episode I recall Murock coming up with the plan to rescue Hannibal. When Hannibal ask who came up with the plan, Face & B.A. both said with confusion that it was Murdock.
Not to change the subject But does anyone else think that both Face & Murdock are just too dreamy?

Oh, totally. Totally gorgeous.

But then, so was Hannibal, as was B.A. in his own way. *sigh*

bbbear97

10-12-2006, 11:21 AM

Not to change the subject But does anyone else think that both Face & Murdock are just too dreamy?

Of course! But it's that what brought us all together in the first place ;-) I was a girlfriends house last night and I took along season four DVD to give us something to watch. Everytime "Face" was on the screen she just kept saying, "I'm sorry, but he is just too good looking!" I replied "Dreamy is more like it!" And we also both agreed that "Murdock" was quite fine as well!

While I think Peppard was a good looking man, he was dreamy in is own right during the days of his movies such as "Breakfast at Tiffany's", and B.A. yes, in his own way (LOL Spook). BTW, anyone tune into "I Pity The Fool" last night?

facemansgirl

10-12-2006, 12:54 PM

I didn't get a chance to see "I pity the Fool" :cry: I hope to catch it the next episode.

Denise Ross

10-12-2006, 01:17 PM

Didn't mean to get you so riled up ostarella. Just my opinions. Glad to see I'm not the only one passionate about the A-Team.

bbbear97

10-12-2006, 01:23 PM

I live the life of a military wife. :lol:

BTW Facemansgirl, thank your husband for us! The real military are our real life heros!