Rachel Bighead (née Ralph Bighead) is a major supporting character of Rocko's Modern Life. She is Ed and Bev Bighead's daughter, known for creating The Fatheads.
In Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling, it's revealed that Rachel is a transgender woman, who works in an ice cream truck.
Personality
Rachel tends to be more stoic than her parents and speaks in a much calmer, lower voice, reminiscent of a monotone. Prior to transitioning, she was very easy to anger and disillusioned with the cartoon business, prone to outbursts much like her father and disinterested in the popularity of her creations. After transitioning, she has become more calm and comfortable in her own skin, and capable of responding to distress more maturely.
Background
She was disowned by Ed for not wanting to work for Conglom-O like her father, so she went to Hollo-Wood to become a cartoonist, which had always been her dream. However, she and Ed finally reunited and ended their feud after Rachel attends her parents' wedding anniversary after being informed of the event by Rocko (whom she eventually bases the beaver character of Rolo on).
She rose to fame after creating a cartoon show called The Fatheads (about a married couple, based loosely on her parents). Afterwards, thinking she's out of the cartoon business, her bosses tell her before letting Rachel go, that she must create a new show. In an attempt to get out of her contract, Rachel hired Rocko, Heffer and Filburt to create an intentionally horrible cartoon called Wacky Delly to have it immediately cancelled (instead, the show becomes a runaway hit, much to her dismay).
After several attempts of creating bad episodes, such as showing a tub of mayo for ten whole minutes, Rachel becomes discouraged that she won't ever get out of her contract, and so she finally gets involved in the series. Shortly after, Wacky Delly is cancelled, and her wish to leave the studio unintentionally comes true. In the end, she finally creates her masterpiece, only to find out that it is not as popular as Wacky Delly originally was.
In Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling, it’s revealed that Rachel is now a transgender woman and has finally found happiness selling Fatheads popsicles in the desert. Initially, Ed was overwhelmed by this, since he was dealing with other changes at the moment. When Ed sees how the new Fatheads special influenced happy memories they had together, he realizes that Rachel is still the same person on the inside and reconciles with her.
Behind the scenes
Voice
Rachel is voiced by Joe Murray, the show's creator, both before and after Rachel's transition. Doug Lawrence and Martin Olson convinced Murray to voice Rachel, a cartoonist character through which Murray satirized himself.
Trivia
- Rachel could possibly be based on Murray himself, who is usually calm and quiet, like Rachel. The joke is that unlike Rachel, Murray would never scream.
- Unlike her parents, she has purple hair and a much smaller head.
- Her famous quote can be heard on Heffer's television in "Mama's Boy".
- To avoid controversy and not make a big spectacle about Rachel's transition arc, the cast and crew teamed up with GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation).
- Rachel's arc was also based on the discovery of some toads being hermaphrodites.