# Green Ghosts Name **URL:** \ **Category:** General Ghostbusters Discussion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616 "2006-11-11T04:49:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![larrydavid](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c89c15/32.png) [@larrydavid](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/larrydavid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/1 "2006-11-11T04:49:19Z")
The other day I was watching the first Ghostbusters with trivia. While I was watching it said the actual name of the green ghost who the Ghostbusters caught in the hotel is Onion Head, but most people who saw the movie called him [Slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer). I want to know what you called Onion Head before you new his name. Did you call him Onion Head, The Green Ghost, Slimer, The Hot Dog Eating Ghost, or none of the names mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![dvd](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@dvd](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/dvd)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/2 "2006-11-11T08:30:17Z")
va in mona, simpatia, cortesia, porco dio va in casino. vaf.fan.culo ---
**Author:** ![Bellevue-Ghostbuster](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Bellevue-Ghostbuster](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Bellevue-Ghostbuster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 9:06am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/3 "2006-11-11T09:06:48Z")
through out the entire time I’ve been a fan of the Ghostbusters, the only nicknames, I know that the called him either the Spud, or [Slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer) ---
**Author:** ![IanT](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@IanT](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/IanT)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 11:18am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/4 "2006-11-11T11:18:42Z")
I always called him the Ugly Little Spud and never ever [Slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer). That damn RGB cartoon…Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! ---
**Author:** ![Zack](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/f6c823/32.png) [@Zack](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Zack)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/5 "2006-11-11T14:12:46Z")
I don’t remember, I was like 4 years old or something 😃 so it was probably something like “ga ga”(green ghost) 8) -Zack ---
**Author:** ![zebrapix](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/9fc348/32.png) [@zebrapix](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/zebrapix)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 3:00pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/6 "2006-11-11T15:00:39Z")
In 1984, I read something (maybe in Starlog) where Aykroyd said the ghost was based on John Belushi, so he and some others referred to the ghost as “John” or “Belushi”. But when the models of the ghost were complete, it became common to refer to the ghost as “Onionhead”. I used to call it “the spud” because Stantz calls it an “ugly, little spud” ---
**Author:** ![Radar](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Radar](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Radar)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/7 "2006-11-11T16:38:03Z")
My understanding is that Onion Head was only used as an on-set nickname during the first [Ghostbusters movie](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/movies) since the character didn’t really have a name or much of a personality at the time. He became known as [Slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer) a little later on when the franchise and series expanded. He was always called “Green Ghost” on the packaging for the [Kenner](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/real-ghostbusters/kenner-10410) toys, presumably so they wouldn’t have to pay extra to use the Slimer name. The ghost was credited as Slimer at the end of Ghostbusters 2 and he had that cartoon show called “Slimer and [the Real Ghostbusters](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/games/the-real-ghostbusters-activison)”, so I’d say that’s his “real” name. ---
**Author:** ![spooky](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/spooky/32/187216_2.png) [@spooky](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/spooky)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/8 "2006-11-11T16:38:14Z")
It was never mentioned to have a name in the movie itself all the names it had were givin behind the scenes, the most popular being onion head (for whatever reason). Then the RGB cartoon named him [slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer) for obvious reasons. ---
**Author:** ![ecto\_skywalker](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/97f17d/32.png) [@ecto\_skywalker](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ecto_skywalker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/9 "2006-11-11T16:39:35Z")
I was at an age were I was too young and missed seeing the movie in the theater… My introduction to Ghostbusters was through the cartoon, so I’ve always called him [Slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer). ---
**Author:** ![dashrendar88](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@dashrendar88](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/dashrendar88)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/10 "2006-11-11T17:19:23Z")
That ugly little spud has always been “[Slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer)” to me. Onionhead just has too many syllables. ---
**Author:** ![ecto\_skywalker](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/97f17d/32.png) [@ecto\_skywalker](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ecto_skywalker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/11 "2006-11-11T17:56:09Z")
> [@dashrendar88](#): > > …Onionhead just has too many syllables. :lol: ---
**Author:** ![Ecto96](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/919ad9/32.png) [@Ecto96](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Ecto96)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/12 "2006-11-11T21:10:13Z")
An original RGB exerpt: Peter: “Didja see? He tried to get me again!” Ray: “Who?” Peter: “The little green guy! That… Spud!” Ray: “Who what where?” Peter: “Nevermind.. That thing’s a menace” Ray and [slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer) are under the Ecto1 Ray: “You know, peter’s right. We should give you a name.. Just to annoy peter, what’s say we call you.. Slimer” Slimer: “Ohh? Ayhe.. hehe” ---
**Author:** ![kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/kingpin/32/187259_2.png) [@kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/kingpin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/13 "2006-11-11T23:30:36Z")
> [@Radar](#): > > My understanding is that Onion Head was only used as an on-set nickname during the first Ghostbusters movie since the character didn’t really have a name or much of a personality at the time. He became known as Slimer a little later on when the franchise and series expanded. He was always called “Green Ghost” on the packaging for the Kenner toys, presumably so they wouldn’t have to pay extra to use the Slimer name. The ghost was credited as Slimer at the end of Ghostbusters 2 and he had that cartoon show called “Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters”, so I’d say that’s his “real” name. That doesn’t make any sense. [Kenner](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/real-ghostbusters/kenner-10410) were officially licenced to produce toys, which came out after the show began. There’s no way that can’t have known the name… so not using it for legal reasons is unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Radar](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Radar](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Radar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 7:50am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/14 "2006-11-12T07:50:02Z")
> [@Kingpin](#): > > … so not using it for legal reasons is unlikely. Right, legal reasons shouldn’t have been an issue. I think they didn’t use it to avoid paying Columbia extra for the name. They always refered to the Ghostbusters as by their real names and [Slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer) as the “green ghost”, even in the catalogs. So they could fork over the cash for the Ghostbusters’ names but not poor Slimer? I wish somebody could answer this! :? ---
**Author:** ![ecto\_skywalker](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/97f17d/32.png) [@ecto\_skywalker](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ecto_skywalker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/15 "2006-11-12T16:20:57Z")
I think… maybe… it was a timing thing… When production for the toy line started they hadn’t settled on a name yet for the “Green Ghost,” but sense they wanted the toy line to debut when the show did they had to have the toys packaged and shipped early. Hense the reason Green Ghost appeared on the packages. And as for not putting Slimer’s name on future waves of toys… They probably left Green Ghost on all of the packages so people would know that they were all supposed to be the same character, from start to finish. On another note, I have a plush Stay Puft that has a manufactures tag on it from Galoob. I would assume it’s a legit prototype, before [kenner](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/real-ghostbusters/kenner-10410) got the license for GB toys, but I don’t know? ---
**Author:** ![kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/kingpin/32/187259_2.png) [@kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/kingpin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/16 "2006-11-12T20:27:32Z")
> [@Radar](#): > > > [@Kingpin](#): > > > > … so not using it for legal reasons is unlikely. > > Right, legal reasons shouldn’t have been an issue. I think they didn’t use it to avoid paying Columbia extra for the name. They always refered to the Ghostbusters as by their real names and Slimer as the “green ghost”, even in the catalogs. So they could fork over the cash for the Ghostbusters’ names but not poor Slimer? I wish somebody could answer this! :? That wasn’t really my point. Why bother getting the rights to use the appearance and not the name? I don’t think it was anything to do with additional costs… ---
**Author:** ![spooky](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/spooky/32/187216_2.png) [@spooky](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/spooky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/17 "2006-11-13T03:42:55Z")
Actually I think it originally was named Green Ghost for the toy line because the first line was half based on the movie and the cartoon. The first Green Ghost released is obviously not our happy little spud known as [slimer](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer). ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_The\_Bold](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/18 "2006-11-13T04:39:38Z")
I called it the green ghost or “the ugly little spud.” But that was before the cartoon. These days, I call him Onionhead, because that’s what the crew called it, and what it’s listed as in the credits. Plus, I like sharing that little bit of trivia with the non diehards who never heard of it. I still say that “slimer” is a classification of ghosts. As in, “this is where we put all the vapors, entities and [slimers](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/characters/slimer) that we catch.” ---
**Author:** ![kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/kingpin/32/187259_2.png) [@kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/kingpin)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/19 "2006-11-13T20:44:41Z")
> [@Spooky](#): > > Actually I think it originally was named Green Ghost for the toy line because the first line was half based on the movie and the cartoon. The first Green Ghost released is obviously not our happy little spud known as slimer. Are you talking about the one that splits in half, or has small bits of food with it? ---
**Author:** ![ecto\_skywalker](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/97f17d/32.png) [@ecto\_skywalker](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ecto_skywalker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616/20 "2006-11-13T21:26:17Z")
> [@Kingpin](#): > > Are you talking about the one that splits in half, or has small bits of food with it? Splits in half?! I don’t remember that one. What was that about? 🙂 [Next page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/green-ghosts-name/1616.md?page=2)