Drop Dead Fred is the titular character of... you guessed it, Drop Dead Fred! Fred is the childhood imaginary friend of Elizabeth Cronin, who moves back in with her mother after being broken up with by her fiance. Fred was trapped in a box for many years until Lizzie opens the box up, and he's let loose.

He's a mischevious little creature who thrives on making messes, breaking things, and being generally disgusting and a nuisance. However, he holds a great amount of love and care for Lizzie, despite him making her life considerably more difficult.

Ultimately, his existence centers around making her happy in spite of her absent father, and her emotionally abusive mother. He does so in childish ways - the only way he really knows how.