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Lost’s own take on The Odyssey couple reflect on beloved TV romance: "People named their kids after us!"

It's been 16 years since Lost reached its finale, but fans still adore this central couple.

Sonya Walger and Henry Ian Cusick as Penny and Des on Lost. In character, Des is laying in a hospital bed, while Penny, who has blonde hair, affectionately rests her forehead on his

Mario Perez/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Published: Thursday, 30 July 2026 at 4:49 pm

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Lost stars Sonya Walger and Henry Ian Cusick have opened up about the enduring legacy created by their characters Penny and Desmond – with the actors revealing people have even named their kids after them.

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The beloved sci-fi series ran from 2004 to 2010, with fans gripped by the story of the mystery island, what secrets it held, and the plane crash survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 who were forced to turn it into a home.

Among the stories told were that of Desmond “Des” Hume, who defied the odds to reunite with his love for Penelope “Penny” Widmore – after Penny’s powerful father Charles (Alan Dale) tried to doom their relationship.

Their love story quickly became a fan favourite, and while it's been 16 years since Lost reached its finale, both actors are continuing to hear the real-life results of their on-screen depiction.

A close-up photo of Sonya Walger and Henry Ian Cusick as Penny and Des on Lost. Sonya is blonde haired and is wearing a grey scarf, while Henry has a ripped black shirt, long brown hair, and a grazed forehead. Both are smiling

Sonya Walger and Henry Ian Cusick as Penny and Des on Lost; Mario Perez/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Speaking to The Guardian, Walger said: [I’ve seen] a full leg tattoo of our faces! I get ‘Not Penny’s boat’ held up to me at airports a lot. It’s like a fan’s secret way of saying: ‘I see you, but I will respect you.’”

“People have named their children after us – that’s odd,” added Cusick, with Walger adding she’s “100 per cent had some Pennys”.

In a story inspired by Homer’s The Odyssey, with Penny even taking her name from one of the central characters of the Greek tale, Des heads on a sailing competition around the world in a bid to impress Penny’s dad Charles.

But instead of proving his worth, he winds up shipwrecked on the island, with Penny waiting patiently at home for him to return for eight years.

Despite the dire conditions, Des is motivated to find a way off the island thanks to a photo he keeps of him and Penny in happier times – while Penny uses all the resources at her disposal, including her dad’s money, in order to track him down.

Sonya Walger and Henry Ian Cusick as Penny and Des on Lost. Both are dressed smartly in black, and have serious expressions on their face. The cast are standing behind them with stern looks

Sonya Walger and Henry Ian Cusick as Penny and Des on Lost. Mario Perez / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

When they finally do find a way back to each other, they get married and have a son – and later become key to the finale and the mystic elements at play.

“It never ceases to surprise and truly gratify me that we did some work that has endured like this,” says Walger. “It’s amazing.”

Cusick added: “I always thought we had a cool storyline. But we didn’t know the legacy it would have.

“It’s been 20 years and there’s been so much great TV since – and we’re still talking about that relationship.”

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Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.

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