Although fully capable of normal speech, Lurch often communicates via simple inarticulate moans, which, much like the dialogue of Cousin Itt, his employers have no trouble understanding.

He is often sent on local errands to pick the awful herbs from the garden, for instance, but will often forget the most important ingredient of all, say Eye of Newt.

He will gladly undertake to dump the boiling oil on the carol singers, but, generally, the family treats him as something of a joke.Like any butler, Lurch tries to help around the house, but occasionally his great size and strength cause trouble.

When a plainclothes policeman named Mr. Hollister (portrayed by George N. Neise) visits in "The Addams Family Meets the Undercover Man", Lurch pats him down and removes his service revolver from inside his suit coat.

Although Lurch groans disapprovingly at the idea of someone bringing a weapon into the house, he returns the gun after Hollister shows his badge.

Another time in the original series Lurch mentions his father wanted him to be a jockey (typically short and light people) instead of a butler.

Lurch's mother appears to be a physically normal, elderly woman, although she does not see anything unusual about the Addams family or their home, with the exception of Thing.

In 2019 animated film, Lurch was an escaped mental patient from an abandoned haunted house (now, the Addams Mansion) and met Gomez, Morticia, and Thing whereupon they immediately hired him as their loyal butler.

This mirrored an earlier episode of the television series, entitled "Lurch, the Teenage Idol" (which was remade in 1999 for The New Addams Family).

As Batman and Robin are climbing the wall of Penguin's restaurant, the Addams Family theme is heard in the background.

Additionally, the line “you rang?” is referenced by Tyler when Wednesday rings a bell to summon him at the coffee shop.

[5] Ted Cassidy, who at the time was a regular voice actor for Hanna-Barbera Productions, reprised his role of Lurch in 1972 for HB's The New Scooby-Doo Movies episode "Wednesday is Missing".

Ted Cassidy later reprised his role of Lurch in the 1973 cartoon adaptation of The Addams Family, which was also produced by Hanna-Barbera.

Lurch was present when Abigail Craven brings her son Gordon disguised as the long-lost Uncle Fester to the Addams Family mansion.

Seven months later after Craven and Alford are defeated, Lurch answers the door on Halloween where he unintentionally scares away the trick or treaters.

This version is a patient from the abandoned State Asylum for the Criminally Insane who Gomez, Morticia, and Thing hit with their car after relocating to New Jersey.

He and Wednesday were able to get a ride to Cyrus' house with help from some bikers who were impressed with Lurch's performance of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive".

After Cyrus was defeated, Lurch returns home with the Addams Family as Gomez makes plans for a trip around the world.