On “Gilmore Girls,” Richard calls his mother Lorelai “Trix” Gilmore.
Trix is Richard’s mother and the formidable matriarch of the Gilmore family. The character first appears in season 1, episode 18, “The Third Lorelai,” arriving from London and immediately creating tension with Emily and Lorelai. Richard’s use of “Trix” is presented as her established nickname or pet name; the series never gives a definitive explanation for how it originated.
Trix is played by Marion Ross, best known for playing Mrs. Cunningham on “Happy Days.” Within the family, the naming can be confusing: Richard says “Trix,” while Emily generally calls her “Mom,” and Lorelai and Rory refer to her as “Gran.” Trix’s given name is Lorelai, making her the first of the show’s three prominent Lorelais: Trix, her son Richard’s daughter Lorelai, and Rory’s mother Lorelai.
Another common mix-up comes from an early continuity inconsistency: Richard discusses his mother as though she has already died in season 1, even though Trix later appears in several episodes. The show eventually writes her out in season 4, when she dies after a heart attack.