The janitor’s name in The Breakfast Club is Carl.
Carl is the janitor at Shermer High School in John Hughes’s 1985 film. He is played by Canadian actor John Kapelos, who gives the character a surprisingly sharp and observant presence despite Carl’s relatively small role in the story.
Carl appears during the students’ Saturday detention and interacts with the five teenagers, including the rebellious John Bender and the studious Brian Johnson. He knows much more about the school than the students expect: he can access lockers, overhear conversations, and understand the routines of the institution from behind the scenes. His confidence contrasts with the students’ assumption that a janitor is socially invisible.
The opening sequence also shows Carl connected with the school’s past, including a “Man of the Year” plaque. That detail adds an unexpected layer to the character and hints that his position at the school is more complicated than the students realize. A common mix-up is giving the actor’s name, John Kapelos, as the character’s name; the character is Carl, while Kapelos is the performer.