The Greatest Characters on HBO Shows

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated February 15, 2020 27.0k votes 2.3k voters 33.8k views131 items

List RulesCharacters from original HBO series. Fictional characters only.

HBO has put out some of the most innovative and character-rich original series ever. These here, well they're the best HBO Original Series characters ever. HBO shows are character-rich in the sense that HBO actually has the means to let their characters be interesting, and flawed, and heroic, and shameful, and deadly, and helpful because they are a paid super DELUXE channel service thing and they don't have to worry about advertisers. That's showbiz, folks!

Anyway, thankfully HBO is HBO. Without it we wouldn't have Tony Soprano, or Tyrion Lannister. We wouldn't have Stringer Bell. Stringer Bell, you guys! You think Stringer Bell could be Stringer Bell on ABC? Don't think so. With every new show HBO releases come great new characters, like Fezco and Rue from Euphoria or the Roy family in Succession.

These are the greatest HBO characters of all time. Vote for your favorites and see if they can claim the top spot!

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421
Tony Soprano
The Sopranos
Actor: James Gandolfini
Occupation: Boss
2
708
307
Omar Little
The Wire
Actor: Michael K. Williams
Occupation: Illegal drug dealer
Episode: The Wire, The Pager, Know Your Place, Moral Midgetry, Slapstick
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3
1,115
463
Tyrion Lannister
Game of Thrones
Actor: Peter Dinklage
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4
298
115
Sandor Clegane
Game of Thrones
Actor: Rory McCann
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5
633
316
Rust Cohle
True Detective
Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Occupation: Detective
6
813
427
Arya Stark
Game of Thrones
Actor: Maisie Williams
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7
786
449
Jon Snow
Game of Thrones
Actor: Kit Harington
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8
444
241
Stringer Bell
The Wire
Actor: Idris Elba
Occupation: Drug Delaer
9
408
185
Eddard Stark
Game of Thrones
Actor: Sean Bean
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10
582
327
Jamie Lannister
Game of Thrones
Actor: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
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11
386
232
Ari Gold
Entourage
Actor: Jeremy Piven
12
370
244
Larry David
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Actor: Larry David
13
250
132
Bronn
Game of Thrones
Actor: Jerome Flynn
Occupation: Mercenary
14
417
251
Al Swearengen
Deadwood
Actor: Ian McShane
Occupation: Bar owner
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#945 of 1,287 The Greatest TV Characters of All Time#202 of 291 The Best TV Villains Of All Time
15
413
227
Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri
The Sopranos
Actor: Tony Sirico
16
471
328
Cersei Lannister
Game of Thrones
Actor: Lena Headey
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17
697
455
Daenerys Targaryen
Game of Thrones
Actor: Emilia Clarke
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18
233
138
Tywin Lannister
Game of Thrones
Actor: Charles Dance
19
181
101
Kenny Powers
Eastbound & Down
Actor: Danny McBride
20
212
103
Brienne of Tarth
Game of Thrones
Actor: Gwendoline Christie
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21
366
248
Jimmy McNulty
The Wire
Actor: Dominic West
Occupation: Police detective
22
361
277
Christopher Moltisanti
The Sopranos
Actor: Michael Imperioli
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23
159
86
Lord Varys
Game of Thrones
Actor: Conleth Hill
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24
160
60
Eric Northman
True Blood, A Drop of True Blood
Actor: Alexander Skarsgård
Occupation: Vampire Sheriff
Episode: Escape from Dragon House
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25
293
199
Detective Marty Hart
True Detective
Actor: Woody Harrelson
Occupation: Detective

Detective Marty Hart