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After spending so very many hours watching a TV show, we form strong attachments - and revulsions - to certain characters. Let's rank 'em.

poll

Jerry Seinfeld

List of TV's most memorable characters, of all time, chosen by the Ranker community. What makes a character live on in the public's memory, even years after the original run of their respective TV programs? In some cases, it's the amount of depth that the show's writers, actors and other creators were able to bring to the character over the course of many years. For many of the greatest TV characters of all time, audiences feel like they get to know personalities like Dexter Morgan from &quot;Dexter.&quot; Even after the show leaves the air, they may not want that relationship to end. (Thankfully, they don't have to, as many shows live on for years after their cancellation on DVD and in syndication.) The best TV characters are ones that you feel like you know and that you'd want to be friends with.TV has brought many famous characters to life who have been extremely compelling, even if they are not entirely likeable. Viewers may not wish to know dangerous, shadowy figures like Tony Soprano, Vernon Schillinger, and Omar Little in reality, but following their exploits safely from the comfort of your living room can be appealing. Likewise, people who might be aloof or downright unpleasant in real life - think &quot;Mad Men's&quot; Don Draper or Al Swearengen of &quot;Deadwood&quot; - can prove charming, even admirable, when seen at a distance, with the subtext and intricacy that a top long-running TV show can provide.Who is the greatest TV character ever? This list contains the names of the greatest, most fascinating, and most enduring fictional characters from TV of all time. Be sure to vote for your favorites, and if some of your favorite popular characters aren't represented, go ahead and re-rank the list to contribute to the discussion.

Villains

Dr. Gregory House

A detailed list of the most well-liked and loveable TV anti-heroes. The most likeable TV protagonists are listed in order from most popular to least. These ambivalent but likeable anti-heroes of TV can be changed in order of popularity to fit the viewer’s opinions. Or, you can copy to make your very own list of your most favorite TV anti-heroes. This villain list can then be re-arranged to suit your ideas. &nbsp; These ambivalent villains are a mixture of both good and evil and have managed to tug at the viewer’s heartstrings over the years. Do you remember most of these anti-heroes? This list answers the question, “Who are the most popular and likeable antiheroes of television?” Taking you on a road down memory lane, this list allows you to see which anti-heroes of TV were the worst and which were <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-movie-villains-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the best villains</a> of TV shows. &nbsp; While some TV protagonists are pure evil, many have a touch of good in them that the viewer can easily see, making the viewer sympathetic towards these quite loveable villains of television series. The viewers can often find themselves wishing only the best results for these sometimes harmless TV villains. This list allows you to choose which television anti-hero you think is the best villain of television.

Female Characters

Morticia Addams

Who are the greatest female TV characters of all time?&nbsp;This list includes some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-tv-characters-of-all-time">greatest television characters in history</a> from dramatic shows, sitcoms, and sci-fi series to&nbsp;procedurals and cartoons!&nbsp;For as long as TV has been a medium to reflect social constructs, programs have featured <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strong-female-characters/anncasano?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">strong women characters</a> as protagonists, partners, and foils for their male counterparts. In comedy shows, characters like Lucy Ricardo, Mary Richards, and Maude Findlay paved the way for Elaine Benes, Roseanne Conner, and Liz Lemon.Female characters dominate modern genre series, with popular women like Daenerys Targaryen, Dana Scully, Buffy Summers, and Veronica Mars achieving cult-level idolization. You'll recognize these famous names as some of the strongest, funniest, and most relatable in television history.Vote up the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-female-movie-characters/ranker-characters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest female characters</a> to move them up the list, and add please any that we're missing.

Fictional Characters

Shane Walsh

Television is fun, but some TV characters are just the worst. For every beloved character on television, whether it be Mary Tyler Moore of The Mary Tyler Moore Show or everyone&#39;s favorite resident of the Seven Kingdoms, Tyrion Lannister, there is an equally and adamantly <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-deserved-tv-villain-ends/jack-rogers" target="_blank">disliked character</a> on the tube (hi, Joffrey and Cousin Oliver!!). This list ranks the worst of the worst, including all the most terrible television characters and most hated TV characters of all time.

Yes, it&#39;s true that not everyone is going to like every character on a show, just as not everyone will like every person in real life. However, you will find that there are some characters that are so universally detested by everyone that no one bats an eye when they learn they&#39;re near the top of this list of awful TV characters.&nbsp;Have you ever stopped watching a show simply because one character annoyed you so much? This is a list about those guys and gals.

The list includes some of the most vile TV characters. They aren&#39;t necessarily vile because they are bad or evil, but simply because every time they come on the screen, you wish they&#39;d just go away. &nbsp;In other words, they&#39;re not characters you &quot;love to hate,&quot; they&#39;re unpopular, disliked characters you just absolutely can&#39;t stand.

Vote up the worst TV characters in all of television history that you dislike the most, add any other bad television characters that aren&#39;t already listed here, among the worst.

Best TV

Cosmo Kramer

These are the funniest television characters ever created, as determined by the votes and selections of Ranker users. Lots of things make up truly iconic, timelessly funny characters... the actor, the writing, the supporting cast... but in the end, it's just the character that makes you laugh yourself weak.What are the funniest characters on TV? These are the characters that still make you roll on the floor no matter if you are watching new episodes or reruns from 20 years ago. A lot of the funniest TV characters of all time, like Homer Simpson and Stewie Griffin, tend to be cartoons but there are lots of funny characters that are real-life people too. Vote for your funniest picks and add any characters you see missing. If you want to really impact this list's order, make your own ranking and add it!

The Governor

The best TV villains of all time rank among some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-tv-characters-of-all-time">greatest TV characters of all time</a> as well as some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/creepiest-characters-on-television">creepiest TV characters ever</a>. While some TV villains exist to make the lead characters appear more heroic, some of them are just plain old, nasty jerks. Regardless of their motivations, the top TV bad guys make us want to bust into the TV and kick some butt, fictional style.

Many of TV&#39;s greatest greatest villains didn&#39;t start that way; some of these men and women started out as virtuous people who took a skid into the darker ways of the world. Think of Breaking Bad&#39;s Gustavo Fring, a legitimate business man turned meth trafficking d-bag. Or Dexter Morgan who started out killing only bad guys and then went and got tangled up with killing people as a CYA offensive action. Of course, there&#39;s also people like&nbsp;Joffrey Baratheon of Game of Thrones&nbsp;and The Simpsons&#39; C. Montgomery Burns who seem to get off on tormenting people. They are the worst kind of awesome bad guys.

Who is the best <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-you-forgot-played-tv-bad-guys/lina-lecaro" target="_blank">bad guy on TV</a>? What television shows have the greatest TV villains? &nbsp;This best television villains list has all the top TV villains in one place for you to vote on. If your favorite TV villain isn&#39;t on the list of the greatest TV villains, make sure to add them so other voters get to hate them as much as you do.

Comedy

Lucy Ricardo

The funniest <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-female-tv-characters-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">female TV characters</a> are those whom we've both laughed at and laughed with, sharing their hilarious moments and sometimes their most touching ones. These funny females are mothers, friends, wives and businesswomen -- comical television character versions of the roles women play in real life. Sometimes easy to relate to, sometimes not, funny female TV characters keep viewers returning to the TV for season after season.While most truly funny women on TV can be found in sitcoms, a few of the best and funniest women in television can be found in dramas. Ally McBeal proved that a leading woman’s role could deal with dramatic situations, yet still allow the female lead to be humorous. A few of the funniest female TV characters have also come from books adapted into television shows, as in the case of Piper Chapman -- who also plays in a drama.Some of the funniest women on TV are known for their antics; a classic example is Lucy Ricardo’s failure to pronounce “Vitameatavegamin” after becoming tipsy off the health tonic of the same name. Some of TV’s funniest women are known for their rants or musings. Remember when Elaine Benes had to decide whether men were ‘spongeworthy?' No matter why viewers find them funny, these quirky, witty female characters continue to stand the test of time and give both men and women hilarious females to enjoy on TV. Whoever your favorite funny women on TV are, chances are they’ve become characters you can watch again and again. And that’s the real test: The funniest female TV characters aren’t just funny once, they’re enjoyable and humorous with repeated viewings. They’re human, they’re engaging and these funny television females give audiences not only a laugh, but a lift -- whether they earned one season, six seasons or more.

Fictional Fashion

Tom Haverford

List of the best dressed male TV characters currently on TV or from the past. These men prove that males have nearly as many fashion options as women, and they can rock clothes in the same styles, from boho to preppy to mod. This list includes the most fashionable men on TV, whether they dress elegantly or casually.When thinking of fashionable men on TV, it’s not uncommon to think of men in suits. The suit is, after all, classic men’s formal wear, along with the suit’s cousin, the tuxedo. The most stylish male characters on TV are classed as such because they know how to wear a suit well. Think of the perfectly groomed male cast of “Mad Men,” who not only wear complementary tie, shirt, and suit combos but also wear the finishing accessories that pull looks together: cufflinks, pocket squares, waistcoats, and more.Or consider fashionable male characters who are usually seen in casual wear. Whether in jeans or slacks, sweaters or t-shirts, these men are always coordinated and always sport polishing touches, such as hats, watches, scarves, or even designer socks. Prefer men in fantastic costume? The <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/hottest-male-celebrities?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">hottest male</a> TV stars pull off these looks, too. Can anyone forget the noble looks of Robb Stark (“Game of Thrones”)?This list contains the best dressed men on TV, the television characters audiences have tuned in to watch just to see what they’d be wearing. Whether they are wicked or altruistic, old or young, they’re all one thing: the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/most-stylish-female-celebrities?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most fashionable</a> male <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-tv-characters-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">TV characters</a> ever seen.

Glenn Quagmire

The creepiest characters on television mess with our heads, leave us wondering and stick in our heads for a long time after their respective TV shows air. These are the fictional TV characters we love to hate for one reason or another. They might not be the scariest TV characters in a traditional sense but these are the creepiest characters on our <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-best-tv-shows-of-recent-memory" target="_blank">favorite recent TV shows</a>.Creepy television characters come in all types with each taking creepy to a new and different level. Some don't hide their creepiness, such as Herbert, the suspected pedophile from &quot;Family Guy,&quot; or Dexter Morgan, the serial killer/forensic blood splatter analyst from the Showtime series &quot;Dexter.&quot; Fans know what to expect from that type of creepy character but often it's the creepers who leave you guessing that are the creepiest TV characters of all.Take Walter White, the main character in the Emmy Award-winning drama &quot;Breaking Bad.&quot; Mr. White was a seemingly harmless family man and high school teacher who &quot;broke bad&quot; and took on an alter ego capable of unspeakable crimes. The uncertainty of the realm of possibility for the character makes him incredibly fascinating and beyond creepy.The same goes for characters that are highly secretive or not completely explained which opens the doors for all types of creepy. &quot;LOST&quot; fans didn't know what the elusive Smoke Monster was for nearly all six seasons the show aired but it was well established that it was definitely a threat to take seriously.Whether these creepy TV characters put all their cards on the table and embrace their creepy tendencies or leave fans guessing what they will do next, each offer plenty of food for thought on some of our favorite television shows. Everyone is creeped out by something or other so if we missed your favorite creepy TV character, add him, her or it below.

Lisa Cuddy

List of the best television <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/comic-book-characters-who-are-doctors/stephanroget" target="_blank">doctors</a>, ranked by fans of the doctor characters and their medical shows. Plenty of memorable TV doctors have graced our small screens over the last 50 years, but some television doctors stand out from the rest. From medical dramas and comedies to soap operas and sci-fi thrillers, every great TV show needs a compassionate, competent and - of course - good looking <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/fictional-doctors-with-best-skills/jonathan-kantor" target="_blank">doctor to save the day</a>.

Ever since &#39;General Hospital&#39; opened its fictional doors more than 50 years ago, there has been a flood of TV shows featuring every type of TV doctor you could imagine. In the beginning, TV doctors were dependable, noble and considerate medical healers in TV shows like &#39;Medic&#39; and &#39;Dr. Kildare&#39;. As television evolved, so too did the doctors. On modern TV, doctors now feature complex personalities and dramatic background stories, such as the drug-addicted, enigmatic and astoundingly intelligent antihero Dr. Gregory House and the entire medical squad in &#39;ER&#39;.

So who are the greatest TV doctors of all time? Whether you prefer dreamy medical heroes like Derek Shephard, Michaela Quinn and James Kildare; the funny antics of Hawkeye Pierce, Perry Cox and Sheldon Cooper; or the drama that comes with Meredith Grey and Christina Yang, you can rest assured that there is an excellent fictional physician on call.

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Jess Mariano

List of the greatest bad boys in TV history. Here is a listing of the cream of the crop when it comes to television's best bad boys. The best and the baddest of the bunch make their ensemble that much richer. Perhaps Samuel L. Jackson's character in &quot;Pulp Fiction&quot; would refer to the TV characters ranker here as &quot;BAMFS.&quot; Whatever tough guy categorization you would like to give these characters, they are undoubtedly the coolest -- if not particularly warm -- men to grace our screens every week. And nobody can down whiskey like Don Draper, just like nobody could scare television parents like bad boys next door Ryan Atwood (&quot;The O.C.&quot;) and Shawn Hunter (&quot;Boy Meets World&quot;).This list includes TV bad boy characters with dark brooding attitudes, leather jackets, motorcycles, dour dispositions, sad mysterious pasts, questionable ethics - and hopeful girls who love them anyway. Dylan McKay, Chuck Bass, and even The Fonz are at the top of our ranks. Vote up the quintessential bad boys on television to shape this list, or click rerank to make a version of your own.

Carla Espinosa

List of the greatest female TV role models. Here are the rankings for the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-female-movie-characters/ranker-characters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best female characters</a> for your daughter to look up to. The TV shows with great <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/female-role-models/ericascheidt?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">female role models</a> span the decades, from black-and-white to digital film. They also span the style, from live action multi-camera sitcoms to cartoons. Who are some of the best female role models on TV? You could make a pretty good case for Leslie Knope's passion, Liz Lemon's wit, and Rachel Green's attitude. Or, if people really want to talk about strong independent women, we have listed ladies like Susie Greene from &quot;Curb Your Enthusiasm&quot; and Xena (the Warrior Princess). Some seem to think even Nancy Botwin from &quot;Weeds&quot; is a good female role model on television -- perhaps for her business sense. TV can make a difference in the culture, as shows can set standards and aspirations for young women, or men, with the remote control.

List of the best TV grumps. Male or female, these are the greatest grumpy TV characters -- television curmudgeons whose pessimistic rants and antics usually make viewers laugh. From the original great TV grumps, including Fred Sanford and Archie Bunker, to the new generation of grumpy TV characters such as <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-red-forman-quotes/movie-and-tv-quotes" target="_blank">Red Forman</a> and Sue Sylvester, they&rsquo;re all here.

&nbsp;Why is it that we love TV&rsquo;s curmudgeons? They&rsquo;re unhappy, they complain, they&rsquo;re pessimistic, and they often try to make everyone around them miserable, too. The best TV grumps remain lovable, however, because they tap into our own grumpy sides; besides, their rantings and predictions of doom and gloom often have no effect on anyone else. The other characters in a TV show know that they&rsquo;re dealing with a grouch, and carry on accordingly. In some cases, of course, the greatest grumps on TV really do make others&rsquo; lives miserable, but the curmudgeonly, grumpy character usually gets what&rsquo;s coming to him or her in the end, which makes it okay.

&nbsp;The best grumps on television are usually funny, as well. Frank Costanza generally looks like he&rsquo;s about to pop a blood vessel, but his ravings are hilarious. And underneath it all, many TV curmudgeons have a softer, warmer side. Who can blame a gentle-hearted person for putting up a mean front to protect their tender emotions? Viewers understand this about the best TV curmudgeons: They might seem mean, but they&rsquo;re often concealing a caring personality -- and if they inspire a few laughs in the process, that&rsquo;s all the better.

&nbsp;This list contains the grumps on TV that viewers have both loved and hated, laughed at or felt sorry for. Both female and male TV curmudgeons are included; after all, women can be just as crabby as men. The list also makes no age distinction -- the best TV grouches are both young and old.

Fonzie

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When a television show first starts, the writers of the program already have the star in mind. They write for the characters they think the audience will relate to and like the most and design the show around those characters. However, once the show hits the airwaves, the viewers don&rsquo;t always agree. Sometimes the true star of the show is the unlikeliest candidate. The breakout character is usually a character who was introduced as part of the supporting cast, but for one reason or another became a fan favorite. This list of the greatest breakout characters in TV history includes characters from both comedies and dramas and has been ranked by the community.

The breakout character on a TV show usually becomes the most discussed and most loved part of the show. He or she has the funniest lines, the best stories, and is portrayed by the favorite actor. After a positive audience reaction, these breakout characters suddenly start to get more screen time and story lines. Characters like <a href="https://groovyhistory.com/aaay-fonzie-happy-days-stories" target="_blank">Fonzie</a> and Ben Linus were never meant to be huge parts of their shows, but after their introduction, it was inevitable that they&rsquo;d become pivotal to the show&rsquo;s success. Some breakout characters, like Frasier Crane, even go on to star in their own series.

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Who are the greatest breakout characters on TV? Vote up the best breakout television characters below or add the best breakout star if he or she isn&#39;t already on the list.

Geeky

Ross Geller

List of the greatest geeks in TV history. The <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-nerd-characters-movies/jodi-smith" target="_blank">best nerd characters</a> ever to hit the tiny screens are ranked here in order of greatness. Sure some of the characters might have annoyed us, but we never changed that dial once they appeared onscreen. These men and women are absolutely hilarious and absolutely awesome -- oh, and absolutely nerdy. It usually happens on TV when the door knocks and the dad is really disappointed to see who is on the other side. Like the way Carl Winslow looks when it&#39;s revealed to be Steve Urkel on Family Matters. TV nerds of all genders are ranked, ranging from sexy geeks like Liz Lemon to neurotic nerds like Adrian Monk. Who studies dinosaurs better than Ross Geller? Who knows more Pawnee history than Leslie Knope? These geeks made us smarter and sillier, like Lisa Simpson and Willow Rosenberg. While Willow was always the best friend and Dwight Schrute is just one of the employees, people like Larry David and iCarly (yes, both geeks) got shows to their geeky selves.

They’re cute, they’re cuddly, they spew catch phrases: They’re the greatest youngest children in TV history. Whether through fear of getting “clobbered” (Theodore “The Beaver” Cleaver, Leave It to Beaver) or fear of misunderstanding what exactly Willis <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-to-know-if-someone-is-talking-about-you/mel-judson?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">is talking about</a> (Arnold Jackson, Diff’rent Strokes), these famous babies of the family are the characters through which we’ve learned valuable life lessons. The greatest youngest children in TV history have become iconic for their antics, some as latter-day cautionary tales, often through the lens of “very special” episodes. TV’s youngest children might suffer the indignities of being treated like a baby, as Cindy Brady (The Brady Bunch) likes to complain; yet just as frequently they will outsmart their elders in unexpected and surprising ways. (We’re looking at you, Michelle Tanner (Full House).)A few of the greatest youngest children in TV history have become signposts of a show’s decline, as if the showrunners of yesteryear decided that a chubby-cheeked addition was a talisman against cancellation. However, at least a handful of those late-series arrivals are some of the most beloved babies of the family (Chrissy Seaver, Growing Pains). And let’s not limit our list of best babies to the three-dimensional kind. A good percentage of the greatest youngest children are of the animated variety. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy) and Maggie Simpson (The Simpsons) have both left an indelible impression in TV land, and on cartoon merchandising. Whether rich or poor, boy or girl, live-action or animated, the greatest youngest children in TV history hold a special place in our hearts. Their innocence, adorableness, and ability to manipulate are virtues will be admired across generations and networks for decades to come.

Alex P. Keaton

In the TV family hierarchy, the eldest child of the family bears a heavy burden on his or her shoulders. Whether a reluctant role model (Denise Huxtable, The Cosby Show) or the next King of the North (Robb Stark, Game of Thrones), the greatest oldest children in TV history have some essential qualities in common. The best oldest children in TV history have a rebellious streak. As older brothers and sisters, the first child of the family has a responsibility to his or her siblings to push their parents’ limits to the breaking point. (Even Matt Camden (7th Heaven) sent his parents into fits when he eloped.) When their rebellion backfires – a l&agrave; Greg Brady (The Brady Bunch) unsuccessfully hiding the school mascot in the attic – they sometimes find their parents will work with them instead of against them. Of course the greatest oldest children have to cope with darker matter, as well. Protecting one’s mother from his father, the drug kingpin (Walter White, Jr., Breaking Bad), battling an addiction to uppers (Alex P. Keaton, Family Ties), and being Don and Betty Draper’s daughter (Sally Draper, Mad Men), are just a few of the difficult chores these firstborn have had to face. Finally, the greatest oldest children in TV history – or, many of them – must leave the nest first, creating tearful goodbyes as well as awkward plot devices. Though Modern Family’s Haley Dunphy getting <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-who-were-kicked-out-of-college/celebrity-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">kicked out of college</a> seemed perfectly plausible, other eldest children either saw their screen time evaporate (Haddie Braverman, Parenthood), or simply refused to age at all (Bart Simpson, The Simpsons).

Rudy Huxtable

List of the funniest kid characters in TV history. This page lists the greatest child characters on the greatest TV shows ever. These kids, ranked here, kept us laughing for entire episodes and entire seasons. Some on the list had their own television series entirely devoted to them. Example? A young doctor by the name of Doogie Howser. Or Mister Beaver Cleaver, who brought colorful comedy to the black-and-white era. So who are the best child characters on TV? Try Stewie Griffin from &quot;Family Guy&quot; even though he is not a live action human being -- and has a head shaped like Arnold's from &quot;Hey Arnold!&quot; In fact, Helga Pataki made our list -- and feel free to add any other characters from that hilarious child ensemble. Sometimes these characters annoy us to death, but, like Louis Stevens from &quot;Even Stevens,&quot; they are most comedic when they are annoying their own TV families to death.

Alex Russo

This is a list of the most memorable middle children from TV families. The list includes middle children from <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-kids-live-action-shows/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">live action TV shows</a> and animated TV families across all genres, ranging from family sitcom “Father Knows Best” to the Matt Groening animated series “The Simpsons” and the TNT SciFi series “Falling Skies.” Middle children, though often successful in real life, are often straight man foils for their TV siblings, and the middle child stereotype of being insecure and lacking identity is exaggerated to comic effect. Why do we find these characters so appealing? Maybe it’s because we identify with them, or possibly, it’s just the opposite: their middle child experience is so foreign to us that we are fascinated.Some of the middle kids in these big TV families are model children ,some are rebels, and some are dysfunctional wrecks. This list runs from the sweet long-suffering middle child, like Gabe from “Good Luck, Charlie,” to the sharp-tongued and sarcastic Randy Taylor, played by teen heart throb <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/jonathan-taylor-thomas-facts/amandatullos?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Jonathan Taylor Thomas</a>, in the 1990s TV series “Home Improvement,” to the vapid and neurotic Mallory Keaton – and who wouldn’t be neurotic next to Michael J’s Fox’s character Alex P. Keaton? - from the 1980s hit series “Family Ties.” Which is your favorite TV middle child? Which ones stand out in your memory? This list of greatest middle children in TV history is sure to take you on a trip down memory lane!

Distinguishing Features

Cameron Tucker

List of the greatest jovial fat guys in TV history. How many times do you find yourself asking, &quot;Remember that fat guy on that sitcom?&quot; Well thanks to the listing on this page, you will never forget again. We have immortalized the jolliest and chubbiest dudes ever to grace the small screen. From funny fat cartoon characters, to famous fat characters that weren't animated, this list has them all.From cartoon fat guys (like Homer Simpson and Fred Flinstone) to real life fat guys (Drew Carey, George Lopez, and Jim Belushi in their self-titled shows), we have all of the stars covered. In the world of television tropes, few are as overused and yet as appreciated as &quot;the fat best friend.&quot; We need Jerry on Parks and Recreation just as we need Danny DeVito on <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cast-of-its-always-sunny-from-first-vs-last-season/jessica-lawshe?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">It's Always Sunny</a> In Philadelphia just as we need Jeff Garlin as Larry David's manager BFF on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Why? Because we need a comic relief from all the... comic relief.

TV Characters We Love & Hate

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Lists about unforgettable child actors who nabbed the spotlight and how they have navigated life after fame at such vulnerable stages in their development.

Bright Young Stars

List of the greatest characters we watched grow up on TV. This list ranks the best TV characters who grew up before the audience's very eyes week to week, or more aptly, year to year. Going through puberty is not exactly easy. But going through puberty in front of an international audience is something on a whole other level. If one wishes to know what that is like, he or she may ask the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> behind the TV characters on this list. Some of the best characters who grew up from season to season belong in families like the Tanners in San Francisco, as we watched D.J., Stephanie, and Michelle literally go from children to human beings over the course of &quot;Full House.&quot; Remember when Corey and Topanga were bickering classmates in &quot;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/boy-meets-world-trivia/amylindorff?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Boy Meets World</a>?&quot; If so, you also probably remember when they started dating and when they got married.

Best Characters Who Grew Up on TV

The Greatest Characters We Watched Grow Up on TV

The Best TV Lists - Find or Make a TV Characters List  | Ranker  | Ranker - A World of Lists

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Top 10 TV Lists: Television Lists and Rankings of Every Facet of Television

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Will Smith

Will Smith is the fictional character from the TV Series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

MichelleSimmons

Topanga Lawrence

Topanga Lawrence is a fictional character from the TV series Boy Meets World.

Ranker Community

D.J. Tanner

D.J. Tanner is a fictional character on the sitcom Full House.

Stephanie Tanner

Stephanie Judith "Steph" Tanner is a fictional character on the long-running ABC sitcom Full House, who was portrayed by Jodie Sweetin from 1987 to 1995.

Cory Matthews

Cornelius "Cory" Matthews is neurotic and a slacker during high school. Cory's "slacker" tendencies diminish, and his neuroses increase, along with his pessimism and paranoia. Despite his trademark neuroses and paranoia, Cory's actually the most idealistic of his friends. Cory married Topanga Lawrence, his "first true love", late in the series. His actual name is Cornelius, as revealed in the last episode. Cory strives to make sure that he and his friends will always be together throughout life, and his nature is to intervene when others find it unnecessary. He is madly in love with Topanga, but still finds other girls attractive and is put in troubled situations when he is with other women. Cory stands for what he believes in, no matter who he is defending it from, whether it is his mother, Mr. Feeny, or Topanga. As described later in the series, his faith towards love is that it "never dies.".

Michelle Tanner

Michelle Tanner is a fictional character on the sitcom Full House.

Shawn Hunter

Shawn Patrick Hunter is Cory's best friend who lives in a trailer park. Shawn takes more risks than Cory and has more of a bad boy image that leads to him having a number of different girlfriends. He also often gets into a large amount of trouble, and often sees himself as worthless trailer trash, though Cory helps him through it. He deals with his mother leaving him and his father leaving to going to find her, resulting in him staying in other homes. He eventually resents his father until they reunited shortly before his death. But no matter the situation, Shawn always remembers that he is Cory's best friend, whether he has emotional problems, whenever he hangs out with the larger crowd, or whenever Cory is having problems. Of all the characters of the show, Shawn is the most prone to depression and has had bouts with alcoholism. His relationship with his half-brother, Jack Hunter, is often a tense one, as they have very little in common. In the finale, Shawn is invited to go with Cory and Topanga to New York where Topanga has an opportunity for an internship. Shawn is the only character other than Cory to appear in all 158 episodes.

Sabrina Spellman

Sabrina is a 14-year-old teenager (older than in Sabrina: The Animated Series, but still younger than usually portrayed in the comics) attending Greendale High School. Chloe has moved away, and Gem Stone attends a private school far away from Greendale. Sabrina's new best friend is a girl named Maritza; additionally, Sabrina still has a crush on her friend Harvey.

Eric Matthews

Eric Randall Matthews is the elder brother of Cory. He begins the show as a suave, popular young man, who constantly dates, in contrast to Cory's dorkier image. Eric's character changes mid-series from cool elder brother to psychotic elder brother, when he's made more of the comic relief. Eric often plays off his hero and mentor, Mr. Feeny. Though Eric and Feeny are not originally seen as having a close relationship, the two develop a bond. Eric often tells Mr. Feeny "you know I'm your favorite!" Although Eric appears to have a looser grasp of reality later on and demonstrates an ambiguous moral compass throughout the series, he still holds true that friendship should never cease and he cares very deeply for the feelings of others. He cherishes family and finds it essential to happiness and satisfaction. A common, recurring theme is that Eric is far smarter and savvier than he appears and has hidden, untapped potential, and is often impressing his friends and family who underestimate him. He ultimately ends up moving to New York along with Cory, Shawn and Topanga, following his graduation from college

Tricia Psarreas-Murray

Kelly Kapowski

wiabux

Carlton Banks

Carlton Banks is the fictional character from the TV Series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Zachary 'Zack' Morris

Zachary "Zack" Morris is a fictional character from the sitcoms Good Morning, Miss Bliss; Saved by the Bell; Saved by the Bell: The College Years; and Saved by the Bell: The New Class. He was portrayed by Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Though the character appeared in several different television programs, Gosselaar made a concerted effort to keep the character fundamentally the same through its various incarnations.

Steve Urkel

Steven Quincy Urkel is a fictional character on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters, who was portrayed by Jaleel White. Originally slated to have been a one-time only character on the show, he soon became its most popular character and gradually became its main protagonist.
Steve is the epitome of a geek/nerd, with large, thick eyeglasses, flood pants held up by suspenders, multi-colored cardigan sweaters, and a high-pitched voice. He professes an unrequited love for his neighbor Laura Winslow, perpetually annoys her father, Carl, and tries to befriend her brother, Eddie. Amongst the rest of the family, Harriette Winslow, Rachel Crawford and Estelle Winslow are more accepting and caring of Urkel.
Throughout the series' run, Steve is central to many of its recurring gags, primarily property damage and/or personal injury as a result of his inventions going awry or his outright clumsiness. He becomes known for several catchphrases uttered after some humorous misfortune occurs, including "I've fallen, and I can't get up!" after he accidentally got drunk and fell off the edge of a building in the episode "Life of the Party," "Did I do that?", "Whoa, Mama!" and "Look what you did".

Lizzie McGuire

Lizzie McGuire is a fictional character from the 2001 TV series Lizzie McGuire and 2003 film The Lizzie McGuire Movie.

Kevin Arnold

Kevin Arnold is a fictional character from the 1988 TV series The Wonder Years.

Randy Taylor

Kelly Bundy

Michael Kelso

Michael Christopher Kelso, usually referred to simply as Kelso by his friends, is one of the five male leads on Fox Network's That '70s Show, portrayed by Ashton Kutcher. Tall, lanky and long-haired, Kelso had been accepted as the local idiot until he moved to Chicago for the eighth season. His behavior is very much in line with a stereotypical oversexed lunkhead or a male-bimbo who gets through life on his good looks. He spends most of the series in a mutually parasitic relationship with the equally vapid Jackie Burkhart, whom he continues to obsess over following their numerous breakups. In spite of his stupidity, Kelso was shown on several occasions not to be immature, simply unmotivated; when he was either forced to or chose to, Kelso displayed startling intelligence unbecoming of his usual personality or hijinks. Near the end of the series, Kelso became one of the first characters to completely break away from adolescence and into adulthood when he impregnated a girl with whom he had a one-night stand; to his friends' surprise, Kelso took responsibility for the child, moving to Chicago to take a job to support and be near his newborn daughter.

Ashley Banks

Ashley Banks is the fictional character from the TV Series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Darlene Conner

A.C. Slater

A.C. Slater is a fictional character from Saved by the Bell.

Winnie Cooper

Gwendolyn "Winnie" Cooper is a fictional character from the 1988 TV series The Wonder Years.

Fez is a fictional character and one of the four male leads on the Fox Network's That '70s Show, portrayed by Wilmer Valderrama. He was the foreign exchange student in a group of six local teenagers. Though the character's name is commonly known as Fez, it was fabricated as an acronym for foreign exchange student - F.E.S.

Tia Landry

T L Perez

List of the greatest characters we watched grow up on TV. This list ranks the best TV characters who grew up before the audience's very eyes week to week, or ...