# Favorite mad scientist **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 7, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253 "2015-09-07T17:12:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/1 "2015-09-07T17:12:56Z")
Books, movies, tv, real life, whatever. Spawned by a thread discussing Back to the Future and mentioning Doc Brown. My candidate: Walter Bishop from Fringe. Invented some cool stuff and was institutionalized for a time. Qualifies on both counts. So lets hear yours or I’ll crush you like insects (kidding). ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/2 "2015-09-07T17:25:10Z")
Zer ist only vun truly mad scientist, und zat mad scientist is Dr Strangelove. OK, he might not be the maddest or… scienciest… but it’s got to be up there as one of the most critically acclaimed films with a mad scientist in it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/3 "2015-09-07T17:34:27Z")
If you allow animation, my vote is for Professor Hubert Farnsworth. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/4 "2015-09-07T17:34:43Z")
Does Q from the James Bond films qualify as a ‘mad’ scientist? He would have to be at or near the top of my list. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/5 "2015-09-07T17:35:41Z")
[Pedant] Almost all mad scientists in fiction are really[Mad Enginners, not scientists](http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/01/mad-scientists-are-actually-just-mad-engineers/). [/P] Ok, now with that pet peeve out, carry on. 🙂 Mine is Dr. Finklestein from The Nightmare Before Christmas, he can literally scratch any itch in his brain. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/6 "2015-09-07T17:44:38Z")
Considering the number of times he’s been portrayed, the caliber of the actors that have portrayed him, and his skin-crawling experiments, I’ll nominate Dr. Moreau. [Charles Laughton.](https://thewrittenreel.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/tri_flm_100411_islandoflostsouls_lg.jpg) [Burt Lancaster](http://derekwinnert.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/454.jpg) [Marlon Brando](http://pastiebap.com/wp-content/uploads/The_Island_of_Dr_Moreau_39313.jpg) And of course [Dr. Mephesto](http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/southpark/images/3/3b/Mephisto.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20100614113929) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/7 "2015-09-07T17:46:32Z")
I have two favourites - Professor Farnsworth and Rotwang ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/8 "2015-09-07T17:51:27Z")
Dr. Emilio Lizardo from _The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension_. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/9 "2015-09-07T17:56:14Z")
[Dr. Insano](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fhGS0tAcQg), with Rick Sanchez a close second. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/10 "2015-09-07T17:58:23Z")
Dr. Weird from _Aqua Teen Hunger Force_: “It begins!” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hairy\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@The\_Hairy\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hairy_One)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/11 "2015-09-07T18:19:30Z")
Magnus Pyke - very good science communicator and stereotypical mad boffin. [http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist/ITVClips/1975/07/09/X09077501/?s=magnus+&st=0&pn=1](http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist/ITVClips/1975/07/09/X09077501/?s=magnus+&st=0&pn=1) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/12 "2015-09-07T18:24:37Z")
**This guy** (sorry for the poor quality): First appearance at 1:50. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/13 "2015-09-07T18:24:43Z")
Rick Sa\nchez, bitches! ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/14 "2015-09-07T19:38:43Z")
Newton was fairly mad. He died a virgin, believed in some sort of biblical ancient alien nonsense and likely burnt the only portrait of his famous scientific rival, Sir Robert Hooke. OK, im exaggerating with the ancient aliens, but he did have some weird beliefs about the ancients and the bible. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/15 "2015-09-07T20:12:49Z")
For me, it’s Peter Cushing as Dr Frankenstein. Chilling! ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/16 "2015-09-07T20:21:33Z")
Batman. Well, Batman’s a scientist (thank you, Homer) and he is pretty mad most of the time. On serious reflection though I have to go with Lovecraft’s Herbert West. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/17 "2015-09-07T20:23:12Z")
Dr. Clayton Forrester of the Gizmonic Institute. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/18 "2015-09-07T20:28:06Z")
Let’s not forget Willy Wonka and Captain Nemo. Even though you didn’t ask I’ll give you the worst mad scientist: Zarkov from the last Flash Gordon series. He was nothing more then creepy weirdo. A terrible bit of writing and acting. > [@E-DUB](#): > > My candidate: Walter Bishop from Fringe. Invented some cool stuff and was institutionalized for a time. Qualifies on both counts. He might be about the best. The great thing about him is he is never wanting for a test subject since he can experiment on himself. > [@cochrane](#): > > If you allow animation, my vote is for Professor Hubert Farnsworth. It darn well better count. His science is sufficiently advanced to appear to be magic. Wicked dark magic. With no sense of shame. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/19 "2015-09-07T20:31:52Z")
It’s a tie between Rick Sanchez and Victor von Doom ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253/20 "2015-09-07T20:50:13Z")
Dr Flexi Jerkoff in the best porn flick ever: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-AgwmC4P7kQ/hqdefault.jpg "Flesh Gordon (1974) Theatrical Trailer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AgwmC4P7kQ) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-mad-scientist/730253.md?page=2)