# The best Satan **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637 "2012-03-13T12:35:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/81 "2012-03-17T16:57:50Z")
> [@howye](#): > > Ray Wise is my pick too. Now, anytime I see him in something else, his character really is Satan. He is in an episode of Sports Night where he could easily be the devil in disguise. We do that too. It actually takes an effort to remember that he’s not always playing Satan because he was such a natural at it. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/82 "2012-03-17T17:01:10Z")
“… _and I was._” Another vote for Viggo. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/83 "2012-03-17T17:37:47Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > George Burns in “Oh God, You Devil!” > > If I can nominate a cartoon character, then it’s Dan Castellaneta’s Robot Devil from Futurama. ''Looks like it’s time to make a metaphorical deal with the devil. And by ‘devil’ I mean robot devil. And by ‘metaphorical’ I mean get your coat. ‘’ ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/84 "2012-03-22T00:05:44Z")
I haven’t seen all the ones mentioned, but I would also vote for Tom Waits and Ray Wise. ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/85 "2012-03-22T00:41:06Z")
Rosalinda Celentano and Viggo Mortensen, both mentioned above, are great, though neither had enough screen time in their respective films. Al Pacino gave a wonderful performance. I myself like Jeff Goldblum’s take in the uplifting _Mister Frost_. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/86 "2012-03-22T00:43:00Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > I agree with those that have said \*\*Peter Stormare \*\*from Constantine even though it is only a brief appearance. If he had appeared more in the movie, it would have quickly become tiresome. That movie deserves more credit than it gets. I wish they’d make the sequel. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/87 "2012-03-22T03:05:56Z")
> [@cormac262](#): > > There was an episode of “Northern Exposure” where Charles Martin Smith (from “American Graffiti”, “Starman”, “Never Cry Wolf”) is revealed to be satan. In exchange for something, he attempts to get Shelly (the blonde at the bar) to lie or something. > > I thought it was one of the best portrayals of Satan as the Smith character even explains why he isn’t in the horns and pointy tail form. And he it is because he is so friendly and likeable, that his “disguise” is so effective. And he also explains how the “little” sins are what he strives for: not murder or anything, but to get such an innocent, ethical gal like Shelly to tell a (small) lie is the type of “soul selling” he really works for. I came in to vote for Smith in _Northern Exposure._ IIRC, he was a travelling salesman with a pet goat, driving an old AMC Gremlin. He promises Shelly some sort of eternal reward in return for destroying something that belongs to Holling (a shirt or a robe, torched in a furnace). He was this stereotypical nerd who was really, just… Satan. Traveling incognito. I thought it was great. ---
**Author:** ![SticksAndString](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SticksAndString](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SticksAndString)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/88 "2012-03-22T10:48:32Z")
Oh god yes. Tim Curry did a GREAT job as the devil in that movie…one of the sexiest and at the same time scariest devils I’ve ever seen. Then again…I love his voice and I’d listen to him read the phone book. _blush_ ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/89 "2012-03-22T14:35:04Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > “… _and I was._” > > Another vote for Viggo. I also thought Viggo did a great job. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637/90 "2012-03-24T17:30:13Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Jazz magician? > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > :smack: musician, of course. I totally want to steal the idea for a story though. Jazz magician. heh. My favorite devil is also Viggo Mortensen in **The Prophecy**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-satan/615637.md?page=4)