# Which evil, malicious, despicable characters light up the screen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532 "2013-02-07T00:44:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/1 "2013-02-07T00:44:48Z")
Inspired by the discussion [in this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681029) about who is the more depraved Francis Urqhart/Underwood, Ian Richardson or Kevin Spacey, which villains do you love to watch? As I said in the thread, I absolutely loved Ian Richardson in _House of Cards_. Ian McShane as Al Swearengen in _Deadwood_ is marvelously vile and Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister in _Game of Thrones_ is mesmerizingly loathsome. So, what corrupt, amoral, wicked, malevolent evildoer do you adore? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/2 "2013-02-07T00:50:35Z")
You already nailed my first choice with Swearengen. I loved his turn in the first Death Race remake, too. Alan Rickman as either Hans Gruber or the cattleman in _Quigley Down Under_ is pretty high, too. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/3 "2013-02-07T00:56:56Z")
It’s an oldie, but Henry Silva in _Cinderfella_, a Jerry Lewis vehicle, was just delicious. Those cheekbones! I’m also a fan of Lee Van Cleef in spaghetti westerns, Jack Palance in _Shane_, Donald Sutherland in _The Dirty Dozen_, Anthony Hopkins in _Silence of the Lambs_, and Yul Brynner in _Westworld_. And Orson Welles in _The Third Man_. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/4 "2013-02-07T00:58:07Z")
Hans Landa from _Inglorious Basterds_, played by Christoph Waltz. One of the top ten Nazis on film. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/5 "2013-02-07T01:32:26Z")
Have to say that Hiddleston portraying Loki positively nails that mad balance between egomania, desperate vulnerable narcissism, and casual (but purposeful) cruelty that makes up a nice \*quality \*psychopath. Delightful to watch. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/6 "2013-02-07T01:35:34Z")
Gary Oldman as [corrupt/psychotic DEA Agent Norman Stansfield](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74BzSTQCl_c) in _Leon_ Clancy Brown as [The Kurgan in _Highlander._](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0GLu7xVTWk) John Lithgow stole the movie as Dr. Emilio Lizardo/Lord John Whorfin in _Buckaroo Banzai._ Randal “Tex” Cobb as Leonard Smalls in _Raising Arizona._ Charles Dance as Benedict in (the IMO underrated) _Last Action Hero._ On the small-screen, Wayne Pygram gives us one of the most nuanced villains I’ve seen in the form of [Scorpius,](http://www.scenicreflections.com/files/Scorpius_-_Farscape_Wallpaper__yvt2.jpg) in _Farscape._ ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/7 "2013-02-07T01:39:03Z")
Dustin Hoffman as Capt. James Hook in _Hook._ ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/8 "2013-02-07T01:44:46Z")
In light of recent events I’m reminded of **Sir Ian McKellen** ’s phenomenal performance as the delightfully evil **Richard III**. Right to the very end when he plummets down into a Hell-fire death, Al Jolsen music playing and him smiling all the way! ---
**Author:** ![coolbyrne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@coolbyrne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolbyrne)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/9 "2013-02-07T01:45:20Z")
Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister was probably the easiest job ever given to the casting director for “Game of Thrones”. Mesmerizing. Jeremy Irons in just about anything, but in particular, the role for which he won the Oscar, Claus Von Bulow in “Reversal of Fortune”. Tilda Swinton as the White Queen in “Narnia”. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/10 "2013-02-07T01:46:45Z")
Alan Rickman in _Die Hard_. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/11 "2013-02-07T01:55:36Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Ian McShane as Al Swearengen in _Deadwood_ is marvelously vile > [@NitroPress](#): > > Alan Rickman as either Hans Gruber or the cattleman in _Quigley Down Under_ is pretty high, too. > [@AuntiePam](#): > > Jack Palance in \*Shane[/I > Anthony Hopkins in _Silence of the Lambs_ > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Hans Landa from _Inglorious Basterds_, played by Christoph Waltz. One of the top ten Nazis on film. > [@ExTank](#): > > Gary Oldman as [corrupt/psychotic DEA Agent Norman Stansfield](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74BzSTQCl_c) in _Leon_ > > Randal “Tex” Cobb as Leonard Smalls in _Raising Arizona._ All great choices to whIch I would add [Vittorio Gassman](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002094/?ref_=sr_2) for his corrupting the enchanting Rachel Ward in [Sharky’s Machine (1981)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083064/) ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/12 "2013-02-07T02:18:47Z")
Billy Drago as Frank Nitti in _The Untouchables._ ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/13 "2013-02-07T02:23:37Z")
To me, Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor is one of the best. ---
**Author:** ![brownMouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@brownMouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownMouse)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/14 "2013-02-07T02:57:26Z")
Oh. Heath Ledger’s Joker. Really chillingly evil. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/15 "2013-02-07T02:58:50Z")
Glenn Close as Cruella DeVille. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/16 "2013-02-07T02:58:58Z")
Oh, another vote for Alan Rickman!! Bardem’s character in Skyfall. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/17 "2013-02-07T03:06:15Z")
John Hurt as Caligula in _I, Claudius_. Just delicious. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/18 "2013-02-07T03:06:17Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > Bardem’s character in Skyfall. Haven’t seen that, but in _No Country for Old Men_, he was pretty darn special. [What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkh6if8TL2U%5B/) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/19 "2013-02-07T03:10:08Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > John Hurt as Caligula in _I, Claudius_. Just delicious. I just finished watching that. 😃 Was he evil or just unbalanced? He seemed so vulnerable. You couldn’t help but like him. ---
**Author:** ![emu2swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@emu2swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emu2swan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/20 "2013-02-07T03:12:10Z")
Doug Hitchison as Percy Wetmore in The Green Mile. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532.md?page=2)