# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/101 "2013-02-08T20:49:03Z")
Alan Ford as Bricktop in Snatch. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/102 "2013-02-08T20:59:11Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Oh god, Frank Booth goes to the top of the list. Creepiest ever. Hard to beat Frank, but I’d also nominate Willem Dafoe as Bobby Peru in _Wild at Heart_ (which I just happened to see again last night). Some of the worst teeth in cinematic history. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/103 "2013-02-09T03:28:29Z")
A few I haven’t seen mentioned yet: Henry Fonda as Frank in _Once Upon a Time in the West_ Vernon Wells as Wez in _The Road Warrior_ J. E. Freeman as Eddie Dane in _Miller’s Crossing_. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/104 "2013-02-09T14:44:41Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > And Gary Oldman as Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg in _The Fifth Element_. :smack: And I like _The Fifth Element!_ ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/105 "2013-02-09T22:31:30Z")
> [@rjk](#): > > My first thought was Max Cady in [Cape Fear (1962)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055824/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2). Agreed. Robert De Nero was also fantastically scary and chilling in the remake. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/106 "2013-02-10T01:41:57Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Glenn Close as Cruella DeVille. Heh. Best line from the _101 Dalmatians_ remake: Cruella: “What kind of obsequious toady are you, anyway?” Aide: “What kind of obsequious toady would you like me to be?” ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/107 "2013-02-10T03:55:25Z")
Another I haven’t seen mentioned: **Oliver Reed** in Oliver! There are few performances that actually evoke a fight or flight response in my central nervous system, but that’s one of them. His violent persona is so intense I can’t help but think he must have scared most of the people working on set with him. I have a hard time buying a lot of Hollywood performances of violent characters, especially having know some truly violent men in real life. There is something missing in so many actor’s attempts to portray this type of man; just comes off as pathetic. But Reed has a real sense of danger behind his acting, something that can’t be faked. It’s engaging to see, to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/108 "2013-02-10T06:14:02Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > Billy Drago as Frank Nitti in _The Untouchables._ But even he was outshone by DeNiro as Capone. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/109 "2013-02-10T06:18:35Z")
> [@FrankJBN](#): > > Tim Curry did a turn as a serial murderer on TV’s “Criminal Minds”. A nicely abhorrent physical characterization. And if Dr. Frank N. Furter is the “villain” of _The Rocky Horror Picture Show_ . . . at any rate, he certainly was the most scene-stealing thing in it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/110 "2013-02-10T06:23:33Z")
Wortham Krimmer as Emperor Cartagia in _Babylon 5._ He can steal a scene even from Peter Jurasik/Londo Mollari, and that takes some doing! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/111 "2013-02-10T06:25:06Z")
Reviewing this thread, I’m thinking it’s always more fun, and offers more scope for display of thespian talent or at least scenery-chewing hamminess, for an actor to play a villain than a hero. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/112 "2013-02-10T06:30:51Z")
In _The Sopranos,_ **most** of the main characters are evil, etc. – what else, it’s about La Cosa Nostra. But the one who lights up the screen the brightest is James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, with Joey Pantoliano as Ralph Cifaretto running a close second. But, in his quiet, understated, screen- **darkening** way, Federico Castelluccio as Furio Giunta is **scarier** than all the rest put together. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/113 "2013-02-10T07:07:50Z")
Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men Andrew Scott as Motiarty in Sherlock Hal in 2001. Bonus points for literally lighting up the screen sometimes Michael Emmerson as Benjamin Linus in Lost ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/114 "2013-02-10T08:06:45Z")
> [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](#): > > Another I haven’t seen mentioned: > > **Oliver Reed** in Oliver! There are few performances that actually evoke a fight or flight response in my central nervous system, but that’s one of them. His violent persona is so intense I can’t help but think he must have scared most of the people working on set with him. I have a hard time buying a lot of Hollywood performances of violent characters, especially having know some truly violent men in real life. There is something missing in so many actor’s attempts to portray this type of man; just comes off as pathetic. But Reed has a real sense of danger behind his acting, something that can’t be faked. It’s engaging to see, to say the least. There’s an old made for TV movie version of the Black Arrow I used to love as a kid. The film as a whole doesn’t hold up all that well but Oliver Reed remains excellent in his role as the villain. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/115 "2013-02-11T05:07:10Z")
Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat is my favorite example of this trope, by a long shot. He’s so awful and horrible and icky bad evil, but at the same time, he’s got great chemistry with everyone. (doesn’t hurt that Marc Alaimo also speaks French in the TNG episode Time’s Arrow) ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/116 "2013-02-11T23:30:54Z")
> [@Bootis](#): > > Andrew Scott as Motiarty in Sherlock Ooh, good one. He’s a major scene-stealer, which is saying something when all the other actors are so brilliant. He was mesmerizing in the pool scene. ---
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/117 "2013-02-12T01:03:15Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > In _The Sopranos,_ **most** of the main characters are evil, etc. – what else, it’s about La Cosa Nostra. But the one who lights up the screen the brightest is James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, with Joey Pantoliano as Ralph Cifaretto running a close second. > > But, in his quiet, understated, screen- **darkening** way, Federico Castelluccio as Furio Giunta is **scarier** than all the rest put together. I always thought that on the evil spectrum of that show, characters like Ralph were supposed to be the worst. He’s irredeemable, incapable of being honest with anyone, and likely to kill somebody just for sport. Tony is a tragic character because he and the audience are constantly shown how he could have been something different, but he becomes more and more immoral as time goes on; characters like Ralph were born that way, and should inspire only fear rather than pity if encountered in real life. Furio is very cold about violence but we see his sensitive side, too, and it’s implied that he left the Mafia entirely during his exit from the show and is probably off working as a cheesemaker or a chef in Europe somewhere. The idea that someone is capable of functioning as a non-goon makes them less scary, and we get the strong sense that most of the characters on the show lack that ability. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/118 "2013-02-12T01:16:03Z")
Blessed are the cheesemakers! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/119 "2013-02-12T01:38:28Z")
I’m Furio, and so is my wife. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532/120 "2013-02-12T02:11:11Z")
Back to TV, I’ll nominate Emily Gilmore from “Gilmore Girls.” 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-evil-malicious-despicable-characters-light-up-the-screen/649532.md?page=7)