# Who is the coolest science fiction TV/movie character of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 30, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696 "2003-12-30T04:04:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/41 "2003-12-31T13:10:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Horseflesh \* > **Most of my votes have been mentioned, so I’ll just throw in two for Dennis Hopper (Deacon in _Waterworld_ and that outrageous cyborg villian he played in _Space Truckers_.)** I tried to stop myself **Horseflesh** but I am going to nitpick here. Hopper was cool in _Space Truckers_ but he didn’t play the villian. He was the(more or less) good guy trucker and Charles Dance played the guy who had to start himself “up” like a lawn mower or outboard motor. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/42 "2003-12-31T13:43:02Z")
**Grig** , played by Dan O’Herlihy in _The Last Starfighter_. “I’ve always wanted to fight a desperate battle against incredible odds.” **Willis Davidge** played by Dennis Quaid in _Enemy Mine_. **Khan** played by Ricardo Montalban in _ST II: The Wrath of Khan_. Heartless, cruel, and incredibly cool as hell. > [@](#): > > Was there ANYONE from Flash Gordon (original or remake) who was cool? Um…no. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/43 "2003-12-31T14:01:17Z")
Avon, from Blake’s 7. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/44 "2003-12-31T14:39:47Z")
StarvingButStrong: Yes, yes, yes - how could I have forgotten Avon. Coolest of Characters. By far. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/45 "2003-12-31T16:30:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by St. Anger \* > **Was there ANYONE from Flash Gordon (original or remake) who was cool? Now THAT was a dorkfest! 🙂** When I was twelve, I thought Timothy Dalton managed to survive with coolness intact despite the shitty script and Kermit-skin costume. ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/46 "2003-12-31T16:34:15Z")
Corwin of Amber gets my nod. Louis Wu, too! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/47 "2003-12-31T16:41:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by krisolov \* > \*\*Corwin of Amber gets my nod. \*\* Hell, any of Zelazny’s protagonists is at least 50% cooller than anyone else I can think of. Except, of course, Roland Deschain of Gilead, Gunslinger. ---
**Author:** ![St.Anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@St.Anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Anger)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/48 "2003-12-31T17:07:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Uvula Donor \* > \*\ ***Grig** , played by Dan O’Herlihy in _The Last Starfighter_ > > **Khan** played by Ricardo Montalban in _ST II: The Wrath of Khan_. Heartless, cruel, and incredibly cool as hell. > > Um…no. 😃 \*\* Ricardo Montalban . . he was definitely slick. But . . eh . . the 80s heavy metal hair . . . the chains. No. I liked Khan, but he more psychotic than cool. **Literary** characters are excluded, as per the title of the OP. I’ve heard Zaphod mentioned as a literary character, however I’m referring to the Hitchhiker’s TV series. Would anyone care if I mentioned my cat is named Zaphod? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/49 "2003-12-31T17:26:50Z")
Another vote for the entire cast of Farscape, but specifically… Scorpius first off, his physioligy; half-Scarran, half Sebecean Sebeceans and Scarrans are intractable enemies, Scorpy’s mother was used as an “experiment” by Scarrans to see if Sebeceans had any use as “breeding stock” Sebeceans cannot tolerate extreme heat, it kills them, Scarrans thrive in extreme heat, Scorpy’s Scarran half and Sebecean half ar always in conflict, he must wear an elaborate coolant suit and have cooling rods implanted directly into his brain Scorpy is obsessed with wormhole technology, as a means to destroy the Scarrans before they take over the galaxy and extermenate all life that isn’t Scarran, he feels any means justify the end, he has no problem using torture to get what he wants he’s incredibly intellegent and ruthless, yet the way he’s characterized, you wonder if he’s really as bad as he seems, he’s simply trying to protect the Sebeacan race from destruction… most interesting sci-fi character i’ve seen in a long time… ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/50 "2003-12-31T18:01:39Z")
hey, it’s all I have. I don’t watch TV but for a bit of news, so I haven’t heard of half the shows mentioned here! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/51 "2003-12-31T18:10:48Z")
Surely the cooles character anywhere, bar none is [Mr. Freeze](http://www.batmantas.com/cmp/freeze.htm) I can’t believe it took 50 relies for someone to say it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/52 "2003-12-31T18:39:05Z")
No doubt, for pure cold logic, it’s Spock. There’s [Roy Fokker](http://www.kent.net/robotech/characters/macross/roy_fokker.shtml). Coolest veritech pilot around. And mad props to Ian Bliss for the Smith-infected-Bane from Matrix Revolutions. Absolutely cool, evil villain. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/53 "2003-12-31T20:56:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baker \* > \*\*I tried to stop myself **Horseflesh** but I am going to nitpick here. Hopper was cool in _Space Truckers_ but he didn’t play the villian. He was the(more or less) good guy trucker and Charles Dance played the guy who had to start himself “up” like a lawn mower or outboard motor. \*\* Whups, I believe you’re right, **Baker**. It’s been a while since I saw the movie on cable. I’m so used to Hopper playing the bad guy that I automatically thought it was him in that movie. Okay, Charles Dance it is then. _mutters, sweeps away literary nominees from the table (there’s a thread somewhere for you, Jim and Josh)_ While Snake Plisken will probably get my vote in the end, I’ll also mention Riddick (Vin Diesel) from _Pitch Black_ and Robbie the Robot from _Forbidden Planet_. Thhbbbbbppptt! ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/54 "2004-01-01T23:16:53Z")
I’m gonna third the nomination of Zaphod Beeblebrox. Sure, all these other characters are cool and all, but: Only Zaphod was so cool as to have another ENTIRE UNIVERSE created, specifically for the purpose of having HIM be cool in it. Now that’s cool. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/55 "2004-01-01T23:24:38Z")
Hal-3000 from 2001… Do computers count? ---
**Author:** ![Patr100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Patr100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patr100)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/56 "2004-01-01T23:36:13Z")
Yeah, probably Spock. But in the 60s & 70s the Silver Surfer was pretty cool - and quite a few of the Marvel creations back then. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/57 "2004-01-02T01:46:36Z")
Good God. We’re this far into this with no mention of **Ash** from _Army of Darkness_??? \*“Hey Lady, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave the store” “What’s that on your face?”\* Spock isn’t cool. Hell, I’m almost alone in this opinion, but I always thought he was a jerk. Look at how he treats people when he’s in charge… **John Crighton** from Farscape. And good old Zaphod Beeblebrox. He’s just some guy, you know? ---
**Author:** ![Shirty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Shirty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirty)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/58 "2004-01-02T03:35:26Z")
Gendo Ikari from Evangelion. Manipulator, underhanded and cunning. Always seen with the sunnies and the gloves (covering burns on his hands). If you’ve seen the series you’ll know what i mean. Easily the best mentor antagonist/bad guy i’ve seen in a sci-fi tv series. link [http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Garden/4989/gendo.html](http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Garden/4989/gendo.html) ---
**Author:** ![daere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@daere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daere)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/59 "2004-01-02T05:37:29Z")
Perhaps not _the_ coolest… but definitely _cool_… Susan Ivanova from Babylon 5 “Trust Ivanova. Trust yourself. Anyone else – shoot 'em.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696/60 "2004-01-02T12:34:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chimera \* > \*\* > Spock isn’t cool. Hell, I’m almost alone in this opinion, but I always thought he was a jerk. Look at how he treats people when he’s in charge… > > \*\* Humph! Another member of the Secret Order of Wesley Crusher fans heard from. 😛 😛 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-coolest-science-fiction-tv-movie-character-of-all-time/221696.md?page=4)