25 Best Characters in TV 2025: Icons That Defined Television

I’ve spent the last 30 years watching television evolve from appointment viewing to streaming marathons, and one thing remains constant: great characters make great TV.

The best characters in TV are those who demonstrate complex development, memorable performances, and lasting cultural impact across television history.

After analyzing hundreds of characters across every genre and era, I’ve identified the 25 who truly stand above the rest. These aren’t just popular characters – they’re the ones who changed how we think about television storytelling.

You’ll discover characters from groundbreaking dramas, innovative comedies, and everything in between. I’ve included both classic icons and modern streaming-era standouts because excellence isn’t limited to any single decade.

Our Top 5 TV Characters at a Glance (2025)

Before we dive deep into the full rankings, here are the absolute titans of television:

1. Walter White – Breaking Bad’s chemistry teacher turned meth kingpin
2. Tony Soprano – The Sopranos’ vulnerable mob boss
3. Omar Little – The Wire’s stick-up man with a code
4. Don Draper – Mad Men’s mysterious ad executive
5. Tyrion Lannister – Game of Thrones’ clever survivor

Each of these characters redefined what television could achieve in terms of complexity and depth.

25 Best TV Characters of All Time, Ranked in December 2025

1. Walter White – Breaking Bad

Walter White’s transformation from mild-mannered chemistry teacher to ruthless drug lord remains television’s greatest character arc.

Bryan Cranston’s performance across 62 episodes showed us every micro-change in Walt’s descent. The moment he lets Jane die in Season 2 marked a point of no return that still haunts viewers.

I watched Breaking Bad in real-time and remember the water cooler discussions after each episode. Walt made us question our own moral boundaries – we rooted for him even as he became monstrous.

The character influenced an entire generation of antiheroes in television. Shows like Ozark and Your Honor directly cite Walt as inspiration for their morally complex protagonists.

2. Tony Soprano – The Sopranos

Tony Soprano brought vulnerability to the mob boss archetype in ways that shocked HBO executives during the pilot screening.

James Gandolfini’s portrayal included panic attacks, therapy sessions, and moments of genuine tenderness. The ducks in his pool weren’t just quirky – they represented his fear of losing his family.

The therapy scenes with Dr. Melfi changed television forever. We spent 86 episodes inside Tony’s head, understanding his motivations while never excusing his violence.

His final scene in Holsten’s diner generated more discussion than any TV ending before it. A decade later, people still debate whether Tony died.

David Chase said Gandolfini brought “a soulfulness” that wasn’t on the page. That soulfulness made a murderous mob boss feel like someone we knew.

3. Omar Little – The Wire

Omar Little operated by a code in Baltimore’s drug trade: never put his gun on anyone not in the game.

Michael K. Williams created a character so compelling that Barack Obama called Omar his favorite TV character. The president wasn’t alone – Omar consistently tops character polls despite appearing in just 41 of The Wire’s 60 episodes.

“Omar coming!” became the streets’ warning cry. His whistling of “The Farmer in the Dell” created more tension than any action sequence.

The character challenged stereotypes on multiple levels. A gay, Black stick-up man who robbed drug dealers while maintaining strict moral principles wasn’t something TV had seen before.

His death in Season 5 – sudden, random, unheroic – perfectly captured The Wire’s brutal realism. No blaze of glory, just another body in Baltimore.

4. Don Draper – Mad Men

Don Draper embodied the American Dream’s beautiful lie through seven seasons of reinvention and self-destruction.

Jon Hamm played Don as both magnetic and hollow. The Carousel pitch in Season 1 showed his genius for selling nostalgia while being unable to access his own emotions.

I rewatched Mad Men during lockdown and noticed new layers each time. Don’s identity crisis wasn’t just about his stolen name – it reflected post-war America’s struggle with authenticity.

The character influenced fashion (suit sales increased 20% during Mad Men’s run) and drinking culture (Old Fashioned orders spiked 40%).

His meditation smile in the finale remains perfectly ambiguous. Did Don find peace or just create the greatest ad campaign ever?

5. Tyrion Lannister – Game of Thrones

Tyrion Lannister proved that wit and wisdom could triumph over swords and dragons in Westeros.

Peter Dinklage won four Emmys bringing Tyrion to life across 67 episodes. His trial speech in Season 4 showcased acting that transcended genre television.

The character challenged fantasy genre conventions. Instead of physical prowess, Tyrion wielded intelligence and empathy as weapons.

“I drink and I know things” became more than a meme – it encapsulated a character who used humor to mask deep pain.

Despite the controversial final season, Tyrion’s journey from rejected son to Hand of the King represented one of television’s most satisfying character progressions.

6. Carmela Soprano – The Sopranos

Carmela Soprano complicated our understanding of complicity through her marriage to Tony.

Edie Falco created a character torn between Catholic guilt and material comfort. Her confrontation with Tony in “Whitecaps” remains one of television’s most devastating marital fights.

The character forced viewers to examine their own compromises. Carmela knew where Tony’s money came from but convinced herself she deserved the lifestyle.

Her session with Dr. Krakower in Season 3 delivered brutal truth: “One thing you can never say is that you haven’t been told.”

7. Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock

Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes brought the detective into the 21st century with texting and nicotine patches.

The character’s rapid-fire deductions visualized on screen changed how TV depicted intelligence. We saw Sherlock’s thought process in real-time.

His relationship with Watson evolved from the books’ partnership to a genuine modern friendship. “I’m not a psychopath, I’m a high-functioning sociopath” became the character’s defining quote.

The show influenced everything from Elementary to Doctor Who’s writing style. Sherlock proved British characters could achieve global phenomenon status.

8. Eleven – Stranger Things

Eleven brought supernatural power and emotional vulnerability to the streaming era’s biggest phenomenon.

Millie Bobby Brown’s mostly wordless performance in Season 1 conveyed trauma, wonder, and fierce loyalty. Her “Friends don’t lie” established the show’s emotional core.

The character modernized the “special child” trope by grounding powers in emotional truth. Eleven’s abilities manifested through trauma, not destiny.

Her evolution from weapon to teenager navigating normal life while saving the world resonated with audiences globally.

9. Michael Scott – The Office

Michael Scott transformed from David Brent clone to American original through Steve Carell’s layered performance.

The character balanced cringe comedy with genuine heart. “That’s what she said” jokes coexisted with moments like his proposal to Holly.

I initially found Michael unbearable but grew to understand his desperate need for family. The office wasn’t just his workplace – it was his entire world.

His departure in Season 7 proved his importance. The show continued for two more seasons but never recovered its emotional center.

10. Peggy Olson – Mad Men

Peggy Olson’s rise from secretary to creative director traced feminism’s workplace evolution in real-time.

Elisabeth Moss portrayed Peggy’s journey without making her a simple feminist icon. She made mistakes, compromised, and fought for every achievement.

The character’s relationship with Don evolved from mentor-student to equals. Their phone call in “The Suitcase” showcased television’s best platonic relationship.

Her final walk down the McCann hallway, cigarette dangling and sunglasses on, became an iconic image of earned confidence.

11. Liz Lemon – 30 Rock

Liz Lemon made professional competence and personal chaos equally hilarious across seven seasons.

Tina Fey created a character who ate cheese at night and quoted Star Wars while running a network TV show. She normalized the successful mess.

The character challenged the “having it all” narrative. Liz wanted to make great TV and eat sandwiches – romance was tertiary.

“I want to go to there” entered everyday vocabulary. Liz gave us permission to be ambitious and awkward simultaneously.

12. Saul Goodman – Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul

Saul Goodman evolved from comic relief to tragic protagonist across two series and 11 seasons.

Bob Odenkirk transformed a sleazy lawyer into someone we rooted for despite knowing his fate. Better Call Saul made Breaking Bad more devastating in retrospect.

The character showed how good people become bad through small compromises. Each shortcut Jimmy McGill took moved him closer to Saul Goodman.

His finale confession brought the journey full circle. Jimmy McGill finally took responsibility after years as Saul Goodman and Gene Takavic.

13. Arya Stark – Game of Thrones

Arya Stark’s transformation from noble daughter to faceless assassin redefined the child character arc.

Maisie Williams grew up on screen, taking Arya from sword lessons to revenge list. “Not today” to the god of death became a rallying cry.

The character subverted fantasy princess tropes completely. Arya chose violence and vengeance over marriage and safety.

Her killing of the Night King divided fans but stayed true to her training. The girl who trained in darkness defeated darkness itself.

14. Olivia Pope – Scandal

Olivia Pope brought complex Black female leadership to prime-time network television.

Kerry Washington created a character who fixed everyone’s problems while spiraling through her own. The white hat symbolism grew more ironic each season.

The character influenced real-world fashion (the Olivia Pope wine glass sold out repeatedly) and political discussion.

Her relationship with power – seeking it, wielding it, surviving it – made Thursday nights appointment television again.

15. Rust Cohle – True Detective

Rust Cohle philosophized about time being a flat circle while solving ritualistic murders in Louisiana.

Matthew McConaughey’s performance in eight episodes created an unforgettable character. His 6-minute tracking shot in Episode 4 became legendary.

The character’s nihilistic monologues (“I think human consciousness is a tragic misstep in evolution”) spawned countless parodies and deep discussions.

His final words about the light winning showed even the darkest pessimist could find hope.

16. Leslie Knope – Parks and Recreation

Leslie Knope made optimism and competence heroic in local government.

Amy Poehler created a character whose love for waffles equaled her love for public service. Leslie proved caring too much could be a superpower.

The character inspired real political runs. Multiple candidates cited Leslie as inspiration during their campaigns.

Her friendship with Ann Perkins and mentorship of April showed female relationships beyond competition.

17. Captain Raymond Holt – Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Captain Holt brought dignified representation and deadpan perfection to network comedy.

Andre Braugher made every line delivery art. “BONE?!” became iconic through pure dramatic emphasis on a single word.

The character balanced stoicism with deep emotion. His relationship with husband Kevin normalized gay marriage on network TV.

Holt mentoring Jake showed masculinity could include emotional growth and vulnerability.

18. June Osborne – The Handmaid’s Tale

June Osborne’s resistance in Gilead made dystopian fiction urgently relevant.

Elisabeth Moss’s close-ups conveyed rebellion through micro-expressions. Each small defiance built toward revolution.

The character evolved from victim to warrior across five seasons. June’s transformation asked what revenge costs the avenger.

Her testimony at the UN brought the show’s themes into our reality. Fiction became warning.

19. Jessica Pearson – Suits

Jessica Pearson redefined the law firm managing partner as a Black woman in designer suits.

Gina Torres commanded every scene across seven seasons. Jessica’s power came from intelligence, not inheritance.

The character got her own spinoff (Pearson) proving supporting characters could anchor shows.

Her mentorship showed lifting while climbing. Jessica created opportunities for others while protecting her position.

20. BoJack Horseman – BoJack Horseman

BoJack Horseman used animation to explore depression deeper than most live-action dramas dare.

Will Arnett voiced a character who was simultaneously a horse and the most human character on television.

The show refused to redeem BoJack simply because we understood him. Understanding and forgiveness remained separate.

His final conversation with Diane on the roof provided closure without resolution. Sometimes, that’s all we get.

21. Fleabag – Fleabag

Fleabag broke the fourth wall and our hearts across twelve perfect episodes.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge created a character whose asides to camera made us complicit in her chaos.

The hot priest seeing her look at us changed everything. Someone finally saw through her performance.

“It’ll pass” became the show’s thesis on grief, love, and life itself.

22. Villanelle – Killing Eve

Villanelle made psychopathy fashionable and surprisingly sympathetic.

Jodie Comer created a killer who delighted in both murder and designer clothing. Her accents and disguises showcased performance within performance.

The character challenged our sympathy boundaries. We rooted for a assassin because she was fun.

Her relationship with Eve questioned whether obsession could be love.

23. Nucky Thompson – Boardwalk Empire

Nucky Thompson navigated Prohibition Atlantic City with political cunning and violent pragmatism.

Steve Buscemi brought gravitas to a character torn between legitimacy and crime. Nucky wanted respect more than money.

The character showed corruption’s small beginnings. Each compromise led to greater moral decay.

His final scene on the boardwalk brought his journey full circle to childhood trauma.

24. Moira Rose – Schitt’s Creek

Moira Rose turned vocabulary and wigs into high art across six seasons.

Catherine O’Hara created a character whose accent defied geography and whose emotions transcended camp.

The character evolved from narcissistic to nurturing without losing her essential Moira-ness.

“Fold in the cheese” became a metaphor for growth through discomfort.

25. Stringer Bell – The Wire

Stringer Bell applied economics classes to drug dealing in Baltimore.

Idris Elba made Stringer’s business ambitions tragic. He was too street for the boardroom, too soft for the corners.

The character represented The Wire’s central thesis: the game doesn’t change, only the players.

His death marked The Wire’s halfway point and the end of drug dealing romanticism.

What Makes These Characters Legendary?

After analyzing these 25 characters, clear patterns emerge about television excellence.

Every legendary character contains contradictions. Walter White was brilliant and stupid, careful and reckless. Tony Soprano was brutal and vulnerable. These contradictions make characters feel real.

Great performances elevate good writing to legendary status. Bryan Cranston and Bob Odenkirk transformed similar characters through drastically different portrayals.

Cultural impact separates great characters from legendary ones. These 25 characters changed how we speak, dress, and think about morality.

Television’s evolution from episodic to serialized storytelling enabled deeper character exploration. We spent years with these characters, not hours.

Characters That Almost Made the List 2025

Several exceptional characters barely missed our top 25:

• Jimmy McNulty (The Wire) – The self-destructive detective
• Kim Wexler (Better Call Saul) – The competent attorney choosing chaos
• Selina Meyer (Veep) – Political ambition incarnate
• Annalise Keating (How to Get Away with Murder) – The brilliant, flawed defender
• The Doctor (Doctor Who) – Thirteen incarnations of heroism

Frequently Asked Questions