A stock character is a dramatic or literary character representing a generic type in a conventional,

[1]
simplified manner and recurring in many fictional works. The following list labels some of these
stereotypes and provides examples. Some character archetypes, the more universal foundations of
fictional characters, are also listed. Some characters that were first introduced as fully fleshed-out
characters become subsequently used as stock characters in other works (e.g., the Ebenezer
Scrooge character from A Christmas Carol, upon whom the miserly Scrooge type is based). Some
stock characters incorporate more than one stock character; for example, a bard may also be a
wisecracking jester. Some of the stock characters in this list may be considered offensive due to
their use of racial stereotyping.

Character Type Description Examples

Absent-minded An eccentric scientific genius who is Professor Calculus, Emmett Brown,

professor so focused on his work that he has Julius F. Kelp/Sherman Klump, Egon
shortfalls in other areas of life Spengler, Professor Farnsworth
[2]
(remembering things, grooming).
This is the benign version of the mad
scientist.

Action hero A hero of an action story, often one Luke Skywalker, James Bond, Batman
who is comfortable with the fast pace
of events in the story. They are
resourceful, courageous, and have
strong commitment to their cause.
Often overlaps with chosen one
and/or superhero.

Ace pilot The advent of aviation spawned a Books and comics: Biggles and Hop
genre of adventure stories in which Harrigan; Daredevil pilots in
the ace pilot was the natural hero. Hollywood films as the wars of the
Traits often attributed to the ace in war twentieth century were fictionalised,
films are "boisterousness, such as Flying Tigers and God Is My
camaraderie, stoicism and [4]
Co-Pilot; later Maverick in Top
[3]
omnipotence". Gun.,
[5][3]
Carol Danvers
Angry black An assertive, overbearing, [8]
Sapphire in Amos 'n' Andy,
woman opinionated, loud, and "sassy" Black [9]
Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty,
woman with a sharp tongue, often
depicted as nagging and emasculating Aunt Esther
[6][7]
a male character.

Angry white man A reactionary, usually conservative Archie Bunker, William "D-Fens"
white man whose frustration with Foster, Arthur Fleck
progressive policies and social
changes escalates into rage and, in
some cases, violence. This leads to
the character's downfall.

Annoying A comic character known for pestering Kimmy Gibler, Newman, Tini in Fibber
neighbor and hounding the protagonist. As they McGee and Molly
live next door to them, this creates a
pretext for frequent unwanted
interactions.

Antihero A protagonist lacking conventional Deadpool, Man with No Name, Eddie

heroic qualities, such as courage or Valiant
[10]
idealism. An antihero has
weaknesses and may engage in
criminal acts at times, but lacks any
sinister intentions and is usually, if
begrudgingly and unconventionally,
ethical.

Author surrogate A character sharing the traits of its Jon Arbuckle, Stan Marsh, Kyle
[11] Broflovski
author or creator. The author
surrogate may be disguised to some
degree, or there may be little attempt
to make them appear different (for
example, they may have the same
first name and job).

B
Bad boy A roguish, good-looking macho, often Tony Stark, Gregory House, Danny
a womanizer. In his frequent sexual Zuko
affairs, he shows a "dark triad" of
Machiavellian traits. In historical
fiction, he is a rake or cad.

Bard A lute-playing singer-songwriter in Cantus in Fraggle Rock, Marillion in

Medieval and Renaissance stories Game of Thrones, Dandelion/Jaskier
who sings about the events of the day in The Witcher, Gabrielle from Xena:
to earn a living. The Bard may be a Warrior Princess
wandering troubador travelling from
town to town, and playing at taverns
(or busking when gigs are scarce), or
they may have a steady job in a noble
court, playing for royalty at feasts. The
bard may overlap with the jester if
they use their songs to speak blunt
truths to a king or entertain the nobles
with humour (also providing comic
relief in the story). The bard may also
be a wandering minstrel who voyages
with the hero to chronicle the hero's
exploits in song.

Battle-axe An old, domineering, brash and Agnes Skinner, Thelma Harper, Marie
brazen woman Barone

Beatnik A hipster character, with a distinct Judy Funnie, Maynard G. Krebs, the
counterculture style (usually wearing cast of Off Beat Cinema, Eddy Crane,
black or muted colors, turtlenecks, the leader of a crime gang in The
leotards for women, a beret, and Beatniks (1960)
sunglasses), loves jazz and
avant-garde art and poetry, marijuana,
bongo drums, and has a disdain for
anything popular in mainstream
culture.
Besterman A protagonist or anti-hero in science Ben Reich in The Demolished Man,
fiction stories by Alfred Bester. These Gully Foyle from The Stars My
characters may have some aspects of Destination
what Nietzsche called the
Übermensch, alongside negative
traits. Besterman characters may
behave in hard-to-predict ways. For
example, a character may at first
appear to be a brave savior, but then
lapse into self-serving behavior.

Bitter war Man who fought as a soldier during a John Rambo of First Blood and its
[12] war; he usually leaves home a naïve [13]
veteran sequels, Staff Sergeant Michael
young man, experiences the horrors Vronsky (Robert De Niro) The Deer
of war, and returns home embittered Hunter
and deranged. He often has
flashbacks and nightmares about the
war.

Black best friend In American films and television
shows, a Black best friend is a
secondary character, often female,
who is used to "guide White
characters out of challenging
circumstances." The Black best friend
"support[s] the heroine, often with
sass, attitude and a keen insight into
[14]
relationships and life." One
criticism of the stock character is that
little of their inner life is depicted.
In the film The Devil Wears Prada,
Tracie Thoms plays friend to lead
character played by Anne Hathaway;
Aisha Tyler played a friend to Jennifer
Love Hewitt on The Ghost Whisperer;
Lisa Nicole Carson played a friend to
lead character Calista Flockhart on
Ally McBeal

Black knight An evil fighter antagonist, whose Black Knight, Nathan Garrett, Darth
identity is often concealed behind his Vader
visor. He may be associated with
death. He battles the good
knight-errant.

Blind seer A mystic who is sightless, but uses The blind prophet Tiresias, Chirrut in
spiritual or psychic powers to sense Rogue One, "One Hundred Eyes" in
the events and sights around them. Marco Polo, Zatoichi (blind
 swordsman) Kanan Jarrus in Star
Wars: Rebels (blind Jedi knight)

Boy next door A nice, average guy who is Marty McFly, Luke Skywalker, Rodney
reasonably good-looking Trotter

Braggart The classical archetypes are Alazon Zapp Brannigan from Futurama,
[15] Carlton Lassiter from Psych
and Miles Gloriosus. A later
example from the Italian commedia
[16]
dell'arte is Il Capitano.

Brains and brawn A duo with contrasting physical Lennie Small & George Milton from Of
features, body types and Mice and Men, Wallace and Gromit,
personalities. The two are usually Pinky and the Brain, Toopy and Binoo,
inseparable. One is small, yet Astérix and Obélix, Master-Blaster.
intelligent, while the other is physically
big, while at the same time being
naïve or innocently dumb. The
"brains" character can sometimes be
silent while the "brawn" is talkative
and loud, but this varies.

Bug-eyed monster A staple evil alien [2] Formics, Alien

Bully A villainous character often found in Scut Farkus in A Christmas Story,

stories centered around youth, Roger Klotz in Doug, Bulk and Skull
especially in school. They delight in
tormenting the protagonist and they
may use emotional abuse and
physical threats or assaults.

Byronic hero Byronic heroes are dark, gloomy, and
brooding. Their passionate nature is
often turned inward, as they ruminate
on a private torment or a difficult
secret from their past. They tend to be
lonely and alienated, and have views
or values that conflict with those of the
wider community. The name refers to
Lord Ruthven in The Vampyre (1819),
Edmond Dantes from Alexandre
Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo
(1844), Heathcliff from Emily Brontë's
Wuthering Heights (1847), and
Rochester from Charlotte Brontë's
Jane Eyre (1847)
 the Romantic poet Lord Byron, who
was active in the 19th century.

Cat lady An eccentric, lonely woman, often [17]

Crazy Cat Lady, Arabella Figg,
living alone. She may be depicted as Angela Martin
dotty and benevolent or as unhinged.

Chosen one A person destined by prophecy to Anakin Skywalker, Harry Potter, Neo
save the world, frequently possessed (The Matrix)
of unusual skills or abilities.

Christ figure Someone who dies a martyr only to The Doctor, Spock, Harry Potter,
rise from the dead to fight evil, as in Aslan
the story of Jesus. The similarity may
be intentional or not.

Chuck The opposite of the Cousin Oliver: a Judy Winslow (Jaimee Foxworth) in
Cunningham minor character, usually a sibling of Family Matters, Elliot Matthews in Girl
one of the main characters, who is Meets World
quickly jettisoned when a breakout
character emerges from a continuing
series. From the point of the
character's disappearance, the series
treats the character as if they never
existed. Named after the character in
Happy Days, who disappeared after
Gavan O'Herlihy left the series after
one season. (This is distinct from the
phenomenon of killing off a character
or sending them away, in such cases
the character always existed in the
fictional universe but is no longer
around.)

Con artist A person who tricks people out of Del Boy, Artful Dodger, The King and
money by gaining, and then betraying, the Duke
their confidence.
Competent man A person who exhibits a very wide Lazarus Long, Jubal Harshaw
range of abilities and knowledge,
making him a form of polymath. While
not the first to use such a character
type, the heroes and heroines of
Robert A. Heinlein's fiction generally
have a wide range of abilities. The
competent man, more often than not,
is written without explaining how he
achieved his wide range of skills and
abilities. May also be called a
"Heinleinian hero".

Conscience A character, often supernatural or Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio, the Angel

fable-like, who provides moral Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life
guidance and advice to the
protagonist.

Contender A competitive, scrappy underdog who Rocky Balboa, Lightning McQueen,

is driven to keep trying to win. Daniel LaRusso

Cousin Oliver A young child who joins the cast of an Scrappy-Doo, Nicky and Alex
ongoing series (usually a sitcom) after Katsopolis in Full House, Ricky Segall
the previous younger characters have in The Partridge Family
grown older and can no longer provide
the comic plot lines they used to as
child actors. Named after a character
added in the final episodes of The
Brady Bunch, after the youngest
Brady step-siblings had grown into
preteens.

Career criminal Often a cunning thief. Has a strange Flynn Rider, Bernie Rhodenbarr, Cash
gait, slouched posture and devious Register Thief
facial expression.

Crone A cruel, withered old woman, often Wicked Witch of the West, Maleficent,
occult or witch-like. See also Hag Gruntilda
Curmudgeon A usually middle-aged or elderly Knemon in Dyskolos, Alf Garnett,
character who outwardly is bitter, Grinch, Daisy Werthan
argumentative and politically incorrect.
The curmudgeon usually has more
sympathetic traits that are revealed
over the course of a work of fiction.

Damsel in distress A noble, beautiful young Lady in need Princess Peach, Princess Zelda,
of rescue, traditionally from dragons. Daphne Blake
In early 20th century films, she is
threatened by a robber or kidnapper.

Dandy A good-looking, well-off young man Dorian Gray, Lord Byron

more interested in fashion and leisure
than business and politics. Prominent
in Victorian writings.

Dark Lady A dark, malicious or doomed woman Lady Macbeth, Miss Trunchbull, Annie
Wilkes

Dark Lady This Hispanic or Latin stock character Dolores Del Rio played various Dark
(Hispanic) is a beautiful and aristocratic woman Lady roles, such as Flying Down to
whose mysterious and inscrutable Rio (1933) and In Caliente (1936)
personality makes her seem alluring.
Scholars have called the Dark Lady
and the Latin lover the only two
[18]
positive Hispanic stock characters.

Dark Lord An evil, powerful sorcerer. The dark Palpatine, Lord Voldemort, Thanos
lord is often wounded, though still
powerful enough to defile the land. He
may be a Devil archetype.
Dastardly A classic villain archetype from the Dick Dastardly, Simon Legree, Robbie
Whiplash silent film era, who will tie a maiden to Rotten
train tracks or burn down an
orphanage as part of their schemes,
all while twirling a long mustache.
They have over-the-top personalities.

Donor A supernatural being in fairy tales and Genie, Cosmo & Wanda
fantasy literature who helps the
protagonist or tests them. The fairy
godmother is a classic example in
fairy tales.

Domestic (Black) Due to the US history of slavery one Beulah, Gone With The Wind, Driving
of the common early depictions of Miss Daisy, The Help
Black people in films was as domestic
servants. The pejorative Mammy
stereotype is a subcategory.

Doppelgänger A malevolent character that resembles Bizarro, Mirror Universe

but is not necessarily related to
another, benevolent, character in the
same fictional universe; may come
from a parallel universe. Usually
portrayed by the same actor in a dual
role.

Dragon lady A stereotype of East Asian and Anna May Wong in the movie
occasionally South Asian and [20]
Daughter of the Dragon 1931; Lucy
Southeast Asian women as strong, Liu in her roles in Charlie’s Angels, Kill
deceitful, domineering, or Bill, and Payback; Wai Lin in
[19]
mysterious. The term's origin and Tomorrow Never Dies
usage arose in America during the
late 19th century. This ethnic
stereotype may negatively depict
women as promiscuous, deceptive
femme fatales.
Drill Sergeant The staff sergeant or gunnery Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from Full
sergeant in charge of instructing [5]
Metal Jacket; Sergeant Snorkel in
incoming military recruits in basic Beetle Bailey; Major Payne; Herbert
training. They are strict, demanding Sobel as portrayed in Band of
officers who are either loved or hated; Brothers.
good drill sergeants earn respect of
their recruits when the training ends
up saving lives, while bad or sadistic
drill sergeants may be reviled or even
[5]
killed by friendly fire.

Dumb blonde An attractive, young, blonde-haired Goldie Hawn's characters on Rowan &
woman with little common sense Martin's Laugh-In, Rose Nylund,
Chrissy Snow

El bandido This pejorative stereotype of a The villain in Bronco Billy and the
Mexican bandit was common in silent Greaser (1914)
era Western films. It depicted the
characters as missing teeth, being
poorly groomed (unshaven, unwashed
hair), unintelligent, and as having a
violent, treacherous, and emotionally
[18]
impulsive disposition.

Elderly martial A wise old man mentoring a young Mr. Miyagi, Ra's al Ghul, Yoda,
arts master disciple in his ancient craft. The old Splinter
man often needs to be avenged.

Everyman An ordinary, humble individual, the Homer Simpson, Dr. Watson,

Everyman may be a stand-in for the Jonathan Harker
audience or reader.

Evil clown Violent, malevolent beings who Joker, Killer Klowns, Pennywise
ironically resemble circus clowns. This
subverts the typical stereotype of
clowns as happy, playful tricksters and
 instead uses their painted face and
disguise as a source of menace.

Evil twin A malevolent character that resembles Adam Chandler, Alex Drake (A)
and is usually related to (most
commonly a literal twin of) another,
benevolent, character in the same
universe; usually portrayed by the
same actor in a dual role.

Fall guy An unaware scapegoat for a villain's Wilmer Cook, Biff from The Strawberry
larger plot. Blonde

Farmer's daughter A desirable, wholesome, and naive Bradley Sisters; Mary Ann Summers,
young woman, also described as Daisy Duke, Elly May Clampett
being an "open-air type" and
[21][22]
"public-spirited"

Farmer's wife In Western films, the "long-suffering
farmer's wife" is a foil used as a
contrast to the other female stock
characters (Hooker with a heart of
[23]
gold and the Schoolma'am). The
farmer's wife character also appears
outside of Westerns.
Mrs. Hale, the farmer's wife in Trifles,
Curley the farmer's wife (never
named, which shows that she is just a
stock character) in Steinbeck's Of
Mice and Men

Female clown In this stereotype, also called a Carmen Miranda, Lupe Velez (notably
(Hispanic) "Mexican Spitfire" (or "Latin Spitfire"), in the eight-film Mexican Spitfire series
a Hispanic woman's ditzy antics are that lent its name to the stock
used to make the audience laugh character)
derisively at her. While she is alluring,
her value as a full character is blunted
by her comic treatment. This is the
female version of the Male buffoon
[18]
(Hispanic).
Femme fatale A beautiful, alluring, woman who is Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct,
also traitorous, cunning and Ruth Wonderly, Poison Ivy, Salome
deceptive. She draws men into a
honey trap.

Final girl A "last woman standing" left in a Mina Harker, Laurie Strode, Sally
horror film after a killer or monster has Hardesty
eliminated her companions.

Foil A character, especially in a double act, Lou Costello, Lucy Ricardo, Draco
who is in most respects the opposite Malfoy
of the protagonist or straight man. The
contrast between a character and their
foil allows each characters' traits to be
highlighted.

Folk hero A character whose heroic acts are left Robin Hood, Heracles/Hercules
behind in their people's
consciousness, often centuries after
their death.

Fool A court jester who made the king and Simpleton fools include Ivan the Fool.
nobles laugh by telling rhyming jokes Wise fools include the Wise Men of
and riddles, and by doing physical Gotham, who only pretended to be
feats like juggling. Jesters could simple as a ruse.
criticize people at court and make fun
of royal decisions, as long as the
criticism was hidden amidst witty
wordplay and riddles. Shakespeare
used the fool as a main character so
that he could have a character who
could speak truthfully, even to a
powerful king.
Fop A pejorative character in English
literature and especially comic drama,
as well as satirical prints, the fop is a
foolish "man of fashion" who
overdresses, aspires to wit, and puts
on airs. The fop may aspire to a
higher social station than others think
he has.
Sir Novelty Fashion in Colley Cibber's
Love's Last Shift (1696), Sir Fopling
Flutter in George Etherege's The Man
of Mode, Sir Fopling Flutter (1676),
The Town Fop (1676, published 1677),
and Lord Foppington in The Relapse
(1696) by John Vanbrugh.

He may be somewhat effeminate,

although this rarely affects his pursuit
of an heiress. He may also overdo
being fashionably French by wearing
French clothes and using French
words.

Former/hiding A character who is a former Nazi and Dr. Strangelove, Franz Liebkind
Nazi is often very clearly German, may
attempt poorly to conceal their
past(often played comicly). Former
Nazi characters in places such as the
USA will often be scientists or other
educated professionals, characters in
South America will usually be
authority figures of the Third Reich
who are hiding from the
consequences of their actions during
the Holocaust.

French maid A stylized, sexualized, flirtatious Magenta in The Rocky Horror Picture
domestic servant with a distinctive Show, Madamoiselle in Heaven Can
black uniform with white lace and Wait
apron. Her uniform may range from a
conservative knee-length skirt in more
realistic period pieces to a short skirt,
stockings, and garters in more
fantasy-oriented depictions. She may
use a feather duster. She is a version
of the cheeky, saucy soubrette
character.
 G

Gay best friend Beginning in the 1980s, screenwriters Daniel Franzese's role as Damian in
of romantic comedy films and TV Mean Girls; the 2013 comedy film
shows set in high schools added the G.B.F., which uses the stock character
"gay best friend" stock character. This term as its title
comedic character type has elicited
controversy in the gay community,
because while they have introduced
"...queer storylines to mainstream
audiences," they have also
entrenched a stereotype that gay
men's only "interests are makeovers,
[24]
shopping and drama". In addition,
"gay best friend" characters tend to be
sidelined into the role of giving
relationship and fashion advice, and
their character rarely has depth or
development.

Geek An eccentric or non-mainstream Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang

person who is an expert or enthusiast Theory, "The Geek" from Sixteen
obsessed with an unusual hobby or Candles, "Doc" Emmett Brown from
intellectual pursuit, with a general the Back to the Future films, Egon
pejorative meaning of a "peculiar Spengler from Ghostbusters
person, especially one who is
perceived to be overly intellectual,
unfashionable, boring, or socially
[25]
awkward". The geek character
overlaps with the nerd, but the geek
may be depicted in a more negative
fashion.

Gentle giant A huge, strong man who, despite his Fezzick, Kronk, Yukon Cornelius,
fear-inspiring appearance, has a good Shrek
heart.

Gentleman thief A sophisticated, well-mannered, and Kaito Kuroba, Sly Cooper, Neal
elegant thief. He typically tries to avoid Caffrey
 violence by using deception and his
wits to steal.

Girl next door An average young woman, reasonably Rachel Green, Carrie Bradshaw,
attractive, with a wholesome Bridget Jones
demeanor.

Gracioso A stock character, popular in Clarín, the clown in Pedro Calderón

16th-century Spanish literature, who is de la Barca's Life is a dream, is a
comically and shockingly vulgar gracioso. Examples of similar
characters in Anglophone culture
include Bubbles, Wheeler Walker, Jr.
and the stand-up persona of Bob
Saget

Grande dame French for "great lady"; a haughty, Constance in Gosford Park, Princess
flamboyant and elegant woman, prone Dragomiroff in Murder on the Orient
to extravagant and eccentric fashion. Express; Lady Bracknell in The
She is usually a stereotype of an Importance of Being Earnest
elderly high society
[26][27][28][29]
socialite.

Greaser A caricature of working-class 1950s Arthur Fonzarelli, Danny Zuko,

American urban youth. Usually seen Bowzer, Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker
wearing a leather jacket, white t-shirt
(or black if not wearing a jacket), blue
jeans, and a slick hairdo with
generous amounts of pomade.
Frequently has a thick Northeastern
ethnic accent, a love of rock and roll,
cigarette smoking, motorcycle or hot
rod riding and customizing, and a
"tough guy" or "cool" demeanor.

Grotesque A deformed or disabled person whose Quasimodo, Grizabella

appearance scares strangers or
inspires pity, and who may be
mistreated. He is a tragic figure.
Gung-ho American military character who is Gung-Ho (G.I. Joe), Peacemaker in
[30] overly enthusiastic and The Suicide Squad (film)
American
unquestioningly convinced about the
right-mindedness of the nation's
[31][32]
war.

Gypsy A character who lives in traveling Carmen by Prosper Mérimée and

caravans, doing juggling or dancing, adapted by Georges Bizet, Victor
and having an irascible or passionate Hugo's The Hunchback of
temper paired with an indomitable Notre-Dame and Miguel de Cervantes'
love of freedom. The "gypsy" stock La Gitanilla.
character is very loosely based upon
the Romani people, who were
historically and pejoratively known as
gypsies. Critics of how Romani people
have been portrayed in popular
culture point out similarities to
portrayals of Jewish people, with both
groups stereotyped negatively as
wandering, spreading disease,
abducting children, and violating and
[33]
murdering others. They are often
shown using mystical powers of
fortune telling, and they may be
associated with "sinister occult and
[34]
criminal tendencies" and with
[35]
"thievery and cunning", Romani
women have been portrayed as
provocative, sexually available, gaudy,
[36]
exotic and mysterious.

H
Halfbreed harlot This pejorative stereotype of a Chihuahua, the girlfriend of Doc
Mexican prostitute was common in Holliday in My Darling Clementine
Western films. She is the female (1946)
counterpart to El bandido, a pejorative
stereotype depicting a violent Mexican
bandit. The "halfbreed harlot" is
depicted as a lusty nymphomaniac
with a hot temper. Filmmakers use the
character to serve as a sex object and
[18]
provide titillation to viewers.

Hag A wizened, withered, and bitter old Baba Yaga, Wicked Queen, Gruntilda
woman, often a malicious witch.

Hardboiled A private investigator or police officer Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe, Perry
detective rendered bitter and cynical by violence Mason
and corruption. They are often
hard-drinking antiheroes who use
questionable tactics. Typically the
protagonist in film noir crime movies
and hardboiled novels and pulp fiction.

Harlequin A clown or professional fool who Till Eulenspiegel, Krusty the Clown
pokes fun at others, even the elite. He
is a light-hearted, nimble, and astute
servant, often acting to thwart the
plans of his master, and pursuing his
own love interest, Columbina, with wit
and resourcefulness, often competing
with the sterner and melancholic
Pierrot.

Holmesian A masterful police detective or private Hercule Poirot, Columbo, Benoit Blanc
detective investigator who is modelled on the in Knives Out
fictional 19th century detective
Sherlock Holmes. These characters
may emulate his perceptiveness,
intelligence, and use of deductive
reasoning.
Hooker with a A prostitute who has a good moral Nancy, Fantine, Inara Serra, Sonya
heart of gold compass and intrinsic morality. May from Dostoevsky's Crime and
also be known as a "tart with a heart". Punishment

Hopeless A loving, passionate character that Tom Hansen, Zeppo Marx, Ted Mosby
romantic often finds "love at first sight". He is
obsessive over a romantic partner (or
love interest), to the point where it is
his dominant personality trait, and
usually views life very optimistically.

Housewife A busy mother of the protagonist Morticia Addams, Jane Jetson, Marge
family, she takes care of the children Simpson
and does the housework. Her
appearance ranges from homely to
average.

Hotshot A reckless, impulsive macho character Martin Riggs, Agent J, Axel Foley
known for taking risks.

Idiot savant A person with extraordinary genius in Forrest Gump, Raymond "Rain Man"
a narrow area who has a social or Babbitt, Shaun Murphy
developmental disability, often
consistent with being somewhere on
the autism spectrum.

Immigrant A character from a foreign land whose Balki Bartokomous, Luigi Basco, Fez,
bizarre manners, quirky behavior and Latka Gravas, Borat
unusual traditions often clash
humorously with Western cultural
norms.

Incompetent Usually from a wealthy background, Amos T. Halftrack, General Paul

[5][37] the incompetent officer is usually Mireau (played by George Macready)
officer
senior to the hero and an antagonist in in Path to Glory , Glenn Ford
[citation needed] (character name) in Teahouse of the
military fiction. The
 incompetence is depicted either as August Moon, Captain Cooney
stemming from blind innocence or (played by Eddie Albert) in Attack
[37] (1956)
fundamental stupidity.

Ingenue An attractive young woman who is Ariel, Snow White, Dorothy Gale
endearingly innocent and wholesome.

Innocent A character, often a child (or a Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol), Lennie
child-like adult) who is shows moral Small (Of Mice and Men), Buddy the
purity, kindness and goodness. They Elf (Elf)
may be naive and vulnerable.

Irish The Irish stereotype was developed

during the vaudeville era, where it was
called "stage Irish". It was an
"exaggerated caricature of supposedly
Irish characteristics in speech and
behaviour, which depicted Irish people
as "garrulous, boastful, unreliable,
hard-drinking, belligerent (though
cowardly) and chronically
[38]
impecunious". In 1920s-era films,
Irish characters were "fighters,
[38]
gangsters, rebels or priests". In the
1950s, Hollywood films depicted Irish
women as an "Irish colleen" with a
[38]
"feisty independent spirit." In the
1990s and 2000s, a new stereotype
emerged: the "Irish male as a
romantic ideal", with a soft, "soulful
[38]
and poetic" demeanor. During that
same era, another Irish male
steretype emerged: the
balaclava-wearing IRA bomb-maker or
fighter, sometimes with an with
"indecipherable, tongue-twister
[38]
accent".
Italian stereotypes Italian stereotypes depict men with Casino, Goodfellas, The Godfather,
"over-the-top gaudy couture", an The Real Housewives of New Jersey
"insatiable libido that will sooner or
later lead to infidelity", "temper
problems", a lifestyle of "vanity and
violence", "tough", "uneducated",
involved in "illegal activities, like
bribery", and having "connections to
the Mafia". Italian women are depicted
as "vain, hot-tempered, [and]
[39]
power-hungry."

Japanese person From 1945 through the 1960s, Gung Ho

Hollywood depicted Japanese men as
a “pint-sized man wearing
black-framed spectacles, with
protuberant incisors”, like the “klutzy
photographer "Yunioshi" in Breakfast
at Tiffany's. Japanese women are
depicted with the traits of the geisha:
“feminine, subservient, eager and
willing to please males.” Caucasians
with makeup to try to make them
appear Asian were typically cast in
Asian roles until the 1960s. By the
1970s and 1980s, Japanese started
being portrayed as a “fusion of
tradition and high tech”, with the
historical references being to ninja
and samurai, which are both “part of
the 'mysterious East’“ (e.g. Gung Ho
(1986). Depictions of Japanese
people also link them to sumo
[40]
wrestling, kabuki, or eating sushi.
Jewish American A pejorative stereotype of young The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Herman
Princess women at Jewish "summer camps, Wouk’s 1955 novel Marjorie
Hebrew schools, [and] the suburbs of Morningstar; Philip Roth’s 1959
New Jersey" with a focus on grooming [41]
novella Goodbye, Columbus
(flat-ironed hair), trendiness,
"upmarket loungewear", luxury brands
(Neiman Marcus, Filene’s) "entitled
dispositions toward luxury", and a
liking for ease and comfort. They often
engage in "manipulation and
acquisitiveness" and they may act
spoiled or engage in "pouting,
[41]
complaining, [and] cajoling."

Jewish mother A nagging, loud, highly-talkative, Molly Goldberg, Auntie Nelda

overprotective, smothering, and
overbearing mother, who persists in
interfering in her children's lives long
after they have become adults and is
excellent at making her children feel
guilty for actions that may have
caused her to suffer.

Jock (athlete) A male athlete who is often muscular, Flash Thompson, Nathan Scott, Brom
but not very smart. He may also be a Bones
bully.

Keystone Kop A bumbling police officer, named after Chief Wiggum, Barney Fife, Rosco P.
the Keystone Kops comic silent film [42]
Coltrane, Charlie Dibble
series. May have a predilection for
donuts. If set in the southern United
States, the character is usually also
portrayed as racist, corrupt and
lacking regard for the rights of whom
he is accusing.
Knight-errant A noble Knight on a quest for his Lady Lancelot, Aragorn, Bronn, Jack
or who is seeking some Holy Grail. He Reacher[43]
expresses his courtly love for his
beloved from afar.

Latin lover A handsome, sharply-dressed man Rudolph Valentino, Ricardo

who seduces women with his suave, Montalban, Gilbert Roland
confident demeanor and his elegant
courtship and tango dancing skills.
Paradoxically, he shows both
tenderness and "sexual danger". He
draws the woman into a passionate
romance that is doomed due to the
pair being enmeshed in an intrigue.
The Latin lover may be Italian,
Spanish, Latin American, Romanian
(from the inspirations with vampire) or
[18]
French.

Legacy hero A character thrust, often unwillingly, Luke Skywalker, Frodo Baggins, Silk
into the role of a hero through Spectre (Laurie Juspeczyk)
nepotism, sometimes having been
previously unaware of their family's
legacy.
LGBT characters In many forms of popular on the ABC Family show GRΣΣK,
entertainment, gay men are portrayed Calvin Owens is openly gay and many
stereotypically as promiscuous, flashy, of his storylines, struggles, and plots
flamboyant, and bold, while the revolve around his self-identification
reverse is often true of how lesbians as LGBT; the movie Love, Simon is
are portrayed. Media representations the first film by a major Hollywood
of bisexual and transgender people studio to focus on a gay teenage
tend to either completely erase them, [46]
romance.
or depict them as morally corrupt or
mentally unstable. Similar to race-,
religion-, and class-based caricatures,
these stereotypical stock character
representations vilify or make light of
marginalized and misunderstood
[44]
groups. In U.S. television and other
media, gay or lesbian characters tend
to die or meet another unhappy
ending, such as becoming insane,
[45]
more often than other characters.
Increasing awareness and criticism of
the trope has made creators attempt
to avoid it.

Little Green Men Small humanoid extraterrestrials with The Great Gazoo, Little Green Men
green skin and antennae on their from Toy Story
[47]
heads; known familiarly in science
fiction fandom as LGM

Loathly lady A woman who appears to be a The Wife of Bath's Tale, Princess
hideous hag, often cursed; her beauty Melusine in the French dynastic
is revealed when the curse is lifted. mythology Dame Ragnelle, The Frog
(Male characters with the same Prince (with male gender).
characteristics also exist, such as the
Beast in Beauty and the Beast.) The
order may be reversed, as well; a
beautiful maiden may be cursed and
transformed into a hag.

Loner An isolated, alienated person who Frank Castle, Holden Caulfield

struggles to connect with people.
Lovable loser A woebegone, yet sympathetic and Charlie Brown, Sad Sack, Milo Murphy
usually determined, character for
whom nothing goes right

Lovers Main characters who deeply fall in Romeo & Juliet, Tony and Maria in
love, despite the blocking effect of West Side Story
other characters or events; often
moonstruck, star-crossed lovers that
are strongly fraternizing with the
"enemy". They may face a tragic end.

Machiavelle A villain who is obsessed with power Examples in Shakespeare include

and willing to do immoral acts to Richard of Gloucester in Richard III
secure or enhance their position. A and both Edmund and Cornwall in
machiavelle villain typically follows the King Lear.
principles set out by Niccolò
Machiavelli's The Prince, a guidebook
for 16th century rulers. The
machiavelle devises ruthless plots to
eliminate rivals and is willing to do
anything, including betrayal of allies or
murdering his people, to win more
power.

Mad scientist An insane or eccentric scientist or Victor Frankenstein, Dr. Henry Jekyll,
professor, often villainous or Dr. Moreau
[2][48]
amoral. Not all mad scientists are
evil; some intend to be benevolent,
but unintentionally cause an accident
due to their hubristic attempt to play
God in the lab. May have an Igor, a
hunchbacked assistant.

Magical Negro A black man with special insight or Uncle Remus, Uncle Tom, John
mystical powers, who ends up coming Coffey, Bagger Vance
to the aid of the white protagonist.
Male buffoon This stereotype is used for comic Pancho in The Return of the Cisco
(Hispanic) relief. The characters' struggle to learn Kid, Sgt. Garcia in Walt Disney's
English or control their hot-blooded Zorro, Ricky Ricardo in I Love Lucy
temper is used as a source of
[18]
humor.

Mammy A rotund, homely, and matronly black Aunt Jemima, Mammy Two Shoes,
archetype woman. She has a sunny demeanor Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird
and she is devoted to her role as a
cook and caregiver. This archetype
originated during the era of slavery,
and it is considered to be a pejorative
racial stereotype.

Man alone [49] Johnson in the New Zealand novel

A solitary, rootless nonconformist"
or antihero whose extreme moral
beliefs have led them to be friendless.
Associated with Literature of New
Zealand.
Man alone; the strictly moral comic
book character Rorschach (Walter
Kovacs)

Manic Pixie Usually static young female Zelda Spellman, Bo Peep, Debora
Dream Girl characters who have eccentric from Baby Driver
personality quirks and are
unabashedly girlish, dreamy, and
attractive. They often exist only to
serve as a source of inspiration to the
male character, and as such, little of
their inner life is depicted.

Mary Sue Usually a young adult female Arya Stark from HBO's Game of
characters who is perceived to have Thrones series, for her heroic role in
zero flaws or weaknesses while being the show's finale; Rey (Star Wars)
skillful or powerful in a way not
justified by their backstory. A "Mary
Sue" is often beloved by all other
characters that interact with her. The
male equivalent has been referred to
as a "Gary Stu" or "Marty Stu".
Mean Popular Girl An attractive teenage girl who has Chloé Bourgeois in Miraculous: Tales
high status at her school, but is often of Ladybug and Cat Noir, Lucy Van
mean to students outside her clique. Pelt, Nina Harper in Braceface,
Regina George in Mean Girls

Middle child In a family setting, usually the second Stephanie Tanner, Jan Brady, Chris
of three children, who is often [50]
Griffin
neglected and/or disrespected due to
their parents (and the overall story)
paying more attention to the youngest
and oldest siblings

Miles Gloriosus A boastful soldier whose cowardice Falstaff, Baron Munchausen, Buzz
belies his claims of a valour-filled past. Lightyear
Originally from the comic theatre of
ancient Rome, this stock character
was often from a low class and he
was typically engaged in sexual
dalliances, excess drinking and
thievery.

Milkman A delivery person roped into a sexual Ernie Price

affair with a married customer.
Common in pornographic films; the
delivery person need not be delivering
milk, though this specific type was a
common joke when milk delivery was
a common profession.

Miltonic hero A romanticized type of antihero who is
both charismatic and wicked. The
Miltonic hero resists the instructions of
authority figures and feels that moral
rules do not apply to them. The name
refers to poet John Milton.
Milton's Satan character in Paradise
Lost, Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights,
Melmoth in Melmoth the Wanderer
(the title character sells his soul to the
Devil)

Mother's boy An awkward man who is excessively Private Pike, Howard Wolowitz, Eddie
attached to his mother. Often he Kaspbrak
continues to act in a childish,
 submissive fashion even into
adulthood.

Mother-in-law A stereotypical portrayal of a Pearl SlaghoopleViola Fields, Jane

character's spouse's mother;
frequently a battle-axe and always
disapproving of her
daughter/son-in-law.
Fonda in the film Monster-in-Law,
Marie Barone (Doris Roberts) in the
sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond,
who is extremely meddlesome and
incessantly makes conceited remarks
to her daughter-in-law Debra, Adele
Delfino (Celia Weston) on the
television series Desperate
Housewives

Mythological king A king in myth and/or legend, usually King Arthur

a heroic one.

Napoleonic villain A usually comic villain whose short Lord Farquaad, Plankton, The Brain,
stature drives him to seek world Boris Badenov
domination. Named after the common
(but false) myth regarding Napoleon
Bonaparte's height.

Nemesis A persistent, indefatigable villain, Professor Moriarty, Omni-Man

equal to or better than the hero(es) in
skill and power, who thwarts all
attacks and reappears even after
being killed. In serial and episodic
fiction, a nemesis will often evolve into
an archenemy.

Nerd A socially-awkward, obsessive, or Will McKenzie, Steve Urkel, George

overly-intellectual person. They are McFly
often interested in doing well in school
(academically and in terms of
behavior). They tend to dress in
unfashionable clothes. The geek
 character is similar, but may be
depicted in more negative manner.

Nice guy A male character of wholesome Granville, Tim Canterbury, Neville

morals, agreeable personality and Longbottom, Marty Piletti
usually modest means. In romantic
fiction, he usually struggles with
finding women willing to date him
(since, as the phrase goes, "nice guys
finish last"); in ideal happy endings, he
finds a woman more appropriate for
him (possibly a Manic Pixie Dream
Girl) than those who rejected him

Noble savage An idealized Indigenous person or Chingachgook, Mowgli, Tarzan

otherwise "wild" outsider who is
uncorrupted by civilization.

Occult detective A detective who uses traditional Carl Kolchak, Fred Jones, Melinda
techniques to solve supernatural Gordon
mysteries. The occult detective may
have few or no supernatural powers of
their own (or, if possessing such
powers, little understanding of how to
harness them) and instead rely on
someone who does, such as a
psychic or medium, as a sidekick.

Outlaw A bandit depicted in a romanticized Robin Hood, Billy the Kid, Jesse
way, often charismatic and appealing, James
despite their lawless conduct.

Pantomime dame A pantomime portrayal of female Widow Twankey, Mary Sunshine

characters by male actors in drag.
Paul Lynde-type An easily irritated villain with a Norman Normanmeyer, Roger the
distinctive, whiny and slightly Alien
effeminate voice. Named after
character actor Paul Lynde, who
played numerous characters of this
style during the prime of his career in
the 1960s and 1970s, and adopted by
numerous others after Lynde's death
in 1982.

Petrushka A Russian kind of jester.

Pierrot French pantomime, a sad clown in a Pagliacci, Puddles Pity Party

distinctive all-white attire and makeup,
often pining for the love of Columbina,
who usually breaks his heart and
leaves him for Harlequin.

Pirate A romanticized stereotype of high Captain Hook, Long John Silver

seas pirates of the 18th century.
Features may include a black tricorn
hat with skull and crossbones,
unkempt facial hair, missing body
parts (e.g. eyepatch, peg leg, hook for
a hand), adventurous but surly
demeanor, and a distinctive accent.
Variants on the theme include air
pirates and space pirates.

Preppy In 1980s TV shows and films (or in Jake in Sixteen Candles, Steff McKee
works set in this era), preppies are and Blane McDonough in Pretty in
students or alumnus of Ivy League Pink
schools who have American upper
class speech, vocabulary, dress,
[51]
mannerisms and etiquette. Like the
related yuppie stock character of the
1980s, preppies range from benign
(albeit materialistic and pretentious),
to arrogant or even immoral.
Prince Charming Rescuer of the damsel in distress

Princesse A romantic love interest and beloved Dulcinea, Guinevere

lointaine sweetheart and girlfriend for a
Knight-errant.

Psycho-biddy An embittered, usually psychotic, Baby Jane Hudson, Norma Desmond,

faded ex-celebrity, typically an old Joan Crawford as portrayed in
woman. Mommie Dearest

Quincy punk An "establishment showbiz" version of several punks in the opening of

punks, which were dubbed "Quincy Terminator are vandalizing an
punks" after a 1982 episode of the TV observatory and then attempt to rob
series Quincy, M.E., about a the titular humanoid robot, Abby
crime-solving medical examiner. The (played by Melora Hardin) from
episode, "Next Stop, Nowhere", Quincy, M.E. in the 1982 "Next Stop,
depicted punks as nihilistic Nowhere" episode
"spiky-haired teenagers and flippant
young adults" who are "cartoonishly
naive and short-sighted" and full of
"punk rage", and who think with "rigid
ideology and relentless
hopelessness". The punks are shown
with "torn clothes, spiked hair, bizarre
makeup, and (for some reason)
[52]
bandanas". Maclean's calls it a
"fake Hollywood-ized version of a
[53]
punk".

R
Raw recruit Young, naive and impressionable, the Juan Rico of Starship Troopers; a
raw recruit has to learn how to live parody of this character is Dead Meat
with military discipline and understand from the comedy Hot Shots!, whose
the reasons behind the way the obviously impending doom is played
military works. He often ends up in a for laughs; "Soap" MacTavish from
position of leadership (as an Idealistic Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare also
Lieutenant) by the end of the story. fits this category, becoming a captain
They may have a "tragic" death in the sequel.
[5]
towards the end of the movie,
particularly if they show the
protagonist a picture of a fiancée or
[citation
wife they "have back home".
needed]

Rebel A maverick who refuses to follow John Bender, Jim Stark in Rebel
society's rules and conventions. He Without a Cause (played by James
may simultaneously be a loner or Dean), Dirty Harry franchise
hotshot.

Redneck In the 1970s, B movie "hixploitation" Smokey and the Bandit (1977),
films depicted rednecks as Deliverance (1972), Breaker! Breaker!,
Appalachian or Southern "good old Moonshine County Express
boys" involved in illicit moonshine
operations. Other redneck subtypes
include crooked Southern sheriffs,
[54]
"back-road racers", and truckers.

Redshirt A minor, expendable character who is Stormtroopers in Star Wars, Goombas

killed soon after being introduced. in Super Mario
This refers to characters from the
original Star Trek television series,
often from the security or engineering
departments of the starship, who wore
the red Starfleet uniform. They are
cannon fodder.

Reluctant hero A character who is thrust against their Shaun Riley, John McClane, Neo
will into a heroic role; overlaps with
the everyman and the antihero
Rightful king A usurped, just ruler whose return or Simba, King Arthur, Pastoria, King
triumph restores peace. The rightful Richard
king may be a reluctant hero who is
reticent to take the throne.

"Runyonesque" Characters appearing in short stories Characters have colorful monikers

characters by US sports writer and author Damon such as "Nathan Detroit", "Benny
Runyon, which depict Prohibition era Southstreet", "Big Jule", "Harry the
underworld New Yorkers from Horse", "Good Time Charley", "Dave
Brooklyn or Midtown Manhattan. the Dude", or "The Seldom Seen Kid".
"Runyonesque" refers to the type of
situations and dialog that Runyon
[55]
depicted, populated by gamblers,
bookies, boxers, hustlers, actors, and
gangsters, few of whom go by
"square" names, preferring creative
nicknames. His characters use
colorful street slang.

Schoolma'am A pretty young woman schoolteacher My Darling Clementine, Helen Crump

in a frontier town or settlement. Her Taylor, Miss Turlock
wholesome, virginal demeanor,
modest dress, and education
distinguish her from the other Western
female stereotype (whores at the
brothel or saloon). Schoolmarms
represent civilization. Pretty, young
teachers may be a love interest for the
hero. Old teachers tend to be
spinsters who are strict disciplinarians.

Scrooge An old, wealthy boss who refuses to J. Paul Getty as portrayed in All the
spend money and prefers to hoard it. Money in the World, Randolph and
The character is based on the miserly, Mortimer Duke in Trading Places, Mr.
penny-pinching, and mean-spirited old Potter, Jack Benny
Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas
Carol. Scrooge characters range from
excessively thrifty, but otherwise
 benign types, to avaricious,
cold-hearted types who are willing to
allow harm to come to others.

Senex amans This stock character in medieval
romances and classical comedies is
an old, ugly man who is married to a
pretty young woman. The senex
amans, which is Latin for "ancient
lover", is depicted as having wrinkles,
greying hair, and struggling with
impotence. He is often cuckolded by a
good-looking young man who charms
the young wife.
Chaucer's "Miller's Tale" and "The
Merchant's Tale," Marie de France's
"Guigemar" and "Laustic" and Tristan
and Iseult. In Aphra Behn's Oronooko,
the old king of Ghana is a senex
amans, as he is trying to seduce the
young woman Imoinda.

Senex iratus A father figure and comic archetype Pantalone, Arthur Spooner, Grampa
who belongs to the alazon or impostor Simpson
group in theater, manifesting himself
through his rages and threats, his
obsessions and his gullibility

Sexy grandma An elderly or late middle aged woman Mona Robinson, Blanche Devereaux,
who has an open and active sex life. A Sue Ann Nivens, Jeanine Stifler
similar character in early middle age
may be known as a MILF or a cougar.

Shrew A woman given to violent, scolding, Lois Griffin, Wilma Flintstone

particularly nagging treatment of men.

Sidekick A friend who accompanies the main In The Adventures of Huckleberry

character or hero. A sidekick may also
simultaneously be a bard, fool, or
other stock character.
Finn, a slave named Jim accompanies
Huck Finn on his travels. In The Lord
of the Rings, Frodo has his loyal friend
Samwise Gamgee by his side
throughout.

Sinnekins Pairs of devilish, impish characters Flotsam and Jetsam, Pain and Panic,
who exert their perfidious influence on Thing Number 1 and Thing Number 2,
the main character. Winged monkeys
Sissy In the 1930s, the "sissy" or "pansy" Blaine Edwards and Antoine
was a pejorative stereotype used as Meriwether, Mr. Ernest in Our Betters,
one of the earliest gay stock Lindy in Car Wash
characters in Hollywood films. "Sissy"
characters had an "...extremely
effeminate boulevardier type sporting
lipstick, rouge, a trim mustache and
hairstyle, and an equally trim suit,
[56]
incomplete without a boutonniere."
Filmmakers used the characters to
elicit a "quick laugh", and they never
had any character depth. These roles
"...cemented the gross stereotypes of
[56]
gay men that are still seen today."

Sleazy lawyer A corrupt attorney who uses Billy Flynn, Saul Goodman, Lionel
technicalities to get obviously guilty, Hutz
but wealthy and well-paying, clients
acquitted. Sleazy lawyers are driven
by a mixture of desiring wealth and a
ruthless, competitive desire to win at
all costs. They are masters at
manipulating witnesses, D.A.s and
judges to ensure they win. They range
from lawyers who work within the law,
by gaming the system or finding
loopholes, to those who break the law
by destroying evidence or intimidating
witnesses.

Sleazy politician An elected official who is embroiled in Frank Underwood, Willie Stark, Boss
corruption and scandals such as [57][58]
Hogg
taking bribes, using secret slush
funds, embezzling money, or
engaging in affairs with staff (or other
sexual misconduct). They may be
hypocrites, who speak out against
crime, while using illegal drugs and
hanging out in brothels.
Slow burn A character who begins as calm and
collected but increasingly becomes
more angry and exasperated as the
childish antics of those around them
escalate
Squidward Tentacles, Theodore J.
Mooney, Emil Sitka in the works of
The Three Stooges

Smurfette A female character in an otherwise Elaine Benes, Wonder Woman within

all-male cast. Often portrays the realm of the Justice League, Miss
exaggerated feminine traits. Named Piggy
after Smurfette, a later female addition
to the formerly all-male The Smurfs.

Soubrette A female character who is vain, girlish, Violet Gray, Susanna in The Marriage
mischievous, lighthearted, coquettish, of Figaro, Gretchen Wieners in Mean
and gossipy. The role of the soubrette Girls, Poison Ivy
is often to help two young lovers
overcome the blocking agents (e.g.
chaperones or parents) that stand in
the way of their blossoming romance.

Southern belle An elegant, beautiful young woman of Scarlett O'Hara, Blanche Dubois, Elsie
the American Old South's upper class. Stoneman
She speaks with a Southern accent
and is flirtatious. There is a good,
wholesome variant and a vain, darker
version.

Spear carrier A minor character who appears in Imperial Royal Guards from Star Wars
several scenes, but mostly in the
background roles. The term is a
reference to minor characters in old
plays set in Roman eras who would
literally carry a spear as they played
guard characters.
Starving artist An impoverished painter, jazz
musician, screenwriter, or novelist
who is so dedicated to their artistic
vision, that they refuse to sell out and
do commercial art (or pop music, or
mainstream feature films, etc.). They
live in an attic or couch surf, dress
shabbily, and struggle to put food on
the table. The depiction ranges from a
romanticized, rose-tinted glasses
portrait of libertine, Absinthe-sipping
bohemians to a gritty social realist
examination of the artist's
impoverished existence. A starving
artist may also be a troubled artist.
The depiction of Jerry Mulligan in An
American in Paris, both male leads in
Withnail & I, Joe Gillis in Sunset
Boulevard, the painter and playwright
in Design for Living, various
bohemians working as actors, artists,
and writers in Moulin Rouge!, Llewyn
Davis in Inside Llewyn Davis, Mark
Cohen (Rent)

Straight man A sidekick to a funny person who Oliver Hardy, Bud Abbott, Moe
makes his partner look all the more Howard
ridiculous by being completely
serious.

Succubus A demon that appears in the form of a Chaucer's Wife of Bath, Coleridge's
female lover. The male version of a "Kubla Khan"
demon-lover is an incubus.

Superhero A noble, brave being with Thor, Shazam, Sonic the Hedgehog
extraordinary powers who dedicates
their life to defending the general
[2]
public.

Superfluous man In Russian 19th century literature, a Eugene Onegin

dashing young aristocrat who is bored
from his privileged life, and who
distracts himself from his sense of
ennui by engaging in intrigues, casual
affairs, duels, gambling, and drinking.
He is selfish and manipulative, and
cares little about others or broader
issues in society.
Supersoldier A soldier who operates beyond human Captain America, Master Chief,
limits or abilities Bloodshot, Universal Soldier

Supervillain The nemesis to the Superhero, the Lex Luthor, The Joker, Dr. Evil
supervillain is a sinister being and
plots crimes against society. Their
origin story, which explains why they
turned evil, is often important to their
character.

Surfer Spaced out, marijuana-loving Jeff Spicoli, Tommy Chong

Californian surfer who wisecracks
their way through life and uses
youthful slang. Despite their lack of a
job or fixed address, they have a
happy-go-lucky demeanor.

Swashbuckler A joyful, noisy, and boastful D'Artagnan, Zorro, Jack Sparrow

Renaissance era or Cavalier era
swordsman or pirate. He is chivalrous,
courageous, and skilled in sword
fighting and acrobatics as he seeks
vengeance on a corrupt villain. In
films, the story may be set in the
Golden Age of Piracy.

Thug A henchman or gang member who Bill Sikes, Francis Begbie, Biff Tannen
commits violent crimes

Thug (Black) In American films and TV shows, The Wire, Denzel Washington in
Black men are depicted "...playing Training Day, the gun runner character
drug dealers, pimps, con-artists and Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson) in
[14] Jackie Brown
other ... criminals". A criticism of
this stock character is that the
"...disproportionate amount of Black
people playing criminals in Hollywood
fuels the racial stereotype that Black
 men are dangerous and drawn to illicit
[14]
activities."

Tiger mom A stereotype of East Asian mothers Bi Sheng Nan in Tiger Mom
who relentlessly push their children to
achieve success. Tiger moms set the
highest standards and insist that their
children strive for top marks so they
can get into the best schools. In US
TV and movies, this ethnic stereotype
depicts East Asians as a "model
minority".

Time police The type of police officers that make
sure time plays its part.
The Time Variance Authority are an
example of this. There have been
versions of the time police in
Doraemon, Flint the Time Detective,
Rick and Morty, Time Squad, and the
TV shows set in the Arrowverse.

Token black A character with no distinguishing Token Black, Franklin in Peanuts,

character characteristics whose sole purpose is Isaiah
to provide nominal diversity to the
cast. In 1980s TV shows,
screenwriters introduced the
"African-American workplace pal"
stock character as a way to add a
Black character in a secondary
[59]
role.

Tomboy A girl or young woman with boyish Merida, Mulan, Rainbow Dash,
and/or manly behavior. Princess Daisy

Tortured artist A painter, sculptor, or other creator Brian Topp, Vincent van Gogh
frustrated with their artistic challenges,
or with being misunderstood. They
may have mental health issues or
addiction, and they are hard to be
 around due to their narcissism and
frustration.

Town drunk A male in a small town who is Barney Gumble, Otis Campbell, Uncle
intoxicated more often than sober. Billy
They often have a good heart and
may end up helping the protagonist.

Tragic hero A hero with a flaw, mistake, or Michael Corleone, Jay Gatsby, Randle
misconception (hamartia) that leads to McMurphy
their eventual death and downfall.
Historically, they were the main
character in a Greek or Roman
tragedy. The flaw often arises due to
the character's hubris. Despite the
character's flaw, the audience usually
finds them to be admirable or
appealing at a broader level, which
increases the dramatic impact of their
downfall.

Tragic mulatto A mulatto who is sad or suicidal Half Breed, Eliza, Cassy, and
because they fail to fit in with white or Emmeline in Uncle Tom's Cabin,
black people. The tragic mestizo has a Peola Johnson in Imitation of Life
similar clash with whites and Native
Americans.

Tricky slave A cunning individual, of a lower social Jeeves, Puss in Boots

class than the heroes (originally
bound in slavery), who facilitates the
story's completion in exchange for
improvement of his lot

Tsundere In Japanese anime and manga, a Asuka Langley Soryu, Tsuyukusa from
character who is initially cold (and Amatsuki
sometimes even hostile) before
gradually showing a warmer, friendlier
side over time. Similar in temperament
to the curmudgeon, but usually young
and female.
 U

[2] A (often only seemingly) perfect Superman, Hercules, Don Pedro

Übermensch
human being

Unseen character A character who is frequently

referenced in the script of a production
but never seen. In stage, film and
television, they may be indirectly
present through hearing their voice
offscreen (such as Carlton the
Doorman), or from a first-person
perspective as the cameraman,
answering questions addressed to
them by bobbing the camera up and
down to nod or left and right to say no
(as with Vern in the Ernest P. Worrell
series). Unseen characters may
become seen near the end of a series.

Valley girl A teenage girl from the San Fernando Moon Zappa's character in "Valley
Valley with a distinctive accent and Girl," Cher Horowitz in Clueless
emphasis on superficial traits. She is
typically a materialistic
[60]
upper-middle-class young woman.
The term in later years became more
broadly applied to any female in the
United States who embodied
ditziness, airheadedness, or greater
interest in conspicuous consumption
than intellectual or personal
[61]
accomplishment.

Vamp A woman with dark hair, usually seen Morticia Addams, Vampira, Elvira,
wearing jet black dresses, and having Mistress of the Dark, Natasha Fatale
a macabre sense of humor. A goth
variant of the femme fatale.
Vice An allegorical evil part in medieval
morality plays.

Village idiot A person known locally for ignorance Michelangelo, Bertie Wooster, Patrick
or stupidity; this character often turns Star
out to be brave and sweet, and is
sometimes underestimated (see Wise
fool).

[2] An evil character in a story. Shere Khan, Professor Moriarty,

Villain
Count Dracula

Whisky priest A priest or ordained minister who Father Callahan, Harry Powell, 'Hot
shows clear signs of moral weakness, Priest' from Fleabag, Reverend
either due to alcohol use or other Swanson
forbidden activities, while at the same
time teaching a higher standard and
showing courage and moral resolve
on a broader level.

White friend In fiction centered around a group Chelsea Daniels in That's So Raven,
and/or family of people of color, the Tom Willis
white friend is an exaggerated parody
of white stereotypes, including
awkwardness, inability to dance, and
being an all-around square.

White hunter Khaki-clad, pith-helmeted Caucasian Allan Quatermain, Kraven the Hunter,
big-game hunters or safari leaders in Redvers Fenn-Cooper
Africa, used to illustrate the Imperial or
racist mindset of the colonial era.

Wimp Weak-willed, mild-mannered, Wallace Wimple, Caspar Milquetoast,

ineffectual, not well-liked and easily Arthur Carlson
manipulated
Wise fool A person who seems like an idiot or Puck, Goofy, Pumbaa, Forrest Gump
simpleton, who may speak inarticulate
nonsense in one moment, only to later
show wisdom later on. The fool's
mocking humour shows his ability to
understand events or speak blunt
truths to a leader.

Wise old man An elderly, learned character who Obi-Wan Kenobi, Gandalf, Albus
provides mentoring and wisdom to the Dumbledore, Merlin
protagonist. In fantasy, he may also
be a wizard.

Yokel An unsophisticated country person Trevor Philips, Cletus Spuckler, Dale

whose rural accent and coarse Gribble, Ernest P. Worrell
manners are used for comic relief.

Youngest child The underestimated youngest child in Stewie Griffin, Maggie Simpson, Bobut
a family of many children, usually all on Aliens in the Family
of the same gender. Often portrayed
as the most childlike of the children
due to their youth; in a plot twist, this
character may be portrayed as
comically sinister. In a continuing
live-action series, they may be
effectively succeeded by the even
younger "Cousin Oliver."

Youxia A Chinese type of the Knight-errant Fong Sai-yuk

Yuppie In 1980s and early 1990s films and TV Patrick Bateman, Jordan Belfort as
(or works set in that era), a young, portrayed in The Wolf of Wall Street,
urban professional who is driven by Benjamin Coffin III
their goals of career success and
achieving wealth. Typically a lawyer,
financial executive, or
businessperson, they love their luxury
car (a Saab or BMW), their house in a
trendy downtown neighbourhood,
dressing in designer clothes, and
eating at hip restaurants. May be
depicted as benign for satirical
purposes, or depicted as immoral,
villainous profiteers.

Zanni Servant characters in commedia

dell'arte. Zanni was of two distinct
types: one is an astute, cunning
servant and the other is a silly, stupid
servant. They were called First Zanni
and Second Zanni. Mezzetino and
Brighella are examples of the First
Zanni; Arlecchino and Pulcinella are
examples of the Second Zanni. The
Second Zanni provides comic relief.