Top 50 Characters from Literature

 

My 50 Favorite Characters in Literature

 

I love stories of all kinds, characters who inspire me or I can relate to. The following are my top 50 favorite characters from all forms of literature. I have only including fictional characters, so no real people (Schindler’s List) or characters closely based on real life counterparts (I Love Lucy).

 

1.      George Baily – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

-          He’s “the richest man in town,” and the greatest character in literature

2.      Fox Mulder and Dana Scully – The X-Files (1993

-          The original supernatural investigators

3.      Godzilla – Godzilla (1954)

-          All hail the king

4.      Ron Swanson – Parks and Recreation (2009)

-          Ron Swanson is the man every man aspires to be

5.      April Ludgate and Andy Dwyer – Parks and Recreation (2009)

-          The cutest and most hilarious couple of all time. It’s like a cat and dog married each other

6.      Calvin and Hobbes – Calvin and Hobbes (1985)

-          Perhaps the two greatest philosophers of the late 20^th century

7.      George Banks – Mary Poppins (1964)

-          Being present to your wife and children is the key to being a good father.

8.      Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot – Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)

-          Trolls 4 life

9.      Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold – Once Upon a Time (2011)

-          A complex and beautifully crafted character

10.  Luke Skywalker – Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

-          Who doesn’t want to move stuff with their mind?

11.  Hermione Granger – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (1997)

-          Smart, witty, and loyal

12.  Juliet Starling – Lollipop Chainsaw (2013)

-          Hilarious and totally awesome

13.  Tevye the Dairyman – Tevye and His Daughters (1894)

-          A modern-day Job with a heart of gold

14.  Thor – Journey Into Mystery (1962)

-          My favorite Marvel character

15.  Gandalf – The Hobbit (1937)

-          The ultimate guide and companion

16.  Captain Jean-Luc Picard – Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

-          Easily the best of the Star Trek captains

17.  Chandra Naalar – Magic the Gathering (2007)

-          The very definition of the word “feisty”

18.  Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead (2010)

-          Deadly, loyal, and the ultimate survivalist

19.  Forrest Gump – Forrest Gump (1986)

-          He knows “what love is”

20.  Captain America – Captain America (1940)

-          Straight and true

21.  Atticus Finch – To Kill A Mockingbird (1960)

-          Always do the right thing with great dignity

22.  Lilliana Vess – Magic the Gathering (2007)

-          Sad, tragic, but endlessly fascinating

23.  Rick Blaine – Casablanca (1942)

-          The ultimate anti-hero

24.  Wonder Woman – All Star Comics (1942)

-          The original female superhero

25.  Lara Croft – Tomb Raider (1996)

-          Boys really do like smart, tough girls

26.  Rocky and Bullwinkle – The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends (1959)

-          Silly but fun duo

27.  Pikachu – Pokémon: Red and Blue (1996)

-          Loyal, cute, but incredibly effective

28.  Superman – Action Comics (1938)

-          Represents the best of American mythology

29.  Spock – Star Trek (1966)

-          Smart, efficient, and unintentionally funny

30.  Elizabeth Bennet – Pride and Prejudice (1813)

-          Easily the best of Jane Austin’s characters

31.  The Girl – The Seven-Year Itch (1957)

-          Fun, free-wheeling, and unattainable

32.  Phineas and Ferb Fletcher - Phineas and Ferb (2007)

-          It’s so weird how every episode is fundamentally the same but compelling nonetheless

33.  Kermit the Frog – The Muppets (1955)

-          Keeping all the Muppets in line is a tough gig

34.  The Tramp – Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914)

-          He never lets the injustice of life get him down

35.  Tintin – The Adventures of Tintin (1929)

-          I loved reading these stories when I was kid, going to exotic places and having thrilling adventures

36.  Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson – A Study in Scarlet (1887)

-          I love puzzly literature

37.  Miss Frizzle – The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks (1985)

-          Her personality was only outdone by her outfits

38.  Totoro – My Neighbor Totoro (1985)

-          Your friendly neighborhood Kami

39.  Archie Bunker – All in the Family (1971)

-          Often embarrassing but relatable

40.  Oscar the Grouch – Sesame Street (1969)

-          I understand him on a deep level

41.  Indiana Jones – Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

-          Just plain fun

42.  Han Solo - Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

-          Shoot first, ask questions later.

43.  Captain Jack Sparrow – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

-          Endlessly entertaining

44.  Seven of Nine – Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

-          Like Data, but with something…more

45.  Belle – Beauty and the Beast (1991)

-          A smart, beautiful woman with courage and self-sacrifice

46.  Rapunzel – Tangled (2010)

-          Great voice and attitude

47.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1984)

-          Pizza, ninjas, and cool weapons. What’s not to love?

48.  Garfield – Garfield (1976)

-          I also hate Mondays.

49.  Katara – Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)

-          Water-bending is pretty sweet

50.  Jessica Rabbit – Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

-          Not bad, just drawn that way.