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List of stock characters
List of generic characters From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A stock character is a dramatic or literary character representing a generic type in a conventional, simplified manner and recurring in many fictional works.[1] The following list labels some of these stereotypes and provides examples. Some character archetypes, the more universal foundations of fictional characters, are also listed.
 | This article currently links to a large number of disambiguation pages (or back to itself). (November 2025) |
Stock characters from Italian: Commedia dell'Arte — which gave each character a standard costume, so easily distinguished — continued across many types of theater, dramatic storytelling, and fiction.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.
Some characters that were first introduced as fully fleshed-out characters become subsequently used as stock characters in other works — for example, the Ebenezer Scrooge character from A Christmas Carol, based upon whom the "miser" stereotype, whose name now has become a shorthand for this. 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 — reflecting the respective attitudes of the people of the time and the place in which they have been created — in hindsight, may be considered offensive due to their use of racial stereotyping, homophobia, or other prejudice.
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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An eccentric scientific genius stereotype who is so focused on their work that they have shortfalls in other areas of life, (remembering things, grooming, etc.).[2] The shortened term for this character is a boffin. It is the benign version of the mad scientist stereotype. |
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The brave and heroic protagonist of a story which portrays action, adventure, and often violence.[4] They are resourceful, courageous, and have strong commitment to their cause, and they are comfortable with the fast pace of events in the story. Often overlaps with "chosen one" and/or superhero. |
See: List of action heroes. | |
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A negatively stereotypical assertive, overbearing, opinionated, loud, and "sassy" American black woman — typically of the working class — with an acid tongue, often depicted as nagging and emasculating a male character.[5][6] This stereotype is a more modern variant of the archetypes of the old shrew and the foul-mouthed and sharp-tongued fishwife character, exemplified by Molly Malone. |
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A working class hidebound reactionary, white man whose frustration with progressive policies and social changes leading towards a more tolerant society — in which he has a lesser role and powerless to change this demotion — that leaves him at odds with accepted norms, so escalating into rage and on to violence, in extreme cases. In dramatic fiction, this usually leads to the character's downfall. In a running series, the angry white man may soften and become accepting with time to be more sympathetic — see also curmudgeon. |
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Annoying neighbor |
A comic character known for pestering and hounding the protagonist. As they live next door to them, this creates a pretext for frequent unwanted or unplanned interactions. |
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A protagonist lacking conventional heroic qualities, such as courage or idealism.[9] 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. |
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| Apprentice | A younger person who is learning a profession or trade by working under the guidance of an experienced, older mentor. In the crafts and trades, the younger person may be called an apprentice, but in other fields, they may be called a protégé, intern, trainee, or rookie. In addition to learning technical skills, the mentor teaches the values and culture of the guild or profession. Apprentice characters range from hardworking, serious rookies who nonetheless make errors due to lack of experience, to problematic apprentices who may be careless, lazy, or mischievous. The apprentice's coming of age journey, as they transition to adulthood is known as a Bildungsroman. In fantasy, the wise mentor may be a wizard or witch. In historical stories, the mentor may be a Master craftsman in a guild, and a knight’s trainee is a squire. |
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| Arab and Muslim stereotypes |
Arab and Muslim characters in Hollywood films are often portrayed in an ethno-centric or stereotyped way.[12] These characters often were depicted as all generic relatively faceless and interchangeable, speaking in a heavy accent, being hostile and vicious, along with being connected to terrorism.[13] As well, American films and television shows may have stereotypical and pejorative depictions of Arabs and Muslims. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee states that "Arabs in TV and movies are portrayed as either bombers, belly dancers, or [oil] billionaires".[14] |
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Archenemy / arch-foe / arch-villain |
See: Villain |
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In science fiction stories, artificial intelligence (AI) are depicted as computational systems that are sophisticated enough to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. In contrast to mechanical robotic beings in fiction — some of which are depicted as having sophisticated AI capabilities — usually AI does not have a metal or humanoid body and they are instead depicted as residing in some type of computer system or network. AIs are depicted with varying degrees of ability to cause actions in the real world, ranging from communicating via text or speech synthesis to triggering digitally-connected devices. AIs may be depicted in a variety of ways, ranging from benevolent to neutral to hostile. |
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This character portrays values such as determination and sportsmanship as they develop their skills. They may be an underdog who overcomes the odds and defeats the champion. They are often trained by a wise mentor or coach. Is often a boxer, wrestler, runner, swimmer, footballer, basketball player, baseball player or cyclist. |
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A character sharing the traits or appearance of its author or creator.[15] 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. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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| Bad boy | See rake. | |
| Bandit | An armed robber or outlaw, can be a murderous villain dressed in black or a romanticized folk hero who robs the rich to feed the poor. Examples include the medieval archer or brigand, the 18th century highwayman, and the train robbers and bank robbers in Western movies. | |
| Bard | An archetype in Medieval and Renaissance stories of a lute-playing singer-songwriter who sings about the events of the day to earn a living. The Bard may be a travelling troubadour going town-to-town and playing at inns and busking in the street. They may have a wealthy patron and entertain in a noble court — playing for royalty at feasts — so 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. |
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| Battle-axe | This is a traditional derogatory stereotype describing an old woman characterized as aggressive, brash, brazen overbearing, and forceful. The term originated in the early 20th century as a descriptor independent of gender, but became primarily applied to just women around the middle of the century. |
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A hipster character, with a distinct counterculture style (usually wearing black or muted colors, turtlenecks, leotards for women, a beret, and sunglasses), loves jazz and avant-garde art and poetry, marijuana, bongo drums, and has a disdain for anything popular in mainstream culture. See also hippie. |
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Typically a female character who is totally reliant on her appearance to get on in life and is normally supported by a someone with resources, such as a sugar daddy. This stereotype can be of little depth of character and poor intellect or contrariwise, can have hidden depths and keen wits who keeps her intelligence under wraps. In romances, the character is often an initial source of sexual attention for a hero, and a side-track of the story, before he realises that another is the love of his life and is the real heroine. Unlike the ingénue character, who grows emotionally and more worldly-wise through the story eventually fulfilling a heroine role, typically a bimbo does not and remains ultimately inconsequential, even if the pointlessness of her life is pointed out to her. A variant of this stereotype is the vacuous or empty-headed dumb blonde, who is usually a very attractive, young, and nubile blonde-haired woman with little common sense and very little, if anything, to say — literally dumb. |
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| Blacksmith |
A skilled metalworker and craftsman who is the only person able to repair the hero's weapon or shoe his horse. Is often a dwarf. Modern counterparts include the technician, mechanic, inventor and engineer. |
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Black best friend |
In American films and television shows, the Black best friend is a secondary character, often female, who is used to "guide White characters out of challenging circumstances..." and "... support[s] the heroine, often with sass, attitude, and a keen insight into relationships and life".[16] One disparagement of this stock character is that not much of their inner life is depicted and have little or no character development. |
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An evil warrior antagonist, whose identity is typically concealed behind his visor. He displays no coat of arms, in order to mask both his own identity and that of his liege. This character has a strong connotation to or is associated with death and this role is their to battle the good knight-errant for the latter to prove his worth. |
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Blind seer |
A prophet and mystic who is sightless or has poor vision — very common in assisting a hero in his quest in ancient myth — but uses spiritual or psychic powers to sense the events and sights around them. |
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Blind warrior |
Especially as a warrior-monk, a seemingly harmless sightless warrior who uses spiritual or psychic powers to sense the events and sights around them — a trope more common in the Far East. |
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| Bogatyr | Most commonly found in East Slavic epic poems—bylinas, the bogatyr is a heroic warrior possessing great strength, martial prowess and religious fervor,[17] much like the Western European knight-errant. |
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| Bomb disposal expert | They are depicted as brave, resourceful experts who are cool under the pressure of a ticking countdown clock and the risk of certain death. In part, their confidence comes from their encyclopedic knowledge of explosives, timers, triggers and booby traps and their ability to think on their feet, but they may also have spiritual or philosophical beliefs that enable them to face down extreme danger. In some cases, they make detective-like deductions about the bomb-maker's intentions from clues in the device that help them to defuse it. They tend to be quirky lone wolf types or misfits who resist instructions from authority and rules, a behavior which is tolerated due to their elite status and rarity. In military and police stories, the bomb disposal expert may be the protagonist or a secondary character. In action movies and spy thrillers, they may be part of an ensemble cast of military or law enforcement characters. |
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Bounty hunters are freelance fugitive trackers who take the risk of capturing criminals for the reward. They often operate in a legal grey zone, because while they may be permitted to capture the fugitives, and they may coordinate with law enforcement, they are not police officers. They are often lone wolves with a past in law enforcement, the military or crime. They range from honorable, noble former law enforcement officers who only take lawful bounties and who aim to bring criminals to justice to morally ambiguous characters with a mix of lawful and shady motivations to villainous ex-criminals who are only after profit, who take on illegal or shady bounties, and who use lawless tactics to capture or kill their prey. Bounty hunters are depicted in Westerns, Western-inspired science fiction set in lawless frontier planets, modern neo-Westerns, and in other modern day fiction. |
Westerns:
Science fiction:
Other fiction:
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| Boy next door |
A nice, average guy who is reasonably, but not too good-looking with few distinguishing quirks. If any quirks are exhibited, then these are minor or played for comedic effect. |
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Originally, the ancient archetype of a boastful soldier whose cowardice belies his claims of a valour-filled past that dates to the Classical antiquity, tapping a rich vein in both satire and comedy. This stock character speaks with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about their achievements, possessions, or abilities, typically to prove their superiority and create admiration or envy. Some braggarts may misrepresent or exaggerate their accomplishments. His boasts may also extend to his purported feats in the bedroom. In the comic theatre of ancient Rome, this stock character — as alazon and the two variants miles gloriosus and senex iratus — was often from a low class and he was typically engaged in sexual dalliances, excess drinking, and thievery. In commedia dell'arte, the boastful Il Capitano was one of the four core stock characters. He brags about dubious tales of military or sexual prowess to hide his cowardly nature. Sir John Falstaff created by William Shakespeare, is the popular epitome of the braggart with the comic character — noted for having the most appearances and more lines than any other character in the plays — who is depicted as a fat, vain, and boastful knight who spends most of his time carousing and hanging about with petty criminals; living on borrowed, looted, or stolen money. He is ultimately repudiated by other major characters who eventually see him for the debauched, dissolute character he is. The word "Falstaffian" has entered the English language with a connotation of being corpulent, jolly, and debauched. After overplaying his cards once too often with the king, he gets his comeuppance in Henry V. |
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Bug-eyed monster / alien |
Staple evil aliens in science fiction of the 1930s onward were often described — or pictured on covers of pulp magazines — as grotesque creatures with huge, oversized or compound eyes and a lust for blood, women, or general destruction.[2] |
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| Bully |
A villainous character often found in stories centered around youth, especially in school. They delight in tormenting the protagonist, often using emotional abuse and physical threats or assaults. |
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| Byronic hero |
Byronic heroes are dark, gloomy, and brooding where 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 the Romantic poet Lord Byron, who was active in the 19th century. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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Usually, a cunning thief who has a strange gait, slouched posture, and devious facial expression. Variants include the gentleman thief who is a master of disguise, and the professional burglar who usually wears black clothes, a domino mask and a prison stripe shirt |
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An eccentric, lonely woman, often living alone. She may be depicted as dotty and benevolent or as unhinged. |
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| Cavemen / cavewomen | This stock character, which is loosely based on Neolithic people, is typically portrayed as wearing shaggy animal hides, and capable of cave painting like behaviorally modern humans of the last glacial period. They are often shown as armed with rocks, cattle bone clubs, spears, or sticks with rocks tied to them, and are portrayed as unintelligent and only capable of grunting. Stereotypical cavewomen are similarly depicted, but sometimes with slimmer proportions and bones tied up in their hair. See also Jungle boy and Jungle girl. |
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| Chaperone |
In historical works, this may be a respected older woman (less commonly an older man) who accompanies an unmarried teen girl or young woman in public, especially in settings where she might meet a man, such as in town or at parties or balls. Chaperones or duennas supervise the young woman to prevent her from getting into situations with rakes or “fortune-hunters” which would compromise her reputation and her marriageability, while also guiding her to a good match. The chaperone, who plays a blocking role in the blossoming romance of young lovers, may also be a Lady's companion or governess. In 20th and 21st century stories about young athletes, students, or performers, they may still have chaperone characters. |
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Chinese, Korean and East Asian people |
In the early days of cinema, the stereotypical Chinese-American immigrant wore a coolie hat, pigtail and pronounced his Rs like Ls. By the 1920s, there were cunning yellow peril villains plotting to take over the world. In the 1930s Chinese people were represented more positively, often as hardworking, trustworthy, brave and intelligent in contrast to the treacherous, cruel Japanese. This continued in the late 20th century with Asians often portraying scientists and mathematicians. Koreans are often represented as Kpop singers. During the Red Scare of the 1950s and Vietnam War of the 1960s, Chinese, North Vietnamese and North Korean communists appeared as recurring villains. By the 21st century comedies made fun of the generation gap between the older generation of Asian-Americans and their children who had fully assimilated. |
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A character destined by prophecy to save the world, frequently possessed of unusual skills or abilities — frequently going through extreme hardship and sacrifice, including martyrdom — this then overlaps into the "Christ-like figure" below. |
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A hero or major character who dies a martyr only to rise from the dead to fight evil, as in the story of Jesus — heavily overlapping with the "chosen one" character — this similarity may be intentional or not. |
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The opposite of the Cousin Oliver character: a secondary or minor character — usually a sibling of one of the main characters — who, when a breakout character emerges from a continuing series, quickly disappears without any notice nor explanation (retconned out of existence) and from then onward is never acknowledged as having ever existed. Named after the character in Happy Days, who disappeared shortly after Gavan O'Herlihy left the series after one season.[20] Notably, this is distinct from the phenomenon of killing off a character or sending them away, in such cases the character is still recognized in the fictional universe but is no longer present. |
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A trusted counsellor called upon to perform weddings and funerals involving the protagonists. Is fond of long fire and brimstone sermons. Often wears spectacles, black clothing and a clerical collar. Variants include the preacher, Catholic priest, missionary, Jewish rabbi and mullah. Sometimes the priest has a side job as a private dick. A variant is the immoral clergyman. In Victorian and early 20th century literature, a defrocked clergyman of dubious moral character performs forced or sham marriages for the benefit of the villain. In some cases he is criminal con man who uses a preacher disguise to gain the trust of his victims. Another example is the Whiskey Priest. |
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A character who exhibits a very wide range of abilities and knowledge, making him a form of polymath. The competent man, more often than not, is written without explaining how he achieved his wide range of skills and abilities. John W. Campbell set out the idea of "competent man" who can deal with any challenges. Despite the use of "man" in the name, there are female examples. Critics may view some examples of this stock character to be too perfect or competent (or competent in a way that is not supported by the story), and they may pejoratively label them as a "Mary Sue/ Marty Stu" stock character. 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 and so this character may be called a "Heinleinian hero". |
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A person who tricks people out of money by gaining, and then betraying, their confidence. |
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A character, often supernatural or fable-like, who provides moral guidance and advice to the protagonist. This may be a "shoulder angel" (or "shoulder devil"), a character visible only to the protagonist who whispers advice to them. |
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| Contender | A competitive, scrappy underdog who is driven to keep trying to win despite obstacles and poor odds. |
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| Corrupt cop / dirty cop | A law enforcement officer who betrays their vows to uphold the law and who commits crimes for personal gain, such as taking bribes or selling illegal drugs, sometimes directly working for the gangsters they are supposed to be arresting. The "dirty cop" differs from the "cowboy cop" who bends the rules to catch the bad guys because the corrupt officer breaks the rules for personal profit. A dirty cop often lives a luxurious lifestyle far beyond what their police paycheck could cover, due to bribes and they will betray fellow officers and use them as pawns in their corrupt activities. There are two types: obviously dirty cops who make little or no attempt to conceal their illegal activities, and "wolves in sheep's clothing" who may be outwardly respectable, decorated officers who have a hidden drug addiction or criminal enterprise. |
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| Corydon | A Corydon is a stock character for a herdsman in ancient Greek pastoral poems and fables and in much later European literature. The Corydon character may be portrayed as amorous or cowardly. |
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| Cousin Oliver | A young child who joins the cast of an ongoing series (usually a sitcom) after the previous younger characters have 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 stepsiblings had grown into preteens. |
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A misogynistic rendering of a cruel, withered old woman, often with occult or witch-like powers of prophecy. See: Witch |
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| Cultured villain | This stock character is intelligent, highly educated (either at a university or by being an autodidact), knowledgeable about arts, culture and music, and has impeccable manners. Despite this sophisticated and refined presentation, they are immoral villains who plan and execute reprehensible crimes. |
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Curmudgeon / Malcontent / Misanthrope |
A ancient stereotyped character, who is usually an unhappy outsider, but always dissatisfied, observed in Classical theatre that went on to often appear in early modern drama. They observe and comment on the action, and are sometimes metafictionally aware that they are in a play. Usually, but not always, portrayed as a male middle-aged or elderly who outwardly is bitter, argumentative, and politically incorrect. The curmudgeon usually has more sympathetic traits that are revealed over the course of a work of fiction. See also: Angry black woman
See also: Angry white male |
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| Cyborg | A cyborg is a living organism that has restored function or enhanced abilities due to the integration of some artificial component or technology that relies on feedback such as: prostheses, artificial organs, implants or, in some cases, wearable technology.[21][22] A cyborg has both organic and biomechatronic body parts which may give it enhanced abilities.[22] |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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A beautiful young lady who needs to be rescued from kidnapping or other peril by a brave hero. Critics have linked the helplessness of these stock characters to societal views that women as a group need to be taken protected by men. Throughout the history of the trope, the role of the woman as the victim in need of a male savior has remained constant, but her attackers have changed to suit the tastes and collective fears of the period. In fairy tales, a princess needs to be rescued from evil tyrants or monsters, traditionally from dragons. In contemporary 20th and 21st century films, the threat is more likely to come from criminals or terrorists. |
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A good-looking, well-off, foppish young man, more interested in fashion and leisure than business and politics, who is prominent in Regency period and Victorian literature of English and French languages. Affluent, flamboyant dandies of the mid-nineteenth century who spend their days strolling the boulevards may also be called flâneurs. |
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A beautiful and aristocratic woman whose dark, mysterious, and inscrutable personality makes her seem alluring. She could be an antagonistic character if her temperament is malicious or cruel. Her darkness is either literally, in the sense she has a colored skin, or in a metaphorical sense, in that she is a tragic, doomed figure. This stock character in the United States is pejoratively sometimes called the tragic mulatto, otherwise the Hispanic or Latin lady / lover stereotype. Some scholars have called this — and the male equivalent, Don Juan — the only two positive Hispanic stock characters.[24][25] |
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An evil and all-powerful sorcerer, who is though, often wounded, still powerful enough to defile the land. The character may just be a symbol of evil with little backstory or explanation of motivation, except for solely wanting power and dominion over the world — a Devil archetype. |
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A classic villain archetype from the silent film era, who will tie a maiden to train tracks or burn down an orphanage as part of their schemes, all while twirling their long handlebar moustache. They have over-the-top personalities. Seeks to either seduce the young heroine, or swindle her out of her inheritance. |
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These stock characters depict celebrated performing artists such as singers or actresses who have impressive skills but demanding, difficult personalities. The two terms describe a similar character, although “Diva” may have more positive connotations and “Prima Donna” tends to be associated with artists who have a “queen bee” attitude, and who make huge demands for special treatment and have heated debates with the director on artistic issues. They are hostile to rivals and ignore the fans and hoi polloi who wait outside their luxurious dressing rooms. While mainly associated with performing arts, the terms may also be applied to successful people and leaders in other fields. While both terms have female origins, they can be applied to women or men. |
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| Donor |
A supernatural being in fairy tales and fantasy literature who helps the protagonist or tests them. The fairy godmother is a classic example in fairy tales. |
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A villainous character employed by the dog pound who rounds up stray dogs and cats. Often has a toothbrush moustache. |
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Domestic servant (Black) |
Black people in American books and films are often depicted as domestic servants, due to the extensive history of slavery. The common stereotypical depiction of these roles has little or no characterization or character development beyond the functionary role. The pejorative Mammy stereotype is a subcategory. |
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A character that usually very closely resembles, but with a malevolent or diversely contrasting temperament, who is not necessarily related to another benevolent character in the same fictional universe and may come from a parallel universe. Usually, they are portrayed on screen by the same actor in a dual role See also: Evil twin |
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In the United States, a stereotype of East Asian, (sometimes South Asian and Southeast Asian women, as well), as strong, deceitful, domineering, or mysterious.[27] It is a variant of the Dark lady archetype. The term's origin and usage arose in America during the late 19th century. This ethnic stereotype may negatively depict women as promiscuous, deceptive femme fatales. |
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The staff sergeant, gunnery sergeant, or warrant officer in charge of instructing incoming military recruits in basic training. They are strict, demanding leaders who are either loved or hated; good drill sergeants earn respect of their recruits when the training and discipline they impart ends up saving lives, while bad or sadistic drill sergeants may be reviled or even fragged.[29] |
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| Dumb blonde | See Bimbo | |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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| El bandido /Greaser | This pejorative stereotype of a Mexican bandit was established early and common in silent 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 impulsive disposition.[25] |
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| Elderly martial arts master | A wise old figure who mentors the young disciple in his ancient craft. Typically an East Asian male, he is a near-invincible master of the martial arts, despite being advanced in age and presumably having a decrease in physical strength. Often he possesses the rank of sensei and is referred to as such by his student. The elderly master most often teaches either generic kung fu or an exotic style specific to the fictional period. During the films, the master often becomes close with his students, with the master becoming a guardian figure to the trainees, who are, in turn, looked upon as the master's children. |
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| Everyman | An ordinary, humble individual, the Everyman may be a stand-in for the audience, narrator, or reader. |
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| Evil clown | Violent, malevolent beings that ironically resemble clowns. This stock character is a subversion of the traditional comic clown character, in which the playful trope is instead depicted in a more disturbing nature through the use of horror elements and dark humor. The character can be seen as playing on the sense of unease felt by sufferers of coulrophobia, the fear of clowns. |
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| Evil twin | A malevolent character that resembles 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. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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| Fall guy |
Typically a minor or side character — may be a total innocent or a petty criminal — ignorant of their role in the villain's larger plot, who is duped and "framed" or "fitted up" to "carry the can" as the scapegoat, when the police arrive, to be called to account for a crime in court. The term "fall guy" for one whom blame is directed upon to shield other more important people in a scandal had appeared in mass public culture in the US at least by the 1920s. In 1925, it was the title of a Broadway comic play turned into a film in 1930, The Fall Guy, by James Gleason and George Abbott. Separately, in the film industry, the term is used for a stuntman — the person who takes the fall instead of a leading actor, too valuable to put at risk. |
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| Farmer's daughter |
A desirable, wholesome, and naive young woman, also described as being an "open-air type" and "public-spirited".[30][31] |
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| Farmer's wife |
The "long-suffering farmer's wife" is a foil against the leading characters, used as a contrast to the other female stock characters — the "hooker with a heart of gold" and the "schoolma'am" — and is common in Western films.[32] John Steinbeck, in his 1937 book Of Mice and Men, has Curley's wife, who is never named, which shows that she is just a stock character to emphasize this point. |
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| Female clown (Hispanic) |
Also called a "Latin Spitfire" or "Mexican Spitfire", in this stereotype, a Hispanic woman's ditzy antics are used to make the audience laugh 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 (Hispanic).[25] |
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| Femme fatale |
An almost obligatory character who is integral in Film Noir, she is an antagonist originally appearing as a beautiful and alluring woman who is also cunning, deceptive, and traitorous. She may originally appear as a damsel in distress, but then she draws men into a honey trap, and may be motivated by money, power, revenge, and/or status. |
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| Ferryman | They are guides who are paid to transport characters in a vessel to get them to a hard-to-reach destination. In mythological or fantasy stories, the destination may be underworld, purgatory or a similar mystical realm. In some stories, there may not be mythological aspects and the character may secretly transport people or cargo to a very hard to reach destination or help people secretly leave an area controlled by the enemy. They may offer passage in some type of vessel (boat, flying craft, spaceship), or via magical or fantastic methods (teleportation, portals, or dream travel). The passengers typically pay the ferryman or guide. In mythological stories, gold coins on the eyes of the deceased or completion of a ritual or obligation may be required. In myths, they may act as a Deus ex machina. |
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| Figaro |
The French polymath playwright Pierre Beaumarchais created the comic character of Figaro who plays the role of a barber who has become a cunning, scheming, insubordinate gentleman's valet across a satirical trilogy of plays — Le Barbier de Séville of 1772, Le Mariage de Figaro of 1778, and L'Autre Tartuffe ou La Mère coupable (The Guilty Mother) of 1792. The character is inspired by the commedia dell'arte stock character of Brighella,[33] and like his predecessor he is a clever liar; moral and yet unscrupulous; good humored, helpful and brave, though somewhat embittered and cynical. Though he is normally calm, collected and intelligent, he can be irrational when angered. Given that the Figaro character tries so protect his wife from the romantic advances of his aristocratic master, the Figaro character is viewed as a fighter for freedom from tyranny, and as a result, some governments censored works about Figaro. Beaumarchais, may have created the Figaro character as an author surrogate for The Barber of Seville, as the playwright served time in jail for insubordination to the nobility. |
Beaumarchais's character appears in four opera adaptations of his plays:
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| Final girl |
A "last woman standing" from a group left in a horror (slasher) film after a serial killer or monster has eliminated her companions. |
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| Fixer / Cleaner / Bagman | A fixer is a highly skilled person who can discreetly hide or destroy evidence of illegal or unethical behavior that could compromise a person or organization using a range of methods and tactics. Fixers range from sleazy lawyers and spin doctors who use technically legal, but unethical practices to criminal fixers and "cleaners" who do break and enter and destroy evidence. A mob leader may hire a “cleaner” to remove a dead body and other forensic evidence from a crime scene or a hacker to delete digital evidence of crimes on CCTV cameras. A powerful corporation may hire a crisis management expert or lawyer to use lawsuits and payoffs to make a scandal go away. A political party may have a bagman who delivers a briefcase of cash to pay off officials. A celebrity's agent may hire a fixer to keep a rising star's sexual misconduct or drug addiction out of the headlines. |
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| Flunky |
The flunky is often in a high position of trust, but behind the obedient and submissive facade he is a devious manipulator and schemer with his own agenda. Sometimes he is also an evil sorcerer. In works based on the Arabian Nights, the treacherous vizier secretly conspires to be sultan instead of the sultan, but outwardly behaves like a dependable toady. He may be a bald, effeminate eunuch. An overambitious Caporegime in gangster movies can behave like this before he betrays and supplants the old crime boss. |
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| Flying ace / fighter pilot ace / air ace / ace pilot / daredevil pilot /starfighter pilot |
The advent of aviation spawned a genre of adventure stories in which the skilled pilot was the natural hero. Traits often attributed to the ace in war films are "boisterousness, camaraderie, stoicism and [perceived] omnipotence".[39] In science fiction, this stock character is a "starfighter ace pilot." |
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| Foil |
A character, especially in a double act, who is in most respects the opposite of the protagonist or straight man. The contrast between a character and their foil allows each characters' traits to be highlighted. |
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| Folk hero |
A character whose heroic acts are left behind in their people's consciousness, often centuries after their death. |
See: List of folk heroes |
| Fool |
A court jester who made the king and nobles laugh by telling rhyming jokes and riddles, and by doing physical feats like juggling. Jesters could criticise nobility 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. This character often appear as either a simpleton or the opposite, (who only pretend to be simple as a ruse), with a very few falling in between. |
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| 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. He may also overdo being fashionably Gallic by wearing French clothes and using French words. The fop may aspire to a higher social station than others think he has. He may be somewhat effeminate, although this rarely affects his pursuit of an heiress. |
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| French maid |
A stylized, over-sexualized, flirtatious domestic servant with a distinctive black uniform with white lace and 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. |
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In film noir movies about crime, the gangster's moll is usually an attractive, blonde — often a variant of the bimbo stereotype — who may be a former showgirl. The gangster often uses the moll as a "trophy" to boost his status. She may also be called a "gun moll". "Gun" was British slang for "thief", derived from Yiddish ganef [41] and "moll" is also used as a euphemism for a woman prostitute.[42] |
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Gay best friend |
Beginning in the 1980s, screenwriters of romantic comedy films and television dramas set in high schools added the "gay best friend" stock character. Typically, this 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, shopping and drama".[43] In addition, "gay best friend" characters tend to be sidelined into the role of giving relationship and fashion advice, with their character rarely having any depth or development. It has a parallel in the black best friend |
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Originally, a nameless demented side-show freak, with depraved habits — such as biting the heads of small animals — to draw in crowds, and who is usually tied to drug addiction, typically alcohol in Prohibition-era U.S. as shown in the 1947 Film Noir classic Nightmare Alley. Now, typically an eccentric or non-mainstream person who is an enthusiast obsessed with an unusual hobby — such as an anorak-wearing trainspotter — or odd intellectual pursuit. It has a general pejorative meaning of a "peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, boring, or socially awkward".[44] This stock character heavily overlaps and is used interchangeably with the nerd stereotype, but the geek may be depicted still in a more negative fashion. |
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An exotic, sensual east Asian beauty able to charm any man (see also Hawksian woman). Usually wears a silk kimono or revealing qipao. If she is the protagonist, she may also be an assassin or secret agent skilled in martial arts. The villainous equivalent is the dragon lady. |
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Gentle giant |
A folklore figure who, despite the huge size and enormous strength, has a kind nature and sometimes is also soft-hearted. Further information: Giants (Greek mythology) . |
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A sophisticated and elegant thief of the fin-de-siècle to the early 20th century. He has impeccable manners, courteousness, and charm, who typically tries to avoid violence by using deception, stealth, and his wits to steal. He goes for the thrill of the larcenous act itself, as well as to gain material wealth. This is often combined with correcting a moral wrong, selecting wealthy targets, or stealing only particularly rare or challenging objects. He is fairly similar to the confidence trickster. The female counterpart is typically referred to as a "lady thief". |
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Ghost |
A widely used character used since ancient times appearing in myths and legends of prehistory from around the world. Ghost stories take as a premise the possibility of supernatural entity characters who are dead, but which can still communicate or characters' belief in these entities.[45][46] The ghost may appear of its own accord or be summoned by magic or by inciting events or triggers. Linked to the ghost is the idea of a haunting, where a supernatural entity is tied to a place, object, or person.[45] Ghost stories are commonly examples of ghostlore and they appear in supernatural fiction, weird fiction, and horror stories. Originally, ghosts appeared in the narrative as sentinels, portents of doom, or prophets of things to come. From this, they went on deliver a morality tales and were common among Christmas stories, popularised by the many short stories of Sheridan le Fanu and M.R. James. From the first Gothic horror / romance stories The Castle of Otranto of 1764 by Horace Walpole, they were a staple, with the rise of scary ghost characters, while comic forms have also developed in the 20th century. |
Literature and theatre:
Films and television shows:
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A sweet, innocent young woman with a wholesome demeanor who lives in the same neighborhood as the protagonist, so they know each other as childhood friends. While she is reasonably attractive, the key factor in her appeal is her wholesome character and the lifelong connection to a small town or rural area, which may be contrasted with the different allure of more glamorous, cosmopolitan female characters. |
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| Gladiator |
A recurring protagonist of sword and sandal films set during the Roman Empire. The classic gladiator hero might be a prisoner forced to fight for his freedom, or the leader of a slave revolt. Variants include the charioteer and modern mixed martial arts cage fighter. Fantasy and science fiction films with a dystopian or post-apocalyptic setting may also feature gladiatorial combat, sometimes involving chainsaws, firearms and armoured cars. |
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| Golden child |
In stories about a family or other settings with a mother and / or father figures, then the "golden child" is a child (including a grown-up child), or a subordinate member of a group, who is praised as the "perfect one" / "apple of the parents' eyes", protected from criticism, while their siblings, (or their equivalents), are unnoticed for their achievements and subject to significant chastisement. While this child benefits from positive attention and favoritism, so may become entitled, they are also under a lot of pressure to live up to the parents' expectations.[47] The child archetype is a Jungian the "divine child" archetype).[48][49] The opposite character is the "whipping boy", who is seen as the person who cannot do anything right, who is blamed for the family's (or organization's) problems and who gets minimum attention and resources.[50] |
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A stock character, popular in 17th-century Spanish literature, who is comically and shockingly vulgar. |
Examples of similar characters in Anglophone culture include:
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A haughty, flamboyant, and elegant woman of the upper classes, prone to extravagant and eccentric fashion — from the French for "great lady". She is a stereotype of an elderly aristocratic widow / high society socialite.[51][52][53][54] |
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A caricature of working-class 1950s American urban youth, with a "tough guy" or "cool" demeanor, usually seen wearing a black leather biker jacket, white t-shirt, blue jeans, and (pertinently) a slick hairdo with generous amounts of pomade. He often has a thick Northeastern ethnic accent hoarse from cigarette smoking, with a love of rock and roll, along with customizing and racing motorcycles or hot rods. The British equivalent is the "rocker". |
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A deformed or disabled person whose appearance scares strangers or inspires pity, and who may be mistreated. The grotesque is a tragic figure. |
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A jingoistic US military character who is overly enthusiastic and unquestioningly convinced about the right-mindedness of his nation's warmongering.[56][57] |
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A nomadic character having an irascible or passionate temper paired with an indomitable love of freedom, who lives in traveling caravans, making a living by playing music, juggling, or dancing. They are often shown using mystical powers of fortune telling, associated with sinister occult tendencies,[58] along with criminal cunning and thievery.[59] Romani women have been portrayed as mysterious, gaudy, exotic, and provocatively sexually available.[60] The "gypsy" stock character is very loosely based upon the Romani people, who were historically and pejoratively known as gypsies. These stereotypical portrayals in popular culture of the Romani are on a par with the racist portrayals of Jewish people, with both groups stereotyped negatively as wandering, spreading disease, abducting children, as well as violating and murdering others.[61] |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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| Hacker | They are technology experts who can exploit vulnerabilities to get into computer networks, even if they have advanced IT security, including passwords and encryption. In cyberpunk stories and thrillers, they are depicted as rebellious young tech wunderkinds who wear a hoodie, black trenchcoat, and spiked or goth hair, and use multiple computer screens, laptops, electronic devices, and racks of powerful, customized computers to bypass IT system security. They may be benevolent ("white hat hacker") or hacktivist types who help law enforcement or act as Robin Hood-style crusaders for justice; chaos-loving types who like doing pranks on big corporations for the "lulz" (or to show off to the hacker community); or malicious ("black hat hacker") types who hack for the highest bidder, even for criminals or terrorists. Given that they typically engage in illegal acts, they use pseudonyms or "handles" which may use L33tspeak. While they tend to be socially awkward loners, they may also work in a hacker collective where each member has special skills (cryptography, hardware hacking, etc.). |
See also List of fictional hackers. |
| Halfbreed harlot | This pejorative stereotype of a Mexican prostitute was common in Western films. She is the female counterpart to El bandido, a pejorative stereotype depicting a violent Mexican bandit. The "halfbreed harlot" is a secondary character who is depicted as a lusty nymphomaniac with a hot temper who is a slave to her passions. Filmmakers use the character to serve as a sex object and provide titillation to viewers.[25] |
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A misogynistic rendering of a cruel, withered old woman, often with occult or witch-like powers of prophecy. As a stock character in fairy or folk tale, the hag shares characteristics with the crone, and the two words are sometimes used as if interchangeable. See: Witch |
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Typically, a police officer or private investigator — often, a one-time officer unjustly cashiered from the force — rendered bitter and cynical by violence and corruption. They are often hard-drinking antiheroes who use questionable tactics. They are usually the protagonist of hardboiled novels and pulp fiction and of film noir crime movies. Derogatory slang terms for the stereotype are: |
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| Harlequin | A clown or professional fool who 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. |
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| Hawksian woman | This character archetype of the 1930s → 1950s of a tough-talking, self-possessed, and independent woman — a strong film role with much screentime and character development. This stock character sparked against and vied with the male lead role, often Gary Cooper or Cary Grant — and was popularized in the film noir thrillers and screwball comedy films of director Howard Hawks. The Hawksian woman is up-front and frank in speaking her mind, so keeping up with her male counterparts in quick-talking and witty banter — well able to beat a man in verbal sparring — as well as taking action to get what she wants.[63] The archetype was first identified by film critic Naomi Wise in 1971. This character is broadly related to or synonymous with the femme fatale. | Actresses who played Hawksian women include:
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| Hero / heroine | This stock character bravely faces natural or human threats with feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. The original hero in classical epics did such things for the sake of glory and honor. Post-classical and modern heroes, on the other hand, perform great deeds or selfless acts for the common good or justice instead of the classical goal of wealth, pride, and fame. The antonym is villain.[64] Other terms associated with the concept of hero may include good guy, white hat, superhero and an unconventional subtype, the antihero. |
There are many types of fictional heroes, including: action hero, Byronic hero, folk hero, Randian hero, reluctant hero, romantic hero, superheros (heroes with superpowers) and tragic hero. |
| Hispanic maid | A Latina middle-aged servant who works for an American middle class family. Usually, she cannot speak English well, if at all — though sometimes this can be played with, in her abilities being better than her employers' — and is portrayed as being religious and having superstitious beliefs. She is the first person to witness paranormal activities such as ghosts in the house and run away. |
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A lovable rogue who travels from town to town on foot or by train looking for employment. Often carries a bindle containing his possessions. Is usually bearded and may have patches on his clothes and holes in his boots. Survives on strong alcohol and Mulligan stew cooked on a rocket stove made from tin cans. Keeps to himself but is targeted by corrupt cops, brutal railroad conductors and vicious young street hoodlums. |
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| Holmesian detective | A masterful police detective or private investigator who is modelled on the fictional 19th-century detective Sherlock Holmes. These characters may emulate his perceptiveness, intelligence, and use of deductive reasoning. |
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| Hooker with a heart of gold | A prostitute who lives on the fringes of the law, most often forced into this by need, but has a good moral compass and intrinsic morality. May also be known as a "tart with a heart". In historical works, her profession may be bowlderized and disguised to some degree (e.g., as a "dance hall girl"). |
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| Hopeless romantic | A loving, passionate character who expects to find "love at first sight", who is obsessive over, or the expectation of, a romantic partner / love interest — to the point where it is her or his dominant personality trait — and so is usually very optimistic in viewing life. |
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| Housewife | A stereotypical busy mother of the protagonist family, with a pinned-down and homely appearance, who does the mundane work of running the family home, taking care of the children, and doing the housework. |
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| Hotshot | An action/adventure hero with an impulsive, maverick macho character, known for taking reckless risks and defying authority. Popular in American film and TV series. |
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| Hun | A villainous aristocratic German officer from the World War I or World War II era, often wears a monocle and has a dueling scar on his face. Is fond of Wagner's operas. If he is an antagonistic fighter pilot he may follow a similar code of chivalry to the British or American hero. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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| Idiot savant | A person with extraordinary genius in a narrow area who has a social or developmental disability, often consistent with being somewhere on the autism spectrum. |
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| Igor / Ygor | The protagonist or antagonist mad scientist's assistant, who often is afflicted with many physical problems, typically: a short stature, a dragging walking pace, a pronounced hunched back, speaks in a halted speech pattern and/or a low monotone accent, and an obtuse demeanor — embodied in Peter Lorre's interpretation of the role in the 1931 film version of Frankenstein that has now become the trope.
Though inspired by the assistant to Victor Frankenstein, in Mary Shelley's novel there was no such character, and this role originated instead in an early stage adaptation of the story who also was originally named Fritz.[65] |
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| Immigrant | A character from a foreign land whose bizarre manners, quirky behavior, and unusual traditions often clash humorously with Western cultural norms.
The characters may unintentionally violate social taboos or make cultural malapropisms and their struggle with their new language may be a source of comic relief. |
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| Incompetent military officer[29][66] | Usually from a wealthy background, the incompetent hidebound officer is usually senior to the hero — with whom he is often at cross-purposes — and an antagonist in military fiction. The incompetence is depicted either as stemming from a blinkered viewpoint, blind innocence, or fundamental stupidity. There is some overlap with Upper-class twit.[66] |
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| Ingénue | An attractive young woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome who is the romantic object of desire for the hero. |
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| Innocent | A character, often a child (or a child-like adult) who shows moral purity, kindness, and goodness. They may be naive, vulnerable, and afraid of abandonment. Despite having almost all positive traits, they do have some issues; with their sunny outlook, they may be blind to risks or unaware of the ploys of deceitful characters. |
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| This is a cultural stereotype[citation needed] used in Ireland to describe Irish mothers of a traditionally matriarchal style,[69][70] who exhibit traits of over-protection or servitude towards their children and/or domestic visitors in general, but can also be exacting when needed.[71][72][73][74] | * Bridget (played by Jennifer Zamparelli), in the sitcom Bridget & Eamon (2016)[75]
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| Irish person | During the vaudeville era, the Irish stereotype was developed where it was called "stage Irish". It was an "exaggerated caricature of supposedly Irish characteristics in speech and behavior, which depicted Irish people as "garrulous, boastful, unreliable, hard-drinking, belligerent (though cowardly), and chronically impecunious".[81] In 1920s-era films, Irish characters were "fighters, gangsters, rebels, or priests".[81] In the 1950s, Hollywood films depicted Irish women as an "Irish colleen" with a "feisty independent spirit."[81] In the 1990s and 2000s, a new stereotype emerged: the "Irish male as a romantic ideal", with a soft, "soulful and poetic" demeanor.[81] During that same era, another Irish male stereotype emerged: the balaclava-wearing IRA bomb-maker or fighter, sometimes with an "indecipherable, tongue-twister accent".[81] |
All the forms of the exaggerated caricature / stereotype are heavily lampooned and deconstructed in the 1990s television sitcom series Father Ted.
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| Italian-American person | Italian-American stereotypes depict men with "over-the-top gaudy couture", an "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-American women are depicted as "vain, hot-tempered, [and] power-hungry."[82] |
Characters in American mafia films and series: Loretta Castorini and her mother, Rose, played by non–Italian Americans Cher and Olympia Dukakis in the 1987 film Moonstruck portray non-stereotypical characters amongst others that do conform.
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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| Japanese person |
During the 1940s first and second generation Japanese immigrants in America were represented as treacherous fifth columnists, while Imperial Japanese Army troops in the Pacific were depicted as fanatical, deceitful and cruel (as in real life). From 1945 through the 1960s, Hollywood cinema propagated a racist stereotype depicting Japanese men as a "pint-sized man wearing black-framed spectacles, with protuberant incisors", like the "klutzy photographer Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's" whereas Japanese women are depicted with the traits of the geisha: "feminine, subservient, eager and willing to please males". White actors in make-up to try to make them appear as Far East Asian — in what has come to be known as "yellow-facing" — were typically cast in Asian roles until the 1960s. By the 1970s and 1980s, Japanese people 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[83] (1986)). Depictions of Japanese people also link them to sumo wrestling, kabuki, or eating sushi.[84] |
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| Jews | Stereotypes of Jews in literature have changed over the centuries. While there are some sympathetic Jewish characters in fiction, there have been recurrent pejorative and racist anti-Semitic Jewish stereotypes in literature from the Medieval era until the 20th century, often as misers or money lenders. The first generation of Jewish-American authors presented "realistic portrayals" of Jewish immigrants presenting a sympathetic rendering of Jewish characters with proto-Zionist and Kaballistic ideas.[85] |
Anti-Semitic portrayals:
Jewish characters are portrayed sympathetically:
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| Jewish American Princess | A pejorative stereotype of well-off young women at Jewish "summer camps, Hebrew schools, [and] the suburbs of New Jersey" with a focus on grooming (flat-ironed hair), trendiness, "upmarket loungewear", luxury brands (Neiman Marcus, Filene's, etc.) "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, complaining, [and] cajoling."[87] |
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| Jewish mother | A nagging, loud, highly-talkative, 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. |
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| Jock | A popular American high school or college athlete stereotype who is focused on sports competitions, working out and hook ups with cheerleaders. He tends to be better at physical skills than in the classroom, so he may get the Nerd or the wholesome Girl next door to do his homework. He often bullies the nerds and is the boyfriend of the school diva or head cheerleader. |
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| Judge | Wears a powdered wig, carries a gavel and is fond of snuff. May be a kindly old man who gives the juvenile delinquent a second chance, or a stern disciplinarian who hands out unduly harsh sentences for minor crimes. Often has a prominent chin. May order the local doctor or coroner to perform an autopsy on a murder victim. In Western movies the hanging judge is a common supporting character. |
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| Judas | These characters, named after the Biblical character Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, are traitors or turncoats who sell out their comrades to the enemy for profit or advancement, or out of spite. |
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A man who is separated from his parents as a very young boy and raised in the wild by animals. Despite isolation from civilization and lack of grasp of language, the jungle boy has an innate sense of civilization and morality and is usually portrayed heroically. See also: Noble savage |
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An adult woman archetype of a female adventurer, superhero, or even a damsel in distress living in a jungle or rainforest setting. A prehistoric depiction is a cave girl. See also: Noble savage |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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A bumbling, incompetent American police officer or squad, named after the Keystone Cops comic silent film series inspired in good part by the Los Angeles police of the early 20th century, which did not have professional training of recruits until 1916. They show a great deal of action as they pursue a criminal, but they are uncoordinated and the attempt ends in chaos. Modern types may be depicted as lazy, overweight, and with 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. |
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A noble knight on a quest for his Lady or who is seeking some object of significant, such as the Holy Grail. He expresses his courtly love for his beloved from afar. See also: Youxia |
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| Kuudere | A Japanese manga and anime character, who is known for displaying a withdrawn or unemotional demeanor concealing a warmer side to their personality, in contrast to tsundere and yandere characters. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Latin Lady | See Dark lady | |
| Latin lover | In addition to the stock elements from the Rake character of being a handsome and charming seducer, the Latin Lover stock character added a southern European origin or appearance (darker skin and hair) to add an "exotic" or foreign element for American audiences. He conquers women with a sharp, focused glare and outbursts of passion (or romantic dancing) and he is a fighter for justice or freedom. | |
| Legacy hero | A character thrust, often unwillingly, into the role of a hero through nepotism, sometimes having been previously unaware of their family's legacy. |
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In many forms of popular entertainment, gay men are portrayed stereotypically as promiscuous, flashy, flamboyant, and bold, while the reverse is often true of how lesbians are portrayed. Similar to race-, religion-, and class-based caricatures, these stereotypical stock character representations vilify or make light of marginalized and misunderstood groups.[90] In U.S. television and other media, gay or lesbian characters tend to die or meet an unhappy ending, such as becoming insane, more often than other characters.[91] For feminine lesbian characters, see Lipstick lesbian. For the pejorative gay stereotype (typically used in 1930s), see Sissy. |
See: Gay characters in fiction and Media portrayal of LGBT people | |
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Small humanoid extraterrestrials with often scaly, green skin and sometimes with antennae on their heads. These characters are often associated with bug-eyed monsters / aliens. In science fiction fandom, they are also known familiarly as "LGM".[92] |
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A woman disguised as an ugly hag (often cursed), reveals her true beauty when the curse is lifted. The order may also be reversed. Male counterparts also exist such as the Beast from Beauty and the Beast. |
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| Lolita | A young and attractive teenage girl who is getting into a sexual relationship with a middle-aged man. The teenage girl may be portrayed as "precociously seductive."[93] It originates from Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel Lolita, which portrays the male narrator's sexual obsession with and victimization of Dolores, a 12-year-old girl whom he privately calls "Lolita." |
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| Loner | An isolated, alienated person who struggles to connect with people. Their personality may range from benign and withdrawn to embittered and angry, but they tend to seek out solitude. A variant is to depict the person as able to have inconsequential social interaction, but incapable of feeling love or caring — e.g., Meursault in The Outsider. |
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A woebegone, yet sympathetic and usually determined, character for whom nothing goes right. |
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| Lovers |
Alongside the hero, these are probably the oldest of archetypes, dating back to prehistory, occurring time and again in ancient mythologies from around the world. These main characters who fall in deeply love, often despite the blocking effect of other characters (chaperones or family) or events as star-crossed lovers that are strongly fraternizing with the "enemy". This pair of stock characters appear as the Innamorati in the 16th-century Italian theatre style of commedia dell'arte. In the plays, everything revolved around the lovers in some regard.[94] While commedia dell'arte lovers typically overcome all obstacles and are united happily at the end, later dramatic and literary works may have the young lovers face a tragic end. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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| Machiavel[95][96] |
An amoral politician who is obsessed with power and willing to commit criminal acts to secure or enhance their position. The Machiavel character typically follows the principles set out by Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince, a guidebook for 16th century rulers. The Machiavel as a villain devises ruthless plots to eliminate rivals and their families and is willing to do anything, including betrayal of allies or murdering noncombatants, to win more power.[97] |
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| Mad scientist |
An eccentric or insane scientist, who is often amoral and the villain of the piece or else driven to insanity by their experiments.[2][100] Not all mad scientists are evil, with single-minded obsession with their field of study being mistakenly equated with mania — q.v. boffin. Some intend to be benevolent, but think little of the wider repercussions of their work in society or unintentionally cause an accident due to their hubristic attempt to play God in the laboratory. This character trope may well work alone or just have a single stereotyped hunchbacked assistant, often called Igor. |
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| Magical Negro |
An American stereotype of a black person with special insight or mystical powers, who ends up coming to the aid of the white protagonist. |
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| Magical Native American[101] |
A US stereotype of a person of First Nations origin, with shamanistic powers, who typically comes to help a family troubled by disturbed supernatural and/or evil forces. |
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See Curmudgeon |
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Male buffoon (Hispanic) |
This stereotype is used for comic relief. The characters' struggle to learn English or control their hot-blooded temper is used as a source of humor.[25] |
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An American stereotype of a rotund, homely, and matronly black woman who has a sunny demeanor 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. |
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A solitary, rootless nonconformist"[102] or antihero whose extreme moral beliefs have led them to be friendless. Associated with Literature of New Zealand. |
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| Manic Pixie Dream Girl |
Usually static young female characters who have eccentric 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. |
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| Mary Sue | A (usually female; male characters of the type may be nicknamed a Marty Stu or Gary Stu) character who is exceptionally talented beyond her (or his) training and has very few, if any, character flaws or weaknesses, to the point of absurdity.[103] The term has strong negative connotations and is generally used as an insult; it was originally coined in the 1970s to describe the work of young, amateur fan fiction writers. |
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A masked villain is a stock character in genre fiction that was developed and popularized in movie serials, beginning with The Hooded Terror in The House of Hate, (1918) the first fully-costumed mystery villain of the movies, and frequently used in the adventure stories of pulp magazines and sound-era movie serials in the early twentieth century,[104][105] as well as postmodern horror films.[106] |
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A matchmaker or "marriage broker" is a character who helps single people find a compatible pairing for marriage. In some cultures, the role of the matchmaker is professionalized, so the matchmaker may be compensated with a fee. In other cases, the matchmaker may be a family member, family friend, or member of the clergy. The matchmaker in a story may be altruistic and benevolent, and have noble goals, such helping to find a good love pairing or ensure long-term financial security for someone. On the other hand, some matchmaker characters may have more cunning political or strategic goals, such as securing business influence or affecting the balance of power between aristocratic families. Some matchmakers may be portrayed negatively, as manipulators or meddlers. In some romantic comedies, the matchmaker's planned love pairing for a couple may not work, but the matchmaker may themselves fall in love. A subtype in stories set in Jewish communities is the marriage broker or shadchan. |
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A psychic person who helps the protagonist, or a charlatan who takes advantage of the audience's gullbility. Mediums may be depicted using spirit channelling, including séance tables, trance, and ouija. |
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Also known as the "school diva" or "queen bee" who is an attractive and popular high school girl who uses her status to bully others, primarily the protagonist. She is often the girlfriend of the school's popular jock.[108] |
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In a family setting, usually the second of three children, who is often neglected and/or disrespected due to their parents (and the overall story) paying more attention to the youngest and oldest siblings. |
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A delivery person roped into a sexual 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. Other varieties of this included window cleaners. |
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| 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. |
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Miser / Scrooge |
This ancient archetype is a penny-pinching but wealthy boss with a preternaturally aged and dour demeanour, who refuses to spend money and prefers to hoard it. Is usually a Scotsman. Primarily, the character is now based on the protagonists of Molière's Harpagon in The Miser and on Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. The latter's name has entered the lexicon as a shorthand term for this character. Misers range from excessively thrifty, but otherwise benign types, through to avaricious, cold-hearted types who are willing to harm others to gain wealth. |
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A stereotypical portrayal of a character's spouse's mother; frequently a battle-axe and always disapproving of her daughter/son-in-law. There is typically ongoing antagonism between the mother and the character's spouse. |
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An awkward man who is excessively attached to his mother and who continues to act in a childish, submissive fashion even into adulthood. The character is depicted as having an unhealthy dependence on his mother at an age at which he is expected to be self-reliant (e.g. live on his own, earn his own money, be married). The character may be depicted as effeminate. |
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In comic books and science fiction, a mutant is a being with new phenotypes that go far beyond what is typically seen in actual biological mutants and often result in the mutated life form exhibiting enhanced or even superhuman abilities. In the Marvel Comics Universe, they are a persecuted minority who many people fear and hate. |
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A ruler in myth and/or legend, usually a wise and heroic one. |
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Named after the common (but false) myth regarding ruler and military commander Napoleon Bonaparte's supposed short height. This is usually comical villain whose short stature drives them to seek world domination. |
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Former / hiding Nazi |
A character who is a former Nazi military man, politician, or scientist and is often very clearly German, though attempting to conceal their past, (poorly and may be played comically). Former Nazi characters in places such as the United States and the Soviet Union are often rocket scientists or other educated professionals, whereas characters hiding out in South America will usually be officers or political leaders from the Third Reich who are trying to evade justice for their actions during the Holocaust. |
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Typically these nameless and characterless dead Nazi soldiers reanimated as undead monsters, who become mindless killing-machine figures and the cannon-fodder for the heroes of horror-themed films and players of video games. Their bodies and uniforms are typically rotting, giving a horrific appearance. |
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See: Villain |
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A socially-awkward, obsessive, or overly-intellectual person. They are often interested in doing well in school (academically and in terms of behavior). They tend to dress in unfashionable clothes and behave in a clumsy way. The "geek" character is similar but may be depicted in more negative manner. |
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A young man of wholesome morals, agreeable personality and usually modest means. This character is closely aligned with the boy next-door role. 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 more appropriate woman (possibly a Manic Pixie Dream Girl) for him than those who rejected him. |
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Singers/crooners and other artistes who specialize in vaudeville performances in nightclubs. Nightclub acts are usually portrayed as bottom-of-the-barrel, "has-been" entertainers with limited talent. |
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A ninja (also known as "shinobi") is depicted as mysterious, black-masked Japanese fighter with advanced martial arts and ninjutsu skills in infiltration, assassination and deception. Ninjas may be depicted as having supernatural abilities such as invisibility, walking on water, and control over natural elements. There are many myths and legends about ninjas in popular culture. |
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Noble adversary |
A villain who poses a legitimate threat but operates with honor and reason. The battle between the protagonist and the noble adversary is driven by different interpretations of justice rather than a clear demarcation of good and evil, and there may be enough common ground between the two for them to collaborate against threats greater than both. |
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An idealized Indigenous person or otherwise "wild" outsider who is uncorrupted by civilization. The character is depicted in a romanticized way as living in a peaceful golden age of primeval happiness. |
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| Occult detective | A detective who uses traditional techniques to solve supernatural 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. |
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| Ogre | A fearsome but stupid giant humanoid with a treasure hoard, usually a cannibal. May possess a magical artefact that the hero must steal. |
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| Orcs and goblins | A fantasy slave race used as cannon fodder in the dark lord's wars. An orc's rank is determined by his size, skill at arms, cunning, and aggression. In the absence of a dark lord, the orcs degenerate into primitive and chaotic warbands. The science fiction equivalents are expendable combat robots, cyborgs and human clones |
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A bandit in historical depictions or an armed robber in 19th-century or modern depictions who is depicted in a romanticized way. They are often charismatic and appealing, despite their lawless and violent conduct. The Robin Hood subtype steals from the wealthy and redistributes money to poor people. |
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A pantomime portrayal of middle-aged/elderly female characters by male actors in drag of the principal boy's mother or other close relative. She often appears as vain, ridiculous, and accident-prone to provide slapstick entertainment. See also drag queen. |
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A pantomime portrayal of the protagonist, often a prince, as a young heroic male characters by female actors in drag. Further information: Prince Charming |
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An easily irritated villain with a distinctive, whiny, and slightly effeminate voice — named after character actor Paul Lynde, who played numerous roles in this style during the prime of his career during the 1960s and 1970s and adopted by numerous others after Lynde's death in 1982. |
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A Russian kind of Pulcinella-type jester, typically who is mischievous, self-serving, gluttonous, aggressive, and cowardly.[112]: 62 He is usually at the center of conflict in the Petrushka carnival plays, often getting himself out of trouble by killing the other puppets on stage with a swing of his club. |
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In French pantomime, a sad clown in a distinctive all-white attire and makeup, often pining for the love of Columbina, who usually breaks his heart and leaves him for Harlequin. |
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A romanticized stereotype of high 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. |
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In detective stories and police procedurals, this can either be the investigating detective or the police officer is the leader of the law enforcement organization. The title often varies by country or region — chief constable, police commissioner, detective inspector, etc. — but they have a similar role, which is to lead the police detectives and uniformed officers and liaises with forensic experts and may be a Holmsian consulting detective in order to solve a crime or mystery. Police inspectors range from strict "by-the-books" types to those who will "bend" the rules to catch the perpetrator, as they feel "hampered by officialdom" (as Inspector Poirot states in The Patriotic Murders). A subtype is the chief who is a Corrupt cop. |
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A stock character of the 1980s films and television, or in other works set in this era, preppies are students or alumnus of Ivy League schools who have American upper class speech, vocabulary, dress, mannerisms and etiquette.[113] Like the related yuppie stock character of the 1980s, preppies range from benign (albeit materialistic and pretentious), to arrogant or even immoral. |
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A handsome and courageous stock character, who is the romantic hero of fairy tales who coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress or princesse lointaine and so must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell. This archetype is essentially interchangeable across many traditional folk tales — often given no name at all — serving as a foil to the heroine; in many variants, they can be viewed as a metaphor for a reward the heroine achieves for the decisions she makes.[114] |
The princes in: | |
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The princesse lointaine role is an idealistic romantic love interest and beloved sweetheart for a knight-errant or a Prince Charming. Usually, a wealthy woman of much higher noble birth, beautiful, and of admirable character. Often far distant from the knight, some having become smitten in love with the princess without seeing her, owing merely to hearing descriptions of her, due to her beauty and virtue. |
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A villainous character who abuses his position of trust at a county jail, hospital or insane asylum. Usually talks with a southern drawl. He will order beatings, torture, solitary confinement, food or sleep deprivation, and sometimes extrajudicial killing of prisoners from the chain gang who show defiance or try to escape. In war filmss the Japanese or Nazi prison camp commandant will show similar behaviour (see also Hun). The female equivalent is in charge of an orphanage and is often a sadistic nun. |
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A wayward adult child as exemplified in the parable of The Return of the Prodigal Son. The wayward son has become estranged from their family and gone into exile, where they squander their inheritance on a debauched lifestyle, while their older sibling works hard. |
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Typically, an old woman who is embittered faded ex-celebrity, usually with psychotic tendencies. |
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| Puritan | A religious fanatic driven by a desire to purge society of sinful influences. In comedy, he is a miserable killjoy who hates Christmas, music and the theatre. In more serious dramas he is a roundhead officer, witch hunter, abusive slave owner or colonialist. |
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Quincy punk |
An "establishment showbiz" version of punks — dubbed "Quincy punks" after a 1982 episode of the TV series Quincy, M.E., about a crime-solving medical examiner, appearing in the episode "Next Stop, Nowhere" that depicted punks as nihilistic "spiky-haired teenagers and flippant young adults" full of "punk rage", who are "cartoonishly naive and short-sighted" thinking with a "rigid ideology and relentless hopelessness" — shown with "torn clothes, spiked hair, bizarre makeup, and (for some reason) bandanas".[115] Maclean's calls it a "fake Hollywood-ized version of a punk."[116] |
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| Rake / bad boy / bounder / cad / libertine / Latin lover | The "tall, dark, and handsome" sharply-dressed Byronesque archetype of a roguish and sometimes macho young, seductive man — or bad boy — who habitually behaves immorally, and especially is a gambler and womanizer. He is suave and confident in demeanor with elegant courtship and dancing skills, typically in the tango seen in the Latin lover. 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.[25] In his frequent sexual affairs, he shows manipulativeness and a little concern for the woman's feelings. The archetype is the prodigal son, prior to his redemption on returning home and is the antithesis of the boy next door. If this character's actions tip into criminality, then he is seen definitely as an antagonist or anti-hero. Typically, lovers of this self-destructive character are in the seriously mistaken belief that they can reform him or otherwise are a ride-or-die chick — the female equivalent. |
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| Raw recruit | Young, impressionable, and naive, who has to learn how to live with military discipline and understand the reasons behind the way the military works, often ending up in a position of leadership and / or may have a tragic death. |
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| Rebel / maverick | A character who refuses to follow society's rules and conventions, who may simultaneously be a loner or hotshot. |
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| Redneck | A staple character in the 1970s "hixploitation" B movies, appearing as Appalachian or Southern "good old boys" involved in illicit moonshine operations. Redneck sub-types include the crooked Southern sheriff, the "back-road racer", and truckers.[117] |
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| Redshirts | Minor, expendable cannon fodder characters who are killed soon after being introduced. This term refers to characters from the original Star Trek television series, from the security or engineering departments of the starship, who wore red Starfleet uniforms. |
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A protagonist who is thrust against their will into a heroic role, which overlaps with the everyman character. |
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| Ride-or-die chick | A woman willing to support her partner and their risky lifestyle, despite how this might endanger or harm her, who may even take an active role as an accomplice. This character is the female form of the rake character and is a variant of the gangster's moll. |
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| Rightful king | A usurped, just ruler whose return or triumph restores peace, who may be as well a reluctant hero, reticent to take the throne. |
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| Robots and androids |
A staple of science fiction stories that include artificial mechanical beings, which are typically autonomous programmable machines including stark functional robots, such as an industrial robot, and more human-like robotic beings with flesh-like bodies such as androids. These robotic beings have varying levels of artificial intelligence (AI) or independent thought, spanning from a narrow range of programmed actions to beings constrained by strict rules, to having a human-like artificial intelligence beings with free will. Robotic beings may be depicted with a range of characters — ranging from benevolent, neutral, or aggressive killer robots — and typically having a vast range of informational knowledge, but little wisdom as to its application. See also Artificial intelligence and Cyborg. |
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| Ronin |
A wandering samurai who has not sworn fealty to a feudal overlord, similar to the knight-errant from medieval literature. The lone gunslinger, bounty hunter, mercenary and drifter characters from spaghetti westerns and post-apocalyptic movies were inspired by these Japanese antiheroes. |
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| "Runyonesque" characters |
Characters with colorful monikers, who use equally colorful street slang, appearing in short stories by US author and sports writer, Damon Runyon, which depicts a Prohibition era underworld populated by New Yorkers from Brooklyn or Midtown Manhattan — gamblers, bookies, boxers, hustlers, actors, and gangsters — few of whom go by "square" names, preferring creative nicknames. ["Runyonesque" refers to the type of situations and dialog that Runyon depicted,[118]] |
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| Scapegoat | The character made to be responsible for the ills or shortcomings in a group or the person who is held responsible for what has gone wrong and has to face justice (see the fall guy). In a family or similarly close-knit group, a "scapegoat" is another name for a "whipping boy", the person to blame for anything that goes wrong, thus allowing the favored golden child free rein. |
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| Schoolmarm[119] | Typically, a teacher in a 19th-century Mid-West frontier town or settlement with a wholesome, virginal demeanor, modest dress, and good education — representing civilization — in order to distinguish her from the other Western female stereotypes, especially whores at the brothel or "dance hall girls" at the saloon (the latter is a bowlderized version to placate censors). Young and pretty teachers are often the love interest for the hero, whereas older teachers, who tend to be spinsters, are strict disciplinarians. |
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| 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. |
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| Senex iratus | A father figure and comic archetype who belongs to the alazon or impostor group in theater, manifesting himself through his rages and threats, his obsessions and his gullibility. | ||
| Sexy mother | An attractive middle-aged woman who has an open and active sex life, mostly with younger men (see: MILF or cougar). If she is a glamorous, successful woman with grey hair, she may be a silver vixen.
A similar term for elderly-aged women is known as "Sexy grandma" or "GILF". A younger mother may be referred to as a Yummy mummy. |
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| Sexy dad | A charismatic and attractive middle-aged man, either a literal father or a father figure, who is depicted as being attractive to younger women. There is overlap with the "silver fox" stock character for characters with grey or greying hair. Sometimes also called "hot dad", this is the male counterpart of "sexy mother" — see: DILF or sugar daddy. |
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Also known as a witch doctor, fakir or druid. May wear a mask or feathered head dress. Can be either a respected tribal elder and healer who aids the hero, or a dangerous charlatan quack doctor who partakes in human sacrifice and cannibalism. In modern times, he is often a voodoo priest or evil cult leader. |
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| Sheriff | The skilled gunfighter who upheld the law and protected the innocent was a recurrent protagonist of Western movies. Variants include the US Marshal and Texas Ranger. The modern equivalent is the maverick cowboy cop, often transferred from a small town precinct, who cleans up the gang infested city and exposes corruption in the police department. |
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| Ship's captain or sea captain | The ship captain is typically a rugged, confident leader who is cool under pressure and who has a wide-ranging competency in maritime matters through to an obsessive, authoritarian martinet. Whether they command a wooden or iron-hulled ship or a naval vessel, they inspire respect, or in some cases fear, from their subordinates. They are often depicted with a weathered or sunburned face, a beard (or stubble), a peaked officer's hat, sweater, and a blue wool navy pea coat and they may smoke a pipe. They range from honorable, law-abiding figures who insist on strict discipline to more ambiguous characters–often with a "salty" vocabulary–such as the tramp steamer captain or smuggling vessel captain, both of who tend to have a mysterious past and who are practiced in deception. Pirate captain, submarine captain and, in science fiction, spaceship captain, are variants. |
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| Shonen manga hero | A simple-minded yet spirited and friendly hero eager to face any challenge and prove his/her strength. | ||
| Shonen manga rival | A stoic loner who serves as a foil to the hero. | ||
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A woman given to scolding and particularly nagging treatment of idolent and feckless men, with the application of occasional violence, typically of pots and pans being thrown in exasperation. Also called a harridan or virago. Further information: Virago |
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| Sheikh | The Middle Eastern equivalent to Prince Charming. If young, he is frequently the love interest for the white heroine. If older, he is a generous host and benevolent ruler who protects his subjects and swiftly punishes criminals and marauders. |
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| Sidekick | A loyal companion to the protagonist (or antagonist) who may also be the best friend, love interest, or partner in crime. |
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| Silver fox / Silver vixen | These are older characters, typically in their 50s or older, with grey, white, or "salt and pepper" hair who is depicted as attractive, glamorous, and charming. While they no longer have a youthful appearance, they still have sex appeal due to their confidence, sophistication, and sense of style. Silver foxes may be depicted as suave and debonair. Silver vixens may be depicted as elegant and cosmopolitan. They are often successful professionals or leaders, which adds to their appeal, including to characters who are younger than them. There is some overlap with Sexy dad and Sexy mom stock characters. | Silver foxes:
Silver vixens:
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| Sinnekins | Pairs of devilish, impish characters who exert their perfidious influence on the main character and are a staple of Disney animated films. |
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| Sissy | In the 1930s, the "sissy" or "pansy" was a pejorative stereotype used as one of the earliest gay stock 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, incomplete without a boutonniere."[120] Filmmakers used the characters to elicit a "quick laugh", and they never had any character depth. These roles "...cemented the gross stereotypes of gay men that are still seen today."[120] |
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| Sleazy lawyer | A staple of American drama from the early 20th century, becoming regulars in film noir, corrupt attorneys use technicalities to get obviously guilty, 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, district attorneys, 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. |
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Sleazy politician |
An elected official who is embroiled in corruption and scandals such as 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. |
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| 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. |
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A lone lead female character in an otherwise all-male cast, named after the comic character Smurfette from The Smurfs. Often portrays exaggerated feminine traits. |
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A female character who is vain, girlish, mischievous, lighthearted, coquettish, and gossipy. The role of the soubrette 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. |
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An elegant, beautiful young woman of the American Old South's upper class. She speaks with a Southern accent and is flirtatious. There is a good, wholesome variant and a vain, darker version. |
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| Spear carrier |
A minor character who appears in 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. |
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Starving artist |
An impoverished painter, jazz musician, singer,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. |
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A sidekick to a funny person who makes his partner look all the more ridiculous by being completely serious — not to be confused with heterosexual man |
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A demon that appears in the form of an alluring female lover. The male version of a demon-lover is an incubus. For another type of alluring, yet dangerous, female character, see Femme fatal. |
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| Superhero | A noble, brave being with extraordinary powers who dedicates their life to defending the general public.[2] Many superhero figures are a secret alter-ego personality of a "normal" person, e.g. Clark Kent/Superman, Bruce Wayne/Batman | See: List of superhero teams and groups | |
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In 19th century Russian literature, a dashing young aristocrat or landowner 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. |
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A type of heavily armed, futuristic soldier or marine who operates beyond human limits or abilities with enhanced abilities may come from extensive training, mechanical implants, or superpowers. They may use body armor, powered armor, and advanced weapons with some types of enhancements. In some stories, this soldier may operate in outer space or on extraterrestrial planets and can be deployed by orbital dropships, a science fiction version of paratroop deployment. See also: Cyborg |
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The archenemy to the superhero, the supervillain is a sinister being who plots crimes against society. Their origin story, which explains why they turned evil, is important to their character. |
See: Lists of villains | ||
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A spaced out, marijuana-loving 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. |
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An exuberant and boastful swordsman of the Renaissance or Baroque era. He is chivalrous, courageous, and skilled in sword fighting and acrobatics as he seeks prevent the stratagems of the villain. In cinema, this character is popularly associated with the Golden Age of Piracy films. |
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| Theatre kid | A teen or young adult actor, usually a student, who openly displays a talent and/or passion for performance.[123] Common traits associated with the stereotype include obsession with or devotion to school plays,[124] the tendency to spontaneously perform or quote lyrics in everyday social situations,[125][126] a personal obsession with musicals,[126] sexual heterodoxy,[127] and not fitting in well with the rest of society.[127] | The casts of Glee and High School Musical |
| Thug | A henchman or gang member who commits violent crimes. In US films and television dramas, a subtype is the "black thug", which depicts African American men as "drug dealers, pimps, con-artists and 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 activities."[16] |
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| A stereotype of East Asian mothers 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". |
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| A character with no distinguishing characteristics whose sole purpose is 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 role.[128] | ||
| A girl or young woman with boyish and/or manly behavior. Sometimes wears clothes associated with men. |
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| A painter, sculptor, or other creator 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. |
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| A male in a small town who is intoxicated more often than sober. They often have a good heart and may end up helping the protagonist. He can also be a street hobo. | ||
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Town hero |
A person who does heroic activities in the town. | |
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Town villain |
A person who does villainous activities in the town. | |
| A hero with a flaw, mistake, or misconception (hamartia) that leads to 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. | ||
| A mulatto who is sad or suicidal because they fail to fit in with white or black people. The tragic mestizo has a similar clash with whites and Native Americans. |
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| In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and defy conventional behavior. Tricksters, as archetypal characters, appear in the myths of many different cultures. They are "boundary-crossers" [129] who break physical and societal rules, "playfully disrupting normal life and then re-establishing it on a new basis."[130] Often, this bending and breaking of rules takes the form of cunning deception and thievery. As well, there are many tricksters in folktale and mythology. |
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| A cunning individual, of a lower social class than the heroes (originally bound in slavery), who facilitates the story's completion in exchange for improvement of his lot. |
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| Tsundere | In Japanese anime and manga, a character who is initially harsh (and sometimes even hostile; tsuntsun in Japanese) before gradually showing a warmer, friendlier side (deredere) over time. Similar in temperament to the curmudgeon, but usually young and female. | |
| Tumblr Sexyman | A character who typically combines characteristics of the "theatre kid" and the "bad boy", developing a highly vocal following on social media as a result. |
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A perfect — though usually, only seemingly — human being. |
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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. |
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Upper class twit / aristocratic twit |
A wealthy, pampered person from a high or aristocratic social class who is affable, good-natured, and dim-witted. While their life of privilege may have given them an expensive and extensive education — with a smattering of pretentious classical references and foreign phrases — they have been so sheltered from everyday life by their retinue of servants and advisors that they often misjudge or misunderstand everyday situations when left to their own devices. |
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A teenage girl from the San Fernando Valley with a distinctive accent and emphasis on superficial traits. She is typically a materialistic upper-middle-class young woman.[132] 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 accomplishment.[133] |
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A woman with dark hair, usually seen wearing jet black dresses, and having a macabre sense of humor. A Gothic variant of the femme fatale, based on the vampire stereotype (below). |
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Dating from Middle Eastern Semitic and Greek mythology, a vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the vital essence — generally in the form of blood — of the living. Initially depicted as just female, from the 20th century male vampires came to dominate, typically depicted as exhibiting an aversion to sunlight, having a gaunt and pale immortal complexion, with dark swept-back hair in a widow's peak and noticeable fangs, along with a charismatic, suave elegance that makes them attractive to women. Female vampires are depicted similarly — see the "vamp" (above) — as literally very seductive femme fatales. |
In mythology: In novels:
On film:
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This is a category of aged, male characters from Italian commedia dell'arte theatre. They are overwhelmingly the ill-tempered antagonists, opposing the blossoming romance of the young noble lovers, the innamorati. The comic ending is produced when the Zanni (servants) manage to overcome the Veccio's blocking and unite the lovers. |
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The archetypal character of Vice is an allegorical evil part in medieval morality and passion plays. This can be a representation of one of the seven cardinal or deadly sins or a more general portrayal of evil as the tempter of man. Vice often takes the audience into complicity by revealing its evil plans, often through brief asides, longer soliloquies, or monologues.[138] Its enacting is frequently comic or absurd. |
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A person known locally for ignorance or stupidity; this character often turns out to be brave and sweet, and is sometimes underestimated — see also the yokel and the wise fool stereotypes. |
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An antagonist appearing as anevil, "cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime. This character constitutes an important evil agency in the plot".[139] The antonym of a villain is a hero, for whom the villain's structural purpose is to serve as the opposition of this character and their evil actions and motives behind them drive a plot along.[140] In contrast to the hero, who is defined by feats of ingenuity and bravery in the pursuit of justice and the greater good, a villain is often defined by their acts of selfishness, evilness, arrogance, cruelty, and cunning, in displaying immoral behavior that can oppose or pervert justice — the ends justify the means. An arch-villain / arch-enemy / arch-foe is a persistent, indefatigable, and undefeatable villain — equal to or better than the hero or superhero in skill and power — who thwarts all attacks and sometimes even reappears even after being killed, (particularly in comic books). The arch-villain is sometimes referred to as arch-nemesis, but should not be confused with Nemesis.[141] The villain can also appear as an antihero. Further information: Archenemy |
Arch-villains include:
See also: Lists of villains |
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Typically, a former soldier who leaves home a naïve young man, experiences the horrors of war, and then returns home embittered and deranged — suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological problems often having flashbacks and nightmares about the war — unable to adjust to his post-war civil and daily life. This character therefore has family problems with an unhappy spouse or partner and his children due to violent emotional outbursts. This stereotype can be seen in most US action and drama films. A late 20th century variant is the bitter Vietnam vet., a combatant in the Vietnam War. Because of the atrocities to human life, what was witnessed and went through during the war, and the disrespect received from domestic anti-war protesters, his mental state is portrayed as fragile and unstable. Similar variants can be seen with combatants from the Korean War and the World Wars, with the latest being from the Iraq War and Afghanistan War. |
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Wealthy Southern aristocrat |
A usually male character who is well-dressed, well-educated, wealthy, arrogant, and haughty yet still has a healthy sense of humor. |
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Whisky priest |
A priest or ordained minister who shows clear signs of moral weakness, either due to alcohol use, having a mistress, or doing other forbidden activities, while at the same time teaching a higher standard and showing courage and moral resolve on a broader level. The stock character name was coined by Graham Greene to describe the renegade priest in The Power and the Glory (1940). |
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White friend |
In US fiction centered around a group and/or family of blacks or other people of color, the white friend is an exaggerated parody of stereotypes of white Americans, including having awkwardness around people of color, an inability to dance, and being an all-around "square". |
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Khaki-clad and pith-helmeted Caucasian big-game hunters or safari leaders in Africa, used to illustrate the Imperial mindset of the colonial era. |
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A western white, person — almost always a man — who saves an indigenous population from an external threat.[144] |
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Wimp |
A mild-mannered, ineffectual, and weak-willed character, who often is easily manipulated and not well-liked. |
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A simpleton or a person who seems like an idiot, who may speak inarticulate nonsense in one moment, only to later show wisdom. The fool's mocking humour shows his ability to understand events or speak blunt truths to a leader. |
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An elderly and wise man who serves as mentor / father figure to the protagonist. In fantasy, typically he may also be a wizard. |
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A user of magic, usually a woman, who can appear as neither wholly benevolent nor malevolent.[145][146] Often depicted as wizened, withered old hag — sometimes a fairy or deity — occasionally benevolent of cruel, malicious, malevolent nature, though can also be mysterious and alluring young woman or could take any appearance with shapeshifting magic, but sometimes chooses the appearance of such an old woman in the first instance of meeting. The character is found extensively throughout mythology, folklore, and children's tales, often in groups or covens of three. The ancient magical triumvirate of the maiden, mother, and crone is linked directly to the key stages of women's lives and their development of their roles in society.[147][148][149] The words witch and hag can also be used synonymously.[145][146][150] |
See also: List of fictional witches | |
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An unsophisticated country person whose rural accent, lack of formal education, and coarse manners are used for comic relief — see also "village idiot". |
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The underestimated youngest child in a family of many children, usually all of the same gender. Often portrayed as the most childlike of the children due to their youth; though, 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". |
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They are type of ancient Chinese warrior folk hero who defend the weak, celebrated in classical Chinese poetry and fictional literature. Most often depicted as swash-buckling wandering adventurers or knight-errants of China going back to the end Warring States period and the foundation of the Qin dynasty of the 3rd century BCE through to period of the Ming→Quing dynasties transition in the 17th century. |
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A young, urban professional of the 1980s and early 1990s — typically an advertising executive, corporate businessperson, investment banker, stock broker, corporate lawyer, or similar — who is driven by their goals of achieving wealth, career success, and the status symbols that come with these, to the exclusion of all else. They have a love of materialism and exclusivity associated with success in a free-market economy of the neo-liberal politics driven by the Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher governments. They measure their lives by their luxury car (a BMW or Saab), their house in a trendy downtown neighborhood, dressing in designer clothes, and eating at exclusive restaurants. They have no time for any family life. Usually, they are depicted as immoral and villainous profiteers or for satirical purposes, may be benign swept up in forces beyond their control. |
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Servant characters in commedia dell'arte. Zanni were 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. The Zanni also help the young lovers to overcome the blocking efforts of the Veccio, or elderly male characters. |
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A type of undead creature that appears across various media, typically appearing as a mindless destructive horde. It is a mythological undead corporeal revenant created through the reanimation of a corpse. The term comes from Haitian folklore, in which a zombie is a dead body reanimated through various methods, most commonly magical practices in religions like Vodou. Variants include the mummy, ghoul, wendigo, lich, and skeleton. In modern popular culture, zombies are most commonly found in horror and fantasy genre works. Modern media depictions of the reanimation of the dead often do not involve magic but rather science fictional methods such as carriers, fungi, radiation, mental diseases, vectors, pathogens, parasites, scientific accidents, etc.[152][153] |
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