Top 10 Scary Villains Who Once Played Hilarious Goofballs

“The White Lotus” (2021-)

This beloved HBO drama mostly tells standalone stories, with each season having its own definitive storyline with a new cast and setting. But there are a few overarching threads and characters, including Jon Gries’s Greg. And we’re sorry, but we just can’t take this dude seriously without thinking of throwing a football over them mountains. Greg is a real sleazy schemer, even orchestrating the murder of his own wife for financial gain. Gries is fantastic in the role - restrained, subtly menacing, and deeply suspicious. He’s an eerily real killer rather than a caricatured villain. And then you go back twenty years and watch him throw a steak at Napoleon’s head. The magic of good acting.

“Griselda” (2024)

Sofía Vergara got her breakout playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in “Modern Family,” and while she’s no Phil, Gloria certainly had her goofy moments. Vergara’s performance was widely acclaimed, and she earned four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress. And in 2024 she got a promotion to Outstanding Lead Actress for playing The Godmother herself, Griselda Blanco. Blanco was a real Colombian drug lord operating in Miami throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, and who was notorious for her acts of extreme violence - like killing all three of her husbands. Vergara is literally unrecognizable in the role, completely transforming from silly, harmless Gloria into a ruthless drug lord.

“Creep” (2014)

If you want “Creep” to be more effective, then don’t watch Mark Duplass in “The League.” While his character, Pete Eckhart, is the straight man amidst more exaggerated characters, he is still plenty goofy. Pete is often the instigator of pranks and schemes, and Duplass gives him a laid-back, sarcastic charm that makes him insanely likable. And in “Creep” he plays a murderous psychopath. Duplass effortlessly commands the screen, hiding Josef’s malicious nature and ulterior motives behind a superficial charm It’s actually eerie how well he plays a conniving psycho - and how realistic that portrayal actually is.

“Breaking Bad” (2008-13)

Before this beloved show came around, Giancarlo Esposito was known for his collaborations with Spike Lee. And of them all, his most famous role was that of Buggin’ Out in “Do the Right Thing.” He is a passionate and hot-headed young man, and while his heart is in the right place, no one takes him very seriously owing to his absurd persona. Fast-talking, animated, and exaggerated, Buggin’ Out is a real goofball. And Gus Fring is the exact opposite - slow-talking, reserved, and cold. Polite on the surface but hiding a malicious interior, Gus Fring is undeniably one of the best villains in TV history, and Esposito played him to perfection.

“Sons of Anarchy” (2008-14)


We need more Shakespeare adaptations like this! “Sons of Anarchy” is a fun crime drama about a motorcycle gang, but it’s also a modern retelling of “Hamlet,” and Gemma Teller Morrow inhabits the role of Gertrude. Katey Sagal is exceptional in the role, playing a brutally manipulative woman who acts as the ruthless enforcer of both the club and her immediate family. With her intense eye contact, gravelly voice, and commanding posture, Gemma is an intimidating matriarch and not someone you ever want to cross. It’s almost impossible to believe that she is also the wildly exaggerated Peggy Bundy in “Married... with Children.”

“Foxcatcher” (2014)

When it comes to hilarious goofballs, it’s hard not to think of Michael Scott. He’s one of the greatest examples in television history. So to watch Steve Carell in “Foxcatcher” is to witness the power of acting. He plays John Eleuthère du Pont, the murdering philanthropist who killed wrestler David Schultz in 1996. With the help of facial prosthetics, stiff movements, and a different voice, Carell physically transforms into the famous criminal while also conveying his deep loneliness and insecurity. And instead of playing du Pont as overtly menacing, Carell uses restraint, with awkward social interactions and subtle glances helping to build tension. It’s a remarkably scary performance that earned Carell his first Oscar nomination.

“10 Cloverfield Lane” (2016)

John Goodman is such an acclaimed actor with such an enormous filmography that we often forget he was even on “Roseanne.” He plays Dan Conner, a blue-collar, easygoing, and loving family man. He’s easily one of the most beloved dads in sitcom history, with Goodman earning praise for his tenderness and silly sense of humor. And in “10 Cloverfield Lane,” Goodman takes what is probably his darkest turn as Howard Stambler, a paranoid and menacing survivalist who traps two people in an underground bunker. The two characters couldn’t be more different, with Howard sharing none of Dan’s cuddly warmth. He’s cold, calculating, and physically imposing - a man who is not to be trusted and who is deeply, deeply unstable.

“Dexter” (2006-13)

For his role in “3rd Rock from the Sun,” John Lithgow earned three Emmys for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. It’s a legendary comedic performance, with a very theatrical, almost Shakespearian intensity. Lithgow throws his entire body into the role, with his over-the-top movements and facial expressions making every moment feel joyously unpredictable. Meanwhile, his portrayal of Arthur Mitchell is widely considered a masterpiece of dramatic acting, with a deeply chilling ability to switch between a warm, paternal presence and a terrifying predator. The duality within his performance is nothing short of mesmerizing, and watching Lithgow work is watching a master of his craft.

“Natural Born Killers” (1994)


Like John Goodman, Woody Harrelson has had such a varied career that we often forget his start in comedy. His big break came via Woody Boyd, the goofy and simple-minded bartender on “Cheers.” Harrelson earned five Emmy nominations for his performance, winning once. But it was with “Natural Born Killers” that people started taking him seriously as a dramatic actor. He plays Mickey Knox, one half of an evil couple who take joy and seek fame through murder. Boyd’s goofiness is entirely absent, replaced by a psychotic glee and a dead look behind the eyes. And to think, this movie came out just one year after “Cheers” ended. Talk about whiplash.

“Insomnia” (2002)

Robin Williams was the very epitome of a goofball. It was his bread and butter, and it made him very, very famous. That said, Williams also had many dramatic roles, including a few turns as the villain. “One Hour Photo” immediately springs to mind, but for our money, his best bad guy role was that of Walter Finch in “Insomnia.” Not only does Williams play against type as a murderer, but he brings a heightened psychological complexity that is just wonderful to behold. Walter has layers, and Williams plays him with an eerie calmness, complete with a soft-spoken nature and very deliberate phrasing. Williams was never more insidious, and we needed a “Mrs. Doubtfire” cleanser after this one.

What was your favorite against-type performance? Let us know in the comments below!