Top 20 HBO Characters of All Time
#20: NoHo Hank “Barry” (2018-)
Kicking off our list is a relatively new HBO character, but one who is nevertheless deserving of a place in the network’s pantheon of great fictional personalities. The antithesis to the multitude of violent gangsters produced by HBO over the years, NoHo Hank is a naive Chechen mobster with a distaste for getting his hands dirty. More likely to sport a snazzy disguise than a handgun, Hank is a veritable well of one-liners, with his absurd optimism serving as the perfect juxtaposition to the tragic world he inhabits. Fans of “Barry” might come for Bill Hader (more on him in a bit), but they stick around for Anthony Carrigan and his hilarious portrayal of NoHo Hank.
#19: Angela Abar/Sister Night “Watchmen” (2019-)
Okay, okay, okay, before you jump down our throats for beginning our list with not one but two characters who debuted in the last two years, allow us to explain. Angela Abar, aka Sister Night, is a badass of the highest order. She isn’t just from the school of hard knocks, she’s the freakin’ dean. The indomitable “Watchmen” protagonist is a juggernaut of justice, regardless of whether she’s tracking down leads and kicking ass as Sister Night or protecting her family from fanatical racists in her own home. The conclusion of “Game of Thrones” left a major hole in HBO’s badass heroine department, a mantle Angela Abar has been more than happy to fill.
#18: Lafayette Reynolds “True Blood” (2008-2014)
Season 1, episode 5. That’s the moment Lafayette Reynolds leapt off the screen and into our collective hearts thanks to that infamous AIDS burger scene. Who would have guessed that this small-town short order cook would grow to become one of “True Blood’s” most memorable characters? As a testament to the character’s popularity, Lafayette Reynolds stuck around for the entirety of the show’s run, despite having been killed off in just the second book of The Southern Vampire Mysteries series, upon which the show is based. Reynolds served as both an excellent source of comic relief, as well as a formidable ally to Sookie and co.
#17: Nelson Van Alden “Boardwalk Empire” (2010-14)
Let’s get something straight, Enoch "Nucky" Thompson is a fantastic character, but HBO mob bosses are a dime a dozen and we had to cut some of them. Enter: Nelson Van Alden. Van Alden began his character arc as a Prohibition Agent tasked with bringing Thompson down and ended it as a murderer and bootlegger on the run from his former employer. So, you could say he had a pretty interesting run on “Boardwalk Empire”. Played by Michael Shannon (who received two Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance), Nelson Van Alden somehow manages to be the show’s most unredeemable and sympathetic character. His repressed and violent nature make him totally unpredictable, something that made him a whole lot of fun to watch for five seasons of this historical drama.
#16: Rustin "Rust" Cohle “True Detective” (2014-)
Few would argue that this anthology series peaked in season one and looking back it becomes clear that that’s largely due to Matthew McConaughey’s revelatory turn as Detective Rust Cohle. A brilliant investigator with a tragic past, Cohle simultaneously annoyed his partner Marty Hart and entertained viewers with his philosophical musings, blunt demeanor and obsessive tendencies. Whether he was unravelling suspects in the interrogation room, going undercover to solve a string of brutal crimes or riding in the car with his partner and spouting nonsense about the universe, Rust Cohle was always worth the price of admission. The real crime was that we only got to see him on screen for a single season.
#15: Ari Gold “Entourage” (2004-2011)
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Few characters embody the foul language, violent tendencies and overtly controversial nature of HBO quite like Ari Gold. The man is a human wrecking ball of provocative statements and behavior. Across eight seasons and a movie he never failed to entertain viewers with his unwavering support of his top client Vincent Chase, as well as his constant belittling of Chase’s best buds E, Drama and Turtle. Perhaps best defined by his relationships with other people, Gold was a brutal dictator to his employees (particularly Lloyd) and an overbearing husband to his wife Melissa. The kind of character you can’t help but like despite his plethora of negative qualities, Ari Gold remains one of HBO’s greatest creations.
#14: The Girls “Sex and the City” (1998-2004)
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Why debate which of these four iconic TV characters deserves a spot on our list when we can just include them all! “Sex and the City” follows Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda as they attempt to traverse the complex social landscape of New York City. The show doesn’t just offer us a glimpse into their lives, it puts them under a microscope; allowing viewers to truly experience the lives, loves and lusts of each character. As they often discussed - and lived through - issues that affected many a modern woman, the show became a TV sensation, one that lives on through the many woman who continue to debate with their friends whether they’re a “Carrie” or a “Samantha”.
#13: Russell "Stringer" Bell “The Wire” (2002-08)
Offering a respite from the hot-blooded gangsters he’s surrounded by, Russell “Stringer” Bell is a cold and calculating businessman with one eye on the street and one on the penthouse. Brilliantly brought to life by Idris Elba, Bell is the finesse to Avon Barksdale’s frankness. Cool, calm and collected, Bell is capable of solving any problem thrown his way. While he’d rather use a pen than a gun, he isn’t afraid to do what’s necessary for the Barksdale organization. A contemplative gangster of the highest order, Bell’s pursuit of a better life is not without consequences. In the end, it’s Stringer’s lack of understanding for the world he inhabits that leads to his demise. Still, we’ll always remember him for his unconventional take on the street thug trope.
#12: Kevin Garvey “The Leftovers” (2014-17)
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This high concept show featured no shortage of fantastic characters. However, if we had to pick just one we’re going with police chief Kevin Garvey. Played by Justin Theroux, Garvey is forced to deal with the “Sudden Departure” on multiple fronts, with his job putting him in conflict with the Guilty Remnant organization and his home life in tatters thanks to the departure of his wife and son. Through it all Garvey remains a strong voice of reason for the townspeople, despite the fact that he’s going through some pretty intense emotional turmoil inside his own head. In a world flipped upside-down, Kevin Garvey is our guide; and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
#11: Arya Stark “Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
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The fact that it took nine entries for us to reach our first “Game of Thrones” character is a testament to HBO’s writers. Okay, full disclosure, they’ll be more “GOT” down the line, but for now let’s focus on no one, uh, sorry, we mean Arya Stark. Arya undergoes one of the show’s most dramatic characters arcs yet manages to remain true to herself through it all. The girl we meet in episode 1 is the same woman who sails off into the sunset in episode 73; albeit with a few more notches on the hilt of her sword. Fiercely loyal to her friends and family, Arya always stands up for her beliefs, regardless of the consequences. Oh, and she killed the Night King. ‘Nuff said.
#10: Barry Berkman “Barry” (2018-)
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When ex-marine and current hitman Barry Berkman heads to Los Angeles to do a job, he inadvertently finds himself longing to become an actor. Yeah, you can see why this show got picked up. Played to perfection by Bill Hader, Barry is without a doubt one of the most unique characters to grace the small screen in years. He’s a violent, temperamental, lonely man that deep-down longs for acceptance and friendship. Yet every time he attempts to better himself, he only winds up digging a deeper hole. Barry’s dry personality is often at odds with the colorful characters he surrounds himself with, causing him to stand out like a sore thumb. In his world that means constant trouble, but for the viewer it’s a goldmine of entertainment!
#9: Selina Meyer “Veep” (2012-19)
Okay, let’s be honest, this show was overflowing with hilarious and iconic characters, from Gary to Jonah. However, the one person who managed to keep all those wacky personalities in line was its titular Vice President, Selina Meyer. Quick to dole out verbal lashings to subordinates and peers alike and eschewing her responsibilities as mother in favor of climbing the political ladder, Selina Meyer was unlike any fictional politician the world had ever seen. The role garnered Julia Louis-Dreyfus a slew of awards, including a whopping nine Primetime Emmy Awards – three of which were for her contributions as a producer.
#8: Kenny Powers “Eastbound & Down” (2009-2013)
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Abrasive, egotistical, lazy. These are all words that can be used to describe Kenny Powers. Oh, and let’s not forget racist. That may not sound like the winning combination for one of HBO’s all-time great characters but bubbling beneath the surface of those harsh descriptors is a man trying his best. After getting bumped from Major League Baseball for the aforementioned personality traits, Powers moves back home to work as a gym teacher. Through it all he dreams of making it back to the big leagues, but continually torpedo his goals thanks to his various personal issues. Still, Powers is endlessly entertaining and the TV trope of dropping a big personality into a small town never really gets old. At least not for us!
#7: Carmela Soprano “The Sopranos” (1999-2007)
The wife of mob boss Tony Soprano, Carmela is far from a one-note character. Thanks to the nuanced performance of Edie Falco (which won her two Golden Globes and three Primetime Emmy Awards), Carmela Soprano serves as the emotional crux upon which “The Sopranos” stands. She’s a deeply conflicted character who has difficulty reconciling with Tony’s violent line of work, but accepts the ill-gotten luxuries he bestows upon her, nevertheless. While she may be married to a violent gangster who cheats on her with regularity, Carmela is anything but placid. She speaks her mind and ventures out on her own sexual adventures when the mood strikes her. In this way she isn’t so different from Tony. Still, she offers a compelling and necessary contrast to her husband that we find totally engaging.
#6: Daenerys Targaryen “Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
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Now this is what we’d call a dramatic character arc. When we first meet Daenerys Targaryen she is a meek little girl who’s forced into an arranged marriage with a violent brute. Eight seasons later and she’d risen to become the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. She accomplished this feat by always believing in herself and refusing to give up even when faced with the harshest of circumstances. Stolen dragons? No problem. Revolt in Meereen? Child’s play. An army of undead monsters? Okay, that one was pretty hard to overcome. Did her descent into madness feel rushed? Arguably; yeah! But along the way she served as role model to children all across the world, thanks to her compassion, perseverance and inner strength.
#5: Al Swearengen “Deadwood” (2004-06)
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This tragically short-lived HBO series produced many a great character, though none were better than Al Swearengen. Based on a real 19th century brothel owner, Swearengen was brought back to life thanks to the Golden Globe winning performance of English actor Ian McShane. The key cog in a show defined by its sex, violence and profanity, Al Swearengen revelled in the chaos of his environment; and was an active participant in it. While he was firmly entrenched as the show’s primary villain throughout the first season, Swearengen later evolved into something of an anti-hero – protecting the town of Deadwood from would-be leeches. Word to the wise: Al Swearengen is a character best enjoyed far out of earshot of the nearest child.
#4: Tyrion Lannister “Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
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He may have started off as a womanizing drunk, but by the time “Game of Thrones” reached its startling conclusion, Tyrion had become one of the most important people in all of Westeros. Not one to suffer any fools – despite occasionally being one – Tyrion was also a master manipulator, a gifted tactician and a harbinger of positive change. He often found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place, but always managed to talk his way out of it. Through it all he maintained his wry sense of humor, which served him well in dire situations. Simply put, if we could have a drink with any “Game of Thrones” character, it would be Tyrion, hands down.
#3: Larry David “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (2000-)
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Larry David might play a fictionalized version of himself on “Curb your Enthusiasm”, but we have a sneaking suspicion that he’s more like his TV counterpart than he lets on. Larry David is without a doubt one of the greatest creations HBO has ever had the honor of producing. A neurotic of the highest order, David finds himself in conflict with the entire world in “Curb”; getting into petty feuds, fights and debates with whoever happens to cross his path. Larry David is the everyman taken to the extreme and we thank our lucky stars every day that the real-life David was brave enough to make a show this daring for our amusement. Quick side note: if this list was a Top 40, we’d have definitely made room for Leon Black!
#2: Omar Little “The Wire” (2002-08)
For Omar Little, robbing drug dealers isn’t just a job, it’s his life. That should tell you everything you need to know about this iconic HBO character. While “The Wire” mainly focuses on the realistic conflict between the Baltimore police department and members of the city’s drug trade, it was increasingly forced to find more and more time for Omar Little. The character’s popularity grew with each passing season, thanks in no small part to his apparently unlimited badassery. He outsmarted Stringer Bell, reigned down terror upon Marlo Stanfield and petrified Baltimore’s drug pushing community. You know you’re a straight up g when people literally flee in terror at the sight of you whistling your way down the street. Before we unveil our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions: Cersei Lannister “Game of Thrones” (2011-19) Silvio Dante “The Sopranos” (1999-2007) Nate Fisher “Six Feet Under” (2001-05) Simon Adebisi “Oz” (1997-2003) Valerie Cherish “The Comeback” (2005, 2014)
#1: Tony Soprano “The Sopranos” (1999-2007)
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Tony Soprano was arguably HBO’s first bonafide anti-hero, a morally ambiguous New Jersey Mafioso who was just as likely to kill you with his bare hands as he was to spend quality time with his family. He’s the kind of character whose reputation demands respect, a man who can have you killed with the snap of his fingers but is equally at home doing the deed himself. And yet, this description barely scratches the surface, as Tony Soprano was so much more than just another TV crime boss. Gifted with six seasons to flesh out the character, James Gandolfini delivered a layered performance for the ages. The result was a character so thoroughly entertaining that it would be worth risking a trip inside his violent world for a closer look.
