Top 20 Iconic Comedy Characters of the 80s to 2000s
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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most beloved characters in comedies from 1980 to 2009. Animated characters are not included, unfortunately. Heads up—there will be spoilers!
One of Adam Sandler’s most enduring comic roles, Happy is not a happy camper. An unsuccessful hockey player turned golfer, Happy is short-tempered and prone to hilarious outbursts. Happy even throws hands with none other than Bob Barker of “The Price Is Right,” his golfing partner, and quickly learns the score. Happy’s determination to win the tournament to save his grandmother’s house from foreclosure, however, wins the day. As it turns out, Happy was based on Sandler’s childhood friend, who too had been a hockey player with a truly fast swing. Sandler’s physical comedy and line delivery are spot on, making Happy one of his most iconic roles.
With many iconic lines, Mandy Patinkin’s Inigo Montoya proves that even villainous henchmen are human too. And are sticklers for the proper use of vocabulary. From his politesse in dueling the Dread Pirate Roberts and friendship with gentle giant Fezzik, this swashbuckling Hamlet’s greatest motivation is to avenge his father’s death. This six-fingered Claudius turns out to be Count Rugen, whom Inigo finally duels in the climax of the film, finally uttering what he had been dying to say to him for all these years. It’s a great parody of the typical revenge plot, with the most endearing comic character.
What do you get when you put a tomboy in a beauty pageant? Comedy gold, of course. Gracie is a rough-and-tough FBI agent, constantly overlooked and disregarded by her colleagues. When they receive information of a possible terrorist attack at a beauty pageant, Gracie goes undercover as Miss New Jersey. Hilarity ensues as Gracie struggles with and warms up the beauty pageant world, as well as successfully foiling a terrorist plot regarding a bomb in the crown. In the end, Gracie reconciles both her masculine and feminine sides. Sandra Bullock’s charm and chops as an actor in portraying Gracie’s toughness and femininity elevate the film to a whole new level.
Leslie Nielsen already gave one spectacular comic performance in “Airplane!” with a now-iconic line. Nielsen delivered yet another whopper of a performance in another parody series, this time on detective films. First appearing in the TV series, “Police Squad!,” Nielsen’s Lt. Frank Drebin bumbles his way to solving mysteries, from getting bribed by his witnesses to shooting Shakespearean thespians in a park. Nielsen’s straight-faced line delivery and dignified mien is a pitch-perfect recreation of your regular police detective. It also brings the comic idiocy of his police work to stark relief. Nobody is going to call this guy Shirley anytime soon.
These Great Ones are also great dumb-dumbs. Bill and Ted are regular high school students destined to be founders of a great utopia. First, though, they have to pass history class or else this utopia will vanish into the mist. They are helped by fellow citizen Rufus and… themselves. That’s right, their future selves also come to tell them excitedly about their own soon-to-come time-traveling adventures. Righteous. Sure enough, Bill and Ted meet, befriend, and kidnap several historical figures, including Napoleon, Socrates, Beethoven, and more. Their history “report” turns out to be a winner, and they pass the course with flying colors. That’s, like, so cool, man.
If you thought Jane Austen’s “Emma” was clueless, wait till you see her modern counterpart. Cher Horowitz is more than spoiled and privileged. She also has unique opinions on U.S. immigration policy. More to the point, she also has a penchant for matchmaking, taking on the awkward Tai Frasier as her new project. Although Cher is convinced that searching for love in high school is as useless as searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie, it doesn’t take long for her head to be turned as well. Cher’s quirky and intermittently shrewd superficiality is comic, especially as she realizes the clueless one may just be herself after all.
This ghoulishly fun performance by Michael Keaton has to be seen to be believed. After a married couple, the Maitlands, get into a car accident and come back as ghosts, they must contend with the presence of the Deetz family living in their home and scare them away. Enter Betelgeuse, who agrees to help scare the family away, but his morbid ways and crude personality wreak havoc. Betelgeuse continues on his picaresque antagonistic ways when he agrees to help the Maitlands from getting exorcised—in exchange for marrying the Deetz daughter, Lydia. A bigger-than-life personality, even when he is small, Keaton’s Betelgeuse is a scene-stealer.
Eddie Murphy already showed his comic chops as Reggie Hammond in “48 Hrs.” But Axel Foley in this iconic buddy cop film franchise is justly beloved. Street-smart, quick-witted, and charismatic, Axel is initially on probation, reprimanded for ruining a sting operation with his reckless actions. Axel redeems himself through his sharp eye, impeccable police instincts, and killer groove. Axel’s down-to-earth charm and quick thinking is a good antidote to his hard-boiled superiors and is perfect for a more comic take on the crime genre. Murphy’s break-out performance shot him to international stardom. Axel’s popularity as the leading man is enough to inspire multiple sequels.
Gird your loins, because she is coming. If you don’t know the difference between turquoise, lapis, or cerulean, Miranda Priestly is here to call you out on your ignorance. Meryl Streep gives what would have been a two-dimensional villain true icy menace as Andy’s horrific boss. Miranda is the editor of a fashion magazine, with the perfectionist if charismatic froideur that threatens to suck down-to-earth Andy into her fashion queen era. Miranda is the boss from hell, all right, but she is also a character who has paid a very high price for her success. Also, her cerulean monologue about the relevance of fashion is justly iconic.
This fourth wall-breaking miscreant is one we cannot help but love. A slacker student, Ferris takes a day off by faking an illness and even goes to the trouble of doctoring his attendance records at school. From there, he and his friends paint the town. Unfortunately, the school’s dean, Edward Rooney, gets suspicious of Ferris’ frequent absences and almost catches him in the act. You would think it would be less trouble to go to school. On the other hand, we’d never get Matthew Broderick’s pitch-perfect performance and his fourth-wall-breaking asides.
Perhaps the most well-known if controversial mockumentary, “Borat” would be very different without its quirky protagonist. Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat is a fictional journalist from Kazhakstan going to America to make a documentary about American culture and customs. Dumb, provincial, and laughably sexist and antisemitic, Borat also sends up the dumb, provincial, and laughably prejudiced parts of American life. Much of the comedy stems from Borat’s broken English and quirky guileless character contrasting with the quirky Americans he encounters. Offensive or not, Baron Cohen’s Borat is one of the most memorable comic personas in a while.
Will Ferrell has portrayed many iconic characters, including the innocent and naïve Buddy the Elf. But Ron Burgundy is an anchorman who truly deserves the label of “legendary.” Burgundy is a bumbling anchorman with no filter. He will also read anything that is put on the teleprompter. No thoughts, head empty. Ferrell actually took inspiration for the movie and the character from an interview with a 70s anchorman, his mannerisms, accent, and sexism. Checks out. Burgundy’s buffoonery is filled with quotable lines and instances, including the now-meme legend “glass cage of emotion.” Stay classy, Ron.
The Queen Bee of the school is the de facto queen of this film. There’s nothing quite like an antagonist to steal the show, and Rachel McAdams’ Regina George is proof of that. Regina is the leader of the Plastics, with a mean, plastic personality herself. Regina’s meanness includes many hilarious lines and moments. From gaslighting new girl Cady to preventing Gretchen from making “fetch” happen, McAdams’ Regina’s mean girl evil is at legendary levels. Fortunately or unfortunately, she gets her comeuppance once Janis and Cady’s plan to take down Regina is revealed, to the whole school’s approval. Fetch may never happen, but Regina definitely did.
The details of Dr. Evil’s childhood may be inconsequential, but they are certainly hilarious. “Austin Powers” has an iconic main character in Mike Myers’ groovy James Bond send-up, Austin Powers. Before that, Myers had already proved his comic chops as Wayne in 1992’s “Wayne’s World.” But without a doubt, the most hilarious character of the “Austin Powers” franchise is Powers’ nemesis, the appropriately named Dr. Evil. From his iconic bald look to his deadpan tones to his fatherhood issues, Dr. Evil is a lovable villain and a pitch-perfect parody of the typically unsubtle Bond villain. You can say he had the “sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament.”
Omigod, you guys! Looks like Elle is going to win the prize… of being one of the most beloved characters in comedy history. Like “Clueless’s” Cher, Elle is rich and spoiled, but with an intelligence sharp enough to get her into Harvard Law School. Although initially in it for the boyfriend and vastly underestimated by all around her, Elle buckles down to study and becomes a formidable lawyer. In the climax of the film, her particular knowledge of fashion and perms aids her in winning a murder case. Elle’s success makes the feminist point that one can be a great lawyer and also like pink. Slay, queen!
What is with comic films and bumbling detectives? Jim Carrey has made his career creating unforgettable comic characters, such as Lloyd Christmas, who is a great contender for the Dumber half of Dumb. Carrey’s The Mask character is also the best example of a live-action cartoon we’ve ever seen. Yet, our pick is Ace Ventura, another hilariously incompetent detective, trying to solve the case of a missing dolphin. Carrey’s physical mannerisms and extravagant personality have us in raptures any time.
Marty McFly’s adventures in time travel have become one of the most beloved in cinema, and Marty himself is an iconic character. However, this series would never have been the same without Christopher Lloyd’s Doc, the inventor of time machines. Doc is an eccentric, frazzled scientist, combining typical absent-minded professor shenanigans with a modern attitude. More than that, Doc proves a benign and open-minded mentor to young Marty. Eventually, he grows convinced that time travel is dangerous for mankind and destroys it. Inspired by the appearance and quirks of Albert Einstein and Leopold Stokowski, Doc proves that not all fictional scientists are evil masterminds. Great Scott!
Who ya gonna call? Dr. Peter Venkman, of course, played by Bill Murray. A professor of parapsychology, Venkman, along with his fellow professors, create Ghostbusters after their first encounter with an actual ghost. Venkman’s cynical charm and irreverent, deadpan humor make him the perfect leader of the Ghostbusters. As the Ghostbusters bumble their way into capturing ghosts and even establish themselves as a household name, Venkman is the face of the group, taking on the marketing, dealing with the police, and checking out Dana—her apartment, that is. Venkman’s down-to-earth professionalism is a great comic contrast with the supernatural entities he captures.
A man disguised as a woman has been a treasured trope in all comedy, from Plautus, to Shakespeare, to “Some Like It Hot” and “Tootsie.” Hollywood legend Robin Williams’ Mrs. Doubtfire is one of the most memorable. After his wife takes custody of their kids, Daniel Hillard decides to disguise himself as a British nanny. Williams’ excellent voice acting skills and physical comedy serve him well as Hillard struggles with passing as a believable and competent nanny to his kids. Even when the mask finally slips off, Hillard’s love for his children manages to win over his bitter ex. Williams’ comic charm carries the day.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Sure, there is the Vietnam-obsessed Walter and his hilarious eulogy to poor, departed Donny. But in the end, the crown has to go to The Dude himself, also known as His Dudeness, Duder, or El Duderino. The Dude is a slacker bowler, mistaken for a different Lebowski altogether. The Dude and his two friends go to the other Lebowski, who hires them to deliver a ransom for his kidnapped girlfriend, Bunny. The Dude’s laid-back, wise-ass attitude in the face of serious threats makes this character a joy to watch. He may be a loser, but at least he’s housebroken.
#20: Happy Gilmore
“Happy Gilmore” (1996)
One of Adam Sandler’s most enduring comic roles, Happy is not a happy camper. An unsuccessful hockey player turned golfer, Happy is short-tempered and prone to hilarious outbursts. Happy even throws hands with none other than Bob Barker of “The Price Is Right,” his golfing partner, and quickly learns the score. Happy’s determination to win the tournament to save his grandmother’s house from foreclosure, however, wins the day. As it turns out, Happy was based on Sandler’s childhood friend, who too had been a hockey player with a truly fast swing. Sandler’s physical comedy and line delivery are spot on, making Happy one of his most iconic roles.
#19: Inigo Montoya
“The Princess Bride” (1987)
With many iconic lines, Mandy Patinkin’s Inigo Montoya proves that even villainous henchmen are human too. And are sticklers for the proper use of vocabulary. From his politesse in dueling the Dread Pirate Roberts and friendship with gentle giant Fezzik, this swashbuckling Hamlet’s greatest motivation is to avenge his father’s death. This six-fingered Claudius turns out to be Count Rugen, whom Inigo finally duels in the climax of the film, finally uttering what he had been dying to say to him for all these years. It’s a great parody of the typical revenge plot, with the most endearing comic character.
#18: Gracie Hart
“Miss Congeniality” franchise (2000-05)
What do you get when you put a tomboy in a beauty pageant? Comedy gold, of course. Gracie is a rough-and-tough FBI agent, constantly overlooked and disregarded by her colleagues. When they receive information of a possible terrorist attack at a beauty pageant, Gracie goes undercover as Miss New Jersey. Hilarity ensues as Gracie struggles with and warms up the beauty pageant world, as well as successfully foiling a terrorist plot regarding a bomb in the crown. In the end, Gracie reconciles both her masculine and feminine sides. Sandra Bullock’s charm and chops as an actor in portraying Gracie’s toughness and femininity elevate the film to a whole new level.
#17: Lt. Frank Drebin
“The Naked Gun” franchise (1988-)
Leslie Nielsen already gave one spectacular comic performance in “Airplane!” with a now-iconic line. Nielsen delivered yet another whopper of a performance in another parody series, this time on detective films. First appearing in the TV series, “Police Squad!,” Nielsen’s Lt. Frank Drebin bumbles his way to solving mysteries, from getting bribed by his witnesses to shooting Shakespearean thespians in a park. Nielsen’s straight-faced line delivery and dignified mien is a pitch-perfect recreation of your regular police detective. It also brings the comic idiocy of his police work to stark relief. Nobody is going to call this guy Shirley anytime soon.
#16: Bill S. Preston, Esq. & Ted “Theodore” Logan
“Bill & Ted” franchise (1989-2020)
These Great Ones are also great dumb-dumbs. Bill and Ted are regular high school students destined to be founders of a great utopia. First, though, they have to pass history class or else this utopia will vanish into the mist. They are helped by fellow citizen Rufus and… themselves. That’s right, their future selves also come to tell them excitedly about their own soon-to-come time-traveling adventures. Righteous. Sure enough, Bill and Ted meet, befriend, and kidnap several historical figures, including Napoleon, Socrates, Beethoven, and more. Their history “report” turns out to be a winner, and they pass the course with flying colors. That’s, like, so cool, man.
#15: Cher Horowitz
“Clueless” (1995)
If you thought Jane Austen’s “Emma” was clueless, wait till you see her modern counterpart. Cher Horowitz is more than spoiled and privileged. She also has unique opinions on U.S. immigration policy. More to the point, she also has a penchant for matchmaking, taking on the awkward Tai Frasier as her new project. Although Cher is convinced that searching for love in high school is as useless as searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie, it doesn’t take long for her head to be turned as well. Cher’s quirky and intermittently shrewd superficiality is comic, especially as she realizes the clueless one may just be herself after all.
#14: Betelgeuse
“Beetlejuice” franchise (1988-)
This ghoulishly fun performance by Michael Keaton has to be seen to be believed. After a married couple, the Maitlands, get into a car accident and come back as ghosts, they must contend with the presence of the Deetz family living in their home and scare them away. Enter Betelgeuse, who agrees to help scare the family away, but his morbid ways and crude personality wreak havoc. Betelgeuse continues on his picaresque antagonistic ways when he agrees to help the Maitlands from getting exorcised—in exchange for marrying the Deetz daughter, Lydia. A bigger-than-life personality, even when he is small, Keaton’s Betelgeuse is a scene-stealer.
#13: Axel Foley
“Beverly Hills Cops” franchise (1984-)
Eddie Murphy already showed his comic chops as Reggie Hammond in “48 Hrs.” But Axel Foley in this iconic buddy cop film franchise is justly beloved. Street-smart, quick-witted, and charismatic, Axel is initially on probation, reprimanded for ruining a sting operation with his reckless actions. Axel redeems himself through his sharp eye, impeccable police instincts, and killer groove. Axel’s down-to-earth charm and quick thinking is a good antidote to his hard-boiled superiors and is perfect for a more comic take on the crime genre. Murphy’s break-out performance shot him to international stardom. Axel’s popularity as the leading man is enough to inspire multiple sequels.
#12: Miranda Priestly
“The Devil Wears Prada” (2006)
Gird your loins, because she is coming. If you don’t know the difference between turquoise, lapis, or cerulean, Miranda Priestly is here to call you out on your ignorance. Meryl Streep gives what would have been a two-dimensional villain true icy menace as Andy’s horrific boss. Miranda is the editor of a fashion magazine, with the perfectionist if charismatic froideur that threatens to suck down-to-earth Andy into her fashion queen era. Miranda is the boss from hell, all right, but she is also a character who has paid a very high price for her success. Also, her cerulean monologue about the relevance of fashion is justly iconic.
#11: Ferris Bueller
“Ferris Bueller's Day Off” (1986)
This fourth wall-breaking miscreant is one we cannot help but love. A slacker student, Ferris takes a day off by faking an illness and even goes to the trouble of doctoring his attendance records at school. From there, he and his friends paint the town. Unfortunately, the school’s dean, Edward Rooney, gets suspicious of Ferris’ frequent absences and almost catches him in the act. You would think it would be less trouble to go to school. On the other hand, we’d never get Matthew Broderick’s pitch-perfect performance and his fourth-wall-breaking asides.
#10: Borat Sagdiyev
“Borat” franchise (2006-20)
Perhaps the most well-known if controversial mockumentary, “Borat” would be very different without its quirky protagonist. Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat is a fictional journalist from Kazhakstan going to America to make a documentary about American culture and customs. Dumb, provincial, and laughably sexist and antisemitic, Borat also sends up the dumb, provincial, and laughably prejudiced parts of American life. Much of the comedy stems from Borat’s broken English and quirky guileless character contrasting with the quirky Americans he encounters. Offensive or not, Baron Cohen’s Borat is one of the most memorable comic personas in a while.
#9: Ron Burgundy
“Anchorman” franchise (2004-13)
Will Ferrell has portrayed many iconic characters, including the innocent and naïve Buddy the Elf. But Ron Burgundy is an anchorman who truly deserves the label of “legendary.” Burgundy is a bumbling anchorman with no filter. He will also read anything that is put on the teleprompter. No thoughts, head empty. Ferrell actually took inspiration for the movie and the character from an interview with a 70s anchorman, his mannerisms, accent, and sexism. Checks out. Burgundy’s buffoonery is filled with quotable lines and instances, including the now-meme legend “glass cage of emotion.” Stay classy, Ron.
#8: Regina George
“Mean Girls” (2004)
The Queen Bee of the school is the de facto queen of this film. There’s nothing quite like an antagonist to steal the show, and Rachel McAdams’ Regina George is proof of that. Regina is the leader of the Plastics, with a mean, plastic personality herself. Regina’s meanness includes many hilarious lines and moments. From gaslighting new girl Cady to preventing Gretchen from making “fetch” happen, McAdams’ Regina’s mean girl evil is at legendary levels. Fortunately or unfortunately, she gets her comeuppance once Janis and Cady’s plan to take down Regina is revealed, to the whole school’s approval. Fetch may never happen, but Regina definitely did.
#7: Dr. Evil
“Austin Powers” franchise (1997-2002)
The details of Dr. Evil’s childhood may be inconsequential, but they are certainly hilarious. “Austin Powers” has an iconic main character in Mike Myers’ groovy James Bond send-up, Austin Powers. Before that, Myers had already proved his comic chops as Wayne in 1992’s “Wayne’s World.” But without a doubt, the most hilarious character of the “Austin Powers” franchise is Powers’ nemesis, the appropriately named Dr. Evil. From his iconic bald look to his deadpan tones to his fatherhood issues, Dr. Evil is a lovable villain and a pitch-perfect parody of the typically unsubtle Bond villain. You can say he had the “sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament.”
#6: Elle Woods
“Legally Blonde” franchise (2001-)
Omigod, you guys! Looks like Elle is going to win the prize… of being one of the most beloved characters in comedy history. Like “Clueless’s” Cher, Elle is rich and spoiled, but with an intelligence sharp enough to get her into Harvard Law School. Although initially in it for the boyfriend and vastly underestimated by all around her, Elle buckles down to study and becomes a formidable lawyer. In the climax of the film, her particular knowledge of fashion and perms aids her in winning a murder case. Elle’s success makes the feminist point that one can be a great lawyer and also like pink. Slay, queen!
#5: Ace Ventura
“Ace Ventura” franchise (1994-)
What is with comic films and bumbling detectives? Jim Carrey has made his career creating unforgettable comic characters, such as Lloyd Christmas, who is a great contender for the Dumber half of Dumb. Carrey’s The Mask character is also the best example of a live-action cartoon we’ve ever seen. Yet, our pick is Ace Ventura, another hilariously incompetent detective, trying to solve the case of a missing dolphin. Carrey’s physical mannerisms and extravagant personality have us in raptures any time.
#4: Dr. Emmett Brown
“Back to the Future” franchise (1985-1990)
Marty McFly’s adventures in time travel have become one of the most beloved in cinema, and Marty himself is an iconic character. However, this series would never have been the same without Christopher Lloyd’s Doc, the inventor of time machines. Doc is an eccentric, frazzled scientist, combining typical absent-minded professor shenanigans with a modern attitude. More than that, Doc proves a benign and open-minded mentor to young Marty. Eventually, he grows convinced that time travel is dangerous for mankind and destroys it. Inspired by the appearance and quirks of Albert Einstein and Leopold Stokowski, Doc proves that not all fictional scientists are evil masterminds. Great Scott!
#3: Dr. Peter Venkman
“Ghostbusters” franchise (1984-)
Who ya gonna call? Dr. Peter Venkman, of course, played by Bill Murray. A professor of parapsychology, Venkman, along with his fellow professors, create Ghostbusters after their first encounter with an actual ghost. Venkman’s cynical charm and irreverent, deadpan humor make him the perfect leader of the Ghostbusters. As the Ghostbusters bumble their way into capturing ghosts and even establish themselves as a household name, Venkman is the face of the group, taking on the marketing, dealing with the police, and checking out Dana—her apartment, that is. Venkman’s down-to-earth professionalism is a great comic contrast with the supernatural entities he captures.
#2: Daniel Hillard / Euphegenia Doubtfire
“Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993)
A man disguised as a woman has been a treasured trope in all comedy, from Plautus, to Shakespeare, to “Some Like It Hot” and “Tootsie.” Hollywood legend Robin Williams’ Mrs. Doubtfire is one of the most memorable. After his wife takes custody of their kids, Daniel Hillard decides to disguise himself as a British nanny. Williams’ excellent voice acting skills and physical comedy serve him well as Hillard struggles with passing as a believable and competent nanny to his kids. Even when the mask finally slips off, Hillard’s love for his children manages to win over his bitter ex. Williams’ comic charm carries the day.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
#1: Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski
“The Big Lebowski” (1998)
Sure, there is the Vietnam-obsessed Walter and his hilarious eulogy to poor, departed Donny. But in the end, the crown has to go to The Dude himself, also known as His Dudeness, Duder, or El Duderino. The Dude is a slacker bowler, mistaken for a different Lebowski altogether. The Dude and his two friends go to the other Lebowski, who hires them to deliver a ransom for his kidnapped girlfriend, Bunny. The Dude’s laid-back, wise-ass attitude in the face of serious threats makes this character a joy to watch. He may be a loser, but at least he’s housebroken.
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