Top 10 TV Characters That Are RUINED FOREVER

“Sex and the City” (1998-2004)
As we learn in the original finale, this man’s name is John Preston. But for most of the show’s run, he’s referred to simply as “Mr. Big.” Big is portrayed by actor Chris Noth, whose career collapsed in December 2021 owing to multiple sexual assault allegations. Noth was dropped by A3 Artists Agency and lost various jobs. The news broke shortly after Noth reprised his role as Mr. Big in the anticipated sequel series. Although Big was meant to make another appearance in the first season’s finale, he was edited out due to the controversy surrounding Noth. And just like that, Big lost his appeal.

“Transparent” (2014-19)
An enormously important character in regard to TV history, Maura Pfefferman blazed trails and made us laugh along the way. A trans woman, Maura was based on creator Joey Soloway’s own parent and was played to great acclaim by Jeffrey Tambor. Despite some controversy over a cisgender man playing a trans woman, Tambor won two Emmys for his performance and the character of Maura was widely beloved. That is until Tambor was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017. He was ultimately fired from the show and did not appear in the “Transparent Musicale Finale.” It’s a shame that such a groundbreaking character suffered such a disappointing conclusion. Regardless, her legacy will live on.

“Empire” (2015-20)
As a child actor, Jussie Smollett starred in movies like “The Mighty Ducks” and “North.” He then took a long break from the screen before starring as Jamal Lyon in the Fox drama “Empire.” The character of Jamal was widely acclaimed, especially for his representation as a gay Black man in the music industry. But, like Maura Pfefferman, the character’s legacy was clouded by the actor’s personal life. In 2019, Smollett staged a very public hate crime, claiming that he was physically and verbally assaulted by two random males. In reality, Smollett had planned the crime himself and paid “Empire” extras Abel and Ola Osundairo to stage the attack. He was subsequently convicted on five felony counts and faced 150 days in county jail.

“Grey's Anatomy” (2005-)
It seems like “Grey’s Anatomy” has been on forever, so it’s hard to remember what happened in the first couple of seasons. Well, a character named Preston Burke was a huge part of it, with his romantic subplot serving as a major draw to the show. However, his storyline came to an abrupt end in the third season, as actor Isaiah Washington was fired. It stemmed from an argument that Washington had with Patrick Dempsey, during which Washington allegedly called his co-star T. R. Knight a homophobic slur. Washington’s contract was not renewed and Preston Burke was written out of the show, taking with him one of its most important and popular characters.

“Freaks and Geeks” (1999-2000)
While it only lasted one season, “Freaks and Geeks” is arguably one of the most influential shows in television history. It kickstarted numerous high-profile careers, including that of creator Paul Feig and actors Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and James Franco, to name just a few. Franco plays Daniel Desario, one of the so-called “freaks” who is befriended by Lindsay Weir. But Daniel, like all of Franco’s characters, was ruined after the actor was accused of sexual misconduct. Franco was sued by two former students of his acting school, claiming that he subjected them to “sexually exploitative auditions.” The case was eventually settled for just under $900,000.

“Seinfeld” (1989-98)
It doesn’t get much more iconic than Cosmo Kramer. Well, it didn’t. While the show undoubtedly belonged to Jerry Seinfeld (it does carry his name after all), it was Michael Richards who stole the show as Seinfeld’s kooky neighbor. Kramer became the most popular character on TV thanks to his eccentric personality, bizarre storylines, sharp comedic delivery, and physicality. But that was all ruined with Richards’ infamous meltdown in 2006. Richards was performing at the Hollywood Laugh Factory when he went on a racist tirade, which was captured on camera by a member of the audience. Richards’ career imploded and the character of Kramer became an obvious sore spot in the legacy of “Seinfeld.”

“Roseanne” (1988-97; 2018)
Sometimes it’s really hard to separate the art from the artist. This is certainly the case with the groundbreaking sitcom “Roseanne” and its eponymous star, Roseanne Barr. One of the biggest sitcoms of the late ‘80s and ‘90s, “Roseanne” earned acclaim for its writing and realistic depiction of working-class life. Its main character was also a big reason for its success, with Roseanne often being labeled as one of the best female characters in television. Unfortunately, Barr’s recent controversies have made it really hard to rewatch “Roseanne” and find joy in her performance. In fact, Barr ruined the legacy of her own show, as the long-anticipated revival was canceled after Barr made a racist tweet.

“House of Cards” (2013-18)
It’s hard to deny the legacy of “House of Cards” and its villain protagonist, Frank Underwood. The show helped legitimize the streaming industry with its historic Emmy nominations, and Underwood brought esteem to the industry through the involvement of Kevin Spacey. Spacey was undeniably great in the role, earning five consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. But Spacey’s career collapsed like a house of cards when he was accused of sexual assault in 2017. It’s arguably the most significant acting downfall in modern history, owing both to the pedigree of Spacey and the speed at which it occurred. Not only that, all of his iconic characters - including Frank Underwood - have been permanently tarnished.

“That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)
Like “Freaks and Geeks,” “That ‘70s Show” helped launch a number of notable careers, including those of Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, and Ashton Kutcher. But even amongst those legends, Danny Masterson stood out through his performance of Steven Hyde. Hyde was undeniably a fan favorite, with his hippie and anti-establishment persona embodying the vibes of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. But Masterson was accused of sexual assault in 2017, kickstarting a lengthy process that culminated with him going to prison for thirty years. Hyde was not involved in “That ‘90s Show,” which is a strong indication of his character’s footprint in TV history.

“The Cosby Show” (1984-92)
There was one sitcom that dominated the 1980s, and that was “The Cosby Show.” It spent five straight seasons at #1 and made Cliff Huxtable a household name. Unfortunately, Cliff’s warm and loving personality clashed with that of Bill Cosby, who rivals Kevin Spacey for the biggest Hollywood downfall in modern history. Cosby went from “America’s Dad” to public enemy number one after he was accused of sexual assault by countless women. Not only did he serve time in prison, but he was stripped of numerous awards and removed from the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame. And with that, his legendary contributions to the medium - including the character of Cliff Huxtable - were abolished from the public consciousness.