13 Television Characters with Evil in Their Veins

There are a lot of devilish characters out there.

You know the ones. Those who have relished in the evil coursing throughout their souls and won’t apologize for it.  

Some of the best characters of all time are the multi-layered villains we’ve loved to hate over the years.

(([Jonathan Prime/Prime Video], [Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+], [Larry Horricks/AMC], [Steve Swisher/NBC], [Michael Yarish Paramount+], [Disney/Wilford Harewood]))

But some characters are just simply eviler than others.

Here’s a look at some of the wickedest of them all.

Armand, Interview with the Vampire

(Larry Horricks/AMC)

He used up every last bit of sympathy and empathy, and what have you in the season finale.

Related: Interview with the Vampire Season 2 Episode 8 Review: And That’s the End of It. There’s Nothing Else

He’s always been suspicious (especially if, like Daniel, you’ve never forgiven him for lying about being Rashid), but the true depths of his evil coming out at the back end of this season make him unforgivable — even for a vampire!

That’s how bad he is. Super hot, but bad.

James Ulster, Will Trent

(Disney/Matthew Miller)

We really hope he is just messing with Will Trent and isn’t actually his bio dad.

Ulster is the serial killer who keeps on giving: he almost killed Angie and, even behind bars, somehow managed to turn a prison break into a power grab.

Worst of all, he continues to play with Will’s emotions and his hunger for family. 

Princess Mary, My Lady Jane 

(Jonathan Prime/Prime Video)

In this Tudor-era fantasy tale, the sister of King Edward believes the throne is hers when Edward is reported dead but is thwarted when his will names his cousin Lady Jane as the rightful heir.

Mary (aided by her evil accomplice/lover, Lord Seymour) rises to spectacular villainous heights as she schemes to rid England of Jane and all Ethians (shape-shifters).

Related: 19 TV Villains Sure to Haunt Your Dreams

Her methods are truly diabolical and cruel, a harsh note in this otherwise benign, fantastical world. 

Sir, Found

(Steve Swisher/NBC)

Despite the fact that Mark-Paul Gosselaar plays him and he has a twinge of charisma, Sir is a true monster for what he did to Gabi and Lacey.

And it doesn’t end, as the nerve-wracking season finale showed; he’s selfish enough and sadistic enough to take out anyone who gets between him and Gabi.

Although the twists and turns may be surprising throughout the series, Sir’s terrifying nature is to be expected at this point.

Rosalind Dyer, The Rookie

(ABC)

Gone but not forgotten, Rosalind is one of, if not The Rookie’s, greatest villains, and that goes for both the character and the incredible actress who portrayed her.

Related: The Rookie Season 2 Episode 10 Review: The Dark Side

She wreaked total havoc, a brilliant serial killer who took pride in every kill and relished outsmarting and outplaying everyone at every turn.

The woman was cold-blooded, but with a smile, she happily made Nolan and Lucy’s lives a living hell.

The Cigarette Smoking Man, The X-Files

(Fox)

 Sometimes, evil doesn’t rant and rave and threaten unspeakable violence. Sometimes, it just sits back in a cloud of Marlboro fumes and quietly manipulates the world around you until you’re powerless to fight back.

The writers of The X Files never even revealed the Cancer Man’s real name and the mystery surrounding him like a haze of secondhand carcinogens makes him so terrifying.

Adding to the terror is the fact that a guy like him is operating within every powerful government in the world at this very moment.

Leland, Evil

(Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+)

Forensic psychologists and Midwestern insurance adjusters aren’t the first to come to mind when we think of evil. But if there’s any character on Evil who embodies the show’s title, it’s Dr. Leland Townsend.

The guy is literally working for demons to bring about the antichrist. He’s using the eggs of his nemesis to create his own Rosemary’s Baby situation. Plus, he’s a master at pulling other people’s puppet strings.

Related: Evil Season 4 Episode 8 Review: How to Save a Life

Sometimes, the most sinister villains are the ones who convince others to commit evil acts on their behalf. With his skillful manipulations of his naive victims, Leland makes Charles Manson look like Charlie Brown.

Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones

(HBO)

Cersei repeatedly made a case for herself as the most evil of them all on a show with no shortage of villains.

In the very first episode of Game of Thrones, a kid becomes disabled as a result of Cersei’s incestuous affair with her brother, and by the end of the season, she’s (allegedly) spearheading the conspiracy to have her husband murdered.

Throughout the series, Cersei suffers mightily due to her misdeeds—the loss of several children, her infamous march of shame, etc.—but her misfortunes only seem to exacerbate her cruelty.

Hannibal, Hannibal

(NBC Universal Media)

When you look up “evil” in the dictionary, the definition should be accompanied by a photo of one of Hannibal Lecter’s many screen incarnations.

Fans of the franchise might never agree on which actor offered the most chilling portrayal of Thomas Harris’ liver-loving psychopath. However, for sheer terrifying intensity, it’s tough to beat Mads Mikkelsen’s depiction on Hannibal.

This villain will keep a smile on his face while he tells you what sort of wine he plans to pair with your pancreas. And nothing is more frightening than a charismatic sociopath.

Constance Langdon, American Horror Story

(Ray Mickshaw/FX)

Few actresses can pull off a sinister glare, as well as Jessica Lange, and few people are more evil than those who use their religious faith to justify their bigotry.

Constance is one of the most disturbing characters on this list, largely because most of us have had the misfortune of encountering someone like her.

She was a villain for the ages.

Christopher Pelant, Bones

(Fox)

No list of villains would be complete without at least one evil tech genius.

As we enter the age of AI, deep fakes, and killer drones, it becomes more and more clear that the most evil deeds of the future will be committed not with knives and guns but with lines of code.

Related: Bones Creator Stuns Fans, Teases Revival

Even house arrest couldn’t stop Christopher Pelant from wiping out his enemies. And while some of his computer-aided misdeeds might have seemed outlandish when he debuted on Bones in 2011, today, they feel all too plausible.

Elias Voit, Criminal Minds: Evolution

(Michael Yarish /Paramount+)

The BAU spent the first season of Criminal Minds: Evolution hunting a criminal mastermind called Sicarius. They believe the man behind Sicarius is serial killer Elias Voit.

The BAU apprehended him in the first season, and he’s returned for the second season to help uncover the secrets behind Gold Star, a new threat. Voit nearly killed FBI Agent Rossi in the first season, leading Rossi to get PTSD in the second season.

Rossi and the rest of the team must stay on guard as they deal with the evil reincarnate, which leads them on wild goose chases and taunting their every move.

Homelander, The Boys

(Prime Video (Screenshot))

Homelander is the definition of a supervillain.

He’s selfish, intense, unforgiving, and sadistic, and as the leader of an Avengers-level superhero team, that makes him the scariest person in The Boys universe.

Related: The Boys Season 4 Episode 7: The Insider

Homelander has a unique brand of evilness, and he wields his power in truly terrifying action whenever given the chance. He’s cemented himself as one of the greatest TV villains of all time.

Klaus, The Vampire Diaries and The Originals

(The CW)

There were many, many bad guys throughout The Vampire Diaries run, and Klaus was simply the baddest of all.

In hindsight, there are many moments where Klaus showed his humanity, but there were also many moments along the way when he showed little mercy, often with a smile on his face.

Klaus may be a fan-favorite, but you can’t deny the ancient vampire was wicked when he wanted to be.

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