Sitcoms are defined by hilarious protagonists or wise-cracking supporting characters. Fans can’t help but fall in love with these shows, in large part thanks to the brilliance of the actors behind them. While many of these actors have become almost inseparable from their iconic sitcom roles, it cannot be denied that they have so much more to offer,as evidenced by these brilliantly wicked, sinister, and even unnerving performances.
For actors likeJohn Lithgow, the villainous role allowed for an opportunity to completely break free from the typecast with a terrifying performance, while others were able to maintain the sitcom charisma in their transfer to more twisted characters. Regardless of how they approached it, all 10 of these actors turned in villainous performances for the ages when they finally got the chance.
10Alan Alda as Alan Fitch
‘The Blacklist’ (2013-2023)
An immortalized television star,Alan Aldawas made famous for his performance as Hawkeye Pierce in the hit comedy-war seriesMAS*H, earning five Emmy Awards from an incredible 21 nominations for his acting, writing, and directing on the series. Alda’s career has coasted along quite nicely over the decades, with the 21st century seeing him become something of a television star again through minor roles in a number of popular shows includingThe Blacklist.
The crime drama seriesfollows a renowned criminal mastermindwho agrees to co-operate with the FBI to apprehend dangerous criminals. Alda plays Alan Fitch, the Assistant Director of National Intelligence who is revealed to bethe head of the terrorist syndicate Cabal. His immense power and deplorable plotting give him the aura of a James Bond villain, something Alda brings to the screen with great presence.
The Blacklist
Watch on Netflix
9John Ritter as Ted Buchanan
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997-2003)
John Ritterbecame a beloved figure on television screens in 1980s America with his starring performance as Jack Tripper in thepopular sitcomThree’s Company. Following the show’s ending, Ritter became a prolific small screen actor, appearing in a range of TV movies and series throughout the ‘90s, with his most jarring performance coming in a one-off role inBuffy the Vampire Slayer.
It sees him play Ted, the new boyfriend of Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) mother who effortlessly charms everyone except the young vampire hunter. The nice-guy act begins to falter though, with Ted starting to show alarming behavior before it is revealed that he wasa predatory robotthat has been malfunctioning, setting out to find wives that resemble his creator’s spouse. Ritter ended up being perfectly cast as his pleasant demeanor made for an abrupt shock when the truth was revealed.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Watch on Hulu
8Courteney Cox as Lucy Spiller
‘Dirt’ (2007-2008)
Courteney Coxrose to fame with her starring performance inFriends, playingMonica Gellar, who came to be lovedas the motherly - though sometimes over aggressive - member of the group with plenty of endearing quirks to boot. While the sitcomCougar Townis her most notable work sinceFriendsfinished, her antagonistic starring role inDirtshouldn’t be overlooked.
While the series did struggle to find its feet and was ultimately canceled after two seasons, Cox was razor sharp as Lucy Spiller, a ruthless tabloid editor who will stop at nothing to further her career in celebrity journalism.Completely immoral and manipulativein her pursuit of a headline, Spiller was a formidable figure who had no qualms about ruining people’s lives and was a great example of a protagonist who is also a twisted villain.
Watch on Redbox
7Matthew Perry as Mike Kresteva
‘The Good Wife’ (2009-2016)
A true icon of American television comedy,Matthew Perryendeared himself to millions of fans with his flawless, fun-loving, wise-cracking portrayal of Chandler from the hit 90s sitcomFriends. AfterFriendsended,Perry remained active in American network television, with roles in underrated series likeStudio 60 on the Sunset StripandGo On, but one of his most striking television appearances came with his brief role in the legal and political dramaThe Good Wife.
Perry played Mike Kresteva,an attorney with a lot of power in Illinois’ political environmentand aspirations of becoming the Republican candidate for governor. Alicia (Julianna Margulies) first encounters him when he tries to blackmail her. A savvy, scheming politician, Krestava appeared in four episodes in the show’s third and fourth seasons before returning for three episodes in the spin-off seriesThe Good Fight.
The Good Wife
Alicia Florrick has been a good wife to her husband, a former state’s attorney. After a very humiliating sex and corruption scandal, he is behind bars. She must now provide for her family and returns to work as a litigator in a law firm.
Watch on Paramount+
6Tina Fey as Cinda Canning
‘Only Murders in the Building’ (2021-)
Be it television or film,Tina Feyis heralded as one of America’s best modern comics, not only as a celebrated comedy performer but as a talented writer and producer as well, evidenced by her creation of30 Rockin which she starred as Liz Lemon. WhileOnly Murders in the Buildingwasn’t a monumental pivotin terms of its comedic tone, it did enable Fey to show how good she could be as a more manipulative, venomous character.
It sees Fey play Cinda Canning, the host of a true-crime podcast called “All is Not Okay in Oklahoma," which garners her success and fame. Despite her good fortune, though, she is revealed to bea cruel and domineering employer who routinely humiliates her assistant. Canning is a recurring character across the series’ three seasons thus far and had a central role in season two.
Only Murders in the Building
Three strangers in a New York City apartment building bond over their shared interest in true crime and form an unlikely team to investigate a suspicious death in their complex. Their amateur sleuthing quickly evolves into a thrilling quest as they navigate secrets, lies, and unexpected twists.
5Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning
While he is best known as being Marty McFly in theBack to the Futuremovies,Michael J. Foxfirst became a household name through his starring role in the hit 80s sitcomFamily Ties. Having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Fox hasn’t had the opportunity to carry on his career in the manner so many fans would have loved to see, but he has still been an engaging presence over the years.
Arguably the best performance sinceBack to the Futureis that of Louis Canning inThe Good Wife. As a successful New York law attorney, Canning was a recurring part throughout the show’s run. While charismatic and fun,he was also a sneaky lawyer and a ruthless businessman, one who was relentless in his pursuit to get Alicia to partner with him.
4Olivia Colman as Godmother
‘Fleabag’ (2016-2019)
WhileOlivia Colmanis now revered as an Oscar-winning actress capable of mastering both drama and comedy with equal brilliance, she was initially a hidden gem on British television. The actress appeared in comedy series such asPeep Show,Rev., andTwenty Twelveas well as dramas likeBroadchurchand, most notably,The Crown. But it was her pesky villainous performance in the hit dramedyFleabagwhereshe really showed how contemptible she could be.
As the otherwise unnamed Godmother, Colman excelled at being Fleabag’s (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) duplicitous stepmother. While she presented herself as being sweet and affectionate,she was actually a cruel, snide, and self-absorbed womanwho prioritized her own sexually charged artistic pursuits over everything else. Amid the indulgent villainy, Colman brings out a brilliantly grating comedic performance which makes Fleabag all the more relatable.
Series adapted from the award-winning play about a young woman trying to cope with life in London whilst coming to terms with a recent tragedy.
Watch on Amazon Prime Video
3Steve Carell as Mitch Kessler
‘The Morning Show’ (2019-)
Steve Carellis one of the greatest modern comics, with a number of hit films and an iconic starring performance as Michael Scott in the beloved sitcomThe Office. While his career has seen him take on more dramatic roles with aplomb in recent years, it was still quite shocking to see him play Mitch Kessler onThe Morning Show, a drama following thefigures involved in a morning news broadcast.
The series starts as Kessler – a seemingly charismatic and kind-hearted anchor who is encouraging his colleagues – is fired amid allegations of sexual misconduct. It is a terrific performance from Carell, who excels atrevealing the darker side of an otherwise smart and funny man. His co-starring role throughout the show’s first two seasons, and the toxic environment the character represented, was central to the series’ enticing commentary on systemic abuse.
The Morning Show
An inside look at the lives of the people who help America wake up in the morning, exploring the unique challenges faced by the team.
Watch on AppleTV+
2Nick Offerman as Forest
‘Devs’ (2020)
Having been a much-loved figure as Ron Swanson across all seven seasonsParks and Recreation,Nick Offermanhas been steadily revealing more of his dramatic talent in recent years. While this culminated in fanfare hysteria surrounding his beautiful performance as Bill in the third episode ofThe Last of Us, he hadpreviously shown off his rangein the underrated sci-fi miniseriesDevs.
Created byAlex Garland, the eight-episode narrative follows a computer engineer as she investigates the disappearance of her boyfriend and the mysterious development division in her company, Amaya. Offerman plays Forest,the enigmatic CEO of Amaya who launches Devsas a means to carry out a dangerous obsession. Lily’s (Sonoya Mizuno) discovery of Forest’s plans reveals a conspiracy which could change the world.
1John Lithgow as Arthur Mitchell aka The Trinity Killer
‘Dexter’ (2006-2013)
It could definitely be argued that John Lithgowplayed the part of Arthur Mitchell aka The Trinity Killer inDexterso well that fans can no longer see him as a sitcom star. However, that is where he made his first big impression on many with his starring role as Dick Solomon in3rd Rock From the Sun,seeing the actor win three Primetime Emmy’s.
It did cause a shock when television lovers then saw him inDexteras Mitchell,a prolific serial killer and volatile domestic abuserwho hid under the guise of a loving family man and schoolteacher who was a church deacon and a respected figure in his suburban community.As the major antagonist of season four, Lithgow’s Trinity Killer was one of the most chilling characters to appear on the show.
