Era-Defining TV Characters and Why We Love Them

Think of your ultimate comfort show. There's a reason why we love the shows we love, especially when it comes to ubiquitous characters. Chances are high that your favorite TV show holds that title because of the characters it has, or perhaps even one unforgettable character you still think of, no matter how long it's been since you last watched the show.

Viewers have become more captivated by alluring TV shows, many of which are filled with iconic TV characters who shaped pop culture. Interesting characters make a television show what it is, not only keeping viewers entertained but often carrying over into their everyday lives.

These characters leave such a lasting impact that people quote their lines in daily conversations. Whether a show is animated, reality-based, or completely fictional, TV shows only tend to be successful with the right character lineup in place.

To compile this list of iconic TV characters who shaped pop culture, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment sources. These include ScreenRant, Collider, Vulture, IMDb, and Rotten Tomatoes. Let's explore these fan favorites now!

This post was updated on September 3rd, 2025, to reflect additional information.

• Played by: George O'Hanlon
• Season 1 premiere: 1962

The 1960s started with "The Jetsons" as a rib-tickling animated show to watch. It premiered in 1962 and lasted for three side-splitting seasons. It told the story of a family living in a utopian future with their house floating in the sky. The adults in the show managed three-day work weeks and drove cars that resembled flying saucers through the sky.

Without having to worry about a super busy schedule or traffic on the roads, you'd think the characters on this show would be grateful for their reality. Instead, characters like George Jetson still found reasons to complain every once in a while. The character of George was voiced by a man named George O'Hanlon.

O'Hanlon successfully brought George to life eloquently and excitingly. His comical voice inflections added to the allure of George. George redefined pop culture significantly. He reminded viewers that no matter how easy life gets, there's a chance you'll always sort of believe that the grass is greener on the other side.

• Played by: William Shatner
• Season 1 premiere: 1966

Sci-fi lovers have been enchanted by the Star Trek franchise since 1966. That's when the first episode of "Star Trek: The Original Series" premiered on NBC. It lasted for three seasons gearing up producers for several spinoffs and movies down the line. The show was meant to take place in the 23rd Century with a man named Captain Kirk in charge. He guided a hard-working starship space crew.

One of the reasons the show succeeded is that it shed light on the idea of accepting others who don't exactly look like you.The people on the ship weren't all human beings. Some of them were alien races. Some were half human, half alien. Just like the way race relations exist today, there were friendly and hostile characters of all forms to look out for.

Captain Kirk redefined pop culture by showing up as a trustworthy leader who everyone could depend on in all circumstances. He never let his crew down, which gave viewers proper insight into what true integrity looks like.

• Played by: Carroll O'Connor
• Season 1 premiere: 1971

When people think about TV shows from the 70s, "All in the Family" often comes to mind. The show premiered in 1970 as an American sitcom that prospered. If a TV show spits out more than five seasons, you know audiences are obsessed. "All in the Family" was able to land nine seasons in total, which wasn't too common during that era. Carrol O'Connor is the actor behind the role of Archie Bunker.

Archie stacked his cash as a blue-collar worker on the show. The character made every scene a little funnier than it would have been with his never-ending hilarious quotes. The writers knew exactly how to keep Archie as lovable as possible with his dialogue choices. One of the funny things he said was, "The Lord might be smilin' on the sheep, but they still wind up as lamb chops." In another episode, he comically uttered, "If it's too hot in the kitchen, stay away from the cook."

• Played by: John Ritter
• Season 1 premiere: 1977

John Ritter played Jack Ripper in "Threes's Company" starting in 1977. Ritter went on to star as the patriarch on "8 Simple Rules" until he died in 2003. The character he played in "Threes's Company" was much different compared to the character he played in "8 Simple Rules." Jack Ritter was his persona on "Threes's Company."

Jack initially thought he should pursue a career as a professional chef. He enrolled in cooking school to make it happen. After graduation, he handled random odd jobs to stack his cash. Not long after, he scored a job at a restaurant called Angelinos before launching his restaurant in an abandoned building.

Jack was a character who redefined pop culture since he honed in on his goals and never let anyone's outside doubts creep in. Many people aspire to launch their businesses, but they're too scared to leap. Jack was a character who helped people realize how realistic and doable it could be.

• Played by: Tom Selleck
• Season 1 premiere: 1980

In 2024, tons of TV shows highlight the lifestyles of law enforcement officials across America. "Southland," "The Wire," "Reno 911," "Criminal Minds," and "The Rookie" are all just a few examples. "Cold Case," "Blue Bloods," "Psych," "The Responder," "Chicago PD," and "Hawaii Five-0″ gathered inspiration from "Magnum, P.I." The show premiered in 1980 starring Tom Selleck in the titular role.

Selleck did such a great job playing a private investigator on the show that he was honored with five Emmy award nominations. In 1985, he officially took one home. With so many beloved cop shows in circulation today, it's obvious that Thomas influenced pop culture as it presently exists. While it's true any actor could have been cast in the role, Selleck deserves credit for boosting the show's popularity.

• Played by: Ed O'Neill
• Season 1 premiere: 1987

These days, when people think of Ed O'Neill, they often connect him to his role in the show "Modern Family." In 2009, "Modern Family" premiered as a sitcom about unconventional family dynamics. It lasted for 11 successful seasons, finally coming to an end in 2020. Before taking on the role of Jay Pritchett on "Modern Family," he played Al Bundy on "Married… With Children."

O'Neill's role in "Married… With Children" was probably one of the biggest reasons he was selected to star in "Modern Family." "Married… With Children" was also a huge hit since it pulled in 11 seasons starting in 1987. O'Neill did a fabulous job playing the father of a suburban Chicago family with misogynistic views, a nagging wife, and rebellious children. Al was a character who redefined pop culture by shedding light on different mistakes can avoid raising their children.

• Played by: Will Smith
• Season 1 premiere: 1990

As of 2024, Will Smith is revealed as a bona fide movie star. He's been cast in some of the most monumental blockbuster films to hit theaters within the last decade. Just a few of his biggest successes have been "Suicide Squad," "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," "The Pursuit of Happyness," and "Seven Pounds." Before Smith started snagging roles in such serious movies with heavy-hitting screenplays, he played the lead character in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

In the show, which premiered in 1990, he used his own name. It isn't always a great idea to combine your fictional character persona with who you are in the real world, but it seemingly worked without a hitch for Smith. The show brilliantly educated the masses on race relations in a way that was acceptable and even occasionally comical. For that reason, Will was a TV character who helped redefine pop culture.

• Played by: Jennifer Aniston
• Season 1 premiere: 1994

There were six main characters in "Friends" when it premiered in 1994. Still, Jennifer Aniston's quirky character attracted more attention than the others. Aniston played Rachel Green in the show, a young woman who went through some serious character development. In the beginning, Rachel was a spoiled brat who relied on cash flow from her father.

By the end, she was self-sufficient enough to take care of herself without accepting handouts. Her romantic ties with Ross Gellar kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Fans wondered when they were finally going to pull the trigger on their relationship. Ross and Rachel's off-and-on romance was super relatable to couples who endured similar patterns in the real world.

Rachel was such an endearing character that an entire haircut was named after her in the 90s. To this day, people still request the "Rachel haircut" at beauty salons to emulate Aniston's lovable character. For these reasons and more, it's obvious that Rachel left a lasting impact on pop culture.

• Played by: Sarah Michelle Gellar
• Season 1 premiere: 1997

Sarah Michelle Gellar is the actress who took on the role of Buffy Summers in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" starting in 1997. Many would argue that this is the show that inspired the likes of "The Vampire Diaries" and the entire Twilight saga that came years later. Vampire-themed entertainment will always be adored because folks have enjoyed these types of TV shows before and after "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was airing.

Even now in 2024, people are still obsessed with vampire-themed projects. The character of Buffy redefined pop culture by proving that teenage girls were more powerful and brave than anyone might've guessed. Buffy was constantly going head to head against vampires who could have easily killed her at any given moment.

She teamed up with her friends to fight back against vampires, demons, and other deathly creatures in every episode. To this day, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is revered as Gellar's most prominent role.

• Played by: Sarah Jessica Parker
• Season 1 premiere: 1998

When the first season of "Sex and the City" hit TV in 1998, the show had just about everyone talking and sharing opinions. Sarah Jessica Parker is the actress who took on the role of Carrie Bradshaw, a woman in her early 30s working as a writer for a sex column in New York City. Carrie redefined pop culture by proving that it was perfectly normal and acceptable for women to be honest about their sex lives.

Carrie helped women feel safe opening up about their romantic pursuits, fetishes, and bedroom activities. For a long time, many women believed it was unacceptable and inappropriate to discuss these topics in public settings. Carrie is the type of character who helped create a huge cultural shift in the realms of relationships, dating, and sexuality.

• Played by: Steve Carell
• Season 1 premiere: 2005

When producers decided to cast Steve Carell as Michael Scott in "The Office" in 2005, it was one of the most brilliant decisions they could have made. Several actors were in line to snag that role, but the producers had a good feeling about Carell. As of now, Carell has moved on to star in some of the most noteworthy feature films ever.

His resume includes "Beautiful Boy," "The Big Short," and "Battle of the Sexes." He's shared screen time with Emma Stone, Paul Rudd, and Reese Witherspoon since "The Office" came to an end. Would his career have taken off with such great speed if it hadn't been for "The Office," though?

He played the character of Michael well and became one of the reasons the show was such a hit. When Carell decided to part ways with the show early, it was a devastating blow to viewers everywhere. Still, Michael was a character who redefined pop culture by opening the dialogue of workplace humor and the importance of having a social life.

• Played by: Bryan Cranston
• Season 1 premiere: 2008

When Bryan Cranston transitioned from his role as the father of "Malcolm in The Middle" to the leading role in "Breaking Bad," it was quite a shock. In "Malcolm in the Middle" he took on a lighthearted, playful, and humorous role of a clumsy father who is struggling to make ends for his family.

In "Breaking Bad," Cranston's part was a lot darker, more serious, and more intense. Cranston played Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who turned to illegal drug manufacturing and sales to pay for his cancer treatments. The character of Walter redefined pop culture by shedding light on how desperate Americans might be to financially take care of themselves.

Americans facing scary medical diagnoses could slightly understand Walter's wild behavior in the early seasons of the show. Walter was willing to do anything to make sure he could leave money behind for his family members. The desperation of his actions was certainly a tad relatable to anyone facing haunting medical procedures or surgeries.

• Played by: Emilia Clarke
• Season 1 premiere: 2011

Many TV lovers would argue that the world became a better place after "Game of Thrones" first premiered in 2011. The show attracted audiences from all genres – not just people obsessed with fantasy or sci-fi entertainment. Emilia Clarke is the actress who took on the role of Daenerys Targaryen from Season 1 through Season 8. She redefined pop culture with her intense desire to break the wheel of competition.

Other characters in the show that proved themselves to be vital included Tyrion Lannister played by Peter Dinklage, Jon Snow played by Kit Harrington, and Arya Stark played by Maisie Williams. Still, Daenerys arguably had the biggest impact on pop culture. In the show, she also went by "Khaleesi," a nickname for the mother of dragons.

For some time, real-life pregnant women made plans to name their unborn babies Khaleesi in honor of the fictional "Game of Thrones" character.

• Played by: Emmy Rossum
• Season 1 premiere: 2011

Emmy Rossum played the role of Fiona Gallagher in "Shameless" starting in 2011. She didn't stay with the show until the end, but she certainly helped build its popularity at the beginning. Rossum was officially done filming "Shameless" at the end of Season 9. The show went on for another two seasons without her.

Rossum was ready to focus on new opportunities that would allow her to spread her wings in the Hollywood industry. She wiped her hands clean of "Shameless," but it was an amicable decision. Before parting ways with the show, Rossum did an undeniable job bringing Fiona to life as a believable character. Fiona redefined pop culture by shedding light on the difficulties that come along with growing up in poverty.

• Played by: Taylor Schilling
• Season 1 premiere: 2013

Taylor Schilling played the role of Piper Chapman on "Orange is the New Black" starting in 2013. This show redefined pop culture for a multitude of reasons. The biggest one of all is that it helped people better understand the intricacies of the American prison system. Shilling's dedication to realistically playing Piper allowed the show to flourish for seven seasons.

People who've never been arrested and folks who don't personally know anyone in prison right now will have a better understanding of the system with the help of Piper's character on "Orange is the New Black."