For whatever reason, television viewers like to watch programs with annoying characters. Maybe they remind them of someone they know. Or they see themselves in them.
24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the most annoying characters in television history. We consulted sources such as the website of EW magazine, and listings at sites such as Ranker and Business Insider to create our list. The characters date from the late 1950s television shows to contemporary programs. They are drawn from situation comedies, dramas, and fantasy series.
Annoying characters can be neighbors (Kimmy Gibbler on “Full House”), schoolmates (Screech from “Saved by the Bell”), relatives (Hilary Banks, cousin of Will Smith on “Fresh Prince of Bel Air”), or co-workers (Dr. Peter Benton on “ER”).
They may have annoying mannerisms, are condescending, or easily panic-stricken in a crisis, but these recurring characters possess qualities that television viewers can relate to. (On the big screen, these are the 20 most annoying characters in movie history.)
Here are the most annoying characters in TV history.
Eddie Haskell
- Played by: Ken Osmond
- TV show: Leave it to Beaver
- On air: 1957-1963
Eddie Haskell would butter up the parents of his friend Wally Cleaver then later put down Wally’s brother Beaver.
Barney Fife
- Played by: Don Knotts
- TV show: The Andy Griffith Show
- On air: 1960-1968
Don Knotts was the often panic-stricken deputy Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show.”
Gilligan
- Played by: Bob Denver
- TV show: Gilligan’s Island
- On air: 1963-1967
Bob Denver’s loopy Gilligan was always getting into trouble on the deserted island in “Gilligan’s Island.”
Dr. Zachary Smith
- Played by: Jonathan Harris
- TV show: Lost in Space
- On air: 1965-1968
Dr. Zachary Smith was a petulant and condescending stowaway on space ship in “Lost in Space.”
Frank Burns
- Played by: Robert Duvall
- TV show: M*A*S*H
- On air: 1972-1983
By-the-book Major Frank Burns was a punching bag for the decidedly unmilitary Hawkeye Pierce in “M*A*S*H.”
Arnold Horschak
- Played by: Ron Palillo
- TV show: Welcome Back, Kotter
- On air: 1975-1979
The annoying laugh of Ron Palillo’s Arnold Horschak helped define his character on “Welcome Back, Kotter.”
ALF
- Played by: Paul Fusco, Mihaly ‘Michu’ Meszaros
- TV show: ALF
- On air: 1986-2004
ALF, short for alien life form, was a wise-cracking, troublemaking visitor from another planet.
Kimmy Gibbler
- Played by: Andrea Barber
- TV show: Full House
- On air: 1987-1995
Kimmy Gibbler, neighbor of the Tanners and best friend of DJ, had smelly feet, wore loud clothes, and never wanted to go home.
Screech
- Played by: Dustin Diamond
- TV show: Saved by the Bell
- On air: 1989-1992
The name might say it all, but Screech also had annoying nerdy interests and bungled things frequently.
Steve Urkel
- Played by: Jaleel White
- TV show: Family Matters
- On air: 1989-1998
Steve Urkel was the first famous African American nerd on American television.
Ned Flanders
- Played by: Harry Shearer
- TV show: The Simpsons
- On air: 1989-present
Ned Flanders was the Bible-quoting, well-meaning neighbor of the Simpsons whose upbeat persona was annoying.
Hilary Banks
- Played by: Karyn Parsons
- TV show: Fresh Prince of Bel Air
- On air: 1990-1996
Hilary Banks was the African American version of a materialistic “valley” girl.
Newman
- Played by: Wayne Knight
- TV show: Seinfeld
- On air: 1993-1998
Jerry Seinfeld gritted his teeth through his “Hello, Newman” greeting whenever Newman appeared on the show.
Fran Fine
- Played by: Fran Drescher
- TV show: The Nanny
- On air: 1993-1999
The nasally speech pattern and that grating cackle belonged to Fran Fine on “The Nanny.”
The Cast of Seinfeld
- Played by: Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards
- TV show: Seinfeld
- On air: 1993-1999
The maddening peccadillos of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer made “Seinfeld” a hit.
Janice Litman
N/A
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- Played by: Maggie Wheeler
- TV show: Friends
- On air: 1994-2004
Janice Litman’s annoying cackle was just one aspect of her character who ruined many important events in the lives of characters on “Friends.”
Dr. Peter Benton
- Played by: Eriq LaSalle
- TV show: ER
- On air: 1994-2009
Peter Benton was a skilled surgeon whose unsmiling demeanor grated on his fellow healthcare providers.
Dawn Summers
- Played by: Michelle Trachtenberg
- TV show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- On air: 1997-2003
Dawn Summers, the sister of vampire-slaying Buffy, complained and whined.
Livia Soprano
- Played by: Nancy Marchand
- TV show: The Sopranos
- On air: 1999-2007
Tony Soprano’s tormented mother complained all the time, and even conspired to kill her son.
Susan Mayer-Delfino
- Played by: Terri Hatcher
- TV show: Desperate Housewives
- On air: 2004-2012
Teri Hatcher’s character Susan Mayer-Delfino was not all there. In season 1, she was found in shrubbery in the nude.
Sheldon Cooper
- Played by: Jim Parsons
- TV show: The Big Bang Theory
- On air: 2007-2019
Sheldon is a genius but lacks empathy and can be selfish. But he still has friends.
Skyler White
- Played by: Anna Gunn
- TV show: Breaking Bad
- On air: 2008-2013
Skyler White was a complex character on “Breaking Bad” whose choices might have unsettled viewers.
Dean Pelton
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- Played by: Jim Rash
- TV show: Community
- On air: 2009-2015
Annoyingly upbeat Dean Pelton manages to bungle things repeatedly at Greendale Community College on the sit-com “Community.”
King Joffrey
- Played by: Raymond Griffiths
- TV show: Game of Thrones
- On air: 2011-2019
Jack Gleeson’s portrayal of the diabolical and unpredictable King Joffrey in “Game of Thrones” was so convincing, he received death threats.
Jerry Smith
- Played by: Chris Parnell
- TV show: Rick and Morty
- On air: 2013-present
Jerry Smith, husband of Beth and son-in-law of Rick Sanchez, is cast as a loser who can’t find a career.