10 of the Most Influential Television Characters in History

Since its inception, TV has played a very important role in pop culture.  Over the years, fictional TV characters have gained lives of their own, sometimes even overshadowing the stars who play them.  Although many have come and gone, the best TV characters, are those who find a permanent place in the hearts of viewers, even long after their time on-screen has passed. In fact, some TV characters have become so popular that they have inspired musicians, artists, and politicians.  Due to their overwhelmingly large fan bases, these beloved characters continue to live on, and in some cases their legacies have been passed down from generation to generation .  Here are 10 of the most influential television characters in history.

10. Al Bundy

Portrayed by actor Ed O’Neill, Al Bundy is one of the most memorable TV characters to ever hit the airwaves.  As the protagonist on the popular series, Married…with Children, Bundy was a simple yet caring father who was always available for a good laugh.  Although Married…with Children ended its original run more than 10 years ago, Al Bundy has gone down in history of one of the best TV dads.

9.  The Fresh Prince

Portrayed by none other than Will Smith, Will ‘the Fresh Prince’ Smith was once one of the most popular characters on TV.  After moving from Philadelphia to California, the Fresh Prince brought his cool inner-city style to the upper-class suburb of Bel Air.  Throughout the 90s, the Fresh Prince became one of the coolest and most stylish TV characters, and his unique style of dress often influenced viewers. In the years since the show’s final, his legacy has continued to live on and many of his outfits have come back into style.

8. Rachel Green

Rachel Green, one of the most popular Friends, has been immortalized in pop culture history.  On the show, Green was depicted as a self-centered suburban girl who transitions into a well-adjusted New York native.  Rachel Green’s character eventually became so popular that the hairstyle Jennifer Aniston wore while portraying her became known as “The Rachel.”

7. MacGyver

Throughout the 80s and early 90s, secret agent Angus MacGyver, proved that even the most ordinary objects could be used to save the day.  MacGyver has gone down in history as one of the smartest and most resourceful TV characters of all-time. In the year’s since the show’s end, the MacGyver character has continued to be referenced on other shows, and has inspired songs and catchphrases all over the world.

6. Lucy Ricardo

Portrayed and inspired by revolutionary comedian Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo helped break stereotypes and put female characters in the forefront. Similar to the real life Lucy, Lucy Ricardo was depicted as fun-loving and simple yet strong and smart.  Although it has been more than half a century since Lucy Ricardo made her final on-screen appearance, her character has continued to endure, even in a wold where starring female characters are now a dime a dozen.

5. Tony Soprano

Tony Soprano, leading character on the infamous mob-themed series, The Sopranos, has consistently been thought of as one of the most memorable and influential TV characters to ever exist.  Portrayed by the late, James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano was a hard-hard nosed mob boss who often displayed relentless violent tendencies.  Tony Soprano has often been credited when influencing many of the characters who appeared after him. After Gandolfini’s death, Matt Roush of TV Guide stated: “Without Tony, there’s no Vic Mackey of The Shield, no Al Swearengen of Deadwood, no Don Draper of Mad Men…”

4. Jerry Seinfeld

By portraying a semi-fictionalized version of himself, Jerry Seinfeld, created one of the best and funniest TV characters in recent history.  Often blurring the lines between fiction and reality, Seinfeld created a world where simply being nobody and doing nothing became extremely entertaining.  Over the years, Seinfeld has continued to influence other TV productions, and references to the character have been widely used.

3. Heathcliff Huxtable

Dubbed “America’s Favorite TV Dad,” Bill Cosby’s portrayal of the fictional Dr. Heathcliff ‘Cliff’ Huxtable has created a character that will seemingly live on forever.  Depicted as smart, silly, and fair, Cliff was loved and respected by his wife, children, and friends. Thanks in part to Bill Cosby’s genius, and Cliff’s popularity, The Cosby Show has gone down in history as one of the best shows of all-time.

2. Arthur Fonzarelli

Arthur ‘Fonzie’ Fonzarelli is perhaps the coolest high-schooler to never exist.  Known for his trademark ‘aye’ Fonzie helped to popularize the thumbs up symbol as well as the “Fonzie touch” a method for getting things to work by hitting them. Fonzie’s character was so inspirational that former United States President, Gerald Ford, borrowed Fonzie’s thumbs-up for his 1976 presidential campaign.  There is also a status of Fonzie named the “Bronze Fonz” located on the Milwaukee Riverwalk.

1. Bart Simpson

Bart Simpson is arguably the most influential 10-year-old in history, both television and otherwise. For nearly 30 years, he has humored and entertained viewers all around the world. During the 90s, Bart’s popularity soared and memorabilia featuring his image was widely purchased. In 2008, Bart and the rest of his fictional family were honored with a star on Hollywood’s walk of fame. As The Simpsons winds down in its 26th season on the air, it appears that Bart and the rest of his family won’t be going away any time soon.

 (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

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