From those who made audiences laugh to those whose flaws fascinated viewers, the greatest TV characters of all time are unforgettable small-screen creations. Throughout the history of television, there have been certain characters who have come to define the medium. Though everyone has their own personal favorites from the shows they love, there are some who have cemented themselves as truly outstanding and deserving of a place among the best TV characters of all time.

From modern icons of current television shows to characters who have been around as long as television itself, the collection of television's characters is a fascinating look at the kind of figures audiences look for in the shows they love and the stories they want to explore. Whether they broke new ground in the medium, presented new archetypes fans had never seen before, or just entertained viewers, these are the greatest TV characters of all time.

30 Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock (2010-2017)

There have been many actors who have played Sherlock Holmes in TV and movies, but Benedict Cumberbatch's take on the character remains one of the most popular. Sherlock is a modern-day retelling of the famous detective and his trusty companion John Watson taking on complex cases in London. This version of Sherlock is brilliant and brave, but it also shows the loneliness of his gifts as well as his lack of social etiquette. It makes him a fun and complex hero to root for with Cumberbatch finding a breakout role that redefined an iconic character.

29 Annalise Keating - How To Get Away With Murder (2014-2020)

Viola Davis was already an acclaimed and successful actor by the time she was cast in the crime series How to Get Away with Murder, but she found a role perfectly suited to her bold screen presence and emotionally captivating performances. The series explores Keating as an accomplished defense lawyer and law school professor, but the series continues to dig deeper into Keating's personality and past, showing different aspects to her that make her one of the most layered and fascinating female characters on television. Davis is always up to the new challenges of the role, further making Keating a successful creation.

28 Glenn Rhee - The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

Even from the beginning of the series, The Waking Dead featured such a large cast that it was hard for some of the characters to get noticed. However, Steven Yeun's Glenn didn't take long to become a fan-favorite and cement himself as one of the leads of the show. The audience gets to see Glenn grow as a hero throughout his time in the series as he becomes more of a leader, finds romance with Maggie, and faces countless dangers. As a testament to how important he was to the show, Glenn's death in The Walking Dead is generally seen as the marker for the show going downhill.

27 Rosa Diaz - Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of those crowd-pleasing sitcoms that gets so much of its strength from the amazing ensemble cast. While there are so many lovable characters in the series, Rosa Diaz stands out as its very best creation. Rosa is introduced as the tough and intimidating detective who often refuses to let people get close to her. While that doesn't really change too much, new aspects of the character, from her coming out as bi and dealing with her family's reaction to her identity, to her time in prison, help to make her more interesting while still delivering some of the biggest laughs in the series.

26 Columbo - Columbo (1971-1978)

There are countless TV detectives around, but few are as charming as Columbo. Peter Falk steps perfectly into the role of the titular detective, a man who seems to stumble into every crime scene like a lost child and mumbles his way through an investigation. However, what might seem like inept behavior is really just a brilliant strategy to put the murderers off their game and underestimate the detective who has already come to suspect them. To introduce a new take on the detective role is not easy, but Columbo is a unique television creation that continues to delight fans decades later.

25 Harley Quinn – Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)

While Batman and Joker are true icons in pop culture, their existence predates any television appearance. So while the Batman: Animated Series brought them to the small screen successfully, one original creation from that show has gone on to become an icon in her own right. Harley Quinn was introduced as a minion of Joker but struck a chord with audiences thanks to her mix of humor and menace. While Margot Robbie's live-action take and the new DC animated series continue her legacy, they wouldn't exist without the Batman: Animated Series' Harley Quinn episodes showing how much fun and potential this character could be.

24 Cameron Tucker - Modern Family (2009-2020)

Modern Family found a new way to approach the familiar domestic sitcom with some original characters. However, Cameron Tucker shines as the show's brightest aspect. From the very first episode when Cam theatrically presents their new baby to the family, he found his way into the hearts of fans. Cam was always full of love and excitement for the world around him while also having a flair for the dramatic that could get hilariously out of control. From his sweetest moments to his laugh-out-loud gags, Cam made the whole family more entertaining by being a part of it.

23 Chandler Bing - Friends (1994-2004)

Though Friends was very much an ensemble show about the six central characters, Chandler Bing seemed to stand above the rest in the eyes of many fans. His sarcastic and quippy sense of humor would be mimicked in endless future sitcoms without ever being quite as good. Chandler became an even more interesting character with his fan-favorite relationship with Monica which showed a softer side to him. But he could most be counted on to deliver some of the best one-liners in the series.

22 Eleven - Stranger Things (2016-2025)

Though superhero shows are more popular than ever thanks to the comic book boom, the greatest television superhero remains an original creation as well as being a young kid. Stranger Things is an expansive supernatural adventure with many interdimensional threats and scares while Eleven emerges as the hero who can save the world. Millie Bobby Brown does a terrific job of selling Eleven's immense power while still showing that she is a young child who is vulnerable and scared. She has made for some of the most heartbreaking, crowd-pleasing and epic moments in the show and fans are eagerly waiting to see how her story ends in Stranger Things season 5.

21 Leslie Knope - Parks And Recreation (2009-2015)

Parks and Recreation is yet another sitcom that succeeds thanks to its colorful cast of characters, but the show would be nothing without Leslie Knope guiding the way. When Parks and Rec began, some dismissed it as a copy of The Office and felt Leslie would be a Michael Scott imitator. Amy Poehler and the show's writers quickly proved that theory wrong as Leslie cemented herself as a strong, determined, and passionate politician the world needs more of. She certainly had her flaws and the show was never afraid to make the audience laugh at her expense, but she was also one of the most inspiring sitcom characters of all time.

20 Jack McFarland - Will & Grace (1998-2020)

Will & Grace was a groundbreaking show that helped bring LGBTQ+ stories to the mainstream. While such representation on television has come a long way since then (and still has a long way to go), the character of Jack McFarland was an opportunity to show a gay man on television whose sexuality was not a punchline, but rather something that he was deeply proud of and celebrated openly. He was a hilarious and wild character who added an extra shot of energy to any scene that he was in, making for a sitcom sidekick who knew how and when to steal the show.

19 Lorelai Gilmore - Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

Though Gilmore Girls was popular in its time, the continued interest in the show long after it ended shows the impact it has had on fans. Perhaps the biggest part of the love for the show was in the character of Lorelai Gilmore, the single mother and protagonist of the series. Lorelai broke a lot of conventions with television mothers, being a funny, goofy, and completely independent woman who was still a strong guardian for her daughter. Lauren Graham also had a lot of fun playing with Lorelai's faults, from her childish nature to her stubbornness, but these aspects only helped to make her a more well-rounded and charming presence that was always the heart of the series.

18 Spock - Star Trek (1966-1969)

The original Star Trek cast is a collection of iconic television characters, but when choosing only one standout character from the series, Spork is the obvious choice, The Vulcan second-in-command aboard the Starship Enterprise made for a perfect counterpoint to Captain Kirk's bold leader as Spock observed every situation with a sense of rationale and logic. Though that might make him seem like a bore, he was such a unique and thought-provoking character that his emotionless nature often provided some of the best moments in the series.

17 Don Draper - Mad Men (2007-2015)

Don Draper came at a time in television when audiences seemed to be craving flawed protagonists who were almost daring the viewer to hate them. However, in the hands of the brilliant storytelling on Mad Men and Jon Hamm's layered performance, Don became a fascinating character to study over the course of the seasons. He was a womanizer and alcoholic who was prone to self-sabotage and reckless behavior in his job at a New York advertising agency. While his behavior was often deplorable, he also had an underdog quality that made him impossible not to remain interested in.

16 Jessica Fletcher - Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)

Like Columbo, Jessica Fletcher presented a very different kind of television detective that was more about charm and likability than hard boiled stoicism. Murder, She Wrote stars Angela Lansbury as Fletcher, a mystery writer who becomes an amateur detective herself. Fletcher carried herself with intelligence and confidence while also having a polite grace about her even as she solved cases. She is an observant and practical sleuth who is another hero who can often be underestimated by the criminals she investigates only to find themselves trapped by her.

15 George Costanza - Seinfeld (1989-1998)

Seinfeld's four main characters were some of the funniest and most self-centered TV characters around, but George Costanza was a particularly hilarious bad person audiences could laugh at. George was based on Seinfeld creator Larry David while Jason Alexander brought his own pitch-perfect neurotic performance to the role. George was a deeply pathetic man, whether it was being the first to rush out the door of a birthday party when he thought there was a fire, posing as a marine biologist, or buying cheap envelopes that ultimately killed his fiance. The show was never worried about making him likable, just ensuring his sad antics were funny.

14 Lucy Ricardo - I Love Lucy (1951-1957)

Even looking at the wildly popular shows of today like Stranger Things and House of the Dragon, it is hard to comprehend the popularity of a show like I Love Lucy. The early domestic sitcom had a lot of funny and entertaining aspects, but the best part was always Lucille Ricardo, the well-meaning but accident-prone housewife at its center. Putting the female character as the funny lead of the show was a ground-breaking enough element, but the show and Lucy as a character continued to break down stereotypes and challenge notions of the time to create one of the funniest sitcom characters of all time.

13 Fleabag - Fleabag (2016-2019)

Though it only ran for two seasons, the series Fleabag is a television sensation. Phoebe Waller-Bridge's unnamed Fleabag character was at the center of this funny, powerful, and moving character study of a woman dealing with insecurities and wanting love. While that might sound like a typical story, Fleabag explores it in a totally unique way with the character. The viewers see the terrible mistakes she makes, the redemption she seeks, the people who let her down, and the unexpected love that she finds. As short as it is, the journey with this character makes for an unforgettable experience.

12 Bugs Bunny - Looney Tunes

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Cartoons have been a very important part of television history since its early days and there are few cartoon characters as iconic as Bugs Bunny. As the face of the Looney Tunes, Bugs is one of the greatest comedic characters in pop culture history and he has remained as such for several decades. Within the world of Looney Tunes, Bugs was capable of anything, but it was most fun to see him mess with his enemies. His confident and clever ruses made for some of the most famous moments in cartoon history and endeared him as a surprisingly relatable laid back hero who was always the smartest one in the room.