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Joffrey Baratheon from “Game of Thrones,” or Mrs. Umbridge from “Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix” (and later books and films) are all examples of characters so detested that they make readers and viewers' blood boil. Sometimes this emotion transcends the screen and we begin to forget where the character ends and the actor begins. 

One internet user wanted to know what actors portrayed a villain so effectively that people could no longer see them as anything else. The results were illuminating, so sit down and be sure to upvote your favorites as you read through people’s answers. Remember to comment your own examples if you didn’t see it here.

#1

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films For me, it’s Joffrey Baratheon played by Jack Gleeson.

poopface41217 replied:

The ironic thing is I read Jack Gleeson is one of the kindest people and is active in volunteer efforts. I watched an interview where his co-star Sophie Turner said he was the greatest guy.

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Tobias Teller
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do someone really think actors who play villains are terrible people in real life?

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#2

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Imelda Staunton, Mrs Umbridge in Harry Potter.

forbiddenmemeories replied:

Honestly the biggest challenge for any new HP series is going to be matching the casting of the movies. Imelda Staunton is one of many who was absolutely perfect for her character and it's going to be hard to buy anyone else in the role.

Lunavixen15 replied:

I can't unsee Umbridge as her, even after reading the books again. She encapsulated Umbridge so well.

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#3

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films John Lithgow was so terrifying in Dexter that I kept expecting him to murder somebody in The Great British Bake Off.

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Hollywood has a long track record of typecasting certain actors in specific roles. This is pretty prevalent among character actors who people can only see in one role. The cast of Star Trek, particularly the original series, struggled with this issue for the rest of their careers. For example, Nichelle Nichols who played translator and communications officer Uhura, believed that the role so defined her as an actress that no one was willing to hire her for anything else. 

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Star Trek seemed to be particularly cursed, as even established actors of stage and screen ended up “stuck” with connections to the show. Sir Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Picard in “The Next Generation” was turned down from a role because the director thought Picard overshadowed the actor. It’s worth noting that Sir Patrick Stewart has decades of experience and was and is a fully respected actor in his own right, yet still ended up typecast by this one role.

#4

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian. When I saw Giancarlo Esposito in Community, I just about sh*t myself in fear.

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ANONYMOUS
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10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this guy, he certainly made me emphasise with him sometimes

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#5

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Sam Rockwell in Green Mile was so disgusting and off-putting and perfect in his role that I still don’t like to look at him.

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#6

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton. I tell a lie as he was so cute in Vicious as Ash Weston.

sporkabork replied:

He freaked me out so much as Ramsay Bolton that I’m pretty sure I’d cross the street if I happened to see him out walking around. That’s a good actor.

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Audrey
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He is adorable in misfits, can't believe he play a villain

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It seems like the inability to see an actor as separate from the character is just as present among casting directors as the audience. John Hamm, of Mad Men fame, recalled getting basically only pitches for films and shows set in the 1960s or about advertising. Despite his range, one excellent performance was enough to force him into the same role over and over again, with diminishing results and, no doubt, motivation.

#7

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List.

Milkweedhugger replied:

Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort also!

anotherkeebler replied:

I've been scared of him all my life. I was so happy to see him play such a different character in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

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#8

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Bastards.

crateofkate replied:

See his role on Basterds influenced my perspective of him so much I spent the entire movie waiting for him to betray Django and when the credits rolled and he hadn’t my mind was in denial

DeannaZone replied:
I loved that movie because of him, but unfortunately if I ever see or hear him in something I am like this is the bad guy ... he did is sooo good!

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Laura Lett
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Christoph was Perfect for the role! He's the only reason I watch the movie. The whole story line was stupid.

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#9

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Jack Nicholson did such a good job as Jack Torrance that he gives me the creeps every time I see his face now.

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Stephanie Did It
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's always given me the creeps, no matter what role he played, because of his dead eyes. He may be a great actor and certainly has earned a lot of praise and prestige, but those emotionless eyes never change.

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There are historical examples of this as well. Soviet actor Mikheil Gelovani played Stalin no less than twelve times, which perhaps wasn’t quite as challenging range-wise, but the pressure to portray the murderous Premier of the Soviet Union no doubt added a certain level of difficulty. Regardless, both Khrushchev’s de-Stalinization and the idea that Gelovani could not depict “mere mortals” after playing Stalin all led to him being denied any other roles. 

#10

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films How is Joaquin Phoenix not on here for Commodus in Gladiator?

Mud_Landry added:

Took me quite a while to watch Joaquin Phoenix in anything after Gladiator, his Commodus was so f*****g evil I couldn’t stand him in anything for years

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Hawkmoon
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And now he has played the Joker and his acting is beyond this world.

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#11

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Charles Dance in well everything... Golden Child, GOT.

He could cure cancer tomorrow and he would still ring villain to me.

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Sue User
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always think of his prostectic eyes ( he had several with different patterns ) in Last Action Hero.

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#12

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Tom Felton reportedly gets a ton of hate for his portrayal of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series.

trisharae_88 replied:

But also a super chill dude in real life.

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Some actors actually end up “bonding” with a character so deeply that they begin to do public appearances as them. Clayton Moore, best known as the Lone Ranger, liked being the masked, former Texas ranger so much that Jack Wrather, who actually owned the rights to the character, had to issue a cease and desist letter. The dispute was ultimately resolved and Moore would continue to go out in public as the ranger. 

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#13

I've never forgiven Jeffrey Dean Morgan for killing Glenn. I used to really like him.

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Stephanie Did It
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I fell in love with him on Grey's Anatomy and in P.S. I Love You, and when he killed Glenn he broke my heart forever.

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#14

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and as Kai Winn in "Deep Space Nine".

LitherLily replied:

She is excellent at playing the villain. You are helpless against the tide of hate that washes over you.

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kate h
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10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is one of my favorite movies of all time. All of the actors were great, but Louise Fletcher was incredible. She played her part SO well - I think the fact that there are real people out there like this makes it extra terrifying.

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#15

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Lena Headey in GOT. She's actually super nice when I've seen interviews but damn she was too perfect as Cersei.

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Libstak
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10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She played Sarah Connor in The Terminator TV series before 300 and Game of Thrones, she was also in The Purge and Judge Dredd

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Ultimately, more creative directors will try to play “against type” by taking an actor best known for a specific genre or role and casting them in something very different. Bruce Willis was mainly known for romcoms before his career-making time in “Die Hard,” while rapper Ice-T was an unusual, but inspired choice for a police detective in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

#16

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Rosamund Pike played a sociopath so perfectly in *Gone Girl* that I have only recently been able to watch shows or movies that she is in.

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._.
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But she was so good as Moirane (sp?) In the Wheel of Time series! (The content is a different story)

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#17

I don’t hate him but after watching Primal Fear and American History X if I saw Edward Norton in a dark alley I’d turn around and walk the other way.

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Kathy T
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The curb scene in America History X has had a long lasting effect on me. That was just so twisted!

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#18

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Billy Zane in Titanic.

Fly_By_Orchestra added:

It's too bad; he's a cool dude.

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#19

Pam Ferris as Agatha Trunchbull in Matilda.

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#20

Kathy Bates in Misery. It makes me sad because she is a great actress, but I can't get past it.

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Pittsburgh rare
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me it's kinda opposite. She's usually the likeable character and when l watch Misery is just admiration at how good she is.

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#21

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Samuel L Jackson in Django Unchained. DiCaprio had a certain insane charisma to him in that movie, not Jackson. Perfectly portrays someone who sold out their own.

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#22

Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. I watched No Country for Old Men in the theater and studiously avoided Javier Bardem until last year when I watched Dune. He’s a great actor; otherwise, Anton Chigurh wouldn’t have mentally scarred me for a decade.

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Christian Fuller
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also as Silva in Skyfall. Scarily sympathetic, but after that one scene, it's hard to look him in the face.

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#23

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films I will never ever forgive Paul Reiser for betraying those Colonial Marines on LV426.

daddyvs replied:

I have hated Paul Reiser since the 80s because of Aliens.

billions_of_stars replied:

I remember Paul Reiser being on a talk show many years ago after he was in the movie Aliens. He talked to Jay Lemon or whoever it was about how he was doing standup once and before he even started people were booing him because they hated that character so much. He said something to the host along the lines of “they realize I’m not actually that guy, right?”

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The Original Bruno
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was so torn about which Paul Reiser to see his character as when he starred in later seasons of Stranger Things. EXCELLENT casting.

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#24

Tobias Menzies who played Capt Randall on Outlander. Every movie and film he is in, I always hope his character dies. I think I would spit on him if I saw him in real life. He's actually really nice guy but was so good in his role that I just hate him.

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#25

Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and as Colonel William Tavington in The Patriot.

Gotta say, he excels at portraying despicable villains.

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#26

Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith in The Matrix.

Krampsport replied:

This!!! Agent Smith and he was forever a sinister and scary mf.

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#27

This is gonna be a throwback but Robert Knepper as T-Bag in Prison Break. He played that character EXTREMELY well...like jeez. I've never been able to see him the same way since watching Prison Break.

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#28

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films I've never seen her in anything but The Office, but it's always such a mind‐f**k when I see an interview or something with Angela Kinsey and she's smiling and seems somewhat likeable.

I got to meet her at a convention once, and she is incredibly sweet IRL. So are Oscar Nuñez and Brian Baumgartner.

I went to the convention dressed as Dwight and, when it was time for my picture with Angela, she exclaimed “Dwight!” Then she told me she was going to go “full Angela” for the photo, and she did.

GonzoThompson replied:

Brian was extra careful to make sure I got all the photos I wanted with him. We had already taken three or so when he asked me if I was sure I got everything I wanted with him.

All three of them are super nice people.

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elijah fisher
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yea she seems awesome but any interview or whatever i've seen w her i fully expect her to actually go full angela

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#29

Jesse Plemons (poor man's Matt Damon) as Todd in Breaking Bad.

overmonk replied:

Same. It took years for me to see past his dead-fish sociopathic Todd and recognize his immense acting talent. He’s really very good.

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#30

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Chace Crawford as The Deep in The Boys. I see him in actor interviews and get the heebie-jeebies even though I know it’s just a character.

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#31

Doug Hutchison (Percy Wetmore in The Green Mile). Although I haven't seen him in much since, Lost being the only thing that comes to mind. He has some real-life issues though as well, having married a 16-year-old when he was 51.

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#32

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Adam Scott could play the sweetest guy ever but I would still wanta punch his face in because all I'd be able to see was Trevor from the Good Place.

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#33

Mo'Nique when she played the mom in Precious.

SmellyCheeseDiseass replied:

Oh this is a good answer. Funnily enough Mo'Nique is apparently one of the biggest sweethearts in the world.

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Cara G
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the most difficult books I've ever read and films I've ever watched. To this day I cannot see a bucket of fried chicken and not immediately think of Mo'nique as Precious' mother.

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#34

Kiefer Sutherland in Stand By Me.

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#35

Antony Starr Homelander in The Boys.

ballplayer0025 replied:

100% He is so good at it that initially I was like "holy s**t where his this guy been hiding?" But ultimately because of it I will never be able to see him as anything but homelander.

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Liu Woods
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I opened this list solely to see if he was on it! For every cast video all the comments are always joking about this

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#36

Bryce Dallas Howard as Hilly Holbrook in The Help, after that I can't stand her in anything else...

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#37

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films For me, Matt Damon in The Departed was so absolutely hateable that even when I see him in things like The Martian, for example, I’m still like “oh, absolutely not. Just leave him there.”

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D. Pitbull
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holy. Moly... did NO ONE like him in Good Will Hunting?????? I can't be alone in this. wtf. I think Matt Damon ROCKS.

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#38

The Mist (2007) has a character named Mrs Carmody who was a religious nut they were all trapped in the grocery store with. She was played by actress Marcia Gay Harden, who I still can't stand to this day because of that character.

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#39

David Schwimmer as Cpt Sobel in Band of Brothers. I swear his O3 character caused me to have flashbacks of bad company commanders.

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BetterBitterButter
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was really good as Captain Sobel in the "Band of Brothers ".Thanks for reminding me of BoB. It's time for my annual rewatch.

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#40

Kirsten Dunst as Amy in 1994’s Little Women. I will never forgive her for burning that manuscript. Then her character grew up married Laurie?! What. A. B***h.

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#41

Major Frank Burns from M*A*S*H, His lack of empathy and overall ego made me hate the guy. They tried a couple of times expressing on why he came out the way he did...but it just wasn't enough. Always getting in the way of Hawkeye treating patients, leading on Hotlips, and just being an overall shithead the way he treated the locals in Korea. That being said Robert Duvall did a great job.

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Shyla Bouche
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Larry Linville hated the character. He actually quit the show because Frank had not grown or changed at all. Linville is (was?) a nice guy with a good sense of humor.

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#42

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films I actually had this issue this morning. I was watching Breaking Bad and Jesse's AA leader was on. Perfectly softly spoken gentle man. Hate him on sight. Had to Google him. Turns out he was a character in Sabrina the Teenage Witch that I watched as a child (Zelda's husband) and he was such a bastard I've apparently carried a dormant instinctual hatred for him ever since.

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The Original Bruno
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jere Burns also played a compulsive liar and womanizer in Dear John for five seasons in the early 90s.

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#43

Kevin Bacon in Sleepers, when he played [character] who killed Magneto's family I was like, 'that was good casting'.

_Goose_ replied:

Haven’t been able to enjoy him in anything since.

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#44

Shooter McGavin.

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madbakes
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, I definitely wanted to kick his face through the screen

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#45

JK Simmons after watching him in Whiplash.

mrstonewallin replied:

'Not quite my tempo' just echoes through the head.

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Keith T
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Watch OZ… his portrayal of a white supremicist is amazing and creepy. To this day that’s all I think about when I see him

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#46

50 People List Actors Who Were Such ‘Perfectly Hateable’ Villains, They Can’t Stand Them In Any Other Films Jamie Dornan, Fifty Shades of Grey as Christian Grey.

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DeVille
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10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Serves you right for watching it frankly. Now as for The Fall, he was frighteningly good in that.

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#47

Michael Fassbender's role in 12 Years a Slave made me want to punch him. Had to remind myself hes just a great actor. Where is he though? After the X Men films he doesn't seem to be doing much.

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Ken Beattie
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like he took a break during covid. Nothing since 2019. But he's got 8 upcoming projects coming out in the next year or so.

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#48

Billy Bob Thornton as Lorne Malvo in the Fargo TV show. He actually played him *too* well, do much so in anything else he does I can't get past it.

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The Original Bruno
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, Billy Bob Thornton is ALWAYS creepy as hell, even when playing the good guys. The fact that he could be a good guy ("Pushing Tin," for instance) when being so creepy is a testament to his acting skills.

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#49

Idris Elba as Charles Minor.

kiwimag5 replied:

God he was so good in this role. The period of time when Charles thought Dwight was a reasonable person was perfect. So well done.

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#50

I always hated Steve Zahn, but I couldn't put my finger on why. It was because he was such a convincing s**t in "Riding in Cars with Boys." I almost forgot about the movie entirely and him being in it, but my impression of him stayed.

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