Let’s be real: not every showstopper wears the crown of “main character.” Sometimes it’s the sidekick, the villain, or the oddball in the corner who makes us lean forward in our seats and think: yep, this is the one I’ll remember. These are the characters who walk in, deliver a handful of lines (or maybe steal entire episodes), and somehow become the thing everyone’s quoting for years after. Here are 15 movie and TV supporting roles that didn’t merely support the plot, and then they stole the show.
15. Klaus Daimler – The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Willem Dafoe)
Wes Anderson films are full of offbeat characters, but Willem Dafoe’s Klaus is the icing on the cake. As the insecure but deeply devoted first mate, Klaus is both laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly poignant. Dafoe commits fully to the character’s vulnerability, providing us with humor and a surprising injection of heart.
14. Emily Charlton – The Devil Wears Prada (Emily Blunt)
Imagine going head-to-head with Meryl Streep and still leaving with the fan favorite crown. That’s what Emily Blunt did. As Miranda Priestly’s beleaguered assistant, her eye-rolling and razor-sharp sarcasm were so good they basically created a new “snarky office sidekick” character.
13. Cat Adams – Criminal Minds (Aubrey Plaza)
Aubrey Plaza is familiar for playing deadpan oddballs, but her role as assassin Cat Adams was a harrowing surprise. Both terrorizing and darkly comedic, Plaza made her episodes must-see TV. Fans eagerly anticipated whenever Cat was back to taunt Spencer Reid, and she never let them down.
12. Dr. King Schultz – Django Unchained (Christoph Waltz)
Tarantino provided us with all sorts of over-the-top characters, but Christoph Waltz’s charming, witty bounty hunter stands alone. He’s commanding from the outset, injecting a peculiar warmth and humor into a grim tale. No surprise that Waltz won an Oscar for the part.
11. Bobby Hicks – The Florida Project (Willem Dafoe)
Willem Dafoe once more, but without quirks and playing grounded. As the manager of the motel struggling to keep things under control, he was the emotional center of Sean Baker’s indie treasure. Dafoe’s performance is tender, gruff, and softly tragic—a contrast to the crazy kids he takes in.
10. Mona Lisa Vito – My Cousin Vinny (Marisa Tomei)
Marisa Tomei shone bright as Vinny’s hard-nosed, wisecracking girlfriend. Her Queens accent, exhaustive knowledge of cars, and blazing one-liners didn’t just provide laughs—she won an Oscar. Confirmation that even the “girlfriend role” can be the best part of a movie when executed properly.
9. Princess Carolyn – BoJack Horseman (Amy Sedaris)
BoJack is the star, but Princess Carolyn is the heart. Working a crazy career, messy relationships, and her constant hustle, she became the character fans loved the most. With Amy Sedaris’s humor and tear-jerking vulnerability, Princess Carolyn became an instant fan favorite.
8. Catwoman – Batman Returns (Michelle Pfeiffer)
Michelle Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle is sexy, lethal, and infinitely compelling. She took a part that could’ve been cartoonish and made it raw energy. By the time Batman Returns ends, she’s obviously the one whose face you can’t look away from—even Batman recedes into the shadows.
7. Barney Stinson – How I Met Your Mother (Neil Patrick Harris)
What began as a comic relief vehicle soon became the highlight of the show. Neil Patrick Harris’s womanizing, larger-than-life Barney made “suit up!” a catchphrase and brought some of the show’s most poignant moments. Love him or despise him, you watched Barney.
6. Marcus – John Wick (Willem Dafoe)
Yes, Dafoe once more—because scene-stealing is his thing. As John Wick’s mentor and hidden guardian, Marcus brought unexpected depth to an action franchise. His blend of tough love and moral nuance added more emotional heft to Wick’s quest than anyone could have anticipated.
5. Ron Swanson – Parks and Recreation (Nick Offerman)
The mustache. The steak. The woodshop. Ron Swanson was supposed to be Leslie Knope’s cranky opposite number, but Nick Offerman’s deadpan delivery made him a TV legend. Each libertarian tirade and breakfast cuisine fixation solidified his place as one of the funniest and most quotable sitcom stars.
4. The Joker – The Dark Knight (Heath Ledger)
Heath Ledger didn’t steal scenes—he revolutionized the comic book villain’s role. His anarchic Joker brought havoc, fear, and an unforgettable performance that eclipsed even Batman. Ledger’s performance is a benchmark not only in superhero movies but in acting, in general.
3. Dwight Schrute – The Office (Rainn Wilson)
What started as a quirky side character soon became the backbone of The Office. Dwight’s strange sense of reasoning, his pranks, and his unwavering dedication to Dunder Mifflin transformed him into both absurd and lovable. Rainn Wilson made Dwight an icon, and let’s be honest, the real “Assistant Regional Manager” of hearts.
2. Mia Wallace – Pulp Fiction (Uma Thurman)
Mia appears in only a small portion of Pulp Fiction, yet Uma Thurman’s appearance sets the tone for the whole film. From the nostalgic bob to that infamous dance sequence with John Travolta, Mia is mysterious and magnetic—a character who became a pop icon overnight.
1. Captain Jack Sparrow – Pirates of the Caribbean (Johnny Depp)
Technically, the film was meant to center on Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Then along came Johnny Depp, swaggering onto the screen, slurring through one-liners, and outright stealing the franchise. Jack Sparrow wasn’t a supporting player—he became Pirates’ heart (and mayhem) and rewrote the rulebook on what a blockbuster supporting character could do.
At the end of the day, it’s usually the so-called “supporting” roles that make movies and TV truly unforgettable. Whether they’re the villains, the comic relief, or just a spark of something different, these characters remind us that sometimes the best stories are told from the sidelines.