22 Talented Actors Who Nail The Roles Of The Villains

Villains are considered key to the success of a film or TV series as they are the biggest challenge that the heroes have to overcome. Even for professionals in the film industry, this role is one of the most challenging to convince. However, Hollywood is full of actors who are very good at playing the bad guy on screen. They pulled it off so perfectly that they've instilled real-life terror and hate among fans.
For this list, we’re looking at actors who are regularly type-cast as bad guys. We have some legendary performances such as Leonardo DiCaprio's Calvin Candie in "Django: Unchained", and Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest",... We’re not saying they always play a villain, but that they often make for a memorable one.
Which actors are we forgetting? Let us know in the comments below!

#1 Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon in "Game of Thrones"

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Never once did I hate a character and admire an actor so much. This guy absolutely ate every single scene he was in.

#2 Bradley Cooper in "Wedding Crashers"

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Since that film, I've disliked him because he doesn't seem to be acting in real life.

#3 Lena Headey as Cersei in "Game of Thrones"

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She had such a wonderful expression on her face... calculated anger, rage/aggression. A look of complete superiority.

#4 David Schwimmer as Capt. Sobel in "Band of Brothers"

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In "Band of Brothers", David Schwimmer played his role fantastically. You despised him as much as the guys of Easy Company did.

#5 Imelda Staunton as Umbridge in "Harry Potter"

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She's unimaginably evil, which is a wonderful thing. Imelda Staunton is one of the most talented actresses of her generation.

#6 Leonardo DiCaprio, as Calvin Candie in "Django: Unchained"

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He was not only not a starring man, but he also portrayed the antagonist, the bad guy. And his Calvin Candie was almost flawless.

#7 Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and as Kai Winn in "Star Trek DS9"

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On DS9, she was flawless as Kai Winn. 10/10 performance. The villain is skin-crawlingly well-played.

#8 Sam Rockwell in "The Green Mile"

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His role is so creepy!

#9 Allison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson in "Little House on the Prairie"

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I'm haunted by Nellie. Her obnoxious sibling, too. Remember when she was thrown off the horse and pretended to be paralyzed?

#10 Katherine MacGregor as Mrs. Oleson in "Little House on the Prairie"

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The bellwether for every evil, nosy, petty, beeyatch character that came after her. She is incredible.

#11 Joaquin Phoenix in "Gladiator"

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Can't bear that Joaquin Phoenix's character murdered Maximus in "Gladiator" that my mother refuses to watch anything Joaquin is in.

#12 Anna Gunn as Skylar in "Breaking Bad"

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She's clearly the normal, sensible person who discovers her husband is a drug lord, but as the protagonist, we owe it to Mr. White to like him more.

#13 William Atherton in "Ghostbusters and Die Hard"

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People would see him on the street and slam him for his movie roles.

#14 Paul McCrane as Dr. Romano in "ER"

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I was cheering the second helicopter.

#15 Christoph Waltz in "Inglorious Basterds"

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His ability to play a villain was impressive, but it was the absolute smugness with which he portrayed the character that made him feel so genuine and hateable.

#16 J.K. Simmons as Vern Schillinger in HBO's "Oz"

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Schillinger is single-handedly the most sadistic, evil, and terrifying villain I've ever seen on TV.

#17 Kathy Bates in "Misery"

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She was really perfect for this role!

#18 Tim Roth in "Rob Roy"

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Halfway through the movie, I wanted to punch him in the face, and it just got worse.

#19 Gary Oldman in "Leon: The Professional"

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I'm scary his role in the movie.

#20 Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in "The Walking Dead"

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He not only did a fantastic job portraying him as the major villain of The Walking Dead for two seasons, but he also nailed the character when he began to rehabilitate and change himself.

#21 Tobias Menzies as Black Jack Randall in "Outlander"

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Tobias Menzies is a really great underused actor... he was great!

#22 Alan Rickman as Snape in "Harry Potter"

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Alan Rickman played his role so well during his time. RIP a true legendary actor.