The 1990s produced a huge number of iconic series, from hilarious sitcoms to intense crime dramas, that laid the foundations for contemporary pop culture. In the process, they also introduced some truly iconic characters who are still wildly popular with audiences today.
Instantly recognizable to audiences worldwide, these characters hold a special place in our hearts and have had a significant impact on the development of the television landscape. Many of your favorite characters would not exist without these groundbreaking icons. Read on to discover our ranked selection of the eight greatest TV characters of the 1990s.
8
Red Forman
‘That ‘70s Show’ (1998–2006)
Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) in ‘That ’70s Show’Image via Fox
Created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, and Mark Brazill, That ’70s Show is a period teen sitcom that follows the lives of five friends in ’70s Wisconsin: Eric (Topher Grace), Michael (Ashton Kutcher), Jackie (Mila Kunis), Donna (Laura Prepon), Fez (Wilmer Valderamma), and Hyde (Danny Masterson). The series largely focuses on their many misadventures, which serve as a constant annoyance to Eric’s parents, Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Red (Kurtwood Smith). The show’s ensemble cast also stars Don Stark, Tommy Chong, and Tanya Roberts.
Noted for launching the careers of many of its stars, That ‘70s Show was easily one of the biggest sitcoms of the late ‘90s, earning praise for its surprisingly accurate representation of 1970s pop culture and its endearing cast of characters. And while the adolescent stars are, obviously, the main characters, Kurtwood Smith’s Red Forman is arguably the best one. A grouchy, eternally irritated curmudgeon who hides a sweet heart under that gruff exterior, Red is one of the best versions of the archetypal sitcom dad, bringing some much-needed tough love, unexpected wisdom, and endless hilarity to the show’s storylines.
7
Will Smith
‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ (1990–1996)
Will with his hands on his hips looking sad in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.Image via NBC
Created by Andy and Susan Borowitz, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a sitcom starring Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself. The show follows Will, a street-smart, fast-talking teenager born and raised in West Philadelphia, as he is sent to live with his wealthy uncle and aunt in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, leading to many hilarious and heartwarming situations that arise out of the clash between his worldview and that of his upper-class relatives. Besides Smith, the series also stars James Avery, Janet Hubert-Whitten, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons, Tatyana M. Ali, Joseph Marcell, and more in key roles.
By the early ‘90s, Will Smith was already an established music star, but The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air marked Smith’s transition into acting, setting the stage for a celebrated career in front of the camera. A laid-back yet socially sensitive teenager with a quintessentially ’90s attitude, Smith’s character in the show has been widely praised as one of the best of the decade, capturing the spirit and ethos of the period. Obviously, the show and the character were literally written for Smith, so it’s no surprise that the role fits the actor so well, but Smith also elevates the show beyond its status as a star vehicle through his compelling performances and enjoyable chemistry with his talented co-stars, particularly Avery and Ribeiro.
6
Buffy Summers
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)
Sarah Michelle Gellar offering a golden orb in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.Image via The WB
Based on the 1992 film, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a supernatural teen drama series created by Joss Whedon that stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular Buffy Summers. Chosen by fate to battle the forces of darkness, Buffy spends the show’s seven seasons facing off against vampires, demons, and the like, while simultaneously trying to live a normal high school life. Besides Gellar, the series also stars Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head, David Boreanaz, and more in key roles.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s long TV run earned it massive critical and audience acclaim, and it’s widely recognized as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. It’s no surprise that its star character is today regarded as a major pop culture icon, credited with inspiring several subsequent characters in both television and film and praised for her groundbreaking portrayal of strength and femininity. Gellar’s performance as Buffy earned her numerous accolades, including five Teen Choice Awards and a Golden Globe nomination.
5
Carrie Bradshaw
‘Sex and the City’ (1998–2004)
Carrie Bradshaw reading the newspaper in the pilot episode of Sex and the CityImage via HBO
Based on Candace Bushnell’s newspaper column and 1996 book, Sex and the City was created by Darren Star and stars Sarah Jessica Parker as newspaper columnist Carrie Bradshaw. Set in New York City, the show explores Carrie’s sexual and emotional adventures with her closest friends: sex-positive PR professional Samantha (Kim Cattrall), cynical lawyer Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and traditionally minded art dealer Charlotte (Kristin Davis).
Carrie Bradshaw is widely hailed as one of the most influential female characters ever to appear on television. While the character isn’t as well-received among contemporary critics as she was during the show’s original broadcast, her representation, honest exploration of issues, and particularly her fashion sense have had an undeniable impact on wider culture. Her performance as Carrie earned Sarah Jessica Parker an Emmy Award and four Golden Globes. The actor has since reprised the role in two movies and a sequel series, And Just Like That.
4
Tony Soprano
‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)
James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano resting his head on his hand in The Sopranos’ “He Is Risen.”Image via HBO
A classic crime drama series created by David Chase, The Sopranos follows the life and career of New Jersey gangster Tony Soprano, starring James Gandolfini in the central role. After he unexpectedly starts suffering panic attacks, Tony is forced to see a therapist who encourages him to open up about his life, particularly his struggle to balance his obligations to his family and his duties to the mafia. Lorraine Bracco stars as Tony’s therapist, Dr. Melfi, and the show features Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese, Steven Van Zandt, Tony Sirico, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and more in key roles.
Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest TV characters ever to grace our screens, Tony Soprano is the reason why antiheroes are so popular in American crime dramas. A complex, layered character who displays sociopathic behavior but also has his own emotional and psychological struggles, Tony Soprano was a hugely popular character during the show’s original broadcast, and he laid the foundations for beloved subsequent characters like Breaking Bad’s Walter White and The Shield’s Vic Mackey. Gandolfini received numerous awards for his portrayal of the character, including three Emmy Awards. His son, Michael Gandolfini, plays a younger version of Tony in the 2021 prequel film The Many Saints of Newark.
3
Chandler Bing
‘Friends’ (1994–2004)
Chandler (Matthew Perry) is in shock in the Friends episode, “The One Where No One’s Ready.”Image via NBC
Arguably the most popular live-action sitcom of the 1990s, Friends was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. The series centers on six friends in their 20s and 30s, following their various misadventures in life and love while living in Manhattan. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer star as the lead characters, with a laundry list of great guest and recurring stars featured across its run, including Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Elliott Gould, and more.
A major pop culture landmark, Friends was universally acclaimed throughout its 10-season broadcast. All of its main characters have become hugely popular icons, but none more so than Chandler Bing. Played by the late Matthew Perry, the character’s sarcastic and self-deprecating humor earned the star widespread praise, and he’s widely regarded as one of the greatest sitcom characters ever. Smart, lovable, and quick-witted, Chandler is arguably the show’s best character, and despite his idiosyncrasies and traumatic childhood, he and LeBlanc’s Joey are actually the nicest and least dysfunctional of the lead characters, particularly in the later seasons.
2
Dana Scully
‘The X-Files’ (1993–2018)
Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully in ‘The X-Files.’Image via Fox
Created by Chris Carter, The X-Files is an iconic science fiction drama series that stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, respectively. The show follows their investigations into baffling cases involving otherworldly phenomena. While Mulder is a “believer,” Scully, a medical doctor, is a skeptic who constantly questions Mulder’s belief in the supernatural. Despite this, they develop a close bond over the course of their adventures.
Often hailed by critics and audiences as one of the best shows of the 1990s, The X-Files is a major pop culture landmark today, and that’s largely because of the characterizations and dynamics of its central duo. Anderson’s Agent Scully, in particular, is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV characters of all time, providing much of the show’s heart and, as the resident skeptic, most of its rationality. It’s the fundamental conflict between that rationality and the irrational, unbelievable events the agents encounter that drive the series forward. The role won Anderson several accolades, including an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and two SAG Awards, and the character is even credited by many with encouraging more young girls to pursue a career in science and law enforcement — a reported phenomenon that has been dubbed the “Scully Effect.”
1
Bart Simpson
‘The Simpsons’ (1989–Present)
Bart puts a shaken Duff Beer can in the fridge in The Simpsons’ So It’s Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show.Image via FOX
The legendary animated sitcom The Simpsons technically started life on The Tracey Ullman Show in the late ’80s, before becoming a separate series at the very end of that decade. Created by Matt Groening, the show presents a satirical take on everyday American life through the stories of the titular family — Homer Simpson, his wife Marge, their son Bart, their daughter Lisa, and baby Maggie — who live in the fictional town of Springfield. The ensemble voice cast includes Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, and more.
Today, The Simpsons is most noted for being the longest-running primetime scripted series on American television, but for the reason why it managed to achieve this unprecedented level of popularity, you have to go back to the early 1990s — the so-called “golden age” of the show, when the whole nation was gripped by a major pop culture phenomenon: Bartmania. During this time, Bart Simpson was seen as one of America’s most beloved entertainers, on par with any real-life celebrity. Though the show has since expanded its focus to the rest of the family and extended cast, Bart remains its most popular breakout star, and the character’s rebellious attitude, iconic gags, and widely quoted catchphrases have made the eternal 10-year-old one of the greatest TV characters of all time. Nancy Cartwright’s performances as Bart have won the actress numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy and an Annie Award.
The Simpsons
Release Date
December 17, 1989
Network
FOX
Directors
Steven Dean Moore, Mark Kirkland, Rob Oliver, Michael Polcino, Mike B. Anderson, Chris Clements, Wes Archer, Timothy Bailey, Lance Kramer, Nancy Kruse, Matthew Faughnan, Chuck Sheetz, Rich Moore, Jeffrey Lynch, Pete Michels, Susie Dietter, Raymond S. Persi, Carlos Baeza, Dominic Polcino, Lauren MacMullan, Michael Marcantel, Neil Affleck, Swinton O. Scott III, Jennifer Moeller
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Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
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Julie Kavner
Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
