A stock character is a dramatic or literary character representing a generic type in a conventional, simplified manner and recurring in many fictional works. The following list labels some of these stereotypes and provides examples. Some character archetypes, the more universal foundations of fictional characters, are also listed.
Some characters that were first introduced as fully fleshed-out characters become subsequently used as stock characters in other works – for example, the Ebenezer Scrooge character from A Christmas Carol, upon whom the "miser" stereotype is based, and whose name now has become a shorthand for it. Some stock characters incorporate more than one stock character; for example, a bard may also be a wisecracking jester.
Some of the stock characters in this list – reflecting the respective attitudes of the people of the time and the place in which they have been created – in hindsight, may be considered offensive due to their use of racial stereotyping, homophobia, or other prejudice.
A Character typeDescriptionExamplesAbsent-minded professor/BoffinAn eccentric scientific genius stereotype who is so focused on their work that they have shortfalls in other areas of life, (remembering things, grooming, etc.). The shortened term for this character is a "boffin." It is the benign version of the mad scientist stereotype. Prof. Calculus in The Adventures of Tintin series by Hergé Sidney Stratton, played by Alec Guinness, in the 1951 satirical film The Man in the White Suit Prof. Julius F. Kelp, played by Jerry Lewis, in the 1963 film The Nutty Professor Dr. Egon Spengler, played by Harold Ramis, in the Ghostbusters film series Dr. Emmett Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, in the Back to the Future film series Prof. Frink in the animated American television sitcom series The Simpsons, drawn on Prof. Kelp Prof. Farnsworth in the animated American television sitcom series Futurama, drawn as an elderly Prof. FrinkAction heroThe brave and heroic protagonist of a story which portrays action, adventure, and often violence. They are resourceful, courageous, and have strong commitment to their cause, and they are comfortable with the fast pace of events in the story. Often overlaps with "chosen one" or superhero. They are often a competent man who is able to pilot any vessel or vehicle and use any weapon.See: Action heroes.Adolescent/juvenile action heroThis plucky, curious child or youth uncovers a villain's plans or finds characters in need of assistance though their investigations as a journalist, amateur sleuth or secret agent. They may have similar wide-ranging skills to the competent man. In other instances they may be well-intentioned but gullible, or bratty and irritating. Tintin, a teenage journalist and detective The Stranger Things gang The Famous Five The Hardy Boys Johnny Quest Spy Kids James Bond Jr. Spongebob Dink the Little Dinosaur Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker Scrappy-DooAgricultural labourer/shepherd/cowboyIn Western films the farmer or rancher employs a team of hands to round up livestock, harvest the crops and protect the homestead from bandits. The group usually includes a young rookie or greenhorn, an experienced old-timer and a cook who is usually a black American.Owen Lars in Attack of the Clones Wal Footrot in Footrot Flats Mr. Hoggett in Babe Boggis, Bunce and Bean in Fantastic Mr. Fox Alan Ladd as Shane Henry Fonda in The Grapes of Wrath Peter Fogg in Postman Pat Gabriel Oak in Far from the Madding Crowd Bitzer the sheepdog in Shaun the Sheep John Wayne in The Cowboys Gene Autry in Back in the Saddle Earl Reagan in FleshAlbinoThe albino has pale skin and long white hair and may be a magician or assassin. Is usually evil or an antihero.
Albinism organisations and others have expressed criticism over the portrayal of individuals with albinism in popular culture, specifically in movies and fictional works, citing the overwhelmingly negative depiction. There is concern that such depictions could increase social bias and discrimination against individuals with albinism."'Evil Albino' missing from 2004 movies. Will The Da Vinci Code revive the cliché?" , The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation, 6 January 2005. Retrieved 15 December 2006 This phenomenon is often referred to as the "evil albino" plot device.Elric of Melniboné Oswald in The Deptford Mice Kotick the seal in The Jungle Book Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones Otis B. Driftwood in The Devil's Rejects Bad Bob (played by Stacy Keach) in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean Silas in The Da Vinci Code Azog in The Hobbit Moby Dick the white whaleAlienA visitor to Earth from another planet. May be a friendly little green man or a monstrous eldritch abomination with tentacles or an aggressive Xenomorph. Often pilots a flying saucer and possesses advanced technology. E.T. Pia Zadora as Girmar in Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Chewbacca, Han Solo's Wookiee companion The Purple People Eater Superman from DC Comics Alf from the Alf (TV series) The Sontarans in Doctor Who The Martians in War of the Worlds The Xenomorphs in AliensAmazon/Shield maiden/ValkyrieA female barbarian warrior from classical mythology and Norse mythology skilled at archery and equestrianism. Usually wears a short leather skirt or chain mail bikini, sword belt, sandals, sculpted bronze breastplate, and fur cloak. See also tomboy, cave girl and bad girl. Hippolyta in the Twelve Labours of Hercules Penthesilia in The Iliad Eowyn in The Two Towers Helga, wife of Hagar the Horrible Abba in Asterix and the Vikings Brunnhilde in the Nibelungenlied Brida in The Last Kingdom Dyala in Amazons Dee Booher in Deathstalker 2 Xena: Warrior Princess Valeria in Conan the Barbarian Angels and demons In fantasy, archangels are beautiful and ethereal beings with long blonde hair. Winged cherubs are small and childlike and carry a bow and arrow like Cupid from Greek mythology. Demons and nephilim are fallen angels and often have hooves, horns and tails like satyrs. Cupid in Disney's Fantasia Eric Draven in The Crow Charlie in All Dogs Go to Heaven Gabriel in Constantine The Escort in Heaven Can Wait Dolly Parton in Unlikely Angel The fallen angels in Noah Satan in Wreck-It Ralph Pazuzu in The Exorcist Little Nicky The Cenobites in Hellraiser Lucifer in Preacher The demons in Red Hot MammaAngry black womanA negatively stereotypical assertive, overbearing, opinionated, loud, and "sassy" American black woman – typically of the working class – with an acid tongue, often depicted as nagging and emasculating a male character. This stereotype is a more modern variant of the archetypes of the old shrew and the foul-mouthed and sharp-tongued fishwife character, exemplified by Molly Malone. Mammy Two Shoes in the Tom and Jerry series of short animated films from the 1940s Sapphire in the 1950s→1960s American radio and television series Amos 'n' Andy Aunt Esther in the 1970s American television sitcom series Sanford and Son Florence Johnston in the 1970s→1980s American television sitcom series The Jeffersons Wilhelmina Slater in the 2000s American television series Ugly Betty Mary Lee Johnston from the 2009 film PreciousAngry white manA working class hidebound reactionary, white man whose frustration with progressive policies and social changes leading towards a more tolerant society – in which he has a lesser role and powerless to change this demotion – that leaves him at odds with accepted norms, so escalating into rage and on to violence, in extreme cases. In dramatic fiction, this usually leads to the character's downfall. In a running series, the angry white man may soften and become accepting with time to be more sympathetic – see also curmudgeon.Alf Garnett, played by Warren Mitchell in a career-defining role from the 1960s to the 1980s, in the BBC television sitcom series Till Death Us Do Part and the follow-on series Till Death... and In Sickness and in Health; and his American counterpart Archie Bunker in the 1970s American television sitcom series All in the Family William 'D-Fens' Foster in the 1993 film Falling Down Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network Ernest's grandad in East Is East Combo and the skinheads in This Is EnglandAngry young man/YobboA violent young antihero in British stories set during the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s who is frustrated by the monotony of his dead end job and the boredom of living in his grimy working class council estate. He finds purpose by joining a street gang and descends into petty crime, drinking, drug addiction and violence against other gangs that culminates in prison or the mortuary. Depending on the era, he may be a mod, teddy boy, rocker, street punk, or football hooligan/ chav. A stock character in kitchen sink drama.Jimmy in Quadrophenia Rico and Cain in Sumotherhood John Boyega in Attack the Block Pete and the Green Street Hooligans John and the Neds Ray Winstone in Scum Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious in The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle Alex DeLarge and the Droogs in A Clockwork Orange Roy in Cosh Boy Christopher Eccleston in Let Him Have It Animal trainer/jockeyA person who trains animals to carry out useful tasks or perform tricks. May be a cop with a sniffer dog, circus performer, mahout with Indian elephant, racehorse jockey or zookeeper. Officer Ruiz in A Dog's Purpose Tiny the dog trainer in Stage Fright Viggo Mortensen in Hidalgo Tobey Maguire in Seabiscuit The jockeys in Saddlesore Galactica are a race of monstrous trolls who live underground in a fiberglass tree. Albert in War Horse Sabu as Toomai of the Elephants in Elephant BoyAnnoying neighborA comic character known for being nosy and for pestering and hounding the protagonist. As they live next door to them, this creates a pretext for frequent unwanted or unplanned interactions.Tini in the mid-20th century radio comedy series Fibber McGee and Molly Newman in the 1990s American television sitcom series Seinfeld Ned Flanders in animated American television sitcom series The Simpsons Kimmy Gibler in the 1980s→90s American television sitcom series Full House Jolyon Wagg in The Adventures of Tintin Wally Walrus and Buzz Buzzard in Woody Woodpecker Agnes Peenman is a hounding landlady to Stanley Ipkiss in The Mask SpongeBob SquarePants is the annoying neighbor to Squidward TentaclesAntiheroA protagonist lacking conventional heroic qualities, such as courage or idealism. An antihero has weaknesses and may engage in criminal acts at times, but lacks any sinister intentions and is usually, if begrudgingly and unconventionally, ethical. James "Slippery Jim" Bolivar diGriz in The Stainless Steel Rat book series, starting in the 1950s, by Harry Harrison The Man with No Name, played by Clint Eastwood, as the protagonist in the 1960s spaghetti Western Dollars Trilogy by Sergio Leone Harry Flashman in the satirical The Flashman Papers book series by George MacDonald Fraser Eddie Valiant in the 1981 book Who censored Roger Rabbit? by Gary K. Wolf Deadpool in the Marvel Comics Harley Quinn in the DC ComicsAntivillainThe opposite to the anti-hero, they are a well-intentioned or misunderstood antagonist who has character traits more commonly associated with a stock hero. He will uphold the law, save lives and try to capture the antihero protagonist. In a crime film he is often a police inspector in pursuit of a gentleman thief, con artist or fugitive wrongly accused of murder. The antivillain is often a noble adversary. Javert in Les Miserables Thomson and Thompson in The Crab with the Golden Claws Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster Eric Finch in V for Vendetta Jajuka in Escaflowne Dean Wormer in Animal House Vaako in The Chronicles of Riddick Roland Tembo in The Lost World: Jurassic Park Howard in Short Circuit The sheriff in Westworld Major Willoughby in Up in the World