You Can’t Forget The Supporting Cast
Every hero is equally defined by their sidekick. In fact, as these 20 examples prove, the sidekicks can often be even more distinctive than the protagonist.
Bender
Initially in the shadow of shows like The Simpsons or South Park, Futurama eventually found its voice as one of the best cartoons for adults, and the character of Bender was a big reason why. A hard-drinking and often mischievous party robot, he was like a smarter iteration of Homer Simpson.
Bender
Bender helped make himself memorable with his chief catchphrase: “Bite my shiny metal a**”. If continuing The Simpsons comparison, it was like a variation on Bart Simpson’s “eat my shorts”.
Jimmy Olsen
The staff of The Daily Planet is an important part of the Superman legacy, and that’s evidenced by one of the key employees, the junior reporter Jimmy Olsen. Jimmy is an entry point for younger readers as someone who looks up to both Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
Warner Bros., Superman Returns (2006)
Jimmy Olsen
People were a little shocked to see Jimmy Olsen taking a swig from a beer in 2006’s Superman Returns, signaling that the character had grown up. But if you think about it, the time had probably come.
Warner Bros., Superman Returns (2006)
Jeff Greene
Any fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm will tell you that Jeff Greene defines the show as much as Larry’s neurosis. In fact, he might be the devil on Larry’s shoulder, if we’re being honest.
HBO, Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999-2024)
Jeff Greene
While the actor who portrayed the role, Jeff Garlin, has suffered from some public backlash in recent years due to off-screen antics, he was never forced to depart from the show. It’s likely the key creatives behind Curb Your Enthusiasm knew that he was an integral part of it that couldn’t be replaced.
HBO, Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999-2024)
Silent Bob
It’s impressive that Kevin Smith has kept the character of Silent Bob, who initially appeared in 1994’s Clerks, going for so long. But through multiple decades and films, the joke has remained funny.
Silent Bob
Aiding the foul-mouthed Jay, Silent Bob always lives up to his name until the right moment calls for him to break his silence with an eloquent monologue. The gag even works in Smith’s most serious movie, Chasing Amy.
Paul Shaffer
With David Letterman from the beginning, it’s hard to picture any iteration of that talk show host without Paul Shaffer by his side. He’s an argument—alongside much of the SCTV cast—for the importance of Canadians to comedy.
NBC, Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993)
Paul Shaffer
Shaffer had many extracurricular activities, especially with his musical abilities. Do you know he co-wrote the classic song “It’s Raining Men”?
CBS, Late Show with David Letterman (1993-2015)
Barney Rubble
The more laid-back counter to Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble served as a different variation of the everyman. There’s a reason why the more modern Fred, Homer Simpson, had his own best friend named Barney.
ABC, The Flintstones (1960-1966)
Barney Rubble
In the live-action Flintstones films, Barney was depicted by Rick Moranis and Stephen Baldwin respectively. I think most people would prefer to go with the former than the latter.
Universal, The Flintstones (1994)
Garth Algar
Garth may be considered the sidekick to Wayne, but don’t forget that Dana Carvey was an earlier breakout star on Saturday Night Live than Mike Myers. This was thanks to characters like Church Lady or his impression of President George HW Bush.
Paramount, Wayne's World (1992)
Garth Algar
Garth certainly got his chance to steal the show in 1992’s feature film of the characters, Wayne’s World. Just go search the “Foxy Lady” sequence on YouTube to see why.
Paramount, Wayne's World (1992)
Pedro Sanchez
Do you remember that period when everybody was wearing a “Vote For Pedro” t-shirt? Stemming from the 2004 indie comedy Napoleon Dynamite, it was one of the most brilliant marketing ploys in film history.
Paramount, Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Pedro Sanchez
Of course, the shirt referred to the title character’s sidekick, Pedro, who made a bid to become class President. The film had a happy ending, where he was successfully elected.
Paramount, Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Gromit
It feels odd to classify Gromit as a sidekick, and not just the brains of the operation. But we suppose his dog status puts him beneath his sometimes dimwitted, if still occasionally brilliant owner, Wallace.
Aardman Animations, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)
Gromit
In the last Wallace & Gromit adventure, Vengeance Most Foul, the dog got his chance to be a flat-out action hero. The final train set piece from that film rivaled anything from the last Mission: Impossible.
Aardman Animations, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)
Turtle
Not wracked with Johnny Drama’s insecurities and certainly a lot more colorful than E, Turtle is perhaps the most all-around likable member of the titular Entourage. Who wasn’t moved by his conclusion of the show where he got out of the shadow of his handler Vince and became a millionaire tequila mogul?
Warner Bros., Entourage (2015)
Turtle
Just don’t let anyone know that the person in Mark Wahlberg’s orbit who served as the inspiration for Turtle was Randall Emmett, the controversial B-movie producer and Vanderpump Rules subject. He even has a whole documentary dedicated to his misdeeds titled The Randall Scandal.
Warner Bros., Entourage (2015)
Andy Richter
The early years of Late Night with Conan O’Brien were marked by an extremely off-beat sense of humor that captured the zeitgeist of the 90s the way David Letterman had a decade earlier. One of the comedic highlights was of course Conan’s sidekick, Andy Richter, who always had a sharp wit.
NBC, Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-2009)
Andy Richter
There was an attempt to make Richter into his own star, particularly with his acclaimed but short-lived sitcom, Andy Richter Controls the Universe. He gladly found himself back in Conan’s company by the end of 2000s.
FOX, Andy Richter Controls the Universe (2002-2003)
Willow Rosenberg
Willow was one of the most likable characters on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, always helpful but never demanding credit. Many probably related to her long-standing crush on Xander as well.
The WB, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Willow Rosenberg
Willow got a chance to take a darker turn in the show’s sixth season, where her character gave into dark Wiccan powers. One of the strengths of the show was its ability to develop even its most likable side characters into complex human beings.
The WB, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Waylon Smithers
While this sidekick is not of the show’s titular family, but rather its comical villain Mr Burns, Smithers is an iconic character all the same. Perhaps some people who are a little too dedicated to their boss even see themselves in him.
Waylon Smithers
Of course, Smithers has amassed some controversy in the past decades for being among the show’s scant queer representation. In Season 27, the character finally got the chance to come out of the closet.
Robin Quivers
For the sake of his audience, shock jock Howard Stern required someone a little to his opposite. After all, Stern was a very aggressive presence, and a calm personality was required to ease people. Thus enters Robin Quivers.
Howard 100 and Howard 101, The Howard Stern Show (1981-)
Robin Quivers
Staying by Stern’s side since the 80s, Quivers is almost as identified with the show as he is. She’s done a lot to make it more digestible for a wide audience.
Howard 100 and Howard 101, The Howard Stern Show (1981-)
Donkey
“In the morning, I’m making waffles!” That’s constantly ringing through your head, right? If not, we probably can’t relate at all.
Donkey
Sticking with Shrek through four adventures (and a fifth coming out in 2026), Donkey is the key factor in the franchise. Additionally, it gave a booster shot in the arm to actor Eddie Murphy’s career.
Samwise Gamgee
It was a risk for The Lord of the Rings film to cast a mixture of British, American, and Australian actors in one film. In particular, the casting of Rudy star Sean Astin may have seemed initially a little odd due to just how American he seems.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Samwise Gamgee
Astin portrayed Samwise Gamgee, the lovable “sidekick” to Frodo who sticks by him through everything. He shows what friends are really for, and Astin’s charisma sells it, showing that it was great casting all along.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Dr Watson
It’s easy to forget that many of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes stories were written from the perspective of the detective’s loyal sidekick, the surgeon Dr Watson. His perspective was used as a counter to heighten Holmes’ eccentricities.
Warner Bros., Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Dr Watson
Many actors have excelled in playing Dr Watson onscreen, but did you know an American made a particular impression in the role? Check out the great Robert Duvall’s take in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution.
Universal, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976)
George Costanza
The program may have been titled Seinfeld, but George Costanza often stole the show. As portrayed by Jason Alexander, the character often offered a glimpse into the show’s darkest implications.
George Costanza
Probably the darkest Seinfeld subplot was the death of George’s fiancée, which he saw as a relief rather than tragedy. In many ways, he may be television’s greatest sociopath.
Robin
The early Bob Kane Batman comics were so dark that the introduction of a teen sidekick, Robin, felt important. The character offered a lighter, more relatable entryway to make sure younger readers didn’t feel offput by the comic’s tone.
Robin
The gambit of Robin paid off, and the character remains today, both through various characters taking the mantle and the grown-up iteration, Nightwing. You may even remember the controversial A Death In The Family arc from the 80s where the second character to take up the Robin mantle, Jason Todd, was offed.
Ethel Mertz
I Love Lucy was more than just the married couple at the centre. Lucy’s sidekick of Ethel Mertz helped define the show with her level-headed appeal.
Ethel Mertz
Ethel may be one of the few examples of a likable landlord, as she owned the property Lucy and Desi occupied. It would maybe be hard to get away with that today in our class-conscious society.
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