17 Supporting Characters Who Totally Stole The Show

It’s the main character energy for me.

It’s usually all about the protagonist, but every now and then a supporting character will steal the limelight. Here are 17 side characters from TV shows and movies that we have no choice but to stan.

1. Erica from Stranger Things

Netflix

Erica – Lucas’ little sister – is a fan-favourite for good reason. Her witty one-liners are second to none and she also plays a massive role in helping the gang save the day. She is a scene-stealing queen and she needs her own spin-off series ASAP.

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2. Miranda Bailey from Grey’s Anatomy

ABC

Now I love Meredith Grey as much as the next person but there’s no one quite like Miranda Bailey. She may have a tough exterior, but deep down she has a heart of gold and would do just about anything for anyone. She is the real star of Grey’s Anatomy and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on. 

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3. M’Baku from Black Panther

Walt Disney StudiosMotion Pictures

M’Baku stole the show and stole my heart. He is a gracious leader, a comedic genius, and a vegetarian – what more could you ask for from a supporting character?

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4. Aunt Viv from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

NBC

The original Aunt Viv ate and left absolutely no crumbs. While Will definitely had most of the limelight, she was a star in her own right. She was tough but fair, nurturing, inspiring, and incredibly classy. I think we can all agree that the show wasn’t the same without her. No shade to the second Aunt Viv, but some shoes just can’t be filled.

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5. Sasha from Sex/Life

Netflix

Even though the writers definitely played into the sassy Black best friend trope with Sasha, she's still the most likeable character on the show. She is assertive, career-driven, and a bad-ass, quite frankly. Unlike Billie, Sasha never settled for anything less than she deserved and she also added some much-needed humour to the series.

6. Winston from New Girl

Fox

Jess may be the main character but Winston Bishop sure gives her a run for her money. He is unapologetically himself at all times and you can’t help but love him. Winnie the Bish must be protected at all costs. 

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7. Mr. Moseby from The Sweet Life Of Zack and Cody

Disney Channel

Mr. Moseby was forever trying to restore order at the Tipton Hotel after Zack and Cody’s never-ending schemes, and it made for great TV. While each character in the show is undeniably funny, Mr. Moseby’s hysterical rants were often the highlight of each episode. 

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8. Dionne from Clueless

Paramount Pictures

Dionne is a fashion icon, a true friend to Cher, and the real star of Clueless in my humble opinion. She’s not only the wittiest character in the movie but she is career-driven, madly in love, and thriving in pretty much every way possible. It’s the Black excellence for me. 

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9. Captain Dickson from 22 Jump Street

Columbia Pictures / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

22 Jump Street wouldn’t have been the same without Captain Dickson. Ice Cube absolutely bodied the role as Jenko and Schmidt's hilariously aggressive boss, proving that you really don’t need much screen time to make a lasting impression. 

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10. Josie from Riverdale

The CW

Even with the Gargoyle King and the Black Hood wreaking havoc, Josie's still the most memorable part of Riverdale for me. She has the voice of an angel and is one of the few characters that doesn’t go out of their way looking for trouble. She is an unproblematic queen and we love her for it. 

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11. Frozone from The Incredibles

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Frozone is Mr. Incredible’s best friend, but he’s so much more than that. He's the voice of reason, a smooth talker, and he has arguably the coolest superpower out of them all! 

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12. Jessica Pearson from Suits

USA Network

Jessica radiates boss energy and I want to be her when I grow up (I’m grown, but that’s beside the point). She’s not afraid to put Mike and Harvey in their place when need be, and she single-handedly holds the whole firm together. She is a powerhouse and a star in her own right. 

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13. Chidi from The Good Place

NBC

Of course everyone’s favourite overthinker, Chidi Anagonye, deserves a mention. He is the most relatable character on the show by far, and he’s effortlessly hilarious. Eleanor may be the main character but The Good Place wouldn’t have been all that good without Chidi. 

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14. Rue from The Hunger Games

Lionsgate

Amandla Stenburg truly understood the assignment when it came to playing Rue in the Hunger Games. Considering she had very little screen time, she made quite the impact. From teaching Katniss her Mockingjay whistle to taking her final breaths after she was hit with a spear, she never failed to pull at our heartstrings. It’s been nearly ten years since the movie came out and truth be told, I’m still not over her death. She deserved better! 

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15. Taystee from Orange Is The New Black

Netflix

Piper Chapman is a great protagonist but she has nothing on Taystee. She’s the most joyous person in the prison and there’s never a dull moment with her around. Towards the end of the series, she gets wrongfully convicted of murder and through her, we witness just how corrupt the US justice system can be. While painful to watch at times, Taystee stole every single scene and honestly, her back must hurt from carrying the show. 

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16. Susie from Rugrats

Nickelodeon

Most three-year-olds can barely even walk straight, but not Susie Carmichael. She’s wise beyond her (three) years and there’s truly nothing she can’t do. Suzie is the only rugrat that stood up to mean Angelica and she became a true role model to the other babies. Get you a friend like Susie. 

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17. Wilhelmina Slater from Ugly Betty

ABC

Wilhelmina Slater is the antagonist of the show, and a very entertaining one at that. She’s always forthcoming with her scathing remarks and we love to see it. Let’s not forget she was willing to do literally anything to make her dreams come true, including stealing sperm from her dead ex-husband’s corpse and blackmailing her coworkers! Let’s face it, the show wouldn't have been even half as enjoyable without her. 

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