There’s no shortage of narcissistic male characters on TV. And some of these shows really nail it when it comes to a realistic and insightful portrayal of narcissism.

So without further ado, here are 10 of the most fascinating, hilarious, and memorable narcissistic men of the small screen. You can learn a lot by watching them. After all, our goal should be to understand narcissism, not to demonize it.

1. Arrested Development: All the Bluth Men

“Arrested Development” has an onslaught of narcissistic characters. Seriously, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that’s relatively “normal.” After all, what is narcissism if not…arrested development?

The most obvious narcissists on this show are George Bluth, his son Gob, and his son-in-law Tobias Funke. All three are delusionally self-centered, psychotically incapable of considering anyone else’s needs or feelings, entitled, and always right.

But then there’s Michael Bluth — the “responsible one,” the voice of reason who tries to save the family from financial ruin. Don’t let the mask fool you — Michael is a covert narcissist who enjoys playing the victim and the martyr.

From the very first episode, we learn that he is trying to leave his crazy family behind and start a new life with his son George Michael. But his ego is so wrapped up in being the “savior” who bails everyone out, he always finds a reason to stay.

2. Mad Men: Don Draper

Don Draper is a perfect example of a narcissist who creates a false identity to cover up the one he’s ashamed of.

As we know, narcissists feel worthless and inadequate on the inside. So they create a grandiose and superior version of themselves as a defense from their real self — the one plagued with insecurities.

In Mad Men, this narcissistic duality is expressed in a more obvious, tangible way. Don Draper literally takes on someone else’s identity to reinvent himself and to erase his painful and abusive past.

Dick Whitman, a son of a prostitute and an unloved stepson, becomes Don Draper — a dazzling, charming, and sleek advertising executive.

He is very successful in that role since selling illusions is kind of his thing.

Like many narcissists, Don has shallow and distant relationships with his wife and kids. He is more interested in being the “star” of his ad agency and entertaining mistresses.

3. House of Cards: Frank Underwood

Conniving, driven, and ruthless — those three words sum up Frank Underwood, a charismatic politician with an insatiable thirst for power.

In one telling remark, he says: “You see, Freddy believes that if a fridge falls off a minivan, you better swerve out of its way. I believe the fridge’s job is to swerve out of mine.” 

This is a revealing glimpse into Frank’s psyche. Nothing — and that includes people — can stand in his way to the top. You either move or be crushed.

This self-centered attitude of superiority and entitlement is characteristic of narcissists.

While Frank Underwood is undoubtedly narcissistic, he also meets the definition of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and possibly, psychopathy.

For example, his disregard for others is grotesque and often crosses a line into unlawful and criminal acts, including murder.

Another one of Frank’s traits that’s typical of both narcissists and sociopaths is his proclivity for self-serving deceit. He’s a pathological liar, but there is something sinister about the way he lies. Passionate, charismatic, and convincing, it’s as if he believes his own lies.

No wonder he’s such an effective manipulator who’s able to use other people as pawns in his strategic game for the ultimate power.

4. The Office: Ryan Howard

Ryan Howard is your typical “pretty boy” narcissist who’s shallow, materialistic, selfish, entitled to special treatment, and chauvinistic.

Despite his charm and good looks, he is mostly disliked by his coworkers, with the exception of his on-and-off girlfriend Kelley and his boss, Michael Scott. Michael treats him “like a son”, but it’s more a case of homoerotic attraction he’s not comfortable admitting.

When Ryan is suddenly promoted, he starts acting superior to his former coworkers and taking credit for other people’s work (this is a common narcissistic behavior in men who move up the career ladder). He then defrauds the company to make himself look good.

But perhaps, nothing is more revealing than his relationship with Kelley. Granted, Kelley has her own issues and dysfunctional relationship patterns. And Ryan fits them perfectly.

He plays narcissists’ dating games, he strings her along, he only wants her when he can’t have her. But most of all, he uses her as his narcissistic supply because Kelley adores him.

In the last season (spoiler alert), when Kelley moved on and is about to marry a handsome Indian doctor who loves her, Ryan makes his final play to get her back, despite knowing that he can never give her the love she deserves.

Typical narcissistic behavior.

We don’t really know what happens after Kelley runs away with Ryan. I’d like to think that they’re happy together. But it’s unlikely. After all, the most affection Ryan’s capable of was declaring that “for whatever reason, I just couldn’t do better than Kelley.”

5. House: Dr. Gregory House

The medical profession seems to be the perfect arena for a narcissistic ego. Doctors in our culture are in their own godlike pantheon, and they have a powerful effect on us, mere mortals.

Have you ever met someone and didn’t think much of them until you heard “He’s a DOCTOR”? Just seeing that “Dr” in front of someone’s name conveys instant authority — which is something narcissists crave. They want to be the object of admiration, respect, and envy. It feeds them.

Dr. Gregory House certainly fits the stereotype of a doctor with a superiority complex. He is a brilliant “cerebral narcissist” who enjoys the status and the special privileges his position as a medical genius affords. The rules don’t apply to him because he’s so very special and above everyone else. He also likes humiliating people for his own amusement.

All in all, he’s a genuinely awful person but everyone puts up with him because he has an extraordinary diagnostic mind and sometimes, he does care. A little.

That’s what makes him such a compelling character.

Dr. House isn’t just a one-dimensional narcissist. He has humanizing qualities, such as his friendship with Dr. Wilson or the chronic pain he suffers on a daily basis. That would make anyone cranky!

But don’t you dare feel sorry for him. He will annihilate you.

6. Parks and Recreation: Tom Haverford

Tom Haverford, played by the comedian Aziz Ansari, is one of the funniest narcissists on this list. He delivers lines like —

“I have never taken the high road. But I tell other people to ‘cause then there’s more room for me on the low road.”

and —

“If your job was remotely interesting, there would be a show on A&E about it.”

Tom is a genuine douchebag who is shamelessly self-indulgent and vain. His favorite catchphrase is: Treat yo’self!

He loves spending money on swag and trendy restaurants where “all the sushi is made from fish previously owned by celebrities.” He even has red carpet insoles in his shoes “so everywhere I go, I’m walking on red carpet.”

The songs on his playlist have to be “bangers” and art has to be nude to catch his attention. That’s kind of his approach to dating, too.

He uses lame pickup artist tactics, annoying persistence, and typical narcissistic dating games to win a woman over:

“No, I don’t text her, ‘It was nice meeting you.’ I wait eight weeks and I text her, ‘What’s crackin?’”

But with all his womanizing and obnoxious obsession with things, Tom is loveable, witty, and surprisingly caring, when he actually finds something (or someone) to care about.

7. Boston Legal: Alan Shore

Boston Legal is the legal drama TV series and a spin-off to The Practice. Not everyone will recognize this show, but the main character — unconventional attorney Alan Shore (portrayed by James Spader) has a fairly prominent place in TV history.

Once described by one of his coworkers as a “self-loathing narcissist,” Alan Shore certainly displays the behaviors that come to be associated with a wounded narcissistic ego (a.k.a. “narcissistic injury”).

He carries himself with aplomb, and his courtroom style can be described as sophisticated, passionate, and daring.

He objectifies women, rating their outfits and looks. Arrogant and just a bit sadistic, he’s that proverbial “bad boy” women often fall for.

But if you’re not fooled by his self-assured, chauvinistic facade, you’ll see that Alan’s driven by a desperate need to connect and a fear of loneliness.

As his friend Denny Crane remarks about Alan’s mental state, “Something’s screwy up there.”

All his dazzling love conquests and legal victories are nothing but an attempt to conceal the gaping wound inside of him. And, perhaps, his own vulnerability is what allows him to have compassion for the less fortunate he occasionally represents in court.

8. Shameless: Frank Gallagher

Francis “Frank” Gallagher is an uncanny portrayal of an alcoholic narcissistic parent who is tyrannical, selfish, and totally incapable of recognizing his children’s needs, let alone fulfilling them.

He also may fit the diagnosis for borderline personality disorder (BPD) with his childlike need to be taken care of, major addiction issues, and chaotic personal life.

In Frank, the traits of alcoholism, narcissism, and possibly several other personality disorders are fused and intertwined together in a spectacular and disastrous fashion.

When he’s not passed out on the floor of his house, he’s at the bar spending the money he stole from his family. He is also prone to narcissistic rage when things don’t go his way.

Despite his modest education, Frank is intelligent, resourceful, and highly manipulative. He can exploit almost anyone and is capable of successfully scamming people out of large sums of money. All of which he spends on booze and drugs, of course.

Although both narcissism and alcoholism are now understood as diseases or mental afflictions, it doesn’t justify Frank’s atrocious behavior or cancels out the abuse he subjects his children to.

Like any narcissist, he’s ultimately responsible for the damage he inflicts on those around him. However, both narcissists and alcoholics typically stay in denial and believe that they can do no wrong.

9. Curb Your Enthusiasm: Larry David

Curb Your Enthusiasm is a show loosely based on the life of Larry David — writer, comedian, and co-creator of Seinfeld — starring Larry David.

Tall, bald head, glasses — you’d think that Larry is a loveable nerd. But don’t let his benign appearance fool you.

Larry David (as a character) is abrasive, stubborn, self-centered, and petty. For example, in one of the episodes, Larry opens a competing coffee shop next door to his rival, just for spite.

Most people find him difficult to deal with, but then again, Larry isn’t too crazy about people either. Here’s what Larry thinks about dating —

“A date is an experience you have with another person that makes you appreciate being alone.”

and entertaining guests —

“What is this compulsion to have people over at your house and serve them food and talk to them?”

Alright, he has a point there.

Larry David is a puzzling mixture of narcissism and neuroticism.

Like a true narcissist, Larry has very little empathy for others and thinks he’s always 100% right.

And as a neurotic, he is completely preoccupied with minor frustrations in life and spends much of his time trying to make the world bend to his expectations.

Add to that a total lack of social graces, and you have one of the most entertaining narcissistic male characters on TV, but also one of the most frustrating ones to watch.

10. Lucifer: Lucifer Morningstar

Lucifer is a show about the Devil abandoning Hell and coming to Earth to party it up. He chooses Los Angeles as…uhm…the devil’s playground, where he opens his own nightclub and moonlights for the LAPD.

As far as devils go, Lucifer isn’t that bad. He’s the life of a party, a loyal friend, and he sympathizes with humanity. In fact, he comes off as a pretty swell guy (which caused conservative Christian groups to campaign for canceling the show).

But Lucifer does exhibit some narcissistic traits such as grandiosity, a sense of entitlement, and an inability to recognize the needs and feelings of others. He is also very charming and attractive, not to mention that he possesses the power of convincibility. He can get anyone to do or reveal anything he wants.

Unlike most narcissists though, Lucifer recognizes his deficits and starts seeing a therapist to understand human emotions better. But even in those sessions, he struggles to admit any wrongdoing or see another person’s point of view.

All in all, Lucifer is a good metaphor for a narcissist — someone with a big ego cast out of Heaven.

However, let’s not forget that, technically, he isn’t human. Narcissism is a human condition and as such, it doesn’t apply to fallen angels.

Still, it does seem that in the end, Lucifer overcomes his “God complex” and learns to love and care about people in a deep, selfless, protective way.

This list makes two things obvious:

• that there’s plenty of narcissistic male characters in popular shows and series
• and that I watch a lot of TV 🙂

Who was your favorite? Who would you add to the list? Comment below and share 🙂

For more on the topic, check out Top 10 TV Shows Featuring Narcissistic Female Characters