The Top 10 Soap Opera Villains Of All Time

Join us as we rank the Top 10 BEST Daytime Soap Opera Villains of all time. From evil schemes to dramatic plot twists, these characters have kept us on the edge of our seats! From General Hospital, Days of Our Live, Bold & The Beautiful, The Young & The Restless, and many of our departed soaps as well, such as As The World Turns, Guiding Light, All My Children & One Live To Live, these villains have made a mark on daytime tv, and made a rank on our list! #soapopera #soaps

[@stevengarman4848]

Oh please there's NO comparison: Stefano Dimera is truly the GOAT !

[@FranklinWilson-ev9dq]

Sheila!!!!!! Young And The Restless! And, Bold And The Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@donnalichvarcik9358]

Rip to the greatest legends that have played legendary soap villains you will never be forgotten

[@everythingsoapopera]

Indeed! We lost some great legends for sure!

[@tanyajohnson423]

Don't forget James Stenbeck from back in the day on AS THE WORLD TURNS

[@nicoleackerman205]

He is not on the list that is bull.

[@BeckyFarkas-he1cj]

Yes he is.

[@gamingrus623]

I say Stefano from the days of our lives should be #1

[@victoriaford8449]

Sheila Carter sharp is definitely at the top

[@yvonnecooper5004]

Faison was really scary!!

[@deh7712]

They are good ones but l think Billy Clyde Tuggle was # 1 then Ray Gardner #2 of All My Children

[@everythingsoapopera]

Good choices! I think Ray Gardner might have a slight edge on Billy Clyde in terms of evil though. Thanks! 👍

[@1Cheytown]

In the Pine Valley Universe...yep though Adam Chandler might trump them all in longevity

[@cherisemelf4758]

Billy Clyde was so so funny! Ray Gardner was real creepy. He played that role too good!

[@user-qw4jj6jw1n]

Yes sir Stefano number one

[@richardpena7153]

Really, you couldn't have a human narrate? Computer voices make videos unwatchable.

[@everythingsoapopera]

Thanks so much for the feedback, as we continue to build on and improve the channel.

[@fontelloworthy9567]

Vivian and Stephano are the top notch villains then comes Shelia Carter

[@leisawicks9816]

Was thinking the same before i seen this

[@joelewis4711]

The All My Children Triumvirate of Phoebe Tyler , Palmer Cortlandt and Adam Chandler Top Any Trio Of "Villains" From Any Other Soap

[@davidbosworth4751]

angelique (lara parker) or barnabas (jonathan frid) from dark shadows!

[@joelsmith6641]

I'm surprised that Dorian Lord from One Life To Live didn't make this list...but then Dorian did have a few redeeming qualities that kept her from being truly evil

[@everythingsoapopera]

@joelsmith6641 Her love for Cassie and the rest of the "Cramer Girls" humanized her quite a bit. But during her earlier years, she could have made at least the Top 20 :)

[@user-xm1ce1kg1t]

Of All Time -early 70s honorable mention Dr.Phil Brewer: Martin West G.H.

[@nightowlchad]

James Stenbeck and Sheila Carter are top notch

[@everythingsoapopera]

James was indeed QUITE the terror, so he had to be here on the Top 10 list for sure!👍

[@peggyredman6774]

Sheila of course absolutely love her wonderful actress ❤

[@everythingsoapopera]

Absolutely agree!!! Sheila is the ONLY villain that could possibly edge Stefano out of the top spot!

[@motownlynda]

@@everythingsoapopera I totally agree Sheila is TOPS!!!

[@Mjwara]

​@@everythingsoapopera Funny enough they were at the same show at some point.

[@everythingsoapopera]

@@Mjwara Yes, indeed!!! I wonder if they will ever bring their supposed daughter Diana back to the show as an adult. She could be a Sorased rival to Steffy. But yes, Sheila & Massimo! 😀👍

[@fanexpo2114]

Sheila and tom for me.

[@rebeccalitchfield6698]

Stephano from days of our lives

[@kimquinten5298]

Michael Zaslows Roger Thorpe was my favorite,.

[@taliciasaine1624]

Helena Cassadine should've been #1

[@Stephanie-qg5nd]

Sheila Carter should win she's the best then Steinbeck

[@gregggriffin1932]

Nicholas Blair.. dark shadows..baby!!

[@nicholasknowles7036]

Stefano is number one, but Sami Brady should have made the list so should have Allistar Crane from Passions.

[@KickAssCountryGirl]

Grew up watching Days of our Lives with my mawmaw as a kid. Stefano was always scary but I always had a soft spot for Sami Brady. She was amazing! I was so sad when she left the show that I stopped watching.

[@southernmama4084]

James Stenbeck on As the World Turns. 🌎 Best ever. He was one of those evil characters that just wouldn't die no matter how many times they tried. He always turned back up and ruined everything.

[@everythingsoapopera]

Yes, James HAD to make the Top 10 list! He was such an amazing villain!

[@Cat-Tiger-Taegi-Cult]

The great Michael Zaslow

[@BeckyFarkas-he1cj]

😢

[@Leealee09]

Michael Zaslow, as Roger Thorpe on Guiding Light evil as they come, terrorized Springfield for years but he and Holly had the best chemistry of any soap couple ive ever watched. Thomas and Hope , B&B remind me of Roger and Holly ❤

[@Cat-Tiger-Taegi-Cult]

@@Leealee09 I agree that Rodger and Holly were the best soap couple ever

[@KDaynes43]

Roger Thorpe was the best villain. RIP Micheal Zaslow

[@everythingsoapopera]

Their relationship was so complex; it was incredibly captivating to watch!

[@Channel8E6]

Stefano is #1 but Vivian Alamain and Shelia are definitely memorable. Janet from another planet is definitely crazy af tho

[@alexanderpytko5394]

I used to see in many articles that Stefano DiMera was #1 and the runner up was James Stenbeck. It seemed that between Stefano and James, they were pretty equal but Stefano ranked higher mainly because he had faked his death more times.

[@everythingsoapopera]

@alexanderpytko5394 I agree that in James Steinbeck’s earlier run, he was close to the same level as Stefano. His later returns were still important to the canvas, but a bit less devious than his earlier ones. But he definitely still ranked near the top for sure, and was a quintessential top soap villain for that era! 👍😀

[@rebeccalitchfield6698]

Stephano was and will always be no 1​@@everythingsoapopera

[@don63]

Stefano (DOAL)

[@dianejensen-williams5057]

Heather Webber (Robin Mattson), Olivia Jerome (Tonja Walker)

[@everythingsoapopera]

Robin Mattson was SO great as Heather!

[@maestroclassico5801]

Pretty good list!

[@everythingsoapopera]

Thanks so much!!!

[@maestroclassico5801]

@@everythingsoapopera Have any villains ever been on more than one soap besides Sheila? I can't think of any. I know that the character of Skye Chandler -Quartermaine set a record for appearing on All My Children, One Life To Live, and General Hospital ALL.....and though she wasnt a villain on the scale of THESE on this list she certainly is an amazing, complex, and rather tortured character.

[@denaspohn5207]

No prime time soap opera villains? Adam Carrington, J.R. Ewing, etc. Daytime: Nola Reardon , Adam Chandler, Zach Grayson, and what about Barnabas Collins?

[@SamuelShad-wq6ft]

Hands down no one was worse than Zack Kelton played by Leigh, notable mention to Robert Barr played by the late Roscoe

[@everythingsoapopera]

Robert Barr was quite epic on SB, both with Eden and the recast Kelly, Carrington Garland.

[@everythingsoapopera]

And wasn’t Zach the one who attacked Eden, and they bought him back as Ethan later?

[@MrJacobrabbit]

Yes

[@jamesburns5904]

What about Alan Spaulding from GL ??

[@everythingsoapopera]

I think Alan is definitely a runner up, and he’d likely be on a Top 10 bad guy list as well. He made an excellent scheming partner with Annie Dutton as well!

[@WolfModig]

Emma Marshall(Jane Windsor)was an awesome villain on DAYS 84-86

[@ChuckTheMystery]

I’d have to put James Stenbeck at the top..tied with Stefano Dimera…you never knew what these two would do next. I also loved Carlo Hesser…and I would have had Roger Thorpe higher on the list

[@everythingsoapopera]

I think Carlo Hesser would definitely make the next Top Villian list! He was pretty devious!

[@MarvinMoore-bf3te]

I absolutely agree with everyone u said, but u still miss some, like , Jan Spears, Lisa Niles , Sarah Smyth Carter, Isabella, Kristen Dimera , Patty Williams, Hanna O'Connor, Alison Perkins, Lindsay Ravenport, Eve Coleman, Eli Clark, Diego Alcazar, Anthony Zaracara , Ryan Chamberlain, Manning Luis, Rick Decker, David Kimble, David Steinbeck, Orpheus, Clyde Weston , Troy McGiver, Powell Lord , Carlo Hesser , Tom Fisher , Edmond Winslow, Trisha Clark, Jerry Jax, Veronica Landers , Jordan Ridgeway, Ian Ward , Les Sweeney, Faith Roscoe, Stavros Cassdine, Stefan Cassdine, Victor Cassdine, Frank Smith, Mary Bishop, Eve Howard, Mary Manahan, Ava Vitail, Andre Dimera, Lorenzo Alcazar, and Luis Alcazar, also there are many more that u forgot about

[@everythingsoapopera]

Sounds like we will need a new episode in the future of the NEXT additional 10 Villains lol, thanks! Quick Question: You mentioned Isabella as a villain? You didn’t mean Isabella from Days, correct? If so, why did you list her as a villain? But I definitely see most of the rest as contenders 😀👍

[@MarvinMoore-bf3te]

@@everythingsoapopera Isabella from The Young and the restless who terrorize Christine and Paul

[@everythingsoapopera]

@@MarvinMoore-bf3teI forgot about her!!! Eva Longoria was great as a foil for that Paul/Christine pairing at the time! Thanks for the reminder!

[@MarvinMoore-bf3te]

@@everythingsoapopera Anytime

[@yvonnecooper5004]

@@everythingsoapopera great idea

[@victoriaford8449]

Todd Manny as well😮

[@everythingsoapopera]

Todd did make the Top 10 list, just a bit further down 👍😀

[@1Cheytown]

It's Manning and he IS on here

[@user-js4jk2eo4e]

Janet Green did become good until the original Janet Green came back. Also Trevor St. James didn't play Todd, turned out he played Todd's twin brother

[@everythingsoapopera]

Yes, since the Todd story was retconned when Roger Howarth returned to the show years later, we wanted to to capture that Trevor did play Todd, since he did the romance story with Marty while he had Todd’s memories and still acted upon his feelings as if he was Todd. And yes, loved both versions of Janet, but I think Robin Mattson’s version was extra amazing!

[@KevinPayton-fq8gd]

​@@everythingsoapoperaI liked Robin Mattson as Janet too.

[@jennifertrevino3681]

Mitch Lawrence. “Smooth Operator “

[@everythingsoapopera]

Mitch was Smooth, Intelligent AND Evil. A wicked combination for sure! 👍

[@DrewKelleyTidwell]

Stefano - Janet Green- Vivian and Roger are correct on point ! Olivia Jerome and Carlo Hesser need to be added -

[@KevinPayton-fq8gd]

One villain that could've made the list is Carlo Hesser of One Life To Live. He was so ruthless and loved to torture his victims.

[@everythingsoapopera]

I would say Carlo would definitely be in the Top 20 for sure! His only redeeming quality was his love for Renee.

[@marquesjohnson6359]

Helena cassadine, jerry jacks and caesar faision from GH were all great villains or in helena's case villainess

[@everythingsoapopera]

Jerry Jacks was a GREAT villain on GH! I’m sure he will make the next villain list. STILL can’t believe he played a part in the exit storyline for Alan Quartermaine 🤦

[@armlovesmetal1036]

Ryan Chamberlain, Olivia Jerome, Victor Cassadine, Peter August and Heather were really scary characters too. GH comes out with some great characters which are terrifying.

[@Maidenfan83]

James Stenbeck was always my favorite

[@everythingsoapopera]

James was SO GOOD as a villain! Especially in his initial run and early returns! 👍

[@ChuckTheMystery]

Mine too!

[@Maidenfan83]

@ChuckTheMystery in my opinion Anthony Herrera was a brilliant casting choice for James

[@everythingsoapopera]

@@Maidenfan83 Agreed 💯!!! 👍

[@ChuckTheMystery]

@@Maidenfan83 Perfect! He was the best!

[@jan-rs6im]

Victor Newman!

[@samuelmckissick3010]

Seriously?! Victor and Adam Newman did not make this list?😮Do your research .That Young and the Restless diabolical duo cannot be topped.

[@ChuckTheMystery]

I don’t know if I consider Victor a villain. He’s kind of like Sonny Corinthos. They do some bad things but in the end always come out helping others. James Stenbeck and Stefano Dimera never helped anyone unless it benefited them in some way.

[@Williamwestp24]

Victor usually do bad things for greater good while James Stenbeck and Stefano does bad things for the greater evil. Victor Newman, John Dixon, Craig Montgomery are villains with morals.

[@donnalichvarcik9358]

The greatest evil queen 👑 of daytime Helena cassidine and the greatest evil king 👑 of daytime the late great stefeno demeria

[@user-xf5ie2gk3o]

Allister crane (passions) and Kristen Dimera

[@everythingsoapopera]

Definitely both of them could make the next list, especially Allistair!

[@x-mensangel3567]

Ryan Chamberlain from General Hospital should have been on this list

[@everythingsoapopera]

Ryan was more than a villain; he was a killer as well.

[@KevinPayton-fq8gd]

I'll never forget what he did to Audrey Hardy. That was despicable.

[@adriandelao7280]

Where's Carlo Hesser? At least top 3. You mentioned Todd Manning but not Carlo Hesser??

[@KevinPayton-fq8gd]

I just mentioned him. Carlo was indeed evil.

[@ChuckTheMystery]

Absolutely…Carlo Hesser is almost in the same league as Stenbeck and Dimera!

[@Leealee09]

Roger Thorpe from GL number one on my villian list❤ RIP Michael Zaslow, you are still missed ❤

[@everythingsoapopera]

Roger was the perfect villain . You ALMOST felt sorry for him when Alexandra Spaulding totally Eviserated him at the Country a club or when Billy Lewis whooped is A** when the affair with Mindy was exposed lol 😂

[@denaspohn5207]

Roger raped Rita, as well, and kidnapped her and that led to Rita losing her baby. I think he returned and married Amanda Spaulding, Alan's sister (originally said to be his daughter.)

[@MrJacobrabbit]

Santa Barbara Kirk Cranston

[@jennifercummings9732]

Alan Spaulding on GL is a Pretty Good Villain too.

[@everythingsoapopera]

Alan Spaulding definitely did his fair amount of villainous things on GL! 👍

[@dianascrimger284]

Carolees first husband fan allison was very evil on the doctors.

[@SK-nd7db]

What!? you left out JR Ewing!

[@everythingsoapopera]

Yes, we were focusing on the Daytime Soaps, but good point!!! 👍

[@carolforte2768]

Alan Spaulding and Billy Clyde Tuggles

[@1Cheytown]

Aashhh Billy Clyde!! R.I.P. Matthew Cowels

[@donnalichvarcik9358]

Not only stefeno was the greatest evil king 👑 of daytime Joseph was is and always will the late great king 👑 of daytime RIP Joseph aka stefeno days of our lives and Massimo bold and the beautiful

[@everythingsoapopera]

Joe was definitely top notch in the role of Stefano! He was pretty amazing as Massimo on B&B as well.

[@user-js4jk2eo4e]

Only time Rosc Born played a good guy was on the City

[@everythingsoapopera]

#facts! He played evil well. Joe Novak on Ryan’s Hope wasn’t all evil though at all, though not a terribly consistent nice guy lol

[@diddlysquat8595]

David Kimball - Y&R was great

[@everythingsoapopera]

That scene with the word “Killer” on his forehead put there by that plastic surgeon will always be a classic! 👍

[@diddlysquat8595]

@@everythingsoapoperait was pure gold

[@anthonybirkholz6104]

Allison Perkins from One Life to Live?

[@everythingsoapopera]

I think Allison would probably be somewhere in the Top 30. They definitely brought her back to raise havoc well in the later years on the show.

[@SamuelShad-wq6ft]

How about Kirk Cranston from Santa Barbara

[@everythingsoapopera]

Kirk was a good villain on SB! Maybe Top 30? 🤷

[@jefferydixon1675]

Stefano is the top villain of all time

[@everythingsoapopera]

#FACTS!!!👍😀

[@dan1985ist]

No Alistair Crane!

[@everythingsoapopera]

Alistar Crane could have definitely been an honorable mention! Evil with no redemption arc, ever!

[@fathomflaw]

@@everythingsoapopera Alistair never show his face onscreen when Passions started and it took 5 years in order for him to finally show his face onscreen.

[@myview65]

I have watched all the soaps from the villains on the list. Todd (OLTL) and Janet Green (AMC) really didn't make the impact as great villains as the other eight in the countdown for me.

[@everythingsoapopera]

@myview65 Which 2 Daytime Villains would you have ranked in their place? Let us know :)

[@fantomaorgasma5906]

Uh... Kristen DiMera should be on the list. Or at least, get a special mention.

[@everythingsoapopera]

Yes, I think she would definitely be Top 20! What she did to both John and especially Eric was terrible and definitely villain material! 👍

[@fantomaorgasma5906]

Top 10. The whole storyline about the baby switch and everything Kristen put Susan through was pure evil (in the most enjoyable way). And when Kristen came back to Salem and played with Marlena... ah, those were the days! I think people often overlook Kristen as a villain because Stefano provided some help.

[@maggiefloreske6104]

Helena casadine but her son Valentin is much much worse

[@tanyajohnson423]

Oh, I'm sorry he's here

[@everythingsoapopera]

Yeah, couldn't be a Top 10 list with James! He was a GREAT villain, especially in his early years

[@BruceWayne-ri4wr]

I haven't watched the list yet but if Todd Manning is not at least in the top three the list is not valid Todd is the ultimate villain has a few redeeming qualities with a couple of his family members other than that he would let you die of fiery death and wouldn't piss on you

[@everythingsoapopera]

@BruceWayne/ri4r Todd is most certainly on this list! 😀👍