30 Best Cartoon Villains of All Time

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A nostalgia-packed roundup of the most villainous animated characters
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Get ready for some mischief and dastardly deeds! We’ve rounded up the most iconic cartoon villains from TV shows and movies to take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane. From comedic schemers like Dr. Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb to truly devious masterminds like Scar from The Lion King, you’re sure to find villains who kept you on the edge of your seat on this ultimate list!

Top Cartoon Villains

Some of the most iconic cartoon villains are truly sinister and frightening, like Scar from The Lion King or Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, and others are more chaotic and silly, like Dr. Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb or Plankton from SpongeBob. Here are a few of the most popular animated villains out there:

  • Dr. Doofensmirtz from Phineas and Ferb
  • Scar from The Lion King
  • Plankton from SpongeBob
  • Mojo Jojo from The Powerpuff Girls
  • The Joker from Batman: The Animated Series
  • Ursula from The Little Mermaid
  • Shego from Kim Possible
1

Dr. Doofensmirtz from Phineas and Ferb

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  1. Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz is a hilariously ineffective evil scientist.
    As the main villain of the Disney Channel show Phineas and Ferb, Dr. Doofenshmirtz spends his days trying to wreak havoc on the Tri-State Area with his wacky inventions, but he’s consistently thwarted by his nemesis Perry the Platypus. Dr. Doofenshmirtz isn’t the kind of villain who gets you quaking in your boots, but he’s bound to get a good laugh out of you![1]
    • Year of Creation: 2007
    • Villainous Objective: To take over the Tri-State area? We’re not sure why.
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2

Plankton from SpongeBobSquarePants

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  1. Sheldon J. Plankton is a villain who’s 100% dedicated to his goal.
    His aspiration is simple: get his hands on the Krabby Patty secret formula and thereby turn his failing restaurant, The Chum Bucket, into a major success. From his dramatic and over-the-top villain monologues to his relationship with his computer wife Karen, Plankton is an evil character who brings tons of comedic relief with him.[2]
    • Year of Creation: 1999
    • Villainous objective: To steal the Krabby Patty secret formula.
3

Scar from The Lion King

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  1. Scar is the kind of villain who gives children serious nightmares.
    As the second-born prince of the Pride Lands, an envious Scar schemes to take over the throne for himself by committing the ultimate crime: murdering his brother, King Mufasa. If you watched The Lion King as a child, we’re willing to bet you were totally traumatized by the scene where Scar dramatically betrays his brother, allowing him to fall to his death, and his villainous musical number later in the film, “Be Prepared,” is equally chilling![3]
    • This type of true villainy is becoming rarer and rarer in modern kids’ movies, which tend to have more “twist” villains, comedic villains, or villains who end up changing their tune and being redeemed. With all this in mind, many people see Scar as a gem from the earlier years of cartoon villains!
    • Year of Creation: 1994
    • Villainous Objective: To steal the throne of the Pride Lands.
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4

Mojo Jojo from The PowerPuff Girls

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  1. Mojo Jojo is the definition of an evil mastermind.
    As the main antagonist of The Powerpuff Girls, this mad scientist chimpanzee is constantly plotting to achieve world domination. His superhuman intelligence and strength make him a formidable foe for the Powerpuff Girls, who are committed to thwarting his diabolical ambitions.[4] One thing that sets him apart is his undeniably compelling backstory—he was once the Professor’s lab assistant, but a chemical explosion left him with the burdens of super intelligence and human emotions like envy and greed, leading him to become a villain.
    • Year of Creation: 1998
    • Villainous Objective: To take over the world.
5

Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender

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  1. Azula is a ruthless and dedicated antagonist in Avatar:
    The Last Airbender. As the daughter of the Fire Lord Ozai, she grew up in undeniably harsh circumstances and was subject to some pretty heavy expectations. All of this drives her to become a fierce, powerful, and manipulative enemy to Ang and his allies.[5]
    • Year of Creation: 2005
    • Villainous Objective: To support her father’s objectives and eventually become the next Fire Lord.
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6

Jafar from Aladdin

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  1. Jafar is an evil sorcerer who aspires to take over Agrabah.
    As the Grand Vizier to the sultan, Jafar is a seriously devious villain who presents himself as a trusted advisor while plotting to steal the throne at the same time. Jafar is willing to do some pretty horrendous things in his quest for power, but he’s also got an undeniable dramatic flair that has earned him his place among Disney’s most iconic villains.[6]
    • Year of Creation: 1992
    • Villainous Objective: To gain absolute power over Agrabah.
7

The Joker from Batman: The Animated Series

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  1. The Joker is Gotham’s favorite unhinged supervillain.
    There have been tons of versions of this character throughout the years, but Mark Hamill’s portrayal in Batman: The Animated Series definitely holds its own! In the show, The Joker is known as the “Clown Prince of Crime,” and he’s constantly creating chaos in the streets of Gotham with his diabolical plots.[7]
    • Year of Creation: 1992
    • Villainous Objective: Perpetrating chaos and mayhem in Gotham.
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8

Shego from Kim Possible

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  1. Shego is a seriously powerful villainess in Kim Possible.
    She’s technically the chief enforcer/henchman of the series’s main villain, Dr. Drakken, but she’s much more intimidating than her boss. With her impressive combat skills, volatile temper, and ability to hurl powerful green balls of energy in battle, Shego is a worthy opponent for Team Possible. And, although she is undoubtedly a villain, she’s also a fan-favorite character who’s guaranteed to keep you entertained.[8]
    • Year of Creation: 2002
    • Villainous Objective: To fulfill her duties as Dr. Drakken’s chief enforcer.
9

HIM from The Powerpuff Girls

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  1. HIM is one diabolical demon, but he’s also pretty fabulous.
    Also known as His Infernal Majesty, HIM is a lobster-like demon who wears a pink tutu, a lady’s red jacket, and black thigh-high heeled boots. With his androgynous appearance and flamboyant personality, HIM has definitely earned his place as one of the most iconic (and fashionable) cartoon villains of all time. The fact that he’s an evil antagonist to the Powerpuff Girls is beside the point![9]
    • Year of Creation: 1998
    • Villainous Objective: To spread chaos in Townsville and psychologically break the PowerPuff girls.
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10

Ursula from The Little Mermaid

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  1. Despite her devious, voice-stealing tendencies, Ursula is a total diva.
    Ursula is a purple octopus-like creature with a full face of dramatic makeup, and she’s got a flair for over-the-top dramatics. There are few moments in the Disney canon more iconic than her performance of “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” which almost gets you to forgive her for stealing Ariel’s voice.[10]
    • Year of Creation: 1989
    • Villainous Objective: To use Ariel as a pawn to seize power over Atlantis from King Triton.
11

Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove

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  1. Pull the lever, Kronk!
    With the help of her lovably dimwitted sidekick, Kronk, Yzma plots to get rid of Emperor Kuzco, so that she can seize the throne for herself. Unfortunately, instead of offing Kuzco, she accidentally ends up turning him into a Llama, and chaos ensues. Known for her power-hungry, dramatic, and narcissistic personality, as well as her purple appearance and opulent sense of style, Yzma is an undeniably fabulous villainess. She’s also played by the iconic singer and actress Eartha Kitt, which helps![11]
    • Year of Creation: 2000
    • Villainous Objective: To seize the throne and become Empress.
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12

Zim from Invader Zim

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  1. Zim isn’t just a villain—he’s actually the protagonist of the series named after him.
    This anti-heroic alien has grand diabolical aspirations, but his efforts usually end up leading to disaster. As a result, he’s sent to Earth by his superiors on a “secret mission,” but this is actually just a ploy to keep him occupied and away from their real mission, Operation Impending Doom II. On Earth, Zim enrolls in a human elementary school and gets himself into some seriously chaotic situations. He’s totally delusional about his villainous abilities, but he’s pretty darn hilarious and entertaining![12]
    • Year of Creation: 2001
    • Villainous Objective: To take over Earth.
13

Mandark from Dexter’s Laboratory

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  1. Mandark is a young scientific mastermind who’s obsessed with beating Dexter.
    Thanks to his helmet-like bowl cut and the fact that his hippie parents named him “Susan” to defy societal norms, Mandark is a pretty darn hilarious antagonist. As Dexter’s arch-nemesis, Mandark aspires to destroy Dexter’s Laboratory to prove himself as the superior scientific genius, and probably take over the world, too.
    • Year of Creation: 1995
    • Villainous Objective: To destroy Dexter’s laboratory.
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14

Syndrome from The Incredibles

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  1. Syndrome is a devious villain with a sympathetic backstory.
    After getting shunned as a child by his idol, Mr. Incredible, Syndrome makes it his mission to invent technological gadgets that give him superpowers, thereby becoming as “special” as people born with super abilities. Unfortunately, Syndrome isn’t aware of Edna Mode’s important words of wisdom (“No capes!”), and he’s defeated when his cape gets sucked into a jet engine.[13]
    • Year of Creation: 2004
    • Villainous Objective: To get revenge against Supers and ultimately replace them.
15

Lord Farquad from Shrek

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  1. Lord Farquad is a hilarious villain with a distinctive look.
    As the dictatorial ruler of Duloc, Lord Farquad decides that fairytale creatures don’t fit into his image of a perfect kingdom, so he evicts them all to Shrek’s swamp, leading to the movie’s unexpected quest. Known for his iconic chin-length bob, very short stature, and comedically narcissistic personality, Lord Farquad is one of the reasons Shrek is such a classic![14]
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16

Hades from Hercules

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  1. As the God of the Underworld, you’d think Hades would be terrifying.
    In Disney’s Hercules, however, he’s actually a hilariously sarcastic and hot-tempered character who provides a lot of comic relief. He’s undeniably a villain and he does some pretty horrible things (attempting to off Hercules as a baby, for example), but with his witty and charismatic demeanor, you can’t help but root for him just a little bit.
    • Year of Creation: 1997
    • Villainous Objective: To release the Titans and take over Mount Olympus.
17

Evil Morty from Rick and Morty

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  1. The main antagonist of the show, Evil Morty is a version of Morty from another dimension.
    This version of Morty lacks all sense of morality which makes him totally ruthless, and he’s also got an intelligence level that rivals Rick’s.[15] His goal is to wipe out every version of Rick from across the multiverse and find a reality free from Rick’s control.[16]
    • Year of Creation: 2013
    • Villainous Objective: To find a life completely free of any version of Rick.
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18

Vicky from The Fairly OddParents

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  1. In the Fairly OddParents, Vicky is Timmy Turner’s menacing babysitter.
    With her ruthless and cruel attitude, Vicky is actually one of the main reasons Timmy was granted fairy godparents in the first place, and she rules over him with an iron fist whenever his parents hire her.[17] There’s nothing more terrifying to kids than a horrible babysitter, which makes Vicky a super effective villain, even if she lacks some of the evil superpowers of some of the other characters on this list.
    • Year of Creation: 2001
    • Villainous Objective: To torment Timmy Turner.
19

Ice King from Adventure Time

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  1. Ice King is a villainous princess-kidnapper with a tragic backstory.
    He wasn’t always a monster trying to kidnap Princess Bubblegum—originally, Ice King was a kind human archaeologist named Simon Petrikov who ended up losing his mind after putting on a Magic Ice Crown. Ice King starts out the series as a textbook supervillain, but in later seasons, he becomes more of a fan-favorite comic relief character.[18]
    • Year of Creation: 2007
    • Villainous Objective: To alleviate his loneliness by kidnapping princesses.
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20

The Fairy Godmother from Shrek 2

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  1. This Fairy Godmother isn’t the benevolent wish-granter of other fairytales.
    She’s got a devious plan to get rid of Shrek and trick Fiona into marrying her son, Prince Charming, instead, ultimately granting her control over the kingdom of Far Far Away. True, the Fairy Godmother is villainous, but her rendition of “Holding Out for a Hero” in that fabulous sparkly red dress during the film’s climax is reason enough to forgive her for everything.
    • Year of Creation: 2004
    • Villainous Objective: To seize control of Far Far Away.
21

Prince Hans from Frozen

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  1. Hans is a deceptive prince who romances Anna in his gambit for power.
    As one of Disney’s first “twist” villains (a villain who is assumed to be good until an unexpected betrayal), Prince Hans is totally devious. It’s hard to overstate how shocking it was to hear Hans say, “Oh Anna, if only there was someone out there who loved you,” after spending the movie thinking he would be Anna’s one true love. Real-life betrayals in romance are all too common, which makes Hans a uniquely terrifying villain.
    • Year of Creation: 2013
    • Villainous Objective: To rule Arendelle by marrying into the monarchy.
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22

Lotso from Toy Story 3

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  1. Lotso is another Disney “twist villain.”
    When Woody and the gang first meet Lotso at Sunnyside Daycare, he appears to be a benevolent and sweet guardian of the toys who live there. To their horror, however, they soon realize that Lotso is actually ruthless and sinister underneath his friendly exterior, and he rules the daycare like a prison warden.[19] This twist is a little less surprising than others in the Disney canon, but Lotso is still one of the more iconic villains in this category![20]
    • Year of Creation: 2010
    • Villainous Objective: To maintain his tyrannical rule at Sunnyside Daycare.
23

Bill Cipher from Gravity Falls

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  1. This mysterious and chaotic Gravity Falls villain is truly unique.
    He’s a two-dimensional dream demon from a destroyed dimension called Euclydia who’s been causing mayhem in Gravity Falls ever since he was summoned there. With his sadistic, eccentric, and even psychopathic personality, Bill Cipher is definitely one of the most manipulative and unpredictable villains on this list![21]
    • Year of Creation: 2013
    • Villainous Objective: To unleash Weirdmageddon.
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24

Skeletor from He-Man & the Masters of the Universe

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  1. With his skeleton face, hulking frame, and scratchy voice, Skeletor is pretty spooky!
    He’s the main antagonist in the Masters of the Universe franchise, and he’s got some big ambitions to learn the secrets of Castle Grayskull and acquire as much power as his heart desires. This makes him the nemesis of the only man powerful enough to thwart his plans: He-Man.[22]
    • Year of Creation: 1983
    • Villainous Objective: To acquire power.
25

Megatron from Transformers: Animated

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  1. Megatron is one ruthless villain made of metal!
    As the brutal yet charismatic leader of the Decepticons in the Cartoon Network’s animated Transformers series, Megatron is all about achieving world domination. He’s able to win people over to his cause with his moving speeches, but he’s also got zero tolerance for anyone else’s point of view, and he’s an undeniably power-hungry tyrant.[23]
    • Year of Creation: 2007
    • Villainous Objective: To defeat Optimus Prime and create a Decepticon-ruled empire.
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26

Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

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  1. Shredder is the arch nemesis of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
    In the 1987 animated series, he’s an outcast who dreams of restoring the Foot Clan to its former glory, and he wields blades on every limb (hence the name Shredder). He’s super intelligent and a skilled fighter, making him a worthy opponent for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles![24]
    • Year of Creation: 1987
    • Villainous Objective: To destroy the TMNT and conquer Earth.
27

Dawn Bellwether from Zootopia

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  1. Another Disney “twist villain,” Dawn Bellwether is an unassuming sheep.
    Despite her sweet and gentle exterior, however, she has a diabolical plan to subjugate predator animals and create a society where prey animals rule.[25] If you were already wise to Disney’s twist villain trend when you saw Zootopia, you might have been able to guess where the plot was headed, but we’re willing to bet this reveal totally shocked most of the kids who saw it!
    • Year of Creation: 2016
    • Villainous Objective: To establish a prey-ruled society in Zootopia.
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28

Cruella de Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmatians

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  1. What’s more villainous than someone who’s trying to kill puppies?
    Decked out in her luxurious black, white, and red ensembles, Cruella is undeniably swanky. It’s easy to get caught up in her glamour, but this doesn’t override the fact that she is literally plotting to steal a bunch of adorable puppies to turn them into a fur coat. We can’t deny she’s a fashion icon, though![26]
    • Year of Creation: 1961
    • Villainous Objective: To turn the dalmatians into a fur coat.
29

Gargamel from The Smurfs

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  1. Gargamel is a scheming wizard who absolutely hates Smurfs.
    After being repeatedly humiliated in his attempts to use a Smurf to create a philosopher’s stone, Gargarmel develops a deep-seated obsession with capturing the adorable blue creatures. He’s undoubtedly sinister and cruel, but he’s also a bumbling and cranky old man, which makes him an equally diabolical and funny villain.[27]
    • Year of Creation: 1981
    • Villainous Objective: To capture Smurfs and extract their magical Smurf essence.
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30

Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty

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  1. We had to wrap up our list with the Mistress of All Evil herself, Maleficent.
    With her truly terrifying design (spiky horns, ominous black cape, inexplicably green skin) and her willingness to curse a literal infant, Maleficent is one of the most iconic cartoon villains of all time. She also has an undeniable flair for dramatic villain monologues, and she turns into a fire-breathing dragon at the end of the movie, so it’s hard to imagine an antagonist who can top her!
    • Year of Creation: 1959
    • Villainous Objective: To gain vengeance because she wasn’t invited to Princess Aurora’s christening (yes, seriously!). This may be the most petty villain objective of all time, which adds to Maleficent’s iconic aura.
    • Can’t get enough of the villainous vibes? We got you! Check out our Villain Origin Story Generator and Villain Character Personality Quiz.

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References

  1. ↑ https://phineasandferb.fandom.com/wiki/Heinz_Doofenshmirtz
  2. ↑ https://spongebob.fandom.com/wiki/Sheldon_J._Plankton
  3. ↑ https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Scar
  4. ↑ https://powerpuffgirls.fandom.com/wiki/Mojo_Jojo_(1998_TV_series)
  5. ↑ https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Azula
  6. ↑ https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Jafar
  7. ↑ https://screenrant.com/best-cartoon-villains-animated-shows-ranked/
  8. ↑ https://screenrant.com/best-cartoon-villains-animated-shows-ranked/
  9. ↑ https://powerpuffgirls.fandom.com/wiki/Him_(1998_TV_series)
  1. ↑ https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Ursula
  2. ↑ https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Yzma#Physical_appearance
  3. ↑ https://zim.fandom.com/wiki/Zim
  4. ↑ https://the-incredibles.fandom.com/wiki/Syndrome
  5. ↑ https://shrek.fandom.com/wiki/Lord_Farquaad
  6. ↑ https://rickandmorty.fandom.com/wiki/Evil_Morty
  7. ↑ https://screenrant.com/best-cartoon-villains-animated-shows-ranked/
  8. ↑ https://fairlyoddparents.fandom.com/wiki/Vicky
  9. ↑ https://screenrant.com/best-cartoon-villains-animated-shows-ranked/
  10. ↑ https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Lots-o'-Huggin'_Bear
  11. ↑ https://collider.com/disney-movies-twist-villains-ranked/
  12. ↑ https://gravityfalls.fandom.com/wiki/Bill_Cipher#Personality
  13. ↑ https://he-man.fandom.com/wiki/Skeletor
  14. ↑ https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Megatron_(Transformers:_Animated)#Personality
  15. ↑ https://screenrant.com/best-cartoon-villains-animated-shows-ranked/
  16. ↑ https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Dawn_Bellwether
  17. ↑ https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Cruella_De_Vil
  18. ↑ https://smurfs.fandom.com/wiki/Gargamel_(character)

About This Article

Michael Jamin
Co-authored by:
Michael Jamin
TV Screenwriter, Showrunner, and Author
This article was co-authored by Michael Jamin and by wikiHow staff writer, Annabelle Reyes. Michael Jamin is a TV screenwriter, showrunner, and author. With over 28 years of experience writing for television, Michael is most known for his work on Just Shoot Me, King of the Hill, Beavis & Butt-Head, Wilfred, Out of Practice, Rules of Engagement, Lopez, and Tacoma FD. In addition, he served as Executive Producer and Showrunner on Glenn Martin DDS, Maron, and Rhett & Link’s Buddy System. In 2024, Michael wrote a book, A Paper Orchestra, which was later named Best Comedy Book of 2024 by Vulture. He currently tours with it as a solo show and won the “2025 Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Award.” His Substack is called “What the Hell is Michael Jamin Talking About” where he shares insights on the business and craft of writing. He also shares daily tips for aspiring screenwriters, actors and directors on his social media to over 728k followers under the handle @MichaelJaminWriter.
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