The 25 Most Badass Gangsters In TV History

Organized crime's heaviest hitters.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Films have produced countless iconic gangsters, but when it comes to fleshing out their lives, the small-screen has fitted the big-screen for concrete shoes. In the last decade and a half, series like Boardwalk EmpireThe SopranosThe Wire, Sons of Anarchy, and Justified have given viewers a new, more complete look at organized crime than short-running flicks ever could. 

The rogues gallery of great television gangsters is growing every week. Bobby Cannavale's hot-headed, grudge-holding Gyp Rosetti on Boardwalk Empire, Harold Perrineau's vengeful grieving father Damon Pope on Sons of Anarchy, and William Forsythe's debt-wielding Constantine Alexander on The Mob Doctor are muscling out other characters and absolutely stealing their shows. Only time will tell where they rank amongst the best of all time, but our bet is that, in coming years, some of the G's featured in our countdown of The 25 Most Badass Gangsters in TV History will have to take it to the mattresses to fight them off.

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Written by Jason Serafino (@serafinoj1)

25. Al Capone from The Untouchables (1993-1994, CBS)

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24. The Donbot from Futurama (1999-2003, FOX; 2008-present, Comedy Central)

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23. Jackie "John" Rhoades from "Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room" (The Twilight Zone, October 14, 1960, CBS)

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22. Fat Tony from The Simpsons (1989-Presnt, FOX)

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21. Gemma Teller Morrow from Sons of Anarchy (2008-present, FX)

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20. Vic Mackey from The Shield (2002-2008, FX)

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19. The Kingpin from Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994-1998, FOX)

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18. Louie the Lilac from Batman (1966-1968, ABC)

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17. Mags Bennett from Justified (2011, FX)

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16. Margos Dezerian from The Shield (2002-2004, FX)

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15. Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri from The Sopranos (1999-2007, HBO)

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14. Vinnie Terranova from Wiseguy (1987-1990, CBS)

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13. Ralph Cifaretto from The Sopranos (1999-2007, HBO)

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12. Clay Morrow from Sons of Anarchy (2008-2012, FX)

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11. Avon Barksdale from The Wire (2002-2008, HBO)

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10. Ellstin Limehouse from Justified (2012, FX)

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9. Chalky White from Boardwalk Empire (2010-Present, HBO)

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8. Christopher Moltisanti from The Sopranos (1999-2007, HBO)

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7. Stringer Bell from The Wire (2002-2008, HBO)

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6. Al Capone from Boardwalk Empire (2010-Present, HBO)

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5. Arnold Rothstein from Boardwalk Empire (2010-Present, HBO)

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4. The Greek from The Wire (2003-2008, HBO)

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3. Gustavo "Gus" Fring from Breaking Bad (2009-2011, AMC)

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2. Enoch “Nucky” Thompson from Boardwalk Empire (2010-Present, HBO)

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1. Tony Soprano from The Sopranos (1999-2007, HBO)

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