Gallery: The Best Fictional Scientists From TV and Movies
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With so many great fictional scientists on TV and in the movies, it's hard to pick the best. But we did it anyway. Read More:[](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/spock-model-scientist/) [Op-Ed: What Scientists Under Pressure Can Learn From Spock](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/spock-model-scientist/)There is a great argument to be made for *Star Trek*'s Spock, as [a real-life scientist eloquently does](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/spock-model-scientist/) in an op-ed today for our [From the Fields](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/tag/from-the-fields/) series. But he got us thinking about all the other smart, scary, sexy, silly and sinister scientists we love to watch, so we've compiled a list (in no particular order) of our favorites. As always, we trust you'll let us know where we went wrong and whose absence offended you most. __Above:__ C. A. Rotwang, *Metropolis* --------------------------- The original big-screen mad scientist, Rotwang was the diabolical genius in Fritz Lang's classic 1927 science fiction film *Metropolis*. Working in an underground lab festooned with Tesla coils, Rotwang creates a C3PO-like fembot in the image of his dead wife. The android goes on to pose as the leader of the city's oppressed working class, and incites a riot that plunges the future-city of Metropolis into darkness and chaos. During a rooftop struggle with the film's protagonist, Rotwang (spoiler warning) falls to his doom in the third act. But elements of his style -- wild shock of hair, insane scheming, black-gloved prosthetic hand -- live on in every pop culture mad scientist from [Doc Brown](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/best-fictional-scientists/) to Dr. Strangelove. *--Kevin Poulsen*
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Walter White, *Breaking Bad* ---------------------------- No one has completely upended every stereotype of the quirky, soft-spoken high school chemistry teacher quite like [Walter White](http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/cast/walter-white). On AMC's [*Breaking Bad*](http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad) the majorly conflicted White (played by Bryan Cranston) makes the leap from educator to meth-cooking drug dealer with aplomb. Every time he decides his criminal enterprise is justified because he has cancer and needs to provide for his family, and whenever he uses basic science to get out of a sticky situation, you can see his analytical brain working just as fast as his teacher's instinct to nurture. But yet every time he seems to be enjoying the meth game too much -- note the pride he takes in cooking the perfect batch of meth -- you can also see the glimmer of a one-time nerd satisfied that he's outsmarted his nemesis, whether it’s a fellow drug kingpin or the DEA. Cook on, Walt. Cook on. *-- Angela Watercutter* *Photo: Courtesy [AMC](http://blogs.amctv.com/photo-galleries/breaking-bad-season-3-studio-gallery/walter-white.php)*
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Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, *The Muppets* ---------------------------------- I cannot imagine a world without [edible paperclips](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekBJgsfKnlw). Nor can I fathom how we ever got along without [All-Purpose Tenderizer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llj8ONAQ0y8), or where we might be without the ability to [turn gold into cottage cheese](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4313pfaORM). And don’t even get me started on the beauty of the banana sharpener. Miracles, one and all. And no, I do not think that is too strong a word for them. How else could you possibly describe a [robotic automatic wastebasket](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohjqwN8N30w)? It’s genius, pure and simple. DARPA, Xerox PARC and Willy Wonka in his factory at One Infinite Loop could only dream of such inventions, *all* of which came from the [brilliant mind of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/ff_muppets/all/1). The good doctor, with help from his hapless assistant Beaker, explored the frontiers of science at Muppet Labs, where the future is being made today. To be fair, not everything worked. The big drawback to the [nuclear shaver](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n6A-vUxY_U) was the lead helmet you had to wear in order to use it. [Fireproof paper](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnblmZdTbYs) wasn’t. And did anyone ever figure out exactly what [Bunsonium](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVnmIbzExOA) does? But even Apple saw its fair share of screw-ups before taking over the world. Yeah, the iPhone is cool and all, but I’d rather have [sharpened bananas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mggl7cC8iys). You’re lying if you say you wouldn’t too. *-- Chuck Squatriglia* *Image: Wired*
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Eleanor Arroway, *Contact* -------------------------- Along with being a gifted scientist, Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Arroway, from the book and movie *Contact*, has one of the world's coolest jobs: working for the Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Based on real life astronomer [Jill Tarter](http://www.seti.org/seti-institute/staff/jill-tarter) -- the director of SETI -- Arroway struggles against the derision of other researchers who scoff at her work. In the movie version, Arroway (played by Jodie Foster) not only gets to listen to mankind's first signal from an alien civilization, but she also travels the 26 light-years between Earth and Vega via wormhole. In Carl Sagan's book, she also makes a startling simultaneous discovery: a signature from the alien architects of the universe hidden in the digits of pi. If that doesn't earn her a Nobel Prize, nothing will. *-- Adam Mann*
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Bruce Banner, *The Incredible Hulk* ----------------------------------- Marvel Comics character [Bruce Banner](http://marvel.com/universe/Hulk_(Bruce_Banner)) is better known as his raging alter ego, the Hulk. But at the end of the Hulk's inevitable debris trail lurks an eternally questing nuclear scientist with a penchant for self-sacrifice. In stark contrast to the Hulk's smashing tendencies, Banner's willingness to help others started at the beginning: The scientist's initial transformation into a violent gray goliath followed a heroic move that saved a teenager from the effects of an experimental bomb, as seen in the first issue of [*The Incredible Hulk*](http://marvel.com/comic_books/issue/8906/incredible_hulk_1962_1) comic book in 1962. The gamma radiation that altered Banner's body chemistry later caused him to transform into the not-so-jolly green giant seen in '70s TV show *The Incredible Hulk* (Bruce Bixby played Banner and Lou Ferrigno played the title role). Many shredded shirts later, Banner has been portrayed in movies by several actors (Eric Bana in 2003's *Hulk*, Edward Norton in 2008's *The Incredible Hulk* and Mark Ruffalo in this year's upcoming [superhero team-up flick *The Avengers*](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2011/10/avengers-nycc/)). Throughout, Banner has conducted a constant search to find a scientific solution that will keep him from hulking out. A misunderstood loner eternally chased by the authorities, he's understandably moody and inevitably frazzled, making him one of the more complex and satisfying scientific characters we've encountered. *-- Lewis Wallace*
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Dr. Emmett Brown, *Back to the Future* -------------------------------------- Doc Brown figured out time travel. That alone qualifies him for this list, but he managed to do it in one of the sweetest cars ever made -- a DeLorean DMC-12 -- all while powering the dimension-bending ride with fuel sources of lightning bolts, plutonium and banana peels. His [flux capacitor](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/thisdayintech/2009/11/1105back-to-the-future/), perhaps the greatest faux-invention of all time, demanded a "Great Scott"-inducing 1.21 gigawatts of electricity to jettison him and assistant-turned-hero Marty McFly to various key points in American history, in order to correct complications that the invention's existence (and jilted Libyan soldiers) had caused in the first place. As a side note to his impressive resume, Brown managed to do a lot of his work while wearing glasses that appeared to be made of solid silver. *-- Caleb Garling* *Illustration: Jon Snyder/Wired.com*
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Walter Bishop, *Fringe* ----------------------- We’ll say this about Walter Bishop — he’s not afraid of taking risks. As a lead scientist for the military in the 70s, Dr. Bishop (played by John Noble) conducted extensive and controversial experiments in the fringe sciences, including reanimating the brains of the dead, creating subterranean torpedoes that could be sent through the Earth’s core, invisibility via electro-magnetic energy, and developing the perfect sandwich for clarity of thought (it’s avocado, cucumber and cheese). His most notable creation was the development and implementation of a portal to a parallel universe that he and his partner, Dr. William Bell (played by Leonard Nimoy), discovered while ingesting large doses of LSD. Bishop and Bell would later develop the technology to not only see into that universe, but travel there as well. Walter’s certainly had his failures as well, including responsibility for the death of his lab assistant. Walter was declared mentally unfit for trial, and thus spent the next 17 years in a mental institution. But on the bright side, they probably served avocado, cucumber and cheese sandwiches. *-- Tim Leong* *Photo: Courtesy [Liane Hentscher/FOX](http://www.tv.com/shows/fringe/photos/image-736/)*
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Hubert J. Farnsworth, *Futurama* -------------------------------- Good news, everyone. Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth has made the list. Senile and somewhat deranged, *Futurama*'s Farnsworth is a true mad scientist, perhaps most exemplified in his fondness for building [doomsday](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/scientific-doomsday-scenarios/) devices. Among Farnsworth's greatest inventions are the Smell-O-Scope, Electronium Hat, Fing-longer, F-ray Flashlight, a basketball-playing race of atomic supermen, a cardboard box containing a parallel universe, and the Planet Express ship. When not sending delivery crews to their death, he teaches a course at Mars University on the 'Mathematics of Quantum Neutrino Fields' (a title he made intentionally difficult so that no student would dare take it.) Farnsworth gets extra credit for being based on not one but two real-life intellectuals. His surname is a nod to Philo Farnsworth, inventor of the cathode ray tube television, while his first name and some of his mannerisms were inspired by philosopher Hubert Dreyfus of the University of California, Berkeley. *-- Adam Mann*
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Agent Dana Scully, *The X-Files* -------------------------------- If ever there was a set up on television of the clash between science and faith, it was *The X-Files*. Agent Fox Mulder was driven by his unflappable faith that extraterrestrials were real, and his sister was abducted by aliens -- and all of this was covered up by the government. He was a rogue agent who didn’t need any scientific proof to follow his mission. Agent Dana Scully, on the other hand, was assigned to be Mulder’s partner to debunk his paranormal work in *The X-Files*. She was a scientist and was always looking for the facts of a situation and the most logical, scientific explanation -- and not jumping on the first crackpot theory that Mulder or his buddies, the Lone Gunmen would expound. However, what made Scully so interesting as a scientist was her ability to keep her mind open to possibilities that were in direct conflict with conventional science, something that all scientists should always do. She would not buy into Fox’s arguments without the burden of proof, but when it was there, when she could see the evidence, she did not allow preconceived notions to cloud her judgment. Sure, after awhile the series was derailed into Jesus imagery and nonsense, but during the early run of *The X-Files*, Scully was science personified (with a handgun). *-- Erik Klemetti*
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Victor Frankenstein, *Frankenstein* ----------------------------------- The Swiss scientist Victor Frankenstein is the poster boy for scientists meddling in forces that shouldn't be toyed with. He succeeds where many others have failed, creating life in the form of a horrible monster. Many movie adaptations have Frankenstein acting like an archetypal mad scientist, but Mary Shelley's original novel represents him as a tragic, if selfish, figure. Like with any good tragic character, Frankenstein's invention ends up being his undoing. His monster doggedly pursues his family, murdering his brother and his young wife. Eventually, Frankenstein is driven to the North Pole, where he falls into freezing water and contracts deadly pneumonia. Fatal outcome aside, Frankenstein's monstrous invention is a pretty remarkable achievement and, though often portrayed as a dumb brute, he is actually a smart cookie. He not only teaches himself to read, but manages to get through and comprehend John Milton's epic poem "Paradise Lost," an achievement that most college students struggle with. *-- Adam Mann*
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Ellie Sattler, *Jurassic Park* ------------------------------ Paleobotanist Ellie Sattler (played by Laura Dern) is summoned to a Costa Rican island to assist in determining whether a dinosaur theme park is viable and safe. (Spoiler alert: It isn't.) Her character lends just a hint of sweetness and effortless sex appeal, but more important than that she's a total badass. Ellie's first big moment arrives when she reaches elbow deep into a mountain of dinosaur droppings to help diagnose a sick Triceratops. Later, after restoring power to the park (and inadvertently zapping the park owner's grandson Tim with the electric fence), she squares off solo with a Velociraptor and lives to tell about it. Other scientist characters worth mentioning are paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill), mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), head computer programmer and meddlesome idiot Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight), as well as head technician Ray Arnold (Samuel L. "Hold On to Your Butts" Jackson). *-- Amy Zimmerman*
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The Professor, *Gilligan's Island* ---------------------------------- Clearly Roy Hinkley (played by Russell Johnson) was not Nobel Prize material (he wrote *Rust, the Real Red Menace*) or very observant (Ginger and Mary Ann were his for the taking). Nonetheless, the man was an outstanding scientist. Cars and generators made of bamboo and coconuts are impressive, but those feats pale in comparison to his battery-life management. If the Professor could make a portable radio run for three years, imagine what he could do with an iPhone. *-- Marty Cortinas*
