History Characters / JesusChristSuperstar

* {{Jerkass}}: He makes no attempt to hide his contempt for the "carpenter king", who he calls a "hero of fools". He also sneers at Jesus' followers, calling them "blockheads" and "half-witted fans" who could easily get out of control. This is especially pronounced in the 2000 film, where the only thing he seems to feel or express is open, disparaging contempt for literally everyone.

* PuttingOnTheReich: In the 2000 film the Roman's outfits are a combination of armor and Nazi uniform, with Pilate [[HatOfAuthority distinguished]] by a CommissarCap. He ends up looking like a weird {{Expy}} of [[Franchise/StreetFighter M. Bison/Vega]].

* HurtingHero:
-->Nail me to your cross and break me\\
Bleed me, beat me\\
Kill me, take me now

* OutDamnedSpot: "''I wash my hands of your demolition!''"

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: The historical Pontius Pilate was a ruthless governor who had his men hide among the people so they could slaughter Jews by the hundreds at the first sign of rebellion against Rome. This Pilate, much like the one in the Bible, actually has a functional conscience and is ''deeply'' uncomfortable with the KangarooCourt he's presiding over.

* BornInTheWrongCentury

* CrucifiedHeroShot: The final scene of the music depicts Jesus on the cross.

* HurtingHero

* RaceLift: Very much downplayed. Jesus of the Gospels was a Middle Eastern man, but most performances of ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' cast European fair skinned actors for the role of Jesus. In real life there are light-skinned Middle Eastern people who can pass for white Americans or Englishmen and the Jewish tribe to which Jesus was born to is known to have white skin. Albeit dark by Western European standards but real life Jesus's complexion would have resembled your stereotypical Sicilian or other Southern European. However, it got played completely straight in the 2018 NBC performance, which cast the black Music/JohnLegend as Jesus.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth
* UncertainDoom: Definitely dies but the play ends after the crucifixion and not showing his resurrection. Some versions imply he survives to appease Christian protesters.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Judas and the Council ''think'' Jesus is a revolutionary fomenting rebellion. In reality, violent revolution is the ''last'' thing Jesus wants.

One of the Twelve Apostles, Judas was initially Jesus's right hand man but has grown concerned about the cult of personality surrounding Jesus, believing it's overgrown his teachings. His political and interpersonal disagreements with Jesus set the plot of the play in motion.

* NeverMyFault: On a meta level - whilst other characters have the deeds accredited to them in the Bible presented in different ways to make them more or less sympathetic, Judas actually has negative aspects of his character removed entirely (such as his robbing from the Apostle's purse) to make him more sympathetic.

** YMMV, as he also was the only of the Apostles to follow after Jesus, even when he told them to make a break for it.

The only major female character in the play - formerly a prostitute, now a follower of Jesus who finds herself falling in love with him.

* BeneathTheMask: "I Don't Know How to Love Him" reveals she's just as clueless as everyone about what to make of him.

* EvilSoundsDeep: He's the only bass in the show, and one of the few in all of music theater. (Not only that, he's actually a ''basso profundo'', which is rarer still).

** PetTheDog: Oddly enough, in the 1973 film he and Annas both place comforting hands on Judas' shoulders after this.

* NecessarilyEvil: See IDidWhatIHadToDo, above. He believed that Jesus' followers were about to launch a rebellion, which could have thrown Judea into chaos.

* VillainRespect: In earlier versions of the music, he thinks "Jesus is cool" for not openly preaching violence against Rome. Averted in later versions, in which his line about Jesus' coolness is replaced with "Infantile sermons; the multitudes drool".

* AgeLift: In history he was the older man and Caiaphas' father-in-law, most productions present him as a younger SmugSnake sidekick.

* CreepyHighPitchedVoice: Usually has the highest pitched male voice in the show, bordering on falsetto at times. How "creepy" he is varies between adaptations (the 2000 film version being probably the most unpleasant) but he's always a smug {{Jerkass}}.

* OutDamnedSpot: ''I wash my hands of your demolition!''.

* AscendedExtra: He only appears for one scene in most versions, but the 1973 movie has him appear again during the 39 Lashes scene as he initially enjoys Jesus' flogging before showing discomfort.

* ThePlan / GambitRoulette: For the highest of stakes and with his own son's life as the ante.

* SopranoAndGravel: To contrast him against BadassBass Caiaphas, Annas is a countertenor and is typically given a sharper, more outwardly unpleasant voice to denote him as the show's [[{{Jerkass}} asshole-in-chief]].

* MythologyGag: In the 2019 Barbican production, his servants had wide silver platter collars, referring back to Herod's execution of John the Baptist and his DecapitationPresentation on such a platter.

->'''Played by:''' [[Music/DeepPurple Ian Gillan]] (concept album), Jeff Fenholt (1971 Broadway), Ted Neeley (1971 understudy and 1973 movie), Paul Nicholas (1972 West End), William Daniel Grey (1977 Broadway revival), Steve Balsamo (1996 West End revival), Glenn Carter (2000 Broadway revival), Paul Nolan (2012 Broadway revival), Ben Forster (2012 UK tour), Music/JohnLegend (2018 TV special), Aaron [=LaVigne=] (2019 US tour).

->'''Played by:''' Murray Head (concept album), Creator/BenVereen (1971 Broadway), Carl Anderson (1971 understudy and 1973 movie), Stephen Tate (1972 West End), Patrick Jude (1977 Broadway revival), Zubin Varla (1996 West End revival), Jérôme Pradon (1999 movie), Tony Vincent (2000 Broadway revival), Josh Young (2012 Broadway revival), Tim Minchin (2012 UK tour), Brandon Victor Dixon (2018 TV special), Tyrone Huntley (2019 US tour)

->Portrayed by: [[Music/DeepPurple Ian Gillan]] (concept album), Jeff Fenholt (1971 Broadway), Ted Neeley (1971 understudy and 1973 movie), Paul Nicholas (1972 West End), William Daniel Grey (1977 Broadway revival), Steve Balsamo (1996 West End revival), Glenn Carter (2000 Broadway revival), Paul Nolan (2012 Broadway revival), Ben Forster (2012 UK tour), Music/JohnLegend (2018 TV special), Aaron [=LaVigne=] (2019 US tour).

* PoisonousFriend: He tries to get Jesus to declare war on Rome in order to gain absolute power.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* AngryBlackMan: In the original Broadway production, the original film, and 2018 live version. Although in the 2018 version, Judas is closer to Stressed-Out Black Man.

* AngryBlackMan: In the original film.

* AngryBlackMan: Peter gets a bit of this in the 2000 film.

* LargeHam: Oh yes!

* TheChessmaster

* RaceLift: Very much downplayed. Jesus of the Gospels was a Middle Eastern man, but most performances of ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' cast European fair skinned actors for the role of Jesus. In real life there are light-skinned Middle Eastern people who can pass for white Americans or Englishmen and the Jewish tribe to which Jesus was born to is known to have white skin. Albeit dark by Western European standards but real life Jesus's complexion would have resembled your stereotypical Sicilian or other Southern European.
** Played completely straight in the 2018 NBC performance, which cast the black Music/JohnLegend as Jesus.

* {{Bishonen}}: Particularly Glenn Carter's Jesus.
** [[LongHairedPrettyBoy Ola Salo]] of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbrgWSpRVV4 2014 Swedish Arena Tour]] may also count.

* {{Bishonen}}: In the 2000 film and the 2018 NBC performance.

* {{Bishonen}}: In the 2018 concert version, as played by Jason Tam.

* HippieJesus: Taken UpToEleven in the 1973 film, where he ''is'', for all intents and purposes, a hippie actor.

* BaldBlackLeaderGuy: The 2000 version.

* RaceLift: Judas was a Middle Eastern man in the Gospels, but he's depicted as a black man in some versions of ''Jesus Christ Superstar''.

* AntiVillain: He's an arrogant religious leader who arranges for an innocent man's arrest and execution. However, he did so because he honestly believed that Jesus' followers were about to carry out a rebellion, which would have prompted the Roman occupiers to crush Judea in retaliation.

** That goes double for Josh Young in the 2012 Broadway revival

* SopranoAndGravel: To contrast him against BadassBass Caiaphas, Annas is a countertenor and is typically given a sharper, more outwardly unpleasant voice to denote him as the show's {{Jerkass}}-in-chief.

* SopranoAndGravel: Contrasted with high-voiced Annas, who is usually played by a countertenor.

* SopranoAndGravel: He is played by a countertenor, which is the highest of male voices, to contrast him with BadassBass Caiaphas.

* ScaryBlackMan: His 2000 version is a commanding, intimidating, black man.