History Main / BaldOfAwesome

...or one of the several other tropes on HairTropes.

* BaldBlackLeaderGuy: The prevalence of bald black men in leadership positions.

* BaldBlackLeaderGuy: The prevalence of bald black men in leadership positions.

* PosthumanNudism: The portrayal of once human characters as completely nude after they have transcended to a higher form of being.

Bald if Awesome may refer to:

Bald Of Awesome may refer to:

* BaldMystic: A bald person is mystical, having spiritual experience or supernatural ties.
* ChromeDomePsi: Bald people have psychic powers.

BaldOfAwesome may refer to:

%%
%%
%%
%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
%%
%%
%%
%%
%%
%%
%% Note to editors: This trope is more than just a bald guy you happen to find awesome
%%
%%
%%
%% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1331436708098680100
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
%%

[[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1640452322058162000&page=1 under construction]] due to a Administrivia/TropeRepairShop decision.]]]]]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/StarTrekGenerations https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/boapicard_7516.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[Creator/PatrickStewart The awesomest there is!]]]]

->'''Reporter:''' Surely they would have cured baldness by the 24th century.\\
'''Creator/GeneRoddenberry:''' In the 24th century, they wouldn't care.
-->-- At the opening of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''

Baldness is usually implemented by television and film writers as a sign of premature aging, [[BaldOfEvil poor morality]], or just general weakness. But occasionally, baldness instead indicates just how awesome a character is, usually representing leadership or over-the-top manliness. BaldBlackLeaderGuy is a popular subtrope since, for some reason, black men in leadership positions are almost always bald in fiction. In the spirit of not spinning off into over-troping, this includes men and women who [[ImportantHaircut voluntarily shave their heads]].

It's interesting to note that among actors, great lengths used to be taken to ''avoid'' shaving their heads for a role (or taking off their toupee for those that were already bald), as it was something they couldn't drop once the filming ended and the cameras stopped rolling. The bald wig was elevated to an art form during this period. As an example, take a look at the Bill Murray movie ''Film/{{Stripes}}''. For the boot camp scenes, everyone else in the cast sports shaved heads, whereas Bill Murray and Harold Ramis merely got short haircuts. Nowadays, not shaving your head for a role that requires it is seen as unprofessional and not being dedicated to your craft.

Contrast BaldOfEvil, though there can be overlap between the two if the villain is a badass. See also PermaShave.

'''Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease''' - It is sufficient to say that bald people who are badasses do exist in RealLife, so it is {{Truth in Television}}.

[[noreallife]]
----
%% PLEASE READ:
%% DUE TO A TROPE REPAIR SHOP DECISION, THIS PAGE IS BEING RENAMED AND REDEFINED.
%% DO NOT ADD ANY EXAMPLES TO THIS PAGE OR LINK THIS PAGE ON OTHER PAGES
%% TO SEE THE NEW "BALD OF AUTHORITY TROPE" THAT WILL REPLACE THIS ONE GO TO THIS TLP DRAFT: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/discussion.php?id=lsx69hw8iql4kxx9360ev91a

[[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1640452322058162000&page=1 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.]]]]]]

!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]

* ''ComicBook/LukeCageHeroForHire'': Luke Cage and Ultimate ComicBook/NickFury definitely qualify. For Cage this is a visual evolution from his AfroAsskicker phase in UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks. Recently, the Marvel universe has started to really like this trope. The ComicBook/YoungAvengers picked their leader based on it. (Not that Patriot's not a good leader, it's just there was no evidence for it before he was chosen, other than his baldness.)
%%* The ComicBook/MartianManhunter.
* ''ComicStrip/NickKnatterton'', detective hero of German comic strips.
* ''ComicStrip/PaulusDeBoskabouter'': Paulus is has a totally bald head, but he is a brave and intelligent wood gnome at the same time.
* ComicStrip/{{Popeye}} isn't dashingly handsome, but it doesn't stop him from being kickass awesome.
* ''ComicBook/SilverSurfer''. Both men and women on Norrin Radd's home planet of Zenn-La are entirely baldheaded.
* Dwight from ''ComicBook/SinCity'' fits this at first, but he later grows his hair out when he [[spoiler:is wanted for murder]].
* ComicBook/LexLuthor from Franchise/{{Superman}} is most often made bald. Some stories link his hatred of Superman to him losing his hair, but mostly, it just makes him that much more awesome when he goes into a SlouchOfVillainy.
* ''ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske'' (''Spike and Suzy''): Lambik, while the character changed over the years, his baldness remained one of the key parts of his appearance and has been used as an element to drive the plot forward in a couple of issues. Lambik played the role of the heroic father figure in a number of albums. In "Het geheim van de gladiatoren" (The secret of the gladiators), "De schat van Beersel" (The treasure of Beersel), and "De tartaarse helm" (The Tartar Helmet), he's depicted as an expert swordsman. These are known as the Blue Cover Series, as opposed to the Red Cover Series.
* ''ComicBook/TankGirl'': the title character's haircut tend to change often, but one of her most common was a mostly shaven head with a few randomly colored locks.
* Spider Jerusalem from ''ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}}''. Bonus points because it was not by choice. A malfunction with a computerized shower stripped him of ''all'' his body hair and it never grew back.
* Machiste, the wandering King of Kiro in ''ComicBook/TheWarlord'', is Travis Morgan's companion and nearly as badass a BarbarianHero as Travis. He shaves his head so his crown will fit properly.
* In ''ComicBook/WhiteSand'':
** Invoked with Sand Masters - the highest-ranking and thus most powerful Mastrells usually keep their heads bald.
** Baon, the BadassNormal bodyguard to Khriss, is bald as well.
* Professor Xavier from ''ComicBook/XMen''. The animated shows and [[Film/XMenFilmSeries live-action movies]] also give him such a deep, penetrating voice that this wheelchair-bound man commands the respect of everyone. For major bonus, he's played by Creator/PatrickStewart himself in the movies. His baldness set in during puberty in the comics and is possibly linked to his powers. In the films, he went bald sometime during middle age.
* ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron'': Plourr had this, until she grew her hair out anyway. She initially shaved her head and was easily the best unarmed fighter in the Rogues.
[[/folder]]


[[folder:Video Games]]
%%* Ricky Johnson of ''VideoGame/BackyardSports''.
* Minsc in ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' has a shaven, tattooed head and is simultaneously [[BoisterousBruiser a devastating]] [[TheBigGuy warrior]] and as mad as a [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} March hare]].
* An uncommon female example with Maya's 'Clean Shave' head in ''VideoGame/Borderlands2''. As a Siren her tattoos cover her entire head.
* Anonymous from ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'' is totally bald, and is a StreetSmart trickster and one of the strongest fighters on your team, especially in the early parts of the game. Interestingly, he hails from an entire ''species'' of [[InexplicablyIdenticalIndividuals near-identical]] bald, badass tricksters.
%%* Jimmy Hopkins from ''VideoGame/{{Bully}}''. (But he can grow his hair out if the player desires.)
* Kane of ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer''. Like Kratos, his bald is also [[BaldOfEvil evil]].
%%* Sergeant Dwight Boykin from ''VideoGame/DeadRising2''.
* One of the new characters of ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' is the Monk. The male is bald with two circle tattoos on his forehead. Case in point: the trailer shows him walking into a town overrun by cultists with the door closing behind him, only for him to be seen fresh as daisies a few seconds later. You figure how well that worked out.
** The male Witch Doctor is this, too. Bald and arguably one of the nicest people out there... [[BewareTheNiceOnes but fuck with him at your own peril]] ([[FateWorseThanDeath not just physical]]).
** As far as [=NPCs=] are concerned, we also have [[spoiler:fallen angel Tyrael]].
* Ogden from ''VideoGame/DragonFantasy'' lost all of his hair as a teenager in a fight against a dragon, and remains bald 30 years later when the game begins.
* ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' has featured Dian Wei in every incarnation as Cao Cao's loyal bodyguard, and so far has shown him as both enormously powerful and bald as a coot. He is even called "[[TheJuggernaut The Coming Evil]]" and is shown headbutting a boulder to pieces in the fourth game's demo opening. In spite of the nickname and the presence of both baldness and spiked armor, he is not shown to be particularly evil. [[spoiler:He even makes a HeroicSacrifice to save Cao Cao in an ambush.]]
* Matt Hazard of ''VideoGame/EatLeadTheReturnOfMattHazard'' invokes this since Matt himself is a parody of video game {{space marine}}s.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** St. Jiub the Eradicator. In his first appearance in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', Jiub is the [[PlayerCharacter Nerevarine]]'s bald, [[WalkingShirtlessScene shirtless]], [[HandicappedBadass one-eyed]] fellow prisoner aboard the Imperial Prison Ship at the start of the game. [[SpearCarrier His role is rather minor]], letting the Nerevarine know they've reached Morrowind and asking for the Nerevarine's name, but his badass appearance earned him the HeroOfAnotherStory treatment [[EnsembleDarkhorse from the fanbase]], resulting in plenty of {{Fan Fic}}s based on him and {{Game Mod}}s which added him back to the game. Bethesda officially [[AscendedExtra got in on the act]] in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', stating that Jiub had eradicated the [[TakeThatScrappy much reviled]] [[GoddamnBats Cliff Racers]] from Vvarendfell and was sainted as a result. (He shows up again as a spirit in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'''s ''Dawnguard'' DLC, but no longer qualifies, as he is depicted with a full head of long hair.)
** [[TheEmperor Emperor]] [[TheGoodKing Uriel Septim VII]], a ReasonableAuthorityFigure and BigGood throughout the series, has a shiny bald head in his ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'' appearance. (Ironically, he looks more like Creator/PatrickStewart than in his ''Oblivion'' appearance, where he is actually voiced by Stewart.) Ocato, the [[TheGoodChancellor High Chancellor]] of the Elder Council who also receives the title of [[CourtMage Imperial Battlemage]] after [[RedeemingReplacement the events]] of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena Arena]]'', is also bald in his ''Daggerfall'' appearance. (Come ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', both get hit with a case of YouDontLookLikeYou, with neither being bald.)
* Several of the haircuts from ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' invokes this. Some even look similar enough that they might be a shout out to ''ComicBook/TankGirl''.
%%* Babus from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' (yes, other Nu Mou have hair, like Ezel). Being a BattleButler is already awesome, right? Also, Rude from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'':
** General Wallace from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'' is the most senior member of the Caelin army, and has a bald head ''and'' [[LargeHam hammy behavior]] to match.
** Basilio, West Khan of Ferox, from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening''. For bonus points, he combines that with EyepatchOfPower ''and'' BaldBlackLeaderGuy (at least for a while).
** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' there's Fuga, Chieftain of the Wind Tribe and pretty much the WorldsStrongestMan, who forces the Avatar and his/her army to prove their worthiness to him in combat. He's not BaldOfEvil though, as he turns out to be pretty helpful once they prove themselves as worthy enough, giving them helpful information, letting his adopted son Hayato join the army in the Birthright and Revelations route [[spoiler:and becoming a playable character himself in the Revelations route.]]
%%* Kratos from ''VideoGame/GodOfWar''. Also the [[BaldOfEvil other kind]].
* Averted haaaaard in ''VideoGame/GuildWars'': Factions, in which Mhenlo (and Master Togo, to an extent) seems to be trying his utmost to invent the Bald of Suck (as any player who's herded him through the entirety of the campaign can tell you). Played straight in the rest of the series with Mhenlo (who's actually a fairly decent henchman when he's not forced into obnoxious-allydom) and PC Monks, Dervishes, and male Necromancers.
* [[BadassPreacher Father Grigori]] from ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''.
%%* Agent 47 from the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' series. Another example of the [[BaldOfEvil other kind]].
* In lore, Swain from ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' was BaldOfEvil before his rework. In gameplay when he just Aced the enemy team, it was Bald of Awesome for his team.
%%* Louis from ''VideoGame/Left4Dead''.
* In ''VideoGame/MafiaIII'', Lincoln's ''Revolutionary'' outfit has him dressed in a leather jacket over a black turtleneck sweater, some cool shades and a completely shaved head.
* Default male Shepard of ''Franchise/MassEffect'' can fall into this. Or BaldOfEvil, depending on how you roll. Also, Jack in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' has Bain Massani, encountered next to a still-burning pile of kett refuse, having spent the previous six months waging a one-man war on them.
* Vulcan Raven, a {{BFG}}-wielding giant Inuit shaman, in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid''.
* ''VideoGame/MinecraftDungeons'': At least one character skin falls into this trope.
%%* [[spoiler:Flint]] in ''VideoGame/Mother3''.
* ''[[VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2 Neverwinter Nights II: Mask of the Betrayer]]'':
** Safiya is a RareFemaleExample. Going with Thayan wizard traditions, she shaves her head and tattoos it with arcane markings, supposedly enhancing her power. She is also a rare nonevil Thayan wizard, who has a more scholarly or scientific outlook instead of a tyrannical one. She's still not to be underestimated, though; her Disintegrate spell is deadly and rarely fails.
** Also in this category is Khelgar Ironfist, a [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame dwarven fighter]] and total badass in the original campaign, and [[TheGoodKing Lord Nasher Alagondar]], the ruler of Neverwinter who has lost the remainder of his hair since [[VideoGame/NeverwinterNights the first game]].
* ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'': Blaine is a good example. He even takes off his hat in his ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HGSS]]'' battle animation, and a glint of light shines off of his head.
* In ''VideoGame/QueenAtArms'', Assistant-Commander Berin is possibly the most badass and competent person in the Ortheran army, and is completely bald.
* Neinhalt Sieger from ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown''. Despite only appearing in the second game, he's a natural baldie and awesome, enough that he becomes one of {{the Chosen One}}s in the plot. There's also BareFistedMonk Kafuin Gaira, who [[ImportantHaircut got his hair shaven]] by the time of the sixth game, but considering all of it was like one huge BigLippedAlligatorMoment...
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' - though Dr. Eggman's baldness also qualifies as BaldOfEvil, he has proven himself heroic and awesome at times.
* ''The Spirit Engine 1'' and ''2'' both have some examples.
** Clementas: ass-kicking cleric. Shoots a villain in the middle of a BreakingLecture about how evil will ultimately triumph because good is held back by its morals and they have to accept his surrender although they know he will manage to escape...with the words "You must be thinking of a different church."
** Pyan Pau: [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds nice-spirited pseudo-Buddhist monk who packs QUITE a punch]].
** Rick Brutal: subversion, as he's...[[FakeUltimateHero not quite as awesome he would have you believe]].
%%* More than one character in the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' games, with the top examples being Sagat and Gouken.
* Zenoa, [[DeadpanSnarker scathing]] TricksterMentor from ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}} [[VideoGame/SuikodenTierkreis Tierkreis]]'', is a RareFemaleExample. It's implied she knows everything about everything, but won't [[FigureItOutYourself talk much about it]].
%%* Denzel Hammer from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsZ'' is this, with a small but complementary beard.
* Mighty Kongman/Bruiser Khang in ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny'', especially in the remake. [[CatchPhrase Ore-sama wa champion da!!!]]
* The Heavy from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has male pattern baldness. But also for some reason, a stubble setting on his razor. The Engineer can also sport this if you unlock the right hats. Or lack of hat-hat. The Spy is probably also bald (or shaves his head), given the snug fit of his balaclava. Of course, the baldness is only awesome if they're on your team.
* Pick a [[VideoGame/DawnOfWar Space Marine]]. Any [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Space Marine]].
** How about [[MemeticMutation Brother-Captain Indrick BALDreale of the BALD Ravens?]]
*** [[{{Narm}} ...pick another?]]
** Tactical Marine Sergeant Tarkus, especially since everyone else on your team have hair.
** [[MauveShirt Sergeant Merrick]], who contrary to popular belief is not a Kasrkin.
** Most of the Imperial Guard generals.
%%* Goblins in the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' series are bald.
* ''VideoGame/WardenMelodyOfTheUndergrowth'': Emperor Magulus is shown to be this in the intro. He slashes through a bunch of vines blocking his way with one slice of his sword, and takes out a sword-wielding vine with a leaping strike.


[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
%%* A fair number of examples in ''Series/TwentyFour'', though Aaron Pierce stands well above everyone else. Mike Novick is a close second.
%%** There's also Chloe's ex-husband, Miles O'Brian.
%%** Henry Taylor in Season 7 dipped into this at points.
* Uncle Fester from ''Series/TheAddamsFamily'' (and all its adaptations).
* In Season 7 of ''Series/TheAmazingRace'', Uchenna & Joyce. Uchenna was bald the entire race, but Joyce had her head shaved as part of a Fast Forward task midway through. The show treated this as an ImportantHaircut, marking the point when they went from being just another team in the background to being serious contenders for the prize, and they'd go on to win the season.
* Charles Gunn from ''Series/{{Angel}}'', at least until he grew a little hair in the fifth season. This came as a shock to Cordelia.
--> "Oh my God, Gunn. You have hair."
--> "Oh, yeah. What, did you think I was prematurely bald?...I wasn't."
* ''Series/BabylonFive'':
** Michael Alfredo Garibaldi, the gruff security chief of Babylon 5, started out as an on/off alcoholic with half a head full of hair, then, in later seasons, shaved it and became bald and badass. But still a latent alcoholic. A returning character [[LampshadeHanging hung a lampshade]] on it by asking; 'So, what happened to your hair?'
*** What happened was explained in-universe: a close encounter with an exotic compound during a raid on some smugglers. The Real Life explanation was that Jerry Doyle's hair had been thinning throughout filming.
** G'Kar counts, too. G'Kar is just awesome all by himself.
** Galen, Elric, and many other [[MagicFromTechnology technomages]]. Galen, especially, as he is the only one who can create a powerful SphereOfDestruction, which he once used (in an ExpandedUniverse novel) to level a city and destroy 5 enemy ships, one of which was a ''Shadow battlecrab''.
* Saul Tigh from ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'' is an on-again, off-again example. While he regularly visits all segments of the personality spectrum save outright, unmitigated evil, when he does get into bad-assery mode, he does it spectacularly.
* ''Series/BreakingBad'': The show is swarming with bald people for some reason, each with varying degrees of awesome.
** Walter White, a chemistry teacher who turns to cooking meth when he's diagnosed with cancer. When the chemotherapy starts making his hair fall out, he shaves it off. The first words his son says in the face of the new look are "Badass, Dad." He's got an [[BeardOfEvil evil goatee]] to go with it later, too. As the series develops, he subverts the trope by becoming BaldOfEvil.
** Hank is bald, and has several awesome moments.
** Mike Ehrmantraut, the fixer, both bald and awesome, becoming BaldOfEvil, considering what he's done and continues to do.
** Leonel and Marco Salamanca ("The Cousins"), enforcers of The Cartel, are also heavily entrenched in BaldOfEvil.
%%* Tony Scali from ''Series/TheCommish''.
* ''Series/DeadRingers:'' One sketch parodied Ross Kemp's status as this, where after previously playing several other roles as an angry bald man (his words), Kemp has decided that playing an Angry Bald Queen Mother was the "next logical step". When a ''Newsnight'' host criticises this strange career move, it turns out Kemp had infiltrated the show as Germaine Greer, determining that after playing the Queen Mother, an "Angry Bald Australian Feminist" was next.
* ''[[Series/DestinationFear2019 Destination Fear]]'': Applies to Tanner.
* Sgt James Doakes of ''Series/{{Dexter}}''. He's an absolute badass of a sergeant and very intimidating. He has a dark past -- he was a ranger in special ops corps, but he's an honest cop.
%%* Mephisto of ''Series/DoubleTheFist'', though he is more like Balding of Awesome.
* Ray Vecchio in ''Series/DueSouth'' is Balding of Awesome, especially in Season 2 and the series finale.
* Phil and Grant Mitchell in ''Series/EastEnders''.
* Mistress East from ''Series/EmeraldCity'' counts. Nary a hair on her head, but took no fools lightly and managed to run a prison. [[spoiler:Then she was tricked to kill herself by Dorothy.]]
%%* A rare female example occurs with Zhaan from ''Series/{{Farscape}}''.
%%* ''Series/{{Flashpoint}}'' - SRU officers Ed Lane and Gregory Parker from the Canadian crime drama. Wordy and Lou also fell under this prior to their departures.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Mossador is shaved bald, and was one of the first slaves to immediately rebel against the Master.
* The sports teacher Mr Baxter from ''Series/GrangeHill''. Although he is very much a SternTeacher who stands no nonsense, he is liked by most of the pupils.
%%* The Haitian from ''Series/{{Heroes}}''.
* Detective Frank Pembleton from ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' is a bald but absolutely brilliant homicide detective who has one of the highest clearance rates in the department. While he's not particularly well-liked on account of being something of an arrogant snob, everyone admires his ability to get suspects to confess during interrogations.
* Rear Admiral A.J. Chegwidden from ''Series/{{JAG}}'' - unlike the previous desk-jockeys who headed JAG HQ, this old, bald, badass Navy SEAL wasn't afraid to get out into the field and [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking kick ass when needed]]. And he was a top-notch legal mind who once was considered for a seat on the federal bench.
* ''Series/{{Kojak}}'': Lt. Theo Kojak himself, the incorruptible Kojak and tough, bald New York City policeman who was fond of lollipops.
%%* Captain Cragen from ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''.
* [[NiceGuy Overton Wakefield Jones]] of ''Series/LivingSingle''. It didn't start out that way: [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness in season one, he actually was rocking a nice fade,]] but come the first episode of season two, he showed off his newly bald head talking about how it came about due to an accident while trying to do his hair. It remained like that for the rest of the series and became part of his signature look.
* John Locke on ''Series/{{Lost}}'' was both Bald and, arguably, the most Badass character on the Island. Locke is an interesting case as flashbacks in which he has hair (albeit noticeably receding) are brutally cruel and his character becomes far more confident as he loses more hair, eventually becoming the hairless determinator we all know and love.
%%* Lou Grant of ''Series/LouGrant'' and ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.
* Captain Steubing of ''Series/TheLoveBoat'', as played by Gavin [=McLeod=]. In one episode, he's upset because the ship is going to have a costume ball and he can't think of any bald character he'd like to dress up as. In the triumphal conclusion of that plot, he enters as Yul Brynner in "The King and I".
* ''Series/MondayMornings'': Two doctors on the team in season one.
** Dr. Jorge Villanueva aka El Gato aka Big Cat, the chief surgeon played by Ving Rhames. He's a cool doctor, and great to both his colleagues and his patients.
** Dr. Harding Hooten ([[InSeriesNickname Hardly Human]]) shaves his head and is bald for a few episodes, at the request of a LittlestCancerPatient, but he starts letting it grow back out almost immediately. DoubleSubverted in this case as El Gato first teases him that it's ridiculous and that he cannot pull it off but when Hooten tells him who asked, Gato just silently raises his cup (of tea or coffee), impressed.
* ''Series/MotherlandFortSalem'': M's head is shaved almost completely bald, and they are one of the Sekhmet Coven's best combatants.
* Bull Shannon from ''Series/NightCourt''. (Note that Richard Moll, who played the character, shaves his head. He says he'd have shaved his ''legs'' for the part, if asked.)
** Played with in one episode when a man whose toupee was stolen tried to call a wig-shop.
--->'''Bull''': Don't be a jerk. This (gesturing to his scalp) drives women ''wild''!\\
'''Man''': Really?\\
'''Bull''': In high school I didn't play basketball--[[DoubleEntendre because I couldn't find the time.]]
* Jamie Hyneman (and occasionally Adam Savage) of ''Series/MythBusters''
** He once lit a match on his head. One might think it was fake, but knowing Jamie...
* Sebastian from ''Series/PitBoss'', despite being a little person, can hit well above his weight class when needed; he wrestled in high school and works out constantly to stay in shape, and has proven himself more than capable of holding his own when things get rough.
* ''Franchise/PowerRangers''' iconic mentor Zordon - or at least, the OracularHead projection he uses to communicate (and effectively becomes by around ''Turbo / in Space'').
** Also some of the late-Nineties Rangers: TJ from ''Series/PowerRangersTurbo'' and ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'', Damon from ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'', and Joel from ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue''.
* Nearly every man in ''Series/PrisonBreak'' qualifies for this trope, or comes very, very close.
** Brad Bellick can slide across the full spectrum of bald tropes almost instantly, effortlessly moving from this to looking like a weak buffoon, to full-on BaldOfEvil.
** Mahone is awesome, though he only counts as Bald''ing'' Of Awesome.
* ''Series/{{Psych}}'s'' Henry Spencer.
* John Druitt in ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'', overlapping with BaldOfEvil, with varying degrees to each direction. It's complicated and at least partially depends on interpretation.
%%* Detective Vic Mackey from ''Series/TheShield''.
%%* ''Series/StargateSG1''
%%** Teal'c. Although he grew short-cropped hair in later seasons.
%%** General Hammond, who's still awesome.
%%** Bra'tac, who wore a steel skull cap.
%%** Even Apophis pulled this one off.
%%** Jacob.
%%** From ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', Colonel Steven Caldwell.
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Ben Sisko in Season 4 on. He [[GrowingTheBeard grew a beard]] in the bargain, both of which can be taken as a [[MythologyGag nod]] to Avery Brooks's earlier role as [[ScaryBlackMan Hawk]] in the ''Literature/{{Spenser}}: For Hire'' TV series and its short-lived spinoff, ''A Man Called Hawk''. He shaved his head because, at the time, he did a couple of ''Spenser: For Hire'' reunion TV movies. He couldn't regrow it in time before taping ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'''s next season, so he just introduced the look to Sisko. Which caused problems in the beginning, as the producers required Avery Brooks to have some hair for the first season, until the character was established. They specifically did this so he wouldn't look like his earlier character. According to the companion book for ''Deep Space Nine'', when it was decided to go for the bald look, the producers were geared up for a big battle and had their arguments all prepared. They took it to the top brass, which was basically just like "Oh, okay," and that was it.
* Creator/PatrickStewart's Captain Picard from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. He's a legendary captain of the Starfleet, a true leader of his crew, and as an old flame says, a damned sexy man.
** Minor characters who qualify are Lwaxana Troi's manservant Mr. Homn, and [[OneSceneWonder the enigmatic Traveler.]]
* The Doctor from ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Robert Picardo. Even he noticed the coincidence between Stewart's character and his last name, but hey, "if Picard can [[{{Pun}} baldly]] go where no one has gone before, so can a Picardo."
* In the ''Franchise/StarWars'' live-action shows, Boba Fett's unmasked visage bears no hair. Whether this is due to being scarred by the sarlacc's acid or that he always had that haircut since his childhood remains ambiguous. As for the "awesome" part, it's clear that the advancing years and trip into the sarlacc haven't dulled Fett's skills even a little bit.
%%* The ''Series/Supergirl2015'' version of ComicBook/JimmyOlsen.
%%* Red Forman in ''Series/That70sShow'', [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch dumbass!]]
%%* Tom Colicchio of ''Series/TopChef''. One gay contestant commented on the show that he is an icon in the gay bear community.
%%* Keith Mars from ''Series/VeronicaMars''.
* ''Series/WhiteCollar'' has [[ConspiracyTheorist Mozzie.]] Short? Check. Balding? Check. Thick Glasses? Check. Paranoid? Check. Awesome? Yeah!
** He doesn't seem very awesome at first, but as the series goes on, he proves his cunning, bravery and loyalty more than once.
* Assistant Director Walter Skinner from ''Series/TheXFiles'', Mulder and Scully's direct supervisor. Played With because Skinner started as a shady figure and leaned into the Bald of Evil who might be connected to TheConspiracy. However, he proved he's a ReasonableAuthorityFigure and a badass. Mulder and Scully could depend on him, and he on them. Also worth noting that, according to several books detailing behind-the-scenes work and the making of the series, actor Mitch Pileggi (who played Skinner) got a great deal of attention from female cast and crew. The Bald of Awesome worked for him. He even married Gillian Anderson's stunt double.
* ''Series/TheShield'': Vic Mackey, very much so. (Michael Chiklis shaved his head and worked out a lot for the role, and he's practically impossible to recognize as the same guy who played ''Series/TheCommish''.)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
%%* Avery Bullock of ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''. [[Creator/PatrickStewart Guess who does his voice]].
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
** Aang, but that's because he's a monk who shaves his head. He actually grows hair during the first half of season three. It's dark brown, if you're curious.
** Female monks like Avatar Yangchen only shave the front half of their head to show their forehead tattoos, still awesome.
** His son, Tenzin, from ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', also has a self-created Bald of Awesome. In "The Original Airbenders" Tenzin explains that one of the reasons Airbenders shave their heads is that due to more exposed skin, they're able to sense attacks through the air. This is demonstrated when a recently-shaved acolyte is able to sense a net being thrown at him from behind and evade it.
** So does [[spoiler:Jinora at the end of Book 3, along with the airbending tattoos that indicate master airbenders]].
* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'':
** Numbuh One. Unusual in that he's a ''child''. Not so unusual in that his losing his hair is somehow tied into Numbuh Five's [[MyGreatestFailure greatest failure]].
** Another character from that show who qualifies is Moosk, one of the few adults that Numbuh One befriends.
** [[spoiler: Nigel's father Monty qualifies as this when he regains his memories as Numbuh Zero in ''WesternAnimation/OperationZero''.]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/DefendersOfTheEarth'' series, the aforementioned [[ComicStrip/MandrakeTheMagician Lothar]] kept both his bald head and his awesomeness.
%%* In ''[[WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory Dexter's Ego Trip]]'', the FutureBadass version of Dexter sports one. (The even older version of Dexter wears a toupee.)
* In the {{retool}} of ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'', Doug's favorite movie hero, Smash Adams, was replaced by a new actor in a LighterAndFluffier incarnation. The original actor went on to play a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute named Cueball, who inspired Doug (then worrying about his hairline) with his Bald of Awesome.
* The titular character of ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'' combines this with SpecsOfAwesome. He is only a middle schooler but is presented as a cool, former {{delinquent}} who now fights against such behavior.
* ''Franchise/GIJoe''
** Roadblock is one of the Joes and he is typically depicted as being bald.
** The ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeRenegades'' incarnation of General Hawk, who is [[ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames only referred to as Clayton M. Abernathy]], is depicted as bald.
%%* Captain Black from ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''.
* [[Franchise/GreenLantern John Stewart]] in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'', also often qualifies as a BaldBlackLeaderGuy. (He had hair in the previous series, however, before he started to shave his head.)
* Alex Sector and Boris Bushkin from ''WesternAnimation/{{MASK}}'' are both bald and members of the titular heroic organization.
%%* Air Enforcer from ''WesternAnimation/SkysurferStrikeForce''.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'':
** Jedi Master Mace Windu continues to be bald, and, on the occasions he shows his fighting ability, continues to be badass (for instance, what he does when Lessu's plasma bridge is deactivated in [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E21LibertyOnRyloth "Liberty on Ryloth"]], or his OneManArmy claim in [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS7E4UnfinishedBusiness "Unfinished Business"]]).
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' - Cyborg. He lost and had half of his scalp replaced with metal plating in a tragic back story that was never told, and likely shaves the remains because half a head of hair would look rather silly. He grows his hair in the comics, and half an afro looks just as silly as you'd think.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011'' has {{Catfolk}} OldSoldier Panthro, whose FurryBaldness is designed to [[http://crewofomens.tumblr.com/post/9265237591/ok-this-must-be-asked-panthro-why-the-mutton-chops evoke]] the ''sakayaki'' tonsure of an old {{samurai}}, complete with topknot.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'': The Mask is bald but he is a unstoppable cartoonish superhero who is also a brilliant genius as he thinks new different ways of defeating his enemies by combining both his insanity and creative mind into different forms that he thinks are appropriate for the situation he's in so that he can use them to defeat his enemies or destroying anything they are using.
* Another monk example would be Omi from ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown''. Also, Master Fung. In many ways, he's the awesomest person in the show.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Advertising]]
* For decades, Mr. Clean cleaning products' eponymous mascot has been a big muscular guy with a bald head who really wants to get your kitchen floor and counters clean.
* The bald black security guy from the ADT commercial (played by Creator/VingRhames) who stands guard in all weather and calmly tells two would-be burglars to take a hike.
* The Farmer's Insurance guy, played by Creator/JKSimmons. (Burke, according to the closed-captioning.) He's SeenItAll and isn't fazed by anything.
--> "We know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two."
* Advertising/SeattleMariners commercials liked to portray bald right fielder Jay Buhner this way, as a leader figure who's baldness makes him more imposing. However, that didn't stop his baldness from also being used as a joke from time to time. One ad had him distracting opposing players with sunlight reflected off his bald head.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* [[HitmanWithAHeart Nizer]], one of the Chronos Numbers assassins in ''Manga/BlackCat'', is bald. He once defeated a monster that could heal and regenerate even its own head and heart almost instantaneously by ''reducing the thing to a pile of dust too quickly for it to regenerate itself.'' With an oversized pair of bladed tonfa.
%%* Dutch, the BaldBlackLeaderGuy of ''Manga/BlackLagoon''.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' - Ikkaku Madarame, despite that, even if it's called awesome, [[BerserkButton it still drives him crazy when it's mentioned]]. Head Soul Society captain Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai is [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld over two thousand years old]], but is essentially the strongest captain out of everyone.
* In ''Manga/Brave10'', WarriorMonk Seikai is appropriately bald, [[TheBigGuy made of pure muscle]] and [[NighInvulnerability nigh physically impervious]] to even blades.
* Umibozu from ''Manga/CityHunter'' is bald. He's strong enough to bring down a tree with a single punch or casually juggle with three grown men, so tough .38 Special bullets can barely wound him, so accurate he's a crack shot with both normal firearms and the bazooka in spite of being near blind and later going fully blind , his abilities as demolitor and trapmaster are unmatched, and, in spite of being so tall he can barely stand in normal houses, can successfully disguise himself as a duck.
%%* Jet Black from ''Anime/CowboyBebop''.
* ''Manga/DragonBall'' -- Tenshinhan, Master Roshi, and Krillin (though he's bald by choice). Also, [[WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged Abridged]] Nappa. Arguably, all non-humans/non-mammalians in ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. This includes Frieza, Piccolo, etc.
** In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', Krillin retires from fighting and grows his hair out. When he comes out of retirement to fight the resurrected Frieza in ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', he has Android 18 shave his head. It grows back later.
** Ironically in the Tournament of Power, every bald fighter from Universe 7 [[spoiler:save Frieza]] are ones to get taken out first, ordered from Krillin, Tien, Roshi, and Piccolo.
* Jura from ''Manga/FairyTail'' is one of the strongest mages in existence. And yes, he's bald [[{{Pun}} as a stone]].
* Major Alex Louis Armstrong of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'''s Bald of Awesome ''[[CatchPhrase has been passed down the Armstrong line for generations]]''!!! Except for a single {{Ahoge}} that's been passed down the Armstrong line.
%%* Borma from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'', Section 9's heavily cyberized explosives/heavy weapons specialist and all-around support guy
%%** Chief Daisuke Aramaki, though not fully bald, is mostly so and indisputably awesome
* Umibozu from ''Manga/{{Gintama}}''
--> '''Umibozu''': Looks like I've gone soft...\\
'''Gintoki''': No... your hair too.\\
'''Umibozu''': To think I'd fall protecting others.
* Dr. Reichwein in ''Anime/{{Monster}}'', in which he also doubles as a CoolOldGuy. He uses his bald head to attack a man who planned to attack him.
%%* Yasu from ''Manga/{{Nana}}''.
* ''Manga/OnePunchMan'':
** According to Saitama, if you don't train so hard that all your hair falls out then you won't be able to OneHitKill any opponent you face, like he does. He used to sport a full head of hair, but his hair all fell out during his "TrainingFromHell" to achieve his unbelievable strength. He occasionally expresses some mild annoyance at his baldness, but generally doesn't make a big deal out of it.
** Superalloy Darkshine used to have a full head of hair as well, but he ''deliberately'' trained until he went bald because it wrecked his look. Apparently, in the One Punch Man universe, losing your hair is a sign your superhuman-level training is a success.
* ''Manga/PingPong'': The ''entire'' Kaiō Academy team. Granted, as shown in the series, [[spoiler:players are allowed to grow hair should they leave the team]].
* Blaine in the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime. He just wears a hat to cover it because ''you are not worthy.'' Generally, the explanation given is that his hair has been singed off. Some sources even say his mustache is a replacement too.
* Jackal Kuwahara and both of the Ishida brothers (but especially Gin) in ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis''.
%%* Ox Ford from ''Manga/SoulEater'', [[spoiler:until he joined Spartoi]].
* Lordgenome's lack of hair in ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' gave him enough power to [[spoiler:pummel Lagann into the ground - ''unarmed and outside of his mech'']]. [[spoiler:His lack of hair is mainly because his head catches fire when he gets serious. That's right, he's bald ''because'' he's awesome.]] When he was young, he had very long hair and heavily resembled his daughter. This means that he has grown StrongerWithAge (and baldness).
%%* Bart of ''Anime/{{Vandread}}'', as an ImportantHaircut.
* Samejima, the headmaster of Duel Academy from ''Anime/YuGiOhGX''. Sadly, he didn't get too much screen time.

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Creator/GrantMorrison: the god of comics (he's a comic book character at the end of ''Comicbook/AnimalMan'', although he had hair then).
* Crispus Allen, one of the stars of the Franchise/{{Batman}} comic ''ComicBook/GothamCentral'', is one of [[ByTheBookCop the best cops]] of the Major Crimes Unit of the GCPD - he is insightful, level-headed, a good father, and just [[spoiler:TooCoolToLive.]] He is so badass that [[spoiler:he becomes ComicBook/TheSpectre after his death.]]
* ''ComicBook/DeKiekeboes'': Marcel Kiekeboe is bald, but at the same time clever when the situation calls for it.
* ComicBook/DoctorStrange's manservant and BattleButler, Wong. (In fact, he seems to be the shaven [[BareFistedMonk Tibetan monk type.]])
* Martha Washington sports one after the first ''ComicBook/GiveMeLiberty'' series.
* King Mob of ''ComicBook/TheInvisibles'', is a bald super spy with psychic powers.
* ''ComicBook/LukeCageHeroForHire'': Luke Cage and Ultimate ComicBook/NickFury definitely qualify. For Cage this is a visual evolution from his AfroAsskicker phase in UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks. Recently, the Marvel universe has started to really like this trope. The ComicBook/YoungAvengers picked their leader based on it. (Not that Patriot's not a good leader, it's just there was no evidence for it before he was chosen, other than his baldness.)
%%* The ComicBook/MartianManhunter.
* ''ComicStrip/NickKnatterton'', detective hero of German comic strips.
* ''ComicStrip/PaulusDeBoskabouter'': Paulus is has a totally bald head, but he is a brave and intelligent wood gnome at the same time.
* ComicStrip/{{Popeye}} isn't dashingly handsome, but it doesn't stop him from being kickass awesome.
* ''ComicBook/SilverSurfer''. Both men and women on Norrin Radd's home planet of Zenn-La are entirely baldheaded.
* Dwight from ''ComicBook/SinCity'' fits this at first, but he later grows his hair out when he [[spoiler:is wanted for murder]].
* ComicBook/LexLuthor from Franchise/{{Superman}} is most often made bald. Some stories link his hatred of Superman to him losing his hair, but mostly, it just makes him that much more awesome when he goes into a SlouchOfVillainy.
* ''ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske'' (''Spike and Suzy''): Lambik, while the character changed over the years, his baldness remained one of the key parts of his appearance and has been used as an element to drive the plot forward in a couple of issues. Lambik played the role of the heroic father figure in a number of albums. In "Het geheim van de gladiatoren" (The secret of the gladiators), "De schat van Beersel" (The treasure of Beersel), and "De tartaarse helm" (The Tartar Helmet), he's depicted as an expert swordsman. These are known as the Blue Cover Series, as opposed to the Red Cover Series.
* ''ComicBook/TankGirl'': the title character's haircut tend to change often, but one of her most common was a mostly shaven head with a few randomly colored locks.
* Spider Jerusalem from ''ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}}''. Bonus points because it was not by choice. A malfunction with a computerized shower stripped him of ''all'' his body hair and it never grew back.
* Machiste, the wandering King of Kiro in ''ComicBook/TheWarlord'', is Travis Morgan's companion and nearly as badass a BarbarianHero as Travis. He shaves his head so his crown will fit properly.
* In ''ComicBook/WhiteSand'':
** Invoked with Sand Masters - the highest-ranking and thus most powerful Mastrells usually keep their heads bald.
** Baon, the BadassNormal bodyguard to Khriss, is bald as well.
* Professor Xavier from ''ComicBook/XMen''. The animated shows and [[Film/XMenFilmSeries live-action movies]] also give him such a deep, penetrating voice that this wheelchair-bound man commands the respect of everyone. For major bonus, he's played by Creator/PatrickStewart himself in the movies. His baldness set in during puberty in the comics and is possibly linked to his powers. In the films, he went bald sometime during middle age.
* ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron'': Plourr had this, until she grew her hair out anyway. She initially shaved her head and was easily the best unarmed fighter in the Rogues.

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
%%* Daddy Warbucks from ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie''.
* [[WorldsStrongestMan Lothar]] in ''ComicStrip/MandrakeTheMagician.''
* ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}'': Nero and Van Zwam are bald, but still able to solve cases and show equal strength in defeating villains.
* AcePilot Dude Hennick in ''ComicStrip/TerryAndThePirates''.

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''FanFic/QueenOfAllOni'' has Jade's foreman [[EnigmaticMinion Blankman]], who at the very least is bald''ing'' if not completely bald, and one of the most badass people in the story.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films — Animation]]
* Gru from ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe''. He would later [[spoiler:dodge five missiles like it was nothing and OffhandBackhand ''a shark'' to get to his adopted children after Vector kidnapped them.]]
%%* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}''. You know it's true.
%%* The title character of ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' scares humans with his {{Badass Boast}}s.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
%%* Creator/SigourneyWeaver as Ellen Ripley in ''Film/Alien3''.
* Charlie Bronson, England's most expensive inmate, in ''Film/{{Bronson}}'', based on the real life criminal. The film presents him as the antihero in his story, though some would probably consider the real man BaldOfEvil.
* When one of the Crites in ''Film/Critters2TheMainCourse'' finds out that a laserblast has removed the fur from top of its head, it's impressed by the result.
-->''Bitchin'!''
* Truck from ''Film/{{Cryptz}}'' has no hair on his head, and can kill vampires [[spoiler:and their familiars]] with a series of awesome acrobatic moves [[spoiler:because he's a vampire hunter]].
* The prisoner (played by Tommy "Tiny" Lister) in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' who [[spoiler:throws the detonator into the bay]].
* ''Film/{{Elysium}}'': Max [=DaCosta=] has a completely shaved head. Justified, since he just got out of prison.
* Inverted in ''Film/EveryWhichWayYouCan'' where the Black Widow motorcycle gang appear ridiculous after losing their hair in an asphalt spray. But that might have something to do with the fact that they're wearing silly wigs to compensate -- two highway patrolmen break down laughing rather than arrest them, much to their leader's fury.
* ''Film/TheExpendables'', Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Terry Crews, and Bruce Willis. Terry Crews even shows off his badass razor.
%%* John Travolta in ''Film/FromParisWithLove''.
%%* ''Film/GIJane'' -- the titular character.
%%* Heavy Duty from ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra''.
%%** Roadblock and General Joseph Colton from ''Film/GIJoeRetaliation''.
%%* Drax the Destroyer in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' (much like [[ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy he is in the comics]]).
* Straddling the line between this and BaldOfEvil, the leader of the Crazy 88 from ''Film/KillBill'', Johnny Mo, manages to last fairly long against the Bride.
* The eponymous character of the ''Film/TheLastWitchHunter'' in the present-day part of the film is an eight-hundred-years-old, gun-and-sword toting, witch-killing badass with a bald head.
* Rodney Skinner, the invisible man in the film version of ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen''.
* The House of Representatives' determined anti-slavery warrior Thaddeus Stevens (played by Creator/TommyLeeJones) in ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', although he isn't shown without his wig until near the film's end, when he gets to savor his moment of triumph, the passage of the 13th Amendment, in bed with his black girlfriend.
* Reggie, [[TheDanza played by Reggie Banister]] in the ''Film/{{Phantasm}}'' series. Not just bald, but bald ''with a pony tail'', and could give [[Film/ArmyOfDarkness Ash]] a run for his money.
* [[Creator/MatthewMcConaughey Denton Van Zan]] in ''Film/ReignOfFire''.
* Takashi Shimura takes this to extremes in ''Film/SevenSamurai'' as ronin Kambei Shimada, who is first seen shaving his head as part of a ploy to rescue a child. In his era, it would have been considered dishonorable for someone of the samurai class to shave his head, even to save a peasant. His baldness shows that he places morality above his social standing. Even so, he's clearly a little uncomfortable being bald, and spends the rest of the film absently rubbing his stubbled scalp.
* The titular hero of Creator/{{Troma}}'s film series ''Film/TheToxicAvenger'' undergoes a mutation that makes him lose his hair and transform into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength. Ever since his transformation, Toxie has dedicated his life to ripping apart all manner of bigots and criminal scum.
* [[Creator/NataliePortman Evey Hammond]] in ''Film/VForVendetta'' seems to [[TookALevelInBadass take a few levels in badass]] after her head is ([[TraumaticHaircut forcibly]]) shaved. The fact that ''her real hair was shaved off on camera'' makes it even more badass. [[WordOfGod According to Natalie herself]], she had actually been looking forward to having her head shaved.
* Raze in ''Film/Underworld2003''. A ScaryBlackMan with an [[EvilSoundsDeep incredibly deep voice]]. The actor is a GeniusBruiser, having a degree in microbiology and being the author of the idea for the film.
%%* [[CoolOldGuy Frank]] [[Creator/DenzelWashington Barnes]] in ''Film/{{Unstoppable}}''.
* Orgrim of ''Film/WarCraft2016'' has a bald head, and he's nicknamed "Doomhammer" for a very good reason.
* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'': Charles Xavier. Not so much in ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', TheSeventies scenes of ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' or the first two acts of ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', since he still has hair and fears losing it. Of course, in [[Film/XMen1 the]] [[Film/X2XMenUnited original]] [[Film/XMenTheLastStand trilogy]], [[spoiler:''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'', ''Film/TheWolverine'']], the futuristic scenes of ''Days of Future Past'', the third act of ''Apocalypse'' and ''Film/XMenDarkPhoenix'', he's the bald of awesome that is Professor X!
* The original knucklehead himself, Curly Howard of ''Film/TheThreeStooges''. In real life, Howard was notoriously insecure about his shaved scalp, and he displayed a full head of hair both before and after his career as a Stooge (see his cameo as a sleeping passenger on a train in the 1947 short ''Hold That Lion!''; at first glance, it's hard to recognize him).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Sadi, of ''Literature/TheBelgariad'' and ''Literature/TheMalloreon'' by Creator/DavidEddings, is originally a shaven-headed BaldOfEvil. After [[TookALevelInBadass taking a level in badass]] he ends up here.
* The titular hero of the ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'' series has this, even more so after he gains legitimate superpowers. His [[BaldOfEvil evil]] civilian identity, Mr. Krupp, hides this fact under a DodgyToupee.
%%* Coll from ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain''.
* Harlon Nayl of the ''Literature/{{Eisenhorn}}'' and ''Literature/{{Ravenor}}'' books. He has a shaved head, and he’s a former bounty hunter who can singlehandedly take out a roomful of thugs in seconds.
* Kring in ''Literature/TheElenium'' by Creator/DavidEddings. He is a short, bandy-legged horseman who commands an entire tribe of horsemen who are so dangerous that the BigBad changed his attack plans rather than risk a fight with them (said BigBad was reinforced by a Dark God and legions of Hell, yet was scared of these horsemen).
%%* Kingsley Shacklebolt from ''Literature/HarryPotter''.
%%* Quint, in the original novel of ''Literature/{{Jaws}}'' (but not the movie).
* ''Literature/AMagesPower'': Orcs don't grow facial hair, and as a Proud Warrior Race, all of them are this by default.
* ''Literature/{{Matilda}}'''s father, who is thoroughly reprehensible and stupid, believes that smart men have a good, thick set of hair. "Like Shakespeare," Matilda once replied. He was willing to admit the potential intellect of the man until Matilda informed him that Shakespeare was bald—at which point he told her to either make sense or shut up.
* All wits in the ''Literature/MonsterBloodTattoo'' series. By becoming a wit, you gain telepathic powers, the ability to cause pain with your mind, and other untapped feats of mental strength. In exchange, you lose your hair.
* Rikus the [[HalfHumanHybrid Mul]], one of the main heroes of ''Literature/ThePrismPentad''.
* A female example is "Mother" Newman, in Creator/MatthewReilly's ''Scarecrow'' books, a Gunnery Sergeant in the US Marine Corps who's sheer level of badassery almost equals the Scarecrow himself. Rather tellingly, her call-sign is not intended to be indicative of any motherly traits (although she is pretty much the TeamMum), but is in fact short for ''[[OneBadMother Motherfucker]]''.
* Syrio Forel of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Lord Tywin Lannister's baldness of awesome was actually an indicative character trait. When his hair started thinning, he commanded his barber to completely shave his scalp, as he would not brook half measures. King Stannis Baratheon also more than qualifies.
** Randyl Tarly may be a Jerkass (though not without some noble traits), but he gave Robert Baratheon his only defeat in battle.
%%* Akif Ta'anari in ''Literature/SomeoneElsesWar''.
* In ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'' this is {{Justified}} out of practicality:
** Mobile Infantry regulations dictate hair must be shorter than a given length, but the troopers are responsible for their own haircuts. The soldiers most often opt to have a fellow MI shave them, as it's easier than a crew cut.
** Pilots in the Navy have at times to conduct zero-g manouvers. As most of them are women, they tend to shave their hair so it won't get in their eyes.
* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': Szeth, like most Shin, has a shaved head. He is also a very powerful, dangerous assassin, despite being a pacifist like the rest of his people.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
%%* A fair number of examples in ''Series/TwentyFour'', though Aaron Pierce stands well above everyone else. Mike Novick is a close second.
%%** There's also Chloe's ex-husband, Miles O'Brian.
%%** Henry Taylor in Season 7 dipped into this at points.
* Uncle Fester from ''Series/TheAddamsFamily'' (and all its adaptations).
* In Season 7 of ''Series/TheAmazingRace'', Uchenna & Joyce. Uchenna was bald the entire race, but Joyce had her head shaved as part of a Fast Forward task midway through. The show treated this as an ImportantHaircut, marking the point when they went from being just another team in the background to being serious contenders for the prize, and they'd go on to win the season.
* Charles Gunn from ''Series/{{Angel}}'', at least until he grew a little hair in the fifth season. This came as a shock to Cordelia.
--> "Oh my God, Gunn. You have hair."
--> "Oh, yeah. What, did you think I was prematurely bald?...I wasn't."
* ''Series/BabylonFive'':
** Michael Alfredo Garibaldi, the gruff security chief of Babylon 5, started out as an on/off alcoholic with half a head full of hair, then, in later seasons, shaved it and became bald and badass. But still a latent alcoholic. A returning character [[LampshadeHanging hung a lampshade]] on it by asking; 'So, what happened to your hair?'
*** What happened was explained in-universe: a close encounter with an exotic compound during a raid on some smugglers. The Real Life explanation was that Jerry Doyle's hair had been thinning throughout filming.
** G'Kar counts, too. G'Kar is just awesome all by himself.
** Galen, Elric, and many other [[MagicFromTechnology technomages]]. Galen, especially, as he is the only one who can create a powerful SphereOfDestruction, which he once used (in an ExpandedUniverse novel) to level a city and destroy 5 enemy ships, one of which was a ''Shadow battlecrab''.
* Saul Tigh from ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'' is an on-again, off-again example. While he regularly visits all segments of the personality spectrum save outright, unmitigated evil, when he does get into bad-assery mode, he does it spectacularly.
* ''Series/BreakingBad'': The show is swarming with bald people for some reason, each with varying degrees of awesome.
** Walter White, a chemistry teacher who turns to cooking meth when he's diagnosed with cancer. When the chemotherapy starts making his hair fall out, he shaves it off. The first words his son says in the face of the new look are "Badass, Dad." He's got an [[BeardOfEvil evil goatee]] to go with it later, too. As the series develops, he subverts the trope by becoming BaldOfEvil.
** Hank is bald, and has several awesome moments.
** Mike Ehrmantraut, the fixer, both bald and awesome, becoming BaldOfEvil, considering what he's done and continues to do.
** Leonel and Marco Salamanca ("The Cousins"), enforcers of The Cartel, are also heavily entrenched in BaldOfEvil.
%%* Tony Scali from ''Series/TheCommish''.
* ''Series/DeadRingers:'' One sketch parodied Ross Kemp's status as this, where after previously playing several other roles as an angry bald man (his words), Kemp has decided that playing an Angry Bald Queen Mother was the "next logical step". When a ''Newsnight'' host criticises this strange career move, it turns out Kemp had infiltrated the show as Germaine Greer, determining that after playing the Queen Mother, an "Angry Bald Australian Feminist" was next.
* ''[[Series/DestinationFear2019 Destination Fear]]'': Applies to Tanner.
* Sgt James Doakes of ''Series/{{Dexter}}''. He's an absolute badass of a sergeant and very intimidating. He has a dark past -- he was a ranger in special ops corps, but he's an honest cop.
%%* Mephisto of ''Series/DoubleTheFist'', though he is more like Balding of Awesome.
* Ray Vecchio in ''Series/DueSouth'' is Balding of Awesome, especially in Season 2 and the series finale.
* Phil and Grant Mitchell in ''Series/EastEnders''.
* Mistress East from ''Series/EmeraldCity'' counts. Nary a hair on her head, but took no fools lightly and managed to run a prison. [[spoiler:Then she was tricked to kill herself by Dorothy.]]
%%* A rare female example occurs with Zhaan from ''Series/{{Farscape}}''.
%%* ''Series/{{Flashpoint}}'' - SRU officers Ed Lane and Gregory Parker from the Canadian crime drama. Wordy and Lou also fell under this prior to their departures.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Mossador is shaved bald, and was one of the first slaves to immediately rebel against the Master.
* The sports teacher Mr Baxter from ''Series/GrangeHill''. Although he is very much a SternTeacher who stands no nonsense, he is liked by most of the pupils.
%%* The Haitian from ''Series/{{Heroes}}''.
* Detective Frank Pembleton from ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' is a bald but absolutely brilliant homicide detective who has one of the highest clearance rates in the department. While he's not particularly well-liked on account of being something of an arrogant snob, everyone admires his ability to get suspects to confess during interrogations.
* Rear Admiral A.J. Chegwidden from ''Series/{{JAG}}'' - unlike the previous desk-jockeys who headed JAG HQ, this old, bald, badass Navy SEAL wasn't afraid to get out into the field and [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking kick ass when needed]]. And he was a top-notch legal mind who once was considered for a seat on the federal bench.
* ''Series/{{Kojak}}'': Lt. Theo Kojak himself, the incorruptible Kojak and tough, bald New York City policeman who was fond of lollipops.
%%* Captain Cragen from ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''.
* [[NiceGuy Overton Wakefield Jones]] of ''Series/LivingSingle''. It didn't start out that way: [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness in season one, he actually was rocking a nice fade,]] but come the first episode of season two, he showed off his newly bald head talking about how it came about due to an accident while trying to do his hair. It remained like that for the rest of the series and became part of his signature look.
* John Locke on ''Series/{{Lost}}'' was both Bald and, arguably, the most Badass character on the Island. Locke is an interesting case as flashbacks in which he has hair (albeit noticeably receding) are brutally cruel and his character becomes far more confident as he loses more hair, eventually becoming the hairless determinator we all know and love.
%%* Lou Grant of ''Series/LouGrant'' and ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.
* Captain Steubing of ''Series/TheLoveBoat'', as played by Gavin [=McLeod=]. In one episode, he's upset because the ship is going to have a costume ball and he can't think of any bald character he'd like to dress up as. In the triumphal conclusion of that plot, he enters as Yul Brynner in "The King and I".
* ''Series/MondayMornings'': Two doctors on the team in season one.
** Dr. Jorge Villanueva aka El Gato aka Big Cat, the chief surgeon played by Ving Rhames. He's a cool doctor, and great to both his colleagues and his patients.
** Dr. Harding Hooten ([[InSeriesNickname Hardly Human]]) shaves his head and is bald for a few episodes, at the request of a LittlestCancerPatient, but he starts letting it grow back out almost immediately. DoubleSubverted in this case as El Gato first teases him that it's ridiculous and that he cannot pull it off but when Hooten tells him who asked, Gato just silently raises his cup (of tea or coffee), impressed.
* ''Series/MotherlandFortSalem'': M's head is shaved almost completely bald, and they are one of the Sekhmet Coven's best combatants.
* Bull Shannon from ''Series/NightCourt''. (Note that Richard Moll, who played the character, shaves his head. He says he'd have shaved his ''legs'' for the part, if asked.)
** Played with in one episode when a man whose toupee was stolen tried to call a wig-shop.
--->'''Bull''': Don't be a jerk. This (gesturing to his scalp) drives women ''wild''!\\
'''Man''': Really?\\
'''Bull''': In high school I didn't play basketball--[[DoubleEntendre because I couldn't find the time.]]
* Jamie Hyneman (and occasionally Adam Savage) of ''Series/MythBusters''
** He once lit a match on his head. One might think it was fake, but knowing Jamie...
* Sebastian from ''Series/PitBoss'', despite being a little person, can hit well above his weight class when needed; he wrestled in high school and works out constantly to stay in shape, and has proven himself more than capable of holding his own when things get rough.
* ''Franchise/PowerRangers''' iconic mentor Zordon - or at least, the OracularHead projection he uses to communicate (and effectively becomes by around ''Turbo / in Space'').
** Also some of the late-Nineties Rangers: TJ from ''Series/PowerRangersTurbo'' and ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'', Damon from ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'', and Joel from ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue''.
* Nearly every man in ''Series/PrisonBreak'' qualifies for this trope, or comes very, very close.
** Brad Bellick can slide across the full spectrum of bald tropes almost instantly, effortlessly moving from this to looking like a weak buffoon, to full-on BaldOfEvil.
** Mahone is awesome, though he only counts as Bald''ing'' Of Awesome.
* ''Series/{{Psych}}'s'' Henry Spencer.
* John Druitt in ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'', overlapping with BaldOfEvil, with varying degrees to each direction. It's complicated and at least partially depends on interpretation.
%%* Detective Vic Mackey from ''Series/TheShield''.
%%* ''Series/StargateSG1''
%%** Teal'c. Although he grew short-cropped hair in later seasons.
%%** General Hammond, who's still awesome.
%%** Bra'tac, who wore a steel skull cap.
%%** Even Apophis pulled this one off.
%%** Jacob.
%%** From ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', Colonel Steven Caldwell.
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Ben Sisko in Season 4 on. He [[GrowingTheBeard grew a beard]] in the bargain, both of which can be taken as a [[MythologyGag nod]] to Avery Brooks's earlier role as [[ScaryBlackMan Hawk]] in the ''Literature/{{Spenser}}: For Hire'' TV series and its short-lived spinoff, ''A Man Called Hawk''. He shaved his head because, at the time, he did a couple of ''Spenser: For Hire'' reunion TV movies. He couldn't regrow it in time before taping ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'''s next season, so he just introduced the look to Sisko. Which caused problems in the beginning, as the producers required Avery Brooks to have some hair for the first season, until the character was established. They specifically did this so he wouldn't look like his earlier character. According to the companion book for ''Deep Space Nine'', when it was decided to go for the bald look, the producers were geared up for a big battle and had their arguments all prepared. They took it to the top brass, which was basically just like "Oh, okay," and that was it.
* Creator/PatrickStewart's Captain Picard from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. He's a legendary captain of the Starfleet, a true leader of his crew, and as an old flame says, a damned sexy man.
** Minor characters who qualify are Lwaxana Troi's manservant Mr. Homn, and [[OneSceneWonder the enigmatic Traveler.]]
* The Doctor from ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Robert Picardo. Even he noticed the coincidence between Stewart's character and his last name, but hey, "if Picard can [[{{Pun}} baldly]] go where no one has gone before, so can a Picardo."
* In the ''Franchise/StarWars'' live-action shows, Boba Fett's unmasked visage bears no hair. Whether this is due to being scarred by the sarlacc's acid or that he always had that haircut since his childhood remains ambiguous. As for the "awesome" part, it's clear that the advancing years and trip into the sarlacc haven't dulled Fett's skills even a little bit.
%%* The ''Series/Supergirl2015'' version of ComicBook/JimmyOlsen.
%%* Red Forman in ''Series/That70sShow'', [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch dumbass!]]
%%* Tom Colicchio of ''Series/TopChef''. One gay contestant commented on the show that he is an icon in the gay bear community.
%%* Keith Mars from ''Series/VeronicaMars''.
* ''Series/WhiteCollar'' has [[ConspiracyTheorist Mozzie.]] Short? Check. Balding? Check. Thick Glasses? Check. Paranoid? Check. Awesome? Yeah!
** He doesn't seem very awesome at first, but as the series goes on, he proves his cunning, bravery and loyalty more than once.
* Assistant Director Walter Skinner from ''Series/TheXFiles'', Mulder and Scully's direct supervisor. Played With because Skinner started as a shady figure and leaned into the Bald of Evil who might be connected to TheConspiracy. However, he proved he's a ReasonableAuthorityFigure and a badass. Mulder and Scully could depend on him, and he on them. Also worth noting that, according to several books detailing behind-the-scenes work and the making of the series, actor Mitch Pileggi (who played Skinner) got a great deal of attention from female cast and crew. The Bald of Awesome worked for him. He even married Gillian Anderson's stunt double.
* ''Series/TheShield'': Vic Mackey, very much so. (Michael Chiklis shaved his head and worked out a lot for the role, and he's practically impossible to recognize as the same guy who played ''Series/TheCommish''.)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pinball]]
* Sharkey of ''Pinball/SharkeysShootout'', a stout, bald man who runs an exclusive pool hall for his annual pool tournament. The Shootout is so exclusive that only six people are allowed entry, including world-famous player Jeanne "The Black Widow" Lee and a ''[[TheGreys space alien.]]''
* Professor Xavier on ''Creator/SternPinball's'' ''[[Pinball/XMenStern X-Men]]'', of course.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Just a general note: Due to the nature of professional wrestling, most wrestlers will switch between {{Face}} and {{Heel}} during their careers. Because of this, there is some significant overlap between this and BaldOfEvil, and likely most of these qualify for both. Either way, it has some practical value; the other guy can't pull your hair if you don't have any.
%%* Wrestling/BaronVonRaschke
%%* Wrestling/CMPunk's Straight Edge Society.
* One of the things Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling fans were in awe with of Creator/BasRutten were his palm strikes. The other things was his bald.
%%* Wrestling/{{Batista}}
%%* Wrestling/BigShow
%%* Wrestling/ChristopherDaniels.
%%* Wrestling/{{Goldberg}}.
%%* In Japan, Wrestling/KeijiMutoh (aka The Great Muta), since 2001.
%%* Wrestling/HulkHogan. Well, mostly.
%%* Wrestling/TheIronSheik
* Wrestling/KurtAngle decided to deliberately invoke this. After losing a hair vs hair match to Wrestling/{{Edge}}, he spent a few months wearing a ridiculous looking hairpiece held on by Olympic style wrestling headgear. Then one show he whipped it off and just stood there smiling patiently until the fans quit laughing. He's been bald ever since.
* Wrestling/MollyHolly, actually an inversion. After her Wrestling/WrestleMania 20 head shaving, she wound up WWE's resident Diva ButtMonkey. Between having to wear a ridiculous wig with a chin strap attached and getting pinned in almost all of her matches (including having to put over FauxActionGirl Wrestling/StacyKeibler and green rookie Wrestling/ChristyHemme), she was anything but awesome.
%%* Wrestling/ProgressWrestling has Tom Irvin, Rampage Brown and Martin Kirby
%%* Wrestling/RandyOrton
%%* Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr, though he wears a mask
%%* Wrestling/{{Ryback}}
* In the words of Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin, ''Hell yeah!''. He also qualified as [[BaldOfEvil the other type]] when he was a [[Main/{{Heel}} heel]].
%%* Also from WWE, Wrestling/BobbyLashley and, toward the end of his run, [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] qualify. As do a number of others.
%%* Required for any Russian wrestler (Nikita Koloff, Ivan Koloff, Krusher Khrushchev, Nikolai Volkoff, ...)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''The Munchkin Player's Guide'' gives you a + 1 bonus to strength if you're bald, since your body isn't wasting energy on hair. To be fair, it gives bonuses on every other hair choice as well, with about the same level of justification. (Long hair gives a bonus to strength too, since "it worked for Samson.")
* [[Characters/{{Pathfinder}} Sajan the monk]]. [[http://paizo.com/image/content/CrimsonThrone/PZO9009-Monk.jpg Behold!]]
* In ''TabletopGame/RocketAge'' the entire Silthuri caste of Mars, who form the royalty of most principalities, are bald and nearly universally beautiful. If they do have any hair on their head, they generally pluck it to look more elegant.
* Many {{space marine}}s in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', though some prefer scalp locks, especially the Mongol-themed Literature/WhiteScars.
** A great deal of Space Marines from any chapter that isn't Space Wolves (who are practically hairballs by comparison) are bald or have rather little hair. It isn't a rule that every codex space marine should be bald, but it's prevalent enough that fans refer to it as "Astartes-pattern baldness".
* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'': Amethyst Wizards, who practice the Lore of Death and are infamously CreepyGood, shave themselves from head to toe.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* [[Music/BlueManGroup Blue Man Group]], to signify both innocence and coolness; the creators cited the comic book character the ComicBook/SilverSurfer as an inspiration here.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
%%* Ricky Johnson of ''VideoGame/BackyardSports''.
* Minsc in ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' has a shaven, tattooed head and is simultaneously [[BoisterousBruiser a devastating]] [[TheBigGuy warrior]] and as mad as a [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} March hare]].
* An uncommon female example with Maya's 'Clean Shave' head in ''VideoGame/Borderlands2''. As a Siren her tattoos cover her entire head.
* Anonymous from ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'' is totally bald, and is a StreetSmart trickster and one of the strongest fighters on your team, especially in the early parts of the game. Interestingly, he hails from an entire ''species'' of [[InexplicablyIdenticalIndividuals near-identical]] bald, badass tricksters.
%%* Jimmy Hopkins from ''VideoGame/{{Bully}}''. (But he can grow his hair out if the player desires.)
* Kane of ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer''. Like Kratos, his bald is also [[BaldOfEvil evil]].
%%* Sergeant Dwight Boykin from ''VideoGame/DeadRising2''.
* One of the new characters of ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' is the Monk. The male is bald with two circle tattoos on his forehead. Case in point: the trailer shows him walking into a town overrun by cultists with the door closing behind him, only for him to be seen fresh as daisies a few seconds later. You figure how well that worked out.
** The male Witch Doctor is this, too. Bald and arguably one of the nicest people out there... [[BewareTheNiceOnes but fuck with him at your own peril]] ([[FateWorseThanDeath not just physical]]).
** As far as [=NPCs=] are concerned, we also have [[spoiler:fallen angel Tyrael]].
* Ogden from ''VideoGame/DragonFantasy'' lost all of his hair as a teenager in a fight against a dragon, and remains bald 30 years later when the game begins.
* ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' has featured Dian Wei in every incarnation as Cao Cao's loyal bodyguard, and so far has shown him as both enormously powerful and bald as a coot. He is even called "[[TheJuggernaut The Coming Evil]]" and is shown headbutting a boulder to pieces in the fourth game's demo opening. In spite of the nickname and the presence of both baldness and spiked armor, he is not shown to be particularly evil. [[spoiler:He even makes a HeroicSacrifice to save Cao Cao in an ambush.]]
* Matt Hazard of ''VideoGame/EatLeadTheReturnOfMattHazard'' invokes this since Matt himself is a parody of video game {{space marine}}s.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** St. Jiub the Eradicator. In his first appearance in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', Jiub is the [[PlayerCharacter Nerevarine]]'s bald, [[WalkingShirtlessScene shirtless]], [[HandicappedBadass one-eyed]] fellow prisoner aboard the Imperial Prison Ship at the start of the game. [[SpearCarrier His role is rather minor]], letting the Nerevarine know they've reached Morrowind and asking for the Nerevarine's name, but his badass appearance earned him the HeroOfAnotherStory treatment [[EnsembleDarkhorse from the fanbase]], resulting in plenty of {{Fan Fic}}s based on him and {{Game Mod}}s which added him back to the game. Bethesda officially [[AscendedExtra got in on the act]] in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', stating that Jiub had eradicated the [[TakeThatScrappy much reviled]] [[GoddamnBats Cliff Racers]] from Vvarendfell and was sainted as a result. (He shows up again as a spirit in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'''s ''Dawnguard'' DLC, but no longer qualifies, as he is depicted with a full head of long hair.)
** [[TheEmperor Emperor]] [[TheGoodKing Uriel Septim VII]], a ReasonableAuthorityFigure and BigGood throughout the series, has a shiny bald head in his ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'' appearance. (Ironically, he looks more like Creator/PatrickStewart than in his ''Oblivion'' appearance, where he is actually voiced by Stewart.) Ocato, the [[TheGoodChancellor High Chancellor]] of the Elder Council who also receives the title of [[CourtMage Imperial Battlemage]] after [[RedeemingReplacement the events]] of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena Arena]]'', is also bald in his ''Daggerfall'' appearance. (Come ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', both get hit with a case of YouDontLookLikeYou, with neither being bald.)
* Several of the haircuts from ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' invokes this. Some even look similar enough that they might be a shout out to ''ComicBook/TankGirl''.
%%* Babus from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' (yes, other Nu Mou have hair, like Ezel). Being a BattleButler is already awesome, right? Also, Rude from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'':
** General Wallace from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'' is the most senior member of the Caelin army, and has a bald head ''and'' [[LargeHam hammy behavior]] to match.
** Basilio, West Khan of Ferox, from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening''. For bonus points, he combines that with EyepatchOfPower ''and'' BaldBlackLeaderGuy (at least for a while).
** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' there's Fuga, Chieftain of the Wind Tribe and pretty much the WorldsStrongestMan, who forces the Avatar and his/her army to prove their worthiness to him in combat. He's not BaldOfEvil though, as he turns out to be pretty helpful once they prove themselves as worthy enough, giving them helpful information, letting his adopted son Hayato join the army in the Birthright and Revelations route [[spoiler:and becoming a playable character himself in the Revelations route.]]
%%* Kratos from ''VideoGame/GodOfWar''. Also the [[BaldOfEvil other kind]].
* Averted haaaaard in ''VideoGame/GuildWars'': Factions, in which Mhenlo (and Master Togo, to an extent) seems to be trying his utmost to invent the Bald of Suck (as any player who's herded him through the entirety of the campaign can tell you). Played straight in the rest of the series with Mhenlo (who's actually a fairly decent henchman when he's not forced into obnoxious-allydom) and PC Monks, Dervishes, and male Necromancers.
* [[BadassPreacher Father Grigori]] from ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''.
%%* Agent 47 from the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' series. Another example of the [[BaldOfEvil other kind]].
* In lore, Swain from ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' was BaldOfEvil before his rework. In gameplay when he just Aced the enemy team, it was Bald of Awesome for his team.
%%* Louis from ''VideoGame/Left4Dead''.
* In ''VideoGame/MafiaIII'', Lincoln's ''Revolutionary'' outfit has him dressed in a leather jacket over a black turtleneck sweater, some cool shades and a completely shaved head.
* Default male Shepard of ''Franchise/MassEffect'' can fall into this. Or BaldOfEvil, depending on how you roll. Also, Jack in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' has Bain Massani, encountered next to a still-burning pile of kett refuse, having spent the previous six months waging a one-man war on them.
* Vulcan Raven, a {{BFG}}-wielding giant Inuit shaman, in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid''.
* ''VideoGame/MinecraftDungeons'': At least one character skin falls into this trope.
%%* [[spoiler:Flint]] in ''VideoGame/Mother3''.
* ''[[VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2 Neverwinter Nights II: Mask of the Betrayer]]'':
** Safiya is a RareFemaleExample. Going with Thayan wizard traditions, she shaves her head and tattoos it with arcane markings, supposedly enhancing her power. She is also a rare nonevil Thayan wizard, who has a more scholarly or scientific outlook instead of a tyrannical one. She's still not to be underestimated, though; her Disintegrate spell is deadly and rarely fails.
** Also in this category is Khelgar Ironfist, a [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame dwarven fighter]] and total badass in the original campaign, and [[TheGoodKing Lord Nasher Alagondar]], the ruler of Neverwinter who has lost the remainder of his hair since [[VideoGame/NeverwinterNights the first game]].
* ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'': Blaine is a good example. He even takes off his hat in his ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HGSS]]'' battle animation, and a glint of light shines off of his head.
* In ''VideoGame/QueenAtArms'', Assistant-Commander Berin is possibly the most badass and competent person in the Ortheran army, and is completely bald.
* Neinhalt Sieger from ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown''. Despite only appearing in the second game, he's a natural baldie and awesome, enough that he becomes one of {{the Chosen One}}s in the plot. There's also BareFistedMonk Kafuin Gaira, who [[ImportantHaircut got his hair shaven]] by the time of the sixth game, but considering all of it was like one huge BigLippedAlligatorMoment...
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' - though Dr. Eggman's baldness also qualifies as BaldOfEvil, he has proven himself heroic and awesome at times.
* ''The Spirit Engine 1'' and ''2'' both have some examples.
** Clementas: ass-kicking cleric. Shoots a villain in the middle of a BreakingLecture about how evil will ultimately triumph because good is held back by its morals and they have to accept his surrender although they know he will manage to escape...with the words "You must be thinking of a different church."
** Pyan Pau: [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds nice-spirited pseudo-Buddhist monk who packs QUITE a punch]].
** Rick Brutal: subversion, as he's...[[FakeUltimateHero not quite as awesome he would have you believe]].
%%* More than one character in the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' games, with the top examples being Sagat and Gouken.
* Zenoa, [[DeadpanSnarker scathing]] TricksterMentor from ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}} [[VideoGame/SuikodenTierkreis Tierkreis]]'', is a RareFemaleExample. It's implied she knows everything about everything, but won't [[FigureItOutYourself talk much about it]].
%%* Denzel Hammer from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsZ'' is this, with a small but complementary beard.
* Mighty Kongman/Bruiser Khang in ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny'', especially in the remake. [[CatchPhrase Ore-sama wa champion da!!!]]
* The Heavy from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has male pattern baldness. But also for some reason, a stubble setting on his razor. The Engineer can also sport this if you unlock the right hats. Or lack of hat-hat. The Spy is probably also bald (or shaves his head), given the snug fit of his balaclava. Of course, the baldness is only awesome if they're on your team.
* Pick a [[VideoGame/DawnOfWar Space Marine]]. Any [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Space Marine]].
** How about [[MemeticMutation Brother-Captain Indrick BALDreale of the BALD Ravens?]]
*** [[{{Narm}} ...pick another?]]
** Tactical Marine Sergeant Tarkus, especially since everyone else on your team have hair.
** [[MauveShirt Sergeant Merrick]], who contrary to popular belief is not a Kasrkin.
** Most of the Imperial Guard generals.
%%* Goblins in the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' series are bald.
* ''VideoGame/WardenMelodyOfTheUndergrowth'': Emperor Magulus is shown to be this in the intro. He slashes through a bunch of vines blocking his way with one slice of his sword, and takes out a sword-wielding vine with a leaping strike.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* Oran of ''WebAnimation/BrokenSaints'' is a serious badass and 100% bald.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
%%* [[BeastMan Beast Old Lady]] Yvonne sports this hairdo in ''Webcomic/{{Chrysalis}}''.
* Paul, second-in-command time ninja in ''Webcomic/ErrantStory'', may be one of the bad guys, but he's definitely awesome, and he tries (unsuccessfully) to stop BigBad Anita from pursuing her plan for world domination, so he fits better here than in BaldOfEvil.
%%* Most of the main characters from ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}''.
* Qin Xu from ''Webcomic/LastRes0rt'' keeps most of his head bald -- although the long, winding [[ChinesePeople Queue]] makes up for it. We get to see a nice flashback of his early days as a vampire with a short, spiky haircut, though.
%%* Wheels of ''Webcomic/MagicalMisfits''.
* [[TheHero Saitama]] in ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan''. He used to have ShonenHair, but it ''[[TrainingFromHell fell out from all the training]]''.
* The bald men from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Roy, Durkon, and O-Chul, among others, seem to be the most kick-ass characters in the comic.
* Need a guy with a shaven head to blow up a starship with an ''epaulet''? Call Kevyn Andreyasn from ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary''.
* Severus and Krin from ''Webcomic/ServantsOfTheImperium''. Severus is an Imperial Inquisitor and Krin is a bounty hunter, and both are awesome. There's also Lyle the Psyker, but the shape of his skull puts him more into MyBrainIsBig.
%%* [[http://www.unintentionallypretentious.com/index.asp?c=155 Luthor]] from ''Unintentionally Pretentious''.
%%* Peregrine of ''Webcomic/{{Voices}}''.
%%* ''Webcomic/WaywardSons'': Haydez.
* ''Webcomic/{{Aisopos}}'':
** Daross. What else did you expect from a Spartan soldier?! He isn't afraid to face you (even if you are ten times stronger than him) and can kick your ass both as a kid and as an adult.
** Lenius, his brother, also qualifies, at least, when he was a teenager. A kid who can is tasked to kill slaves at night and face higher authority is someone truly admirable!
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Arthur is brought out of retirement to lead the paranormal division of the FBI in Moperville and is balding. He also [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2018-01-26 accepts]] Tedd's genderfluidity [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/balance-078 without any fuss]] and [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2018-02-26 offers]] Tedd a lab and funding.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* Inverted and PlayedWith on ''Series/TheCallOfWarr''; Gravesite had long, flowing hair, contributing to his over-all badass look, befitting a badass leader. However, as soon as Prince proclaimed himself leader... the hair turned out to be a wig. A wig symbolizing the captain of the unit. Gravesite was left with his natural bald head, now in a position where he is no longer considered awesome or badass in-universe.
* It's a RunningGag that [[WebVideo/MatthewSantoro Matt Santoro]] is bald, and he sometimes says things like "bald is beautiful" to show that he's proud of it.
%%* [[https://www.youtube.com/user/Northernlion Northernlion,]] also JustForFun/OneOfUs.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
%%* Avery Bullock of ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''. [[Creator/PatrickStewart Guess who does his voice]].
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
** Aang, but that's because he's a monk who shaves his head. He actually grows hair during the first half of season three. It's dark brown, if you're curious.
** Female monks like Avatar Yangchen only shave the front half of their head to show their forehead tattoos, still awesome.
** His son, Tenzin, from ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', also has a self-created Bald of Awesome. In "The Original Airbenders" Tenzin explains that one of the reasons Airbenders shave their heads is that due to more exposed skin, they're able to sense attacks through the air. This is demonstrated when a recently-shaved acolyte is able to sense a net being thrown at him from behind and evade it.
** So does [[spoiler:Jinora at the end of Book 3, along with the airbending tattoos that indicate master airbenders]].
* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'':
** Numbuh One. Unusual in that he's a ''child''. Not so unusual in that his losing his hair is somehow tied into Numbuh Five's [[MyGreatestFailure greatest failure]].
** Another character from that show who qualifies is Moosk, one of the few adults that Numbuh One befriends.
** [[spoiler: Nigel's father Monty qualifies as this when he regains his memories as Numbuh Zero in ''WesternAnimation/OperationZero''.]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/DefendersOfTheEarth'' series, the aforementioned [[ComicStrip/MandrakeTheMagician Lothar]] kept both his bald head and his awesomeness.
%%* In ''[[WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory Dexter's Ego Trip]]'', the FutureBadass version of Dexter sports one. (The even older version of Dexter wears a toupee.)
* In the {{retool}} of ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'', Doug's favorite movie hero, Smash Adams, was replaced by a new actor in a LighterAndFluffier incarnation. The original actor went on to play a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute named Cueball, who inspired Doug (then worrying about his hairline) with his Bald of Awesome.
* The titular character of ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'' combines this with SpecsOfAwesome. He is only a middle schooler but is presented as a cool, former {{delinquent}} who now fights against such behavior.
* ''Franchise/GIJoe''
** Roadblock is one of the Joes and he is typically depicted as being bald.
** The ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeRenegades'' incarnation of General Hawk, who is [[ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames only referred to as Clayton M. Abernathy]], is depicted as bald.
%%* Captain Black from ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''.
* [[Franchise/GreenLantern John Stewart]] in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'', also often qualifies as a BaldBlackLeaderGuy. (He had hair in the previous series, however, before he started to shave his head.)
* Alex Sector and Boris Bushkin from ''WesternAnimation/{{MASK}}'' are both bald and members of the titular heroic organization.
%%* Air Enforcer from ''WesternAnimation/SkysurferStrikeForce''.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'':
** Jedi Master Mace Windu continues to be bald, and, on the occasions he shows his fighting ability, continues to be badass (for instance, what he does when Lessu's plasma bridge is deactivated in [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E21LibertyOnRyloth "Liberty on Ryloth"]], or his OneManArmy claim in [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS7E4UnfinishedBusiness "Unfinished Business"]]).
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' - Cyborg. He lost and had half of his scalp replaced with metal plating in a tragic back story that was never told, and likely shaves the remains because half a head of hair would look rather silly. He grows his hair in the comics, and half an afro looks just as silly as you'd think.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011'' has {{Catfolk}} OldSoldier Panthro, whose FurryBaldness is designed to [[http://crewofomens.tumblr.com/post/9265237591/ok-this-must-be-asked-panthro-why-the-mutton-chops evoke]] the ''sakayaki'' tonsure of an old {{samurai}}, complete with topknot.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'': The Mask is bald but he is a unstoppable cartoonish superhero who is also a brilliant genius as he thinks new different ways of defeating his enemies by combining both his insanity and creative mind into different forms that he thinks are appropriate for the situation he's in so that he can use them to defeat his enemies or destroying anything they are using.
* Another monk example would be Omi from ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown''. Also, Master Fung. In many ways, he's the awesomest person in the show.
[[/folder]]