History Main / MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold

* ''Creator/EmilyDickenson'' was known to be [[CloudCuckoolander rather odd, and possibly a bit crazy]], and generally preferred to be left alone. That said, most accounts she was a NiceGirl once you got to know her.

* ''Film/TheJourneyOfNattyGann'': Natty assumes the worst of Charlie the blacksmith (not ''entirely'' without reason, as he took her Canine Companion away chained up in a crate) and approaches him only with a shovel in hand and considerable trepidation, because he's a big, scary-looking guy with a badly scarred face. She soon discovers, however, that he's a kindly soul who intended all along to release Wolf back into the wild, and after she tells him her story, he gives her food and money for a train ticket and wishes her and Wolf well.

* A borderline example in the Basque fantasy film ''Film/{{Errementari}}''. Patxi, the shut-in blacksmith (which is what the word "errementari" means in the Basque language) is treated as a local boogieman, with rumours circulating that he's a murderer who lives with the devil. Only a borderline example because, while he does have some good in him and is basically harmless to his neighbours, [[spoiler: he is indeed a murderer and does indeed keep a demon on his property - though [[BerthaInTheAttic as a prisoner]], since he made a DealWithTheDevil he [[FaustianRebellion does not intend to keep]].]] A lot of what the locals say about Patxi ''is'' true; he's done some very bad things, but he [[TheAtoner does his best to atone for them]] over the course of the movie.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona'':

* ''Anime/AngelBeats'': Tenshi/[[spoiler:Kanade Tachibana]]. She's seen as a freak because she doesn't have any friends, but that's only because [[spoiler: she's ''actively'' trying to ''graduate'' those around her, and thus is never really seen with anyone for any length of time.]]

* The title character from ''Disney/WreckItRalph.'' Poor fellow lost his home, lives in the dump, and wrecks an apartment because it's his ''job.'' The "[[IronicNickname Nicelanders]]" treat him like trash even when he's ''off'' the clock, with the exception of Felix. Little wonder he finds a kindred spirit in the form of a DummiedOut BrattyHalfPint in a sugar-fueled racing game.

* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterHouse'' has an old man (Creator/SteveBuscemi!) who seems outright nuts, but it turns out he's really a good person trying to protect the neighbor kids from the ''real'' hazard.

Compare CrazyCatLady, MadwomanInTheAttic, TheHermit, and the BaitAndSwitchTyrant. See also SubvertedSuspicionAesop, where one person says someone is evil while everyone assumes it's just slander, and it turns out to be true. Related to DarkIsNotEvil and AllOfTheOtherReindeer.

* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterHouse'' has an old man (Steve Buscemi!) who seems outright nuts, but it turns out he's really a good person trying to protect the neighbor kids from the ''real'' hazard.

%%* Frankencelery from ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales''.

* Kenji Ban of ''Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure!'' was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Kenji Ban of ''Anime/Heartcatch Pretty Cure!'' was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Kenji Ban of ''Anime/HeartCatch PreCure!'' was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Kenji Ban of ''Anime/Heartcatch Pretty Cure!'' was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Kenji Ban of ''Anime/HeartCatch Pretty Cure!'' was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Kenji Ban of ''Anime/HearTCatch Pretty Cure!'' was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Kenji Ban of''Anime/HeartCatch Pretty Cure!'' was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Ryūji Takasu from ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}'' and Madoka Ayukawa from ''Manga/KimagureOrangeRoad'' are both believed to be delinquents, but they're actually misunderstood: both are [[HeroWithBadPublicity in truth really selfless, kind and with a heroic personality]]. Ryūji has the FaceOfAThug and is the son of a {{Yakuza}}, and everyone but his few friends is afraid of him, while Madoka is able to fight against male delinquents to protect weaker people from them, and she's feared at school because of this; however, Kyōsuke approaches her. Well, in ''Toradora!'' there may not be delinquents... But like Madoka, Ryūji sure has his heroic moments in the story, and takes care of his [[AlcoholicParent drunken mom]] [[JustifiedTrope (who is a late-night bar hostess)]], and of a TroubledButCute girl who is his neighbour. * Kenji Ban of''Anime/HeartCatch Pretty Cure!was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Ryūji Takasu from ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}'' and Madoka Ayukawa from ''Manga/KimagureOrangeRoad'' are both believed to be delinquents, but they're actually misunderstood: both are [[HeroWithBadPublicity in truth really selfless, kind and with a heroic personality]]. Ryūji has the FaceOfAThug and is the son of a {{Yakuza}}, and everyone but his few friends is afraid of him, while Madoka is able to fight against male delinquents to protect weaker people from them, and she's feared at school because of this; however, Kyōsuke approaches her. Well, in ''Toradora!'' there may not be delinquents... But like Madoka, Ryūji sure has his heroic moments in the story, and takes care of his [[AlcoholicParent drunken mom]] [[JustifiedTrope (who is a late-night bar hostess)]], and of a TroubledButCute girl who is his neighbour. * Kenji Ban of''Anime/HeartCatch Pretty Cure!’’was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Ryūji Takasu from ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}'' and Madoka Ayukawa from ''Manga/KimagureOrangeRoad'' are both believed to be delinquents, but they're actually misunderstood: both are [[HeroWithBadPublicity in truth really selfless, kind and with a heroic personality]]. Ryūji has the FaceOfAThug and is the son of a {{Yakuza}}, and everyone but his few friends is afraid of him, while Madoka is able to fight against male delinquents to protect weaker people from them, and she's feared at school because of this; however, Kyōsuke approaches her. Well, in ''Toradora!'' there may not be delinquents... But like Madoka, Ryūji sure has his heroic moments in the story, and takes care of his [[AlcoholicParent drunken mom]] [[JustifiedTrope (who is a late-night bar hostess)]], and of a TroubledButCute girl who is his neighbour. * ''Anime/HeartCatch Pretty Cure!'': Kenji Ban was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Ryūji Takasu from ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}'' and Madoka Ayukawa from ''Manga/KimagureOrangeRoad'' are both believed to be delinquents, but they're actually misunderstood: both are [[HeroWithBadPublicity in truth really selfless, kind and with a heroic personality]]. Ryūji has the FaceOfAThug and is the son of a {{Yakuza}}, and everyone but his few friends is afraid of him, while Madoka is able to fight against male delinquents to protect weaker people from them, and she's feared at school because of this; however, Kyōsuke approaches her. Well, in ''Toradora!'' there may not be delinquents... But like Madoka, Ryūji sure has his heroic moments in the story, and takes care of his [[AlcoholicParent drunken mom]] [[JustifiedTrope (who is a late-night bar hostess)]], and of a TroubledButCute girl who is his neighbour. * ''Anime/HeartCatch Pretty Cure!'': Kenji Ban was seen as a "legendary delinquent" by the rest of the school, due to his size, unfortunate appearance, and "delinquent aura", but it turns out, he's a sweet and gentle guy with dreams of becoming a mangaka, in spite of his mother's disapproval.

* Ryūji Takasu from ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}'' and Madoka Ayukawa from ''Manga/KimagureOrangeRoad'' are both believed to be delinquents, but they're actually misunderstood: both are [[HeroWithBadPublicity in truth really selfless, kind and with a heroic personality]]. Ryūji has the FaceOfAThug and is the son of a {{Yakuza}}, and everyone but his few friends is afraid of him, while Madoka is able to fight against male delinquents to protect weaker people from them, and she's feared at school because of this; however, Kyōsuke approaches her. Well, in ''Toradora!'' there may not be delinquents... But like Madoka, Ryūji sure has his heroic moments in the story, and takes care of his [[AlcoholicParent drunken mom]] [[JustifiedTrope (who is a late-night bar hostess)]], and of a TroubledButCute girl who is his neighbour.

* Mr. Finsterwald in ''Literature/ManiacMagee'' is a reclusive adult whose house inspires fear among kids in the West End of Two Mills. Teenagers dump terrified younger children into Finsterwald's backyard as a prank, and the title character completes a hefty dare later in the book by knocking on the front door. The uncontrollable shaking sometimes caused by fear of Mr. Finsterwald's property is referred to as ''finsterwallies''.

** ''Film/HomeAlone'' has Marley, the snow-shovelling man. Kevin's older brother Buzz tells him scary stories about the old man who lives alone in a house down the street being an AxeCrazy serial killer. Later, Kevin sees him when he goes to church and encounters Marley again, striking a conversation with him. It turns out that he's just a quiet old man, and is lonely because he is estranged from his son. Kevin advises him to be brave and give his son a phone call. Later, when the burglars Harry and Marv are about to begin torturing Kevin, [[BigDamnHeroes Marley sneaks up on them and whacks them both out cold with a shovel,]] saving Kevin's life. Later, at the end of the movie, we see that Marley has followed Kevin's advice and called his son, and we see Marley reuniting with his son and his family, and hugging his son on Christmas morning.

** ''Film/HomeAlone'' has Marley, the snow-shovelling man. Kevin's older brother Buzz tells him scary stories about the old man who lives alone in a house down the street being an AxeCrazy serial killer. Later, it turns out that he's just a quiet old man, and is lonely because he is estranged from his son. Kevin advises him to be brave and give his son a phone call. Later, when the burglars Harry and Marv are about to begin torturing Kevin, [[BigDamnHeroes the old man sneaks up on them and whacks them both out cold with a shovel,]] saving Kevin's life. Later, at the end of the movie, we see that the old man has followed Kevin's advice and called his son, and we see the old man reuniting with his son and his family, and hugging his son on Christmas morning.

* UsefulNotes/VincentVanGogh in ''WesternAnimation/LovingVincent''. The townspeople of Arles consider him a feckless madman and drive him out, while Louise Chevalier outright calls him evil. However, several other people comment on Vincent's loneliness, and he was kind to children and animals, polite to women, and desired to show the world the beauty that he saw around him.

* Vincent van Gogh in ''WesternAnimation/LovingVincent''. The townspeople of Arles consider him a feckless madman and drive him out, while Louise Chevalier outright calls him evil. However, several other people comment on Vincent's loneliness, and he was kind to children and animals, polite to women, and desired to show the world the beauty that he saw around him.

** ''Film/HomeAlone'' has Marley, the snow-shoveling man. Kevin's older brother Buzz tells him scary stories about the old man who lives alone in a house down the street being an AxeCrazy serial killer. Later, it turns out that he's just a quiet old man, and is lonely because he is estranged from his son. Kevin advises him to be brave and give his son a phone call. Later, when the burglars Harry and Marv are about to begin torturing Kevin, [[BigDamnHeroes the old man sneaks up on them and whacks them both out cold with a shovel,]] saving Kevin's life. Later, at the end of the movie, we see that the old man has followed Kevin's advice and called his son, and we see the old man reuniting with his son and his family, and hugging his son on Christmas morning.

* Scary German Guy from ''Film/TheMonsterSquad''.

* ''Film/{{Nell}}'' Kellty is neither a WildChild, psychotic, autistic, nor mentally retarded -- all of which are ascribed to her at various points in the film. In fact, nearly every assumption others make about her (and her family) turns out to be wrong.

* Boo Radley in the movie version of ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird''
* Doc Brown in ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', who was labelled as a dangerous lunatic by many people in Hill Valley ever since an experiment-gone-awry caused his family mansion to burn down in the 1960's and forced him to move into his garage. In reality however, he's an incredibly friendly, albeit eccentric, CoolOldGuy, who even took the time to build a wall-sized amplifier for Marty to use (which unfortunately overloaded) and built a time machine into a De Lorean because he figured that time travellers should "have some style".

* Boo Radley from ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'', the reclusive not-quite-albino, reputed to be AxCrazy, who later [[spoiler:saves Scout's and Jem's lives]]. As with most of the characters in ''To Kill a Mockingbird'', Boo Radley was [[WriteWhatYouKnow based on]] [[TruthInTelevision a real childhood neighbor of Harper Lee]], named Alfred "Son" Boleware, who after a teenage vandalism incident was grounded by his {{Jerkass}} dad well into adulthood.

** Based on the lies told by his relatives, Harry may himself be this to the residents of Privet Drive. As far as they know, he's the vile delinquent who destroys everything and steals from little kids (that's Dudley and his gang) and attends St. Brutus' Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys (he goes to Hogwarts).