Several recurring and one-shot characters from Psych are extremely popular among fans.
Recurring Characters
- Mary, the Mr. Yang expert from "A Night with Mr. Yang" and "Mr. Yin Presents." His creepy acting and penchant for saying the most disturbing things made many people wish he would become a regular character. Unfortunately...He did, however, return no less than three times even after his death.
- Woody Strode is well liked for being an amusingly creepy coroner who is nonetheless competent at his job. He was not only listed as a Special Guest Star in later seasons, but also had an entire episode focused on him in the final season and, naturally, returned for all of the movies.
- Mr Yin and Mr Yang are easily the most iconic villains for their Evil Is Cool and (for Yang) Alas, Poor Villain reasons. Yang even made multiple returns after their arc concluded.
- Gentleman Thief Pierre Desperaux is only in four episodes, but it is easy to get the fanbase to start talking about him due to his suave, affable nature and friendship with Shawn.
- Abigail Lytar, Shawn's girlfriend during Seasons 3 and 4, is well liked for her chemistry with Shawn. Some fans were disappointed when she broke up with him (albeit for understandable reasons) in the Season 4 finale.
- Nick Cornforth from "We'd Like to Thank the Academy" and the first sequel movie is well liked not only for being played by Ralph Macchio, but also because his Woobie status makes him rather sympathetic.
One Shot Characters
- Nigel St. Nigel is a fan favorite due to his hilariously over-the-top assholishness, and also because he's being played by the ever-hammy, scenery-devouring Tim Curry to boot.
- Captain Connors from "Forget Me Not" is a fan favorite guest star for being an insightful detective despite being a Scatter Brained Senior whose condition is Played for Drama, being played by Kurtwood Smith, and being nicer to Shawn than Henry is.
- Dennis Gogolack from "Not Even Close Encounters" for his manic, nerdy personality and being a close childhood friend of the duo.
- Emily Bloom, the Red Herring from "Black and Tan: A Crime of Fashion", is well-liked for her kind and helpful attitude, sympathetic plight at Ciao, and the sweet friendship she develops with Jules and an undercover Shawn.
- Lindsay Leikin from "Psy vs. Psy" has a big fanbase for being a slightly more mature and significantly less ethical Distaff Counterpart to Shawn who has an interesting Back Story, fun chemistry with Shawn, and some impressive skills. Many fans wish that she had appeared in more than one episode, whether as an ally, enemy, or (like Pierre Desperaux) both.
- Lindsay’s FBI colleagues, Ewing The Ace and Cool Old Lady Mildred, also build up a decent fandom in their lone episode.
- April from "Six Feet Under The Sea" is a well-liked one-shot character for being a Nice Girl who helps Shawn and Gus on their case, and caring for Shabby Thesealion.
- Ruby from "Thrill Seekers and Hell Raisers" is a pretty popular Gus Girl of the Week for her Adrenaline Junkie lifestyle, nice bonding with Shawn and Gus, and moments of trying to stall the killer in the climax.
- Dr. Steven Reidman, the doctor from "Death Is In The Air", who tries to study Shawn's "psychic powers" and tries to perform measurements on Gus' head while helping to prevent a virus outbreak. It helps that he is played by Judd Nelson, the troublemaker from "The Breakfast Club"
- Whip Chatterly, the bookstore owner and "murder afficionado" from "Autopsy Turvy" is popular for his subtle character and helping Shawn and Gus on the case. Shame that he died in the same episode.
- Gentle Giant and Crazy Survivalist Big Ed Dixon from "Lassie Jerky" gets a lot of praise for being one of the most badass guest stars in the series.
- Leslie Valerie Sally, the Bunny-Ears Lawyer head of security at Gus's office from "Office Space", has a lot of fans due to his hilarious personality, impressive detective skills, and actor (David Koechner).
- Among the many Posthumous Character victims of the show, one favorite is Paula Merral from "Dual Spires." Even without the intriguing Twin Peaks Shout Outs surrounding her character and episode, her Dark and Troubled Past and status as a Properly Paranoid Extracurricular Enthusiast in a class of less than ten students are all compelling.
- The dancing policeman from the opening number of the Musical Episode has no name and only one or two audible lines, but is a colorful and fondly-remembered bit player.
- Girl of the Week Emmanuelle from "Cog Blocked" gets a lot of love for being a Handicapped Badass and for seamlessly fitting in with Shawn, Gus, and their detective antics during the brief time they work together. Many fans felt she was being set up as Gus's ultimate true love and were disappointed when she and Gus have an Offscreen Breakup shortly afterward.
