A Stock Character is a character who is instantly recognizable to us from other stories: the gruff grandpa, the snooty cheerleader, the bratty younger sibling. You can sum up their role in the story in a sentence or less and people will know exactly what you're talking about. Such characters are frequently one-dimensional in nature. Sometimes that's okay, because it's a storytelling shortcut. Of course, just because you use a stock character as a starting point, this doesn't mean you can't flesh them out. Indeed, Major, and Rounded characters will likely embody more than one of these tropes, depending on the story.
Sometimes using a stock character opens the door to Playing With Tropes as well. Sometimes two or more character types get combined as well. For example, a traveling bard (medieval singer) may also be a joke-cracking Court Jester.
A stock character can be an Archetype, an example of Characters as Device, or just very recognizable.
See also Archetypal Character.
Tropes:
See also:
- Always Female
- Always Male
- Antagonist Tropes
- Comedic Relief Characters
- Cops and Detectives
- Criminals
- Elders
- Hero Tropes
- Hired Guns
- Historical Domain Character
- Index of Pupils and Protégés
- Loser Archetype
- Love Interests
- Mentor Index
- Normal People
- Occupation Tropes
- Protagonist Tropes
- Public Domain Character
- Seekers
- Seers
- Sidekicks
- Stereotypes
- Stock British Characters
- Stock Japanese Characters
- The Stoic
- The Trickster
- Villains
- The Wannabe Index
- Western Characters
- Witches and Wizards
- Youngsters
- Absent-Minded Professor - Weird but intelligent.
- Accidental Pervert - Always ends up in situations where the average bystander may mistake him for a pervert.
- Action Genre Hero Guy - The grizzled male action hero.
- Agent Mulder - The believer.
- Agent Scully - The skeptic.
- All Asians Know Martial Arts - The stereotype that all Asians are martial arts masters.
- All Chinese People Know Kung-Fu - Same but Chinese and with Kung Fu.
- All Girls Want Bad Boys - The belief that all woman want men who are on the wrong side of the law.
- Ambulance Chaser - Did you get hurt? You know you can sue somebody.
- Amoral Attorney - A sleazy lawyer that only cares about being paid, not defending the innocent.
- "Angry Black Man" Stereotype - An angry black man that resents racism and the government.
- Angry Chef - A temperamental cook with high standards.
- Annoying Younger Sibling
- Antagonistic Governor - A governor (or the universe's equivalent) that serves as an antagonist in the story.
- Animal Stereotypes - How various species of animals are commonly seen in media.
- Apathetic Clerk - Bored cashier who cares little for his job and even less for his customers.
- Apron Matron - Tough and leaderly mother figure.
- Arab Oil Sheikh - Stereotypical Arabian aristocrat that got rich by selling oil.
- Asian Storeowner - "Thank you, come again!"
- Ax-Crazy - Crazy and violent.
- Bad Boss - Boss that treats his employees badly.
- Badass Normal - Unpowered character in super powered settings that can keep up with the big boys.
- Barbarian Tribe - A tribe that is primitive and uncivilized.
- The Bard - Wandering poet, singer and storyteller who serves as a source of morale for the people around him.
- The Bartender - He serves drinks to patrons of the bar.
- Battle Butler - A butler who is also a bodyguard.
- Benevolent Precursors - The shadowy civilization that came before us was actually pretty nice.
- The Berserker - Fights in an unstoppable rage.
- Best Served Cold - He will get his revenge no matter how long he has to wait.
- The Big Bad Wolf - The cunning, predatory wolf of fairy tale fame.
- Big Eater - Character likes to eat a Lot!
- Blood Knight - Someone who enjoys fighting.
- Bounty Hunter - A man or woman who tracks down criminals for money.
- Brainless Beauty - They're not very bright, but they're insanely good looking.
- Bratty Half-Pint
- Bridezilla - A bitchy bride who treats other wedding goers badly and insists on getting her way.
- Brotherhood of Funny Hats - A goofy, possibly incompetent, secret society.
- Bruce Lee Clone - Martial artist inspired by Bruce Lee. Shirtlessness, bowl cut, and goofy sounding kiai not optional.
- Bumbling Dad - The classic dumb fathers of many sitcoms.
- Bumbling Sidekick - A sidekick who contrasts with the hero by being incompetent.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer - Quirky, but excellent at his chosen profession
- The Caligula - Insane ruler whose bizarre edicts the people are forced to carry out.
- The Care Taker - A character who takes care of another character incapable of taking care of themselves.
- The Casanova - The resident pretty boy/lady killer.
- Charles Atlas Superpower - Unpowered character who can do superhuman things after extreme training.
- The Charmer - Has the charm and seductive instinct of The Casanova, but does not take advantage of his charms.
- Chatty Hairdresser - A hair stylist who talks a lot.
- Chick Magnet - Women are attracted to him without him even trying.
- Childhood Friends - Usually double as the Best Friend and potential love interest.
- Chivalrous Pervert - A character (usually a man) who seems sex-crazed on the surface but who is always respectful of the wishes and feelings of those they persue.
- Church Militant - A group or person who kicks ass for their religion.
- City Mouse - A city-dweller thrust into rural life (willingly or otherwise) who struggles to adjust to hard work.
- Class Clown - A student who says stupid things intended to be funny to seek attention.
- Classically-Trained Extra - "What is this utter drivel? I played Lear, you know! Seriously, I am firing that agent."
- Cloudcuckoolander - Their head's in the clouds 24/7.
- The Confidant - A character who serves as the outlet for another character to discuss their problems.
- Control Freak - "No, no, no! Don't you dare click that link! Keep reading, you must follow the schedule I gave you last week to the letter, understood?"
- The Coroner - Middle-aged, dryly sardonic male whose daily handling of corpses has left him thoroughly desensitized to even the most horrible of deaths
- Corrupt Corporate Executive - An amoral, ruthless and greedy businessperson.
- Cosmic Plaything - The universe actually is conspiring against them.
- Court Jester - A clown on a royal court who is often in some way more than they seem.
- Covert Pervert - A character who seems quiet, reserved, cute, and/or innocent, but who is more pervy than they let on
- Cowboy Cop - The stereotypical loose cannon seen in many cop films.
- Cranky Landlord - A landlord or lady who hates their tenants.
- Cranky Neighbor - "Get out of my roses! And keep that mangy mutt out of my yard!"
- Crazy Survivalist - Has prepared for the worst. Is also completely bonkers and/or a total Jerkass
- Creepy Crossdresser - This is shown as weird or disturbing and the character is often unattractive.
- Creepy Gas-Station Attendant - The keeper of a gas-station (bonus points if it's run down and/or the only one around for miles) who looks and acts in an unsettling way.
- Creepy Mortician - Working closely with corpses gives you an... odd perspective on death (if you didn't already have one to begin with).
- Creepy Twins - Identical (or occasionally half-identical) twins who move, act, and talk in very similar ways, sometimes in unison.
- Crooked Contractor - A repairman who is at best incredibly lazy and at worst a flat out con artist.
- Crossdresser - A person who wears clothing associated with another gender.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass - An idiot (not someone Obfuscating Stupidity, but an honest-to-God dumbass) who, in the right circumstances, is suddenly ready to kick some ass.
- Cruel Cheerleader - "I'm popular! I'm hot! I'm everything you're not!"
- Crusty Caretaker - A cranky janitor, groundskeeper, or gravekeeper.
- Cute Bruiser - A cute character who fights with a bruiser style.
- Cute Mute - A cute character who doesn't or can't talk.
- Cute Sports Club Manager - She manages a sports team at school. Pretty, kind-hearted, and beloved by the team.
- Cutesy Dwarf
- Da Chief - The boss at the station. Strict and by the book. Often serves as a Reasonable Authority Figure.
- Dad the Veteran - He fought in the war. Now he's a father.
- Da Editor - "I want those pictures on my desk yesterday, damnit!"
- Damsel Errant - A woman who walks the earth and gives quests to wandering knights (and may accompany them).
- Danger Deadpan - A pilot who keeps a level head even when things go horribly wrong.
- Dark Messiah - A ruthless figure who gains power or a fanatical following by presenting themself as a Messiah.
- Dashing Hispanic - Flamboyant, flashy, and dangerous, with a sexy Spanish accent.
- Dastardly Whiplash - The villain with the twirling mustache, top hat, black cape, and evil laugh. "Curses! Foiled again!"
- Deadpan Snarker - "Oh great. Another stock character. What a shock."
- Death Seeker - A character who actively tries to die but doesn't want to commit suicide.
- Deceptive Disciple - Following the teachings of an instructor for some ulterior motive and will inevitably betray both the teacher and the teachings themselves.
- Defector from Decadence - A character switches sides not because they support the views of the new side but because they have become opposed to those of the old side.
- Defrosting Ice Queen - A (usually female) character who starts out cold and haughty, but warms up through Character Development.
- Depraved Dentist - This dentist loves to cause pain!
- Deranged Taxi Driver - Cabbies range from weird to downright psychopathic.
- Determinator - A character who absolutely will not give up. Ever.
- Directionless Driver - "We're not lost, damnit! No I won't stop to ask for directions, the GPS told me we're going the right way!"
- Dirty Coward - An unsympathetic cowardly character who throws other people under the bus to save his hide.
- The Ditz - They're not very bright, but...
- Dogged Nice Guy - Persistent friendliness used in the hopes of making the object of a character's affections fall in love with them.
- Doting Parent - Constantly express immense pride for their child(ren).
- Double Agent - Claims to work for one side but actually works for another.
- Dream People - Exist only in some sort of dream world.
- Drill Sergeant Nasty - "I WILL TURN YOU INTO REAL SOLDIERS EVEN IF IT KILLS YOU, MAGGOTS!"
- Drop-In Landlord - The protagonists have a friendly landlord who's always around for some reason.
- Dr. Jerk
- Dublin Skanger - A working class hooligan from the Dublin area in Ireland.
- Dumb Muscle - They're not very bright, but they're very strong and probably dangerous.
- Education Mama - A mother who forces their kids to hit the books.
- The Eeyore
- Elegant Classical Musician
- Enigmatic Empowering Entity
- Erudite Stoner
- Ethnic Magician
- The Everyman
- Evil Matriarch - A woman who rules her family with an iron fist and very little kindness.
- Executive Excess - An important business figure who prefers partying to actually working.
- Face of a Thug
- Fake Ultimate Hero - Takes the credit when someone else saves the day.
- False Prophet
- Farmer's Daughter
- Fat, Sweaty Southerner in a White Suit
- Fille Fatale
- Femme Fatale - An alluring woman with a hidden, or checkered past.
- Femme Fatale Spy
- The Fighting Narcissist
- The Flapper
- Foreign Fanservice
- Forest Ranger
- Gadgeteer Genius
- Genius Ditz - They're not very bright, but they're outstanding in a particular field.
- Girl Next Door - She's down-to-earth, easy to talk to, and even easier on the eyes.
- Glory Hound
- Glory Seeker
- Gold Digger - Usually a woman, out to marry for money.
- Gonk - Comically and exaggeratedly ugly character.
- Gorgeous Gaijin - The tall, sexy token white foreigner in a Japanese work.
- Grande Dame
- Groupie - A musician's fangirl
- Guile Hero
- Handsome Lech
- Half-Human Hybrid
- Half-Identical Twins
- Half-Witted Hillbilly
- Hardboiled Detective
- Head-Turning Beauty
- Heaven Seeker
- Hell Seeker
- Heavy Sleeper - Nothing will wake them from their slumber.
- The Hermit - Old man that lives alone and away from society.
- High-Powered Career Woman
- Honest John's Dealership
- Horny Bard
- Househusband
- Human Weapon
- Housewife
- Idiot Savant - They're not very bright, but they have an intuitive gift.
- Ignorant of Their Own Ignorance
- The Igor - I've got a hunch he helps out the Mad Scientist, or "marthter" as he calls him affectionately.
- The Informant
- Intrepid Merchant
- Jerkass - They're mean to everyone.
- Jerk Jock - A popular, athletic, bully.
- Jewish American Princess
- Jewish Mother
- Kid Hero
- Kindly Housekeeper
- The Klutz - a clumsy person
- Knight in Shining Armor
- Know-Nothing Know-It-All
- Lethal Chef
- Literal-Minded
- Little Jimmy
- Living Legend
- Long John Shout-Out
- Loony Fan
- Lovable Sex Maniac
- Lower-Class Lout
- Lust Object
- Luvvies
- Mad Scientist - Labcoat? Check. Wild hair? Check. Long gloves? Check. IT'S ALIIIVE!
- Masked Luchador
- Master Swordsman
- Mayor Pain
- Miles Gloriosus - Boasts about being a badass, but shows himself as a coward when faced with a real threat.
- The Most Wanted
- Mysterious Waif
- Narcissist
- Nice Guy - They're kind to everyone.
- The Nicknamer
- Non-Powered Costumed Hero
- Not with Them for the Money
- One of the Boys - a girl who hangs out with the guys
- One-Note Cook
- Open-Minded Parent
- Outside Man, Inside Man
- Overly Polite Pals
- Peerless Love Interest
- Person of Mass Destruction
- Pervert Dad
- Pint-Sized Powerhouse
- Plucky Comic Relief
- Plucky Office Girl
- Pom-Pom Girl - A cheerleader who isn't a bitch.
- Pointy-Haired Boss - An incompetent leader.
- Proud Warrior Race Guy
- Psycho Supporter
- The Quarterback
- The Reliable One
- Renaissance Man
- Replacement Goldfish
- The Rival
- The Roadie
- The Rock Star
- Romantic Runner-Up
- Sadist
- School Nurse
- Self-Made Man
- Serial Romeo
- Sexbot
- The Scrooge
- The Shrink
- Shady Scalper
- Shrinking Violet - A shy, timid and/or socially awkward person.
- Sickly Neurotic Geek
- Single-Issue Landlord
- Sleazy Politician
- Smart Jerk and Nice Moron
- Smooth-Talking Talent Agent
- The Snark Knight
- The Sociopath
- Southern Belle - a nice girl from the Southern US
- Speed Demon
- Spirited Competitor
- Stage Magician
- Standard '50s Father
- Starving Artist
- Starving Student
- Stereotypical Nerd
- Stock Light-Novel Calamity Princess - A plucky, beautiful-looking love interest with destructive magic
- Stock Light-Novel Everyman - a non-action everyman
- Stock Light-Novel Hero - a everyman with supernatural abilities who is either stoic and/or snarky and has lots of admirers. Often gets transported into another world.
- Stock Shōnen Hero - a hot-blooded and friendly hero
- Stock Shōnen Rival - a cold and aloof rival who often acts as a foil to the above
- Stock Shoujo Heroine - a kindhearted and awkward heroine
- Superhero - A hero with supernatural abilities.
- Supervillain - A villain with supernatural abilities.
- Supreme Chef - A chef known for their high-tier cooking.
- Tall, Dark, and Handsome - A tall, dark-haired, and good-looking guy.
- Third-Person Person
- Token Houseguest
- Tomboy
- True Craftsman
- Tsundere
- Ugly Cute
- Unsatisfiable Customer
- Unstoppable Mailman
- Upper-Class Twit - They're not very bright, but they've got money.
- Vampire Lolita Archetype
- Very Punchable Man - A Jerkass that exists to be punched at.
- Wandering Minstrel
- Wet Blanket Wife
- White Collar Worker
- White Magician Girl
- Wholesome Crossdresser - This is shown as perfectly normal or even positive and the character is often physically attractive.
- Wicked Witch - Hooked nose, pointy hat, and a mean cackle? Check, check, and double check.
- Willing Channeler
- Winged Humanoid
- World's Best Warrior
- World's Most Beautiful Woman
- World's Smartest Man
- World's Strongest Man
- Young Future Famous People