The 20 most iconic fictional United States Vice Presidents

Allen (Geena Davis) was a highly popular vice president during the short existence of this ABC political drama series, which lasted just one season (2005-'06). And, it was obvious she was going to get her shot at filling the role of president. She was a confident VP, who was thrust into the role after the sitting president dies unexpectedly, Allen is admirable in the part of Madam President and shows a decent amount of confidence.

By the end run of this popular musical Fox series, the intimidating and callous Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) was serving as vice president to President Jeb Bush. This was 2024. And, we are led to believe that Sue has her eyes on the presidency. We don't see Sue in action as VP of the United States, but we can believe she is not going to simply fill the role as a figurehead -- as often tends to be the case in real life.  

Upon introduction, Logan (Gregory Itzin) seems harmless, but highly smarmy within the 24 universe. He goes from vice president to president after a terrorist attack seriously injures President John Keeler. Once in charge, we see Logan's corruption. He sided against the best interests of the United States because he wanted to keep his power. Of course, that won't go over well with Jack Bauer. Looking back, he seemed more confident as VP, mainly because he knew making those tough decisions would not be his strong suit.

Jed Bartlet's vice president from 2003-'07, Russell (Gary Cole) can be labeled as boring in this role. He's a centrist democrat, and evens out the policies and progressive ideology of Bartlett. That's not to say Russell doesn't have some memorable moments within the timeline of this popular show. In fact, Russell is actually a breath of fresh air when compared do others on this list. 

Veteran actor Jamey Sheridan had delivered just every role he's played. The former CIA director-turned-vice-president, Walden knows Washington inside-out and had no trouble scheming and dealing his way to the top. He's highly influential, and has no problem holding a colleague's feet over the fire to get the desired result. Of course, all that essentially leads to his demise. 

Climate change is a touchy political subject depending on which side of the aisle one stands. It's a good thing the smug and incompetent Becker isn't dealing with the climate after his ignorance toward paleoclimatologist Jack Hall's warnings of a devastating weather future prove true. Then when the current president dies after his motorcade Becker (Kenneth Welsh) in caught in the deadly storm, he realizes his incompetence in this department has now elevated him to the presidency. That's when Becker finally admits his error in thinking. 

The first of three vice presidents from the popular ABC political drama, that ran successfully from 2012-'18, that we will highlight on this list. Talk about a character. Nichols (Jon Tenney) rose from lieutenant governor of California, to governor to vice president of the United States. While sleeping with more than one woman, Nichols, kidnapped main character Olivia Pope, who also happened to be the president's mistress. In the end, that and some of Nichols' other shady performances, caught up with him in the form of a stroke and being murdered by Pope, in a fitting payback. 

Yes, Beene (Jeff Perry) is probably best known for being President Fitzgerald Grant's loyal chief of staff. However, he ends up becoming VP under President Mellie Grant. Beene is quiet, but calculated. A career politician, who loves Washington and America, and will do anything to remain in the good graces of both. A shout out to Perry, one of the most underrated actors of a generation whose characters are often memorable without doing too much.

Sometimes playing the fool is a good cover. It's nothing new for a Hollywood character, and John Heard's Ted Matthews pulls it off quite nicely. To the public, Matthews seems like an incompetent buffoon who's days as VP should be numbered. However, behind the scenes, Matthews is quite brilliant. A scheming and evil mastermind, to spell it out. However, his overconfidence in the villainous plan ultimately gets the best of Matthews.

From the entertaining, but likely forgotten, 2012 mini-series, starring Sigourney Weaver, and aired on the USA Network. Collier (Dylan Baker) likes to play both sides of the fence and shows loyalty to anyone who has power at the moment. Which, naturally, makes him an unlikable, but also intriguing character. Collier has a knack for blackmailing his Washington D.C. colleagues, which is almost like his own superpower. 

From 2000, we're going a little outside of the box here. Joan Allen's Laine Hanson  is an Ohio senator who was nominated by current President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) to fill the vice president role following the death of the current holder in term. Hanson is a controversial pick for various reasons, notably because she is a woman. And, the higher standards that are associated with a female politician. The movie is about Hanson's pursuit of the job, and all she endures. She's handles it quite well, with the belief she will be confirmed for the position.

The second vice-presidential candidate from The West Wing. It wasn't that Hoynes (Tim Matheson) was bad at the day-to-day duties of being vice president. It was that his extracurricular love life was getting in the way of said job. In fact, within The West Wing realm, Hoynes' has enjoyed multiple affairs, including one where he divulged classified information to his partner. Safe to say, it all added up to his political career in D.C. ending before its due date.  

Who would have thought the general vibe of this Mike Judge political-science fiction movie 2006, which intended to be satire, just might be possible in today's America? Frito (Dax Shepard) is a stoner lawyer, who ends up helping protagonist Joe (Luke Wilson) amid his trials in this dystopian society, and eventually becomes vice president of the United States. Yes, a path that seemed far-fetched from reality less than 20 years ago, seems very real today. 

First, Morgan Freeman did a decent job as President Tom Beck in the end-of-the-world thriller Deep Impact. But when it comes to White House dramas, Freeman is even better as vice-president  Allan Trumbull in the second installment of the Has Fallen film franchise. The U.S. president is a target of a terrorist attack, along with other G7 leaders while in London. Back in Washington, Trumbull investigates the matter and the president's whereabouts. Trumbull is made for the moment, and rising to the occasion amid this time of uncertainty. 

Talk about deliciously evil. On the surface, Langston (Kate Burton), who served under President Mellie Grant, is a solid, God-fearing conservative who preaches family values and small government. Underneath it all, she killed her husband for cheating, then covered it up. As well as covering up her teen daughter's abortion. In the fictional world of television and movies Langston is a she-devil. Yet, in today's real-life political climate we can actually see this type of politician existing -- and being quite popular. 

In a national emergency, where the president is either in peril or incapacitated, then we hope VP Bennett is in charge of the situation. While Air Force One is hijacked with  President James Marshall (Harrison Ford), Glenn Close's Bennett takes control back in D.C.. She's calm, and authoritative when needed. Forget the fact that she's a woman, it doesn't matter. Kathryn Bennett demands respect amid this hellish crisis. 

When it comes to ruthless, cut-throat VPs, it's hard to top Patricia Wettig's Caroline Reynolds. Essentially the purpose of the character is revenge. Specifically toward Lincoln Burrows, who has been charged with the murder of Reynolds' brother. But did he actually do it? She starts out as a mysterious recurring figure, but soon, her sinister motives become obvious, or so we think. Oh yeah, Reynolds also poisoned the President of the United States, and briefly took over the top job.

If there's any vice president to get up on the couch and loudly root for, it's Gary Nance. Ben Kingsley is at his usual best as Nance, the VP whose storyline provides an element of drama opposite Kevin Kline's presidential impostor Dave Kovic from 1993. Nance has been framed by a corrupt chief-of-staff, but doesn't budge, even after he's exiled to Africa on a diplomatic trip. In the end, it's the goofy Dave who helps Nance prevail in this popular comedy-drama, whose plot has grown more possible over the years.

We chose to highlight this husband-wife VP combo as one in the same. Mainly because they are essentially a similar kind of evil. Frank (Kevin Spacey) schemes and manipulates his way into the vice presidency by helping push out then-VP Jim Matthews. Frank eventually makes his way into the Oval Office as president, with Claire (Robin Wright) as his vice president. His reign doesn't last long and Claire, an intriguing character and much smarter,  and more cunning and ruthless than her husband, eventually becomes president. 

Obviously, Selina Meyer is the clear No. 1 choice for this list. She always thought the position of vice president should be more important than its actual responsibilities. Brilliantly portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Selina was pretty incompetent when it came to policy and practice. However, she was sharp and ruthless enough to get what she wanted and avoid total disaster. Of course,  the trail of insults and obscenities she blazed along the way made her so much fun to watch. Though she was elevated to president, her most notable moments came while second in command.