10 TV Sitcom Characters With Shockingly Dark Backstories

10. Barney Stinson - How I Met Your Mother

Barney Stinson; the man, the myth, the legend! This suit-wearing, womanising, playbook writing go-getter is a textbook example of how to write a loveable, cool-guy character - even if some of his attitudes towards women are a little dicey. But, there was a time when he wasn't so great, a time before he became legen (wait for it) dary.

You see, Barney's transition into his final form came as a result of a dark past. He had a far from easy childhood, as he never knew his father and was often given misinformation by his mother (she even once told him his dad was Bob Barker, yeah, right). He was also bullied a lot, but the worst was still to come.

The tragedy that made Barney who he was came after he was jilted by his girlfriend, whom he intended to marry and live the rest of his life with. She left him for a rich businessman and even laughed at his attempts to win her back with a song, causing him massive emotional grief, which led him to "suit up".

Barney is hilarious, but underneath that bravado and confident persona is the pain of heartbreak.