10 Best HBO Characters Ever

Bill Hader is as fine of an example of a supporting man that the comedy genre has to offer. Never failing to leave his audiences howling with laughter, the SNL alum's turns in the likes of Superbad, Toy Story 4, and Paul have made him one of cinema's more beloved supporting performers.

Despite a few leading turns in projects like Trainwreck and It: Chapter Two, his strong association with supporting roles raised some eyebrows when HBO commissioned a series with Hader as its star. Not only that, Hader was also stepping into dramatic territory, taking on the role of the titular Barry, a depressed veteran who moonlights as a deadly assassin.

The end result has been a delightfully unexpected outpouring of critical acclaim. Despite the show's serious premise, Hader adds his signature touch of levity to proceedings as his character decides to leave behind his existence as a hitman to pursue an acting career, a task which proves to be easier said then done. Hader's performance is an absolute revelation, garnering him two Emmys to date - the actor utterly captivates audiences as he faces the impossible task of separating the two vastly different aspects of his life.

Despite Barry's black-comedy central premise, it's one of the most compelling dramatic shows currently on television, with Hader's dark yet intimate take on the hitman being the chief reason behind this.