6. Gyp Rosetti - Boardwalk Empire
Gyp Rosetti is set up to be a dangerous man from the moment arrives into the world of Boardwalk Empire. After taking offence to a comment made by Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, he decides to cripple Atlantic City's bootlegging capabilities. Taking up shop along their delivery route he takes a town hostage and sets one of the local policeman on fire, all over a grudge. No doubt his employer manufactured situation knowing of Rosetti's temperament but no one could predict how it would all play out. The man is so easily offended and willing to kill those that cross him that every second he's on screen you're on edge. Lording it over the town's residents and subsequently Atlantic City's brothel has its effects on Rosetti's already fragile psyche. I won't even go into his sexual preferences (think David Carradine) or bizarre desire to be treat like dirt by women. The result of all these issues and anger is a God complex which leads to his wearing of a Napoleon-like admiral's hat. It all becomes too much for even his men, who strike a deal with Nucky to get rid of him. While his presence ramps up the tension as you can never tell when he's joking or not a la Joe Pesci in Goodfellas, he still manages to charm viewers. This is mostly due to Bobby Cannavale's great performance and although he does occasionally chew the scenery, you'd expect nothing less dramatic from a deranged man like Gyp.