15 Greatest American Horror Story Characters
Clowns, ghosts, witches, and more.
Since its introduction in 2011, American Horror Story has grown to become nothing short of a TV phenomenon. Its incredible stories and unique way of bringing largely the same cast back together to tell them has seen its popularity skyrocket.
Initially, the key returning actors were Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters, before the former said goodbye to the show and Paulson and Peters stepped away for 1984. This has allowed the likes of Finn Wittrock, Emma Roberts, and Billy Lourd to expand their character back catalogue.
Every returning actor gets to show off their range throughout American Horror Story, playing often incredibly differing characters, yet making them all feel as real as the last. Evan Peters even had to sit out season nine, because everything he was pouring into his characters was becoming too emotionally taxing for him.
After nine seasons at the time of writing, with more confirmed to be coming in the future, there are plenty of incredible AHS characters to choose from, but there are a certain handful that stand above the rest.
15. Benjamin Richter
Benjamin Richter was the infamous 'Mr. Jingles' at the beginning of American Horror Story: 1984, a man famed around the country for committing the massacre at Camp Redwood and taking his victims' ears as trophies. Only after being locked up for years in an insane asylum was it revealed that he was in fact innocent.
John Carroll Lynch has played many villains throughout the series, and while he is capable of cutting a very intimidating and creepy figure, there is usually something else behind it, some redeeming quality. In this case, the character was portrayed as a loving man, who was bullied and persecuted so harshly, that he ultimately became the monster he was pinned as to start with.
Richter's downward spiral hit rock bottom as he traveled L.A with Richard Ramirez, murdering people in the name of Satan. However, after returning to Camp Redwood, the man known as Mr Jingles was able to reconcile with his mother, and spend eternity with her and his infant brother as ghosts.