Mad scientists are those scientists who meddle in domains where they should not, create monsters and death devices, and/or cackle maniacally over bubbling beakers (not Beakers). Some of these mad doctors were well intentioned but their experiment ran away from them (often literally), as with the archetypal Dr. Frankenstein. Other famous literary mad scientists include Dr. Jekyll and Griffin from The Invisible Man.
Mad scientists are popular figures in science fiction and horror movies (Boris Karloff played four in a series for Columbia Pictures, while Bela Lugosi and Vincent Price played their share as well), where they are often assisted by an Igor. They proved durable villains in comic books (the early version of Lex Luthor in Superman comics, Dr. Sivana to Captain Marvel, Marvel's Doctor Doom, and the majority of Spider-Man's enemies). Cartoons and comedy shows often feature more benign versions, still cackling and conducting crazy experiments but either incompetent or actually good guys. The Muppets have followed suit.
This list excludes those scientists who are merely wacky or eccentric (although at times Dr. Bunsen Honeydew skirts the line or has portrayed a mad doctor outright), focusing instead on those designed to reflect the stock character.
Early Muppets[]
The Muppets[]
Sesame Street[]
Animated characters[]
