The horror anthology seriesAmerican Horror Storyis one of the most unusual shows to have been aired over the past couple of decades, and its supporting characters were often as fascinating as the main stars.Each season ofAmerican Horror Storyhas a different horror theme, including witches, circus freak shows, and cults. The show is famous for its intricate storylines and terrifying moments, and its creator Ryan Murphy has confirmed thatAmerican Horror Story’s seasons are connected. This highlights another unusual feature of the show: manyAmerican Horror Storyactors play different characters in later seasons.
There arestandout performances in everyAmerican Horror Storyseason, and Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and Lily Rabe have appeared in most. That said,American Horror Storyhas an ensemble cast, rather than the show having a clear distinction between a main character and the rest of the cast. This means that most of the characters could be considered “supporting characters.” It is another aspect that makes the show so unique, and with the actors getting a chance to reinvent themselves every season,the best supporting characters inAmerican Horror Storyare so memorable that they steal the show.
10Liz Taylor
Hotel
WhileLady Gaga’s cameo inAmerican Horror Story’s Hotel season has sometimes overshadowed other performances, the season is often considered one of the show’s best. The story centers around a haunted Los Angeles hotel, managed by a blood-drinking countess and populated by a range of guests, ghosts, and malevolent characters. Liz Taylor, the bartender, knows most of the hotel’s secrets and, as the show’s first trans character, she undergoes two moving transformations: a woman, and a ghost.
Liz was so well-loved by other characters that when the time came for her to die, none of the ghosts were willing to kill her.
Liz Taylor was one of the bestAmerican Horror Storycharacters, always willing to listen to the patrons' problems and offer advice. Liz was so well-loved by other characters that when the time came for her to die, none of the ghosts were willing to kill her. When Elizabeth (played by Lady Gaga) stepped in to slit her throat at her request,Liz transformed once more, leading to an unforgettable and beautiful endingas a ghost, surrounded by her loved ones.
9Elsa Mars
Freak Show
Elsa Mars was Jessica Lange’s lastAmerican Horror Storycharacterand one of her best. Elsa is the leader of the troupe in Freak Show, which includes some of the regularAmerican Horror Storyactors as unrecognizable characters. Though Elsa appears to be nothing more than a singer who runs the show, she is revealed to be a fellow freak. Elsa was drugged and tricked into having both legs amputated as part of a torture movie.
American Horror Story Freak Show: True Stories Behind The Freaks
The freaks in American Horror Story: Freak Show are based on historical figures from circus sideshows, protagonist and side characters alike.
Elsa is one of the best supporting characters in the show due to her dark backstory, which is revealed piece by disturbing piece throughout the season.All of Jessica Lange’sAmerican Horror Storycharacters are excellent, as Lange is an icon in her own right, but Elsa uniquely mixes showmanship and tragedy. Though Elsa is killed by Mordrake and is reunited with her fellow freaks in the afterlife,a darkAmerican Horror Storyfan theorysuggests that this may not be the case.
8Kit Walker
Asylum
Asylumis often considered the bestAmerican Horror Storyseason, as it took successful aspects of the first season and amplified them in a setting that was creepy enough on its own.American Horror Storyseason 2 is set in a psychiatric hospitaland centers on its staff and patients. One of these patients is the tragic Kit Walker, who was falsely accused of killing his wife. Asylum features many monstrous people, and Kit stands out among them for just wanting a quiet life.
Kit is one of the few genuinely good characters inAmerican Horror Story, and Evan Peters made him likable, with viewers quickly sympathizing with him. Kit’s story would be tragic enough, but an extra horrifying detail makes him unforgettable, asKit’sAmerican Horror Storyarc is based on real events. Barney and Betty Hill were a couple who claimed to have been abducted by aliens and were ridiculed for their story and their interracial marriage.
Roanoke
WhileRoanokeis often thought to be one of the weakestAmerican Horror Storyseasons,Kathy Bates’s performance as the terrifying Agnes Mary Winstead is a high point. Bates plays an actress who has taken the role of the serial killer known as The Butcher in a fictional documentary. Winstead appears to believe that she is The Butcher, and when she is denied the chance to continue the role, she loses her mind.
Roanokewas criticized for trying to pack too many storylines into one show, but Bates’s performance was heavily praised, andThe Butcher is one ofAmerican Horror Story’s best villains. One of Bates’s best roles is the obsessed fan Annie in Stephen King’sMisery, and she brings this double nature to her role inAmerican Horror Story.This combination of desperation and sadism makes Winstead one ofAmerican Horror Story’s best supporting characters, raising the profile of a mediocre season.
6Hypodermic Sally
“Hypodermic” Sally McKenna is not just one ofAmerican Horror Story’s best characters, but she is one of Sarah Paulson’s best too.American Horror Storyis especially good at writing charactersthat do not conform to stereotypes. Sally could have been a tragic figure as a former heroin addict whose constantly crying ghost inhabits Hotel Cortez. However, Sally stalks the hotel in smudged eyeliner and an iconic leopard print coat, feeding guests to The Addiction Demon.
Sally is truly unpredictable, which is a contrast to many of Sarah Paulson’s usual roles, and is compelling for showing the worst parts of addiction, including her desperate loneliness.The human side of Sally makes her slightly more sympathetic than many ofAmerican Horror Story’s villainsand her ending as a blogger couldn’t have been predicted by viewers, yet is perfectly fitting for a character that you cannot help but want to help.
5Misty Day
Coven, Apocalypse
There are few happy endings to be found inAmerican Horror Story, and, like many horror stories, the best characters tend to get the worst deal.Misty Day is one of the sweetest characters inAmerican Horror Story, and the most mistreated. Misty, played by Lily Rabe, first appears in Coven, where she is known as The Swamp Witch, and ends the series trapped in her personal hell. As Misty had become a fan-favorite for her caring nature and love of living things, this fate was not popular with viewers.
American Horror Story: The True Story Behind Stevie Nicks' Coven Cameo
American Horror Story: Coven had a surprise appearance by Stevie Nicks, Misty Day’s favorite artist and witch, and here’s the story behind it.
With personal mottoes and sayings like “You can’t be your best self until you find your tribe,” Misty could have been a typical hippy caricature. However, Lily Rabe does not allow this to happen, ensuring that Misty feels real and loveable so that her torture feels truly unfair. Still,Misty Day finally got her happy ending inAmerican Horror Story’sApocalypseseasonwhenmany of the witches inAmerican Horror Story’s Coven season returned to help save the world.
4Dr. Oliver Thredson
Zachary Quinto played a key role in many ofAmerican Horror Story’s most disturbing scenes, as the sinister Dr. Oliver Thredson and his alter-ego, the serial killer known as Bloody Face.Bloody Face may be one ofAmerican Horror Story’s best villains, and Quinto’s portrayal of the double personality earned him a Critics' Choice Award.
A psychiatrist turning out to be a villain is a fairly common horror trope, but Quinto’s performance is so convincing that many viewers do not see it coming.
Dr. Thredson is one ofAmerican Horror Story’s best supporting charactersbecause, while he is a combination of several notoriously terrifying people, he still feels like a completely fresh and new character. Dr. Thredson is based on the real-life serial killer Ed Gein, and the fictional killers Norman Bates and Hannibal Lecter. However, Quinto makes him appear both compassionate and even heroic, which makes his lines like “normally, by now, I would’ve removed the skin and head” even more disturbing.
3Twisty The Clown
Clowns often steal the show no matter what movie or TV show they are in, butTwisty the Clown had his work cut out in such a strongAmerican Horror Storyseason. Still, while there were many sideshow freaks in the Freak Show series, Twisty’s terrifying mask made him stand out from his fellow freaks. While Twisty’s look made him iconic, his tragic backstory made him captivating, with Twisty being driven to insanity through being bullied by carnival workers.
Being bullied is a relatable scenario that many people might sympathize with. Showing him gradually change from a kind and gentle man to a horrific child kidnapper inAmerican Horror Storymakes Twisty’s origin more interestingthan that of a typical villain. It is even possible to sympathize with him, as Twisty believes that he is doing the right thing. Still,Twisty gets a fitting ending when he is killed by Mordrakeand joins his troupe.
2Brooke Thompson
1984
Emma Roberts has played several memorable supporting characters inAmerican Horror Story, and while they are often known for snarky lines and selfish personalities, Brooke is different.American Horror Story’s 1984 season is influenced by classic slasher movies, and Brooke Thompson embodies one of the genre’s most popular character archetypes. The “Final Girl” is generally a likable female horror movie character who survives through her wit and virtue. AsAmerican Horror Storyplots are generally so dark, Brooke is a unique character for the show.
Giving Brooke a marriage and a rare happy ending was an unexpected twist for the show.
Brooke became more assertive and aggressive throughout the season, and1984 had a lighter tone than manyAmerican Horror Storyseasons. Still, she never rose to the level of Emma Roberts’s otherAmerican Horror Storyantihero characters, which allowed Roberts to prove that she had a greater range than many viewers may have expected. Giving Brooke a marriage and a rare happy ending was an unexpected twist for the show.
1Lana Winters
WhileLana Winters, played by series regular Sarah Paulson, is arguably a main character inAmerican Horror Story’s Asylum season, she has also appeared in other seasons as a side character due to her status as a reporter and popularity with viewers. Winters first appeared in Asylum and appeared, at first, to be a horror archetype. However,American Horror Storytends to subvert archetypes and Lana had a darker backstory than most horror movie journalists.
Lana’s bravery and intelligence quickly made her a fan favorite, and her key role in Asylum’s most disturbing and hard-to-watch “coathanger” scene showed Sarah Paulson’s incredible acting ability. Lana suffers continually throughout Asylum, but her ending is one of the most satisfying and iconic in the whole ofAmerican Horror Story. Lana gets her revenge on the people who harmed her and leaves, continuing her work as a journalist. Sarah Paulson has famously said that Lana Winters was her favorite of all herAmerican Horror Storycharacters.
