The Dark and Disturbing Pasts of These 10 Memorable Sitcom Characters

Sitcoms prioritize audience laughter, but behind the cheerful characters lies a trove of traumatic experiences. Within the realm of sitcoms, numerous TV shows have emerged as not only exceptional within the comedy genre, but also within the broader scope of television history. The key to their success lies in their ability to balance lightheartedness with complex characters, often resulting in the funniest individuals harboring the deepest, darkest pasts.

While sitcoms primarily aim to entertain and evoke laughter, they often delve into more serious moments where the characters' struggles are brought to the forefront. At times, these traumatic backstories are revealed in fragments or through comedic situations, causing the audience to overlook the gravity of the situation. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that numerous sitcom characters have endured truly distressing experiences. Let's explore 10 instances from various sitcoms that exemplify this.

10 Barney Stinson – How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother revolves around Ted Mosby (played by Josh Radnor) and his rollercoaster love life, always with the constant support of his tight-knit group of friends, including the charismatic Barney Stinson (played by Neil Patrick Harris). Barney, known for his womanizing ways, may have appeared to be a suave and confident individual, but deep down, he carried a heavy emotional burden. Growing up with a single mother, Barney was subjected to her frequent fabrications, not only regarding the identity of his father (at one point, she even claimed it was TV host Bob Barker), but also about himself in order to shield him from potential harm. For instance, she once lied to him, saying he couldn't pursue basketball because he was too skilled, when in reality, he simply didn't meet the team's standards.

Barney endured constant bullying during his childhood, and years later, he discovered his girlfriend's infidelity with a wealthy businessman named Greg. It was during this heartbreaking moment that Greg shared with Barney his belief that the key to attracting women was wealth and fashionable attire. These events, coupled with Greg's questionable advice, prompted Barney to undergo a complete transformation, adopting the charismatic and self-assured persona he is widely recognized for. Ultimately, Barney's desire for validation and love compelled him to construct this larger-than-life character.

9 Twyla Sands – Schitt’s Creek

In Schitt’s Creek, the Rose family, once affluent, is forced to move to the small town they had once bought as a joke after losing their wealth. Among the vibrant characters in Schitt’s Creek is Twyla Sands (played by Sarah Levy), a friendly but somewhat scatterbrained waitress who later becomes the owner of the local Café Tropical. Throughout the series, Twyla casually shares unsettling stories about her family, revealing that her father is in prison, her mother is a gambling addict involved in a cult, and one of her cousins was tragically trampled during a performance in Riverdance. Twyla's initial belief that these marriages, dismemberments, and prison sentences are normal only adds to the disturbing nature of her backstory.

8 Annie Edison – Community

Annie Edison, portrayed by Alison Brie, is one of the students attending the community college in the fictional town of Greendale, Colorado. Driven by her mother's high expectations, Annie becomes an intelligent and compulsive overachiever. However, the pressure to succeed academically takes a toll on her mental health, leading her to develop an addiction to Adderall. As a result, Annie experiences anxiety and obsessive behaviors, culminating in a nervous breakdown that leads her to jump through a plate glass window. Subsequently, she is sent to rehab, losing her college scholarship and becoming estranged from her family.

7 Raymond Holt – Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine transported viewers to the vibrant streets of New York City, where they were introduced to a tight-knit group of NYCPD detectives. Among them was Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), their new commanding officer. Holt exuded an air of composure, formality, and aloofness - qualities that stemmed from the profound impact of his personal struggles. As a young, gay, Black man, Holt faced the harsh realities of homophobia, discrimination, and racial profiling. Despite these adversities, Holt persevered with unwavering resilience, ultimately shaping his worldview and behavior. His remarkable journey serves as an inspiration, illustrating the indomitable spirit that can emerge from a life marked by adversity.

6 Perry Cox – Scrubs

Scrubs depicted the lives of the staff members working at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital, a teaching hospital. One of these individuals was Perry Cox, an attending physician who served as a mentor to J.D. despite frequently criticizing and patronizing him. Cox's tough-love approach stemmed from a history of unresolved trauma, having grown up in an abusive household with an alcoholic father who would throw bottles at him. Unfortunately, Perry's mother did nothing to prevent such mistreatment, resulting in him developing attachment and intimacy issues as he matured. Additionally, Perry has a sister named Paige, to whom he once confessed that being around her reminded him of the difficult childhood he had fought so hard to forget.

5 Ron Swanson – Parks & Recreation

Parks & Recreation depicted the daily lives of Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), a cheerful bureaucrat, and her colleagues at the Parks Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. While Leslie exuded positivity, not all of her coworkers shared the same sunny disposition. Take Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), for example. Ron possessed a deadpan and stereotypically masculine personality, actively working to undermine the effectiveness of the government. Interestingly, Ron's unconventional upbringing contributed to his unique character. Born to Tammy Swanson, he was delivered by a candy stripper (also named Tammy, referred to as Tammy 1) at the hospital. Years later, Tammy 1 became Ron's wife and even taught him a variety of subjects ranging from middle school math to Sunday school driver's ed. She also introduced him to "the art of sex," suggesting that she had a significant influence on his personal development.

Ron claimed to have shed tears for the very first time at the tender age of seven. This emotional breakthrough was triggered by the unfortunate event of him being struck by a school bus. As fate would have it, two years later, Ron found himself employed at a sheet metal factory. Little did he know that his life would take an unexpected turn when he crossed paths with Tammy 2. Tammy 2, a woman of immense manipulation, ruthlessness, and cunning, tirelessly exploited Ron for her own personal gain, leaving him at her mercy.

4 Charlie Kelly – It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia revolves around a group of self-absorbed and antisocial friends known as "The Gang" who operate a rundown Irish pub called Paddy’s Pub in the South Philadelphia neighborhood of Pennsylvania. Among the members is Charlie Kelly (played by Charlie Day), whose troubled upbringing has left him with numerous issues. Raised by a sex worker mother, Charlie often found himself unsupervised and faced various traumatic experiences. As a result, he developed early substance abuse problems, regularly consuming glue, spray paint, and poppers, in addition to struggling with alcoholism.

In addition, during Charlie's childhood, his uncle, Jack Kelly, moved in with him and his mother. Jack and Charlie shared a room, and there are strong implications in Charlie's musical about The Nightman that Jack sexually abused Charlie during that period. Additionally, it is revealed that Charlie's mother attempted to terminate her pregnancy, but several months later, Charlie was born.

3 Punky Brewster – Punky Brewster

Punky Brewster revolved around the life of Penelope “Punky” Brewster (Soleil Moon Frye), a smart and amusing child who faced a series of traumatic events that set the stage for the show. After her father left her family, Punky's mother abandoned her at a shopping center, leaving her all alone except for her loyal dog, Brandon. Fortunately, Punky stumbled upon an empty apartment in a nearby building managed by Henry Warnimont (George Gaynes). It was in this new environment that she found solace, made new friends, and developed a special connection with Henry, who eventually became her adoptive father.

2 Phoebe Buffay – Friends

Phoebe Buffay, known for her eccentricity and cheerful demeanor, had a traumatic backstory hidden beneath her laughter and quirky moments. She and her twin sister, Ursula, were born to Phoebe and Frank Buffay, but Phoebe, not ready for motherhood, made the difficult decision to have the twins adopted by their best friend Lily and Frank.

Tragically, Frank deserted them and started a new life, while Phoebe's step-father ended up in prison and Lily took her own life years later. As a result, Phoebe found herself living on the streets of New York City during her teenage years, deprived of a high school or college education. In order to survive, she resorted to mugging at times, even unknowingly targeting her future friend, Ross. Eventually, Phoebe moved in with her grandmother, who chose to withhold the truth about her parents from her.

1 Kimmy Schmidt - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

The story of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt revolves around the main character, Kimmy (played by Ellie Kemper), as she navigates life after being rescued from a doomsday cult in the fictional town of Durnsville, Indiana. In eighth grade, Kimmy was abducted by Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, who kept her and three other women captive in an underground bunker for 15 years, convincing them that a nuclear apocalypse had wiped out humanity and they were the only survivors. Eventually, Kimmy and the others were rescued and became known as the “Indiana Mole Women”. However, instead of being defined by her past as a victim, Kimmy chooses to start afresh in New York City, demonstrating resilience and a newfound perspective on life. While her backstory is undeniably traumatic, Kimmy's journey is ultimately one of triumph over adversity.