15 most hated General Hospital characters throughout history 

General Hospital has brought us countless unforgettable characters over the years, but they weren't all lovable. Some characters were created as antagonists, causing chaos and misery for the citizens of Port Charles. Others had promise but did things so frustrating or inexcusable that they were hated by fans. Whether they were cunning manipulators, cold-blooded criminals, or just trying to be characters who hung around too long, these characters elicited strong reactions from viewers.

From schemers such as Nelle Benson and Esme Prince to ruthless criminals such as Ryan Chamberlain and Helena Cassadine, GH never hesitated to introduce characters that viewers love to loathe. Some, such as Franco Baldwin and Carly Corinthos, were able to come back from their wrongdoings in the long run, but their earlier misdeeds left deep scars. Others, such as Peter August and Shiloh Archer, stayed too long, infuriating audiences with repeated escapes from punishment.

Regardless of why, these 15 General Hospital characters landed on this list for being some of the most hated in the show's long and storied history.

1. Esme Prince

Esme Prince came into General Hospital as a manipulative troublemaker, but her schemes only worsened with time. She falsely accused Trina Robinson of a crime she didn't commit, and it caused trouble for her and her loved ones. Her fixation on controlling Spencer Cassadine made her even more hated. Even after her redemption arc after forgetting her past, fans never forgot the harm she had done. Her history as Ryan Chamberlain's daughter only contributed to her evil personality. Even after her alleged fall, audiences never believed she was truly changed, always waiting for her to return to her manipulative behavior.

2. Nelle Benson

Nelle Benson is still one of the most despised villains in General Hospital because she never stopped plotting against Carly Corinthos. She pretended to be pregnant, manipulated Michael Corinthos, and swiped Wiley away from her. Her actions were inexcusable. She gaslit all those around her and never apologized for anything. Not even when she was dying, she attempted to pin her murder on Carly. She was hated by fans not only for what she did but also for her smug manner and lack of accountability.

3. Ryan Chamberlain

Ryan Chamberlain embodies evil to the very core; he has had a legacy of terror spanning decades. A psychopathic serial killer is what one would call him, one who preyed on innocent women but most particularly on Felicia Scorpio. The spirit of hatred was rekindled upon Ryan's return in the last few years when he used his long-lost daughter, Esme Prince, to carry on his hideous legacy. For all those years, Ryan was an impostor, pretending to be locked in while he plotted his revenge. Even worse, his chilling obsession with Ava Jerome made things more unsettling.

4. Shiloh Archer

Shiloh Archer's arrival at Port Charles was a damning addition to GH history, focusing, as it did, on one of the most wicked cult stories ever. As the leader of Dawn of Day, Shiloh led weak-minded individuals into his clutches, washing their brains clean for his own demented ends. The most disturbing of these horrendous acts was his targeting of Kristina Corinthos, attempting to initiate her into his warped inner circle. He blackmailed Sam McCall and even attempted to lay claim to Wiley as his own son. Fans hated him for the manipulative and predatory person he was.

5. Peter August

Peter August was supposed to be a complex anti-hero, but he turned into one of GH's most hated characters. First introduced as the long-lost son of Anna Devane, his criminal connections were brought to light through his father, Cesar Faison. He deceived, manipulated, and wreaked havoc in countless lives, including masterminding Drew Cain's disappearance. His constant escaping from justice irritated viewers since it appeared writers always managed to keep him out of harm's way. When he was ultimately murdered, audiences rejoiced in his departure.

6. Franco Baldwin

Prior to his redemption, Franco Baldwin was the most unsettling character in General Hospital. A deranged artist, he tortured Jason Morgan and Sam McCall, subjecting them to psychological games. His fixation on hurting others made him intolerable. His past as a stalker and criminal made his subsequent redemption storyline hard to swallow for viewers. Although he attempted to make amends, many never pardoned his past transgressions. His eventual assassination was shocking, but some viewers believed it was a suitable ending for a man who had previously lived off mayhem.

7. Kiki Jerome

Though Kiki Jerome became a favorite character, she spent her formative years making impulsive choices that earned her no friends. Her poisonous love affair with Michael Corinthos and Morgan Corinthos infuriated fans, as she kept switching between them. She tended to intrude where she had no place, making her appear immature and egocentric. She grew up over time, but her sad murder by Ryan Chamberlain overshadowed her past mistakes. Fans grieved when she died, but they couldn't help but remember how infuriating she was when she was new.

8. Helena Cassadine

Helena Cassadine was a legend-class villain. Decades were spent terrorizing the Spencer family through brainwashing, poisonings, and psychological maneuvers. Her all-consuming need for power rendered anyone who stood in her way an enemy. In death, too, her control was powerful, with her schemes continuing to untangle long after she was deceased. She was hated by fans for being cruel but admired for being one of GH's greatest villains. Her trail of devastation helped her become a character that fans loved to hate, a top contender in the category of GH's most feared figure.

9. Claudia Zacchara

Claudia Zacchara was a vicious mobster who stirred up trouble wherever she went. Her worst crime was plotting the assassination that put Michael Corinthos in a coma. She schemed constantly to gain influence within the Corinthos organization, using methods of manipulation and seduction to achieve her ends. Viewers hated her for her selfishness and lack of empathy. Her last minutes, in which she tried to abduct Carly and her unborn baby, cemented her doom. Her gory death at Michael's hands was a shock but seemed only right. Claudia's legacy was one of devastation, and she became one of GH's most hated characters.

10. Dawn Winthrop

Dawn Winthrop was Monica Quartermaine's long-lost daughter, but she never connected with viewers. She seemed artificially placed into the Quartermaine clan, and the storylines involving her did not impact the show. She usually seemed flat, and she did not have believability in her relationships. Her dramatic death brought some excitement, but most viewers hardly noticed she was gone. When compared to other GH characters, she did not have the depth and mystery that made others interesting. Although she wasn't necessarily evil, she is one of the most forgettable and unpopular characters in GH history.

11. Elizabeth Webber

Elizabeth Webber has a loyal following but has consistently split fans with her actions. Her tumultuous relationships, especially those with Jason Morgan, Lucky Spencer, and Nikolas Cassadine, created instances of betrayal and manipulation. Fans resented her, especially when she did not reveal Jason's identity upon his return so that he could rejoin Sam. Her sense of moral superiority often interfered with her own questionable choices, which made her a divisive character. Although she's had her share of moments of redemption, there were a few storylines that frustrated viewers. Flawed or not, Elizabeth is still a GH icon, showing that even a fan favorite can be disliked sometimes.

12. Carly Corinthos

Carly Corinthos is now a powerhouse character, but her beginnings in General Hospital were full of lies and devastation. She came to Port Charles by getting into bed with her mother Bobbie Spencer's husband on a revengeful basis, making her an instant villain to viewers. She played manipulative games with Jason Morgan, lied about Michael's father, and just seemed to insert herself wherever she didn't have a place to be. Throughout the years, she became a powerful and complicated woman, but her past behaviors were hard to forgive.

13. Ric Lansing

Ric Lansing's fixation on taking down his half-brother, Sonny Corinthos, caused him to perform some of General Hospital's most horrific actions. The most horrific was when he took pregnant Carly Corinthos hostage in a panic room in an attempt to steal her baby for his wife, Elizabeth. His manipulative personality made him untrustworthy, as he would constantly switch between being a devoted family man and a brutal plotter. Even when he attempted to make amends, his previous transgressions overshadowed everything. His fans deemed him irredeemable, and his eventual departure from Port Charles was a welcome relief for many.

14. Lisa Niles

Dr. Lisa Niles came to Port Charles as a well-respected surgeon, but her slide into madness made her a complete villain. She became obsessed with Patrick Drake, attempting to destroy his marriage to Robin Scorpio. She stalked him, drugged individuals, and even tried to kill Robin several times. Her behavior became increasingly sinister as she pursued Patrick relentlessly. She was hated by fans not only for her crimes but also for the duration of her reign of terror. Even after she seemingly died, she came back to haunt Robin in hallucinations, showing that some villains never really leave.

15. Julian Jerome

Julian Jerome was redeemed at times, but the last few years of his stay in Port Charles destroyed all the good he had made. His actions of physical and emotional abuse of Alexis Davis, such as forcing a dagger under her chin, made him incapable of being loved by most viewers. He often professed that he loved his family but went on to make decisions that risked them all, like helping Cyrus Renault's criminal network. His downfall seemed only a matter of time, and his death garnered scant sympathy. He was once envisioned as redeemed, but his frequent betrayals left him among GH's most annoying and reviled characters by the end.