Summary

As one of the most complex and in-depth shows to ever hit the airwaves, the J.J. Abrams series Lost is known for its intense character offerings. Whether it's a Southern con-man, an Iraqi Republican Guard torturer or a man who doesn't age, there's no shortage of intrigue and mystery on the island from Lost.

But, some characters are certainly better than others. Here's a list of the 15 best characters from Lost and what made fans fall in love with them over the years since the shows premiere in 2004.

Updated on September 2nd, 2023 by Kieran Loughlin: This post has been updated to include even more characters from Lost's sweeping cast, as well as to meet with CBR's current formatting standards.

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15. Claire

A Lost still shows Claire in a forest

While she may have been phased out as Lost went on, Claire was a highlight of the ensemble in those early seasons. Her relationship with Charlie was incredibly endearing to follow, as the pair grew closer over the course of the show. There was a natural chemistry between them, making their scenes together work really well. Claire's backstory is also particularly memorable, with a psychic tricking her into going onto the disastrous flight that brought her to the island, so that she would be able to stay a part of her baby's life.

14. Mr. Eko

Mr Eko stands on the beach in a Lost image

Introduced in Season 2 as one of the tail section survivors, Mr. Eko was such a strong character. The flashback scenes added so many layers to Lost's characters, and that was certainly the case with Mr. Eko, as audiences saw his tragic past play out on screen. There are also some interesting parallels between Mr. Eko and Locke's arcs, as both embark on a spiritual journey on the island, and reinvent themselves in the process. It's only a shame that Mr. Eko's time on Lost ended so prematurely, with the character killed by the Smoke Monster.

13. Kate

Lost's Kate faces the camera with a blurred out forest background behind her

There's no denying that Kate was an integral part of Lost from the word go. Her tough as nails personality is what helped make her stand out from the crowd, and she had a great rapport with the rest of the cast. Her background as a criminal was an interesting idea, which served as one of Lost's earliest twists. There's an argument to be made that as time went on, Kate's character lost her nuance as she became defined by her love triangle with Jack and Sawyer. That's why she isn't higher on the list.

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12. Jack

A Lost image of Matthew Fox's Jack

While Lost was very much an ensemble piece, Jack is as close as one could get to a leading man. After all, Jack quickly emerged as the leader of the Oceanic 815 survivors, and became the glue that held them all together. Jack actor Matthew Fox had a sheer force of personality on-screen, adding so many tiny nuances to the role of Jack, which made him a really believable character. And to top it all off, Jack had so many stellar moments throughout Lost's six season run, particularly with his "Live together, die alone" speech.

11. Ben

A Lost image shows Ben with a menacing expression

When Michael Emerson first showed up on Lost as the meek "Henry Gale," little did viewers know that this character would become one of the show's finest additions. Of course, "Henry Gale" was merely a false identity which Ben used to deceive the Oceanic 815 survivors, but it went a long way to showing just how manipulative he could be. However, that was just one side of the character. It's astounding how many layers there were to Ben, as his more vulnerable side was revealed as the show progressed.

10. Lapidus

A close-up on Frank Lapidus from Lost

This secondary character makes it into the top 10 Lost characters because he made the absolute most of his screen time. Legendary pilot Frank Lapidus was meant to fly Oceanic Flight 815, but he overslept and missed the flight, creating the most perfectly crafted characterization possible. If anyone would oversleep and dodge death, it would be Lapidus. The street smart Bronx-native is charming, loveable, and apparently one of the few people who can backtalk the horrible Keamy. If you're lost in the jungle, expect to bump into Lapidus and manage to be rescued at the last minute.

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9. Sawyer

Sawyer smiles as he holds a gun on Lost

James "Sawyer" Ford was a mystery from Episode 1. His character provided endless questions and very little answers: Why is he so moody? What's that letter he's reading? Why aren't his cigarettes wet? But apart from being a smooth-talking con man from Jasper, Alabama, Sawyer actually develops greatly as a character and as a person. His past isn't what the audience expected, and his heart proves to be much bigger than originally thought. Plus, the island wouldn't have been the same without his famous nicknames.

8. Sayid

Sayid has a serious expression in a Lost still

Sayid Jarrah was the strong, silent type -- when he wasn't torturing people in the jungle or planning to murder Baby Ben. He quickly became a tried and true fan favorite with his technical wizardry, his relationship with Shannon and his secret past as an interrogator with the Iraqi Republican Guard with a penchant for cruel and unusual punishment, albeit reluctantly. Sayid was sweet, romantic and fiercely intelligent, and he proved to be no match for The Others (or anyone he came in contact with, really).

7. Sun

Sun Kwon holds up a gun in a Lost image

Presented to the viewers as a meek, submissive wife in a beige sweater, Sun-Hwa Kwon turned out to be nothing of the sort. Viewers could tell there was more than meets the eye when it came to Sun, who spent her initial time on the island silently observing, before revealing she, in fact, can speak English perfectly -- just don't tell her husband. Her relationship with her husband Jin became a love story for the ages and devastated viewers when they died in each other's arms in Season 6. Sun is badass, especially when she confronts Charles Widmore in broad daylight and when she stands up to Juliet, among many other instances.

6. Juliet

A close-up on Juliet Burke from Lost

As a defected member of The Others, Juliet Burke is another of the badass women on Lost. An esteemed medical fertility specialist recruited to help the women on the island who mysteriously can't have babies, Juliet is one member of The Others' camp who doesn't quite fit in. She didn't know what she was getting herself into when she arrived, but she quickly figured out how to survive, and what she needed to do to get back to her sister. Juliet is smart, resourceful and willing to do what it takes. Her relationship with Sawyer was one of the best in the series, and conversely, her death was one of the most tragic.

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5. Richard

Richard Alpert in Lost

Easily the most mysterious resident on the island, Richard Alpert has one notable characteristic, and it's not his thick eyelashes. Richard doesn't seem to age, having been on the island for hundreds of years. He is a loyal servant to the island and refers to himself as an advisor to whoever is leading the island at any given time. He was granted his eternal life by Jacob himself in an effort to search for his dead wife. Richard's evolution as a character and as a person is beyond interesting, arriving on the island on the mysterious Black Rock, with his language skills, accent and interest in his job changing over the course of his 200-year island residency.

4. Charlie

Charlie Pace looks straight at the camera in a Lost image

Hands down the most upsetting death of the entire series, Charlie Pace was cemented as a fan favorite in the Season 3 finale, "Through The Looking Glass." His story of becoming a heroin addict under the influence of his older brother as their band skyrocketed to fame was an interesting one, making his on-island struggle all the more heartbreaking when he finds a Nigerian drug dealer's plane full of heroin. With a flash of his hand just before his death he became a legend, telling Desmond "Not Penny's Boat."

3. Hurley

Hurley smiling in Lost

Everybody loves Hugo! The adorable Hugo "Hurley" Reyes is easily the most loveable and sympathetic character on the island. His secret mental health issues and struggles with his weight struck a chord in the hearts of every viewer, but these issues didn't even come close to the tragedy of his lady-friend Libby's untimely death in the middle of their picnic date. Hurley winds up being the island's guardian, and it's likely there are no one viewers would have rather seen in the role. Plus, he knows his way around a Dharma van.

2. Locke

John Locke formulates a plan

John Locke is one of the most tragic and mysterious members of the island clan. After it was revealed in Season 1's "Walkabout" that he was paralyzed before the crash but could suddenly walk once he arrived on the island, viewers realized they needed to keep their eye on this one. Nothing seemed to be out of the question when it came to Locke's character development: a tragic love story - check, a mysterious past - check, a suitcase full of knives - double check. What began as the role of an unsuspecting older man quickly evolved into one of the most crucial pieces to the island's puzzle. Just don't tell him what he can't do.

1. Desmond

Desmond is under a tent with Hurley in Lost

The rules of the island don't seem to apply to Desmond Hume, the man discovered in the mysterious hatch with the simple task of saving the world every 108 minutes. He was an instant enigma, with fans wondering how in the world this man ended up on the island, and his backstory didn't disappoint. His involuntary ability to travel through time culminated in the best episode of the series,"The Constant," where his love story with Penny beat the odds of space and time.