House M.D.’s Main Characters, Ranked By Likability

From Gregory House and his diagnostic team to Lisa Cuddy and James Wilson, House, M.D. offered a range of multi-layered characters who made lasting impressions on viewers for years to come. While some quickly became favorites, others couldn’t catch a break. House, M.D. centered around Gregory House, a medical genius who didn’t mix well with people, reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, but whose expertise allowed him to get away with a lot of rule-breaking. While he remained the driving force throughout the show, his diagnostic team kept changing, introducing more and more characters for House to teach and abuse.

House was a hard person for people to work alongside, and not many medical professionals were willing to go to such extremes and test their nervous system with House’s shenanigans. Those who did give House a chance and vice versa were the best of the best in the field, but even they were far from being perfect doctors or people. Still, the characters of House, M.D.were nothing short of compelling — otherwise the medical drama wouldn’t have lasted for eight seasons, to begin with. Their development and growth throughout the show were what made the series worth watching.

12 Christopher Taub

Actor: Peter Jacobson

Dr. Christopher Taub is the plastic surgeon that House hires in House, M.D. season 4, episode 2, “The Right Stuff.” While Taub, with his witty banter with House, is fascinating to watch, he is the least likable character on the show. He is a good doctor, but his moral compass isn’t the sharpest. Not only does he repeatedly cheat on his wife, Rachel, and act like a big hypocrite when she takes advantage of their open marriage, but he also cheats at work, as evidenced by his approach to a pathology test in season 7, episode 12, “You Must Remember This.”

11 Jessica Adams

Actress: Odette Annable

Introduced in House, M.D. season 8, episode 1, “Twenty Vicodin,” Dr. Jessica Adams comes across as someone who is willing to help the disadvantaged, which is a good trait in general, but it looks incredibly dull on her. Adams is a bit of an enabler when it comes to House, and she likes to make things all about her at times. She isn’t a bad person or doctor, but she is quite boring for anyone’s taste. House M.D. season 8 is a letdown, unfortunately, and Adams doesn’t add much value to the storylines herself, although her rivalry with Park is entertaining.

10 Allison Cameron

Actress: Jennifer Morrison

Dr. Allison Cameron is one of the original members of House’s diagnostic team in House, M.D., and she is easily one of the most disliked characters in the entire show. While she is sweet and kind, sometimes even too kind to the point of failing to do her job, she is also close-minded. Cameron can’t always look past her established worldview, which often hurts her patients and team members, and her priorities aren’t set straight. She has played with Chase’s heart one too many times, and their sexual relationship at work has put a patient’s life in danger, which is inexcusable.

9 Gregory House

Actor: Hugh Laurie

Gregory House may be the main character of House, M.D., but that doesn’t make him infallible — in fact, he is anything but mistake-free. House is supposed to be this misanthropic jerk who is a medical genius, and all should be forgiven for his brilliance, but that is not how life works. House has done some disturbing things throughout the series. Apart from constantly making cruel jokes and comments, House is physically violent as well. He punches Chase in the face because he interrupts him, and he crashes his car into Cuddy’s house after she breaks up with him and moves on to someone else.

8 Eric Foreman

Actor: Omar Epps

Dr. Eric Foreman is another original member of House’s diagnostic team in House, M.D. Foreman likes to copy House’s attitude, and he does it brilliantly, but somehow it doesn’t work for him quite as well, especially since he isn’t a medical genius. Foreman is a competent neurologist, but he has a long way to go to reach House’s level. Still, he is the first one to actually stand up to House when the latter goes too far, and that deserves some clapping. Foreman has also had a few problematic moments, such as infecting Cameron with his disease for his own agenda, firing his girlfriend, Thirteen, and sleeping with a married woman.

7 Chi Park

Actress: Charlyne Yi

In House, M.D. season 8, episode 2, “Transplant,” Dr. Chi Park makes her entrance and soon becomes a newcomer to House’s diagnostic team. It is difficult not to like her, as Park’s clueless demeanor and blunt comments make for an interesting dynamic with her colleagues. She cares what other people think of her, she is cynical but relatable, and she is ready to stand up for herself to anyone, be it because of workplace harassment, disregard of her opinions, or something else entirely. With her personality quirks and hilarious interactions with Chase, Park is a priceless addition to the show’s last season.

6 Lawrence Kutner

Actor: Kal Penn

Ever since his debut in House, M.D. season 4, episode 2, “The Right Stuff,” Dr. Lawrence Kutner has quickly become one of the audiences’ favorites, which is why his death in season 5 has shocked viewers to the core. Kutner was a bright person with a positive outlook on life, and his geekiness was a trait that made the character relatable and very human. From Kutner’s tragic backstory to his amusing relationship with House, he was a delight. It’s a shame that Kal Penn decided to pursue a career in politics, which led to Kutner being unexpectedly killed off just when he was becoming successful.

5 Martha Masters

Actress: Amber Tamblyn

Martha Masters, who debuts in House, M.D. season 7, episode 6, “Office Politics,” is essentially House’s female counterpart. While she is much younger and less experienced than the other members of the team, Masters manages to awe them and House time and time again. Masters’ unique fashion sense and the absence of a filter just add bonus points, enriching the character further. House is a corruptive force, and there aren’t many people on his team who have stood up to him and kept their own morals in the medical field, and otherwise — Masters is one of them, which, considering her young age, is impressive.

4 Lisa Cuddy

Actress: Lisa Edelstein

Dr. Lisa Cuddy is a saint for putting up with House for so many years, both on-screen and prior to the beginning of House, M.D. Despite having feelings for House at some point, Cuddy hasn’t compromised her position as a medical practitioner, and she has always tried to do her best for her team and patients. The only case where Cuddy is in the gray area is the storyline that ends with her lying in court on House’s behalf, but even with that in mind, Cuddy is still one of the most likable characters on the show.

3 Robert Chase

Actor: Jesse Spencer

Dr. Robert Chase is arguably one of the most layered characters in House, M.D. He is also the one character who has had the most growth over the course of the series, and that is admirable. Chase has been caught red-handed in problematic situations, such as sleeping with Cameron at work and ignoring the patient, being physically violent when House disrespected his boundaries, and even killing a patient, who was a ruthless dictator, but still. Despite all of this, Chase’s character arc makes him innately easy to sympathize with throughout the show. It was truly rewarding to see him take House’s place in the finale.

2 Remy “Thirteen” Hadley

Actress: Olivia Wilde

House, M.D.’s most mysterious character is definitely Dr. Remy “Thirteen” Hadley, and that is part of what makes her so compelling. With Huntington’s Chorea and her previous drug use, Thirteen has a rather tragic backstory, and yet she remains a kindhearted person who wants what is best for her patients. Even Thirteen’s subplot centering on euthanizing her brother and going to jail for it only adds complexity to the character without taking any of her appeal away. Thirteen might have only debuted in season 4, but she has quickly gained the viewers’ attention, becoming one of the most beloved characters on the show.

1 James Wilson

Actor: Robert Sean Leonard

Dr. James Wilson hasn’t always made the right choices in his life — he has been divorced three times, committed adultery, dated one of his patients, and continuously put his career in danger by enabling his colleague and friend, Gregory House. Despite all this, Wilson remains the House, M.D. character that is almost universally loved. His big puppy eyes are the reason most of his wrongdoings are forgiven by viewers. Wilson’s terminal cancer storyline, especially in the House, M.D. finale, is heartbreaking to the core, as Wilson is a good person who deserves a second chance to make things right and find happiness in life.