Boy Meets World: 10 Most Hated Supporting Characters

It’s hard to believe that more than a quarter-century has eclipsed since the Boy Meets World made its debut on TV. The series ran for seven seasons and 158 episodes from 1993 to 2000 and even won Kids’ Choice Awards for its two leads, Ben Savage and Rider Strong. Be honest: who do you like more, Corey or Shawn?

While it might be tough to say who you like more, it shouldn’t be so difficult naming the most hated side characters in the show. After all, there were many unlikable characters who got in the way of Cory and Shawn’s high-school success, from bullies to vengeful staff members. In specific, here are the 10 most hated supporting in Boy Meets World!

10 Denny Burgess

Really though, who enjoys the company of a greasy-haired, leather-jacket donning bully with a propensity for intense violence?

Yeah, nobody. As such, we start by naming Denny Burgess as one of the most hated supporting Boy Meets World characters. In Life Lessons, Burgess defies Mr. Feeny’s agenda and disrespects him publicly. Denny overtakes a class-mob to change Mr. Feeny’s curriculum by suggesting violent measures. Denny vandalizes the school as well as Mr. Feeny’s house and plans to steal copies of the final exam of Mr. Feeny’s desk. Always flanked by lackeys Jake and Kyle.

9 Jack the Jerk

In the episode entitled Eric Hollywood, the annoying alter-ego of Jack proved to be one of the most hatable side characters of the entire series.

Featured in the Kids Get Acquainted with Universe parallel-reality set in the Boy Meets World canon, Jack the Jerk is an actor described as “greedy, arrogant, selfish, and mean.” He is never given an official name in the show, but fans have unceremoniously coined the character as Jack the Jerk. The hot-tempered actor is possessive and quick to fire those who don’t meet his demands.

8 Dean Borak

All The Breakfast Club fans in the world know what a detestable piece of work Dean Vernon (Paul Gleason) is, and frankly, he reprises the role quite effectively as Dean Borak in Boy Meets World!

As the Dean of Pennbrook University, Borak continues to “crack skulls” as a harsh disciplinarian. After a grace period between him and Eric, Dean Borak eventually shuts down Eric and Jack’s fake fraternity, even though he still allows them to attend school afterward.

7 Philip Mack

Although his role was short-lived, anytime you are the leader of a cult, you must expect some hatred to come your way.

Philip Mack was the head of the Centre, a cult-like organization that Shawn joins during one episode. Mack uses all kinds of devious and deceptive methods to recruit teenagers, brainwash them into believing the cause, and gain power as a result. Fortunately, Mr. Feeny catches wind of the nefarious Centre and shuts the cult down for good.

6 Griffin Hawkins

Although he only appeared in four episodes, Griffin Hawkins served as the second-lead bully at John Adams High during Shawn and Cory’s tenure. He shows up immediately after the first-lead bully, Harley Keiner, is sent to a reform school.

Griff manages to manipulate a fight between Cory and Joey after school in the gymnasium. He sells tickets, sets up a boxing ring, puts on a show, and reaps the benefits of the two boys beating each other up. Griff is punished with four years of detention for the charade. Later, he helps Eric forge a college admissions letter on stolen stationery from Mr. Feeny.

5 Joey “The Rat” Epstein

Yeah, chances are a character named Joey “The Rat” is going to be one of the least likable of the lot. In Boy Meets World, such is certainly the case!

Joey “The Rat” Epstein is a thin, short bully with a high-pitched voice who serves as third in command under Harley and Frankie. Like Grover Dill to Scut Farkus in A Christmas Story, he is the lackey of all lackeys. However, once Griff Hawkins joins the gang for a short time and shakes things up, Joey and Frankie go their separate ways. Still, Joey gets suspended for dressing Cory and Shawn as cheerleaders in one episode.

4 Frankie Stecchino

When we first meet Frankie Stecchino, he is one of the scariest bullies at John Adams High. He’s large, hulking, hugely intimidating, and had zero qualms about giving Cory and Shawn a hard time.

However, once his alpha-male superior Harley Keiner shows up, Frankie begins showing a surprisingly softer side. He eventually befriends Cory and Shawn but is sad to learn they are just using him for protection. One of the worst things Frankie ever did was blackmail Cory into helping him win over Harley’s girlfriend.

3 Jake & Kyle

In keeping with the bully theme, few side characters in the show are as hateable as Denny Burgess’ two cruel toadies, Jake and Kyle. What’s with these guys anyway?

Jake is a tall, dark misfit with a backward hat who gives Mr. Feeny trouble at every turn. Jake is caustic towards Corey, whom he thinks ratted him out when vandalizing Feeny’s home. As for Kyle, the lovable “Great Hambino” from The Sandlot does a 180 to become a threatening meanie who hangs around with Jake and Denny.

2 Harley Keiner

Few side characters in the show are as loathsome as Harley Keiner, the de facto bully leader of John Adams High who drives an Impala and spends three years as a senior. This guy is responsible for nearly half of the most hated kids in school, for crying out loud!

Keiner taunts and torments Cory and Shawn at every turn, using his minions Frankie and Joey to do his dirty work. Harley is sent to a reform school at one point to rehab his image. By the end of the series sequel, however, Harley becomes one of Cory’s closest friends.

1 Stuart Minkus

Come on now, we all knew the most annoying brainiac and straight-A student, Stuart Minkus, had to be the number one most detestable side character on Boy Meets World.

Despite only appearing in a total of 23 episodes, nobody can forget the smug retorts, arrogant demeanor, and air of superiority that Minkus embodied. After a fizzled romance with Topanga early in the series, Minkus ultimately moved away, got married, and had a son named Farkle Minkus, who appeared in the series sequel, Girl Meets World.