You’re sitting there with the Saturday NYT crossword open, and the clue staring back at you says: "Guinness’s second-most-portrayed literary character in film, after Dracula." You count the boxes. S-H-E-R-L-O-C-K-H-O-L-M-E-S. It fits.
But honestly, the trivia goes way deeper than just filling in a grid. We’re talking about a tug-of-war between a vampire and a detective that has lasted over a century. If you’ve ever wondered why Sherlock Holmes is the Guinness second most portrayed character, it’s because he’s basically the only human who can keep up with a monster.
Dracula takes the top spot. He’s non-human, which is a specific distinction Guinness makes. As of the last major tally, the Count had over 272 film credits. Sherlock? He’s sitting right behind him with 254. It’s a gap that closes and widens every time a new streaming service decides they need a gritty reboot or a Victorian procedural.
Why Sherlock Holmes Stays in the Second Slot
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. Sherlock Holmes isn't just a character; he’s a template. Guinness World Records officially recognizes him as the most portrayed literary human character in film and television.
The distinction "human" is the key. Dracula gets to be number one because, well, he’s an undead shapeshifter. But for a guy whose only superpowers are a magnifying glass and a serious nicotine habit, Holmes is doing incredible numbers.
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Since 1887, more than 75 different actors have stepped into the deerstalker. We’re talking about legends like Christopher Lee (who, fun fact, played both Dracula and Holmes), Benedict Cumberbatch, and Robert Downey Jr. Even Will Ferrell had a go at it, though we don't always talk about that one.
The NYT Connection and the Trivia Trap
When the New York Times runs a clue about the Guinness second most portrayed character, they’re tapping into a very specific piece of record-keeping history. People often guess Hamlet. It makes sense, right? Shakespeare is everywhere. But Hamlet actually trails far behind with only about 206 portrayals.
The reason Holmes wins is basically because he’s in the public domain. Mostly.
You’ve got a character that everyone recognizes—the pipe, the hat, the "Elementary, my dear Watson" (which he never actually says in the books, by the way)—and any studio can use him for free. It’s a recipe for a production frenzy.
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The Big Three: Dracula, Holmes, and... The Devil?
If we're being pedantic—and let's be real, if you're reading about Guinness records, you probably are—the list changes depending on how you define "character."
- The Devil: If you count every "Satan" or "Lucifer" appearance, he actually dwarfs everyone with over 800 portrayals.
- Santa Claus: St. Nick is usually right there in the silver medal spot if you include every cheesy Christmas movie ever made.
- Dracula: The king of literary adaptations.
- Sherlock Holmes: The king of human literary adaptations.
So, when the NYT asks for the "second most portrayed," they are almost always referring to the literary subset. They want you to think about books. They want you to remember that Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle basically built the foundation of modern franchise entertainment without even knowing it.
How the Numbers Stack Up Today
It’s actually getting harder to track these stats because of the sheer volume of content. We have Sherlock on the BBC, Elementary on CBS, and the Enola Holmes movies on Netflix. Dracula just had Renfield and The Last Voyage of the Demeter.
The numbers Guinness uses—272 for Dracula and 254 for Holmes—are actually from a few years back. The gap might be even tighter now. Honestly, you'd think we'd get bored of a detective in a cape, but we don't.
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Actionable Takeaways for Trivia Buffs
If you want to win your next pub quiz or crush the next NYT crossword that mentions this, keep these specific distinctions in your back pocket:
- Dracula is the #1 most portrayed literary character (non-human).
- Sherlock Holmes is the #1 most portrayed human literary character (and #2 overall literary).
- Hamlet is the one everyone thinks is second, but he's actually third or fourth depending on the year.
- Public Domain is the secret sauce. Both Dracula and Holmes are free to use, which is why they outpace characters like Harry Potter or James Bond.
Next time you see a guy in a deerstalker on your TV, just remember: he’s not just solving a crime, he’s defending a world record.
Check out the official Guinness World Records site if you want the most recent "live" tally, as these numbers shift every time a director says "action" in London or Transylvania.