List of fictional vegetarian and vegan characters


This is a list of fictional characters who either self-identify as vegetarian or vegan, or have been identified as such by others.

Analysis and reception of characters

Some scholars have argued that mass media serves as a "source of information for individuals" interested in vegetarianism or veganism, while there are "increasing social sanctions against eating meat." Even so, there are lingering stereotypes of vegans and vegetarians in the same media, with journalist Farhad Manjoo writing in August 2019 that it is "still widely acceptable to make fun of vegans." Manjoo observed that vegetarian and vegan characters are often portrayed negatively, such as being "smug" and "annoying". This portrayal, he suggested, can contribute to vegaphobia and may encourage meat-eaters to mock and provoke those who do not consume meat. Some writers, such as John L. Cunningham, have argued for "more sympathetic vegetarian characters in the mass media".

Criteria for inclusion

  • Listed characters are either protagonists and recurring characters.
  • Characters must come from somewhat well-known media, as opposed to obscure or indie media.
  • Animal characters are, for the most part with some exceptions, excluded from this list, especially if it is not actually stated that they do not eat meat.
The names are organized alphabetically by surname, or by single name if the character does not have a surname. If more than two characters are in one entry, the last name of the first character is used.

Animated series

CharactersShow titleCharacter debut dateCountryNotes
AangAvatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of KorraFebruary 21, 2005United States

Comics and manga

CharactersName of comicYearsCountryNotes
Bernhard "Buddy" Baker Animal Man1988-1990United States

Film

CharactersTitle / FranchiseActorYearCountryNotes
AlejandroProblemistaJulio Torres2023USAIt is only revealed later in a cafe scene conversation that Alejandro is vegan when Elizabeth convinces him to order something with animal products.
JeanAugust: Osage CountyAbigail Breslin2013USAThe daughter has a lengthy conversation with her extended family about what she does not eat meat because it is ingesting the animal's fear, to which she is confronted by mockery of the hostile family. Her mother, Barbara later tells her that she saw her sneaking in burgers.
LennyShark TaleJack Black2004United States

Games

CharactersTitle/SeriesYearDeveloperCountryNotes
Herbert P. BearClub Penguin2007New Horizon InteractiveCanada

Literature

CharactersWorkAuthorYearCountryDescription
Elizabeth CostelloElizabeth Costello2003AustraliaSortname|Christian|Kracht

Live-action television

CharactersActorShowDurationNotes
Rachel BerryLea MicheleGlee2009–2015At the beginning of the show, she was depicted as vegan, but it was later clarified that she was "actually a vegetarian," meaning she can have eggs and dairy.
Phoebe BuffayLisa KudrowFriends1994–2004Due in no small part to her traumatic childhood, Phoebe has developed a childlike naïveté in an attempt to shield her from the world's evils. In addition to being a vegetarian and an avid tree-hugger, she also displays a remarkable lack of experience with the "darker sides" of life.
Topanga LawrenceDanielle FishelBoy Meets World1993–2000She is a vegetarian who begins dating Cory, and he invites her to dinner at the International House of Salad, known as IHOS, after learning her dietary preferences.
Angela MartinAngela KinseyThe Office2005–2013Angela has said that she is a vegetarian on multiple occasions. However, some reviewers believed that writers may have forgot she was vegetarian.
Nikita MearsMaggie QNikita2010–2013The episode "Glass Houses" features Nikita conspicuously declining to eat the meat she is served as a guest at a family dinner, which other characters comment on. While Maggie Q herself is vegan, Nikita is shown in that same episode to be eating ice cream, indicating that the character is not.
Britta PerryGillian JacobsCommunity2009–2015A vegetarian, she prides herself on judging others in her study group, including on their eating habits, with her heart "always in the right place." She also is an anarchist, atheist, and activist who traveled around the world after dropping out of high school.
SpockLeonard NimoyStar Trek1966–1969Said to be "television's first vegetarian", Spock and other Vulcans avoid eating meat due to a "philosophy of non-violence." Spock is identified as vegetarian in the episode "All Our Yesterdays", where he is "transported back to pre-civilised times", regresses to a primitive mindset, and eats meat.