Famous Wizards From History and Fantasy

Wizards have been part of history for centuries. People like the Russian mystic Rasputin and Nicholas Flamel, the man who discovered the Philosopher’s Stone, are all said to have been real-life wizards from decades back. Tales of these sorcerers have found their way into modern pop culture, often via fantasy stories. Books, movies, TV shows, and other mediums have featured these spell-casting humans. Gandalf the Grey, Dr Strange, and Voldermort are just some of the fictional wizards to make an impact. Then you have famous wizards such as David Blaine and David Copperfield. While the term magician might be more apt, these illusionists are still worth mentioning in the conversation of famous wizards. 

Whatever you want to call them, all of these characters and famous people can be defined as wizards. We’ve compiled a list of the most powerful and well-known wizards throughout history and pop culture that is sure to leave you spellbound. 

1. Harry Potter

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Arguably the most famous wizard on this list comes from the mind of author JK Rowling. The Harry Potter series details the adventures of young wizard Harry Potter while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With each novel, Harry’s powers grow until he is eventually forced to battle his nemesis, Voldermort. The first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, introduces young readers to Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. 

The books proved such a success that they were adapted into a film series. Daniel Radcliffe scored the coveted role of Harry, helping make the films a massive success and spawning several spinoff movies and books. 

2. Merlin

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The mythical Merlin is a wizard from Arthurian legend. He serves as the righthand man to King Arthur and is involved in many of the famous stories about Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Merlin uses his powers for good and to help Arthur’s kingdom. He is the one who helps Arthur find Excalibur and the Holy Grail. But he has one weakness; women. Merlin’s demise comes about after he falls in love with the Lady of the Lake. He succumbs to her treachery and is buried alive in a cave. While Merlin is considered a fictional character, he is an amalgamation of historical and legendary figures.

3. Gandalf the Grey

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Gandalf features heavily in J. R. R. Tolkien’s novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Identifiable thanks to his long great beard and even bigger pointy hat, Gandalf is possessed with great power, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be killed. The most recognizable version of Gandalf comes from the movie adaptations of Tolkien’s books. Sir Ian McKellen plays the mythical wizard in a commanding performance that is the definitive version of the character. 

4. David Copperfield

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Ok, he’s not exactly a wizard, but David Copperfield is one hell of a magician who fits nicely in the world of wizards. The illusionist has been practicing magic for 50 years and is up there with Harry Houdini as the most successful and well-known magician in the world. He has perfected many great magic tricks over time and is remembered for making the Statue of Liberty disappear as well as walking through the Great Wall of China. He has made millions from his magic and also holds 11 Guinness World Records, has a knighthood from France, and has been named a Living Legend by the US Liberty of Congress. In short, he’s pretty good at magic. 

Fun fact: Copperfield also owns 11 resort islands in the Bahamas where he likes to ‘disappear’ to from time to time. 

5. Lord Voldermort

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Harry Potter’s mortal enemy, Lord Voldermort is the main antagonist throughout the Harry Potter books. Born Tom Riddle, the Dark Lord is responsible for the death of Harry’s parents. He is the leader of the Death Eater group and wants to eliminate all the other wizards so he can have total control. Voldermort is one evil son of a bitch who does everything he can to takeout Harry. Unforatunelty for old noseless, Harry takes his revenge and dispatches him in the final book. Special mention must be made of Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of him in the films. Mesmerizing yet terrifying. 

6. The White Witch

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Similar to Lord Voldermort, the White Witch is one scary mofo. She really loves the cold and brings about the Hundred Year Winter in C. S. Lewis’s classic The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The White Witch rules with an iron fist, turning those who oppose her into stone. She is one nasty piece of work. Of course, as this is a children’s fantasy novel, the White Witch’s rule eventually comes to an end thanks to a talking lion and four young kids.

7. Dr Strange

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Comic book character Dr Stephen Strange has become much more well-known since Benedict Cumberbatch played him in the recent Marvel movies. A former surgeon who is now one of the most powerful wizards in the world, Dr Strange protects the world from mythical threats. His popularity has soared with his appearances in The Avenger movies, with Strange even getting his own standalone movie. An integral part of the marvel cinematic universe, Dr Strange is one wizard we will be seeing much more of in the future. 

8. Willow Rosenberg

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It turns out Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s best friend is a witch. Starting the series as a timid young teenager who discovers she has magical abilities, Willow Rosenberg soon transforms into a powerful witch. As she learns more and becomes deeper involved with magic, Willow becomes consumed by her powers and turns into an evil witch. She almost brings about Buffy’s demise but is saved and embarks on a redemptive arc in the series. Willow is not only a famous wizard (or witch as she is better known) but a lesbian icon, with Buffy detailing her romance with the same sex in an informative and relatable way. 

9. Albus Dumbledore

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This wonderful wizard from the Harry Potter series is the headmaster of Hogwarts. He is also the founder and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, the group of wizards and witches determined to stop Lord Voldermort from rising to power. Albus Dumbledore is a very smart wizard with a heart of gold who does his best to help guide Harry on his journey as the chosen one. While his death is tragic, it is an important part of Potter lore. On-screen he is first played by Richard Harris, but after he passed, the great Michael Gambon took over. Jude Law has played the young version of Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts series of movies. 

10. Sauron

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While there is some debate surrounding Sauron’s position as a wizard, we think he deserves a spot on this list. The evil warlock is an almighty being consumed with finding the One Ring so he can rule over everyone. He takes on many different forms, but the most recognized is that of a disembodied eye. As with most evil types, Sauron’s quest for power doesn’t end well, but while alive he remains a terrifying character throughout The Lord of the Rings trilogy. 

11. Grigori Rasputin

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A self-proclaimed holy man with mystical abilities, Grigori Rasputin rose to prominence during the early 1900s. He was befriended by Russian nobles Emperor Nicholas and Empress Alexandra and began to exert influence over the two. After he managed to heal their son, Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia, Rasputin became one of the most powerful men in Russia. While tales of his wizardry are often exaggerated, his death remains just as controversial. He is said to have eaten poisoned cakes and drunk poisoned wine without consequence. When that failed to kill him, he was shot in the chest twice, but still managed to survive. It wasn’t until a bullet to the head silenced him forever. 

12. John Constantine 

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One of the most celebrated fictional warlocks is the everyman John Constantine. The creation of Alan Moore, Rick Veitch, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben, Constantine is an occult detective from London. He is a walking contradiction who has a cynical view of the world but does his best to help those in trouble. An all-powerful sorcerer, Constantine rarely uses his powers, preferring to let his wit and intelligence get him out of sticky situations. His appearance is inspired by musician Sting, which is the total opposite of the movie version. Keanu Reeves played Constantine in the film of the same name, and while no classic, it is a decent adaptation of the character. Matt Ryan has played him in several TV appearances, most notably his own standalone show. 

13. Jareth the Goblin King

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He might be called a king and not a wizard, but Jareth has incredible magical powers he uses to try and stop Sarah Williams from saving her baby brother in the cult classic Labyrinth. The Goblin King uses crystal orbs to create illusions and has the ability to shapeshift, defy gravity, and change time. While a bad guy, he’s not exactly evil, more of a mischievous romantic with a bad temper. He is played wonderfully by the late, great David Bowie in his greatest movie performance.  

14. The Washington Wizards

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Here is a fun one to finish things off. The Washington Wizards basketball team. I know, they don’t possess any magical powers, but let’s not forget the great Michael Jordon, who is wizard-like with his basketball abilities, did play for them. Surely that counts?