But they have enjoyed largely sinister cameos in franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter.
Stalin was a phoner quite as much as a phoney; the dictator enjoyed a particularly sinister form of chitchat: the late-night call placed to this or that artist would provide him with the opportunity to grant an imperial boon – in Dimitri Shostakovich's case, a life-saving sinecure that kept the composer afloat in Stalin's bloody flux.
But beneath the calm surface of a successful and innovative event, which all those in attendance seem to have enjoyed, there lurked a sinister undercurrent.
Paul Hembury, BBC Worldwide producer, said: "We are thrilled that fans will soon be able to enjoy this rather sinister but wonderful, classic story".
Diana Steenbergen of IGN found him "menacing, with his low voice and the cruel words ... trying to tear them apart emotionally before tearing Dean apart literally", and enjoyed the sadistic and "vicious humor" that makes the character "more sinister".
Stick it on a nice cheap black Volga, put a fake antenna on the roof, and you too can enjoy your moment of sinister untouchability.
Despite some suggesting the image is a bit sinister, Mr Obama apparently took the joke well with Pete Souza writing that "he enjoyed the prank".
Her young life, so keenly enjoyed, and her potential in math, drawing and music, were forever snuffed out by this sinister disease.
But while I've enjoyed the sheer entertainment value of the past three shows, I really am longing for something a bit sinister and darker".
He said community members would suspend disbelief, talking as if Slender Man was real, enjoying being scared by this sinister figure together.
