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In the world, there are clear divisions between heroes and villains. But there are also those who started as villains, only to later emerge on the winning side, eventually being deemed heroes by history. There are also figures who soared to greatness through philanthropy, discovered life-saving cures, or fought against fascist regimes by simply stepping up, surpassing expectations, and delivering remarkable results. Society has a need for heroes to lead the charge in noble causes, so it's no surprise that those who stray from the righteous path can fall from their lofty positions. Here are ten individuals who lived long enough to transform from heroes to villains.
10. Henry Heimlich
Henry Heimlich, an American thoracic surgeon, is famously credited with developing the Heimlich maneuver—an emergency technique to save people from choking. We’ve all experienced the panic of choking, yet it’s shocking to realize that over 4,900 people died from choking in the U.S. in 2020 alone. The scale of this tragedy is difficult to comprehend, and one can only imagine how much worse it could have been had Henry not devised the Heimlich maneuver. It's safe to say Henry saved thousands, if not millions, from suffocating to death from an unchewed bite of food.
However, Henry's legacy took a dark turn when it became apparent that his endorsement of using the maneuver to help drowning victims led to disastrous outcomes. His also controversial support of malaria therapy as a treatment for HIV only added to his notoriety. The controversy surrounding his methods grew so severe that the maneuver was stripped of his name and is now referred to as the abdominal thrust. What an ironic fall from grace for someone who once saved lives.
9. Philippe Petain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Petain, widely known as Marshal Petain, was a prominent French general who rose to the esteemed rank of Marshal of France during World War I. His actions during the war, particularly at the Battle of Verdun, earned him the heroic title 'Lion of Verdun' for halting the German forces. A true war hero for the French military, Petain's swift descent into villainy came after the German invasion in 1940, when he took control of the French state and pledged allegiance to the Nazis.
In his misguided attempt to restore France’s greatness, Petain collaborated with Nazi forces and implemented harsh, discriminatory policies against the Jewish community. His actions led to his eventual trial and death sentence, though it was later commuted to life imprisonment.
8. Jim Jones
In his early years, Jim Jones was recognized as a charming and charismatic church leader with an apparent gift for healing and foresight. While such traits weren’t unusual at the time, Jones also made headlines for his progressive stance on racial integration (which clashed with many church leaders) and for establishing organizations aimed at alleviating homelessness. These actions earned him praise from many, as they reflected admirable qualities that transcended religious or racial boundaries.
It should have ended there, but Jones developed what could be described as narcissistic personality disorder. Along with a loyal following, he founded the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, also known as Jonestown, in Guyana. This became the tragic headquarters of his U.S.-based cult. In the end, the entire congregation consumed cyanide-laced kool-aid in one of the most infamous mass suicides in history, claiming the lives of 913 individuals, including 304 children. The cruelest irony? Jones himself didn’t even take the poison.
7. Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold, a former American military officer during the Revolutionary War, was initially celebrated for his courageous service. Rising through the ranks to become a major general in the Continental Army, Arnold became a symbol of patriotism. However, he shocked the nation by defecting to the British side of the conflict, ultimately earning the title of America's most notorious traitor.
Various theories exist about why Arnold betrayed his country—greed, debt, resentment towards fellow officers, disillusionment with the Continental Congress, and even a longing to see the colonies remain under British rule. However, his financial troubles seem to have played a major role in his decision. After the war, Arnold allegedly escaped execution and moved to Britain, where he lived out his years as an unsuccessful businessman and traitor. The name ‘Benedict Arnold’ has since become synonymous with treason in popular culture.
6. Richard Jewell (or, Rather, the Media)
Let’s set the record straight. Richard was not the villain in this story; he was exonerated and cleared of all charges, though his reputation suffered nonetheless. The real villain here is the media, which quickly shifted blame onto Richard instead of focusing on the actual terrorist act. During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Richard spotted a suspicious bag containing homemade explosive devices. He acted swiftly, alerting people and helping them evacuate the area. Sadly, the explosion still claimed one life and left 111 others injured.
Initially, Richard was hailed as a hero for his quick thinking that saved many lives. However, everything changed when a list of FBI suspects was leaked, and Richard's name appeared as a potential culprit. The media turned on him almost instantly, viciously attacking his character, even making fun of his appearance and weight. Ultimately, Richard was cleared of all charges. After enduring libel lawsuits and settling legal battles, he continued his work in law enforcement before passing away due to health issues. From hero to villain to... not villain.
5. Harry Harlow
At the start of the 20th century, many psychologists viewed affection toward children as an unnecessary emotional indulgence rather than an important aspect of development. Harry Harlow sought to explore this idea by studying a topic that was difficult to measure—love. Through a series of controversial experiments involving rhesus monkeys, Harlow demonstrated the catastrophic effects of social deprivation on young monkeys, underscoring the crucial role a caregiver's love plays in childhood development.
Already controversial, Harlow's research took an even darker turn after the death of his wife from cancer. He began conducting experiments that incorporated punishment and reward, as well as devising horrific setups such as the wire mother experiment, cages designed to induce depression, the 'tunnel of terror,' and the 'pit of despair.' Each of these experiments was uniquely cruel and inhumane. Eventually, the ethics committee intervened and put a stop to his experiments.
4. Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling, a man who earned Nobel Prizes in both chemistry and peace, as well as publishing more than a thousand papers and books on various scientific topics, was on a trajectory to become one of the most respected intellectuals of his time. One of his major contributions involved studying Vitamin C and its potential health benefits, where he even claimed it could cure cancer. These assertions were met with harsh criticism from the medical community.
Rather than backing down from the criticism, Linus channeled all his efforts into proving his detractors wrong. However, this endeavor eventually proved to be his downfall, as he was proven to be incorrect. While Linus wasn't an ill-intentioned person, his relentless desire to be right left a lasting impact, influencing the way some people still consume vitamins, often in excess, believing they may reap miraculous benefits.
3. Charles Romley Alder Wright
Charles Romley Alder Wright is most known for creating one of the most infamous substances found on the streets today, and he was also the founding figure of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. While working as a researcher in physics and chemistry in London, Wright began experimenting with morphine and combining it with various acids, with the hopeful intent of finding a non-addictive (yet ironically) alternative to the drug.
Unfortunately, he soon discovered a more potent version of morphine by boiling several specialized chemicals, resulting in the creation of diacetylmorphine—better known today as heroin. Initially marketed as a remedy for coughs, the drug's addictive nature soon became apparent, leading to its removal from the market. To this day, it remains one of the most addictive and dangerous substances known. Thanks for that, Charlie.
2. Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh is remembered as the first pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, completing the historic journey from New York to Paris in a single non-stop flight on May 20-21, 1927. His achievement turned him into an instant hero, in a society that revered such daring feats. However, just before World War II, he was honored with medals from the Nazi government, setting off a decline in his public image. When the war broke out, it not only divided the countries involved but also the people of those nations that were still neutral.
Before the United States entered the war, a number of public figures voiced their opposition to the country becoming involved in international conflicts. Lindbergh, in a notorious anti-Semitic speech, claimed that three groups were driving the U.S. towards war: (1) the British, (2) President Roosevelt’s administration, and (3) the Jews. He controversially added that Jews would suffer the most if the U.S. joined the war, a statement that led to him being branded a Nazi sympathizer, a label from which he could never recover.
1. Fritz Haber
If Fritz Haber were a superhero, he might be dubbed the 'Two-sided Coin,' as his life was an extraordinary mix of both heroism and villainy. But in reality, Haber was simply a brilliant chemist. Among the most renowned figures in the field, he is credited with developing the Haber-Bosch process, a revolutionary method for the large-scale production of fertilizers and explosives. This work earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
The complication arose, however, when Haber, one of the most skilled chemists of his time, found himself on the side of the Germans during their declaration of war. As history would come to depict them, the Germans were seen as the antagonists. After joining the German army, Haber was promoted to Captain and became the head of the Chemistry Section in the Ministry of War, where he pioneered the first chemical weapons used in World War I. In doing so, Haber became a key figure in ushering in the brutal era of chemical warfare—an enduring tragedy that still haunts humanity today.
