How to Do an Evil Laugh

Co-authored by Ben Whitehair

Last Updated: April 19, 2024

Doing a great evil laugh requires more than just letting out a cackle. By getting in an evil mood, using your body language to enhance your laugh and manipulating your voice, you can sound truly evil.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Perfecting Your Body Language

Download Article

1
Crack a maniacal smile. The best villains seem to enjoy their cruelty. To embrace your most evil laugh, make like them and try on a crooked smile. The less this looks like your normal smile the better: It can be unnervingly big, small or toothy. The point is to look a little demented and crazy.
- Practice in front of a mirror to find out what crazy smile you like best.
Furrowed brows make you look calculating and sinister. For the best look to go with your evil laugh, lower your brow as if you are hatching an evil plot. You can also lower one brow and raise the other to make yourself look a little off. The more you can unnerve others the better.

Advertisement
Try gesturing with your hands to enhance your evil laugh. Depending on the character of your laugh, you can try a calculating gesture, such as palms facing one another with your fingers drumming together, or go really crazy and just reach up to the sky madly with outstretched fingers. Either way, incorporate your arms to enhance your evil aura.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Manipulating Your Voice

Download Article

A high pitched evil laugh comes off as crazed and hysterical. Try shooting for the highest pitch you can make with your voice and sliding down into your normal range, laughing all the way. This kind of laugh might be good if you were trying to channel a witch or other mischievous spirit.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Try low-pitched sounds. A very low gravely laugh that grows bigger and bigger is the stereotypical “Muahahahaha” style. This is often employed when you have a secret evil plot that only you know about. Start this laugh in your throat and make it as deep and hearty as possible.
- This type of laugh can build nicely in momentum if you start slow and increase the speed of your cackling, as if overcome by pure evil.
Whatever kind of evil laugh you try, pump up the volume. There was never a shy evil laugh. Try to make your voice big and loud to match your gestures and facial expressions. You could even try breathing loudly to frighten onlookers. Villains aren’t shrinking violets. Embrace your inner evil!^{[2]
X
Research source}

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Getting in an Evil Mood

Download Article

1
Think cruel things. To let out a truly evil laugh, you must connect with your inner malevolence. Think about things you hate, pet peeves, or evil plots. If you’re having trouble, try to think of someone you want to seek revenge on. (Do not actually seek revenge; you’re just getting some inspiration!). Perhaps try thinking of a prank or trick you’ve pulled on someone in the past.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- If you get stuck, try to think of the most vindictive thing you’ve ever done. Did something about it feel good? Try to connect with this part of yourself.
If you don’t have a particularly evil life experience to draw upon, think of your favorite movie super villains. Cruella De Vil, The Joker, and Hannibal Lector are all good choices. Make a list of the characteristics that makes their evil laughs so memorable and good. Try to emulate these qualities in your laugh.
3
Wear something that makes you feel evil or mysterious. Lots of villains with evil laughs have unusual looks. The more you feel like a villain and the less you feel like you, the more otherworldly and successful your evil laugh will be. You could don deathly, dark-colored clothes or try an unhinged wardrobe that’s layered and mismatched.
- Make up is a fun way to get in touch with your dark side, too. Try Halloween make up with fake blood for a super scary look.
Jenna Fischer, Actress

Acting is a craft, and like any craft, it requires practice and patience. You have to be willing to put in the work and keep at it, even when it's hard.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Where can I find good inspiration for my evil laugh?

Ben Whitehair
Acting Coach
Ben Whitehair is a Social Media Expert and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TSMA Consulting. With over a decade of experience in the social media space, he specializes in leveraging social media for business and building relationships. He also focuses on social media’s impact on the entertainment industry. Ben graduated summa cum laude from The University of Colorado at Boulder with BAs in Theatre and Political Science as well as a Leadership Certificate. In addition to his work as CIO, Ben is a certified business and mindset coach and Executive Vice President of SAG-AFTRA. He is also a successful entrepreneur as the Co-Founder of Working.Actor, the premier business academy and coaching community for actors.

Ben Whitehair

Acting Coach

Expert Answer

I would look up other actors' evil laughs on YouTube. Watch their videos and see how they do it. That will give you a starting point for creating yours.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 18 Helpful 51

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Start off slow and add intensity as the laugh goes on.

Thanks
Helpful 19 Not Helpful 9
Learn to control a tic under one of your eyes, and set it off just after you've finished your laughing.

Thanks
Helpful 11 Not Helpful 6
With your palms up, flex your fingers backwards while curling their tips forwards; this will achieve a rather worrisome 'claw' effect that tends to accentuate your evil appearance.

Thanks
Helpful 9 Not Helpful 8

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

It's not really recommended that you try this in public, unless it's really appropriate or you're really brave.

Thanks
Helpful 90 Not Helpful 13
Don't actually do anything evil, because it will probably result in being sent to jail, where the guards are never impressed by maniacal laughing capabilities. This will only increase your time behind bars.

Thanks
Helpful 90 Not Helpful 29