Bender 1729

Bender is a bending unit built for industrial construction, but he'd rather smoke cigars, drink, gamble, and steal than do any actual work. He befriends Fry almost by accident, moves into a New York apartment, and declares himself free of human morality — an alcoholic, chain-smoking robot with no interest in being good.

DiMaggio's growl gives Bender a swagger that never curdles into pure menace, which is the trick: he's selfish, larcenous, and vain, yet the show keeps finding real affection underneath the bravado. The gap between what he claims to want (booze, money, no friends) and how he actually acts is where most of the laughs live.