Having read this USA Today list (which I came to via Fark) I must say it’s pretty solid, even though they leave off, through an entirely understandable wish not to be firebombed, the names of a lot of imaginary religious characters. One correction, however, seems absolutely neccessary:
Big Brother is no longer imaginary.
1. The Marlboro Man
2. Big Brother
3. King Arthur
4. Santa Claus (St. Nick)
5. Hamlet
6. Dr. Frankenstein’s Monster
7. Siegfried
8. Sherlock Holmes
9. Romeo and Juliet
10. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Read the rest of the list here. But know that they will be watching you…
raincoaster 
Agree that Big Brother is no longer imaginary.
Great list, but…Hamlet?
Doesn’t every intellectual undergrad boy think he’s Hamlet at one time or another? And can’t everyone recite at least part of the speech?