The Rookie’s most hated villain was a racist nightmare, flawlessly portrayed by a surprising DC star. A performance you’ll love to hate.
But here’s the kicker: the actor behind this perfectly played a-hole is actually a DC star. Watching him ooze arrogance and menace on The Rookie made it impossible to look away, even while hating his guts.
How Brandon Routh nailed The Rookie’s most hated villain to perfection
The Rookie didn’t need a masked supervillain — Brandon Routh’s Officer Doug Stanton was terrifying enough. Known for playing the charming Ray Palmer in the Arrowverse, Routh flipped the script in The Rookie Season 3, becoming the show’s most unsettling antagonist.
Stanton wasn’t just another cop with a bad attitude. He embodied the harsh realities of racist policing, a topic burning hot in real-world conversations when these episodes aired. As Jackson West’s (Titus Makin Jr.) temporary training officer, Stanton immediately raised red flags. Racial profiling? Check. Abusing his badge? Double-check.
Routh, who once soared as Superman Returns’ Clark Kent, brought a chilling intensity to Stanton. Jackson knew it too. His mission was to expose Stanton’s dirty tactics before they ruined more lives.
The breaking point came in Season 3, Episode 5. A brutal beatdown left Jackson bloodied on the ground while Stanton stood by, cold and detached. But karma had a lens — Stanton’s body cam caught it all. Suspension followed, but not justice. The system reinstated him (yep, that happened).
Still, Jackson didn’t back down. By the time Stanton returned, his ugly truth was out in the open, tarnishing his badge forever.
Routh’s portrayal hit hard because it wasn’t fiction stretched too far; it was a mirror reflecting real-life issues. From Chuck’s Daniel Shaw to Scott Pilgrim’s Todd Ingram, Routh’s villains always stood out, but Stanton? He was the one who truly haunted viewers long after the credits rolled.
Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford split after 17 years
After 21 years together and 17 years of marriage, Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford have officially called it quits. In a heartfelt Instagram statement, the couple shared,
To everyone who has loved and supported us, we have some personal news to share. After 21 years together and 17 years of marriage, we have decided to begin a new journey and enter this next chapter as friends and coparents.
Their priority was their 12-year-old son, Leo. Ford, known for Dexter, filed for divorce, requesting joint custody and spousal support.
