Howard Hamlin is a fictional character who appears in the crime drama television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off prequel of Breaking Bad. He is portrayed by Patrick Fabian and was created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. Hamlin is a foil for and longtime antagonist of Jimmy McGill, the lead and titular character of the series. Fabian received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Howard, with many critics deeming him to be the most tragic character in Better Call Saul.