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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/36273
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

A great example of an egotistical character who the audience warms to is [Dr Rodney McKay](http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Meredith_Rodney_McKay), who played a short role in Stargate: SG1 and then as one of the lead characters in Stargate: Atlantis. He is the epitome of a genius who is wholly and unsufferably aware of his looming intellect.

Had the character not had a certain charm when he first appeared as a foil to the lead genius-but-not-arrogant-with-it, [Major Samantha Carter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha_Carter), I am sure that we would never have seen him again.

I believe the reason we tolerated and even loved McKay's arrogant nature was because there was also a vulnerability behind it. He was a smart person surrounded by smart and capable people. He realized that intellect alone could not solve all of the issues, which gave the character a humility that everyone pretended not to notice as to not damage his towering ego, which in many ways was what made him so effective.

His ego was in many ways also his greatest strength; he _knew_ he could solve each issue. In a few episodes we saw him stumped by a difficult problem; he started doubting himself and then he faltered. We as an audience would will him to use that towering ego of his to believe in himself and save the day.

It was a combination of good acting and good writing and for me a great example of the type of character you are trying to portray.

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