Actors Who Have Played Multiple Different Characters Within the Same Franchise

Many popular movie and TV series often use the same actors repeatedly to play various characters within their stories. Casting directors sometimes bring back familiar faces in completely different roles within the same universe, which is a fun detail for dedicated fans to notice – whether it’s under alien makeup or in a new outfit. This practice is common in franchises like ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Law & Order’, where you might see the same performer playing multiple parts.

Jeffrey Combs

This incredibly busy character actor is a legend within the world of ‘Star Trek’. He’s best known for playing Weyoun, a Vorta clone in ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’, and Shran, an Andorian commander in ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’. He’s also played the Ferengi Brunt and many other alien characters throughout various ‘Star Trek’ series. Fans love how he brings each character to life, even with extensive makeup, making them all unique and unforgettable.

Mark Hamill

Everyone knows Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, but I love how he’s continued to contribute to the Star Wars universe in so many ways! It’s amazing that he voiced Darth Bane in The Clone Wars and then came back to do Dobbu Scay in The Last Jedi and EV-9D9 in The Mandalorian. He’s just so talented – you’d never even know it was him doing those voices! He completely transforms himself for these roles, and it’s fantastic.

Peter Capaldi

Before Peter Capaldi became the Twelfth Doctor, he’d already appeared in ‘Doctor Who’ as a different character. He played Caecilius in the episode ‘The Fires of Pompeii,’ alongside the Tenth Doctor. The show later explained this by suggesting the Doctor chose that face as a subconscious reminder to save lives. He also had a role as John Frobisher, a sad civil servant, in the ‘Torchwood’ spin-off series.

Warwick Davis

This actor started his career playing the Ewok Wicket W. Warrick in ‘Return of the Jedi’. He later appeared in the ‘Star Wars’ prequels as Wald and Weazel. Many also know him from the ‘Harry Potter’ films, where he played Professor Flitwick and the goblin Griphook. Despite often needing to wear a lot of makeup and prosthetics, he consistently delivers powerful and moving performances.

John Rhys-Davies

This actor is well known for playing Gimli, the dwarf warrior, in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ movies. He also gave a powerful voice to Treebeard, the ancient Ent. Playing Gimli was physically challenging because of the extensive makeup and the use of stand-ins, but voicing Treebeard let him demonstrate his range as a voice actor within the same fantastical setting.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Doctor Strange, the master of the mystic arts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Interestingly, he also brought the villain Dormammu to life through motion capture and voice acting. This meant the hero was, in a way, negotiating with a darker version of himself, a smart move by the filmmakers that made the movie’s final battle more meaningful.

Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis, famous for bringing Supreme Leader Snoke to life through motion capture in the recent ‘Star Wars’ films, appeared in ‘Andor’ as a live-action character. He played Kino Loy, a manager inside an Imperial prison, and the character quickly became popular with fans due to his moving story and powerful speeches. This was unusual because Serkis portrayed both a completely digital character and a realistic human character within the same ‘Star Wars’ story.

Jeremy Bulloch

The actor first became famous for playing Boba Fett in ‘The Empire Strikes Back,’ wearing the character’s signature armor. He later reappeared in ‘Revenge of the Sith’ as a different character, Captain Colton – the pilot of a spaceship – but without the Boba Fett helmet. This was a tribute to his original role and the intimidating presence he brought to the bounty hunter.

Dean-Charles Chapman

Most ‘Game of Thrones’ fans will remember Callum Wharry as King Tommen Baratheon. However, he actually appeared earlier in the series as Martyn Lannister. Martyn was a young soldier who was captured and killed during the war. Because a significant amount of time passed between these two roles, many viewers didn’t even realize it was the same actor.

Chris Evans

Everyone knows Chris Evans as Captain America, but I always remember him as the Human Torch! He actually played Johnny Storm in those older ‘Fantastic Four’ movies. And now, with this whole multiverse thing in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ he got to play the Human Torch again! It’s so cool seeing him as two completely different Marvel heroes – it really shows his range and how connected everything is becoming.

Jerry Orbach

Before becoming famous as Detective Lennie Briscoe on ‘Law & Order’, Jerry Orbach actually appeared on the show earlier as a lawyer. He played the character Frank Lehrman in a second-season episode called ‘The Wages of Love’. Creator Dick Wolf was so impressed with his performance that he later brought him back to star as a main character. Orbach remains a fan favorite throughout the entire ‘Law & Order’ series.

Vaughn Armstrong

This actor is remarkable for playing more than twelve different characters throughout the ‘Star Trek’ universe. While he’s widely remembered as Admiral Maxwell Forrest from ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’, he also skillfully portrayed numerous aliens – including Klingons, Romulans, and Cardassians – across several ‘Star Trek’ series. The makeup artists especially appreciated his ability to adapt to the complex alien prosthetics.

Paul Bettany

He first became known in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S. in ‘Iron Man’. He later appeared as the character Vision in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’, marking a significant development in the Avengers’ story. He further developed the character’s intricate personality in the series ‘WandaVision’.

Ian Whyte

This actor, who is over seven feet tall, often played intimidating characters on ‘Game of Thrones’. He famously portrayed the White Walker, the Mountain in season two, and the giant Wun Wun. He also played other large characters like Dongo and a wight giant. Because of his height, he was the perfect choice for any of the show’s biggest and most imposing roles.

Kenneth Choi

The actor first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Jim Morita, a soldier in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. Years later, in the timeline, he returned as Principal Morita in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’. This second character is the grandson of the original Jim Morita, which explains why they look alike. A picture of the grandfather is even displayed in the principal’s office.

Joe Don Baker

John Rhys-Davies first appeared in a James Bond film, ‘The Living Daylights,’ playing the bad guy Brad Whitaker. He later surprised audiences by returning to the series in ‘GoldenEye,’ but this time as Jack Wade, a tough but supportive CIA agent working alongside Pierce Brosnan’s Bond. It’s unusual for an actor who played a Bond villain to come back as a friend to Bond.

Bruce Campbell

As a longtime fan of Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man’ films, I always got a kick out of spotting his buddy Bruce Campbell pop up in little roles. He’s there as a wrestling announcer, a snobby theater guy, even a friendly French waiter – always adding a bit of fun to Peter Parker’s journey, either helping or hindering him. There was even buzz for a while that Raimi was subtly building towards casting him as the villain Mysterio! It’s those kinds of details that really make a movie memorable.

Garret Dillahunt

The actor played two very different roles in the popular western series ‘Deadwood’. He first appeared as Jack McCall, a timid assassin who murders Wild Bill Hickok. He later returned as Francis Wolcott, a tough and unyielding geologist. Series creator David Milch was so impressed with his initial performance as McCall that he created the role of Wolcott just for him.

Sean Gunn

He performs as a motion reference for Rocket Raccoon on the set of the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ movies, helping animators create realistic movements for the character. He also plays Kraglin Obfonteri, a Ravager, in the films, and Kraglin’s role becomes more important to the team as the story goes on.

Colin Baker

Before becoming the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker played a villainous character on ‘Doctor Who’. He appeared in the story ‘Arc of Infinity’ as Commander Maxil, and his character actually shot the Doctor! This shows the show often used impressive guest performances as a way to find future main actors.

Ahmed Best

Ahmed Best is well known for bringing Jar Jar Binks to life in the ‘Star Wars’ prequels, providing both the voice and movements for the character. He later rejoined the ‘Star Wars’ universe in ‘The Mandalorian,’ this time as a live-action character. He played Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, who rescued Grogu during the execution of Order 66. This role allowed him to showcase his martial arts abilities and portray a heroic character.

Charles Gray

The actor played a British intelligence contact named Henderson in the James Bond film ‘You Only Live Twice.’ He later became the villain Blofeld in ‘Diamonds Are Forever.’ Interestingly, despite appearing in films released close together, the two characters have no connection to each other. His performance as Blofeld was known for being both humorous and refined.

Clancy Brown

This actor is well-known for voicing prominent villains in various ‘Star Wars’ animated series. He brought the character of Savage Opress to life in ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ and played Ryder Azadi in ‘Star Wars Rebels’. He then transitioned to live-action roles, first appearing as the Devaronian mercenary Burg in ‘The Mandalorian’, and later as the Governor of Lothal in ‘Ahsoka’.

Thomas F. Wilson

In the ‘Back to the Future’ movies, Michael J. Fox’s character Marty McFly constantly clashed with Biff Tannen, played by Thomas F. Wilson. Wilson brilliantly portrayed Biff in multiple time periods – as a bully in the 1950s, his grandson in the future, and even his wild-west ancestor. He changed his voice and how he acted to fit each era, and his performance as the Tannen family is key to the humor and drama throughout the series.

Patton Oswalt

On the TV show ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’, he famously played the Koenig brothers – a set of identical quadruplets named Eric, Billy, Sam, and Thurston. The show intentionally kept viewers guessing whether these brothers were actually clones or incredibly realistic robots called Life Model Decoys. He skillfully gave each brother a unique personality, while still making them feel like a connected, quirky family.

J.G. Hertzler

Though best known as the Klingon General Martok on ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’, actor J.G. Hertzler played several different roles within the ‘Star Trek’ universe. He appeared as a Vulcan captain in the pilot episode of ‘Deep Space Nine’, and later portrayed a Changeling named Laas and a human artist on ‘Star Trek: Voyager’. His strong, authoritative voice made him particularly well-suited for playing powerful alien characters.

Jed Brophy

This actor is a seasoned performer of the world of Middle-earth, having appeared in both the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ movie trilogies. He often played orcs, including characters named Sharku and Snaga, and later took on a larger role as the dwarf Nori in ‘The Hobbit’ films. Bringing these fantastical characters to life required many hours of work with makeup artists.

Michael J. Fox

In ‘Back to the Future Part II,’ Michael J. Fox skillfully played several members of the McFly family, including Marty McFly, his future son Marty Jr., and his daughter Marlene. He also appeared as an ancestor, Seamus McFly, in the third movie. These different roles were challenging and required careful timing, as well as complex visual effects to create the illusion of multiple family members.

Enver Gjokaj

He first appeared briefly as a police officer in the movie ‘The Avengers’. He then became a key character, Agent Daniel Sousa, in the series ‘Agent Carter’, and later returned to the role in ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’, where he joined the team for time-traveling missions. Some fans have speculated that the police officer from ‘The Avengers’ was actually a relative of Sousa, which could explain why they looked so similar.

Silas Carson

Ahmed Best is known for his roles in the ‘Star Wars’ prequels, where he played both the Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi and the villain Nute Gunray. Both characters required extensive prosthetic makeup that completely covered his face. He skillfully portrayed these contrasting roles – a calm peacemaker and a fearful, selfish businessman – within the same movies.

Harry Morgan

Before Harry Morgan became famous as Colonel Sherman Potter on MASH*, he had another role on the show. He first appeared as the eccentric Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele in the season three opener. Producers were so impressed with his comedic performance that they decided to cast him as Colonel Potter, who then became the show’s commanding officer for the rest of the series.

Jeremy Sisto

He first appeared on ‘Law & Order’ as a lawyer in a season 17 episode. The next season, he became a series regular, playing Detective Cyrus Lupo. As a detective, he worked alongside Detectives Green and later Bernard. It’s typical for actors in Dick Wolf’s shows to start with smaller roles, like a guest appearance, and then become main characters.

Mark Gatiss

This actor has appeared in many different roles throughout the recent ‘Doctor Who’ series. He’s lent his voice to characters like a Spitfire pilot, and played on-screen roles such as the villainous Professor Lazarus and Gantok. He also portrayed a World War I captain in the special episode ‘Twice Upon a Time.’ Beyond acting, he’s also contributed to the show as a writer, creating several episodes.

Ty Olsson

The actor played Benny Lafitte, a vampire who befriended Dean Winchester on the show ‘Supernatural.’ Interestingly, he’d been on the series before, in season two, as another vampire named Eli. Benny became a popular, recurring character with a surprisingly emotional story, and viewers quickly embraced the actor in this expanded role.

Kevin Peter Hall

The actor, who recently passed away, famously played the original Predator. He also had a different role in the same movie, appearing as the helicopter pilot at the end without any makeup. He reprised his role as the Predator in the sequel, and his great height made him ideal for the physically powerful alien character.

Stephen Ure

I’ll always remember this actor as one of the unsung heroes of Peter Jackson’s films. He really brought those orc commanders to life! He played Grishnakh in ‘The Two Towers’ and then Gorbag in ‘The Return of the King,’ and he was incredible in both roles. It took hours of makeup and he completely changed his voice, but he was so good you’d never guess it was the same actor playing both of them. He totally disappeared into the characters!

Lawrence Makoare

This actor famously portrayed several key villains in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. He played Lurtz, the leader of the Uruk-hai in the first movie, and the fearsome Witch-king of Angmar in the third. He also took on the role of Gothmog, the orc commander who led the attack on Minas Tirith. He was convincingly terrifying in all three villainous parts.

Tom Lenk

I always loved the later seasons of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ and a big part of that was Tom Lenk as Andrew Wells! It was so clever how he came back – I remember him briefly as a vampire, Cyrus, who Buffy actually killed off. I was surprised to see him again, but he really shone as Andrew. He brought such a funny, quirky energy to the show, and it wouldn’t have been the same without him.

Walter Gotell

Walter Gotell first appeared in a James Bond film, ‘From Russia with Love,’ as the villain Morzeny. He later became famous for his role as General Gogol, the head of the KGB, and played the character in six consecutive Bond movies starring Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton. His journey from a one-time bad guy to a familiar, friendly-yet-opposing figure is a memorable and unusual part of the Bond franchise.

Shane Rimmer

This actor was a familiar face in James Bond films for many years. He started with small roles, like a radar operator in ‘You Only Live Twice’ and a production manager in ‘Diamonds Are Forever’, before becoming well-known for playing Commander Carter in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’. He also contributed his voice to several other characters throughout the series.

Jonathan Hyde

In the movie ‘Jumanji’, the actor played two characters who were psychologically connected. He was both Sam Parrish, the emotionally unavailable father of the main character, and Van Pelt, a fierce hunter within the game. This casting choice represented the main character’s journey to overcome his fear and issues with his father.

Dennis Franz

The actor originally played a dishonest detective, Sal Benedetto, on the show ‘Hill Street Blues’. Series creator Steven Bochco was so impressed with his performance that he wrote the character of Andy Sipowicz specifically for him in ‘NYPD Blue’. Sipowicz went on to become a famously complex and highly regarded character in television history.

Sam Witwer

This actor is well-known for his voice work in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise. He’s famous for voicing characters like the Son in ‘The Clone Wars’ and delivering a memorable performance as Maul in the animated series. He also provided the voice for Emperor Palpatine in ‘Star Rebels’ and even appeared as a stormtrooper in ‘The Force Awakens’. His strong understanding of ‘Star Wars’ history clearly enhances his performances.

Corey Burton

Corey Burton brings Count Dooku to life in the animated ‘Star Wars’ series, perfectly imitating the sophisticated style of Christopher Lee. He also provides the voice for the menacing bounty hunter Cad Bane and the criminal boss Ziro the Hutt in ‘The Clone Wars’. He’s incredibly versatile, convincingly playing everything from noble aristocrats to tough cowboys and ruthless gangsters all within the same show.

Christopher Heyerdahl

He appeared in the ‘Stargate’ series, notably as Halling in ‘Stargate Atlantis’. He also played Todd, a Wraith character who often reluctantly helped the team. The role required extensive makeup to transform his look, and he brought a surprising sense of honor and humor to the alien character.

Brian Thompson

The actor was well-known for playing the Alien Bounty Hunter on ‘The X-Files’ – a memorable villain who could change his shape and appeared multiple times. He also had a separate role in the ‘X-Files’ movie. While the Bounty Hunter was established as a clone within the show’s story, his other characters were unique individuals. His striking appearance made him well-suited for playing intimidating characters.

Matt Frewer

He was a familiar face on ‘Supernatural,’ playing two distinct roles: Dr. Krasner early in the series and, later, the terrifying character of Pestilence, one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. ‘Supernatural’ often brought back skilled actors to play different parts, and his portrayal of Pestilence was especially impactful and remains a standout performance.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds stars as Deadpool in ‘Deadpool 2’, and he didn’t stop there! He also brought the powerful villain Juggernaut to life through voice acting and motion capture. As if that weren’t enough, he even made a cameo as himself in a scene after the credits. This playful approach to casting really suits the movie’s funny and self-aware style.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy is well-known for his role as Prince Akeem in the ‘Coming to America’ movies. He also brilliantly plays several different characters who live in Queens, like the barber Clarence and the singer Randy Watson. Thanks to amazing makeup work by Rick Baker, he was able to appear alongside himself in various scenes, highlighting his impressive range as a comedic actor.

Michael Shanks

Michael Shanks is most famous for his role as Dr. Daniel Jackson on ‘Stargate SG-1’. Throughout the series, he also voiced the character of Asgard Thor. He even played the ancient inventor Ma’chello in one episode, a part that required extensive makeup to completely change his appearance.

Tell us which of these dual performances surprised you the most in the comments.

2026-01-31 02:22