Major Actors You Probably Forgot Were In Marvel Movies

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Over the past fifteen years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown into a huge, complex web of connected stories. While we all know the main heroes and the actors who play them, many other well-known performers have made appearances that are easy to miss. These roles vary from important supporting characters to quick, funny cameos. It’s tough to keep track of every famous face in such a large franchise, even for devoted fans.

Jeff Goldblum

Jeff Goldblum plays the Grandmaster in ‘Thor Ragnarok,’ the ruler of the planet Sakaar. He runs a brutal competition called the Contest of Champions and makes Thor fight the Hulk as a gladiator. Goldblum perfectly embodies the character’s quirky personality – an ancient, powerful being who loves throwing lavish parties and has a rather unusual way of dealing with his opponents. The Grandmaster is the brother of the Collector and acts as one of the movie’s main villains.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon, an Academy Award-winning actor, has a fun cameo in ‘Thor Ragnarok’ playing an Asgardian actor. He appears in a play put on by Loki, which retells the story of ‘Thor: The Dark World’. Damon plays the role of Loki as he pretended to die to save Thor. He reprised the role for a similar, humorous scene in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’, continuing the running joke.

Brad Pitt

The famous actor makes a quick, almost unnoticeable appearance in ‘Deadpool 2’ playing the mutant Vanisher. His character is mostly invisible throughout the movie, and we only see his face for a split second when he’s electrocuted after a parachute jump goes wrong. That brief shot is the only time viewers see him before his character dies. Reports say the actor agreed to the role for a minimal payment – just a small fee and a cup of coffee.

Sam Neill

The acclaimed actor makes a memorable appearance in ‘Thor Ragnarok’ as an actor within the film, performing on stage as part of an Asgardian play. He portrays Odin in a scene alongside Matt Damon and Luke Hemsworth, cleverly costumed to resemble Anthony Hopkins and delivering a powerful speech. This unique, self-referential role gave the actor another chance to work with director Taika Waititi.

Luke Hemsworth

The oldest Hemsworth brother made a cameo in ‘Thor Ragnarok’ alongside Chris, appearing in a funny scene as an actor playing Thor in a play for the people of Asgard. He intentionally imitated his brother’s portrayal of the hero, adding to the humor. He brought the same role back in ‘Thor Love and Thunder’ when the Asgardian acting troupe took their performance on tour.

Ken Jeong

The actor known for his comedy work has a small part in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ playing a security guard. He’s the one who finds Scott Lang when Ant-Man unexpectedly appears from the quantum realm inside a storage facility. Jeong is only on screen for a short time, seen reading a book and reacting to the van’s arrival. This cameo is a reference to his previous work with directors Joe and Anthony Russo on the TV show ‘Community’.

Hiroyuki Sanada

The celebrated Japanese actor appears in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ as Akihiko, a Yakuza leader, during a scene filmed in Tokyo. He has a sword fight with Clint Barton, who is operating as the masked Ronin, and ultimately loses the battle. Sanada’s background in martial arts adds depth to the role and offers insight into the difficult choices Clint Barton made after the devastating events known as the Snap.

Garry Shandling

The comedian, known for his stand-up work, played Senator Stern in ‘Iron Man 2’ and also appeared in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’. His character was a dishonest politician attempting to take control of Iron Man’s technology for the government. It’s later discovered that Stern is secretly part of the evil group Hydra. This role was among the last film appearances by the well-known comedian and writer.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke plays the villain Ivan Vanko in ‘Iron Man 2’. His character builds a rival arc reactor and aims to get revenge on the Stark family. Rourke dramatically changed his appearance for the part and even spent time in a Russian prison to get into character. He’s particularly known for the intense scene where he battles Tony Stark on a racetrack with electric whips.

Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell played Justin Hammer in ‘Iron Man 2’, a wealthy tech rival to Tony Stark. He tries to build his own version of the Iron Man suit, enlisting Ivan Vanko’s help, but doesn’t have the same engineering skills. Rockwell depicts Hammer as a showy and insecure man who desperately wants to be as popular as Tony Stark. His performance was a standout in the film, and the character has been referenced in later Marvel projects.

Tommy Lee Jones

Tommy Lee Jones portrays Colonel Chester Phillips in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ where he leads the Strategic Scientific Reserve. At first, he doubts Steve Rogers’ abilities and favors a more conventional soldier for the super-soldier project. Jones delivers a strong, commanding performance, grounding the film’s military elements. Ultimately, his character becomes a vital partner in the battle against Red Skull and Hydra.

Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci plays Abraham Erskine in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ the scientist who creates the super-soldier serum. He selects Steve Rogers for the experiment not for physical strength, but because he recognizes his good heart and strong character. Erskine acts as the film’s moral center, and his death is a crucial moment in the story for Captain America. Tucci delivers a warm and wise performance in this important role.

Richard Armitage

This actor played the role of Heinz Kruger, a Hydra assassin, in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. He killed Abraham Erskine and then chased Steve Rogers through Brooklyn – a thrilling scene that showed off Rogers’ new abilities for the first time. The actor later became famous for his work in ‘The Hobbit’ movies and several TV shows.

Hugo Weaving

I was completely blown away by Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt, or the Red Skull, in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’! He was such a compelling villain, leading this dangerous organization called Hydra and desperately trying to take over the world with the power of the Tesseract. It was amazing how they transformed him with all that prosthetic makeup to look exactly like the Red Skull from the comics. It was a shame they recast the role in later movies, but his original performance was unforgettable.

Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou plays Korath the Pursuer, a skilled hunter who works for Ronan the Accuser, in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ He’s the first to encounter Peter Quill, facing him at the beginning of the movie on the planet Morag. Hounsou returned to the role in ‘Captain Marvel,’ which shows more of Korath’s backstory. As a highly trained warrior, he uses powerful, advanced technology and weapons in battle.

John C. Reilly

John C. Reilly plays Rhomann Dey in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ a member of the Nova Corps. As a key contact for the Guardians on Xandar, he helps organize the planet’s defense against Ronan. Reilly brings a sense of normalcy and connection to the film, standing out among the more unusual alien characters. He makes the intergalactic police force feel more human and relatable.

Peter Serafinowicz

British comedian and actor Simon Pegg plays Denarian Saal in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ Saal is a Nova Corps official who doesn’t immediately trust the group of outlaws. Later, he commands the Nova fleet in a last-ditch effort to prevent a villainous ship from reaching Xandar. Pegg is well-known for his voice acting and comedic performances in many TV shows and movies.

Seth Green

The actor is well known for voicing Howard the Duck in the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ movies and their follow-ups. He first shows up briefly after the credits in a scene where he’s part of the Collector’s vast collection. The character pops up a few other times throughout the series, including during the huge battle in ‘Avengers: Endgame’. Green perfectly captures the sarcastic and deadpan humor that fans expect from the iconic comic book character.

Tim Roth

Tim Roth plays Emil Blonsky, a soldier who becomes the villain known as the Abomination in ‘The Incredible Hulk.’ Driven to equal the Hulk’s strength, he uses a special version of the super-soldier serum. Roth depicts Blonsky as someone completely focused on physical strength and winning every fight. After many years, he recently reprised the role in the series ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.’

William Hurt

William Hurt portrayed General Thaddeus Ross in ‘The Incredible Hulk’ and several subsequent Marvel films. His character was a determined military leader focused on capturing Bruce Banner and exploiting the Hulk’s power. Later, Ross rises to become Secretary of State and plays a key role in establishing the Sokovia Accords. Hurt consistently brought a strong and authoritative presence to the role throughout the many years and phases of the storyline.

Ty Burrell

The actor appears in ‘The Incredible Hulk’ as Leonard Samson, a psychiatrist who is romantically involved with Betty Ross while Bruce Banner is trying to stay hidden. His role is smaller than the character’s depiction in the comics, where Samson later develops superhuman strength and turns green. He filmed this part right before becoming famous for his role as Phil Dunphy on television.

Corey Stoll

Corey Stoll plays Darren Cross in ‘Ant-Man,’ originally as Hank Pym’s student. He transforms into the villain Yellowjacket when he manages to copy the shrinking technology and intends to use it for the military. Stoll portrays Cross as an ambitious businessman driven by a need for recognition and control. He unexpectedly reappeared in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ as the character Modok.

Walton Goggins

Stephen Root plays Sonny Burch in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp.’ Burch is a technology dealer on the black market who tries to steal Hank Pym’s mobile lab. As a supporting villain, he presents a more realistic danger than the film’s other antagonist, Ghost. Root is a well-known actor who delivers powerful performances in shows like Justified and The Shield.

Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne plays Bill Foster in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp,’ a former coworker of Hank Pym. He was involved in the early Goliath project and has a complex past with the original Ant-Man. In the film, Foster guides and acts as a father figure to Ava Starr, helping her manage her unpredictable abilities. Fishburne delivers a strong performance and explains important details about the quantum realm.

David Hasselhoff

As a huge movie fan, I got a real kick out of seeing David Hasselhoff pop up in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’! It’s a quick scene – Ego, the villain, briefly turns into Hasselhoff – but it’s totally memorable. Throughout the movie, Peter Quill keeps joking about telling everyone that Hasselhoff was his dad when he was a kid on Earth, which is hilarious. And get this – Hasselhoff actually sang a song for the film’s soundtrack too! It was a fun little nod to the 80s and 90s that I really appreciated.

Rob Zombie

Rob Zombie, the musician and director, makes brief voice appearances in both ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ films. In the first movie, he’s credited as the Ravager Navigator, and he provides additional voices in the second. Director James Gunn, a friend of Zombie’s, has cast him in small roles in multiple projects, but these cameos are easy to miss unless you watch the credits.

Nathan Fillion

The actor has been involved with all three ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ films, providing both voice acting and on-screen appearances. He voiced a monster in the first movie and played Master Karja in the third. Originally, he was also meant to be featured on promotional posters for the second film, but that scene didn’t make the final cut. He often works with director James Gunn and frequently makes small appearances in his projects.

Christopher Eccleston

In ‘Thor: The Dark World’, actor Jeremy Eccleston portrays Malekith, the leader of the Dark Elves. Malekith aims to plunge the universe into everlasting darkness by wielding a powerful substance called the Aether. Eccleston’s performance involves elaborate makeup and speaking a made-up Elven language. As the main villain, his character threatens both Asgard and Earth throughout the film.

Zachary Levi

As a huge Marvel fan, I always enjoyed seeing Fandral as part of the Warriors Three. I was sad to learn that the actor who played him, Zach Levi, wasn’t in the very first ‘Thor’ film – apparently, another actor had scheduling issues. But Levi really brought a fun, adventurous spirit to the role, and he was a great, loyal friend to Thor. It was a real shame to see Fandral go during Hela’s attack on Asgard – a truly heartbreaking moment for me, and for the team.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje plays two characters in ‘Thor: The Dark World’: Algrim and Kurse. He starts as a devoted follower of Malekith, but later becomes a strong and frightening warrior. Kurse is responsible for a key character’s death and presents a huge physical challenge for Thor. Akinnuoye-Agbaje is also well-known for his work in the TV series ‘Lost’ and the film ‘Suicide Squad’.

Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley, an Academy Award winner, played Trevor Slattery in ‘Iron Man 3’ – an actor pretending to be the villain, the Mandarin. The surprise reveal that Slattery was just a clueless performer unaware of the crimes committed under the Mandarin’s name is still a much-discussed moment for Marvel fans. Kingsley later returned to the role in the short film ‘All Hail the King’ and ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’.

Guy Pearce

In ‘Iron Man 3’, Guy Pearce plays Aldrich Killian, the scientist who created the Extremis virus. Initially dismissed and overlooked, Killian rises to power, building the organization A.I.M. to control world events. He’s secretly the force behind the Mandarin and proves to be a formidable opponent for Tony Stark, both physically and strategically. Pearce delivers a compelling performance, portraying Killian as driven by both business ambition and long-held anger.

William Jackson Harper

The popular actor plays Quaz in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Quaz is a mind-reading rebel from the Quantum Realm who helps the heroes. His telepathic ability creates funny scenes as he responds to what people are thinking. This part was the actor’s first role in the ever-growing world of superheroes.

Justin Theroux

Justin Theroux makes a quick, almost unnoticeable appearance as a police officer in ‘Iron Man 2’. While he’s widely recognized for his acting in ‘The Leftovers’, he was also a key writer on the film. He collaborated with Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau on the movie’s script, and his small on-screen role is a fun, inside joke acknowledging his important work behind the camera.

Patton Oswalt

The comedian voices Pip the Troll in a scene after the credits of ‘Eternals’. He appears with Harry Styles to introduce Eros, a new character, to the remaining Eternals. This isn’t Oswalt’s first time working with Marvel – he’s previously played several characters in their TV shows. His appearance in the film hints that he’ll be back for more cosmic adventures in the future.

Harry Styles

Harry Styles, the singer and actor, made a surprise cameo in ‘Eternals’ playing the character Eros, also known as Starfox. As Thanos’s brother, he arrives on the Eternals’ spaceship offering help. Styles appears briefly after the credits to hint at future storylines in the Marvel cosmic universe, and his appearance generated a lot of buzz among fans after the film came out.

Bill Murray

Bill Murray plays Lord Krylar in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’. Krylar is a leader in a Quantum Realm community and has a history with Janet van Dyne. Murray delivers his signature dry wit while interacting with the Pym family, and his character helps explain the unusual society within the Quantum Realm.

David Dastmalchian

Michael Dastmalchian played Kurt in the first two ‘Ant-Man’ movies, working as a funny, tech-savvy member of Luis’s team—though he’s secretly afraid of monsters like the Baba Yaga. He also voiced the character Veb in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Over the years, he’s become a familiar face in superhero films, appearing in projects for both Marvel and DC.

T.I.

The rapper and actor plays Dave in the first two ‘Ant-Man’ movies. He’s Scott Lang’s friend and the getaway driver, helping with several robberies. His character provides comic relief and supports the hero on his missions. T.I. brings a lot of personality to the group of criminals who become heroes.

Bobby Cannavale

In the ‘Ant-Man’ films, actor Bobby Cannavale plays Jim Paxton, a police officer and Maggie Lang’s husband. Initially presented as someone who clashes with Scott Lang, Jim eventually becomes a friend who Scott respects. While Cannavale is usually known for serious dramatic roles, he demonstrates his talent for comedy in these movies. Jim Paxton embodies the stable family life that Scott is working hard to maintain and safeguard.

Michael Peña

The actor is widely recognized for playing Luis in the ‘Ant-Man’ movies. He’s become popular for delivering quick, detailed stories that explain what happened before the main events. Peña brings a lot of energy and charm to the role, making Luis a beloved character among fans. His funny interactions with Paul Rudd are a key part of what makes the ‘Ant-Man’ films so enjoyable.

John Slattery

As a huge movie fan, I’ve always loved John Slattery’s portrayal of Howard Stark. He really brings a certain gravitas to the role in films like ‘Iron Man 2’ and ‘Captain America: Civil War’ – mostly through flashbacks and messages to his son, Tony. It’s neat seeing him pop up in those older scenes! And then, in ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ he actually gets to interact with young Tony during that time travel bit, which was a fantastic moment. He perfectly captures Howard as this incredibly smart, but kind of emotionally reserved, guy from that generation.

Dominic Cooper

The actor plays a young Howard Stark in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. As a gifted inventor, he supports the military by designing the technology Steve Rogers uses. He brings a fun, energetic, and somewhat carefree attitude to the role, reflecting the personality of his son. He also reprised the character in the television series ‘Agent Carter’.

Neal McDonough

The actor is known for playing Dum Dum Dugan, a member of Captain America’s Howling Commandos in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger.’ He’s easily identified by his bowler hat and prominent mustache. McDonough portrays Dugan as a strong and dedicated soldier fighting alongside Captain America, and he’s continued to play the character in various TV shows and short films.

Derek Luke

I always appreciated Luke’s role as Gabe Jones in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. He was a fantastic addition to the Howling Commandos – a really capable soldier, and the fact that he spoke German was a clever touch! He wasn’t just background noise, either; Luke delivered a solid supporting performance as part of that team taking down those Hydra bases. Gabe was a vital piece of that diverse unit helping Steve Rogers, and I thought he really stood out.

Kenneth Choi

The actor portrayed Jim Morita, a soldier with the Howling Commandos, in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger.’ Years later, he returned to the same cinematic universe as the grandson of his original character, playing a high school principal in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’ This smart casting decision establishes a family connection across the franchise’s timeline. Choi is one of the rare actors to portray two separate characters within the same shared universe.

JJ Feild

The actor plays Montgomery Falsworth in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ as part of the Howling Commandos. He portrays a British soldier who teams up with an international group to battle Red Skull’s forces. Feild brings a traditional, heroic feel to the role of a skilled sharpshooter. His character is inspired by a comic book figure who later becomes a superhero.

Bruno Ricci

In ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ the actor portrays Jacques Dernier, a member of the French Resistance. He fights alongside the Howling Commandos, using his skills with explosives to disrupt Hydra’s plans. Ricci delivers an energetic performance, bringing an international element to the group. His character plays a key role in several battles shown in the film’s wartime sequence.

Toby Jones

The actor plays Arnim Zola, a scientist working for the villainous organization Hydra, in the first two ‘Captain America’ movies. He starts as a key assistant to the Red Skull, but is later captured. The second film reveals that his mind was transferred into a huge computer system, allowing Hydra to continue operating. Jones perfectly captures the character’s unsettling and intelligent evil, making him a memorable villain.

Lee Pace

Lee Pace portrays Ronan the Accuser, the primary villain in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ As a devoted Kree warrior, Ronan aims to obliterate the planet Xandar with the power of an Infinity Stone. Pace delivers a compelling performance, embodying the character’s intense and fanatical nature through extensive blue makeup and armor. He revisited the role in the film ‘Captain Marvel,’ offering a look at Ronan’s backstory and earlier life.

Share your favorite forgotten Marvel cameos with other fans in the comments.

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2026-02-08 23:21