Actors Who Have Played the Same Character for Over 20 Years

It takes incredible dedication and a special bond with fans to play the same character for over twenty years. These actors have remained in their iconic roles through many changes in film and television, allowing their characters to grow and age along with them. This long-term commitment often creates a lasting legacy, defining their careers and connecting with viewers across generations.

Anthony Daniels

Anthony Daniels has played the golden protocol droid C-3PO for over forty-five years, starting with the original ‘Star Wars’ movie in 1977. He’s been in every live-action ‘Star Wars’ film since then – including all the prequels and sequels – and has also voiced the character in animated shows and video games. Remarkably, he’s the only actor who has appeared in every film in the main ‘Star Wars’ saga.

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones is the voice behind the unforgettable Darth Vader, a role he first took on in the original ‘Star Wars’ film in 1977. He continued to voice the character throughout the original trilogy, including ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’. Jones later reprised his role for appearances in ‘Revenge of the Sith’ and ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’, and also contributed to the ‘Star Wars Rebels’ television series. After more than forty-five years, he officially retired from voicing Darth Vader in 2022, leaving behind a legacy that has resonated with generations of fans.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford first became known for playing the adventurous archaeologist Indiana Jones in the 1981 film, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. He continued in the role for three more films released throughout the 1980s and 2000s, and then again in 2023 with ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’. This latest film capped a remarkable 42-year journey of Ford playing the iconic character. His performance as Indiana Jones has been a defining part of action movies ever since the first film came out.

Mark Hamill

I grew up watching Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in the original ‘Star Wars’ back in 1977, and I was thrilled to see him continue the story in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi.’ It was amazing to see him return to the role decades later with ‘The Force Awakens’ in 2015, and it’s incredible how they’ve even used technology to bring a younger version of him to life in shows like ‘The Mandalorian.’ Honestly, he’s been Luke Skywalker for over forty years, and it’s been a joy to watch!

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone famously created and played Rocky Balboa, the inspiring underdog boxer, beginning with the 1976 film ‘Rocky’. He continued to play the character in five sequels, and later took on a mentor role in the ‘Creed’ films. His last performance as Rocky, nicknamed the ‘Italian Stallion’, was in ‘Creed II’ (2018), bringing his forty-two-year run with the character to a close and earning him numerous award nominations. Rocky remains one of the most memorable and lasting characters in cinematic history.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger first became known for playing the iconic cyborg, the Terminator, in the 1984 film of the same name. He later returned to the role as a protective version of the machine in the 1991 sequel and in several subsequent films. Most recently, he reprised the role in 2019’s ‘Terminator Dark Fate’. For over thirty-five years, this character has been central to his career, appearing in both major roles and quick appearances throughout the film series.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise first became known for playing secret agent Ethan Hunt in the 1996 movie ‘Mission Impossible,’ and he’s continued in the role ever since. He’s famous for doing his own stunts, making the character incredibly realistic. His most recent film, ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One,’ picks up the story 27 years after the original, and Cruise plans to keep playing Ethan Hunt in future movies.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves first became known for playing the time-traveling musician Ted Logan in the 1989 film ‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.’ He reprised the role in a sequel in 1991, and then finally completed the series with ‘Bill and Ted Face the Music’ in 2020. Over thirty-one years, he portrayed the character’s journey from a teenager to a father. Reeves also found lasting success playing Neo in ‘The Matrix’ films, beginning in 1999, and recently returned to the role in ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ in 2021.

Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart first appeared as Professor Charles Xavier in the 2000 film ‘X-Men’. He continued to play the role of the powerful telepath throughout the original ‘X-Men’ trilogy and later reprised it in ‘X-Men Days of Future Past’. While his portrayal seemed to conclude with the 2017 film ‘Logan’, Stewart unexpectedly returned as an alternate version of Xavier in 2022’s ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’. In total, he has played the character over a span of twenty-two years.

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman quickly became famous for playing Wolverine in the 2000 movie ‘X-Men’. He’s known for playing the character more times than any other actor has played a Marvel superhero in live-action films. Even after what was thought to be his last appearance in ‘Logan’, he decided to reprise the role in the 2024 film ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’. This means he’s been playing the clawed mutant for an impressive twenty-four years. Both fans and critics have consistently praised his commitment to the physically challenging aspects of the role.

Ian McDiarmid

Ian McDiarmid first became known as the evil Emperor Palpatine in the 1983 film ‘Return of the Jedi’. He then played a younger version of the character in the 1999 film ‘The Phantom Menace’ and the subsequent prequel films. McDiarmid reprised the role in 2019’s ‘The Rise of Skywalker’, the final film in the sequel trilogy, and also lent his voice to the character in the ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ television series. Over thirty-six years, his performance as the galactic villain has become iconic in film history.

Ralph Macchio

Ralph Macchio is best known for playing Daniel LaRusso in the popular 1984 movie, ‘The Karate Kid.’ He continued in the role for two sequels in the late 1980s, and then again in the 2018 television series ‘Cobra Kai,’ which picks up the story from the original films. This has given Macchio the unique opportunity to portray Daniel LaRusso as both a student and a teacher over four decades, and has brought the character to a new audience.

William Zabka

William Zabka is best known for playing Johnny Lawrence in the original 1984 film, ‘The Karate Kid.’ After a quick appearance in the sequel, he fully returned to the role with the series ‘Cobra Kai.’ This show revisits Johnny’s life many years after his high school loss, giving audiences a more nuanced understanding of the character. For forty years, Zabka has played Johnny Lawrence in both movies and television, and his recent work on ‘Cobra Kai’ has been praised for being both funny and insightful.

Kevin Conroy

Kevin Conroy was the iconic voice of Batman, beginning with ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ in 1992. For thirty years, he continued to bring the character to life in numerous animated series and movies, and also lent his voice to the acclaimed ‘Batman Arkham’ video games. His final performance as Batman came in the 2024 release, ‘Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League,’ which was released after his passing. Over thirty-two years, Conroy’s work as both Bruce Wayne and Batman appeared across a wide range of media.

Bill Murray

Bill Murray first became known for playing the witty and skeptical ghost hunter Peter Venkman in the 1984 film ‘Ghostbusters’. He’s continued to play the character over the past four decades, reprising the role in the 1989 sequel, a 2009 video game, and even appearing in the 2016 reboot and the 2021 film ‘Ghostbusters Afterlife’. Most recently, he returned as Venkman in 2024’s ‘Ghostbusters Frozen Empire’.

Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd not only helped write and starred in the original ‘Ghostbusters’ movie in 1984 as Ray Stantz, but he’s been a consistent presence in all the major films featuring the original cast. He reprised his role in the 2021 and 2024 sequels to guide a new team of ghost hunters. For over four decades, his energetic portrayal of the scientist has been central to the series’ supernatural stories, and he continues to be a key figure in expanding the ‘Ghostbusters’ universe.

Ernie Hudson

Ernie Hudson is well known for his role as Winston Zeddemore in the original ‘Ghostbusters’ movie from 1984. He’s continued to play the character in several sequels and reunions over the years, including the 2021 film and the 2024 release, ‘Ghostbusters Frozen Empire’. Throughout these films, his character has developed from a new recruit into a successful entrepreneur who supports the Ghostbusters team, a transformation audiences have seen unfold over four decades.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy first became known for playing the clever Detroit detective Axel Foley in the 1984 movie ‘Beverly Hills Cop.’ He continued in the role for two more films, released in 1987 and 1994. After a long break, Murphy reprised the character in the 2024 film ‘Beverly Hills Cop Axel F,’ which came exactly forty years after the first movie was released. Throughout all four films, Murphy has consistently delivered the character’s memorable laugh and quick sense of humor.

Tim Allen

Tim Allen first became known for playing Scott Calvin in the 1994 movie ‘The Santa Clause.’ He continued in the role for two more films, showing what it was like for his character to become Santa. Then, in 2022, he returned as Scott Calvin in the streaming series ‘The Santa Clauses,’ which continued for several seasons. Over twenty-nine years, Allen played the character, eventually searching for someone to take over the role. In addition to playing Santa, Allen also voiced Buzz Lightyear for twenty-four years, starting in 1995.

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks famously voiced Woody, the cowboy doll, in the original ‘Toy Story’ movie in 1995. He continued to voice the character through three sequels, following Woody’s adventures with his owners, Andy and Bonnie, as well as in several shorts and specials. Hanks’ last appearance as Woody in a feature film was in ‘Toy Story 4’ in 2019, completing a remarkable 24-year run bringing the iconic toy leader to life.

Jeff Goldblum

Jeff Goldblum first became known for his role as the quirky mathematician Ian Malcolm in the 1993 hit movie ‘Jurassic Park’. He went on to lead the sequel, ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’, in 1997. Goldblum reprised his role in ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ (2018) and ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ (2022). Over twenty-nine years, these appearances showed Malcolm consistently cautioning against the dangers of genetic engineering, making him a famously quotable character in science fiction.

Sam Neill

Sam Neill first played paleontologist Alan Grant in the original ‘Jurassic Park’ movie in 1993. He later returned to star in the third ‘Jurassic Park’ film in 2001. After a long break, he reprised the role in ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ in 2022, bringing his twenty-nine-year journey with the character – spanning across two separate trilogies – to a close. Neill has frequently shared how much he enjoys playing Grant and his positive experiences making the films.

Kelsey Grammer

Kelsey Grammer originally became known as Dr. Frasier Crane in the 1984 sitcom ‘Cheers.’ He then led the hugely popular spin-off ‘Frasier,’ which aired for eleven seasons until 2004. In 2023, Grammer reprised the role in a new series, showing Frasier starting a fresh chapter in Boston. This remarkable run makes Grammer one of the actors who has played the same comedic character for the longest time on television – nearly forty years across the original series and its revival.

Dan Castellaneta

Dan Castellaneta has been the voice of Homer Simpson since the character first appeared in 1987 on ‘The Tracey Ullman Show.’ He continued in the role when ‘The Simpsons’ became a standalone series in 1989, and has voiced Homer for over thirty-five years, recording thousands of episodes and a movie. Castellaneta’s performance has helped make Homer a world-famous character, and he also provides the voices for many other residents of Springfield.

Harry Shearer

I’ve been a ‘Simpsons’ fan forever, and it’s amazing to think Harry Shearer has been voicing characters since the very beginning, back in 1989! He’s the voice of so many favorites – Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders are just two examples. What’s really incredible is he’s played those roles consistently for over thirty-five years! I think his talent for making each character so unique has been a huge reason why the show has lasted so long, and it’s still going strong as the longest-running American sitcom. It’s awesome!

Hank Azaria

Hank Azaria started working on ‘The Simpsons’ in 1989, initially providing voices for several minor characters. He’s the voice behind popular characters like Chief Wiggum and Moe Szyslak, and has won numerous awards for his incredible vocal range over the past thirty-five years. His work has been key to the show’s signature humor since the beginning, and he continues to be a vital part of the main voice cast.

Seth MacFarlane

Seth MacFarlane created the animated show ‘Family Guy,’ which first aired in 1999. He’s the voice of its most popular characters – Peter Griffin, Stewie, and Brian – and has played them consistently for the show’s entire 25-year run. Despite a short cancellation early on, ‘Family Guy’ has remained a popular show, and MacFarlane’s work on it has significantly impacted and changed adult animation as we know it.

Richard Belzer

As a TV fan, I always loved Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch. He first brought that wonderfully cynical character to life on ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ back in ’93, and then he brilliantly carried Munch over to ‘Law & Order: SVU’. Seriously, he was a regular on that show for fifteen seasons! And it wasn’t just those two – you’d see Munch pop up in little roles on other shows too. All told, Belzer played that detective for twenty-three years – it’s amazing! That makes Munch one of the most famous characters to ever cross over between different TV series, in my opinion.

Ice-T

Ice-T became part of the ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ cast as Detective Fin Tutuola in 2000, and he’s been a regular ever since. He’s now the longest-serving male actor in a major TV drama. Over the past two decades, his character has grown from an undercover officer to a respected sergeant, and he’s appeared in over 500 episodes of the show. He continues to play the role as the series goes on.

Sam Waterston

Sam Waterston first became known for playing District Attorney Jack McCoy on ‘Law & Order’ in 1994. He starred as McCoy for sixteen seasons until the show originally ended in 2010. When ‘Law & Order’ returned in 2022, Waterston reprised his role as the head of the prosecution team. After thirty years of playing the character, he left the series in 2024. Many consider his performance as the ethical and determined prosecutor to be one of the best in legal dramas.

Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel introduced the world to Dominic Toretto in the 2001 hit movie, ‘The Fast and the Furious.’ Since then, he’s been the star and a producer for almost every film in the hugely successful franchise. Over the past twenty-two years, the series has evolved from simple street racing to international spy adventures. Throughout it all, Diesel has remained the heart of the story, consistently emphasizing the importance of family. He’s expected to continue playing Toretto as the series wraps up with its final movies.

J.K. Simmons

J.K. Simmons first became known for playing the boisterous newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson in the 2002 film ‘Spider-Man.’ He continued in the role throughout the original three ‘Spider-Man’ movies, finishing in 2007. After a significant gap, he unexpectedly reprised the part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning in 2019, bringing his total time playing the character to twenty-two years across multiple film series. He’s also provided the voice for J. Jonah Jameson in several animated projects over the years.

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor first became known as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the 1999 film ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.’ He finished the initial ‘Star Wars’ prequel trilogy in 2005 and made a quick voice appearance in the later sequel films. In 2022, he reprised the role in the Disney Plus series ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi,’ marking 23 years of portraying the character. McGregor has received acclaim for seamlessly connecting his performance to that of Alec Guinness, who originally played Obi-Wan.

Hayden Christensen

Hayden Christensen first played Anakin Skywalker in ‘Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones’ in 2002, and continued the role in ‘Revenge of the Sith’ in 2005, showing the character’s turn to the dark side. After a long break, he returned to the Star Wars universe in 2022 with the ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ series, and again in 2023’s ‘Ahsoka’, where he played both Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader. This brings his total time portraying the character to twenty-one years.

Warwick Davis

Warwick Davis is well-known for revisiting beloved fantasy characters. He originally played Willow Ufgood in the 1988 film ‘Willow’ and reprised the role in a 2022 television series – a gap of thirty-four years! He also first appeared as Wicket the Ewok in ‘Return of the Jedi’ in 1983 and made a brief appearance as the character again in 2019. Returning to these iconic roles has become a defining feature of his career.

Billy Crystal

Billy Crystal has voiced the character of Mike Wazowski, the one-eyed monster from Pixar’s ‘Monsters, Inc.’, for over two decades. He first played the role in the 2001 film and later returned for the 2013 prequel, ‘Monsters University,’ and the 2021 animated series ‘Monsters at Work.’ Crystal is well-known for bringing a distinctive and humorous style to the popular character.

John Goodman

John Goodman is well-known for voicing James P. ‘Sulley’ Sullivan, the friendly blue monster in the popular 2001 movie, ‘Monsters, Inc.’ He’s reprised the role alongside Billy Crystal not only in the 2013 prequel but also in the 2021 and current television series. For over two decades, Goodman’s distinctive deep voice and heartfelt performance have made Sulley a beloved character for audiences of all ages, and he continues to voice him today.

Wesley Snipes

Wesley Snipes originally played the vampire hunter Blade in the 1998 movie Blade. He continued in the role for two more films, released in 2002 and 2004, which were among the first of the modern superhero genre. Fans were surprised to see him reprise the character in 2024’s Deadpool and Wolverine, twenty-six years after he first played Blade. Snipes’ performance as Blade was influential in the success of later comic book movies.

Michael Keaton

As a huge cinema fan, I still remember being blown away by Michael Keaton as Batman back in Tim Burton’s 1989 film – it was iconic! He was brilliant again in ‘Batman Returns’ a few years later, and honestly, I thought that was it for his time as the character. So, it was a real treat to see him return in ‘The Flash’ in 2023! It had been thirty-four years since he first put on the cape and cowl, and many fans, myself included, consider him one of the best actors to ever play the Dark Knight.

Christopher Lloyd

Christopher Lloyd became famous for playing the quirky inventor Doc Brown in the 1985 film ‘Back to the Future’. He reprised the role in two follow-up movies and lent his voice to a cartoon series in the early 1990s. Over the years, he’s continued to play Doc Brown in commercials and short films, most recently in a series of promotional clips for the franchise in 2021. His iconic performance has been a beloved part of pop culture for over three decades.

Frank Welker

Frank Welker started voicing Fred Jones on ‘Scooby-Doo Where Are You’ back in 1969, and he’s been the voice of Fred in almost every ‘Scooby-Doo’ series and movie ever since. He even began voicing Scooby-Doo himself in 2002 when the original voice actor retired. For over fifty-five years, Frank Welker has consistently been a part of the ‘Scooby-Doo’ franchise, making him one of the longest-running voice actors in TV history.

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox became famous for playing Marty McFly in the 1985 movie ‘Back to the Future’ and its sequels. Although health issues led him to take on fewer leading roles, he’s returned to the character a few times, voicing Marty in the 2010 video game ‘Back to the Future The Game’ and making a cameo in a 2020 music video. Over the years, he’s been connected to the role of the time-traveling teenager for a total of thirty-five years, and remains strongly identified with it.

Robert Englund

Robert Englund became famous for playing the terrifying Freddy Krueger, first appearing as the character in the 1984 horror film ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. He continued to portray Freddy in seven sequels and a TV series throughout the 80s and 90s. His last film appearance as Freddy was in ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ in 2003, but he revisited the role one final time with a guest spot on ‘The Goldbergs’ in 2018. This marked a total of thirty-four years spent playing the iconic horror villain.

John de Lancie

John de Lancie originally played the powerful being Q in the first episode of ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ in 1987. He continued in the role throughout the series and made appearances on other ‘Star Trek’ shows during the 1990s. After a thirty-five year gap, he reprised the role in a significant capacity in the second season of ‘Star Trek: Picard’ in 2022. Over the years, he has also provided the voice for Q in various video games.

Jonathan Frakes

Jonathan Frakes first became known for playing Commander William Riker on ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ in 1987. He continued in the role for seven seasons and four movies, concluding in 2002. Frakes has revisited the character several times, appearing in episodes of ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’ and providing voice work for ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’. Most recently, he reprised his role as Riker in the 2023 live-action series ‘Star Trek: Picard’, bringing his total time playing the Starfleet officer to thirty-six years.

Michael Dorn

Michael Dorn is the actor who has appeared in the most ‘Star Trek’ installments. He first became known as the Klingon officer Worf in 1987 and played the character consistently through ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ and all of the franchise’s films. He even reprised the role in the third season of ‘Star Trek: Picard’ in 2023. For thirty-six years, his distinctive, heavily made-up portrayal of Worf has been a key part of ‘Star Trek’, and he’s also lent his voice to the character in many video games.

LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton first became known for playing Geordi La Forge in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ when it premiered in 1987. He played the character for fifteen years across various sequels and films before taking a break. In 2023, he reunited with his former castmates for the final season of ‘Star Trek: Picard,’ allowing him to revisit the role of a more experienced Geordi thirty-six years later. Burton has also directed numerous episodes throughout the ‘Star Trek’ universe.

Brent Spiner

Brent Spiner first became known as the android Data when ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ premiered in 1987. He continued to play Data through the film series, ending in 2002, and later reprised the role in ‘Star Trek: Picard’ in 2020. Throughout the franchise, he also portrayed other members of the Soong family. His latest performance as a version of Data was in 2023, marking thirty-six years of bringing this memorable character to life.

Bruce Campbell

Bruce Campbell first became known for playing Ash Williams, the hero of the 1981 horror film ‘The Evil Dead’. He later appeared in two sequels, including the beloved ‘Army of Darkness’ in 1992. Campbell revisited the role for the television series ‘Ash vs Evil Dead’, which aired for three seasons starting in 2015, and also voiced the character in multiple video games, most recently in a 2022 release. For more than four decades, Campbell has been closely linked to this iconic, chainsaw-wielding character.

Patrick Warburton

Patrick Warburton has been the voice of Joe Swanson on ‘Family Guy’ since the show began in 1999, making him a consistent part of the main cast for over twenty-five years. His unique, deep voice has helped make Joe Swanson a very recognizable character, and he continues in the role as the show enters its twenty-second season in 2024.

Share your favorite long term character portrayals in the comments.

2026-02-13 01:24