Top 30 Actors Who Appeared In Both Marvel and DC Movies

Stakar Ogord [a]& King Shark
After his time as an action flick icon, it was only natural for Sly to join the comic book movie parade. For the MCU and James Gunn, he becomes the commanding leader of a Ravager clan. His complex history with Yondu adds to the sweeping emotion of “Vol. 2”, and he serves as a key ally to the “new” Gamora in “Vol. 3”. Meanwhile, for the DCEU (and James Gunn again), Stallone plays a far more menacing yet lovable fella. As Nanaue, a humanoid shark and possible demigod, he serves as the team’s heart and soul. With both characters, the “Rocky” star provides a steadying veteran presence, even with their brief screentime and limited dialogue.

Cyclops & Richard White
Though we fell in love with him as a prince from Andalasia, James Marsen’s calling card is without question Scott Summers. Defined by his powerful optic blasts, the heroic mutant is a founder and central commander of the X-Men. While never really being a definitive adaptation of the character, he was an essential piece of the original trilogy. And a lot of that is thanks to Marsden, who nails the balance of hotshot maverick and natural leader. His time in the DC universe is more overlooked, though. As Perry White’s nephew and Lois Lane’s fiancée, Richard is mostly a minor plot device in 2006’s “Superman Returns”. But Marsden still shines through, giving a character that could be easily hateable his own charm and appeal.

Angel Salvadore, Mary Jane Parker, Selina Kyle, & Selina Kyle Again
The 2010s saw Zoë Kravitz dip her toe into a handful of huge franchises. It all began, however, with her time as the high-flying Angel in “X-Men: First Class”. The character was intriguing and conflicted, becoming an early member of both the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Evil. Speaking of unclear allegiances, Kravitz is now best-known as the iconic Catwoman. Her Selina is not only a cat burglar, but a scene-stealer in Matt Reeves' acclaimed “The Batman”. She injected it with needed perspective and compelling thematic depth. Kravitz’s double-duty work doesn’t stop at live-action, though. She also had an earlier stint as Catwoman in “The Lego Batman Movie” and voiced MJ Parker in the first “Spider-Verse” adventure.

Kurt Goreshter, Veb[b], Thomas Schiff, & the Polka-Dot Man
It’s been a delight to watch this versatile character actor become a fan favorite. In the MCU, he charms our socks off as the hacker Kurt, one of Scott Lang’s trusty team members. He later takes on a new role as Veb, an ally against Kang, in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” But these comedic outings are actually a departure from his more sinister roots. The actor’s debut was as Thomas Schiff in Chris Nolan’s legendary “The Dark Knight”. In 2021, Dastmalchian returned to DC with “The Suicide Squad”. Abner “The Polka-Dot Man” Krill boasts a uniquely colorful power set. Throw in a backstory of lost agency, and audiences could only cheer when he became a hero on his own terms.

The Ancient One & Gabriel[c]
With her regal and almost ethereal vibe, this Oscar winner is at home in any universe. So her dual roles as a Sorcerer Supreme and a half-angel should come as no surprise. In DC lore, Gabriel torments Keanu Reeves' John Constantine with a twisted plot against humanity. Swinton’s brilliantly androgynous expertly captures the character’s spiritual turmoil. Her time in the Sanctum Santorum, meanwhile, was just as successful. Swinton gave the mystic branch of the MCU a convincing, lived-in quality. With her moral complexity and some kickass fights, the Ancient One served as the hidden heart of the first “Doctor Strange” film. Her final exchange with the new sorcerer may be one of the most poignant moments of the franchise.

Zeus, Nikolai Kravinoff[d], & Jor-El
This screen legend’s spin on the King of Olympians in “Thor: Love and Thunder” was met with mixed reception. To be fair, saddling him with such cartoonish material does feel like a waste. But while the role’s tone wasn’t beloved, Crowe still commits. And despite his frightful accent, there is something clever in playing Zeus like a tacky egomaniac. In the DCEU, his Jor-El of Krypton is held more fondly. Following a name like Marlon Brando isn’t easy but Crowe holds his own. “Man of Steel”’s extended prologue displays his action star chops, and later drops some peak voiceover. Over a decade after, Crowe would return as a less wholesome dad in Sony’s “Kraven the Hunter.”

Ulysses Klaue, Knull[e], & Alfred Pennyworth
There aren’t many role combos as polar opposite as these. First appearing in “Age of Ultron,” Ulysses Klaue is a classic underground crime boss. Despite his bluster, the character was ultimately a pawn in Erik Killmonger’s masterplan. Luckily, Serkis’ famed motion capture skills didn’t go to waste. He served as a mocap consultant for both Mark Ruffalo and James Spader. More recently, he introduced us to a grizzled version of Alfred Pennyworth in “The Batman”. It’s a stern and challenging foil for a more withdrawn, petulant Bruce Wayne. But all the while, Serkis never forgets Alfred’s warm, paternal side. In 2024, he played his second Marvel baddie, Knull (the creator of symbiotes), in “Venom: The Last Dance”.

Queen Ramonda[f] & Amanda Waller
Academy Award noms for comic book movie performances are still rare. And for the MCU especially, it had never been done before Angela Bassett in “Wakanda Forever.” She commands both “Black Panther” films with her captivating presence and effortless gravitas. As the Queen Mother, she’s also a touchstone for every member of the series ensemble. But what’s gone under the radar is her time as an infamous DC villain. Before the (now-iconic) Viola Davis era, Amanda Waller first appeared in the ill-fated “Green Lantern.” As is her signature, the character pulled some strings from the shadows. We would’ve loved to see more of Bassett in the role, if only the movie hadn’t fumbled the ball.

Bullseye & The Penguin
2003’s “Daredevil” is an artifact of its era. It’s pulpy and melodramatic in all the most nostalgic ways. And Colin Farrell’s unhinged turn perfectly fits that tone. His campy take on Bullseye brings the callous marksman to life. Nearly 20 years later, the actor’s version of the Penguin in "The Batman” is similarly exaggerated. Except this time, it has much stronger material. His Oz Cobb is brazen and deranged, yet sneakily thoughtful and almost idealistic. We’d put an emphasis on almost, though. Farrell undergoes an unbelievable transformation for the role. And it’s not just the make-up and prosthetics! His voice and mannerisms are near-unrecognizable. The performance received immediate acclaim, which has only grown with a spin-off series for HBO.

Gorr the God Butcher & Bruce Wayne
Christopher Nolan’s legendary “The Dark Knight Trilogy” is known for its epic ensembles. At its core, though, is Christian Bale. His Bruce Wayne provides a backbone for the series, with playboy bravado and small, pained looks. While some can’t get past his Batman voice, the combo is undeniably a knockout. It’s an all-time character matched with one of the industry’s greatest talents. In 2022, Bale joined “Thor: Love and Thunder” as the sinister Gorr. As the God Butcher, he anchors the breezy caper in real texture and emotion. He leaves his mark on the MCU with striking physicality and a magnetic aura. His story also poignantly reminds Thor of the value of being human, even when one is a god.

Gamora & Aisha
As soon as Zoe Saldana appeared as Gamora in 2014, we knew she had been perfectly cast for the part. She skillfully played the part of an alien warrior with a seriously bad dad and a heart of gold. Since Saldana’s so tied to this Marvel Guardian now, many fans may have forgotten her stint in another universe. In 2010, Saldana appeared with a few other recognizable actors in the adaption of DC’s “The Losers.” Her role as Aisha ironically had her playing the daughter of a Bolivian bad guy who ultimately ends up helping the heroes. In this role and her future tenure as Gamora, Saldana believably plays a tough character that you do not want to double cross.

Peter Parker & Steve Trevor
The first Peter Parker we meet in the wonderful “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse" is played by Chris Pine. He gives such a charming and layered performance that we’re genuinely sad to see him perish so early on in the movie. Fortunately, we’ve gotten to spend much more time with Pine’s Steve Trevor in the DCEU. The dashing air service captain was always focused on saving lives and encouraged Wonder Woman to travel outside her island to help end World War 1. After doing plenty of good, he sacrifices his life to prevent a huge disaster. And when he was magically revived in the sequel, he had to say goodbye again. We hope Pine gets to play a comic book character whose career doesn’t end tragically.

Storm & Catwoman
Oscar winning actress Halle Berry infamously earned a Razzie award for playing Catwoman in a disastrous film. Although she tried her best to make the thief a compelling character, there was no way she could make the questionable direction and awful dialogue work. Berry got a much better platform to display her talents in the X-Men Universe. Her portrayal of Storm was simply electrifying. Not only did she nail the character’s iconic look, but she also brought a regal presence into every scene she appeared in. We’re glad Berry’s bad turn as Catwoman didn’t stop her from playing Storm and securing roles in other memorable action movies.

Silver Surfer, Bill Foster, and Perry White
When Superman started working at the Daily Planet, Laurence Fishburne’s Perry White was there to forge the man of steel into a sharp reporter. Although he had no superpowers, we still wouldn’t want to get on his bad side. Fishburne played another intimidating figure without special abilities in “Ant-Man and the Wasp”. But even though he sided with a villain, we couldn’t help but relate to his sad backstory. We felt just as bad for Fishburne when he lent his voice to the Silver Surfer in a “Fantastic Four” movie. His emotional vocal performance was definitely the best part of the Marvel sequel.

Chester Phillips & Two-Face
While Tommy Lee Jones isn't the first name you think of when it comes to superhero movies, his signature directness lends itself perfectly to certain characters. His blunt delivery made him the perfect person to play the strict Colonel Chester Phillips in the first “Captain America”. However, we’re still wondering who made the head-scratching decision to have him play Two-Face in “Batman Forever”. The version of the villain Jones plays is ridiculously campy and a far cry from what we’re used to. But we’d be lying to say it wasn’t entertaining to watch Two-Face absolutely devour the scenery. Although we don’t know if Jones will ever give us another stoic or zany comic portrayal, we’re thankful he’s made his past roles memorable.

Fandral & Billy Batson/Shazam
We wouldn’t blame you if you didn't recall seeing Zachary Levi in the MCU. Although he played one of Warriors Three, we didn’t get a ton of screen time to know his character or backstory. Over in the DC Universe, Levi was chosen to be front and center of the “Shazam!” franchise. He represents what the teenage Billy Batson looks like when he transforms into a superhero. Levi brought so much energy to the role that we believed he was a real teenager in an adult body. And when it came time for him to get serious, he looked and sounded like a true hero. Although we’re sure Levi could’ve shone as Fandral, he was clearly born to play Shazam.

Magneto & Burke
It’s hard to believe that the legendary Michael Fassbender played the scenery chewing henchman Burke in “Jonah Hex”. Thankfully most people forgot about that one dimensional character as soon as the actor started playing Magneto. Fassbender made sure we felt the pain that that master of magnetism had to endure growing up under the mercy of vicious tormentors. Unfortunately, the darkness inside of him eventually pushed him to become a dangerous supervillain. Fassbender brought something new to Magneto every time he reprised the role. He pulled us into the theaters whenever we knew he was going to float into the story.

Papa Midnite, Korath, King Ricou, and The Wizard
Djimon Hounsou might have the widest variety of comic book movie roles on his resume than any other actor on this list. His first major genre role came when he played Papa Midnite in “Constantine.” Nearly ten years later, Hounsou played the villainous Korath for the first time. When he wasn’t busy returning to this role, he played King Ricou in the first “Aquaman” movie. Honsou rounded out his big screen comic appearances by portraying the titular wizard in 2019’s “Shazam!” No matter whether the actor was playing an alien enforcer or ancient magic user, his committed and strong performances stood out. Hounsou's fantastic range makes us excited to see what comic character he might play next.

Janet van Dyne & Selina Kyle
In 1992, audiences saw Michelle Pfeiffer go from being an introverted secretary to becoming the unforgettable Catwoman. The character knew how to use her claws, whips and charms to disarm and defeat her enemies. Pfeiffer also wasn’t afraid to show us how vulnerable Catwoman still was underneath her dominating persona. Long after the actress hung up the claws, she put on a shrinking suit to make a big splash in “Ant-Man and the Wasp”. Her Janet van Dyne is nobler figure who is willing to show kindness to her enemies. While Pfeiffer’s Marvel role is more tame than her Catwoman personality, it’s still great to see her lend her talents to another superhero franchise.

Red Skull & V
During Cap’s 2011 adventure, we met his mortal enemy Red Skull. Hugo Weaving managed to give a performance that could go from campy to terrifying in a moment’s notice. On the other end of the spectrum, we saw him play the masked freedom fighter V. Watching him fight against a totalitarian London with little more than his knives and awesome alliteration was thrilling. Since the two characters are so wildly different from each other, it’s really difficult to say which performance we prefer more. The only thing we know for certain is that V & Red Skull would definitely be at each other's throats if they ever were in the same room together.

J. Jonah Jameson & Commissioner Gordon
After voicing a couple DC characters on TV, J K Simmons finally appeared in a live-action DCEU project as Commissioner Gordon. While he was a pretty decent Gotham lawman, his most iconic comic book portrayal will always be J. Jonah Jameson. Simmons managed to make an antagonistic journalist into one of the most loveable characters in Raimi’s “Spider-man” films. He could make us cringe or laugh with just a facial expression alone. Since Simmons was so great in the role, they brought him back to play Jameson again in an entirely different universe. Fans are more than happy to let him step into the hilarious media mogul’s shoes for as long as he wants.

Heimdall, Moreau, Roque, and Bloodsport
Most Marvel fans will recognise this phenomenal British actor as the guardian of Asgard who sees all there is to see throughout the Nine Realms. As Heimdall, Elba portrayed a stoic badass who preserved Asgard’s laws and stood watch on the bifrost. He also tried to fight for good as Moreau in the second “Ghost Rider” film. Elba definitely was a little more lax with the rules when he played explosives expert Roque in the “Losers”. However, he really got to flex his villainous side in his role as Bloodsport in “The Suicide Squad.” Elba was able to make what could’ve been a run-of-mill mercenary into a layered character. His turn as Bloodsport showed the actor still has plenty to bring to the superhero genre.

Matt Murdock & Bruce Wayne
There’s no getting around the fact that Academy Award winner Ben Affleck played Daredevil in a movie that exists and that… is about the nicest thing we can say on the subject. After that disaster, he decided to take a go at another iconic character and become Batman. Affleck was much better suited to play a weathered and violent version of the caped crusader. Despite his edgier nature, his Batman was still warm enough to recruit other heroes to his cause. Affleck’s work on the role definitely redeemed his tarnished comic book reputation. Every time he put on the suit and waded into a fight, we couldn’t take our eyes off the screen.

Norman Osborn & Vulko
Aquaman wouldn't have been ready to be king without Vulko in his corner. This loyal and stern Atlantean was always there to lend a word of wisdom to Arthur Curry. Before playing this questionably good character, Dafoe took on the role of Norman Osborn AKA Green Goblin. It was fascinating to watch him play a normal businessman that slowly unravels during the movie. While Dafoe played certain parts of the role completely seriously, he also could ham up certain scenes to make them even more entertaining. We still find ourselves quoting this sinister villain’s lines today thanks to the actor’s iconic delivery.

Eddie Brock & Bane
Every aspect of Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Bane was perfect. He perfected the supervillian’s intelligence, menace and impressive strength. Even the odd voice has grown on fans over time. Years after Hardy played a straight up DC comic book villain, he took a stab at playing the Marvel anti-hero Eddie Brock. After this reporter bonds with an alien symbiote, he becomes capable of taking the names and heads of anyone who gets him angry. Hardy brings a surprising amount of humor and likeability to this dark role. After seeing him appear in two films and counting as Brock, we’re glad he was given permission to try being an anti-hero after playing Bane.

Hannibal King, Wade Wilson, Wade Wilson Again, and Hal Jordan
Not everyone can bounce back from starring in three superhero duds. Reynolds first tried his hand at a Marvel property by playing Hannibal King in “Blade Trinity”. After that movie failed to impress, he appeared as Wade Wilson in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. Although he was funny, no one laughed when his character was radically redesigned so he couldn’t even speak. Reynolds found even more infamy when he went over to DC to star in the critically panned “Green Lantern”. After all of these setbacks, the actor got to play Wade Wilson properly in the first “Deadpool”. Seeing him crush the role there and in other films while making fun of his past flops is awesome and cathartic.

Jane Foster & Evey Hammond
Neither the Guy Fawkes-masked anarchist or the God of Thunder could have succeeded without Natalie Portman’s help. As Evey Hammond, she portrayed a woman whose normal life is uprooted when she’s drafted into V’s cause. Over the course of the movie, she finds the strength to fight back against corruption. Portman later made waves in the superhero genre again when she started playing the quirky astrophysicist Jane Foster. She actively tried her best to use her intelligence and know how to help gods and earthlings alike. Then of course she was upgraded big-time to Mighty Thor in “Thor: Love and Thunder.”

Johnny Storm, Steve Rogers, and Jake Jensen
Even before the birth of the MCU, Chris Evans made his mark on the superhero scene as the hot-headed Human Torch in the “Fantastic Four” franchise. He hopped over to DC to play a computer expert named Jake Jensen in “The Losers.” While both those roles were certainly entertaining, neither role could match the impact Evans made as Captain America. Over the course of eight years, he made us believe in the star-spangled man. He saved the world time and again while being unfailingly loyal and incredibly courageous. And as an added bonus, Evans got to kick off one of the most noteworthy action scenes of the 2010’s.

Cable, Thanos, and Jonah Hex
Although comic book fans might not be eager to revisit Brolin’s turn as DC’s Jonah Hex, his later roles in Marvel films more than made up for that underwhelming movie. The actor had the perfect look and gruff demeanor to play a convincing Cable in “Deadpool 2”. His great chemistry with Ryan Reynolds and superb action scenes left us wanting more. As great as Cable was, there’s no denying that his best comic role to date is Thanos. He managed to make an evil purple titan who wanted to wipe out half of all life sound like a reasonable individual. Brolin’s awe-inspiring work set the gold standard for how comic book villains should be portrayed.

Adrian Toomes & Bruce Wayne
Back in the 1980s, people were skeptical that Michael Keaton could play the dark knight. But once he put on the costume, it was clear he was Batman. He struck a great balance between the billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne and the frightening caped crusader. Decades after Keaton flew around Gotham as the bat, he soared over NYC as the Vulture. He was incredibly intimidating in the role. When his scary persona was combined with his sympathetic motivations, he became one of MCU’s best villains. There are plans for Keaton to make appearances as both characters in future films. The fact that he’s playing a hero and villain in two separate universes 30 years after his first comic book role makes Keaton one of a kind.


Can you name any more members of this exclusive club? Let us know in the comments!

oh-GOURD https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/e2915598-8465-4acc-9810-3fa70c00ba12
nuh-NAW-way https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/f8ee3d02-a25b-4c38-869c-dea8247ea849
[b]GORSH-tur?
https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/ac817a4d-a868-4cf9-8652-37c7addb9649
shiff https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/28bcc9b6-c9a3-45df-a993-c6829434054f
[c]gay-bree-ull https://youtu.be/-828wM9lpLw?si=aPG-9ONznjqGdCfN&t=13
[d]kravvinoff https://youtu.be/ViNJjl_qoZQ?si=ij--LKlhHoHK1JKj&t=12
[e]null https://youtu.be/YtLx4nz199Y?si=n6eSipoY8CTuRD5X&t=7
[f]ruh-MAWN-duh (almost moan) https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/bb31a9c4-bfb7-4f10-afd6-f905e84101a2