Black Actors Who’ve Played the Same Character Over 25+ Years

Some roles don’t just define a project—they become decades-long through-lines in an actor’s career. The names below have all stepped into the same character for at least 25 years, often across sequels, reboots, special appearances, and even animation or games tied to the original screen versions. Each entry highlights where and when the character appeared, so you can trace the full arc of these long-running performances.

Eddie Murphy

Murphy has portrayed Axel Foley from ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ (1984) through ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’, ‘Beverly Hills Cop III’, and ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ (2024). He also returned as Prince Akeem Joffer in ‘Coming to America’ (1988) and the decades-later sequel ‘Coming 2 America’ (2021). Those two characters alone span 40 years and 33 years respectively between first and most recent appearances. The performances stretch across theatrical releases and a major streaming debut while preserving continuity with recurring ensembles.

James Earl Jones

Jones first voiced Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ (1977) and continued through the original trilogy, later returning in works like ‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’, ‘Star Wars Rebels’, ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’, and ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’. His portrayal of Mufasa began in ‘The Lion King’ (1994) and continued with the 2019 remake. The Vader role alone spans over four decades of films, animation, and streaming series. Across both characters, his voice anchored multi-era continuities that bridged generations of viewers.

Billy Dee Williams

Williams introduced Lando Calrissian in ‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980) and continued in ‘Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’ and ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019). He also voiced or portrayed Lando in ancillary media including ‘Star Wars Rebels’. This timeline ties the original trilogy to the sequel era across nearly four decades. The character’s appearances trace Cloud City leadership, Rebel support, and late-period returns that connect legacy and modern stories.

Ving Rhames

Rhames has played IMF specialist Luther Stickell from ‘Mission: Impossible’ (1996) through ‘Mission: Impossible II’, ‘Mission: Impossible III’, ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’, ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’, ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’, and ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ (2023). The run makes him the franchise’s longest-serving on-screen constant. His appearances include substantial roles and strategic cameos that maintain character continuity. Across changing directors and ensembles, Luther remains the tech-and-field anchor of the team.

LeVar Burton

Burton began as Geordi La Forge on ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987) and continued in the films ‘Star Trek: Generations’, ‘Star Trek: First Contact’, ‘Star Trek: Insurrection’, and ‘Star Trek: Nemesis’. He reprised Geordi in ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3 (2023). The character evolved from bridge officer to chief engineer and later to a seasoned figure with family ties. His timeline spans syndicated television, theatrical releases, and streaming revival.

Michael Dorn

Dorn’s Worf debuted in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987), moved to ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’, and appeared in the TNG films. He returned to the role in ‘Star Trek: Picard’ (2023). The portrayal covers service on the Enterprise-D, the Dominion War era on DS9, and later-life developments. Worf’s continuity links multiple series formats across more than three decades.

Ernie Hudson

Hudson first appeared as Winston Zeddemore in ‘Ghostbusters’ (1984) and returned in ‘Ghostbusters II’, ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ (2021), and ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ (2024). He has also been involved in tie-in appearances that kept the character connected to the brand. The later films reposition Winston as a mentor and steward of the team’s legacy. The role’s timeline stretches from the original New York investigations to modern sequels bridging old and new crews.

Richard Roundtree

Roundtree originated John Shaft in ‘Shaft’ (1971), followed by ‘Shaft’s Big Score!’ and ‘Shaft in Africa’. He reprised the original Shaft in the 2000 film ‘Shaft’ and appeared again in the 2019 continuation. This presence links the 1970s theatrical cycle to modern reboots within a family storyline. The character’s screen life covers nearly five decades of releases.

John Amos

Amos played Cleo McDowell in ‘Coming to America’ (1988) and returned to the role in ‘Coming 2 America’ (2021). The character evolves from Queens restaurateur to a figure with updated business gags and family dynamics. His scenes bridge the New York setting with Zamunda’s royal plotline in the sequel. The two appearances bookend a 33-year gap while preserving the original’s comedic through-lines.

Arsenio Hall

Hall portrayed Semmi in ‘Coming to America’ (1988) and reprised the role in ‘Coming 2 America’ (2021), alongside his additional makeup-heavy characters in both films. Semmi’s return directly connects the 1988 storyline to the modern continuation. The sequel revisits key Queens and palace locations to mirror the first film’s structure. Hall’s multi-character work maintains comedic continuity across decades.

Will Smith

Smith has played Mike Lowrey from ‘Bad Boys’ (1995) through ‘Bad Boys II’, ‘Bad Boys for Life’ (2020), and ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ (2024). The character’s arc extends from mid-1990s cases to contemporary investigations. Continuity centers on his partnership with Marcus Burnett and evolving roles within the Miami PD. The timeline spans almost three decades across four films.

Martin Lawrence

Lawrence’s Marcus Burnett begins in ‘Bad Boys’ (1995) and continues in ‘Bad Boys II’, ‘Bad Boys for Life’ (2020), and ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ (2024). The character grows from harried family man to veteran detective navigating later-career challenges. Storylines maintain a shared history and callbacks that connect all installments. The ongoing partnership with Mike Lowrey ties the series together across decades.

Share any other long-running performances we should include in the comments!