Black Actors Who’ve Played the Same Role Across 10+ Years

Some characters stick so well that the actors who bring them to life return to them again and again—sometimes across decades, formats and franchises. Below are male Black actors who have portrayed the same role for 10 or more years, with details on where and when they reprised those characters, plus a few key appearances that mark the timeline of each long run.

Eddie Murphy

Murphy has played Detroit detective Axel Foley from ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ (1984) through ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’, ‘Beverly Hills Cop III’ and ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’. The appearances span 40 years, from the original film to the 2024 revival. Across the series, Foley’s cases jump between Detroit and Beverly Hills while recurring faces at the Beverly Hills Police Department keep the continuity. The long gap before the fourth film underscored the character’s longevity with a modern return.

Richard Roundtree

Roundtree originated private investigator John Shaft in ‘Shaft’ (1971) and continued with ‘Shaft’s Big Score!’ and ‘Shaft in Africa’, then a 1970s TV run. He returned decades later in ‘Shaft’ (2000) and appeared again in the 2019 film alongside Samuel L. Jackson. This thread links the classic blaxploitation era to contemporary sequels with the same central figure. The combined film-and-TV timeline covers nearly five decades of the same character.

James Earl Jones

Jones has voiced Darth Vader since ‘Star Wars’ (1977), continuing through the original trilogy and later projects like ‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’ and ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’. He also voiced Vader for television entries such as ‘Star Wars Rebels’, with later productions utilizing recorded performances for ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’. His involvement stretches from the late 1970s into the 2020s. The role consistently anchored the character’s presence across film, TV and curated voice work.

Billy Dee Williams

Williams introduced Lando Calrissian in ‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’, returning in ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’. He later voiced Lando in animation and games, maintaining continuity between screen and interactive media. Live-action came back into play with ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’. The character track runs from 1980 to 2019.

Michael Dorn

Dorn first portrayed Worf on ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and carried him into ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’. He then appeared in ‘TNG’ feature films, including ‘Star Trek: First Contact’ and ‘Star Trek: Nemesis’. Decades later, he returned to the role in ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3. The performance spans television and film from 1987 through 2023.

LeVar Burton

Burton’s Geordi La Forge debuted on ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and continued in the associated feature films. In 2023 he returned in ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3, now overseeing the Fleet Museum and reuniting with the former crew. The character’s arc tracks from bridge officer to seasoned leader over multiple formats. Appearances stretch across more than three decades.

Samuel L. Jackson

Jackson began as Nick Fury with a cameo in ‘Iron Man’ (2008) and continued across MCU films including ‘The Avengers’, ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ and ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’. He headlined the television side with ‘Secret Invasion’, expanding the character’s backstory and relationships. The role links numerous film phases with TV continuity. His run covers 2008 into the 2020s.

Don Cheadle

Cheadle stepped in as James “Rhodey” Rhodes/War Machine in ‘Iron Man 2’ and kept the role through ensemble entries like ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’. He also appeared in ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and related MCU series cameos. The character’s trajectory includes military leadership, armor upgrades and cross-team missions. His tenure spans from 2010 through the 2020s.

Idris Elba

Elba portrayed Heimdall starting with ‘Thor’, reprising in ‘Thor: The Dark World’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok’. He appeared in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, with a later return tied to ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’. The role links Asgard’s lore to broader MCU events. His appearances cover 2011 to 2022.

Will Smith

Smith introduced Miami detective Mike Lowrey in ‘Bad Boys’, returned in ‘Bad Boys II’, and revived the role with ‘Bad Boys for Life’. He continued the run with ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ in 2024. The films follow high-stakes cases, personal turns and long-term partnership beats. Smith’s portrayal stretches from 1995 to 2024.

Martin Lawrence

Lawrence’s Marcus Burnett began in ‘Bad Boys’ and continued via ‘Bad Boys II’ and ‘Bad Boys for Life’. He returned again in ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ in 2024. The character balances family life with the job’s risks, anchoring the series’ humor and heart. Lawrence’s span matches Smith’s from 1995 through 2024.

Ice Cube

Cube first played barbershop owner Calvin Palmer Jr. in ‘Barbershop’ and reprised the role in ‘Barbershop 2: Back in Business’. He returned years later for ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’. The films center on community issues framed through the shop’s regulars and family storylines. His appearances run from 2002 to 2016.

Shemar Moore

Moore portrayed Derek Morgan on ‘Criminal Minds’ from the 2005 launch, remaining central to the Behavioral Analysis Unit for years. After departing as a series regular, he returned for a 2017 guest spot. The character threads through major case arcs, team dynamics and personal milestones. The run spans 12 years of appearances.

Tony Todd

Todd debuted as Daniel Robitaille/Candyman in ‘Candyman’, returning in ‘Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh’ and ‘Candyman: Day of the Dead’. He later appeared in the 2021 ‘Candyman’, connecting directly to the original’s mythology. The character’s legend shifts with new settings while preserving core iconography. Todd’s portrayal stretches from 1992 to 2021.

Tyler Perry

Perry created Mabel “Madea” Simmons on stage in the late 1990s and transitioned her to film with ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman’. He continued with titles such as ‘Madea’s Family Reunion’, ‘Madea Goes to Jail’ and ‘Boo! A Madea Halloween’. After announcing a retirement, he brought the character back in ‘A Madea Homecoming’ (2022). The combined stage-and-screen timeline covers roughly 25 years.

Giancarlo Esposito

Esposito introduced Gustavo “Gus” Fring in ‘Breaking Bad’ and later returned in ‘Better Call Saul’. The prequel deepened the character’s operations, relationships and long-term conflicts. His appearances span multiple seasons across both shows with consistent continuity. The overall run covers 2009 through 2022.

Share your favorite long-running performances in the comments and tell us which enduring roles we should add next!