Actors Who Played Multiple Roles in DC Projects

The DC universe on screen is huge. It includes many movies, TV shows, and cartoons. Over the years, some actors have played more than one character in this world. This happens in live-action films, TV series, and animated projects. It shows how versatile these actors are and gives fans a fun connection between different DC stories.

This practice of recasting actors is a long tradition in DC productions. Sometimes an actor who was a hero in one project comes back as a villain in another. Other times, actors from older DC shows get new roles in modern ones as a tribute. Here are some of the many actors who have played multiple parts in the DC multiverse.

Adam West and Julie Newmar

Adam West and Julie Newmar are famous for their roles in the classic Batman TV series (1966-1968). West played the hero Batman, and Newmar was the iconic villain Catwoman. Their performances are still celebrated by fans today.

Decades later, they returned to the world of Batman in a new way. They provided the voices for Bruce Wayne’s parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, in an animated movie. This was a touching tribute to their legacy with the characters.

Alan Ritchson

Alan Ritchson first joined the DC world as Arthur Curry, also known as Aquaman. He played this role in the TV show Smallville (2001-2011), which told the story of a young Clark Kent. Ritchson appeared in several episodes as the future king of Atlantis.

Years later, Ritchson returned to DC in a completely different role. He played Hank Hall, the hero known as Hawk, in the series Titans (2018-2023). His portrayal of the aggressive and troubled hero was a main part of the show’s early seasons.

Aldis Hodge

Aldis Hodge played the powerful hero Carter Hall, also known as Hawkman, in the movie Black Adam (2022). As the leader of the Justice Society, he was a major character in the film, equipped with his famous wings and mace.

In the same year, Hodge also lent his voice to another major DC hero. He was the voice of John Stewart, a Green Lantern, in the animated movie Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022).

Brandon Routh

Brandon Routh is well-known for playing the Man of Steel. He starred as Superman in the movie Superman Returns (2006), taking on the famous blue and red suit. This role made him a major figure in the history of the character.

He later returned to the DC universe in the TV shows connected to the Arrowverse. In Arrow (2012-2020) and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2016-2022), he played the brilliant scientist Ray Palmer, also known as The Atom. He even got to play Superman again during the Crisis on Infinite Earths TV event.

David Dastmalchian

David Dastmalchian started his DC career with a small part in a huge movie. He played Thomas Schiff, a paranoid henchman of the Joker, in the blockbuster film The Dark Knight (2008).

He made a much bigger impact when he returned to DC years later. He played the strange and sad character Polka-Dot Man in the movie The Suicide Squad (2021). His performance was a standout and became a favorite for many viewers.

Dean Cain

Dean Cain became a household name playing Superman in the TV show Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997). His version of the character was known for being charming and relatable.

He later returned to the DC universe in the TV show Supergirl (2015-2021). In this series, he played Jeremiah Danvers, the adoptive father of Supergirl. This allowed a former Superman to help guide a new hero.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Dwayne Johnson starred as the powerful antihero Teth-Adam in the movie Black Adam (2022). He spent years developing the project to bring the famous character to the big screen for the first time.

In that same year, he also played a much more lighthearted DC character. Johnson provided the voice for Krypto the Superdog, Superman’s loyal pet, in the animated family film DC League of Super-Pets (2022).

Erica Durance

Erica Durance played the famous reporter Lois Lane in the Superman prequel show Smallville (2001-2011). She was a main character for many seasons and became the definitive version of Lois for a generation of fans.

She later joined the cast of the TV show Supergirl (2015-2021). In this series, she took on the role of Alura Zor-El, Supergirl’s Kryptonian mother. She acted as a guide for her daughter from beyond the grave.

Helen Slater

Helen Slater became a star when she played Supergirl. She had the lead role as the powerful Kryptonian hero in the movie Supergirl (1984). She was one of the first women to lead a major superhero film.

Slater later returned to the world of Superman and Supergirl in television. She appeared in Smallville (2001-2011) as Superman’s biological mother, Lara-El. She then took on a regular role in the Supergirl (2015-2021) TV series as Supergirl’s adoptive mother, Eliza Danvers.

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa is famous worldwide for playing Aquaman. He brought the King of Atlantis to life in movies like Justice League (2017) and his own solo film Aquaman (2018). His version of the character was powerful and very different from past versions.

Now, with a new DC Universe being planned, Momoa is set to play a new character. He will be taking on the role of Lobo, a tough and gritty alien bounty hunter. This change shows his ability to play very different kinds of characters within the same comic book world.

John Glover

John Glover is widely recognized for his role as the villainous Lionel Luthor in Smallville (2001-2011). As Lex Luthor’s father, he was a complex and manipulative character throughout the series.

Before that, Glover played Dr. Jason Woodrue, the creator of the villain Poison Ivy, in the movie Batman & Robin (1997). He also has a history in animation, having voiced The Riddler in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995).

John Wesley Shipp

John Wesley Shipp has a special connection to The Flash. He was the star of the first live-action TV series, playing the hero Barry Allen in The Flash (1990-1991). For a generation of fans, he was the original speedster.

Over two decades later, he joined the new TV series The Flash (2014-2023). In this show, he played multiple parts. He started as Barry Allen’s father, Henry Allen, and later played Jay Garrick, the original Flash from the comics.

Lynda Carter

Lynda Carter is the iconic Wonder Woman for millions of people. She starred as the Amazon princess in the beloved TV show Wonder Woman (1975-1979). Her performance defined the hero for decades.

Carter later returned to the live-action DC world in the series Supergirl (2015-2021). She had a recurring role as President Olivia Marsdin, bringing her classic heroic presence to a new generation of DC television.

Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill has played a DC villain in both live-action and animation. He first appeared as the mischievous Trickster in the TV series The Flash (1990-1991). He returned to play the same character again decades later in the new version of The Flash (2014-2023).

Most fans, however, know Hamill for his voice work. He is the iconic voice of the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) and many other animated movies, TV shows, and video games. His Joker laugh is considered one of the most famous in animation history.

Michael Rosenbaum

Michael Rosenbaum gave a famous performance as the villain Lex Luthor. He played the character for many seasons on the TV show Smallville (2001-2011), showing Lex’s journey from Clark Kent’s friend to his greatest enemy.

At the same time, Rosenbaum was also the voice of a major DC hero. He voiced The Flash (Wally West) in the popular cartoon Justice League (2001-2004) and its sequel, Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006). Many fans loved his funny and heroic take on the character.

Morena Baccarin

Morena Baccarin played Dr. Leslie Thompkins for five seasons on the TV show Gotham (2014-2019). Her character was a medical doctor who often helped Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne.

She is also a frequent voice actor in DC’s animated movies. She has voiced characters like the hero Black Canary and Talia al Ghul, a skilled assassin and an occasional love interest for Batman.

Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion has voiced the Green Lantern Hal Jordan in numerous DC animated movies. He started with Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011) and became a fan-favorite voice for the character.

He has also appeared in live-action DC projects. He played the quirky character T.D.K. in The Suicide Squad (2021) and is now set to play another Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, in the upcoming movie Superman.

Patrick Wilson

Patrick Wilson starred as the hero Nite Owl II in the movie Watchmen (2009), based on the groundbreaking DC comic. He played a retired hero struggling with his past.

He later became a major villain in the DC Extended Universe. He played Orm, also known as Ocean Master, the main antagonist in the movie Aquaman (2018) and its sequel. He also had a small voice role as the U.S. President in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).

Rachel Skarsten

Rachel Skarsten’s first DC role was on the TV show Birds of Prey (2002-2003). In it, she played a young Dinah Lance, a hero with a powerful Canary Cry.

Many years later, she returned to DC’s television universe for the show Batwoman (2019-2022). She played the show’s main villain, Alice, who was later revealed to be Batwoman’s twisted and vengeful sister.

Sean Gunn

Sean Gunn pulled double duty in the movie The Suicide Squad (2021). He provided the on-set motion capture for the bizarre creature known as Weasel and also appeared on-screen as the minor villain Calendar Man.

He has been given a much larger role in the new DC Universe. He is set to play the villainous businessman Maxwell Lord, a key character who will appear across different movies and shows.

Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher starred as the ambitious and brilliant reporter Lois Lane. She played the role for four seasons on the popular show Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997).

As a tribute to her famous role, she later appeared on the show Smallville (2001-2011). In a guest appearance, she played Ella Lane, the mother of the new Lois Lane, passing the torch from one generation to the next. She also played the main villain in the ‘Supergirl’ in Season 2 as Mon-El’s mother, Rhea.

Lynda Carter

Lynda Carter is an icon for her role as Diana Prince in the Wonder Woman TV series (1975-1979). She became the face of the character for a generation. Her performance is still celebrated and is considered one of the most adored live-action superhero adaptations. For three seasons, Carter’s portrayal defined Wonder Woman for many fans.

Decades later, she returned to the world of Wonder Woman with a special appearance in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). In a mid-credits scene, Carter is revealed to be Asteria, a legendary Amazon warrior who was thought to have been lost. This cameo connected different generations of Wonder Woman fans and honored Carter’s legacy with the character.