Actors Who’ve Played the Same Role Across 20+ Years

Some characters stick around for decades because the actors behind them keep coming back, film after film or series after series. Below are male actors who have portrayed the same role for at least two decades, crossing eras, formats, and storytelling styles. Each entry highlights the role, where it started, where it most recently continued, and a few concrete details that show just how long these portrayals have lasted.

Harrison Ford – Indiana Jones

Harrison Ford first cracked the whip as Indiana Jones in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and last returned in ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’. Across five films, he kept the fedora-wearing archaeologist consistent while the franchise shifted production teams, effects, and tone. The character moved from practical-stunt adventure to modern blockbuster scale without losing his core hallmarks. Ford’s portrayal spans over four decades of theatrical releases.

Hugh Jackman – Wolverine

Hugh Jackman first appeared as Wolverine in ‘X-Men’ and most recently reprised the role in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. He played the character in ensemble entries and solo features, covering multiple timelines and continuity resets within the same universe. Jackman’s run includes live-action films, extended cuts, and promotional tie-ins that reinforced the character’s presence between titles. The portrayal stretches well past the two-decade mark.

Patrick Stewart – Jean-Luc Picard

Patrick Stewart introduced Jean-Luc Picard in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and later continued the role in ‘Star Trek: Picard’, with several feature films in between. His tenure covers television, cinema, and streaming formats, reflecting the franchise’s shifts in distribution. Stewart’s Picard navigates story arcs from episodic adventures to serialized, character-driven narratives. The performance spans more than three decades of on-screen canon.

Sylvester Stallone – Rocky Balboa

Sylvester Stallone debuted Rocky Balboa in ‘Rocky’ and most recently played him in ‘Creed II’. The character appears across the original series and the legacy-sequel ‘Creed’ entries, totaling eight on-screen appearances. Stallone’s involvement includes writing and producing, which helped maintain narrative continuity as supporting casts and creative leads changed. Rocky’s on-screen life covers over four decades.

Arnold Schwarzenegger – T-800

Arnold Schwarzenegger first portrayed the T-800 in ‘The Terminator’ and later returned in entries including ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’, ‘Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines’, ‘Terminator Genisys’, and ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’. His appearances range from central protagonist to reprogrammed guardian within evolving timelines. Digital techniques and practical training both featured in maintaining the character’s physical presence over time. The role spans well beyond 30 years in the same franchise.

Tom Cruise – Ethan Hunt

Tom Cruise began as Ethan Hunt in ‘Mission: Impossible’ and most recently appeared in ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’. The character anchors a long-running series known for practical set-pieces, with Cruise performing signature stunts across all installments. Cast ensembles and directors rotated while Hunt’s leadership within the IMF remained the throughline. This portrayal covers more than a quarter-century of releases.

Eddie Murphy – Axel Foley

Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley started in ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and returned in ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’. The wise-cracking Detroit detective headlined four films, with the latest reviving key characters and locations from earlier entries. Production shifted across studios and platforms while keeping the franchise’s action-comedy balance intact. Murphy’s tenure as Foley now spans four decades.

Leonard Nimoy – Spock

Leonard Nimoy introduced Spock in ‘Star Trek’ and later continued the role in feature films and in ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’. His appearances bridge the original television format, the classic-film cycle, and the reboot era through an in-universe timeline device. Nimoy’s Spock participated in major canon events across multiple crews and captains. The portrayal spans nearly half a century of the franchise’s history.

Michael Keaton – Batman

Michael Keaton first wore the cape and cowl in ‘Batman’, followed by ‘Batman Returns’, and later returned to the role in ‘The Flash’. His comeback placed the earlier interpretation of the character within a multiverse framework while retaining signature design cues. The role’s revival connected different creative eras under a single continuity device. Keaton’s time as Batman now stretches across more than three decades.

Vin Diesel – Dominic Toretto

Vin Diesel introduced Dominic Toretto in ‘The Fast and the Furious’ and continued the character through later installments including ‘Fast X’. He appears in core entries, cameos, and mid-credits bridges that link separate storylines across the series. Toretto’s arc spans street-racing origins to globe-spanning heists while keeping the same central crew relationships. Diesel’s portrayal has lasted over two decades of franchise storytelling.

Share your favorite decades-spanning performances in the comments and tell us which long-running role we should add next!