Black Actors Who’ve Played the Same Character Over 15+ Years

Some roles stick so well that the performer and the character become inseparable. In film, television, animation, and even video games, plenty of Black actors have returned to the same persona again and again, sometimes across different formats and generations of fans. Longevity like this usually means the character resonates beyond a single project, often growing and changing alongside the actor’s own career.

Below are standout examples of performers who kept coming back to the same role for well over a decade. You’ll find superheroes, sci-fi icons, comedy legends, animated powerhouses, and more—each with a track record of appearances that kept a favorite character alive for longtime audiences.

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Jackson debuted as S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director in the post-credits of ‘Iron Man’ and went on to anchor the connective tissue of Marvel’s shared universe across films and series, from ‘The Avengers’ ensemble outings to headlining ‘Secret Invasion’. Across the saga, his turns chart the evolution of a master strategist who recruits heroes, manages crises, and navigates murky alliances.

The role stretches across multiple phases of Marvel storytelling, with Jackson appearing in cameos, supporting parts, and leads—plus crossovers into projects like ‘Captain Marvel’ and ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’. The consistency of his portrayal helped establish continuity among disparate titles while expanding Fury’s backstory, relationships, and influence.

Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley

Murphy’s wise-cracking Detroit detective first burst onto screens in ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and returned for sequels, culminating in the recent ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’. The character’s blend of street smarts, undercover antics, and fish-out-of-water humor turned the franchise into a long-running action-comedy touchstone.

Over time, Foley’s cases evolved alongside changes in policing tech and culture, yet the series kept the essentials: high-energy set pieces, synth-driven swagger, and Foley’s knack for talking his way past gatekeepers. Murphy’s returns maintained continuity with recurring allies and antagonists, keeping the franchise’s tone intact while updating the setting.

Will Smith as Mike Lowrey

Smith’s stylish Miami detective powers the ‘Bad Boys’ films alongside his partner Marcus Burnett. The character is defined by high-risk tactics, sleek action, and a dedication to family that deepens across the series, especially as personal stakes rise and past choices catch up with the present.

Each installment scales up the stunts and scope while preserving the banter that made the duo click. Smith’s repeated returns let the films explore mentorship, aging in a high-octane job, and the costs of living on the edge, all within the franchise’s blend of explosive action and buddy-cop rhythms.

Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett

Lawrence’s Marcus brings a grounded counterbalance to Mike Lowrey in ‘Bad Boys’, prioritizing home life, caution, and teamwork. His character arc expands with promotions, family milestones, and the constant struggle to retire from danger, giving the series its emotional center.

Across sequels, Marcus’s evolving responsibilities and perspective shape the pair’s decision-making and the stakes of each mission. Lawrence’s performance keeps the heart of the partnership beating, turning recurring callbacks and running gags into long-term character development.

James Earl Jones as Darth Vader

Jones’s voice performance as Darth Vader spans the original ‘Star Wars’ trilogy, prequel-era tie-ins, and later appearances in ‘Rogue One’ and series set in the same galaxy. His resonant delivery defined the character’s presence, transforming a masked figure into a commanding on-screen force.

Through reappearances across films, animation, and special projects, Jones’s voice links generations of stories, from the rise of the Empire to pivotal moments with the Rebellion and Jedi. The continuity of his performance helps stitch together timelines, reinforcing Vader’s arc and legacy across formats.

James Earl Jones as Mufasa

Jones originated the regal lion king in ‘The Lion King’ and later voiced the character again for Disney’s photoreal reimagining. His performance conveys authority, warmth, and moral guidance, anchoring Simba’s coming-of-age journey and the film’s themes of responsibility and legacy.

Returning to the role years later, Jones brought the same gravitas to a new visual style while preserving the character’s core. The re-performance connected audiences who grew up with the animated classic to newer viewers discovering the story for the first time.

Tyler Perry as Madea

Perry’s made-for-theater matriarch moved from the stage to screen with a steady stream of films and specials, culminating in ‘A Madea Homecoming’. The character’s tough love, razor-sharp wit, and family-first ethos became a long-running throughline across comedies and dramas under the larger ‘Madea’ banner.

By revisiting Madea across formats—plays, films, and streaming specials—Perry built an interconnected cast of relatives and friends. Recurring settings, holiday entries, and cross-appearances let the character respond to contemporary issues while maintaining the franchise’s familiar cadence and comedic setup.

Michael Dorn as Worf

Dorn’s Klingon warrior spans ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’, ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’, films like ‘Star Trek: First Contact’, and a triumphant return in ‘Star Trek: Picard’. Worf’s journey explores identity, honor, diplomacy, and family, moving from security officer to ambassador and beyond.

Reprising the role across series and films allowed extended world-building: Klingon politics, Starfleet protocol, and cross-series relationships. Dorn’s continued portrayals connect storylines and generations of crews, giving the character one of the franchise’s most expansive arcs.

LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge

Burton’s chief engineer from ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ carried over into feature films and later returned in ‘Star Trek: Picard’. Geordi’s expertise in warp systems, problem-solving under pressure, and mentorship of younger officers remained central to key missions.

The character’s reappearances show career progression, family life, and leadership beyond the engine room. Burton’s consistent portrayal ties together starship eras and showcases the franchise’s long-term continuity through one officer’s evolving responsibilities.

Nichelle Nichols as Uhura

Nichols originated Lieutenant Uhura in ‘Star Trek’ and reprised the role in subsequent feature films that reunited the original crew. As a communications and linguistics specialist on the Enterprise bridge, she embodied competence and calm under fire, becoming a pillar of the crew.

Her continued appearances across follow-ups reinforced Uhura’s importance to mission success and interstellar diplomacy. Nichols’s portrayal provided a lasting foundation for future interpretations of the character in new timelines and series.

Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian

Williams brought charisma to Lando in the ‘Star Wars’ saga, first as a roguish administrator of Cloud City and later as a key ally to the Resistance. The character’s returns added layers of redemption, leadership, and tactical savvy during critical turning points in the galaxy-spanning conflict.

Across films and tie-ins, Lando’s role evolves from opportunist to veteran statesman, with Williams’s performances highlighting old alliances and new responsibilities. His reappearances help bridge storylines between eras while honoring the character’s roots.

Tony Todd as Candyman

Todd’s portrayal of the urban-legend figure defined the ‘Candyman’ horror series, with the character resurfacing across sequels and a legacy sequel that reconnected the mythology to its original setting. The performance fused tragedy and terror, deepening the lore with each return.

The later installment reframed the legend for new audiences while acknowledging prior continuity through Todd’s presence. By revisiting the role, the series expanded its themes around storytelling, trauma, and community history without breaking the character’s established rules.

Phil LaMarr as Samurai Jack

LaMarr voiced the time-displaced warrior in ‘Samurai Jack’ during its original run and returned for a concluding season that wrapped the saga. His performance captured the character’s quiet resolve, discipline, and flashes of humor amid relentless trials.

Coming back to the role allowed the show to complete long-running arcs, revisit key allies and enemies, and deliver a definitive endpoint. LaMarr’s continuity in the booth ensured the finale resonated with fans who had followed the odyssey from the beginning.

Keith David as Spawn

David originated the anti-hero in ‘Todd McFarlane’s Spawn’ and later brought the character back in high-profile video games, giving a consistent voice to the cape-swirling vigilante across mediums. His performance nails the character’s gravelly gravitas and inner conflict, threading together stories about redemption, supernatural politics, and a war between Hell and Heaven that spills into city streets.

By returning to Spawn in later projects, David linked the character’s animation roots to modern interactive storytelling. The continuity reinforced lore around the symbiotic suit, shifting alliances with demons and hunters, and the push-pull between Al Simmons’s humanity and the darker forces that empower him.

Cree Summer as Susie Carmichael

Summer originated Susie in ‘Rugrats’ and continued the role through spin-offs like ‘All Grown Up!’ and the later revival, keeping the character’s supportive voice in the friend group. Susie’s presence often centers creativity, fairness, and music, balancing the gang’s wilder impulses.

Revisiting the character across formats preserved the show’s core dynamics while updating settings and storytelling styles. Summer’s long-term involvement kept Susie consistent for viewers who discovered her in different eras of the franchise.

Share your favorite long-running performances in the comments so we can keep the conversation going!