Actors with the Most Appearances in a Role
Casting the right actor can change the course of direction for a film, or even an entire franchise. In some cases an actor becomes so synonymous with a role, they continue to play it over and over. To qualify for this list, the actor had to appear (on film) in this role at least 8 times. I’m also not including Stan Lee on this list, he’s appeared in various cameo roles, and his 22 appearances in MCU films have been confirmed to all be the same character ‘The Watcher Informant.’
Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt (8)- As of publishing, Cruise has actually only appeared 7 times as Ethan Hunt, but it’s already been confirmed that there will be a sequel to ‘Mission Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part One’ which strangely enough will not be ‘Dead Reckoning Part Two.’ The only actor to appear across all of the MI films, Hunt and Cruise are synonymous with each other, due to Cruise’s habit of doing wild stunts as Ethan.
Leonard Nimoy as Spock (8)- While of course he also stars in the original ‘Star Trek’ series, Nimoy also plays Spock in 6 of the companion films and 2 films that take place in another timeline, so his character is known as ‘Spock Prime.’ Confusing.
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger (8)- One of the most iconic horror actors, Englund has haunted the nightmares of people across 8 different Elm Street films (4 of which he also made cameos in other roles).
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, & Rupert Grint as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, & Ron Weasley (8)- While a handful of actors have appeared in all 8 films (listed at the end of this entry), the Golden Trio of course took the forefront and quite literally grew up between Sorcerer’s Stone & Deathly Hallows, and they managed to always appear the correct age. Other actors who appear in all 8 Harry Potter films are Devon Murray as Seamus Finnigan, Joshua Herdman as Gregory Goyle, Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom, Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy, Geraldine Somerville as Lily Potter, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley, and James & Oliver Phelps as Fred & George Weasley.
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa (8)- The ultimate underdog has appeared as the titular character in 6 films, and in a supporting role in the first two ‘Creed’ films. Very few characters have had their stories as developed as the Italian Stallion going from a broke amateur boxer, to the world champ, to retired old widower. I stuck him at the end of the 8s, because it’s rumored he may appear in the fourth ‘Creed’ film.
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow (9)- The first of many MCU stars to make this list, ScarJo first appeared as Natasha in ‘Iron Man 2’ and appeared in 7 more films before getting her first solo outing in 2021’s ‘Black Widow.’
Chris Hemsworth as Thor (9)- Appearing in 4 ‘Avengers’ films, 4 ‘Thor’ films, and a post credit scene in ‘Doctor Strange,’ Hemsworth is confirmed to appear in more entries as Thor, so this list may continue to grow.
Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto (9)- The family man himself, Vin Diesel plays Dom in all, but the 2nd, of the ‘Fast & Furious’ films. Somehow he manages to continue to up the stakes and is set to appear in the upcoming 11th film. Diesel also has 7 appearances as Groot across the MCU.
Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell (10)- A little different than some of the other entrieson this list, Varney plays the ever persistent Ernest in 10 different film outings, as well as countless commercials, and a TV series.
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine (10)- The longest tenure as a live-action Marvel character, Jackman first appeared as Logan/Wolverine in 2000’s ‘X-Men' and many thought his last appearance would be in 2017’s ‘Logan.’ The excitement rose however, when it was announced he would be starring across Ryan Reynolds in 2024’s upcoming ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ which is my most anticipated movie in the second half of 2024.
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man (10)- I think RDJ may be the poster boy for this list. Kicking off the MCU with 2008’s ‘Iron Man,’ Tony Stark was a staple of the movie world until his great demise in 2019’s ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ and his return has been rumored ever since.
Chris Evans as Captain America (11)- To my surprise, Evans has the most appearances as an Avenger playing Cap in 11 different films! He starred in 7 of them, had cameos in 3, and in ‘Thor: The Dark World,’ he technically played Loki pretending to be Steve Rogers, but I elected to count it.
Bernard Lee as M (11)- The first of 3 James Bond characters to qualify, Bernard Lee appeared as the Head of MI6 in 6 Connery-Bond films, 4 Moore-Bond films, & 1 Lazenby-Bond film. Of all the Bond actors, Roger Moore played 007 the most with 007 outings.
Christopher Lee as Count Dracula (12)- Sir Christopher Lee acted for over six decades in a variety of roles, though he usually played an ominous, intimidating force. This stands most true in what was perhaps his most iconic role, playing THE vampire, Count Dracula.
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (12)- Appearing in a record 12 MCU films, Samuel L. Jackson really is one of the Kings of the Nerds. Though 4 of his appearances were cameos, Nick Fury always made his presence felt no matter what film he was popping up in. He also has played/voiced Fury in 3 different TV shows.
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO (13)- Anthony Daniels has appeared as the sassy golden droid C-3PO in all 9 films that are a part of the Skywalker Saga (Episodes I-IX), Rogue One, the 2008 ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ film, and he’s also appeared in non Star Wars films like ‘The Lego Movie’ and ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet.’ He has also appeared in TV specials and TV shows, both in and out of the Star Wars universe.
Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce as Holmes & Watson (15)- Though many actors have donned the deerstalker hat and pipe, I doubt any are more associated with the role than Basil Rathbone. Appearing in 14 films between 1939-1946 and a well known radio drama. Nigel Bruce also appeared as Holmes’s faithful side kick in all of these outings, with the two also making a cameo in 1943’s ‘Crazy House.’
Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny (14)- Lois Maxwell appeared in the first 14 Eon James Bond films as Miss Moneypenny, the secretary to M. She played the role from 1962-1985 and starred in every Eon film starring Connery, Lazenby, or Moore as Bond.
Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy (16)- Appearing in 15 films from 1937-1946, and 1 final outing in 1958, Rooney is the only cast member to appear in all 16 films of what is now known as the ‘Andy Hardy series.’
Desmond Llewelyn as Q (17)- Outlasting Moneypenny & M, Desmond Llewelyn played Q from 1963-1999, working with Connery, Lazenby, Moore, and also notched appearances with Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan.
Kwan Tak-hing as Wong Fei-hung (77)- I’m not even totally sure what to say here. 77 films is just absolutely unprecedented. From the 40s through the 80s Kwan was said to have portrayed the character in ‘at least’ 77 films, so the number may be higher. For us Western audiences, Wong Fei-hung may be unknown, but he is a popular Chinese folk hero based on a real man who lived from 1847-1925. Wong has also been portrayed by other actors in a variety of movies such as Jackie Chan in ‘Drunken Master’ & Jet Li in ‘Once Upon a Time in China.’
