As a connoisseur of all things fantastical and extraordinary, I must say that the illustrious cast of the Hellboy series is nothing short of a treasure trove for fans like myself. Each actor brings their own unique flair to the table, weaving a tapestry of talent that is as enchanting as it is captivating.
As we encounter a fresh perspective of one infamously troubled comic book character, it’s clear that for numerous enthusiasts, the 2004 Hellboy ensemble forever defines the ultimate portrayal. Approaching two decades back, Guillermo del Toro – an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director – masterfully crafted one of the top superhero films not tied to Marvel or DC from Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse comic book series about a demon who adopts Earth as his home and becomes humanity’s guardian.
Before the new actor, Jack Kesy, assumes the part of the large, crimson paranormal tracker in the upcoming “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” (available on VOD in the U.S. on October 8th and in U.K. theaters September 27th), let’s appreciate Ron Perlman’s initial portrayal. Intriguingly, let’s delve into what the original Hellboy cast from 2004 has been doing since then.
Ron Perlman (Hellboy)
Though Ron Perlman had shown enthusiasm for another round as Hellboy’s character, he would only reprise his role as the BPRD’s top agent one more time (excluding the two animated films from 2008’s “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”). He subsequently starred in three Guillermo del Toro productions (“Pacific Rim”, “Nightmare Alley”, and the upcoming “Pinocchio” of 2022), bringing their collaborative projects to a total of eight, counting also the second part of the “Blade” series.
Previously from the hit series “Sons of Anarchy”, this actor is renowned for his role in the 2011 film noir favorite, “Drive”. He headlined the Amazon series “Hand of God” and provided voice acting for “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” as Optimus Primal. In the cast of “Poker Face”, he played a significant antagonist role. Upcoming movies in post-production featuring Perlman include “Thug” and “Cottonmouth”.
Selma Blair (Liz Sherman)
Selma Blair is recognized for her portrayal of Hellboy’s love interest, the pyrokinetic character Liz, among other roles. She was also a part of the cast as Vivian Kensington in the popular movie “Legally Blonde” and the hit ’90s teen film “Cruel Intentions.” In subsequent projects, she has appeared as Caprice in the rated NC-17 movie “A Dirty Shame,” portrayed Kris Jenner in Season 1 of “American Crime Story,” and played the killer role of Kendall opposite Nicolas Cage in “Mom and Dad.
Her struggle against Multiple Sclerosis was featured in the acclaimed 2021 documentary titled “Introducing Selma Blair“. However, she has been in remission since that year. Although she hasn’t resumed acting yet, she has appeared on various TV shows, like when she participated in Dancing with the Stars, during Season 31.
Doug Jones (Abe Sapien)
Abe Sapien, portrayed by David Hyde Pierce in the 2004 film “Hellboy,” is one of several unique creatures that Doug Jones has embodied in a Guillermo del Toro production. This includes Fauno from “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006) and The Amphibian Man in the Academy Award-winning “The Shape of Water” (2017). Jones has also taken on numerous roles in horror films, such as the Ghoul in Mike Flanagan’s 2016 movie “Ouija: Origin of Evil.” Additionally, he has been involved with Del Toro’s television series “The Strain” and “What We Do in the Shadows.” In these roles, Jones often portrays beings that are part human, part something else.
More recently, Jones reprised his role from the Hocus Pocus cast as Billy Butcherson in Disney+’s 2022 sequel and played Saru on Star Trek: Discovery from 2017 to 2024. He also played Count Orlok in a 2023 movie that has no connection to Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake and, according to Deadline, started filming a thriller called The Weight of Darkness in April 2024.
Rupert Evans (John Myers)
Rupert Evans first appeared in a major film, Hellboy, playing the role of John Myers – a character developed for the movie to serve as an audience stand-in within the B.P.R.D. agency. However, he didn’t reprise his role in The Golden Army. Instead, he faced some peculiar situations in movies like 2014’s The Canal and The Boy from 2016. Moreover, he portrayed Harry Greenwood on The CW’s revival of Charmed from 2018 until 2022.
Apart from being a notable British actor, he previously held a significant role in Amazon’s “The Man in the High Castle” and made appearances alongside the cast of Netflix’s “Bridgerton” as Edmund Bridgerton in Season 2. Currently, you can catch him on PBS’s crime series “Moonflower Murders,” which consists of six parts, and he is also working on a historical drama series titled “Truth & Conviction.
Karel Roden (Grigori Rasputin)
In the 2004 movie Hellboy, the primary villain is Grigori Rasputin, a character based on a real-life mystic from Russia who was known for his healing abilities and political connections within the Russian Empire. The portrayal of this historical figure in the film is greatly exaggerated, with Karel Roden bringing this character to life. Notably, Karel Roden had previously collaborated with both Guillermo del Toro and Ron Perlman on Blade II in 2003, and he also starred in The Bulletproof Monk the following year.
In addition, in 2004, a native of the Czech Republic made an appearance in the sequel to the Jason Bourne films (specifically, The Bourne Supremacy), and subsequently starred in movies such as Mr. Bean’s Holiday from 2007, Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla in 2008, and Orphan, a popular horror film from 2009. This actor is also recognized for his work on TV series like McMafia on AMC, which premiered in 2018, as well as A Spy Among Friends, an original production by MGM+ that debuted in 2022. He is also involved in a project by Terrence Malick called The Way of the Wind, which is currently in post-production.
Brian Steele (Sammael)
Doug Jones is not the only Hellboy cast member known for disappearing into his roles, as it was Brian Steele dressed as Sammael in practical shots of the hellhound. He previously made his debut in the early ‘90s as the titular sasquatch in the sitcom spin-off of Harry and the Hendersons, before playing Kothoga in 1997’s The Relic, Sharkmouth in Men in Black II, and a werewolf in 2003’s Underworld.
His notable creature portrayals since include the T-600 in Terminator Salvation, a couple of the titular aliens from Predators, both a Were-hyena and a Minotaur in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, and various creations in Hellboy II. He also played “The Entity” in the recent underrated horror movie, 2020’s The Empty Man, and most recently starred as The Robot in Netflix’s Lost in Space reboot.
Jeffrey Tambor (Thomas Manning)
In the role of the B.P.R.D.’s director, Thomas Manning (who frequently clashes with Hellboy), is portrayed by Jeffrey Tambor. Known for his extensive acting career, Tambor later provided the voice for a monster’s father in DreamWorks’ 2009 animated film “Monsters vs. Aliens,” and that of a writer specializing in paranormal tales in the 2011 sci-fi comedy “Paul.
Between his appearances in the Netflix revivals of the Emmy-nominated show “Arrested Development” in both 2013 and 2019, Jeffrey Tambor won two Emmys for playing a middle-aged transgender woman named Maura in the series “Transparent.” However, after accusations of misconduct on set that he has denied, Tambor was dismissed from “Transparent” in 2017. This incident appears to have impacted his career, with his most recent significant roles being a guest spot on “The Orville” and a role in the Disney+ movie “Magic Camp,” both released in 2020.
John Hurt (Professor Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm)
In this rendition, John Hurt portrays the original leader of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D) who also served as Hellboy’s adoptive father, affectionately known as Professor “Broom.” This versatile actor, nominated twice for the Academy Award (for Midnight Express and The Elephant Man), had previously encountered supernatural entities, particularly in the terrifying 1979 sci-fi film, Alien, where he famously fell victim to the chestburster. This event was humorously referenced later in the spoof movie classic, Spaceballs.
After the movie Hellboy, the British actor continued to shine in other critically-acclaimed comic book films such as V for Vendetta (2005), a brief appearance in the opening flashback of Hellboy II (2008), and Snowpiercer (2014). He also starred in the fourth Indiana Jones movie, two more Harry Potter films as Ollivander, and the gripping spy film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011). His last acting role was Damascus Cover (2017), before his passing at the age of 77 that same year.
Some people believe that one of the standout aspects of the 2019 Hellboy film is David Harbour’s portrayal in the lead role. Although fans are eagerly anticipating Jack Kesy’s performance in the upcoming superhero movie, Hellboy: The Crooked Man, to me, the character will forever be associated with Ron Perlman.
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2024-09-28 18:07