32 Actors Who Played Multiple Roles in One Movie

Actors taking on numerous characters in entertainment has roots that stretch back to the early days of theater performances. The ancient Greeks were even known for this practice. In the realm of cinema, this trend can be traced back to its very beginning. It might involve portraying twins, such as Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin in ‘Big Business’, or it could be more intricate, like Peter Sellers masterfully playing three distinct characters in ‘Dr. Strangelove’. To honor these versatile actors, here are some of our top picks for multiple role performances in films.

Peter Sellers – Dr. Strangelove

This compilation wouldn’t be whole without the remarkable Peter Sellers, who delivered three stellar performances in “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” In this film, Sellers portrayed the shrewd Captain Mandrake, the clumsy U.S. President, and the wildly eccentric Dr. Strangelove. Unfortunately, Sellers was meant to play the role of Major Kong as well, but he sustained an injury on set, resulting in Slim Pickens taking over the part instead.

Kate Hudson – Alex & Emma

In movies that have narratives nested within narratives, it’s common to see actors portraying multiple roles, such as Kate Hudson in “Alex & Emma“. In this film, Hudson is cast as Emma, a stenographer aiding Alex (Luke Wilson) in finishing his novel. Concurrently, as the story of the novel unfolds, both Hudson and Wilson assume characters within that book. Interestingly, Hudson takes on four distinct roles of a nanny character within the novel’s narrative.

Michael J. Fox – Back To The Future Part II

Although no film can truly match the greatness of the first “Back To The Future”, “Back To The Future Part II” remains an enjoyable watch. One reason for its appeal is Michael J. Fox portraying Marty, and his on-screen son Marty Jr., as well as daughter Marlene in the movie. Thomas F. Wilson, who takes on the role of Biff Tannen, also plays various characters within the Tannen family in the film.

Jodie Comer – Free Guy

In the movie “Free Guy,” actress Jodie Comer portrays both her character and her character’s virtual counterpart. Essentially, these two entities are somewhat intertwined, but they remain distinct in their execution. Consequently, her versatility warrants her inclusion on this list.

Rory Kinnear – Men

The film “Men” is quite peculiar, yet delightfully so. It’s Rory Kinnear who sets it apart. At first glance, Kinnear portrays the innkeeper of a small town, but beneath this surface, he plays an array of eccentric men residing in the town, all of whom are offbeat personalities.

Lupita Nyong’o – Us

Jordan Peele’s chilling masterpiece, “Us“, showcases each actor portraying both their primary character and their “Tethered” counterpart. Notably, Lupita Nyong’o assumes the roles of Addy and Red, although every cast member on this extensive list of approximately 20 could easily be highlighted. However, let’s avoid making this discussion solely about “Us“, despite its exceptional quality.

Paul Dano – There Will Be Blood

Without doubt, you might anticipate that certain list items feature actors portraying identical twins in a film. We felt compelled to incorporate Paul Dano, playing both Paul and Eli Sunday, from There Will Be Blood. Dano’s acting, particularly as the preacher Eli, is remarkably profound. The climactic scene between Eli and Daniel (Daniel Day-Lewis) ranks among the most gripping ever captured on film.

Scarlett Johansson – Astroid City

In Wes Anderson’s film, “Asteroid City,” a narrative unfolds that includes a movie-within-a-movie setup. Consequently, some actors portray their actual characters in the main story while simultaneously depicting the actors playing those roles in the movie within the movie. For instance, Scarlett Johansson takes on the dual roles of Midge Campbell and Mercedes, the actress portraying her character. Similarly, Jason Schwartzman, Matt Dillon, Maya Hawke, and others assume two roles each.

George Burns – Oh, God! You Devil

George Burns portrayed God not just once but thrice across different films in the “Oh God” series, and interestingly, he also took on the role of the Devil in the third installment. One particularly captivating scene in this movie occurs when God and the Devil engage in a poker game over Bobby Shelton’s soul, played by Ted Wass.

Bette Midler And Lily Tomlin – Big Business

Since time immemorial in Hollywood, films about twins separated at birth have held a special place. However, it wasn’t until 1988 that director Jim Abrahams took things to another level with a unique twist: not one but two sets of twins who were also born apart. In this intriguing tale, Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler portray sisters who learn they each have an identical twin. While it’s a film worth watching, it hasn’t left a lasting impression on many cinephiles.

Eddie Murphy – Coming To America

Without a doubt, Eddie Murphy was a must-include on our list! While there are numerous films where this hilarious actor takes on multiple roles, for the sake of conciseness, we’ve opted to highlight just one exceptional movie: Coming To America. In this film, Eddie Murphy portrays only one character, Prince Akeem, but let us not forget that Clarence, the barber, Saul from the barbershop, and Randy Watson from “That’s My Mama”s “What’s Going Down” episode are also brilliantly brought to life by none other than Eddie Murphy!

Christian Bale – The Prestige

In the realm of director Christopher Nolan’s filmography, The Prestige might be overlooked by some, but much like his other films, it’s top-notch. Following their collaboration on Batman Begins, Nolan once more joined forces with Christian Bale for this tale of competing magicians. Here, Bale portrays Alfred Borden and Borden’s assistant, Fallon, who conceal a mystery that I won’t disclose if you haven’t watched the movie yet.

Mel Brooks – History of the World, Part I

Mel Brooks is a creative powerhouse who often single-handedly writes, directs, and stars in his films, frequently taking on multiple roles as well. A prime example of this versatility can be seen in the movie “History of the World, Part I“, where he portrayed four distinct characters, one in each section of the film.

Tilda Swinton – Suspiria

As a devoted cinephile, I find it astounding to witness the versatility of Tilda Swinton’s acting talents. From taking on multiple roles in films, such as she did for the first time in 2002’s Teknolust, to portraying peculiar twins in the Coen Brothers’ Hail, Caesar!

In Suspiria, her performance is truly remarkable as she masterfully embodies three distinct characters: Madame Blanc, Dr. Josef Klemperer, and Mother Helena Markos.

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Man In The Iron Mask

In the story “The Man in the Iron Mask,” it’s said that the main character was locked away during King Louis XIV’s rule. However, in the movie version, this secretive prisoner is suggested to be Louis’ fictional twin brother, Philippe Bourbon, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite its historical uncertainties, this film adaptation reinterprets a well-known tale from The Three Musketeers.

Janelle Monáe – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

From a film enthusiast’s perspective, the title “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” by Rian Johnson certainly hints at numerous intricate layers, one of which revolves around the enigma that is Janelle Monáe’s character. Is she Andi Brand, the former partner of Edward Norton’s character, or could she be Helen Brand, the twin sister delving into the mysterious circumstances surrounding Andi’s untimely demise? The movie keeps us guessing!

Arsenio Hall – Coming To America

In the movie “Coming To America,” much like Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall assumes various roles. His primary role, Semmi, serves as Murphy’s loyal servant. However, Hall doesn’t limit himself there; he also portrays one of the women they encounter at a club and one of the barbers in the film. But it’s his performance as the preacher that truly steals the show – every line he speaks is a riot!

Armie Hammer – The Social Network

Among all the multi-roles on this list, it might be the most straightforward to play double roles as the Winklevoss twins in “The Social Network“. To clarify, Armie Hammer delivers a superb performance as the cunning twins who initially conceived the idea that would evolve into Facebook. While they arguably had grounds for suing Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), their actions didn’t make them admirable individuals.

Graham Chapman – Monty Python And The Holy Grail

This film’s cast is extensive, with each member of Monty Python playing at least four distinct characters. The main role of King Arthur goes to Graham Chapman, earning him top billing, but it’s important to highlight the contributions of John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle as well. Additionally, actors Neil Innes, Sandy Johnson, and John Young also take on multiple roles in the movie.

Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Ben Whishaw, And More – Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas weaves together a tale that traverses multiple centuries, with its principal cast assuming diverse roles in each era. Among these talented individuals are Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, and Hugo Weaving, to name but a few. It’s an intricate narrative to navigate, yet the actors deliver exceptional performances throughout the film.

Jack Nicholson – Mars Attacks!

Although Mars Attacks! might not immediately come to mind when considering Jack Nicholson’s standout roles throughout his career, you might want to reconsider as he delivers impressive performances in both characters. It’s not typically recognized among Nicholson’s finest films, but it could well deserve that title due to its comedic brilliance, and Nicholson plays a significant part in making it so amusing.

Hayley Mills – The Parent Trap

I’ve always found it captivating to watch both renditions of “The Parent Trap.” The original, with Hayley Mills portraying twin sisters separated at birth, is a classic that never fails to impress me. And the remake, where Lindsey Lohan steps into the shoes of the twins, is equally engaging. Both actresses do an exceptional job in bringing to life these sisters who uncover their parents’ secret – they were kept apart as infants and never knew of each other’s existence until fate brought them together.

Mike Myers – Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

In the sequels of the “Austin Powers” series, Mike Myers continued to expand his characters, but in the first installment, he excelled by portraying both the protagonist, Austin Powers, and the antagonist, Dr. Evil. It’s tough to pick which character is funnier, but it’s clear that without Myers taking on these roles, they wouldn’t be as memorable, and we would miss out on many iconic lines from him.

Peter Sellers – The Mouse That Roared

Before “Dr. Strangelove” made Peter Sellers a household name for playing multiple roles, he had already done so in an earlier film. The lesser-known but equally entertaining war movie farce, “The Mouse That Roared,” was released a few years prior to the Stanley Kubrick classic. In this film, Sellers brilliantly performs three distinct, outlandish, and side-splitting roles that deserve more recognition today.

Margaret Hamilton – The Wizard Of Oz

In the classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” Margaret Hamilton portrays not one, but two distinctly different villains. She is famously known for her role as the malevolent Wicked Witch of the West and also plays Almira Gulch, Dorothy’s irritating neighbor who wrongfully seizes Toto after claiming to have been bitten by the harmless dog. Hamilton stands out among other actors in the movie for her well-developed characters, with both roles being particularly memorable.

Eddie Murphy – The Nutty Professor

In terms of Eddie Murphy showcasing his acting versatility, Coming To America might be the epitome, but when it comes to the number of characters played, it’s The Nutty Professor and its sequel, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, that take the lead. In total, he portrays eight distinct characters across these two films. Despite their entertaining moments, neither quite match the comedic brilliance found in Coming To America.

Mia Goth – X

In the “X” film franchise, Mia Goth portrays both Maxine Minx and Pearl Douglas. While Maxine Minx aligns with Goth’s acting strengths, Pearl Douglas, an elderly antagonist who dominates both the initial films, X and Pearl, finds Goth delivering a remarkable and unrecognizable performance in both roles.

Richard Pryor – Which Way Is Up?

Prior to Eddie Murphy’s multi-role appearances in films, Richard Pryor achieved this feat in “Which Way Is Up?” released in 1977. Although the movie is somewhat inconsistent, it does have some humorous scenes, particularly Pryor in one of his characters, Reverend Lenox Thomas.

Cate Blanchett – Coffee & Cigarettes

In the film “Coffee & Cigarettes,” directed by Jim Jarmusch, we find a series of 11 short narratives that celebrate two common indulgences – coffee and cigarettes. One such narrative features Cate Blanchett portraying a fictionalized version of herself, along with her fictional cousin, Shelly. Their meeting over coffee and a cigarette unfolds into an awkward conversation between the two, but it stands out as one of the most captivating stories within the movie.

Tom Hardy – Legend

Tom Hardy doesn’t shy away from challenging characters, as demonstrated in the film Legend, where he portrays not one, but two roles: the violent Cray twins, Reggie and Ronnie. This movie is based on a true account of the criminal brothers who became well-known in the mid-1960s for owning a renowned nightclub that was frequented by celebrities during London’s vibrant and swinging cultural era.

Hilary Duff – The Lizzie McGuire Movie

Admittedly, the storyline of “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” can be rather whimsical. In this film, Lizzie, portrayed by Hilary Duff, embarks on a school trip to Rome and finds herself in an unusual love situation involving her Italian counterpart, Isabella. While it’s not a cinematic masterpiece, it certainly aligns with our chosen list.

Adam Sandler – Jack And Jill

If you’re a fan of Adam Sandler, you’ll likely enjoy the film “Jack And Jill” since it offers double the usual dose of Sandler, as he portrays both the brother, Jack, and sister, Jill. However, if you’re not deeply invested in his work, this might be a movie you’d rather pass on. Strangely enough, it does seem to have its share of fans despite this.

2025-01-29 02:39