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Surprising sitcom actors who played Marvel roles
There are more than simply well-known heroes and villains in Marvel’s expansive universe. Some known faces from sitcoms will also be visible.
Numerous performers who are most recognized for their comic performances have made unexpected but noteworthy cameos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Their move into the superhero realm has been seamless, and they frequently play surprising roles.
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Linda Cardellini
You may recognize Linda Cardellini from ER. She also appeared in Dead to Me and Mad Men. She gained fame as Lindsay Weir from Freaks and Geeks. In the MCU, she is also referred to as Clint Barton’s wife. She possesses Lylla’s voice from Guardians of the Galaxy, volume three.
Rocket grew up raised with Lylla, a kind, genetically altered otter. Despite the terrible ending of Lylla’s tale, Cardellini’s portrayal highlights Rocket’s range of feelings. The Cosmic Trilogy by James Gunn gains spirit from this.
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Patton Oswalt
Patton Oswalt’s been in all sorts of roles over the years. Folks started recognizing him as Spence Olchin on The King of Queens, which made him a pretty familiar face. Then he voiced Remy in Pixar’s Ratatouille, and that just blew him up even more.
But here’s the thing: he’s also a huge comic book fan. That passion wasn’t just a hobby. It pushed him to co-create and voice the lead in the animated Marvel series M.O.D.O.K. He even voiced Uncle Ben in a Spider-Man series.
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Jake Johnson
In New Girl, Jake Johnson portrayed Jess’s romantic interest and her eccentric roommate, Nick Miller, for seven seasons.
He also played smaller parts, including in Jurassic World (2015). Johnson portrays a tired but valiant Spidey in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse as Peter B. Parker. He will play the same role again in the next Beyond the Spider-Verse after returning for Across the Spider-Verse.
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Andy Samberg
“Saturday Night Live” cast member, YouTuber, singer, and Golden Globe-winning Brooklyn Nine-Nine Detective Jake Peralta are some of Andy Samberg’s most well-known performances. In 2023, he at last achieved heroic status in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Although with a short appearance, Samberg played Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider. It was discovered that Scarlet Spider, a contentious figure from Spider-Man’s “Clone Saga” of the 1990s, was Spider-Man. Samberg’s presence gives the character depth and comedy.
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Will Friedle
Eric Matthews on Boy Meets World is Will Friedle’s most well-known character. He moved into voice acting with ease when the program ended. He also narrated Kim Possible’s Ron Stoppable and Batman Beyond’s Terry McGinnis.
His iconic appearances as Star-Lord in the Guardians of the Galaxy animated series and Deadpool in Ultimate Spider-Man marked his foray into the superhero genre. Friedle’s ability to voice a variety of characters has earned him a notable presence in both superhero and vintage animated shows.
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Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris, who is most known for playing Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, played Peter Parker in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series on MTV in 2003. Rob Zombie played the Lizard. Lisa Loeb portrayed Mary Jane Watson.
These skilled cast members contributed to the series, which came after Sam Raimi’s movie. The program was terminated after one season. The continuity was reset with the 2004 release of Spider-Man 2.
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Ed Asner
Additionally, Ed Asner voiced several significant characters in Marvel’s animated series and played Lou Grant in the comedies The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off. He performed the role of J. Jonah Jameson in the 1994 movie Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
After that, he provided the voices of Officer Barr and Uncle Ben in The Spectacular Spider-Man and The New Animated Series. Asner’s varied voice acting appearances in several Marvel animated series have affected his long career as a performer.
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John Stamos
In the 2022 Disney Junior series Spidey and His Amazing Friends, John Stamos, best known for his portrayal of Uncle Jesse on Full House, provided the voice of Tony Stark/Iron Man. To win over his kid, who had not yet found his father cool, Stamos assumed the character.
As he transformed into Iron Man, a figure his kid adored, Stamos, who is already well-known for his work on ER and Grandfathered, saw his son’s respect for him build.
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Donald Glover
Donald Glover, famous for his role as Troy in Community, was the inspiration for Miles Morales in Spider-Man. Though he didn’t get the role of Peter Parker in the 2012 Amazing Spider-Man, Glover’s influence shaped Miles’ character.
He later appeared as the Prowler in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Across the Spider-Verse. His first Marvel role was voicing Miles in Ultimate Spider-Man (2015) on Disney XD. This made him an early part of the character’s legacy.
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James Spader
Ultron was one of the Avengers’ most formidable adversaries prior to Thanos becoming the main antagonist. Ultron’s eerie AI voice was provided by James Spader. He is most recognized for his role as Robert California, also known as the “Lizard King,” on The Office.
Spader’s portrayal of the robotic nemesis in Avengers: Age of Ultron brought a distinct element to the MCU’s fearsome foe. Spader gained notoriety for his work on Boston Legal.
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Hannibal Buress
Before becoming Coach Andre Wilson in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: No Way Home, Hannibal Buress appeared in several sitcoms. He played himself in Louie, portrayed Derek in The Mindy Project, and appeared in nine episodes of 30 Rock as characters like Bum and Homeless Guy.
Though his role as a P.E. teacher in Spider-Man differs from his TV characters, Buress still delivers his laid-back humor, as seen when he quips, “or murderers,” about “shaping heroes.”
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Brie Larson
Brie Larson developed her abilities on two comedies, United States of Tara (2009–2011) and Raising Dad (2001–2002), long before donning the Captain Marvel outfit. On Tara, Larson showed off her emotional depth and keen comic timing as Kate Gregson, a troubled youngster who dreams of life outside of her city while battling self-destructive behaviors.
Her character’s fate with Marvel was hinted at by her pastime of creating amateur superhero movies with pal Lynda. Eternals subsequently included co-star Patton Oswalt.
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Melissa Rauch
Melissa Rauch made a reputation for herself in the comic book business in addition to being famous as Bernadette from The Big Bang Theory. She voiced Hope Van Dyne (The Wasp) in the 2017 Marvel animated Ant-Man shorts and Harley Quinn in Batman.
Rauch made her Big Bang debut in Season 3, although she later rose to the position of Night Court Chief Judge Abby Stone. She is versatile beyond comedy, as seen by her voice acting.
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Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus, known for her role as Hannah Montana, transitioned from Disney Channel stardom to a successful music career. In 2017, she made a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where she voiced Mainframe, a robotic character in the MCU.
The film, directed by James Gunn, features a star-studded cast. Cyrus was chosen for her likable and humorous personality. Her role as part of the Ravagers showcases her surprising shift from sitcom star to Marvel cameo.
Marvel has officially announced the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, introducing new faces and returning heroes for the upcoming blockbuster.
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Last Updated: September 30, 2025
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