A new story doesn’t always mean a new cast.DCknows that more than most. Adaptations of this company’s iconic superheroes often bring back actors from previous works. One would think this wouldn’t make sense, but the modern age of reboots and Multiverses make it possible.
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Thus, certain actors have occupied several characters over the years. Many of these are beloved icons of theDCpantheon. These inclusions not only serve as fun nods to past gems but also show the versatility of the performers.
10Brandon Routh
Routh sure had some big shoes to fill inSuperman Returns. The film strived to be a spiritual successor to Richard Donner’sSupermanmovies, and the creators cast Routh partly for his likeness to Christopher Reeve. His approach, however, wound up more understated.
The opposite was true when he popped up as Ray Palmer onArrow. As the cocky, upbeat inventor, Routh lit up every scene. This only amplified when he suited up as the shrinking superhero, The Atom,a role he reprised in the wackyLegends of Tomorrow. Later on, he brought some of that optimistic energy back to Superman for theCrisis on Infinite Earthscrossover. Talk about coming full circle.
9John Wesley Shipp
Shipp’s blue-collar gravitas has long been associated withthe Flash. He first played protagonist Barry Allen in the Scarlet Speedster’s 1990 TV series. In an interesting turn, he later voiced the hero’s iconic nemesis, Professor Zoom, inBatman: The Brave and the Bold. Sadly, both of these shows were cut short.
The same can’t be said for 2014’sFlashseries. In addition to his ’90s character during Multiverse crossovers, Shipp appropriately appeared as Henry Allen, the hero’s incarcerated father who motivates many of his noble actions. He eventually died at the hands of Zoom, but that didn’t stop the showrunners from using Shipp one last time. They quickly brought him back as Jay Garrick, the Flash from an alternate universe andthe first one to don the mantle in the comics. That’s a lot of mileage for one corner of the comics.
8Terence Stamp
Kneel before Zod! Stamp stormed onscreen as the Kryptonian despot in Richard Donner’sSupermanfilms, and what an impression he left! His intense authority made him the most imposing villain to ever battle the Man of Steel on the big screen. How ironic, then, that he’d play Zod’s bitter rival years later.
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Smallvillebrought Stamp back as Superman’s father, Jor-El. Though he doesn’t appear in the flesh, he does provide a voice of reason for young Clark Kent. Stamp has held great wisdom in many of his performances, so the transition to such a reverent role felt natural.
7Mark Hamill
TheStar Warsactor is no stranger to genre projects, DC included. As the Trickster in the 1990Flashshow, the only thing more flamboyant than his outfit was his gleeful performance. He must have liked it since he played an updated version in the 2014 series. Ultimately, though, he made his DC mark by playing a similar clownish cur.
To this day, Hamill is widely hailed as the definitive voice forthe Joker. His pseudo-aristocratic jester routine could be both sinister and silly. It made him the most entertaining villain inBatman: The Animated Series, andhe kept the gag going in several films, TV shows, and video games.
He even played opposite himself in theJustice Leagueanimated series, lending his pipes to Solomon Grundy. The zombie’s slow drawl couldn’t be more different from the Clown Prince of Crime. It’s just a testament to how far Hamill’s willing to go, both in front of the camera and behind the mic.
6Michael Rosenbaum
After nearly ten years, Rosenbaum was permanently linked toSmallville. He captured viewers' attention asa young Lex Luthor: calculating as one would expect from the future supervillain while also conveying a surprising empathy. This helped in his other ongoing DC TV show at the time.
Rosenbaum also voiced the Flash in theJustice Leagueseries. Specifically, he tackled Wally West, lending more lighthearted comic relief than other renditions. Those dual icons were enough to solidify Rosenbaum’s place in DC history.
What some might not know, though, is that he later played a bizarre bit part of Johnny Charisma inBatman: Arkham Knight. The original character is a night show host infused with the Joker’s infected blood, so the actor likely took it as an excuse to ham it up for a few hours.
5Teri Hatcher
Hatcher made her DC debut inLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, and she proved an inspired choice for the eponymous co-lead. Her Lois Lane balanced bumbling charm, street-smart wit, and emotional fragility. That appeal helped create an enduring following from fans,who felt the romantic relationship excelled in ways it hadn’t on otherSupermanshows.
That following was more than enough to give Hatcher small parts in two subsequent super-series. In yet another case of legacy casting, she briefly appears inSmallvilleas Lois’s mother. The character is deceased, so she can only salvage drama via video recording.
She gets more screen time (if not more depth) as another mother inSupergirl. Here, she plays the malevolent Queen Rhea of Daxam, whose son is Mon-El of the futuristic Legion of Super-Heroes. It’s a shallow baddie on paper, but Hatcher nevertheless has fun sneering and chewing the scenery. Who knows what maternal role she’ll have in the Man of Steel’s next show?
4Frank Gorshin
Gorshin was a master of impressions in his day,demonstrating that as the Riddlerin the 1960sBatmanshow. His manic energy could fill an entire scene, and he set the stage for the slew of similarly zany villains who came after. Though he eventually left, it wouldn’t be the last time he appeared in the Dark Knight’s TV career.
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EnterThe Batman, an oft-overlooked animated work from the mid-2000s. This series eventually incorporated Hugo Strange, with Gorshin performing his voice. The demented doctor isn’t quite as wild as the Riddler, but he’s still plenty quirky enough for the character actor to sink his teeth into.
3Stana Katic
Considering her prominent presence on TV, it was odd when Katic popped up as Talia al Ghul inBatman: Arkham City. Thankfully, she fit right in, adding a sultry exoticism to her voice. It was easy to see why Batman loved her. Unbeknownst to anyone, Katic would move on to another prominent love interest a few years later.
She then lent her voice to Lois Lane inSuperman: Unbound. Her onscreen charisma translated well to her vocals. In fact, she would have been a perfect live-action Lois Lane, but that’s just wishful thinking at this point.
Instead, she took on yet another icon inJustice Society: World War II. In this period thriller, Katic voicesWonder Woman. She mixes the character’s authority with the same exoticism she displayed as Talia, probably as a nod to Gal Gadot’s heavy accent inthe live-actionWonder Womanfilms. Thus, Katic chalks up another in her ever-increasing line of pivotal DC figures.
2Phil LaMarr
It’s hard to countthe number of voiceover parts LaMarr has had. Several of them were in various DC projects. However, not many actors can boast a leading role in two animated gems.
First, there’s the titular teenage hero inStatic Shock. Lightening his tone, LaMarr plays an inner-city kid with equal parts wit and enthusiasm. Contrast that with his other major role at the time:Green LanterninJustice League.
The team-up show had him voice John Stewart. Unlike most Green Lanterns, he’s a hardened Marine with a booming bass and no time for nonsense. Neither he nor Static were mainstream figures before, but they quickly became beloved superhero staples among the fandom. That’s largely thanks to LaMarr bringing a relatable appeal to each one.
1Diane Guerrero
DC fans know Guerrero well as Crazy Jane fromDoom Patrol. She grapples with a whopping 64 personalities, all of whom have their own strengths, weaknesses, and powers. It’s a juicy multitude of characters that Guerrero dives deep into. She can channel intimate pathos one minute and go completely off the walls the next.
That’s what makes it so wild hearing her inJustice League vs. The Fatal Five. Theanimated adventuresees her take on Jessica Cruz: another damaged DC heroine, albeit in a different way. Past trauma has made her afraid to leave her apartment, and Guerrero is much quieter and more reserved as a result. She’s the last person you’d expect to become a Green Lantern, which thereby creates a compelling character arc.
