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16 Times Actors Took On Various Roles In A Single Movie, And You Probably Didn't Notice It Was The Same Person

An actor can have more than one role in the same movie, but in many cases, you wouldn’t notice it.

16 Times Actors Took On Various Roles In A Single Movie, And You Probably Didn't Notice It Was The Same Person

Some actors can disappear into a role so completely that you do not realize you are watching the same face twice. In a single movie, that trick can turn one performance into two, three, or even more characters, and it is easy to miss on the first watch.

This roundup looks at 16 actors who played multiple roles in the same film or series, from quick disguises to major double parts. Some of the characters are obvious once you know, while others are hidden so well that the reveal feels like a movie magic trick.

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Keep scrolling, because a few of these casting choices are much harder to spot than you might expect.

1. Michael J. Fox played the roles of Marty McFly and Marlene McFly in Back to the Future Part II (1989)

1. Michael J. Fox played the roles of Marty McFly and Marlene McFly in Back to the Future Part II (1989)© Back to the Future Part II / Universal Pictures
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2. Jason Isaacs played the roles of Mr. Darling and Captain Hook in Peter Pan (2003)

2. Jason Isaacs played the roles of Mr. Darling and Captain Hook in Peter Pan (2003)© Peter Pan / Universal Pictures
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3. Jonathan Hyde played the roles of Sam Parrish and Van Pelt in Jumanji (1995)

3. Jonathan Hyde played the roles of Sam Parrish and Van Pelt in Jumanji (1995)© Jumanji / TriStar Pictures

4. Dick Van Dyke played the roles of Bert and Mr. Dawes Sr. in Mary Poppins (1964)

4. Dick Van Dyke played the roles of Bert and Mr. Dawes Sr. in Mary Poppins (1964)© Mary Poppins / Walt Disney Productions

5. Warwick Davis played the roles of Griphook and Professor Filius Flitwick in Harry Potter movies (2001-2011)

5. Warwick Davis played the roles of Griphook and Professor Filius Flitwick in Harry Potter movies (2001-2011)© Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 / Warner Bros. © Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone / Warner Bros.

That first batch already hides a few clever casting tricks.

6. Ben Stiller played the roles of Larry Daley and Laaa in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)

6. Ben Stiller played the roles of Larry Daley and Laaa in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)© Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb / Twentieth Century Fox

7. Eugenio Derbez played the roles of Felipe and Felipe’s grandmother in Jack and Jill (2011)

7. Eugenio Derbez played the roles of Felipe and Felipe’s grandmother in Jack and Jill (2011)© Jack and Jill / Columbia Pictures

8. Ben Mendelsohn played the roles of Keller and Talos in Captain Marvel (2019)

8. Ben Mendelsohn played the roles of Keller and Talos in Captain Marvel (2019)© Captain Marvel / Marvel Studios

9. James Remar played the roles of Ace Speck and Butch Pooch in Django Unchained (2012)

9. James Remar played the roles of Ace Speck and Butch Pooch in Django Unchained (2012)© Django Unchained / Columbia Pictures

10. Eddie Murphy played the roles of Prince Akeem, Clarence, Randy Watson, and Saul in Coming to America (1988)

10. Eddie Murphy played the roles of Prince Akeem, Clarence, Randy Watson, and Saul in Coming to America (1988)© Coming to America / Paramount Pictures

Some of these movies really leaned into the joke.

And if you like role-swapping mysteries, the makeup artist’s claim that Jim Carrey wasn’t Jim Carrey at the César Awards is next-level.

11. Arsenio Hall played the roles of Semmi, Morris, a girl in a bar, and Reverend Brown in Coming to America (1988)

11. Arsenio Hall played the roles of Semmi, Morris, a girl in a bar, and Reverend Brown in Coming to America (1988)© Coming to America / Paramount Pictures

12. Michelle Williams played the roles of Annie and Glinda in Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

12. Michelle Williams played the roles of Annie and Glinda in Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)© Oz the Great and Powerful / Walt Disney Pictures

13. Margaret Hamilton played the roles of Miss Almira Gulch and The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz (1939)

13. Margaret Hamilton played the roles of Miss Almira Gulch and The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz (1939)© The Wizard of Oz / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

14. Dean-Charles Chapman played the roles of Martyn Lannister and Tommen Baratheon in Game of Thrones (2011-)

14. Dean-Charles Chapman played the roles of Martyn Lannister and Tommen Baratheon in Game of Thrones (2011-)© Game of Thrones / HBO

15. Ryan Reynolds played the roles of Deadpool and the voice of Juggernaut in Deadpool 2 (2018)

15. Ryan Reynolds played the roles of Deadpool and the voice of Juggernaut in Deadpool 2 (2018)© Deadpool 2 / Marvel Studios

16. Benedict Cumberbatch played the roles of Dr. Stephen Strange and Dormammu in Doctor Strange (2016)

16. Benedict Cumberbatch played the roles of Dr. Stephen Strange and Dormammu in Doctor Strange (2016)© Doctor Strange / Marvel Studios

Now the double takes are probably impossible to unsee.

How many of these actors did you recognize before now? Which one surprised you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Think you spotted twins? See the “twin hiding in plain sight” celebrities in The Secret Twins Of Your Favorite Stars.

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