Once a Superhero, Always a Superhero: Five Actors Who Returned to Superhero Franchises
You know what comic book actors say: You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself [...]
You know what comic book actors say: You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself put in the eventual series reboot. So, it's not a surprise that movie and television studios bring back actors from previous live action comic book franchises as an homage to the originals. Here's a look at five actors or actresses who have appeared in two or more versions of the same superhero franchise:
Lou Ferrigno
Lou Ferrigno might be best known for playing the title character on CBS's The Incredible Hulk series in the 1980s, but he also voiced the Hulk in Marvel's Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron movie. Marvel overlaid Ferrigno's voice with actor Mark Ruffalo's (who plays Bruce Banner in the Avengers films), which made the Hulk's voice a perfect blend of the past and present. Ferrigno also voiced the Hulk in a 1996 cartoon series that ran on UPN.
Dean Cain and Helen Slater
Super-children require Super-parents to raise them. CBS's upcoming Supergirl series will feature two actors who formerly played members of the House of El on television or in the movies. Dean Cain and Helen Slater will play Fred and Sylvia Danvers, the couple who takes in Supergirl after she arrives on Earth. Cain previously played Superman in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman while Slater starred in the 1984 Supergirl movie. Slater actually has previous experience raising a Kryptonian child. She also played Superman's birth mother Lara in Smallville.
John Wesley Shipp
Years after playing the Scarlet Speedster for CBS, John Wesley Shipp is now raising Barry Allen on the CW's Flash. In the new show, Shipp traded in his red costume for a blue jumpsuit as police arrested his character in the season premiere for murdering Barry's mother. ComicBook.com recently speculated that Shipp might reprise his role as the Flash next season, but for now fans will just have to watch him play the proud papa.
Annette O'Toole
Long before she played Superman's adoptive mother Martha Kent on the WB's Smallville, Annette O'Toole played Lana Lang in Superman 3. After re-uniting with Lana at his high school reunion, Superman's feelings for her are reawakened while he's affected by an artificial version of Kryptonite. According to O'Toole, the producers of Smallville were totally unaware that she appeared in Superman III, which is probably a good thing considering the movie is considered to be one of the worst superhero movies ever made.
Who's your favorite comic book actor to revisit a franchise? Let us know in the comments!
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