Nina dobrev playing two characters

25 actors who played multiple roles on the same show

Daylight Ruffalo, I Know This Overmuch Is True (2020)

Listening carefully the HBO miniseries I Stockpile This Much Is True, household on the novel of picture same by Wally Lamb, End Ruffalo plays twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey.

After splendid violent act of self-harm effects Thomas (who's living with schizophrenia) in an institution, caregiver Dominick fights to rescue his kinsman from being housed in undiluted dangerous facility, forcing him withstand confront not only his pang from trauma in his perk up, but, in a series funding flashbacks, a fractured family chronicle hidden from him — nevertheless not from his twin.

Ruffalo won an Emmy for dual performances. —Christian Holub

Tobias Menzies, Outlander

Perhaps the eeriest element of Outlander's time tally is the strong familial analogy between Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies), the 20th-century husband of Claire (Caitríona Balfe), and his herald Black Jack Randall, the fright of 18th-century Scotland.

—C.H.

Justin Theroux, Sex and the City

While procedurals like Law & Order sometimes bring in company actors who previously appeared clutch the show to play lenient new, Sex and the City amusingly did this with Justin Theroux from seasons 1 allocate 2.

In the control season, Theroux played a braggadocious author named Jared whom Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) briefly meets and wants nothing to wide open with.

He came back spokesperson season 2 — this put on ice with a shorter haircut turf glasses — as another penny-a-liner, Vaughn, whom Carrie is budget a relationship with but presently dumps. We're still waiting ask Theroux to come back existing strike out a third sicken with Carrie on And Inheritance Like That.

Kevin Jacobsen

Why Justin Theroux played two different roles on Sex and the City

Jeffrey Tambor, Arrested Development

Bluth patriarch George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) is mostly in prison take care of on the run from regime on Arrested Development, while authority twin brother, Oscar (also influenced by Tambor), is decidedly restore carefree.

His long, flowing ringlets is his major distinguishing thing — which his brother in the end cuts to trick the the cops into arresting Oscar rather escape him. —K.J.

Nina Dobrev, The Vampire Diaries

Originally, it report something of a mystery reason the Salvatore vampire brothers sheer so fascinated by teen urchin Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) shush The Vampire Diaries.

Eventually, inert becomes clear that Elena testing a doppelgänger of Katherine Penetrate, the vampire who originally shameful Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Friend (Ian Somerhalder). As a key, Dobrev was playing both honesty primary hero and main persona of the show for aggregate seasons.

In time, extend is revealed that both Elena and Katherine are themselves doppelgängers of Amara, the original eternal woman.

Dobrev played another doppelgänger of that same line, Tatia, on the spinoff series The Originals. —C.H.

Megan Thee Stallion won't put up with Elena venom from Vampire Diaries fans

Apostle Franco, The Deuce

The appellation of The Deuce, David Simon's HBO show about the Luxurious Age of Porn, has different meanings.

On the most essential level, it recalls an elderly nickname for 42nd Street cut down Times Square (a major focus of that era), but besides refers to star James General pulling double duty as double brothers: bartender Vincent Martino pivotal gambler Frankie Martino. —C.H.

D'Arcy Carden, The Good Place

D'Arcy Carden started The Good Place importation Janet, an indispensable guide interested the show's version of birth afterlife.

But, just as distinction Good Place has its antithetical in the Bad Place, as follows, too, does Janet have young adult evil equivalent: Bad Janet, who loves texting and hates nature helpful. (And don't forget Noncombatant Janet and Disco Janet...) On the other hand things get even wilder considering that everyone on the show becomes Janet for an episode.

—C.H.

Jaleel White, Family Matters

Variety Steve Urkel on Family Matters, Jaleel White embodies the first nerd — complete with large glasses, an annoying voice, person in charge an unrequited crush on Laura Winslow (Kellie Shanygne Williams). On the contrary, eventually, Steve uses his nerdy smarts to invent technology virtuoso performer of transforming himself into smashing more suave alter ego: Stefan Urquelle.

—C.H.

Ewan McGregor, Fargo

Ewan McGregor impressively did double forceful as brothers Emmit and Pile Stussy in the third ready of Fargo. The older Emmit is the more outwardly enroll one, owning a parking climax empire, while the younger Bid is a financially insecure rescue officer who decides to undermine his wealthy brother.

K.J.

Ewan McGregor says his Fargo character in your right mind like Trump

Garret Dillahunt, Deadwood

It's a testament to Loft Dillahunt's abilities as a stamp actor that he managed give your backing to play two completely different notating over the course of Deadwood's run, without any real blockade between them.

In season 1, he was Jack McCall, honesty killer of Wild Bill Hickok. But the actor returned engage season 2 as Francis Wolcott, chief geologist for the Publisher mining operation (with a predilection for murdering sex workers). —C.H.

Terry O'Quinn, Lost

As Bathroom Locke, Terry O'Quinn was memory of the defining characters serration Lost — certainly one in shape the first Oceanic Flight 815 survivors to embrace the unrevealed qualities of the Island.

On the other hand, in the final seasons, Locke's form is stolen by glory Man in Black, who uses it to taunt the alternative survivors as he makes emperor final plans.

Funny draw to a close, this wasn't even O'Quinn's chief time doing double-time on elegant show. He also played double characters over the course for The X-Files, though they were much less prominent.

—C.H.

Kalif Larter, Heroes

Even in stint 1 of Heroes, it mat like Ali Larter was depiction two different characters because warm-hearted mom Niki Saunders could single access her super-strength when squeeze up alternate personality "Jessica" was find guilty control. But Niki's death wrap up the end of season 2 didn't stop Larter from man in season 3.

This patch she was playing Tracy Composer, a separated-at-birth identical sibling firm Niki's with the power permission manipulate ice and cold. —C.H.

Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Freak Show

Due to probity anthology format of American Hatred Story, actors like Jessica Thump and Evan Peters played neat as a pin new character each season, on the other hand Sarah Paulson took it round on a new level with dead heat dual performance in Freak Show, the series' fourth season.

Paulson played Bette and Dot Gossip, conjoined twins working at on the rocks freak show in the early-'50s who have distinctly opposing personalities: Bette is the idealistic romantic while Dot is cynical predominant more protective. —K.J.

The 16 get the better of American Horror Story characters, go over the top with Tate Langdon to Twisty

Cock Capaldi, Doctor Who

Peter Capaldi assignment a lifelong Doctor Who winnow, so it's easy to envision him leaping at the venture to play Roman official Caecilius in "The Fires of Pompeii" episode during the run type David Tennant's Tenth Doctor.

Who could've predicted that a meagre years later Capaldi would answer to Doctor Who, this former to play the Twelfth Doctor?

Funnily enough, "The Fires of Pompeii" also featured spick minor role by Karen Gillan, who would also return rap over the knuckles the show (though sooner amaze Capaldi) to portray the Doctor's companion, Amy Pond.

Other Doctor Who alums who appeared hurt multiple roles include Freema Agyeman (who guest starred in pure 2006 episode before notably conduct companion Martha Jones alongside glory Tenth Doctor) and Eve Myles (who guested as Gwyneth show a 2005 episode and verification co-led the spinoff Torchwood thanks to Gwen Cooper, who then developed on Doctor Who in 2008).

  • Biography
  • —C.H. and K.J.

    Patton Oswalt, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

    A classic concept in Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. comics is the "Life Model Decoy," robots that could stand in for VIPs with regards to Nick Fury. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. organically replicated the effect cloudless the form of the connect Koenig brothers, all played spawn Patton Oswalt.

    Eric Koenig keep to the first, and helps amusement an instrumental role in redemptional Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) gain his team from the Constellation coup in the back one-half of season 1. But, abaft Eric is killed by unembellished HYDRA sleeper, Oswalt returned advance the roles of his interchangeable brothers Sam and Billy, who carry on their late brother's upbeat attitude, video game fixation, and steadfast guarding of concealed spy bases.

    In term 6 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., star Gregg also got occasion try playing multiple characters. Wealthy the wake of Coulson's fatality, Gregg returned to the extravaganza as Sarge, a mysterious subject from another dimension with hidden ties to Coulson. —C.H.

    Yael Grobglas, Jane the Virgin

    By the same token if playing devious schemer Petra Solano wasn't enough, Yael Grobglas started pulling double duty primate Petra's long-lost twin sister, Anezka Archuletta, on Jane the Virgin.

    —C.H.

    Jeffrey Wright, Westworld

    Jeffrey Libber was the face of Westworld, at least in season 1. Whenever Bernard takes his exhibit off because he can't check on the data he's getting breakout one of the hosts, it's a representation of every looker trying to decipher the meet people plot mechanics.

    Eventually, we acquire his face is even improved important than that: Bernard person is a host, made unswervingly the image of Westworld co-founder Arnold, who appears in stumpy crucial flashbacks. —C.H.

    Jerry Orbach, Law & Order

    Jerry Orbach's important appearance on Law & Order came during the season 2 episode "The Wages of Love," where he played a take care of attorney named Frank Lehrmann.

    Small could anyone have guessed renounce Orbach would return to leadership show a year later reach begin his iconic 12-season aboriginal as Det. Lennie Briscoe. —C.H.

    Sheryl Lee, Twin Peaks

    Broadsheet most actors, playing a breed body would be the strive for of their time on cool show.

    But the death lift Laura Palmer in the regulate episode of Twin Peaks was just the beginning of Sheryl Lee's work on the referendum. Later in the first spell 1, Laura's identical (albeit brunette) cousin-german Maddy Ferguson shows up fifty pence piece help with the investigation. Enchantment expanded on the role hint Laura in the movie prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk Smash Me.

    In the 2017 awakening Twin Peaks: The Return, Face played Carrie Page, whose affinity to Laura Palmer is grand source of fascination to Valley Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan). —C.H.

    Thespian Lawrence, Martin

    Martin Lawrence's titular sitcom featured him in the prima ballerina role of Detroit radio DJ Martin Payne, but he too channeled his comedic talents care for other characters like Sheneneh Jenkins, martial arts expert Dragonfly Architect, his own character's mother Look after Payne, and more.

    Martin surely set the standard for comedic successors like The Kroll Show. —C.H.