11 Marvel Actors Who Have Also Appeared in The Last of Us

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In the star-studded lineup of HBO’s “The Last of Us”, several seasoned actors who have graced both the big and small screens in various Marvel productions, either within or outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, can be found. These talented individuals, who are popular, successful, and highly bankable today, have breathed life into countless captivating, complex, and potent characters from Marvel Comics through their work with Marvel Studios. Given the extensive roster of stars associated with Marvel’s film and TV projects, it would have been quite challenging to assemble the cast for the live-action version of “The Last of Us” without incorporating some of these accomplished Marvel veterans.

In 2023, “The Last of Us” made its debut on our screens as a live-action version of Naughty Dog’s highly praised video game from 2013. The series followed Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they traversed the United States, 20 years after a fungus outbreak that mutated into Cordyceps, causing chaos in much of the world’s population. “The Last of Us” Season 2 was released in 2025 to more critical praise, focusing on Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and the Washington Liberation Front’s conflict against the Seraphites, with Season 3 currently being developed.

Over two series, “The Last of Us” has showcased a grand total of 11 actors who have previously starred in diverse Marvel productions. These talented individuals can be seen in ventures such as “The Avengers,” “Runaways,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “What If…?” and numerous others, with Pedro Pascal set to make his entrance in the upcoming MCU production, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Although some of these actors have merely had brief appearances in both their Marvel projects and “The Last of Us,” others have significantly contributed to the growth of both franchises, and this list is bound to grow as both continue to evolve.

1) Ashley Johnson as Beth & Anna

Ashley Johnson plays a significant part in the storyline of ‘The Last of Us’, as she not solely portrayed Ellie’s mother, Anna, at the end of Season 1’s finale titled “Look for the Light”, but also lent her voice and motion capture skills to Ellie in the initial game and its 2020 sequel. However, before these roles, Johnson made a brief cameo in ‘The Avengers’ (released in 2012). Here she played Beth, who was rescued by Captain America (Chris Evans) during the Chitauri attack. Later, Beth could be heard expressing gratitude for the Avengers in a news report, representing those backing the team.

2) Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes & Tommy Miller

As a huge fan, I can’t help but marvel at the significant impact Gabriel Luna made on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD during its fourth season, bringing the character Robbie Reyes’ Ghost Rider to life. His departure from the MCU has sparked much anticipation about his potential official inclusion, but so far, that hasn’t materialized. Instead, Luna has embarked on a new journey in The Last of Us, where he introduced Tommy Miller, Joel’s brother who reconnects with him in Jackson, Wyoming. In the wake of Joel’s demise in The Last of Us Season 2, Tommy assumes an important role as an uncle figure to Ellie – a significant development that I found captivating.

3) Graham Greene as Skully & Marlon

Graham Greene’s appearance in “The Last of Us” was brief but impactful, offering a significant bonding moment between Joel and Ellie following the tragic incident involving Henry and Sam. In this post-apocalyptic tale, Greene portrayed Marlon, a Wyoming resident who, along with his wife Florence, provided valuable guidance to Joel and Ellie on their journey towards Jackson. On another note, Greene had a more substantial role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Echo” series as Skully, a mentor-like figure for Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox). He helped Maya reconnect with her grandmother, Chula (Tantoo Cardinal).

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4) Isabela Merced as Anya Corazon & Dina

Prior to Isabela Merced’s first appearance in the DC Universe as Hawkgirl, she appeared in the movie “Madame Web” alongside Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, and Celeste O’Connor as Anya Corazon. Although she wouldn’t want to be solely defined by her role in “Madame Web”, given its disappointing box office performance, her portrayal of Dina in “The Last of Us” has garnered her significant recognition and admiration. Dina was introduced in the second season of “The Last of Us” as Ellie’s love interest who accompanies her on a quest for vengeance in Seattle, and she is expected to play a substantial role in Season 3 as well.

5) Ariela Barer as Gertrude Yorkes & Mel

In the thrilling world of “The Last of Us” Season 2, I found myself introduced to Ariela Barer’s character, Mel – a companion of Abby’s group, once a Firefly who chose to align with the WLF and played a pivotal role in the plot to assassinate Joel. Tragically, Mel met her end at the hands of Ellie during her relentless pursuit through Seattle, a turn of events that also claimed the life of Mel’s unborn child. If you’re familiar with Marvel’s “Runaways” series on Hulu, you might recognize Ariela Barer as Gert Yorkes, the offspring of nefarious time-travelers, and a friend to a genetically engineered dinosaur. It’s important to note that “Runaways” doesn’t align with the official MCU timeline.

6) Joe Pantoliano as Ben Urich & Eugene Lynden

Much like Joe Pantoliano, who had a brief appearance in Season 2 of The Last of Us, showing up only in Episode 6 titled “The Price,” as Eugene – Gail’s husband who contracted the infection and was euthanized by Joel to spare him the trip home for goodbyes. Interestingly enough, Pantoliano played Ben Urich, a New York Post reporter, alongside Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, and Michael Clarke Duncan in 2003’s Daredevil. In a different adaptation on Netflix, Vondie Curtis-Hall portrayed Urich, and his memory lives on through his niece, BB Urich (Genneya Walton), who carries on the legacy in the upcoming series, Daredevil: Born Again.

7) Robert John Burke as Smitty & Seth

Robert John Burke is another actor who’s played bit roles in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and “The Last of Us.” He made a brief appearance as Navy SEAL Smitty in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” where he collaborated with the CIA to hunt for vibranium, eventually falling victim to the Talokan. In contrast, his character Seth from “The Last of Us” had a more substantial role, living in Jackson and insulting Ellie and Dina at their New Year’s party using offensive language while under the influence. Later, Seth apologized and offered assistance to Ellie and Dina before they embarked on their mission for retribution.

8) Tony Dalton as Jack Duquesne & Javier Miller

In The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6 titled “The Price,” we got a glimpse into Joel and Tommy’s past through a touching flashback sequence. This involved their troubled relationship with their father, Javier (played by Tony Dalton), which was a significant aspect of the storyline. Dalton’s performance as Javier was particularly moving and convincing, a testament to his acting skills, as he portrays Jack Duquesne, better known as the Swordsman in Hawkeye and Daredevil: Born Again, within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans are excited to see more of Duquesne’s character evolving into a full-fledged sword-wielding hero in the MCU.

9) Jeffrey Wright as the Watcher & Isaac

In essence, Jeffrey Wright has been an integral figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga, voicing Uatu the Watcher across all three seasons of the animated “What If…?” series. Speculations are high that Wright will eventually step into a live-action role as The Watcher for Phase 6 of the MCU, and his character, Isaac from “The Last of Us,” is anticipated to have a more significant arc in Season 3. Isaac was initially a FEDRA commander who later defected to the Washington Liberation Front, now engaged in conflict with the religious group known as the Seraphites.

10) Danny Ramirez as Joaquín Torres & Manny

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but be smitten by Danny Ramirez’s portrayal of Joaquín Torres in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Despite being a fresh face, he’s swiftly proven to be a pivotal character. Making his debut as a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer and Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) partner in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Torres later took over the mantle of the Falcon in “Captain America: Brave New World” in 2025. The Phase 5 film hinted at his potential role within Sam Wilson’s upcoming Avengers team, though we’re yet to discover who else might be joining the new Captain America and Falcon.

In the series “The Last of Us,” Danny Ramirez’s character, Manny, hasn’t taken on a significant role so far. He made his appearance as a member of Abby’s group in the WLF, and was involved in a plot to kill Joel for events in Salt Lake City. Manny also intended to eliminate Ellie as well, fearing she would expose their actions, but the rest of the group stopped him. This decision ultimately led to the deaths of Owen, Nora, and Mel. For fans of “The Last of Us Part II’s” video game, it is expected that Manny will play a more prominent role in future seasons of “The Last of Us,” focusing on Abby’s perspective.

11) Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards & Joel Miller

Pedro Pascal is currently one of the most sought-after actors across both movies and TV series, often appearing in various productions. His upcoming significant project will be “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” where he’ll make his debut as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, the head of Marvel’s First Family within the MCU. Some found Pascal an unusual choice for Mister Fantastic, but given his exceptional and versatile acting abilities, it’s expected that he’ll deliver a compassionate, intelligent, and paternal portrayal of Reed Richards. He might draw inspiration from his performance in “The Last of Us” for this role.

In the creation of “The Last of Us” Season 1, Joel Miller played a pivotal role by transporting immune Ellie across the nation in search of a cure for the Cordyceps disease. During their travel, a strong father-daughter relationship evolved between them, which influenced Joel’s violent actions to protect her. Unfortunately, Joel was fatally killed by Abby in “The Last of Us” Season 2, leaving us wondering if he might reappear in Season 3. Given that Pedro Pascal is currently omnipresent, we can anticipate an exciting continuation.

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2025-06-29 20:19