7 Actors Who Were in Marvel Movies Before They Were Famous

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Marvel’s cinematic universe has been a launching pad for numerous renowned actors across its films spanning over decades, yet some of them were relatively unknown before their roles. Ranging from Marvel Cinematic Universe titles to standalone movies, the comic book film and TV series industry has played a significant role in elevating, rejuvenating, and kick-starting acting careers. Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth gained immense popularity as a result of portraying Steve Rogers/Captain America and Thor respectively, while Robert Downey Jr. made a remarkable comeback with his performance as Tony Stark/Iron Man.

More recently, actresses like Iman Vellani from Ms. Marvel and Alaqua Cox known for her role as Echo, have landed their debut acting roles within the Marvel universe. Beyond the MCU, many well-known actors started out with parts in Marvel films before they achieved widespread fame. Here are seven examples of such stars who graced Marvel movies before they became household names.

1) Jenna Ortega

Prior to Jenna Ortega achieving widespread fame through hits like ‘Wednesday’, ‘The Fallout’, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’, and the ‘Scream’ series, she made her acting debut at just ten years old in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie ‘Iron Man 3’. In this film, Ortega portrayed the Vice President’s daughter without a named character or any spoken lines. Given her brief appearance and the fact that she wasn’t widely recognized at the time, many MCU fans might have overlooked her scene. However, it’s an interesting trivia point to remember that future stars can sometimes be found in older Marvel productions. Additionally, there’s a possibility that Ortega, now a rising star, could rejoin the MCU in a more significant role in the future.

2) Ariana Greenblatt

Currently, film enthusiasts recognize Ariana Greenblatt from the movie “Barbie”, where she plays Sasha, a real-life character, and the Disney+ series “Star Wars: Ahsoka”, in which she brings a young Ahsoka Tano to life. Before gaining widespread fame, Greenblatt made her debut as the young version of Zoe Saldaña’s Gamora in 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War” at only 10 years old. In this film, Greenblatt’s portrayal of Gamora is central during flashback scenes with Thanos (Josh Brolin). The movie uses these flashbacks to illustrate Thanos’ devastation of Gamora’s home planet and his adoption of her as his daughter.

Over the past few years, Greenblatt’s career has been quite captivating to keep track of, and fans will have the chance to catch her next in “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t“. As Greenblatt continues to rise to fame, it’s interesting to note that the Marvel Cinematic Universe played a role in her early days within Hollywood.

3) Jack Champion

Jack Champion’s meteoric rise in Hollywood is marked by his significant roles as Spider in “Avatar: The Way of Water” and its sequel “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” and a minor appearance as Ethan Landry in “Scream VI.” Marvel enthusiasts might be taken aback to learn that Champion made a brief, unrecognizable cameo at the start of 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” At just 15 years old during filming, Champion can be spotted riding past Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang/Ant-Man on a bike in one scene without any dialogue. Although his Marvel stint is often overlooked due to its fleeting nature, the budding star can boast that he’s appeared in two of the most financially successful film franchises ever.

4) Octavia Spencer

Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer has had an illustrious career in Hollywood, earning critical acclaim for her performances in films like The Help, Hidden Figures, and The Shape of Water, among others. However, her journey began earlier when she took on a minor role in the 2002 Marvel film Spider-Man. In this movie directed by Sam Raimi, Spencer portrayed the check-in lady at the wrestling event for a brief 20 seconds. Yet, during that short screen time, she delivered her character’s subtle critique of Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker with a captivating performance. It’s truly awe-inspiring to witness Spencer’s acting prowess even in such a small and seemingly insignificant role, demonstrating that exceptional talent can shine through under any circumstances.

5) Rebel Wilson

As a devoted cinephile, I’d like to share an interesting tidbit: Rebel Wilson, who later became famous for her roles in “Pitch Perfect” and “Bridesmaids”, made an unexpected debut in the Marvel universe with her appearance in the 2007 film “Ghost Rider”. This was only her second acting role! In this movie, she played the woman being interviewed by the news in an alley. While “Ghost Rider” isn’t one of Marvel’s most cherished films, it did manage to earn some praise for its star-studded cast, which included a relatively unknown Wilson at the time. Her career skyrocketed after “Ghost Rider”, and today she is a well-known and respected figure in Hollywood.

6) Joe Manganiello

Prior to becoming well-known with his roles in the TV series “True Blood” and the “Magic Mike” film series, Joe Manganiello appeared in two Marvel superhero movies. Specifically, he played Flash Thompson in both “Spider-Man” (2002) and “Spider-Man 3” (2007). In these films, Manganiello portrays the arrogant high school jock who often torments Peter Parker. Remarkably, he convincingly embodies Flash’s arrogant and hostile personality, making him a memorable supporting character in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy.

After making a mark in roles outside of Marvel besides Spider-Man, Manganiello’s performances as the character should not be overlooked. The Amazing Spider-Man series by Marvel and the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies saw the return of Flash Thompson, with Chris Zylka and Tony Revolori taking over the role from Manganiello.

7) Elizabeth Banks

At the start of Elizabeth Banks’ acting journey, it might have seemed unlikely that she would end up with Marvel. However, in the movies ‘Spider-Man’, ‘Spider-Man 2’, and ‘Spider-Man 3′, she took on the role of Betty Brant, the secretary at the Daily Bugle. Although her screen time was limited across the trilogy, Betty Brant is often recognized as Banks’ breakout role. At the time ‘Spider-Man’ hit cinemas, Banks wasn’t a household name, but she brought a vibrant and witty performance to the table.

Banks’ roles in Marvel productions paved her way to future parts in movies like “The 40-Year-Old Virgin“, “Slither“, The Hunger Games series, and others. However, when the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced Spider-Man on the big screen, they chose a young Betty portrayed by Angourie Rice instead.

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2025-07-04 20:13