It’s common for actors to be replaced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which now includes over 37 films. While big changes like Mark Ruffalo becoming the Hulk and Don Cheadle taking over the role of Rhodey are well-known, there have been other instances as well. Interestingly, the role of Tony Stark’s father was played by two different actors – John Slattery and Dominic Cooper. Cooper recently shared that he was surprised by the second recast, as he had been led to believe he’d have a chance to reprise the role in a future Avengers movie.
In an interview with ComicBook, actor Cooper, currently appearing in AppleTV+’s *The Last Frontier*, jokingly said he wants to have an “arm wrestle” with Robert Downey Jr. to decide who better portrays Howard Stark. He quickly added that he has a lot of respect for Downey Jr., who also stars in *The Last Frontier* and is well-known for playing Iron Man’s father.
Cooper admitted he’s eager to talk to the actor, explaining he was a huge fan of his work on *Mad Men*. He jokingly revealed that while finishing *Captain America*, he learned about a potential future role in *The Avengers* – a role that ultimately went to this actor. Cooper feels a bit competitive about it, wondering why he wasn’t chosen, especially since he feels his career aligns more with that era. He playfully questioned why they didn’t age *him* up to fit the role, but acknowledged the other actor is simply more talented. He even wondered if the actor was originally considered for the role in the first place, and now feels confused about who the ‘original’ actor even is!
Howard Stark Has Actually Been Played By Three Actors (And Two Are Open to Return)
It’s easy to see why some fans get confused about who played Howard Stark first in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Three different actors have taken on the role. Gerard Sanders had a quick appearance as Howard in a slideshow during *Iron Man*. John Slattery was the first to play a more significant version of Howard, appearing in a recorded message in *Iron Man 2*. Dominic Cooper then played a younger Howard Stark in *Captain America: The First Avenger* and *Agent Carter*. Later, when Howard appeared again in a flashback in *Ant-Man*, John Slattery returned to the role and has played him ever since.
There’s a chance Dominic Cooper might reprise his role as Howard Stark in future Marvel Cinematic Universe projects. He expressed interest in returning as early as 2022, and previously, in 2019, playfully wondered why he wasn’t included in *Endgame*, stating he was hoping for another opportunity to work with Marvel.
The first two episodes of The Last Frontier are now streaming on AppleTV+.
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2025-10-11 01:41