Every Actor Who Has Played Spider-Man In Live Action (Including Nicolas Cage)

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Spider-Man is a hugely popular superhero, becoming an icon when he first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962. Since then, he’s been featured in many TV shows and movies, most often with live actors playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Surprisingly, quite a few actors have taken on this role over the years!

Here’s a complete look at the six actors who have brought Peter Parker/Spider-Man to life on screen, from the 1970s to Nicolas Cage’s recent portrayal of “Ben Reilly” in Spider-Noir.

NOTE: The actors are listed in chronological order of their performances.

Danny Seagren (1974 – 1977)

As a lifelong movie and TV buff, I always find it fascinating to look back at where stars first got their start. It’s amazing to think that The Electric Company, that kids’ show from the 70s, was a launching pad for so many incredible talents – Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, and a bunch of others! But what really blew my mind when I learned about it was that it also gave us the very first live-action Spider-Man! They featured him in these segments called “Spidey Super Stories,” which were totally groundbreaking for superhero TV at the time.

For the show’s Spider-Man segments, they hired Dan Seagren, a puppeteer and dancer who had previously worked on Sesame Street, even playing Big Bird in some episodes. Seagren’s Spider-Man never spoke or removed his mask. However, he’s recognized as the first actor to physically perform as Spider-Man, relying entirely on movement and performance to bring the character to life.

Nicholas Hammond (1977-1979)

Nicholas Hammond holds the distinction of being the first actor to portray both Peter Parker and Spider-Man in live-action. He first appeared as the character in a 1977 CBS television movie, which proved popular enough to lead to a full series, The Amazing Spider-Man, in 1978, with Hammond reprising his role.

I remember watching The Amazing Spider-Man when it first aired, but it sadly didn’t last very long – just thirteen episodes. It’s funny, though, because the original TV movie and the first couple of episodes really stuck with a lot of us. They even combined those episodes into a movie of their own! For many of us who grew up in Generation X, Paul Hammond was Spider-Man – he was the guy we pictured when we thought of the character.

Tobey Maguire (2002-2007)

Tobey Maguire carried the biggest risk of anyone on this list. Before his Spider-Man movie, no one had ever tried to make a big-budget, live-action superhero film. While movies like Blade and X-Men had shown some potential for the genre, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man truly aimed to make superheroes box office giants – and it surprisingly worked.

The first Spider-Man movie was a huge hit, leading to a successful second film in 2004 and a profitable third in 2007. However, studio interference during the making of the third film strained the relationship between director Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire, and other key cast members, ultimately halting the franchise’s momentum. Plans for a fourth Spider-Man movie were cancelled, and the series was restarted. More recently, Tobey Maguire reprised his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: No Way Home, and there’s speculation he may appear in future Avengers films.

Andrew Garfield (2012-2014)

Andrew Garfield faced a tough challenge taking over the role of Spider-Man after Tobey Maguire, especially because it happened at a tricky time for Sony. The studio was trying to build its own Spider-Man movie universe, separate from the already-popular Marvel Cinematic Universe, in the early 2010s. The reboot was directed by Marc Webb, who had limited experience with only one independent film, 500 Days of Summer, under his belt. Unlike Sam Raimi, Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man films were only moderately successful. They relied heavily on Andrew Garfield’s charm as Peter Parker/Spider-Man – many consider him the best to play the role – and the strong chemistry between Garfield and Emma Stone, who played Gwen Stacy, a connection that blossomed into a real-life romance.

It’s a real shame, but the second movie tried to do so much, and honestly, it didn’t quite catch on with fans the way they hoped. That means all those cool spinoffs they were planning – like Sinister Six and Silver & Black – and a third movie with Andrew Garfield are pretty much off the table now. It’s tough because I thought Andrew was a fantastic Spider-Man, but he’s kind of stuck being the forgotten middle child of the Spider-Man films, which isn’t fair.

Tom Holland (2016-Present)

Tom Holland faced a tough challenge: following in the footsteps of two beloved Spider-Man actors, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, and convincing audiences to embrace yet another version of Peter Parker/Spider-Man so soon after their films. Adding to the difficulty, his Spider-Man was the first to appear within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, meaning he had to share the screen with a whole cast of established heroes and villains.

Tom Holland’s fourth Spider-Man film served as a fresh start for the series, and he’s proven to be a remarkably successful Spider-Man. He’s already played the role longer and earned more money at the box office than any previous actor, and his time as Spider-Man shows no signs of ending – in fact, it seems to be improving.

Nicolas Cage (2026-???)

While Nic Cage previously voiced Spider-Man Noir in the acclaimed animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, he’s now stepping into the role in live-action. The new Prime Video and MGM+ series, Spider-Noir, will bring this character to life for the first time. Given his success with two already beloved superhero roles – Spider-Man Noir and Ghost Rider – and the show’s apparent focus on his strengths as an actor, there’s every reason to expect great things.

Nicolas Cage stars as Ben Reilly, a complex character with a history in Spider-Man comics. The story takes place in a gritty, 1930s noir setting. Once known as The Spider, Reilly was the city’s only hero before a personal tragedy forced him into retirement. Now, he works as a troubled private investigator. But when a powerful crime boss, Silvermane (played by Brendan Gleeson), begins assembling a team of superpowered criminals to take over the city’s underworld, Reilly is forced to return as The Spider.

You can start watching Spider-Noir on May 27th with a subscription to Prime Video-MGM+. If you’re interested in other Spider-Man films, they’re available on Disney+. Join the conversation about the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-05-20 04:11