Every Actor That Has Played Stephen King’s IT and Pennywise (There’s Way More Than You Think)

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Stephen King’s novel IT has been scaring readers for nearly four decades. Since its release in 1986, the lengthy book – over 1000 pages long – has fueled the widespread fear of clowns. It’s not only a terrifying story on its own, but it’s also been adapted into various forms, including a well-known TV miniseries that still frightens audiences today. While IT – the sinister creature that terrorizes the town of Derry, Maine, and preys on its people every 27 years – is most famous for appearing as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, the monster actually takes many different shapes throughout the story and its adaptations.

While Tim Curry and Bill Skarsgård are the most famous actors to portray IT, they aren’t the only ones. We’ve identified at least 44 different actors who have played the character in various live-action versions of Stephen King’s novel, and here’s a list of them.

Tim Curry as Pennywise in IT (1990)

Before the recent movie reboot and TV series, Tim Curry was the definitive Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Building on the success of his frightening role in Legend, Curry perfectly captured every aspect of the character from Stephen King’s novel – both the seemingly harmless clown designed to put victims at ease, and the truly terrifying, monstrous being that craved to feed.

Captain Hanscom and Georgie in IT (1990)

Like the novel, the 1990 miniseries of IT also features IT taking on human forms. One of the most frightening examples is Steve Makaj as Captain Hanscom, Ben’s father, appearing in a hallucination shortly after the family moves to Derry. Another is Tony Dakota as Georgie, Pennywise’s first victim, who appears repeatedly as a haunting reminder of the creature.

Werewolf and Mummy in IT (1990)

As a fan of the original IT book and miniseries, I always loved how the creature would manifest as the Losers’ worst fears – specifically, monsters from classic horror films! The miniseries really brought that to life with two memorable transformations. There was this terrifying werewolf that went after Richie in the school basement, played by Jim Dunn, and a creepy Mummy that slowly came down the stairs towards Stan. It’s funny, though – the credits don’t list who played The Mummy! Some fans think it might have been Dunn again, or even Tim Curry under all those bandages, but it’s never been officially confirmed. It’s one of those little mysteries that still fascinates me about the show.

The Adults in IT (1990)

In the 1990 film adaptation of IT, Beverly Marsh has a frightening encounter with Mrs. Kersh, just as in the novel, played by Florence Paterson. Frank C. Turner briefly returns as Beverly’s father, Alvin Marsh, providing a quick scare with his voice. Like much of the movie, the scene isn’t truly frightening until Pennywise makes an appearance at the very end to torment Beverly.

The Undead in IT (1990)

IT continues to haunt its victims by using the forms of those who have died throughout the story. For example, actor Chris Eastman appears as the zombified Belch Huggins to deceive the grown-up Henry Bowers in Juniper Hill and make him do IT’s work. Similarly, Richard Masur appears as Stanley Uris’ severed head—found in a refrigerator—after Stanley takes his own life when he learns IT has returned.

The Surprises in IT (1990)

As the miniseries focuses more on the adult characters, Pennywise cleverly disguises themself twice to create shocking moments. First, Pennywise appears as a gas station attendant, played by Boyd Norman, and uses this form to abduct Bill’s wife, Audra (Olivia Hussey). The second time, Pennywise takes the form of Annette O’Toole as the adult Beverly Marsh, entering Ben’s room and seemingly professing her love, but Ben quickly realizes something is off when he notices she’s wearing distinctive yellow parachute pants.

Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise

Look, Tim Curry was Pennywise for a generation, and honestly, when I first heard they were rebooting ‘IT,’ I thought it was a terrible idea. How do you even approach following that performance? Then came Bill Skarsgård. He was a bit of a wildcard choice, but he absolutely nailed it. While visually different from Curry, Skarsgård didn’t try to be Curry, and that was brilliant. He went deeper, tapping into something truly primal and animalistic that the story demanded – a side of Pennywise we just didn’t see in the original miniseries. It’s a completely different performance, and a surprisingly effective one.

Georgie in IT (2017)

Okay, so let me tell you, even though it’s been a while since the first movie, seeing Georgie Denbrough back on screen still gave me chills. Jackson Robert Scott, who played young Georgie, is fantastic, and a scene with him in that iconic yellow raincoat is genuinely terrifying – and surprisingly, it doesn’t even feature Pennywise himself! It’s a testament to the film’s atmosphere and Scott’s performance that a simple visual can be so unsettling.

The Library Forms in IT (2017)

I was really freaked out while watching Ben do his research at the library. He actually runs into two different versions of IT there! First, the librarian is surprisingly scary, and it’s weird that she doesn’t get any credit in the movie, even though she talks to Ben before that creepy scene of her in the background. Then, IT shows up as this burned, headless kid – apparently, it’s supposed to be a victim from the Derry Ironworks explosion back in 1908, and the actor who played him was Carter Musselman.

The Terrifying Forms in IT (2017) & IT: Chapter Two (2019)

Beyond the iconic Pennywise, the IT movies directed by Andy Muschietti feature other frightening monster forms. One notable example is Judith, the Flute Lady, portrayed by Tatum Lee, who terrifies Stanley. Javier Botet is another key performer who embodies monstrous figures in the films, playing both the infected leper in both movies and The Witch in IT: Chapter Two.

Creepy Kids in IT (2017)

As the climax of IT approaches, the monster briefly transforms into both Katie Lunman, resembling the first Pennywise victim Betty Ripsom, and Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie. While these appearances are quick and function like jump scares within the film IT (2017), they technically mean these actors also portrayed the entity IT.

On the TV in IT (2017)

IT cleverly hypnotizes Henry Bowers by showing him his missing switchblade. It then appears as a TV show host, manipulating the show’s audience to drive Bowers to kill his father, ultimately preparing him for a showdown with the Losers’ Club. While the actors portraying the TV show’s audience members aren’t credited, they are clearly part of IT’s overall scheme. Notably, Katie Lunman appears as Betty Ripsom among the other decaying victims of IT.

Beverly’s Dad in IT (2017)

To really frighten the Losers Club in the movie IT (2017), the creature IT transforms into Beverly’s abusive father, played once again by actor Stephen Bogaert. Bogaert delivers a chilling performance as Beverly’s dad, capturing the same frightening and realistic portrayal from the original book, and stands out as one of the most terrifying adult characters besides Pennywise.

The Memories in IT: Chapter Two (2019)

In IT: Chapter Two, the story jumps forward 27 years, so the evil entity IT manifests as both people the Losers Club knew from the past and other deceased characters to torment them. The film features Owen Teague returning as Patrick Hockstetter, now a zombie accompanying Henry Bowers, and Molly Atkinson as Eddie’s mother, Sonia Kapsbrak.

Mrs. Kersh in IT: Chapter Two (2019)

The IT movies significantly improve upon the miniseries in their portrayal of the frightening Mrs. Kersh. Actress Joan Gregson brilliantly plays the character with a dual approach: first, as a friendly and gentle older woman who connects with Beverly, and second, through subtly terrifying physical contortions in the background that Beverly doesn’t notice.

The Hallucinations in IT: Chapter Two (2019)

The movie features two unsettling hallucinations. First, IT appears as Adrian Mellon, a previous victim, with actor Xavier Dolan reprising his role as a zombie to give an adult Richie (Bill Hader) a funeral flyer. Second, Sophia Lillis appears as young Beverly in a memory with young Ben, but then transforms into a demonic figure at the scene’s conclusion.

Stanley’s Return in IT: Chapter Two (2019)

Wyatt Oleff, who plays a member of the Loser’s Club, also briefly appears as the severed head of Stanley in the movie. While the original book and miniseries showed the adult Stanley’s severed head, the film version features the younger version played by Oleff. This makes sense because audiences are more familiar with Oleff’s portrayal of the character, as Andy Bean only plays the adult Stanley in a short scene.

Beverly’s Tormenters in IT: Chapter Two (2019)

In the movie IT: Chapter Two, Pennywise isolates the Losers’ Club and attacks them with their worst fears. For Beverly, this takes the form of a flashback to a school bathroom, where she overhears classmates gossiping. However, Pennywise twists the scene by including familiar faces as distorted versions of themselves. These include Megan Charpentier as Greta Keene, Joe Bostick as Mr. Keene, and Nicholas Hamilton as a young Henry Bowers. Even though actor Will Beinbrink doesn’t appear on screen, his voice is used to torment Beverly as her husband, Tom Rogan.

Young Bill in IT: Chapter Two (2019)

Near the end of the movie, IT manifests as a vision that torments Bill. Young actors Jackson Robert Scott (as Georgie) and Jaeden Martell (as a younger version of Bill) appear in this sequence. Initially, it seems like Bill is simply facing his past, but when the older Bill (played by James McAvoy) shoots his younger self with a special gun, it’s revealed that IT was actually behind the vision.

Pennywise in Space Jam: A New Legacy

Following the success of IT: Chapter Two and Bill Skarsgård’s iconic portrayal of Pennywise, the character unexpectedly showed up in Space Jam: A New Legacy. The movie is filled with Warner Bros. characters, and Pennywise is among them, alongside villains like Voldemort and Mr. Freeze, and even Matrix Agents. While Skarsgård didn’t return to play Pennywise, actor Chuck Lines took on the role for a brief, background appearance in the film, according to IMDB.

The Nuclear Family in IT: Welcome to Derry: Episode 1

The first episode of the IT prequel series, “Welcome to Derry,” takes place 27 years before the 2017 film. It follows young Matty Clements (played by Miles Ekhardt) as he tries to leave Derry by hitchhiking. He’s picked up by a family of four who initially seem nice, but quickly start acting strangely. Things escalate when the mother gives birth to a demonic baby that brutally attacks Matty and later targets his friends. Mark MacRae, Zoë Barrett-Wood, Audrey Wellington, and Lochlan Miller play the unsettling family.

Later in the episode, Miles Ekhardt quickly returns as Matty Clements, providing a voice cameo during a frightening scene where IT torments Lilly Bainbridge (played by Clara Stack). In total, five actors portray IT in the first episode—and that number doesn’t even include Sean Sansom and Shane Zander, who operated the puppet for the demon baby.

IT: Welcome to Derry: Episode 2 Forms

The second episode of IT: Welcome to Derry features some of the most frightening incarnations of IT throughout the entire series. The monster initially appears as Ronnie’s mother, Ida Grogan, portrayed by Tenika Davis. Davis delivers a chilling performance as a distorted version of the deceased character, making it one of the scariest depictions of IT seen in either the series or the films.

The episode concludes with a thrilling scene of Lilly Bainbridge being chased through a grocery store by a menacing figure known as the “Supermarket Creep” (played by Chadwick Gendron). Several other shoppers appear to be involved in the pursuit, though they aren’t individually credited. The chase culminates in a shocking confrontation in the pickle aisle, where Lilly comes face-to-face with the dismembered remains of her father, brought to life by Liam Seamus Murphy and voiced by Andrew Morgado.

IT: Welcome to Derry: Episode 3 Forms

The third episode of IT: Welcome to Derry begins and ends with scenes featuring the entity known as IT. In a flashback to 1908, actor Peter Schoelier plays “Skeleton Man,” chasing a young Francis Shaw through the woods. The episode concludes with the 1960s Losers Club attempting to photograph IT in a cemetery. IT appears as Rich Santo’s Uncle Tio, portrayed by Jose de Freitas, along with two victims from an earlier scene – Teddy Uris (Mikkal Karim Fidler) and Susie Malkin (Matilda Legault) – both appearing as zombies.

IT: Welcome to Derry: Episode 4 Forms

Okay, so the newest episode of IT: Welcome to Derry was seriously creepy, as expected! There were some really disturbing visions of IT, and I was totally surprised to see Jovan Adepo pop up, even if it was just as a burned-up, demonic version of Leroy Hanlon in a flashback during the fishing trip. But the biggest reveal for me was at the end when Dick Hallorann went into Taniel’s mind. We got to see the history of IT and its connection to the Shokopiwah people, and I was shocked to see Eric Trask playing the Priest in that scene! They even had some uncredited stunt performers as zombie settlers, which added to the overall unsettling vibe.

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2025-11-22 02:15