10 Oscar Winners You Didn't Realize Played Marvel Movie Side Characters

Summary

Oscar winners in the MCU often take on brief, hidden roles that showcase their talents in unexpected ways.
From Michelle Yeoh to Matt Damon, these actors bring prestige to the MCU through subtle cameos and voice roles.
Taika Waititi’s humor, Kenneth Branagh’s voice, and F. Murray Abraham’s presence add depth to the world of the MCU.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been host to no shortage of Oscar-winning actors, including even some of the series’ most obscure side-characters. It’s no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe survives and thrives off the strength of its actors, as proven by the recent announcement of Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. The franchise has slowly collected Oscar-winners like Infinity Stones over the years, with even the most unrecognizable of roles often going to distinguished performers.

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It’s easy to see how many of these brief roles have gone under the radar over the years. Sometimes, Oscar winners have shown up in the MCU for the briefest of voice roles, playing unseen or CGI characters without making their physical appearance obvious. Often, the cheeky cameo of a well-known actor is sometimes teased within one of the MCU’s famous post-credits scenes, going overlooked by many viewers who don’t bother to stick around. Either way, the MCU doesn’t always parade their Oscar-winners around front and center.

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10 Michelle Yeoh As Aleta Ogord

Won Best Actress For Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Michelle Yeoh is perhaps best-known in the MCU as Ying Nan, the sister of Ying Li and aunt of Shang-Chi. A master martial artist and protector of the mystical land of Ta Lo, Ying Nan made the most out of Yeoh’s status as kung fu movie royalty. However, Yeoh is among the few actors who’ve played multiple MCU roles, also appearing as Aleta Ogord, a leader of one of the Ravager space pirate crews. With her smoky eyeshadow and brief appearance, Yeoh’s lesser-known MCU role is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance.

With two MCU roles to her name, Michelle Yeoh has further proven her ability to shapeshift into different characters.

MIchelle Yeoh won her Oscar for Best Actress in 2023 for her performance as protagonist Evelyn in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Similarly to recent phases of the MCU, Everything Everywhere All at Once was a fantastical adventure through the multiverse, though painted through a startlingly human lens. With two MCU roles to her name, Michelle Yeoh has further proven her ability to shapeshift into different characters.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 3.5 PG-13

Set to the sonic backdrop of Awesome Mix 2, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the adventures of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Baby Groot as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics reappear.

Director James Gunn Release Date April 19, 2017 Cast Dave Bautista , Chris Pratt2 , Chris Sullivan , Vin Diesel , Kurt Russell , Zoe Saldana , Karen Gillan , Elizabeth Debicki , Sylvester Stallone , Glenn Close , Sean Gunn , Nathan Fillion , Tommy Flanagan , Michael Rooker , Pom Klementieff , Bradley Cooper Runtime 137 minutes Expand

9 Jennifer Connelly As Karen

Won Best Supporting Actress For A Beautiful Mind

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is rife with artificial intelligence, from the polite and helpful J.A.R.V.I.S. to the cheerful F.R.I.D.A.Y. Of all the hyper-intelligent systems Tony Stark creates, Karen might be the most undersung, only getting a single appearance in Spider-Man: Homecoming. The near-sentient A.I. that helps Spider-Man pilot his high-tech Stark-made suit, Karen is affectionately named by Peter Parker. Karen is voiced by Jennifer Connelly, an Academy Award-winning actress.

Connelly got her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in A Beautiful Mind. The film was a biopic that told the story of real-life mathematician John Nash, with Connelly playing Nash’s fellow physicist and eventual wife, Alicia Nash. Karen wasn’t Connelly’s first brush with Marvel filmmaking, also playing Betty Ross in the 2003 version of Hulk released by Universal Pictures.

Spider-Man: Homecoming 4.0 PG-13

After making his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland is back as Peter Parker for a new Spider-Man solo film. This time, Peter battles with Adrian Toomes, who takes on the moniker Vulture after profiting off of selling Chitari technology and weapons. Under Tony Stark’s guidance, Peter must prove himself a hero while protecting his city from Vulture and the other criminals in New York. Spider-Man: Homecoming was the first of three films in director Jon Watts’ MCU journey, dubbed the “Homecoming” trilogy.

Director Jon Watts Release Date July 7, 2017 Cast Michael Keaton , Martin Starr , Angourie Rice , Robert Downey Jr. , Marisa Tomei , Bokeem Woodbine , Logan Marshall-Green , Garcelle Beauvais , Michael Mando , Zendaya , Tom Holland , Jon Favreau , Donald Glover , Hannibal Buress Runtime 133 minutes Expand

8 Taika Waititi As Korg

Won Best Adapted Screenplay For Jojo Rabbit

Not every background actor in the MCU that’s won an Oscar has actually done so for acting. When director Taika Waititi took the reins as the director of the Thor films, overseeing the production of both Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder, he couldn’t resist casting himself as Korg, the stony extraterrestrial gladiator who becomes a good friend of the Asgardians. While Korg’s appearance is far-fetched, the hilarious comedic timing of his exaggerated Kiwi accent is all Waititi.

Despite the backlash he received as director on Thor: Love and Thunder, Taika Waititi’s own filmography is quite impressive, with several highly-praised projects worthy of an Oscar Nomination. Waititi eventually got his win in 2019 for Best Adapted Screenplay, taking home the coveted trophy thanks to his direction of Jojo Rabbit. Starring fellow MCU alum Scarlett Johansson, the film tells the story of a young boy growing up in Nazi Germany who creates an imaginary friend in Hitler himself, again played by Waititi.

Thor: Ragnarok 3.5 PG-13

Thor: Ragnarok is the third Thor solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first directed by Taika Waititi. In the sequel, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself stranded on Sakaar, ruled by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Soon he teams with Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to return to Asgard and defeat his sister Hela.

Director Taika Waititi Release Date November 3, 2017 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Tessa Thompson , Tom Hiddleston , Mark Ruffalo , Jeff Goldblum , Cate Blanchett , Idris Elba , Karl Urban Runtime 130 Minutes

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7 Matt Damon As The Loki Actor

Won Best Original Screenplay For Good Will Hunting

Matt Damon might boast the highest discrepancy between actor fame and character importance in the entire MCU, giving only the briefest of glimpses of his star power in Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder. In both films, Damon plays an Asgardian actor who, in turn, plays an idealized version of Loki, clearly commissioned by Loki posing as Odin to portray the “dead” God of Mischief in a positive light. This isn’t the only time Damon has lent his talents to a throwaway role in a superhero movie, also putting in a hilarious cameo in Deadpool 2.

Of course, Matt Damon is incredibly well-known as an actor, appearing in a great deal of films that run the gamut of tone, genre and quality. Yet his sole Oscar win to-date has actually been for his writing instead, The Academy praising Damon for his efforts on the screenplay of Good Will Hunting, which he also stars in. The film posits Damon as a janitor working at MIT who possesses a genius-level IQ, and is then discovered by a professor.

Thor: Love and Thunder 4.0 PG-13

Thor: Love & Thunder is the fourth Thor film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and director Taika Waititi’s second outing with the character. The movie finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey to find inner piece. But when Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) goes on a killing rampage against the gods, Thor is thrown back into the action. Tessa Thompson returns as Valkyrie, as does Waititi’s Korg. Natalie Portman also returns to the franchise for the first time in nine years as Jane Foster, who transforms into the Mighty Thor to wield Mjolnir.

Director Taika Waititi Release Date July 8, 2022 Cast Christian Bale , Russell Crowe , Tessa Thompson , Chris Pratt2 , Natalie Portman , Karen Gillan , Chris Hemsworth Runtime 118 minutes

6 William Hurt As General Ross

Won Best Actor for Kiss of the Spider Woman

General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross is a character of waxing and waning importance in the MCU, being regulated to the background by the time of Phase 4. The surviving the transition from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk to the rest of the MCU, William Hurt’s General Ross is a ruthless representation of United States Armed Forces’ interests in the many global conflicts the MCU’s heroes often find themselves mired in. While he’ll have a much bigger role in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, Hurt was traded out for Harrison Ford.

The film William Hurt won Best Actor for at the Academy Awards, Kiss of the Spider Woman, may sound like an MCU film in name. However, the movie is a meditative drama that takes place in a Brazilian prison, starring Hurt as a gay cinephile imprisoned alongside a leftist revolutionary. It’s a shame Hurt’s subtle, Oscar-winning acting capabilities won’t be returning to the MCU in favor of Harrison Ford’s sheer marquee value.

The Incredible Hulk 4.0 PG-13

The second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is The Incredible Hulk, which was released in 2008. The film introduced a new backstory for the Hulk to differentiate it from the 2003 movie, Hulk. Actor Edward Norton played the role of the green hulk, and his alter ego Bruce Banner. He is joined by actress Liv Tyler who plays his love interest, Dr. Elizabeth “Betty” Ross. Betty’s father, General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt), is hoping to recreate a World War II supersoldier program and, in the process, exposes Bruce to gamma radiation that transforms him into the Hulk. He flees to find a cure for himself but is eventually tracked down by Thunderbolt, who forms an alliance with Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth). After The Incredible Hulk, Mark Ruffalo took over the character for subsequent movies in the MCU.

Director Louis Leterrier Release Date June 13, 2008 Cast Edward Norton , Liv Tyler , Tim Roth , William Hurt , Tim Blake Nelson , Ty Burrell , Lou Ferrigno Runtime 112 minutes

5 Kenneth Branagh As An Asgardian Distress Caller

Won Best Screenplay For Belfast

Astonishingly, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has sometimes hid Oscar-winning performers in even the tiniest of spaces. Kenneth Branagh is best known in the franchise for directing the first Thor film, a solid, if not outstanding, Phase 1 origin story. But Branagh also briefly lent his voice to the commotion of Avengers: Infinity War, being simply credited as “Asgardian Distress Caller.” Not only is this a background character with no name, but Branagh doesn’t even get an on-screen appearance.

Unsurprisingly, Branagh won an Academy Award for his work as a writer rather than for his acting chops. He took home the coveted golden trophy for Best Screenplay in 2022 for his work on Belfast. The 2021 film is a reserved, grounded story that chronicles the life and times of a Protestant family living in the titular city in the wake of the turbulent Irish sectarian violence of the 60s.

Avengers: Infinity War 3.0 PG-13

Avengers: Infinity War is the third Avengers movie in the game-changing Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film is positioned as the beginning of the culmination of everything that has transpired in the franchise to date. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who previously helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War, have assembled the largest ensemble in a superhero film to date. Nearly every living character in the MCU is included as the Avengers join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy to take down Thanos in a battle that has massive repercussions for the future of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. A sequel, Avengers: Endgame, was released in 2019 and marked the end of the Infinity Saga.

Director Joe Russo , Anthony Russo Release Date April 27, 2018 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Anthony Mackie , Elizabeth Olsen , Robert Downey Jr. , Scarlett Johansson , Mark Ruffalo , Sebastian Stan , Paul Rudd , Chadwick Boseman , Don Cheadle , Samuel L. Jackson , Josh Brolin , Tom Holland , Evangeline Lilly , Paul Bettany , Chris Evans , Jeremy Renner Runtime 149 minutes Expand

4 F. Murray Abraham As Khonshu

Won Best Actor For Amadeus

Khonshu is yet another vocal performance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that goes underrated due to its attachment to a CGI character. F. Murray Abraham plays Khonshu, the patron god of Moon Knight who shows up in the character’s eponymous Disney+ show. The god of the moon and night sky, Khonshu is a manipulative player on the stage of the MCU’s gods, but seems unlikely to return outside of Moon Knight any time soon.

F. Murray Abraham is perhaps most famous for his Oscar-winning role in Amadeus, which tells a fictionalized version of the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s life story. In the film, Abraham plays Antonio Salieri, a fellow musician through whom the story is told with a fierce mixture of admiration and jealousy for the titular character. Abraham is also well known for his recent performance in the hit drama series The White Lotus, for which he has garnered further acclaim.

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Moon Knight 3.0

Moon Knight stars Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant, a gift-shop employee in London who discovers he has dissociative identity disorder. He shares a body with Marc Spector and together, they travel to Egypt to uncover a deadly mystery surrounding the gods. Moon Knight consisted of six episodes and was the fifth live-action TV show in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4. Also starring in the series is Ethan Hawke as the villainous Arthur Harrow and May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly.

Cast May Calamawy , F. Murray Abraham , Lucy Thackeray , Ethan Hawke , Oscar Isaac , Gaspard Ulliel Release Date March 30, 2022 Seasons 1 Network Disney Channel Directors Steven Grant

3 Olivia Colman As Sonya Falsworth

Won Best Actress For The Favorite

Sonya Falsworth is a fairly important character in the series she appears in, but considering Secret Invasion might just be the MCU’s most seldom-seen Disney+ project, Olivia Colman’s performance in it largely went by the wayside. Falsworth is an agent of MI6, Britain’s premiere national intelligence organization in both the MCU and real life. A former colleague of Nick Fury and one of the few members of the international intelligence community to trust and respect him, Falsworth was instrumental in the events of the series.

Falsworth is played by Olivia Colman, an English actress with a high pedigree. Colman officially won her first Academy Award for Best Actress with the release of 2018’s The Favourite, a period piece that told the story of three royal cousins all vying for the favor of Queen Anne. Colman played Queen Anne herself, gaining critical acclaim for her humorous performance in the dark comedy.

Secret Invasion 2.0 PG-13

Based on the Marvel Comics event, Secret Invasion is a chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that sees Nick Fury attempting to reckon with an alien invasion that has been occurring for years – without humanity even knowing. Fury discovers that the Skrulls have been infiltrating society for far longer than he realized, and danger arises as plans start into motion.

Cast Samuel L. Jackson , Ben Mendelsohn , Emilia Clarke , Cobie Smulders , Olivia Colman , Christopher McDonald , Carmen Ejogo , Kingsley Ben-Adir , Martin Freeman , Don Cheadle Release Date June 21, 2023 Seasons 1 Directors Ali Selim

2 Mahershala Ali As Blade

Won Best Supporting Actor For Moonlight And Green Book

The troubled production of Mahershala Ali’s Blade has been a sore point for the MCU for some time now, ever since the film’s announcement way back in 2019. However, what few people realize is that Ali has technically already played Blade once in the MCU. During a post-credits scene for Eternals, Ali’s voice can be heard addressing Dane Whitman from just off-screen, later confirmed to be none other than Blade himself.

Mahershala Ali is one of the few MCU actors to boast not one, but two Oscars to his name.

Mahershala Ali is one of the few MCU actors to boast not one, but two Oscars to his name. Ali won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Moonlight, in which he plays a drug dealer who acts as a father figure to a young gay man growing up in Miami. A few years later, he won the same award for his performance as Dr. Don Shirley in Green Book, which tells the story of the creation of a guidebook for traveling African Americans in the 60s’ dangerous Deep South.

Eternals 4.0 PG-13

Eternals is the 25th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is part of its fourth phase. Over 500 years ago, when the ten Eternals complete the task given to them by the Celestial Arishem to wipe out the invasive alien species known as Deviants that roam the earth, the group decides to go their separate ways as they find themselves at odds with how to continue their interactions with humanity as they grow and learn. Blending into society, the Eternals continue to live their lives in the modern day until the Deviants emerge again. When one of the Eternals is supposedly slain by a deviant, events are set in motion that will reunite them once again to discover why the Deviants have returned and what the true intentions of the Celestial have been for all these millennia.

Director Chloé Zhao Release Date November 5, 2021 Cast Angelina Jolie , Gemma Chan , Richard Madden , Salma Hayek , Kit Harington , Kumail Nanjiani , Lia McHugh , Brian Tyree Henry Runtime 157 minutes

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1 Charlize Theron As Clea

Won Best Actress For Monster

Though Clea is a relatively important character in the Marvel Comics, she has only a brief appearance in the MCU thanks to a post-credits scene in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Despite the brevity of her role, Clea is played by lauded actress Charlize Theron. Clea is the niece of Dormammu and a powerful sorceress in her own right who hails from the Dark Dimension. She seeks out Doctor Strange’s help at the end of the film after declaring that his actions had caused an incursion between two universes.

Charlize Theron is better known as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road these days, but she won her Academy Award for Best Actress for 2003’s Monster. The film tells the story of real-life female serial killer Aileen Wuronos, played by Theron, who killed seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. It remains to be seen if Theron will ever get the chance to return her award-winning talents to the MCU as Clea anytime in the near future.

Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness 3.0 PG-13

In Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU takes a deeper dive into the Multiverse and the unknown, introducing variants of Strange and other familiar friends and foes – including The Illuminati – and offers a new perspective on how it works and connects. The story follows Stephen Strange, now post-blip and no longer the Sorcerer Supreme. When a terrifying monster rampages through New York seeking to capture a young girl from another multiverse named America Chavez, Strange finds himself as her newfound protector. Unfortunately, his new foe is a former ally, Wanda Maximoff. To protect Chavez and stop Wanda’s rampage, Strange travels the Multiverse looking for answers – and encounters engrossing and terrifying realities that expand the Marvel Universe in a whole new way.

Director Sam Raimi Release Date May 6, 2022 Cast Elizabeth Olsen , Michael Stuhlbarg , Benedict Wong , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Xochitl Gomez , Benedict Cumberbatch , Rachel McAdams , Bruce Campbell , John Krasinski , Patrick Stewart , Hayley Atwell , Lashana Lynch , Anson Mount Runtime 126 minutes Expand

Upcoming Marvel Movies	Release Date
Captain America: Brave New World	February 14, 2025
Thunderbolts*	May 2, 2025
The Fantastic Four	July 25, 2025
Blade	November 7, 2025
Avengers: Doomsday	May 1, 2026
Avengers: Secret Wars	May 7, 2027

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