Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
20 actors who played multiple roles in the same TV show
ABC

20 actors who played multiple roles in the same TV show

These actors are so good they played multiple characters instead of just one. 

 
1 of 20

Tatiana Maslany, 'Orphan Black'

Tatiana Maslany, 'Orphan Black'
Orphan Black Temple Street Productions

Watch one episode of Orphan Black, and you’ll see why Tatiana Maslany won an Emmy for her performance. Maslany masterfully played several different characters, sometimes even acting as one character acting as another. It was insanely impressive. 

 
2 of 20

Paul Rudd, 'Living With Yourself'

Paul Rudd, 'Living With Yourself'
Living With Yourself Greenberg Dance Party

Paul Rudd played himself and his clone in the Netflix show Living With Yourself. In addition to pulling double duty as an actor, Rudd pulled double duty by producing the show, too. 

 
3 of 20

Paul Rudd, 'Only Murders in the Building'

Paul Rudd, 'Only Murders in the Building'
Only Murders in the Building Rhode Island Ave. Productions

Paul Rudd is no stranger to playing multiple characters on the same show. After his work on Living With Yourself, Rudd played an actor and his stunt double on the hit Hulu series Only Murders in the Building

 
4 of 20

Christa Miller, 'Seinfeld'

Christa Miller, 'Seinfeld'
Christa Miller Shutterstock / Kathy Hutchins

Multiple television shows have had actors play multiple characters in the series for seemingly no reason. It’s especially common on sitcoms. Such was the case for Christa MIller in Seinfeld. The actress played the characters Paula and Ellen in the show. 

 
5 of 20

Nelson Franklin, 'The Office'

Nelson Franklin, 'The Office'
The Office Deedle-Dee Productions

Speaking of, Nelson Franklin did a similar two-different-characters portrayal on The Office. He first played a character at a job fair and later reappeared as the IT guy whose name no one at Dunder Mifflin can remember. 

 
6 of 20

Sarah Paulson, 'American Horror Story: Freak Show'

Sarah Paulson, 'American Horror Story: Freak Show'
American Horror Story: Freak Show Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision

Sarah Paulson will do whatever Ryan Murphy wants her to do. In American Horror Story: Freak Show, that included playing two different characters in the same season. Paulson portrayed a set of conjoined twins, Bette and Dot Tattler. 

 
7 of 20

Tobias Menzies, 'Outlander'

Tobias Menzies, 'Outlander'
Outlander Left Bank Pictures

Outlander is known for traveling through multiple time periods, but that’s not the only way it’s touched on multiples. Tobias Menzies played multiple roles in the series, acting as two men from the same family, centuries apart. 

 
8 of 20

Terry O’Quinn, 'Lost'

Terry O’Quinn, 'Lost'
Lost Grass Skirt Productions

Lost was all sorts of madness. Of course, there was one actor who played multiple characters. O’Quinn played John Locke, as well as the Man in Black. He’s an acting expert. 

 
9 of 20

Terry O’Quinn, 'The X-Files'

Terry O’Quinn, 'The X-Files'
Terry O’Quinn Shutterstock / Denis Makarenko

Before Terry O’Quinn played two characters on Lost, he played multiple characters on The X-Files. He played both Shadow Man and Lt. Brian Tillman in various episodes of the series. 

 
10 of 20

Justin Theroux, 'Sex and the City'

Justin Theroux, 'Sex and the City'
Justin Theroux Shutterstock / Tinseltown

Justin Theroux played multiple roles on Sex and the City, but not like the other people on this list. The showrunners wanted him back to play a different character just because it was him, not for the sake of the storyline. 

 
11 of 20

Nina Dobrev, 'The Vampire Diaries'

Nina Dobrev, 'The Vampire Diaries'
The Vampire Diaries Outerbanks Entertainment

Nina Dobrev played Elena Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries, and later, she added her character’s doppelgänger Katherine Pierce to the mix. In the spin-off The Originals, Dobrev played Katherine’s doppelgänger, Tatia. 

 
12 of 20

D’Arcy Carden, 'The Good Place'

D’Arcy Carden, 'The Good Place'
The Good Place Fremulon

There was all sorts of stuff to keep straight in The Good Place, including who D’Arcy Carden was at any given moment. Carden played Janet, Bad Janet, Neutral Janet, and more in the series. 

 
13 of 20

Jaleel White, 'Family Matters'

Jaleel White, 'Family Matters'
Family Matters Miller-Boyett Productions

For most of Family Matters, Jaleel White is known as Steve Urkel, the irritating, albeit lovable, nerd who’s still an icon in pop culture. But later in the series, he becomes Stefan Urquelle, Steve’s much smoother alter ego. 

 
14 of 20

Ewan McGregor, 'Fargo'

Ewan McGregor, 'Fargo'
Fargo 26 Keys Productions

There have been loads of impressive acting performances on Fargo, including Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of brothers. In season 3, McGregor played Emmit and Ray Stussy, two brothers who couldn’t live more opposite lives. 

 
15 of 20

Jeffrey Tambor, 'Arrested Development'

Jeffrey Tambor, 'Arrested Development'
Arrested Development Imagine Television

Jeffrey Tambor might be the most underrated part of Arrested Development. He hilariously played the Bluth family patriarch, and he portrayed George Sr.’s twin brother. Both characters added hilarity to the show. 

 
16 of 20

Donald Glover, 'Atlanta'

Donald Glover, 'Atlanta'
Atlanta 343 Incorporated

Donald Glover had a vision for Atlanta. He created and starred in it, among other duties, and he played two different characters, Earn and Teddy Perkins, the latter of whom Glover was unrecognizable. 

 
17 of 20

Yael Grobglas, 'Jane the Virgin'

Yael Grobglas, 'Jane the Virgin'
Jane the Virgin Poppy Productions

Yael Grobglas was fantastic as Petra Solano, one of the antagonists of Jane the Virgin. But she showed that she was fully capable of doing more than just one character justice by playing Anezka Archuletta, Petra’s twin sister, too. 

 
18 of 20

Lisa Kudrow, 'Friends'

Lisa Kudrow, 'Friends'
Friends Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions

Lisa Kudrow hilariously played Phoebe Buffay for 10 seasons of Friends, and she hilariously played Ursula Buffay, Phoebe’s twin sister, in multiple episodes. Kudrow was technically reprising Ursula as that character originated on Mad About You

 
19 of 20

Jenna Ortega, 'Wednesday'

Jenna Ortega, 'Wednesday'
Wednesday Millar Gough Ink

As if Jenna Ortega didn’t have enough pressure on her shoulders portraying the beloved Wednesday, she also had to play Wednesday’s ancestor Goody Addams. Clearly, Ortega was more than up for the task, as she played both characters wonderfully. 

 
20 of 20

Mark Ruffalo, 'I Know This Much Is True'

Mark Ruffalo, 'I Know This Much Is True'
I Know This Much Is True Willi Hill

Mark Ruffalo showed his acting chops in the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True by playing twin brothers. To make matters more complicated, one of the characters was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Unsurprisingly, Ruffalo won an Emmy for his work. 

Acacia Deadrick

Acacia Deadrick is a South Dakota-based writer who has written for sites such as Nicki Swift, The List, and Glam. She loves music and all things pop culture, and she can be found watching TV, completing a crossword puzzle, or reading in her spare time. 

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
MLB

All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe

With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.

Warriors' Stephen Curry believes NBA players are 'underpaid'
NBA

Warriors' Stephen Curry believes NBA players are 'underpaid'

Are NBA players underpaid? Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry argues yes. The greatest shooter in NBA history said Thursday on Complex’s “360 With Speedy” that because the league’s current CBA doesn’t allow for current players to invest in league and team equity, players are leaving money on the table. “I would say, yes, we are underpaid,” Curry admitted when asked, despite enormous salaries, if the players were getting short-changed, “because you wanna be able to participate in that rise [of equity].” “It’s a partnership with ownership, [and] it’s a partnership with the league,” the 37-year-old stressed, revealing that league salaries do not reflect players’ impact on team valuations. If anyone has the right to begrudge the current CBA on player participation in equity, it’s Curry. When drafted in 2009, the Warriors were worth $315 million. Current valuations in May of 2025 have the team at $9.4 billion, the most in the league. Curry’s been paid handsomely during his time in Golden State, and he doesn’t overlook it. “I know we’re blessed to be in a position where we’re playing basketball for a living, and these are the type of checks that people are earning,” he told Complex. However, when he signed his $62.6 million one-year extension in 2024 that would keep him in a Warriors’ jersey until 2027, many felt that no amount of money the franchise could offer him would represent his worth. Curry had an undeniable impact on the Warriors’ valuation increasing by nearly 3,000%. He’s benefited by being the most salaried player on the roster and plenty of endorsement deals. But is he getting his fair share? Something similar may happen with reigning NBA Finals MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just signed the richest contract in league history with an average annual value of $71.25 million. According to Forbes, the Thunder’s valuation increased 20% from 2023 to 2024 and will likely take another jump after this year’s championship. Curry concedes that player participation in equity isn’t a simple concept and not all markets are created equal: “You got competitive advantage considerations…and want every market to have a fair chance, like I get all that.” He believes, however, that finding a solution is a “mutually beneficial proposition” for players, teams and the league. Even the most expensive people in the world need to find other investors to make owning an NBA team possible. The best example of Curry’s point is the Boston Celtics sale in March. The most-championed franchise in league history was sold to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, the largest ever sports franchise sale in North America at the time. Chisholm needed Rob Hale, Bruce Beal Jr., and private equity firm Sixth Street, to afford the purchase. Because team ownership is already a multi-investor operation, the league could potentially come to an agreement with the players by the next CBA negotiation at the end of the decade. If not, the league's best players will continue to simultaneously earn a ridiculous amount of money, and it will not be nearly enough.

Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions
MLB

Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions

The Boston Red Sox appear to have no interest in trading outfielder Jarren Duran, at least not in the near future. Trade rumors have swirled around Duran for most of the season, especially after designated hitter Rafael Devers was traded to the Giants. However, Sean McAdam from MassLive reported that the Red Sox may wait until the offseason before moving on from the former All-Star. The decision to wait on Duran is not due to a lack of offers. McAdam also reported that the Padres made a significant offer for Duran involving pitcher Dylan Cease, catching prospect Ethan Salas and another unnamed prospect. That offer was quickly rejected. The Padres have long coveted Duran. McAdam had previously reported that the Padres have been "relentless" in their pursuit of the Red Sox outfielder. The reported trade offer including Salas, the Padres second-best prospect and the 21st-best prospect in baseball per MLB.com, illustrates how serious they are about acquiring Duran. Likewise, the Red Sox's refusal to entertain such an offer, even as a starting point for negotiations, speaks volumes about their interest in moving Duran. The Padres' offer would help solve several problems for the Red Sox in both the present and future. Moving Duran would help clear up the logjam in the outfield, while Cease and Salas would respectively improve the back of their rotation and provide a possible cornerstone behind the plate going forward. Duran is a valuable trade chip as he is under team control through 2028. He has also taken a step back in production from his stellar showing in 2024, posting a respectable .254/.321/.428 batting line in 459 plate appearances entering Friday, with nine homers and 25 doubles while stealing 16 bases. That production would be an upgrade for several teams looking to improve their outfield going forward. The question is whether or not the Red Sox will be realistic in their asking price for Duran. Considering how quickly the Padres' offer was reportedly rejected, that may not be the case.

Bengals finally reach agreement with first-rounder Shemar Stewart
NFL

Bengals finally reach agreement with first-rounder Shemar Stewart

The Cincinnati Bengals have finally reached an agreement with first-round pick Shemar Stewart, putting an end to what became the story of the offseason for the team. Stewart, drafted 17th overall in this year's draft, has finally agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million deal that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, according to his agent Zac Hiller of LAA. Now with this deal done, every first-round pick is signed. The road to this deal was a bumpy ride. For months, negotiations between Stewart’s camp and the Bengals front office stalled due to disagreements over contract language, particularly around guarantees. The team pushed to include contract language that could void the deal under certain off-field circumstances, but since other Bengals first-round picks did not face similar terms, Stewart stood firm and refused to sign. Both sides remained firm throughout the offseason, leading to a long standoff and a lot of reports of frustration from both sides. Despite the frustration and disagreement, the Bengals and Stewart’s group continued to engage in conversations, trying to find a resolution to the issue. And finally, after weeks of back and forth and weeks of controversy surrounding what Stewart may be forced to do, both parties appear to have met in the middle and found common ground. For the Bengals, getting Stewart signed and ready for training camp is a major win. Stewart was viewed as a developmental prospect who needed plenty of on-field reps to reach his full potential. Stewart's absence from earlier camps had slowed a lot of his progress. With the contract dispute resolved, he can now focus entirely on gaining important reps and continuing his development over the coming weeks. Now with this contract done and over with, the team can put their full focus on Trey Hendrickson, who is also seeking a long term deal. If the Bengals can get a deal done with Trey before the season kicks off, they would secure their edge-rushing room for not only 2025, but for years beyond. For a team looking to go all in on making the playoffs, signing Stewart was long overdue. Now it will be vital for the team to get Stewart up to speed with the rest of the roster, and allow him to get as many reps as possible before the 2025 season begins.