A surprising number of famous actors have made major contributions toMarvelandDCfrom behind the microphone. Voice acting in superhero animation has attracted top-tier talent for decades. While some names like Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are well known for their animated personas, other major actors have quietly built impressive résumés voicing comic book characters.
Many Hollywood stars have left their mark on the superhero genre with iconic live-action roles inthe MCU timelineandDC’s cinematic history. Yet some of the most thrilling castings have been in animated projects or as CGI characters. These performances often fly under the radar, especially when they come in ancillary projects not directly connected to mainstream movies.
10Morena Baccarin
Talia Al Ghul, Black Canary, Cheetah, Gideon
Known for playing Vanessa inDeadpooland Leslie Thompkins inGotham, Morena Baccarin has alsovoiced a surprising number of DC icons. She brought poise and danger to Talia al Ghul inSon of BatmanandBatman: Bad Blood. She perfectly captured the conflicted loyalty of the League of Assassins' heiress.
InJustice League Unlimited, Baccarin portrayed Black Canary with fierce determination, holding her own among heavy-hitters like Superman and Batman. She later flipped the script by voicing the villainous Cheetah inBatman: The Brave and the Bold. This showed her vocal rangeacross heroic and villainous roles.
Most recently, she’s been heard as Gideon, the AI inThe Flash, adding a futuristic twist to her superhero resume. Baccarin’s vocal work proves she’s more than just a live-action presence. She hascemented her place in both live-action and animatedsuperhero media.
9Giancarlo Esposito
Ra’s Al Ghul, Black Spider, Lex Luthor
Giancarlo Esposito’s cool intensity made him perfect for roles like Gus Fring inBreaking Badand, more recently, the villainous Sidewinder inCaptain America: Brave New World. Yet his voice acting history isjust as intimidating. Esposito took on the role of Ra’s al Ghul inSon of Batman, giving the Demon’s Head a calm, menacing authority.
InBatman: Assault on Arkham, he voiced the deadly assassin Black Spider, adding a modern edge to a lesser-known character. Perhaps most impressively, he took on the role of Lex Luthor in the adult animated seriesHarley Quinn. Esposito managed to deliver a version of Superman’s nemesis that isboth calculating and comedic.
With each character, Esposito brings gravitas and complexity. This makes himone of the most underrated voice actors in superhero animationtoday. With his imposing and commanding voice he will surely voice more.
8Mark Hamill
Joker, Hobgoblin, Gargoyle, Maximus, Klaw, Solomon Grundy, Trickster, Tony Zucco, Spectre, Kavaxas
While Mark Hamill islegendary for voicing the Jokerin everything fromBatman: The Animated SeriestoArkham Asylum. However, his animated comic book roles extend far beyond Gotham. On Marvel’s side, Hamill lent his voice to Hobgoblin inSpider-Man: The Animated Series, Gargoyle inThe Incredible Hulk, and even Maximus inFantastic Four.
Hamill played the villain Klaw inThe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, andtook on multiple rolesinUltimate Spider-Man. In the DC Universe, Hamill voiced Solomon Grundy and the Trickster inJustice League Unlimited. He also played gangster Tony Zucco inThe Batman.
His performance as Spectre inBatman: The Brave and the Boldwas chilling. Meanwhile, his portrayal of the demonic Kavaxas inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesadded mythic weight. Indeed, Hamill’s prolific voice acting portfolio isa masterclass in versatility.
7Clancy Brown
Lex Luthor, Surtur, Red Hulk, General Wade Eiling, George Stacy, Savage Opress
Clancy Brown’s deep baritone makes hima go-to actor for powerful villainsand commanding figures. Best known for voicing Lex Luthor inSuperman: The Animated Series, Brown defined the character for a generation with his composed menace. He later voiced Surtur inThor: Ragnarok, showing up in live-action with godlike power.
In animation, he’s played Red Hulk inAvengers Assembleand General Eiling inThe Flash. Even more surprising is his turn as George Stacy inThe Spectacular Spider-Man, a rare heroic role. Certainly, Brown’s presence across the superhero universes isimmense.
In total,Clancy Brown has playedover 28 comic book characters. With each, his immediately recognizable voice broughta huge amount of gravitas. Whether it’s commanding armies or outwitting superheroes, Brown has carved out a legacy as one of the genre’s greatest and hardest working vocal performers.
6Kevin Conroy
Batman, Thomas Wayne, Joe Chill, John Grayson, Phantom Stranger
While Kevin Conroy is universally recognized as the definitive voice of Batman, his vocal talents extend beyond Bruce Wayne. InBatman vs. Robin, he portrayed Thomas Wayne, offering a layered performance as the Dark Knight’s father. InJustice League Unlimited, Conroy voiced the chilling Joe Chill, the man who murdered Bruce’s parents.
These roles truly expanded his association with Batman, becoming evenmore intimately acquainted with vital characters in Bruce’s legacy. Conroy also played John Grayson inThe Batman, giving life to Dick Grayson’s ill-fated father. He also appeared as the Phantom Stranger inBatman: The Brave and the Bold, offering cryptic guidance to heroes in need.
Each of these characters helped expand Conroy’s emotional range. They proved he wasfar more than just a one-role wonder. His work across the DC multiverse only solidifies his legacy as one of the most important voices in superhero history.
5David Warner
Ra’s al Ghul, Sunturion, Herbert Langdon
David Warner brought classical gravitas to every role he played, and superhero animation was no exception. While he might be remembered for portraying Jor-El in live-action inLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, hismost iconic animated role remains Ra’s al Ghul.Warner played the villain inBatman: The Animated Series,Superman: The Animated Series, andBatman Beyond.
Warner’s aristocratic voice gave Ra’s an eerie timelessness,balancing charm with menace. On the Marvel side, Warner voiced Sunturion inIron Man: The Animated Series, bringing high-tech villainy to life. He also played Herbert Langdon inSpider-Man: The Animated Series.
Warner was especially effective in conveying the villain who wasrooted in human prejudice. Warner’s vocal range and gravitas made him a perfect fit for characters with larger-than-life ambitions. His roles contributed to the serious, Shakespearean tone that many animated superhero shows aspired to in the ‘90s and early 2000s.
4Linda Cardellini
Lylla, Elizabeth Bates, Nasthalthia Luthor
Best known to MCU fans as Laura Barton, Hawkeye’s wife, Linda Cardellini, has also left her mark in animated superhero roles. InGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, she voiced the genetically enhanced otter Lylla, Rocket Raccoon’sgentle and tragic companion. In the DCU’sCreature Commandos, she voiced Elizabeth Bates, Weasel’s defense lawyer.
Cardellini also lent her voice to Nasthalthia “Nasty” Luthor inAll-Star Superman, portraying Lex Luthor’s niece. Cardellini brings a mix of warmth, wit, and strength to her roles, whether she’s playing a freedom-fighting animal or a morally ambiguous Luthor. Her transition between live-action and voice work is seamless, making hera valuable, and often unrecognized,talentin superhero media.
3Malcolm McDowell
With his unmistakable voice and storied career, Malcolm McDowell haspopped up in several major superhero cartoons. He voiced Merlyn, the deadly archer, inDC Showcase: Green Arrow, and took on Arkady Duvall, Ra’s al Ghul’s wayward son, inBatman: The AnimatedSeries. He later voiced Abraham Whistler, Blade’s faithful assistant, inSpider-Man: The Animated Series.
Perhaps most memorably, McDowell became the voice of Metallo inSuperman: The Animated SeriesandJustice League Unlimited. As Metallo, McDowell delivered the perfect cold menace of a cyborg villain. As the trippy villain Mad Mod inTeen Titans, hebrought groovy chaosto young heroes.
McDowell even returned for the comedicTeen Titans Go!as Baxtory. McDowell’srefined villainy and unique vocal tonemake him a staple of animated superhero storytelling. Frankly, it’s about time he stepped into a live-action superhero role.
2Alfred Molina
Doctor Destiny, Jor-El, King Gustav, Mr. Freeze
Alfred Molina is best known to superhero audiences as the live-action Doc Ock inSpider-Man 2andSpider-Man: No Way Home. Yet his voice acting ventures areequally compelling. Molina voiced Doctor Destiny inJustice League Dark, embodying the twisted wielder of dreams with eerie calm.
InDC’s League of Super-Pets, Molina portrayed Jor-El, Superman’s father, offering a brief but powerful performance. InJustice League(2001-2004), he played the minor but regal King Gustav. Most recently, he voiced a chillingly cool Mr. Freeze inHarley Quinn, puttinga darkly comedic twist on the classic Batman villain.
Molina’s commanding voice and emotional rangemake him a versatile talent in animation. His portrayals shift seamlessly between menace and gravitas. Combined with his scene-stealing turn as Otto Octavius, Molina has left a lasting mark on the superhero genre.
1John Rhys-Davies
Brine King, Waclaw Jozek, Thor, Hades
John Rhys-Davies, best known forIndiana Jones andThe Lord of the Rings.Yet he has also lent his thunderous voice to numerous superhero projects. In live-action, Rhys is most recognizable for playing Kingpin inThe Trial of the Incredible Hulk.
Since then, he has voiced the Brine King inAquamanand its sequelAquaman: The Lost Kingdom. InBatman: The Animated Series, Rhys-Davies portrayed Waclaw Jozek ina poignant tale of redemption. He also voiced the Norse god Thor in bothThe Incredible HulkandFantastic Fouranimated series from the ‘90s.
InJustice League(2001-2004), John Rhys-Davies took on the role of Hades, embodying the god of the underworld with commanding power. Rhys-Davies’booming voice and theatrical deliveryhave made him a go-to actor for mythic and larger-than-life characters. He is one of the most recognizable stars who many didn’t realize had a lasting impact onDCandMarvelfor decades.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
