Band of Brothers was a milestone in television history, showcasing an exceptional ensemble cast. Created during the golden age of writer-driven dramas, it captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. Premiering in 2001, just three years after the emotionally impactful Saving Private Ryan (1998), Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks reunited to craft a powerful story honoring the bravery and sacrifices of paratroopers fighting against German forces.
Based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose’s book, the miniseries was a joint effort between Spielberg’s DreamWorks Pictures and HBO. With a big budget and a star-studded cast, the production was a remarkable achievement. It featured emerging talents like Damian Lewis (Homeland) alongside veteran actors such as David Schwimmer (Friends), each delivering touching performances that brought to life the struggles and triumphs of Easy Company’s courageous soldiers.
While the cast was undeniably impressive, the outstanding performances of everyone involved stand out. Here are ten actors who, although they may not have been widely recognized during Band of Brothers, have since risen to stardom in the film industry.
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy is widely regarded as one of the United Kingdom’s most intense and admired actors. His television breakthrough came with the episode “Why We Fight,” where he played Pvt. John Janovec, making a memorable entrance—sans uniform!
Hardy has collaborated with visionary directors, including Christopher Nolan, with whom he has worked on three films. The most recent of these was the 2017 World War II epic Dunkirk, where he took to the skies.
Like many of his Band of Brothers co-stars, Hardy has also ventured into comic book franchises. He portrayed the villain Bane in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises and, in 2018, took on the role of the tormented titular character in Marvel’s Venom, under Sony’s production.
James McAvoy
James McAvoy portrayed James W. Miller in the Band of Brothers episode, “Replacements.” The actor later became a major Hollywood star, best known for playing Professor Xavier in the X-Men franchise. He portrayed the mutant leader for nearly a decade, stepping down from the role after 2019’s Dark Phoenix.
McAvoy has numerous other credits to his name, including It: Chapter Two (2019) and Victor Frankenstein (2015). He also played Lord Asriel in His Dark Materials (2019-22). Notably, this series was produced by HBO, the distributor of Band of Brothers, and featured Andrew Scott. Like McAvoy, Scott portrays an explorer investigating parallel worlds.
Andrew Scott
In the “Day of Days” episode of Band of Brothers, Andrew Scott, who would later become known for portraying villains on screen, played paratrooper Pvt. John “Cowboy” Hall, portraying a heroic role. Nearly ten years afterward, his portrayal of Jim Moriarty in BBC’s Sherlock (2010-17) garnered significant acclaim, catching the eye of the James Bond franchise. This led to his casting as the sinister Max Denbigh (aka “C”) in 2015’s Spectre.
Scott further demonstrated his acting range in the second season of Fleabag (2016-19), where he won over and broke hearts alike as the series’ “hot priest,” opposite creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who would later contribute to the James Bond franchise as a writer. Additionally, he returned to the wartime setting in Sam Mendes’ 2019 World War I drama, 1917.
Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon might be better known today as an alumnus of Saturday Night Live (1975-present) and the present host of The Tonight Show (2014-present), but back in the day, he was a small-time actor looking to make his mark on Hollywood. He was among the many actors to have a minor role in Band of Brothers, bringing Second Lt. George C. Rice to the small screen in the episode, “Crossroads.”
As his career has progressed, Fallon has become a mainstay of Late Night. Prior to taking over hosting duties on The Tonight Show, he was the host of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009-14). While he’s largely portrayed himself in recent movie and television productions, he did showcase his acting chops in the likes of Fever Pitch (2005), Taxi (2004) and Doogal (2006).
Simon Pegg
Although Simon Pegg may not have been the most famous actor when he portrayed First Sgt. William S. Evans in two episodes of Band of Brothers, he undoubtedly deserves recognition on this list, particularly given how much his career has thrived since the miniseries aired. Best known for his roles in the comedic classics Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007), Pegg has also shared the screen with action star Tom Cruise in the Mission: Impossible franchise.
Beyond acting, Pegg stays busy writing and producing films and TV series. He has built a reputation not only as a versatile actor who shines across genres but also as a creative force who consistently delivers fresh and engaging content to both film and television audiences.
Michael Fassbender
Burton “Pat” Christenson was the television debut role for a youthful Michael Fassbender. Band of Brothers had 10 episodes, and he appeared in seven of them. He went on to develop a successful career as a bold actor, taking on other real-life roles, including Bobby Sands in Hunger (2008) and Steve Jobs in the 2015 movie of the same name.
Fassbender joined James McAvoy as Prof Xavier’s friend/nemesis Magneto in the X-Men franchise. The actor also entered the Alien franchise as android David in the prequels Prometheus (2012) and Covenant (2017).
Colin Hanks
The son of one of the men involved in bringing Band of Brothers to life, Colin Hanks appeared as First Lt. Henry S. Jones in the HBO miniseries. It was his second foray into television, having played a main role in the first two seasons of the series, Roswell (1999-2002), and it served as the role that helped elevate his star power.
While some could associate nepotism with Hanks’ success in Hollywood, the actor has made a name for himself in his own right over the years. Along with being cast in some big-name movies – Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), King Kong (2005) and W. (2008) – he’s also made a name for himself on television, securing main roles in the likes of Fargo (2014-present), Life in Pieces (2015-19) and The Offer (2022).
Stephen Graham
Before facing off against Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in The Irishman (2019), actor Stephen Graham appeared as Sgt. Myron “Mike” Ranney in the first two episodes of Band of Brothers.
Graham is a powerful presence who’s given his talent to larger-than-life gangster roles, such as Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire (2010-14) and Baby Face Nelson in the 2009 Johnny Depp movie, Public Enemies. He also accompanied Depp on some exciting voyages for two Pirates of the Caribbean films: 2011’s On Stranger Tides and 2017’s Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Luke Roberts
Better known among British audiences, Luke Roberts’ first ever on-screen role came on Band of Brothers. He portrayed Herbert J. Suerth in the episode, “Crossroads.” Funnily enough, his next role would be on a British soap opera that was called… Wait for it… Crossroads (2001-03)!
Since Band of Brothers, Roberts has made a number of television and movie appearances. He played the captain of the guard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011); Thomas Wayne in The Batman (2022); Joseph Byrne on Holby City (1999-2022); and Eric Beaumont in Ransom (2017-19). Most recently, he portrayed Steve in the 2023 film, Seagrass.
Tom Hanks
We know who Tom Hanks was before Band of Brothers, and while the actor’s work behind-the-scenes is known, he also made a few cameos. He appeared a couple of times, as both a British and French officer. Hanks also directed the episode, “Crossroads,” and co-wrote the opening instalment, “Currahee.”
More from us: Workers At the Polish Post Office in Danzig Held Off a German Siege for 15 Hours
New! Want to become a trivia master? Sign up for our War History Fact of the Day newsletter!
Hanks’ body of work with Steven Spielberg has become the stuff of legend. After Band of Brothers, he starred in Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Terminal (2004), Bridge of Spies (2015) and The Post (2017). Separate from Spielberg, the actor also starred in Greyhound (2020), a WWII-era story adapted from C.S. Forester’s The Good Shepherd.
Leave a Comment