20 Actors Who Played Multiple Roles On the Same TV Show

Nina Dobrev - The Vampire Diaries

Nina Dobrev took on multiple roles throughout the series, playing Elena Gilbert, Katherine Pierce, Amara, and Tatia. Thanks to the show’s doppelgänger storyline, she often had to film scenes as different characters interacting with each other. Each role had its own personality, which made her performance stand out across the show.

Lisa Kudrow - Friends

Lisa Kudrow played both Phoebe Buffay and her twin sister Ursula. While Phoebe is warm and quirky, Ursula is more distant and cynical. The character of Ursula actually originated on another NBC show, Mad About You, before being brought into Friends.

Justin Theroux - Sex and the City

Justin Theroux appeared in the series as two completely different characters across two seasons. In Season 1, he played Jared, a confident young author, and later returned in Season 2 as Vaughn Wysel, a writer Carrie briefly dates.

Mark Ruffalo - I Know This Much Is True

Mark Ruffalo played twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey, making both characters feel completely different. He first shot Dominick’s scenes, then took a break, gained about 30 pounds, and returned to play Thomas, who lives with schizophrenia. Instead of relying on simple tricks, he changed his body language and energy for each role. A body double also helped him to make the scenes so smooth.

Tom Cavanagh - The Flash

Tom Cavanagh became one of The Flash’s most versatile performers by playing multiple versions of Dr. Harrison Wells across different timelines and Earths. From the brilliant Harry Wells to the quirky H.R., the sharp Sherloque, and the complex Nash, each version brought a distinct personality to the story. He also portrayed the show’s main villain, Eobard Thawne (Reverse-Flash), who frequently operated under Wells’ identity.

Anna Torv - Fringe

Anna Torv played multiple versions of Olivia Dunham, most notably the original Olivia and her alternate-universe double, Fauxlivia. Instead of making them feel like simple copies, she gave each version clear differences in behavior, tone, and attitude.

Paul Rudd - Living With Yourself

Paul Rudd plays both Miles Elliot and his “improved” clone in the series. The original Miles is tired, unhappy, and stuck in life, while the clone is confident, energetic, and seemingly perfect. Rudd makes the contrast clear through subtle changes in behavior and attitude, even when both characters share the same scenes. To pull this off, he often filmed each role separately and acted against his own recorded performance.

Tobias Menzies - Outlander

Tobias Menzies plays two key roles that sit on opposite ends of the moral spectrum. As Frank Randall, he is a calm, educated historian and Claire’s devoted husband in the 20th century. In contrast, he portrays Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall, a violent and sadistic British officer in the 18th century who becomes one of the show’s main antagonists.

Jeffrey Tambor - Arrested Development

Jeffrey Tambor plays both George Bluth Sr. and his twin brother Oscar. George is the manipulative, often-absent family patriarch, usually dealing with legal trouble, while Oscar is his easygoing, hippie brother who drifts in and out of the family’s chaos. Tambor keeps the two clearly distinct, which turned their twin dynamic into one of the show’s most consistent comedic threads.

James Franco - The Deuce

James Franco plays twin brothers Vincent and Frankie Martino across the series, building two sharply different characters within the same world. Vincent is steady, practical, and trying to maintain control over his bar and family life, while Frankie is impulsive, addicted to risk, and constantly pulling his brother into chaos.

D'Arcy Carden - The Good Place

D’Arcy Carden plays Janet, but over time, she takes on several versions of the character, including Bad Janet, Neutral Janet, and Disco Janet, each with its own personality and tone. Her most impressive moment comes in the episode “Janet(s),” where she portrays all four main characters; Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason while technically still being Janet. She mimics their voices, mannerisms, and behavior so precisely that each version feels completely authentic.

Ewan McGregor - Fargo

Ewan McGregor plays brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy, two men who couldn’t be more different. Emmit is polished, successful, and confident, while Ray is insecure, struggling, and resentful of his brother’s success. McGregor transforms completely between the two using physical changes like posture, voice, and appearance.

Sarah Paulson - American Horror Story: Freak Show

Sarah Paulson plays conjoined twins Bette and Dot Tattler, bringing two completely different personalities to one shared body. Bette is softer and more hopeful, while Dot is guarded and practical. Paulson shifts between them through voice, expression, and attitude, making both the characters feel separate, even within the same frame.

Peter Capaldi - Doctor Who

Peter Capaldi appeared in the Doctor Who universe more than once before becoming the Twelfth Doctor. He first played Caecilius, a Roman citizen in a Pompeii-set episode, and later appeared as John Frobisher in the spin-off Torchwood. Years later, he returned to take on the central role of the Doctor.

Patton Oswalt on 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'

Patton Oswalt plays several members of the Koenig family, starting with Eric and later appearing as his identical siblings Billy, Sam, and Thurston. He also shows up as their grandfather, Ernest, in a flashback episode. Each version shares similarities but has its own personality.

Yael Grobglas - Jane the Virgin

Yael Grobglas plays both Petra Solano and her long-lost twin sister Anezka. Petra is polished and calculating, while Anezka is rougher and more unpredictable. Grobglas often appears as both characters in the same scenes, using changes in voice, posture, and expression to clearly set them apart.

Jeffrey Wright - Westworld

Jeffrey Wright plays Bernard Lowe, but his role expands when it’s revealed that Bernard is modeled after Arnold Weber, one of the park’s original creators. Wright portrays both figures across different timelines, along with multiple versions of Bernard.

Susan Lucci - All My Children

Susan Lucci is best known for playing Erica Kane throughout the show’s long run, but she also took on a second role as Jane Campbell, Erica’s lookalike. The addition of Jane created new twists in the storyline, and allowed Lucci to play two versions of a similar character with different intentions.

Sheryl Lee - Twin Peaks

Sheryl Lee was first introduced as Laura Palmer, but her role quickly expanded across the series. She went on to play Laura’s cousin Maddy Ferguson, later appeared as a darker version of Laura, and returned in the revival as Carrie Page. Each version added a new layer to the show’s mystery.

Jerry Orbach - Law & Order

Jerry Orbach appeared twice in the series as two completely different characters. He first showed up as defense attorney Frank Lehrman in an early episode, then returned the following season as Detective Lennie Briscoe. That second role became his defining one, with Orbach playing Briscoe for over a decade and across multiple spin-offs.