The Untold Cast of Band of Brothers: 12 Remarkable Actors You Never Knew Were in the HBO Miniseries

Summary

Band of Brothers features a star-studded cast, including future Oscar-winning actors and stars of blockbuster movies.

Tom Hanks not only produced and directed the show but also made a brief appearance as a British soldier.

Other noteworthy actors in the miniseries comprise Dexter Fletcher, Jason O'Mara, Stephen Graham, Colin Hanks, Dominic Cooper, Andrew Scott, Jimmy Fallon, Simon Pegg, Tom Hardy, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender.

The role of Michael Fassbender in Band of Brothers is just one example of many well-known actors who appeared in the miniseries before they achieved fame. Band of Brothers, which was released in 2001 and based on a non-fiction book by historian Stephen E. Ambrose published in 1992, follows the story of the "Easy" company battalion. It covers their training and various campaigns in Germany that ultimately lead to the Axis forces surrendering. The miniseries features a large and talented ensemble cast that portrays the different real-life units involved in the war.

While character actors like Damien Lewis and Ron Livingston landed major roles in the series, the supporting cast is also packed with future stars who later went on to star in award-winning films and blockbuster hits. There are so many recognizable faces among them that fans may have forgotten were part of this Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks production, whether they had small roles or brief cameo appearances.

12 Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks, who serves as one of the producers of Band of Brothers and also directs one of the episodes, has a surprise appearance in the show. Despite not drawing attention to himself, the two-time Oscar winner can be spotted in the episode "Crossroads" dressed as a British soldier. In this particular scene, Hanks celebrates alongside Easy Company following their successful rescue mission.

11 Dexter Fletcher

Dexter Fletcher is seen in Band of Brothers portraying the role of John W. Martin. Martin serves as one of the non-commissioned officers and original members of Easy Company. Prior to the war, he is showcased as the individual who signs the letter in refusal to serve under Herbert Sobel. Martin actively participates in most of the crucial battles depicted in the series and manages to survive the war. Apart from his appearance in Band of Brothers, Fletcher has also worked in several Matthew Vaughn movies, such as Layer Cake, Stardust, and Kick-Ass. However, in more recent years, he has shifted his career towards directing, with rumors suggesting that he took charge of the majority of production for Bohemian Rhapsody, followed by his directorial roles in Rocketman and Ghosted.

10 Jason O’Mara

Irish actor Jason O’Mara rose to fame through his notable television roles in popular shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., In Justice, Life on Mars, Terra Nova, and Vegas. However, he holds a special place in the hearts of dedicated DC fans as the iconic voice behind Bruce Wayne/Batman in various animated adaptations of DC comic issues. One of his remarkable performances includes portraying 1st Lt Thomas Meehan III in a miniseries, stepping into the shoes of Captain Herbert Sobel (played by David Schwimmer) in Company E during the D-Day assaults. Tragically, he, along with the crew and paratroopers on board, met their untimely demise in a plane crash caused by German anti-aircraft defense.

9 Stephen Graham

Stephen Graham gained recognition through his roles in the This Is England films. He is known for portraying supporting characters in movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Dead Man Tell No Tales, The Irishman, and Greyhound alongside renowned actor and screenwriter Tom Hanks. In the acclaimed series Band of Brothers, Graham portrayed Sergeant Myron Ranney, a paratrooper who faced disgrace within the Easy Company due to his refusal to follow orders from Captain Sobel. However, Ranney redeemed himself during the events of D-Day and the memorable clash at Brecourt, ultimately earning him the prestigious Bronze Star.

8 Colin Hanks

Like his father, Colin Hanks also has a successful career as an actor. He began with small TV roles and has since built an impressive filmography. Interestingly, he has worked alongside Jack Black in several movies, such as Orange County, the 2005 King Kong, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, and the two Jumanji sequels. In terms of the HBO miniseries, Hanks portrayed Lt. Henry Jones, a member of the 101st Airborne who teamed up with Private David Webster (Eion Bailey) for "The Last Patrol" and triumphed in their Haguenau siege, although this particular storyline is fictionalized.

7 Dominic Cooper

These days, Dominic Cooper is recognized for his portrayal of the tough-talking preacher, Jesse Custer, in the supernatural comedy-drama series Preacher on AMC. However, many may not be aware that he also had roles in the Mamma Mia! films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he played the younger version of Tony Stark's father, Howard. What's more surprising is that Cooper made a brief appearance in the renowned miniseries Band of Brothers. In the debut episode "Currahee," he portrayed one of the soldiers named "Allington," who was seen grabbing some spaghetti for his lunch.

6 Andrew Scott

Andrew Scott is a versatile British actor, seamlessly transitioning between protagonist and antagonist roles. He gained recognition for his portrayal of the villainous Jim Moriarty in the BBC series Sherlock and the vulnerable priest in the Amazon comedy Fleabag. In war-themed projects, he appeared in both Saving Private Ryan and 1917. In Band of Brothers, Scott took on the role of PFC John "Cowboy" Hall, a paratrooper from Able Company who played a pivotal role in D-Day, later joining Easy Company and leading an attack on Brecourt Manor.

5 Jimmy Fallon

Besides hosting The Tonight Show since 2014, late-night presenter Jimmy Fallon made a cameo in Band of Brothers. In the episode titled "Crossroads," Fallon portrayed second Lt. George Rice, an Army jeep driver supplying provisions to the East Company of the 101st Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne. This appearance was just one of the numerous projects Fallon was involved in throughout his career, both during and after his time on Saturday Night Live. In addition to comedies like Taxi and Fever Pitch, he also had a brief role in the highly acclaimed film Almost Famous.

4 Simon Pegg

Before his roles in Edgar Wright's Three Cornetto trilogy and as Benji Dunn in the Mission: Impossible movies, Simon Pegg made an appearance in the miniseries as Officer Williams Evans. Evans joined the military to spare his brothers from conscription, volunteered for the Airborne division, and served as first sergeant under Captain Herbert Sobel (played by Schwimmer). Sadly, Evans met his demise aboard the same Allied plane as Lt. Thomas Meehan. This marked Pegg's initial venture into Spielberg productions. Subsequently, he worked on The Adventures of Tintin and Ready Player One, among others. Additionally, Schwimmer directed Pegg in the 2008 comedy Run Fatboy Run.

3 Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy initially gained recognition in the 2010s, but prior to that, he had a notable appearance in Band of Brothers as Private First Class John Janovec. Although featured in the final two episodes, Janovec's role was limited in terms of active combat. Hardy's career took off subsequently, with his acclaimed performances in Mad Max: Fury Road, the Venom franchise, and his Oscar-nominated portrayal in The Revenant. He has also collaborated extensively with acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, participating in projects such as Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, and the war thriller Dunkirk.

2 James McAvoy

James McAvoy is known for his ability to seamlessly blend into any genre of film. In Band of Brothers, he portrayed Private James W. Miller, a soldier who joined Sgt. Denver Randlemen's unit as a replacement. In the episode "Replacements," Miller participated in Operation Market Garden as part of Easy Company. Tragically, Miller's time in the war was cut short when he was killed in action, joining the other fallen soldiers of Easy Company. McAvoy's talent shone through in various roles, including the romantic war film Atonement, where he starred alongside Keira Knightley and Saoirse Ronan. Furthermore, he gained recognition for his portrayal of a young Charles Xavier in the X-Men prequel series.

1 Michael Fassbender

Speaking of X-Men, Michael Fassbender, who starred alongside McAvoy, played the role of Technical Sergeant Burton P. Christenson in Band of Brothers. In the series, Christenson served as a machine gunner in Easy Company during the Normandy D-Day battles. He joined forces with two other men, including Staff Sgt. Bull Randleman, to form their company. Fassbender later made his film debut in Zack Snyder's 300 and went on to take leading roles in movies such as Shame, Inglourious Basterds, and Prometheus. He also earned Oscar nominations for his performances in Steve Jobs and 12 Years a Slave.