1 A-List Marvel Actor Has Played 9 DC Characters & You’d Never Know It

Published May 10, 2026, 8:15 PM EDT

Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who frequently covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, horror, and superheroes. Their specialty is onscreen book adaptations. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes.

They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review for Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer.

In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18.

Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. 

However, A-list actor Alfred Molina completely blows both of them out of the water. Molina, who is best known for playing Doctor Otto Octavius aka Doc Ock in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 and the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, has become a regular actor for DC. Most folks wouldn’t be aware of his DC roles, though, because the heroes and villains all appear in animated form.

Alfred Molina Has Voiced 9 DC Characters Since Playing Doc Ock In Spider-Man 2

Over two decades, Alfred Molina has played nine different DC characters – ten if you count Sexx Luthor, Lex's 80s hair-metal alternate persona in the Robot Chicken DC Specials. He’s up there with Mark Hamill, who also is a regular voice actor for Marvel and DC, in that he manages to make every single character he voices feel different from each other.

Ares and King Gustav both go up against Wonder Woman, but they're nothing alike. Destiny, Lex Luthor, and Mr. Freeze both join a team of bad guys, but their personalities all differ greatly. This extends to more than just writing. Molina’s inflection and tone bring a new energy to every character. It’s as if he disappears into each new role. It never feels like Alfred Molina playing a DC villain, but like a vibrant new version of each familiar character.

Alfred Molina’s Lex Luthor Deserves As Much Appreciation As His Doc Ock

In an interview with Topless Robot, Alfred Molina revealed that he was allowed to pick any character he wanted to voice in Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special. He originally voiced Lex Luthor, Firestorm, and Mr. Banjo. When it came to picking Lex, he thought it was a no-brainer. He said,

“Well, I think it’s because he’s such an iconic villain. I suddenly thought, I’ve played one of Marvel’s best-known villains, I might as well play one of DC’s best-known villains. And also, it’s such an iconic character.”

Ultimately, Molina was so great as Lex Luthor that they brought him back as the character in the next two specials and then twice in the main show. Ultimately, his strength as an actor comes down to the fact that he feels nothing like other versions of the character.

His approach is unique. His character is intelligent and devious, yet theatrical and melodramatic. He explained to IGN, “If you're a fan of the comics, as I am, you realize there's no limit to what you can do with them.” Even though his version of the character is satire, it’s one of the best, especially in animation.

Alfred Molina Will Be A Mainstay In Comic Book TV Shows & Movies

When Alfred Molina spoke to Vanity Fair about his live-action acting career, he spoke positively about his superhero roles. He never thought he was qualified to appear in that kind of movie, but now we know that he’s absolutely able to play that kind of role.

The good news is that he loves the complexity of villains in superhero movies. He returned as Doc Ock because he loved the role. The actor was happy but surprised when he was invited to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man: No Way Home. He also said this:

“I was delighted, obviously. Apart from the fact that it's great fun to play, playing that part, in all honesty, completely changed my life. I mean, it did. It just took everything not just to a different level, but also to a whole other group of cinema fans.”

What's more, Molina has continued to participate in comic book films for over 2 decades since his debut, even if it’s primarily in animation rather than live action. The fact that both Marvel and DC have brought him back is a testament to the impact of his characters. What’s more, it suggests that Alfred Molina could continue to be a mainstay for superhero franchises.

Birthdate May 24, 1953

Birthplace Paddington, London, England

Height 6 feet 2 inches

Professions Actor, Voice Actor