Sorry, William Shatner and Harrison Ford. There might be hundreds of action figures of Captain Kirk, Han Solo and Indiana Jones — but you don’t even rate a place in this particular action figure hall of fame. When it comes to playing the most different characters who got an action figure, the prize goes to some other actors.
We did a painstaking census of all the actors whose work has merited an action figure. And maybe not surprisingly, we found that it’s generally not the stars who’ve played the biggest geek characters — it’s the workhorse actors, who’ve played a ton of great roles over the years without ever getting typecast as one person. To be fair, some of these include animated characters, so some actors who have done a ton of voice work are definitely represented here.
Samuel L. Jackson: 11 characters
Image: YouTube
The Octopus (The Spirit), Nick Fury (Avengers), Jules Winnfield (Pulp Fiction), Shaft, Stephen (Django Unchained), Mace Windu, Frozone (The Incredibles), Major Marquis Warren (The Hateful Eight), Whiplash (Turbo), Zog (Astro Boy), Afro Samurai.
Maybe not surprisingly, Samuel L. Jackson appears to be the most “toyetic” actor of all time.
Clancy Brown: 10 characters
Image: Amazon
Kurgan (Highlander), Savage Opress (Star Wars), Mr. Krabs (Spongebob), Lex Luthor, Rahzar/Dogpound/Bradford (TMNT), Silas (Transformers Prime), Grune (Thundercats), Rhino (Spectacular Spider-Man), Mr. Freeze (The Batman), Cataclysm (Biker Mice From Mars)
While only Kurgan was sculpted in his likeness, the venerable Clancy Brown has lent his voice to many fine animated series, and we’re all the richer for it.
Gary Oldman: 9 characters
Image: Warner Bros.
Sirius Black, Commissioner Gordon, Dracula, Norman Stansfield, Zorg (Fifth Element), Shen (Kung Fu Panda), General Grawl (Planet 51), Ruber (Quest For Camelot), Sid Vicious (Japanese exclusive)
You all remember “General Grawl“, right?
Johnny Depp: 9 characters
Image: Amazon
Captain Jack Sparrow, Ichabod Crane, Lerner (Platoon), Sweeney Todd, Tonto (Lone Ranger), Edward Scissorhands, The Mad Hatter, Willy Wonka, Victor Van Dort (Corpse Bride)
Yet all we really wanted was an “Ed Wood” toy…
Angelina Jolie: 7 characters
Image: Disney
Lara Croft, Maleficent, Captain Ranky (Skycaptain; limited to 300), Grendel’s mother, Tigress (Kung Fu Panda), Salt (available from Kumik), Lola (Shark Tale)
The only woman to make the list — her closest competitors seems to be Jessica Alba (Sue Storm, Dark Angel & Nancy from Sin City) and Millia Jovovich (Alice from Resident Evil, Ultraviolet, and Leeloo), each tied for three. Prove me wrong!
Sylvester Stallone: 7 characters
Rocky, Rambo, Lincoln Hawk (Over The Top), Judge Dredd (by Medicom), John Spartan (Demolition Man), Barney Ross (Expendables), Weaver (Antz)
It’s only a matter of time before there’s an officially licensed Marion Cobretti toy.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: 7 characters
Conan, Terminator, John Matrix (Commando), Dutch (Predator), Jack Slater (Last Action Hero), Mr. Freeze (Batman & Robin), and an Expendables Mini-Mate of his character, Trench.
Bruce Willis: 7 characters
Image: Kotaku
Korben Dallas (Fifth Element), Hartigan, John McClane, Joe Colton (GI Joe), Church (another Expendables minimate), Harry Stamper (Armageddon), Butch Coolidge (Pulp Fiction)
Warwick Davis: 7 characters
Image: Amazon
Leprechaun, Willow (figurine by Tonka), Wald (from Lego; The Phantom Menace), Professor Flitwick (Harry Potter), Wicket the Ewok, Marvin the Paranoid Android, Nikabrik (Narnia. 3 ¾ inch scale)
While NECA had planned, but cancelled, a Leprechaun figure (a mistake!), a promotional figurine was released in conjunction with the film’s VHS.
Val Kilmer: 5 characters
Image: YouTube
Doc Holliday, Batman, Madmartigan (Willow; figurine by Tonka), Bravo (Planes), Moses (Prince of Egypt)
No Simon Templar/Elisabeth Shue two-pack?
Timothy Dalton: 5 characters
Image: Sideshow
James Bond, Prince Barin, Rassilon, Sir Malcolm (Penny Dreadful), Mr. Pricklepants (Toy Story 3)
We still need Basil St. John! Hell, I’d even invest in a line of The Doctor and His Devils toys.
Hugo Weaving: 5 characters
Image: Marvel
V, Smith, Elrond, Red Skull, Megatron
Liam Neeson: 5 characters
Image: Amazon
Qui-Gon Jinn, Darkman, Hannibal (A*Team), Ra’s Al Ghul, Aslan
I’m sure a Bryan Mills figure is in development somewhere.
Kurt Russell: 5 characters
Image: Amazon
Col. O’Neill (Stargate), Snake Plissken, Jack Burton, John Ruth (Hateful Eight), Macready (The Thing)
Sean Connery: 5 characters
Image: Amazon
James Bond, Professor Jones, Juan Sanchez Villa Lobos-Ramirez (Highlander), Draco (Dragonheart), John Patrick Mason (The Rock)
Julian Glover: 4 characters
Image: Amazon
Scaroth (Doctor Who), General Veers (Star Wars), Walter Donovan (Lego) Aragog (Harry Potter)
Regrettably, Julian “Doctor Who, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, James Bond and Game of Thrones!” Glover still only has four toys to his name. Shameful.
Jeff Goldblum: 4 characters
Seth Brundle (The Fly), Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jurassic Park), Dr. Levinson (ID4), Verminous Skumm (Captain Planet)
If they’re still struggling with that Captain Planet movie, they only need to remember that Jeff Goldblum was the original voice of Verminous Skumm. The rest writes itself.
Will Smith: 4 characters
Agent Jay, Steven Hiller (ID4), Jim West (Wild, Wild West), Del Spooner (I, Robot)
Malcolm McDowell: 4 characters
Image: Amazon
Dr. Soran, Alex, Mr. Linderman (Heroes), Metallo
Ray Park: 4 characters
Image: Amazon
Darth Maul, Toad, Snake Eyes, Headless Horseman (Sleepy Hollow)
Karl Urban: 4 characters
Image: Amazon
Eomer (Lord of the Rings), Judge Dredd, Dr. McCoy, Vaako (Riddick)
We’re still pissed about the lack of a Dredd sequel.