The cast of HBO’s World War II drama miniseries Band of Brothers featured full of well-known performers in both major and supporting roles, ranging from Tom Hardy to Jimmy Fallon. The show, produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg and based on Stephen A. Ambrose’s book of the same name, will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2021. Despite the passage of time, the programme consistently appears on lists of the best TV programmes ever, and numerous admirers watch it again every year.
In its most basic form, Band of Brothers follows E Company (also known as Easy Company), a company of paratroopers in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army, from the start of their jump training to the end of the war in 1945. It’s about friendship, the human spirit, and the almost unimaginable circumstances – both physical and moral – that war placed those men in. However, it’s much more than just a typical military show. All of the performers portray actual troops who served in the conflict; some even make appearances in the series during interview parts when they discuss their memories. The D-Day landings, Operation Market Garden, the hard winter they spent defending the Allied line in Bastogne, and finally their capture of the Nazi Party’s “Eagle’s Nest” in Bavaria and the end of the war are all depicted in Band of Brothers over the course of ten episodes.
Band of Brothers is actually an ensemble piece with a huge and skilled cast, despite some episodes of the show focusing on the perspective of a specific member of Easy Company—with Damian Lewis’ Lieutenant Richard D. Winters feeling like the main character for major chunks of it. When they appeared in the HBO original series, some performers were already well-known, while others were unknowns who landed small parts but went on to become well-known actors. The whole Band of Brothers cast and crew are listed below.
Andrew Scott as John “Cowboy” Hall
John Hall, a member of Alpha Company, is shown in Band of Brothers episode 2, “Day of Days,” where he meets Lieutenant Winters after the chaotic D-Day landings and joins Easy Company in their attack on the German cannons aiming for Utah Beach. Additionally, Andrew Scott played Lieutenant Leslie in Sam Mendes’ 1917. He is also well-known for his roles as Moriarty in Sherlock on BBC and the “Hot Priest” in Fleabag.
Colin Hanks as Henry Jones
Lieutenant Henry Jones, who first appears in “The Last Patrol,” is a young West Point grad who wants to gain some combat experience with Easy Company before the war is over. Colin Hanks, who is undoubtedly the progeny of Band of Brothers creator Tom Hanks, portrays him. Colin has subsequently developed into a successful actor, much like his father, and has been in numerous television programmes and motion pictures. His acting credits also include the lead in the 2002 comedy Orange County, a supporting part in King Kong from 2005, and the Mike Emmick character from Impeachment: American Crime Story. Colin Hanks is also well-known for his more recent roles as Greg Short in the CBS sitcom Life in Pieces and Alex in the Jumanji movies.
Damian Lewis as Richard D. Winters
Richard Winters is initially presented in Band of Brothers as the 2nd Lieutenant of Easy Company’s 2nd Battalion during their training in Camp Toccoa. By the end of the war, he had attained the rank of Major Winters thanks to his outstanding tactical knowledge and leadership abilities. He is shown as a respected and composed leader of Easy Company for the entirety of Band of Brothers, who is left feeling unsettled by promotions that push him further away from direct leadership of his soldiers. In addition to his work in Homeland and Billions, Damian Lewis is well-known for his portrayal of Steve McQueen in Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood.
David Schwimmer as Herbert Sobel
David Schwimmer’s Herbert Sobel gets despised by the men for his cruel training regimens and his propensity to seek out and punish even the slightest transgressions while serving as first lieutenant and subsequently captain of Easy Company’s 2nd Battalion during their training. The role of Ross Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends is best known to David Schwimmer, who naturally made an appearance in the HBO Max Friends reunion special. In addition, Schwimmer provided the voice of Robert Kardashian, O. J. Simpson’s defence attorney, on The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story and the Madagascar series’ Melman the Giraffe.
Dexter Fletcher as John W. Martin
Staff Sergeant John Martin fights in all of Easy Company’s significant battles in Band of Brothers and is good friends with William “Wild Bill” Guarnere. Staff Sergeant John Martin is one of the original 140 Easy Company troops that leap into Normandy on D-Day (played by Frank John Hughes). Dexter Fletcher is well-known for his performances in the movies Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Layer Cake. He also starred in the films Kick-Ass, Stardust, and Doom and directed the films Eddie the Eagle and Rocketman, which is the biopic of Elton John. His upcoming directing project is Sherlock Holmes 3, which is also on the schedule.
Dominic Cooper as Private Allington
The appearance of Dominic Cooper as Allington, a private in the Easy Company, may be the most difficult to locate in the Band of Brothers cameos. Cooper only made an appearance in the first episode of Band of Brothers, “Currahee,” even though at one point he might have had a speaking part. When the paratroopers are eating spaghetti in the mess hall, he can be seen momentarily. Cooper spent his first time on a movie set during filming Band of Brothers, and he subsequently admitted in an interview with the Guardian that he was “terrified” by it. Cooper is now best known for his roles as Howard Stark in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Jesse Custer in Preacher.
Donnie Wahlberg as C. Carwood Lipton
Carwood, C. Lipton, who was recently promoted from the position of private to sergeant, is introduced in Band of Brothers as a sergeant. During the latter half of Easy Company’s time spent holding the line in Bastogne and their conquest of the neighbouring town of Foy, episode 7, “The Breaking Point,” concentrates on Lipton’s perspective. In addition to being a member of the boy band New Kids on the Block, Donnie Wahlberg is well-known for his role as Eric Matthews in the Saw film series. He is Mark Wahlberg’s elder brother as well.
Eion Bailey as David Kenyon Webster
David Webster, the main character in Band of Brothers episode 8, “The Last Patrol,” joins Easy Company in Operation Market Garden for the first time, when he is hurt and must spend a lot of time recuperating in the hospital. Due to his absence from Easy’s struggles in Foy and Bastogne, Webster is subsequently welcomed back by the unit to a frosty reception. In addition, Eion Bailey is recognised for his performances as Ricky in Fight Club, Teddy Weizak in the 2020 miniseries The Stand, and August W. Booth in Once Upon a Time.
Edward “Babe” Heffron as Dutch Man
Edward “Babe” Heffron, who is portrayed by Robin Laing in the series, had a cameo appearance in episode 4, “Replacements,” in addition to serving as one of the real 501st talking heads. Heffron may be seen portraying a Dutch man at a table while an Easy Company member chats with a local after the group arrives in Eindhoven to a rousing welcome from the town’s residents. Heffron’s participation in Band of Brothers is similar to Tom Hanks’ cameo, which makes it even easier to overlook. Nevertheless, it’s a great gesture to honour the real-life members of Easy Company.
Frank John Hughes as William “Wild Bill” Guarnere
William Guarnere, better known by his monikers “Wild Bill” and the much less endearing “Gonorrhea,” is recognised by his heavy Philadelphia accent and ferocious fighting manner. In Band of Brothers, Guarnere discovers that his brother has died in battle just before making his first combat jump into Normandy. This news drives him insanely to kill every German soldier he encounters. Additionally a screenwriter, Frank John Hughes spent a considerable amount of time on FX’s Justified. He is also well-known for his roles as Tim Woods in 24 and as legendary crime family member Walden Belfiore in The Sopranos.
James Madio as Frank Perconte
Frank Perconte, like Joe Toye, receives dual Purple Hearts: one for tank shrapnel in his shoulder and leg, and another for a boil that required lancing. Perconte, who frequently steals wristwatches from the bodies of dead Germans, is a staple of Easy Company throughout the events in Band of Brothers because these wounds aren’t nearly enough to get him home. James Madio is also well-known for his performances in Jersey Boys and USA High.
James McAvoy as James Miller
In a small cameo in Band of Brothers, a baby-faced James McAvoy may be seen, much like his future X-Men co-star Michael Fassbender. In Band of Brothers episode 4, “The Replacements,” McAvoy makes a brief cameo as James Miller, one of the titular Easy Company replacements. McAvoy is most recognised for his performances as Kevin Wendell Crumb in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, Wesley in Wanted, and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films (a role he reprised for 2019 sequel Glass). Miller is undoubtedly murdered in 1944 during Operation Market Garden.
Jimmy Fallon as George Rice
Jimmy Fallon makes a brief cameo in the fifth episode of Band of Brothers, “Crossroads,” when he plays 2nd Lieutenant George Rice, who supplies Easy Company with ammo as they advance on Bastogne. Currently the presenter of The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Fallon was most known for his role as a featured player on Saturday Night Live when Band of Brothers was first launched. Fallon makes an appearance in the Tom Hanks-directed episode, but it’s well known that he struggled with the requisite driving and couldn’t even get the jeep to move:
It is a genuine WWII jeep, thus you must press the device to put it in neutral. I’m not a good driver. I merely say my line while trying to project a heroic air. I’m now very anxious. There are roughly 200 extras. I then drive to my destination. I say, “Good luck, boys,” but I fail to engage the clutch, so these two guys are pushing the car while the wheels aren’t turning. I’m not sure how they did it, but they succeeded.
While Fallon’s appearance in Band of Brothers is difficult to identify, the heights his career has since attained make his face stand out amid the rest of the ensemble.
Kirk Acevedo as Joseph D. Toye
Staff Sergeant Joe Toye, one of Easy Company’s most tenacious warriors, sustains wounds in each significant military operation shown in Band of Brothers and receives four Purple Hearts (the medal given for being wounded or killed in combat). Kirk Acevedo is also well-known for his roles as Jose Ramse in 12 Monkeys, Ricardo Diaz in Arrow, and Miguel Alvarez in Oz. In 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Acevedo played Carver.
Marc Warren as Albert Blithe
Albert Blithe, a member of Easy Company’s 1st Battalion, is the main character in Band of Brothers episode 3, “Carentan,” which is where members of 2nd Battalion first come across him. Marc Warren is also well-known for his work as Nick Savarese in The Good Wife and for his appearance in the Doctor Who episode “Love and Monsters.” The sorrowful message that Blithe didn’t recover from his wounds after being shot through the neck following the Battle of Carentan is conveyed throughout the series, however this is untrue. Blithe, who had rejoined the army in the 1950s, actually lived until 1967.
Matthew Settle as Ronald Speirs
Captain Ronald Speirs, initially the commander of Dog Company in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, is regarded with fear and trepidation by the soldiers in Band of Brothers due to a variety of ludicrous myths that have been spread about him. Ronald Spiers shows them firsthand that he is courageous and cool under pressure when he later joins Easy Company during their conquest of Foy. In addition, Matthew Settle is recognised for his roles as Larson in U-571 and Rufus Humfrey in Gossip Girl.
Michael Cudlitz as Denver “Bull” Randleman
In the first episode of Band of Brothers, Denver “Bull” Randleman and a number of his fellow non-commissioned officers risk being put to death by staging a mutiny in opposition to Captain Sobel’s subpar leadership. In instance, in episode 4, “Replacements,” when Randleman is injured and forced to hide out in a barn surrounded by German soldiers, this same bravery is on exhibit throughout the entire series. In addition, Michael Cudlitz is well-known for his roles as John Cooper in Southland and Abraham Ford in The Walking Dead. He has also provided the voice for many Call of Duty video game titles.
Michael Fassbender as Burton “Pat” Christenson
A then-unknown Michael Fassbender made an appearance in Band of Brothers as machine-gunner Burton Christenson, one of the original 140 members of Easy Company, years before he played Erik “Magneto” Lensherr in the X-Men. The most well-known parts for Fassbender today are the android David in Alien: Covenant and the youthful Magneto in the X-Men flicks. After the war, Christenson returned to his squad for occupation work in Germany and Austria and finally rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant.
Neal McDonough as Lynn “Buck” Compton
Buck During their training in Aldbourne, England, Compton is tasked with serving as the 2nd Battalion assistant platoon leader for Easy Company. Despite being a skilled fighter and commander, Compton’s excitement for the war is initially dampened by a serious gunshot wound, and later by Easy Company’s dreadful weeks in the Bastogne forests. Neal McDonough is also well-known for his roles as Malcolm Beck in Yellowstone, General James Harding in Project Blue Book, Timothy “Dum Dum” Dugan in Captain America: The First Avenger, and Damien Darhk in the Arrowverse.
Rick Gomez as George Luz
George Luz, a radio technician, is well-liked by Easy Company because of his impressive impersonations of their superiors, including one of Major Horton that was convincing enough to convince Captain Sobel to follow Luz’s instructions. Additionally well-known for his roles as Nestor Rosario in The Crossing and David Vasquez in Justified.
Ron Livingston as Lewis Nixon III
Nixon, a personal friend of Richard Winters and a fellow second lieutenant in Easy Company’s 2nd Battalion, participated in many of the same wartime actions as Winters, but his ascent through the ranks was different. He is portrayed in Band of Brothers from the beginning as having an alcohol addiction, which is further made worse by the hardships and tragedy of war. Ron Livingston is also well-known for his work in the movies Loudermilk, The Conjuring, and Office Space.
Ross McCall as Joseph Liebgott
Because of his Jewish origin, Joe Liebgott has an especially strong dislike for the Nazis, which is only made worse in Band of Brothers episode 9, “Why We Fight,” when Easy Company finds and frees a concentration camp. In addition, Ross McCall is recognised for his roles as Matthew Keller in White Collar and Kenny Battaglia in the Starz series Crash.
Scott Grimes as Donald Malarkey
By the end of World War II, Donald Malarkey, known as “Private Bulls**t” by David Schwimmer’s Sobel, is elevated to the rank of first sergeant. He serves more consecutive time than any other member of the company since he is one of the few Easy Company members in Band of Brothers who never sustains a significant injury. As a result, he does not receive a break from the fighting. In addition, Scott Grimes is recognised for his roles as Steve Smith on American Dad!, Lieutenant Gordon Malloy on The Orville, and Archie Morris in ER.
Shane Taylor as Eugene “Doc” Roe
Eugene “Doc” Roe, a medic in Easy Company’s 2nd Battalion, is the main character of Band of Brothers episode 6, “Bastogne.” Roe fights to protect his fellow paratroopers from injuries caused by artillery bombardment during the arduous winter spent surrounded by German troops. Roe has so few resources that he is forced to beg morphine syringes from soldiers’ first aid kits and use ripped bedsheets as bandages. The films Hunter Killer and Walking With the Enemy both featured Shane Taylor.
Simon Pegg as William Evans
Simon Pegg, a British comic superstar and future A-lister, plays William S. Evans, Captain Sobel’s first sergeant, in Band of Brothers. Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End, three films of director Edgar Wright’s “Cornetto Trilogy,” featured Pegg as their leading man. In addition, Pegg played Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in the 2011 sci-fi comedy Paul, Benji Dunn in the Mission: Impossible series, and Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in the Star Trek remake. When their plane is shot down by enemy fire on June 6, 1944, he and 1st Lieutenant Thomas Meehan are the first named characters in Band of Brothers to be confirmed killed.
Tom Hanks as Red Devil
One episode of Red Devil Band of Brothers was created and directed by Tom Hanks. In the fifth episode, “Crossroads,” Tom Hanks makes a brief appearance as a member of the Red Devils, a British parachute unit. After Easy Company’s reinforcements save the Red Devils from a grave scenario, Hanks can be seen in the background of a large room during a toast to Easy Company.
Tom Hardy as John Janovec
John Janovec is a substitute who joins Easy Company at the conclusion of the war. He is first introduced naked when he is seen making out with a fraulein in episode 9, “Why We Fight.” Hardy, who at the time had a body far different from the enormous stature he subsequently acquired for The Dark Knight Rises, made his TV debut in Band of Brothers, which was released the same year he also had an appearance in Black Hawk Down. Hardy is now most recognised for his roles as Eddie Brock in the Venom films and Bane in Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. He also played Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road.
Other Band of Brothers Cast Members
The Band of Brothers ensemble is so large that even people who only appear in a few scenes or in a single episode are well-known to fans who watch the show every year as a tradition. Additionally, some of the supporting cast members have gone on to build outstanding bodies of work. For example, Stephen Graham (Myron Ranney), a stalwart of British television, starred in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Many of the actors, the most of whom were British, appeared in British shows up to 2021. For special event podcasts, Matthew Leitch (Talbert) organises reunions of the Band of Brothers cast under the moniker We Happy Few 506.
Alton More in Doug Allen
Playing Robert “Popeye” Wynn is Nicholas Aron.
Jack Foley, played by Jamie Bamber
Wayne “Skinny” Sisk portrayed by Philip Barantini
James “Mo” Alley Jr. is played by George Calil.
Walter “Smokey” played by Ben Caplan J. Gordon
Robert Sink played by Dale Dye
As Robert van Klinken, Ezra Godden
As Myron Ranney, Stephen Graham
Roy Cobb, played by Craig Heaney
Charles “Chuck” Grant, played by Nolan Hemmings
Pat O’Keefe is portrayed by Matt Hickey.
Clarence Hester is played by Andrew Howard.
As Leo Boyle, Nigel Hoyle
Lester Hashey, played by Mark Huberman
Cleveland is Adam James. Petty
Renee Lamaire as played by Lucie Jeanne
As Edward “Babe” Heffron, Robin Laing
Performing the role of William Dukeman Jr.
Floyd “Tab” Talbert is played by Matthew Leitch.
Earl “One Lung” McLung is played by Rocky Marshall.
Alex Penkala Jr. is played by Tim Matthews.
Donald Hoobler as played by Peter McCabe
As Frederick “Moose” Heyliger, Stephen McCole
as Robert Strayer, Phil McKee
Ramirez is portrayed by Rene L. Moreno.
Thomas Peacock in David Nicole
Allen Vest, played by Kieren O’Brien
Thomas Meehan, played by Jason O’Mara
Norman Dike’s “Foxhole” Peter O’Meara
Andrew As Eugene Jackson, Lee Potts
Edward Tipper, played by Bart Ruspoli
Joseph Lesniewski, played by Simon Schatzberger
Antonio Garcia is played by Douglas Spain
Warren “Skip” Muck is portrayed by Richard Speight Jr.
Harry Welsh, played by Rick Warden
Darrell “Shifty” Powers is portrayed by Peter Youngblood Hills.
