What The Band Of Brothers Cast Looks Like Today
The 2001 miniseries "Band of Brothers" remains one of the most popular, critically-acclaimed depictions of American soldiers in combat during World War II. Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg and based on the 1992 non-fiction book by author and historian Stephen Ambrose, "Brothers" followed the members of E Company — known as "Easy Company" — in the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, of the 101st Airborne Division, from the landing at Normandy on D-Day to the surrender of Germany and the end of the war in Europe. The series reaped numerous accolades, including six Emmys (out of 20 nominations), a Golden Globe, and a Peabody Award, and generated a follow-up miniseries, "The Pacific," about the Allied war effort against Japan, in 2010.
"Band of Brothers" also brought considerable attention to its huge cast of American and English actors, many of whom went on to even greater success in films and television. The former on-screen members of Easy Company have netted Oscar nominations and Emmy Awards, starred in blockbuster films, and appeared in some of the most popular television series of the 2000s and beyond. Read on for a [spoiler-heavy] look at what the "Brothers" have been doing since the series' airdates, and what they look like today.
Band of Brothers brought Damian Lewis to Homeland and Billions
Lieutenant Richard "Dick" Winters (played by Damian Lewis) led Easy Company from basic training in Episode 1 ("Curahee") to the end of the European Theater during World War II in Episode 10 ("Points"). Winters proved to be savvy with both military tactics and inspiring his men during even the heaviest fighting (Episode 7, "The Breaking Point"). At the end of the series, Winters is promoted to major and requests a transfer to the Pacific Theater, but remains in Germany due to his strong connection with Easy Company.
Lewis, a native of London, earned a Golden Globe nomination for playing the Pennsylvania-born Winters after landing roles on the UK stage and in series like "A Touch of Frost." American features and television soon followed, including "Dreamcatcher" and "An Unfinished Life," and the critically acclaimed series "Life" in 2007. The Showtime series "Homeland," about a former POW suspected of being a terrorist, earned Lewis an Emmy and a Golden Globe, vaulting him to stardom in features like "Romeo and Juliet" and "Once Upon a Time in America" (as Steve McQueen). Lewis also played Henry VIII in "Wolf Hall" and enjoyed a long run as the Machiavellian hedge fund manager Robert Axelrod on "Billions."
Ron Livingston became a fan favorite on TV and in film
Joining Richard Winters at the head of Easy Company was Lieutenant Lewis Nixon, who served as its intelligence officer. As seen in "Brothers," Nixon saw considerable combat during the European Theater, and displayed a talent for operations; however, he also suffered from a dependency on alcohol, which at one point led to his demotion as Easy's intelligence officer. Nixon reached the end of the war in 1945 with the rank of captain, and without ever firing a shot in combat.
Ron Livingston was already an audience favorite by the time he earned a Golden Globe nomination as Lewis Nixon in "Brothers." He broke out with a starring turn in Mike Judge's "Office Space" and had a supporting one in "Swingers," among many indie features and TV episodes; after the show's success, Livingston enjoyed runs on "The Practice," "Sex and the City" (as Carrie's flame, Jack Berger), and "Boardwalk Empire." Character turns in features like "Adaptation," "The Cooler" and "The Time Traveler's Wife" soon followed.
Livingston continues to work at a breathless pace in features and television; the former includes "The Conjuring" and the upcoming DCU release "The Flash," which cast him as Barry Allen's father. His recent small screen projects include series like "Search Party" and "A Million Little Things," as well as a rare lead in the Audience Network/Amazon series "Loudermilk."
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Neal McDonough has been in both Marvel and DC projects
Easy Company lands in Normandy in the second episode of "Brothers," entitled "Day of Days." There, Winters leads a small unit against a battery of German artillery, during which First Lieutenant Lynn "Buck" Compton earned the Silver Star (awarded for bravery) for a Hail Mary grenade toss that allowed the unit to take out the Axis guns.
Neal McDonough was an experienced film and television actor by the time he was cast as Compton; the Syracuse University grad enjoyed character turns in "Star Trek: First Contact" and on "China Beach" and "Quantum Leap," among many other screen projects in the 1990s. McDonough was also a prolific voice-over actor, voicing Bruce Banner on "The Incredible Hulk" series and video game in addition.
The success of "Brothers" provided McDonough with steady work as a lead and supporting player in numerous projects. TV audiences knew him as a conniving Los Angeles district attorney on "Boomtown," as the unsettling Dave Williams on "Desperate Housewives," and as criminal mastermind Damien Darhk on multiple DC series, including "Arrow" and "Legends of Tomorrow." Between these projects, he appeared in numerous high-profile features, including Steven Spielberg's "Minority Report," "Walking Tall," Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," and "Captain America: The First Avenger" as Dum Dum Dugan, a role he reprised on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," "Agent Carter," and "What If...?"
McDonough remains as busy as ever, logging recent appearances on "Yellowstone" and "Justified," and in films ranging from "Sonic the Hedgehog" to "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City."
David Schwimmer played against type as a tough drill instructor
"Friends" alum David Schwimmer took a decidedly un-Ross-like role in "Band of Brothers" by playing Captain Herbert Sobel, the drill instructor who oversaw the training of Easy Company. Sobel was depicted as a strict and at times cruel instructor, which was repaid by the loss of his command over a conflict with Richard Winters. Real-life accounts varied over Sobel's true nature: "Brothers" author Stephen Ambrose noted numerous stories about his petty behavior, but Sobel's son noted in an interview that many Easy veterans also credited his father's toughness for saving their lives in combat.
Though "Friends" remains Schwimmer's most popular showcase and earned him an Emmy nomination, he's branched out into an array of projects, including features, stage, and animation. Stints as a leading man in movies like "The Pallbearer" and character actor in "Apt Pupil" preceded Schwimmer's Broadway debut in a 2007 production of "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial" and a lengthy run as Melman the giraffe in the "Madagascar" animated franchise.
Schwimmer branched into directing while on "Friends" and made his feature directorial debut with the Simon Pegg comedy "Run Fatboy Run" in 2007. He later directed episodes of "Little Britain USA" and "Growing Up Fisher," as well as the feature "Trust," while also maintaining his acting career through roles on "Will & Grace," "Intelligence," and Steven Soderbergh's "The Laundromat." He earned a second Emmy nomination for playing lawyer Robert Kardashian in Ryan Murphy's "The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" in 2016.
Brothers helped Colin Hanks transition to bigger roles
Tom Hanks, who co-produced "Band of Brothers" in addition to co-writing one episode (Episode 1, "Curahee") and directing Episode 5 ("Crossroads"), also brought aboard his son, actor Colin Hanks, for a major role in the miniseries' eighth episode, "The Last Patrol." Cast as Lieutenant Henry Jones, a recent West Point graduate who leads an expedition to capture German soldiers at an observation post, none of the company believes that Jones is up to the task until he proves his bravery by extracting two soldiers and keeping most of the patrol safe.
Hanks was still relatively new to acting when he played Lt. Jones in "Brothers." He had a minor role in his father's 1996 film "That Thing You Do!" and visibility among teen audiences as Alex Whitman on "Roswell." The latter helped him win roles in films like "Get Over It" and "Orange County," which led to supporting turns in Peter Jackson's "King Kong," "The House Bunny," and a guest turn on "Mad Men."
A Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated performance as rookie cop Gus Grimly on the first season of "Fargo" brought him projects like "Elvis & Nixon" and "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," as well as a starring role on the CBS sitcom "Life in Pieces." Hanks most recently appeared in "Impeachment: American Crime Story," and will play Hollywood executive Barry Lapidus in "The Offer," a miniseries about the making of "The Godfather."
Donnie Wahlberg continues to prove he wasn't just a pop idol
While much of "Band of Brothers" is told from the perspective of Winters or Nixon, audiences view the miniseries' seventh episode, "The Breaking Point," from the humble perspective of Lieutenant C. Carwood Lipton. Surrounded by German forces in the Ardennes Forest near the Belgian town of Foy, Lipton provides a first-hand glimpse at the minute-to-minute terrors of warfare. Easy is saddled with a shell-shocked officer, Lieutenant Dike (Peter O'Meara), a potential wild card in the controversial Lt. Spiers (Matthew Settle), and mounting waves of artillery fire that claim many lives. Acts of incredible bravery, including one by Lipton, prove decisive in turning the tide for Easy Company.
Actor-singer Donnie Wahlberg played Lipton, who was promoted from 1st Sergeant to Lieutenant for his actions near Foy. A founding member of the '90s boy band New Kids on the Block, Wahlberg ventured into acting at the end of the decade, and gave a harrowing performance as a mentally disturbed young man in "The Sixth Sense."
Intense roles continued in films like "Dreamcatcher" (with Damien Lewis) and "Saw II" through "Saw V," but Wahlberg also proved popular on television with series like "Boomtown" (with Neal McDonough) and his long-running stint on "Blue Bloods," which earned him a People's Choice Award nomination. Walhberg netted two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program" as producer and star of "Wahlburgers," which followed his adventures in the chain restaurant business with his brothers, actor Mark Wahlberg and chef Paul Wahlberg.
Michael Fassbender's career began with Band of Brothers
Michael Fassbender essentially began his screen career in "Band of Brothers" as machine gunner Burton Christenson. A minor role distinguished largely by luck — Christenson was twice separated from Easy Company during combat but managed to reunite with his unit — Fassbender followed it with roles on British TV and a supporting turn in "300." A powerful performance as an Irish Republican Army member who underwent a hunger strike in "Hunger" led to work in high-profile projects on both sides of the Atlantic, including Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" and "X-Men: First Class," as Erik Lensher/Magneto.
Fassbender reprised Magneto in four films, including "X-Men: Dark Phoenix," while also creating another well-received science fictional character: the scheming android David in Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" and "Alien: Covenant." Between these projects, Fassbender gave memorable turns in films like "12 Years a Slave" and "Steve Jobs," which both netted him Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, and worked with such acclaimed filmmakers as David Cronenberg ("A Dangerous Method"), Steven Soderbergh ("Haywire"), and Terrence Malick ("Song to Song").
Tom Hardy rose to stardom - and Venom - after Brothers
Tom Hardy gets a show-stopping entrance in Episode 9 ("Why We Fight"); his John Janovec is first seen in a compromising position with a German woman before falling in with Easy Company as a replacement recruit. Hardy, who made his television debut in "Brothers" (his feature debut in Ridley Scott's "Black Hawk Down" came that same year), cuts a decidedly slimmer figure than the musclebound physique he displayed in later films like "The Dark Knight Rises" (as Bane) and "Venom." Janovec's time in "Brothers" is short: he dies in a vehicular accident in Episode 10 ("Points").
Hardy rose swiftly up the acting ranks after "Brothers," landing substantial roles in "Star Trek: Nemesis" and Matthew Vaughn's "Layer Cake" before earning critical praise as Michael Peterson, a.k.a. Charles Bronson, who was labeled "England's most violent criminal," in 2008's "Bronson." A breakout turn in "The Dark Knight Rises" led to "Mad Max: Fury Road," for which he took over the titular hero role from Mel Gibson. He also impressed with dual performances as the British sibling gangsters The Krays in 2015's "Legend," and an Oscar nomination for "The Revenant."
Hardy remains a major star thanks to "Venom" and "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," as well as a surprise turn as Eddie Brock in "Spider-Man: Far from Home." He's slated to reprise Max Rockatansky in "Mad Max: The Wasteland."
Michael Cudlitz continues to define toughness after Brothers
Arguably one of the toughest characters on "Band of Brothers," Sergeant Denver "Bull" Randleman single-handedly took on German soldiers on two occasions — and won both times. He was separated from Easy Company during the Normandy invasion on D-Day, and fended off an attack with his bayoneted rifle. Later, in Episode 4 "Replacements," Randleman was wounded during a tank attack and took cover in a barn, where he again was forced to fight for his life against a fierce German combatant.
Michael Cudlitz, who played Bull Randleman, made a career playing tough guys with a sardonic sense of humor. He began his film and TV career behind the scenes, building sets on "Tales from the Darkside" and "Beverly Hills 90210" before branching into acting on series like "Growing Pains." Character roles in "Grosse Point Blank" and "The Negotiator" preceded his breakout turn in "Band of Brothers," which led to recurring roles on "Lost," "Prison Break" and "Standoff" (with Ron Livingston).
Critical praise for his performance as a police officer on "Southland" put Cudlitz in the spotlight, and his run as Abraham Ford on "The Walking Dead" made him a fan favorite. He's gone on to star in the sitcom "The Kids Are Alright" and the "Silence of the Lambs"-derived series "Clarice" while also maintaining a presence in features like "Red Stone," which would reunite him with fellow "Brothers" alum Neal McDonough.
Dexter Fletcher is now an in-demand movie director
A consistent presence in all ten episodes of "Band of Brothers," Staff Sergeant John W. Martin fought in all of the major battles showcased in the film. He also formed a close friendship with Frank John Hughes' William "Wild Bill" Guarnere, and led the patrol to capture German soldiers in Episode 8 ("The Last Patrol"). Martin also wrangled with one of the series' most abrasive characters, Roy W. Cobb, when he verbally assaulted Colin Hanks' Lt. Foley.
English actor Dexter Fletcher had been acting on television and in features for more than two decades prior to joining "Brothers" as John W. Martin. Early roles included turns in the cult musical "Bugsy Malone" and in David Lynch's "The Elephant Man"; Fletcher played the lead in the romance "The Rachel Papers" and later appeared in "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels," "Layer Cake" (with Tom Hardy), and "Kick-Ass."
In 2012, Fletcher branched out into directing with the UK comedy "Wild Bill." Subsequent stints in the director's chair yielded the popular musical comedy "Sunshine on Leith" and "Eddie the Eagle." In 2017, Fletcher replaced Bryan Singer as the director of "Bohemian Rhapsody," though Singer retained the sole directorial credit. Fletcher then returned with another rocker biopic, "Rocketman," about Elton John, and is currently at work on "Sherlock Holmes 3" with Robert Downey, Jr.
Jamie Bamber remains a popular TV star in the UK
A supporting character in the final four episodes of "Band of Brothers," First Lieutenant Jack E. Foley took a lot of flack from soldiers on both sides of the conflict. He's dispatched for a dangerous mission by Company XO Dike, and in real life, faced off a disorderly Roy Cobb (a scene depicted in the series as taking place between Cobb, Jones, and John W. Martin). Foley, who earned a Purple Heart, among other medals, for his tenure during the war was promoted to captain before retiring from military service.
English actor Jamie Bamber had been a regular on UK television prior to playing Foley in "Brothers," and enjoyed considerable stardom two years after its release for playing Lee "Apollo" Adams on the re-imagined "Battlestar Galactica." More television work on both sides of the Atlantic soon followed, including a starring role on "Law & Order: UK" and recurring stints on "Rizzoli & Isles," "Strike Back, and "NCIS." He currently stars opposite Anna Friel in the detective series "Marcella," which airs internationally on Netflix.
Kirk Acevedo is a busy character actor on TV and in film
One of the most durable soldiers in "Band of Brothers" was unquestionably Staff Sergeant Joseph Toye, played by Kirk Acevedo. Toye escaped certain death on numerous occasions during the war: he's injured while parachuting into Normandy, and later survives two German grenades when Easy attacked Brecourt Manor in Episode 2 ("Day of Days"), which helped earn Toye the Silver Star. Artillery assaults, trench foot, and shrapnel all failed to bring down Easy's indestructible man.
Acevedo also showed durability throughout his long career in films and on TV. Guest roles on "New York Undercover" and other series lead to his spotlight role as Miguel Alvarez on "Oz." Appearances in Terrance Malick's World War II drama "The Thin Red Line" preceded series regular work on "Law & Order: SVU" and "Trial by Jury." Acevedo reunited with "Brothers" alum Donnie Wahlberg in a recurring role on "Blue Bloods," and enjoyed regular turns on "12 Monkeys" and "Arrow" (as Ricardo Diaz/The Dragon). He'll next re-team with Colin Hanks for the upcoming miniseries "The Offer."
James Madio worked with Clint Eastwood, Matthew Vaughn, and twice with Spielberg
Technician Fourth Grade Frank Perconte was part of Easy Company when they parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and survived being fired upon by a German sniper. Episode 9 of "Band of Brothers" ("Why We Fight") depicts Perconte's discovery (with Michael Cudlitz's "Bull" Randleman) of the Kaufering concentration camp in Landsberg, Germany, which he assisted in liberating with Easy Company. Perconte became a postman upon his return to the States and later collaborated with actor James Madio, who played him in "Band of Brothers."
Madio, a native of The Bronx, made his screen debut in Steven Spielberg's 1991 feature "Hook," and reunited the following year with one of those film's stars, Dustin Hoffman, in "Hero." He graduated to films like "The Basketball Diaries" with Leonardo DiCaprio and TV work as a series regular on "USA High" from 1997 to 1999 before joining the cast of "Band of Brothers." Subsequent acting roles included turns in "Kick-Ass," "Jersey Boys," and guest roles on "Bones," "Castle," and the upcoming "The Offer" miniseries with Colin Hanks and Kirk Acevedo.
Matthew Settle maintains a low profile
"Gossip Girl" star Matthew Settle played Captain Ronald Spiers in "Band of Brothers." Spiers was a controversial figure in Easy Company both during and after the invasion of Normandy — he reportedly shot a number of German POWs on D-Day, and allegedly shot one of his own sergeants in self-defense after he reportedly risked soldiers' lives for refusing to hold a position against Axis troops. Spiers later took command of Easy Company during the Battle of the Bulge, and was credited with numerous acts of bravery, including two solo runs across the German-occupied Belgian town of Foy depicted in Episode 7 ("The Breaking Point").
Settle began his screen career with roles in the features "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" and "U-571." His turn in "Band of Brothers" led to more high-profile roles, including former rock star Rufus Humphrey on "Gossip Girl" and a lead in the Steven Spielberg-produced TV miniseries "Into the West." Settle returned to supporting and character roles in the mid-to-late 2000s, including "The Express: The Ernie Davis Story" (as John F. Kennedy) and "Ouija," and made his Broadway debut in "Chicago" in 2010. However, Settle has remained off-screen since the 2017 Indonesian action film "Valentine."