Actors You Forgot Showed Up In The Pirates Of The Caribbean Franchise

Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series is comprised of five movies released between 2003 and 2017. That's not too shabby, considering its only source material is a 10-minute boat ride found in multiple Disney theme parks. The series has enjoyed varying degrees of commercial success and pop culture influence. The original entry, 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," earned Johnny Depp an Oscar nomination for best actor. The second film, 2006's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" became the third film in history to make over $1 billion. 

But by the time the series debuted its fifth entry, 2017's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," financial gains and audience reception were waning. It's quite likely, then, that you haven't revisited the franchise's early entries in a while, and you may or may not have seen its more recent outings. You almost certainly remember Depp's association with the series, and likely recall Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley as well. But there are a number of other actors you've probably forgotten show up in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise — if you even knew about them in the first place, that is. We're here to help you get reacquainted.

You might know Jonathan Pryce as the High Sparrow on "Game of Thrones," Pope Francis in "The Two Popes," or Prince Philip on "The Crown." From 2003 to 2007, however, Pryce appeared in the original three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films as Governor Weatherby Swann, Elizabeth's father.

Throughout the first film, Governor Swann is fiercely loyal to England. This makes sense, seeing as he's the leader of the country's province in Port Royal. He doesn't have much tolerance for rule-breaking, and is outright disgusted by pirates. As his daughter becomes a criminal entangled with the likes of Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner, Governor Swann's morals are compromised. Eventually, he prioritizes Elizabeth's safety over loyalty to the crown.

Governor Swann is easily intimidated by more authoritative figures than himself, such as Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), a zealous pirate hunter. Beckett ultimately murders Governor Swann off-screen. Pryce's final appearance in the series comes in the third film, 2007's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," which shows his character's dazed soul drifting off to Davy Jones' locker.

Chow Yun-fat's first and only appearance in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series comes in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." He plays Sao Feng, the Pirate Lord of Singapore. Yun-fat, who is known for his roles in action films like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," brings his high-octane expertise and formidable presence to the fore in this film. Unfortunately, Yun-fat doesn't get much of an opportunity to truly shine: While his character is essential to the story, he isn't involved in any major action sequences. 

Nevertheless, Sao Feng first enters the narrative when Jack Sparrow's crew goes in search of a map that can take them to the ends of the Earth, where they intend to save Jack from Davy Jones' locker. They retrieve the map from Sao Feng in Singapore. Later, Feng finds himself in the crosshairs of negotiations that bring Elizabeth Swann aboard his ship as a member of his crew. Feng believes Elizabeth is the goddess Calypso, bound in human form. As his ship is ransacked by English officers, he suffers a fatal blow. In his final act, he makes Elizabeth captain, which allows her to take his place as a Pirate Lord and a member of the Brethren Court.

The year is 2011. It's been four years since Captain Jack Sparrow graced movie theater screens. The fourth movie in the series, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," is a little different, but fans are willing to give it a try. Within the film's first 20 minutes, Jack bumbles and bustles his way through London on one of his typically madcap flights from the authorities. He seeks refuge inside an enclosed, horse-drawn carriage, where a distinguished woman in sophisticated clothing sits. Is that ... surely it can't be... Dame Judi Dench? Yes, she'd already won an Oscar and been nominated for an additional five, among her many glittering accolades. But Dench still wasn't above making a cameo in the fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film.

Dench's brief role sees her character taken by surprise by Jack's sudden appearance in her carriage. Jack looks at her seductively, nibbles on her ear, and leaves the carriage just as quickly as he entered. Smitten and perplexed, Dench's character inquires, "Is that it?" The camera then cuts to Jack, who stands atop the carriage with Dench's earring in his mouth. He never misses a chance to swindle, even from Dame Judi Dench.

Before he made his "Hunger Games" debut as Finnick Odair in 2013's "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" or played Oswald Mosley in later seasons of "Peaky Blinders," actor Sam Claflin appeared as Philip Swift in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." With Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann absent, filmmakers had to fill their romantic niche. The answer arrived in the form a new young couple: Philip and Syrena (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey). He's a missionary looking to save the souls of everyone he encounters. She's a mermaid forced to travel with pirates, because they need her tears to access the Fountain of Youth.

Philip does his best to protect Syrena from the barbaric imprisonment the pirates inflict upon her. She's grateful, but mostly passive, unable to communicate fluently with him. As the voyage to the Fountain continues, their connection becomes something more — but we never learn what comes of it. Toward the end of the film, Syrena pulls Philip into the water with her and swims away. Whether she has malicious or romantic intentions is left up to the viewer to decide.

While this film was Claflin's feature film debut, it would also be his only appearance in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. Philip does not return in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," and the audience never receives an update on his whereabouts.

In "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," Captain Jack discovers he can't go to the Fountain of Youth without a crew. Among the scallywags who join him is an unnamed teenage boy who contemporary genre fans might recognize. He's portrayed by Robbie Kay, who went on to play a villainous version of Peter Pan on ABC's "Once Upon A Time" and Tommy Clark on NBC's "Heroes Reborn."

For the most part, Kay's pirate youngster stays in the background. But he's also more than an extra. This nameless cabin boy is consistently present throughout the movie, having been enlisted by Jack during the film's opening in London and persisting through to the end. But again, he doesn't have a main role and doesn't even receive a proper name. He occasionally speaks, though, and contributes to the tapestry of pirates who make Jack's crew what it is. This small role has thus far been Kay's only appearance in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" contains a major surprise: Captain Barbossa has a daughter he never knew about. Carina Smyth is likewise just as unaware of her long-lost father's whereabouts. She searches for him, and the entirety of her murky origins, by studying astronomy, a field in which she constantly faces sexist hurdles. Carina is played by Kaya Scodelario, who made her "Pirates of the Caribbean" debut between stints as Teresa in the "Maze Runner" film series.

Carina and Barbossa become intertwined in Jack Sparrow's quest to help Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), son of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, find the Trident of Poseidon. This Trident can set Will free from his servitude as a shepherd of dead souls. Though Barbossa and Carina eventually learn the truth about one another, they hardly have a chance to explore their relationship, as Barbossa sacrifices himself to save the rest of the crew. Intriguingly, Carina and Henry become romantically involved, leading to an unlikely family tree that connects Will, Elizabeth, and Barbossa.

Yes, we're talking about that Paul McCartney. In the tradition of the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards playing Jack Sparrow's father, the Beatles' Paul McCartney has a cameo in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" as Jack's uncle, who is also named Jack. As Depp's Jack is being escorted to his execution (which he later escapes, of course), he passes McCartney's Jack's jail cell and is surprised and delighted to see his uncle there. What follows is a bit of a scatterbrained conversation for old Uncle Jack, who sings a sea shanty, tries to give his nephew advice, and tells a joke ("A skeleton goes into a bar, orders a beer and a mop ... ") inside of a minute. 

If we can assume this is who our Jack is named after, he bears quite the resemblance indeed. Furthermore, this might imply Jack Sparrow's entire family is comprised of famous rock musicians. It's a whole lot of fun to imagine who else might round out the cast if a family reunion scenario ever finds its way to the screen.