I re-watched the series this week (it's been a couple years), and didn't realize these guys had been in it, funny how they're all big stars now.
shareJamie Barber, Apollo from BSG is in it as well. The guy who played Howard Stark in Captain America, Dominic Cooper I think.
shareI'm surprised Fassbender didn't get one of the German translator roles. There is even one scene where Damian Lewis ask him if any of his men speak German, and he replies, "No". I'm watching the marathon on Memorial Day, but I also own the box set.
shareI also re-watched the marathon yesterday, and I never even realized Michael Fassbender was in the cast. One thing I've noticed, having seen the miniseries about six times, its hard to keep track of all these soldiers, because they start to look alike from certain angles. I'm sure this was intentional.
This was an amazing ensemble cast, even though most of these young actors never went onto bigger fame.
I haven't seen Fassbender anywhere except in the first episode, I think. Must have missed him, I see he's in many episodes, I don't pay enough attention, either that or I don't recognize him.
"Please, if you are trying to convert me, this isn't a good time"
Its funny that the extras in this series are major stars now. Its a shame cause the main cast are all awesome too imo.
shareYeah man, I can never get over how the Band of Brothers cast members who have had the most successful careers post-Band of Brothers are..
- James McAvoy (two episodes)
- Michael Fassbender (most episodes but very little dialogue and screen time)
- Simon Pegg (two episode.. one line I think?)
- Stephen Graham (two episodes, one line)
- Tom Hardy (two episodes, fairly decent role in those episodes)
I love it. Good pub quiz question which two Band of Brothers actors went on to become Oscar nominated actors? Answers are Michael Fassbender and Tom Hardy haha.
Being the eagle eyed, autistic, encyclopedic film and actor knowledge possessing dude I am, I actually noticed the three of the above who I had been previously aware of when I first watched it was a youngun' in 2005.
- Simon Pegg I was like "What the hell.. that's the dude from Shaun of the Dead? Why's he just playing David Schwimmer's shadow I thought he was a big deal" haha. He hadn't taken off yet.
- Stephen Graham I recognised as Shang from Gangs of New York.
- Tom Hardy I recognised as Twombly from Black Hawk Down.
Meanwhile when Michael Fassbender turned up in 300, I thought it was cool that Christenson from Band of Brothers had a decent role in a major motion picture. Well that's nothing compared to what he's done since haha.
Another one I've noticed too is Michael Cudlitz (Bull Randleman), who is probably most famous now for playing Abraham in The Walking Dead. Although, he seemed to be a well established actor by Band of Brothers. Still, probably his biggest role up to that point.
shareActually he is one of my favourite actors on the show. Awesome guest appearance on one of my all time favourite shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, guest spots on LOST and Life, fantastic lead role on Southland, one of the few truly great parts of The Walking Dead.
All tv of course, he's a prolific tv actor that's for sure. Not so huge in films.. oddly actually his best film roles may really be those before Band of Brothers such as playing a friend of Brad Pitt's in A River Runs Through It, and playing a SWAT sniper in The Negotiator.
Their success isn't much to do with Band of Brothers. The Brits in the cast are all just good, quality actors that were always going to 'make it', or already had. Kudos to the casting directors for spotting all of this burgeoning talent and using those who'd already made their mark and putting them in the right roles.
Only Fassbender and Hardy (in the OP's list) were really 'unknown'. Simon Pegg was already VERY well known (in a different genre) from Spaced. Dexter Fletcher was a very recognisible face and had played several American's, most notably an American kid in his most well known role in 1989's Press Gang. James Mcavoy, Stephen Graham and Damian Lewis would have been familiar faces to British audiences at the time too. The rest are just good actors. Lots of them would have been straight out of RADA or LAMDA or whatever and went on to whatever came next for them. Maybe some of them decided they were happier on the stage.
Great series, great cast. Some of them were bound to have prominent careers.