Summary
Many actors have appeared in theAlienfranchise over the years, yet there are some who still go under the radar due to other works or smaller roles. As ofAlien: Romulus'2024 release, theAlienmovie timelineis more expansive than ever. The original four movies explored the character of Ellen Ripley - including her clone - before Ridley Scott decided to switch up theorder ofAlienmoviesby telling a prequel story withPrometheusandAlien: Covenant.
Many of these stories center aroundAlien’s Weyland-Yutani Corporation, exploring the many different characters who clash with titular aliens in different periods. Although the many differenttypes of Xenomorph in theAlienfranchiselive long in the memory as an iconic piece of pop culture, the human characters in each installment are just as important. While some characters and their actors are synonymous with theAlienfranchise, there are some that many may have forgotten played a role in various films, either due to more famous cinematic endeavors or brief cameo roles.
9Ian Holm
First Appeared In Alien (1979)
While the late Ian Holm has a fairly big role in 1979’sAlien, it remains the case that many may have forgotten he was a part of the franchise. The reason for this primarily comes fromAliencoming early in Holm’s career, with the actor going on to have an illustrious list of credits. Holm’s more critically acclaimed roles came in the 1980s and 1990s, with the early 2000s marking perhaps his most mainstream film appearance. In the 1980s, Holm found success inChariots of Fire, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Other successful 1980s films that somewhat overshadowed Holm’sAlienappearance includedBrazil,Dreamchild, andHenry V.Holm is perhaps best known for his role as Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy,a role he reprised forThe Hobbittrilogy. As such,Alienfades somewhat into obscurity where Holm’s career is concerned.
A CGI recreation ofHolm appeared in Alien: Romulus, 35 years after Holm’s first appearance and only four years after his death.
In the film, Holm played Ash, an android aboard the Nostromo. Ash is the pseudo-villain of the movie, with his android nature only being revealed in the third act after he tries to contain the Xenomorph for experimentation.Despite Ash being a central part ofAlien, there is no denying that Holm is more well-known for other roles, leading many to forget he was part of the first film in the franchise.
Alien
Cast
Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, is a science fiction horror film that follows the crew of the commercial spacecraft Nostromo. Upon investigating a distress signal on a distant moon, they discover a deadly extraterrestrial lifeform. The film stars Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and became a seminal work in both the sci-fi and horror genres, known for its atmospheric tension and groundbreaking visual effects.
8Paul Reiser
First Appeared In Aliens (1986)
InAliens, Paul Reiser portrays Carter Burke, a representative of Weyland-Yutani. Burke travels with Ripley and a group of marines to the planet LV-426 from the first movie as the colonists there have gone radio silent, likely due to a Xenomorph infestation. Like Holm,Reiser appears as more of a secret antagonist inAliens, as he is also committed to taking Xenomorph samples back to Earthto benefit the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Reiser’s role is arguably even more hidden than Holm’s given the bigger cast ofAliens,and the similarly more notable roles the actor took on after 1986.
Some of Reiser’s biggest film roles only came afterAliens, includingBeverley Hills CopandWhiplash…
Alienswas only Reiser’s fourth movie, with his breakout role coming a year later when he was cast in the sitcomMy Two Dadswhich ran until 1990. Reiser also starred in and created the sitcomMad About You,for which he received critical acclaim. Some of Reiser’s biggest film roles only came afterAliens, includingBeverley Hills CopandWhiplash. These roles coming afterAliens, and Reiser’s associating with TV roles that even extended to a hit phenomenon likeStranger Things, mean many forget he was one of the Alien Queen’s victims inAliens.
Aliens
Aliens, released in 1986, follows Ripley as she joins a group of Colonial Marines returning to LV-426, site of her previous encounter with the extraterrestrial species. Having been in hypersleep for 57 years, her story of survival is met with doubt, yet she assists in confronting the new threat.
The Xenomorph Queen In Aliens 1986 Explained
James Cameron’s Aliens (1986) introduced the Xenomorph Queen, a special type of Xenomorph that would be revisited in other Alien movies and comics.
7Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton’s appearance inAliensis certainly an intriguing one. Despite being early in Paxton’s career and being overshadowed by other roles, his character is one of the more iconic in the film. Paxton’s Hudson is responsible for some ofAliens' best quotes, yet even still people forget he was part of the film. This is largely due to his TV roles in shows such asBig Love,as well as movies that came out afterAlienslikePredator 2, True Lies, Apollo 13,andTitanic.
Aliens is one of four collaborations between Paxton and director James Cameron.
InAliens,Paxton’s Hudson is one of the many marines who travel to LV-426 alongside Ripley and Burke. Hudson’s quick wit and hilarious scenes make him one of the more fleshed-out characters in the film, and he outlasts most of the other marines during the various fights against the Xenomorphs. Despite all this, Paxton is known for other roles aboveAliens, making repeat viewings of the iconic film all the better if only to refresh oneself with his great performance.
6Charles Dance
First Appeared In Alien 3 (1992)
InAlien 3, Charles Dance appears as Jonathan Clemens. Clemens is a former inmate of the Fiorina 616 high-security facility who now works as a doctor. Clemens aids Ripley during the first half of the film before being killed by a Xenomorph, giving him a smaller role in the film than some of the other characters. As a result of this, and Dance’s future career, it is not hard to forget that the actor was part ofAlien 3.
Dance is also known for his TV roles aboveAlien 3, including Tywin Lannister onGame of Thronesand Lord Mountbatten inThe Crown…
AfterAlien 3, Dance became known for his performances in critically acclaimed period films. Dance appeared inMichael Collinsin 1996 andGosford Parkin 2001, both earning him recognition. More recent films includeThe Imitation Game(2014) and 2020’sMank. Dance is also known for his TV roles aboveAlien 3, including Tywin Lannister onGame of Thronesand Lord Mountbatten inThe Crown, the latter of which received him a Primetime Emmy nomination. As such, Dance’s minorAlien 3role as Clemens takes a back seat to his other career credits.
Alien 3
Alien³ follows Ellen Ripley as she crash lands on Fiorina 161, a bleak prison planet housing a correctional facility. Stripped of weapons and facing a new alien threat, the inmates must unite with Ripley to survive while awaiting external assistance. Released in 1992, this film continues the iconic sci-fi horror saga.
10 Most Redeeming Qualities Of Alien 3
Alien 3 is a controversial entry in the classic sci-fi franchise, but not only is it better than its reputation, it has a lot to recommend it.
5Winona Ryder
First Appeared In Alien Resurrection (1997)
Unlike the other actors mentioned, Winona Ryder’s appearance inAlien Resurrectionis not overlooked because it came before significant roles. Instead, Ryder’sAlien Resurrectionrole is often forgotten for other reasons, including the film’s negative reception and poor box office haul. Furthermore, Ryder’s most successful roles came both before and afterAlien Resurrection, somewhat sandwiching her role as the android Annalee Call between more successful, recognizable projects.
Nine years beforeAlien Resurrection,Ryder’s breakout role came inBeetlejuice.Shortly after that, Ryder appeared inHeathers, Edward Scissorhands,andBram Stoker’s Dracula.Ryder then appeared in two critically acclaimed roles, earning her Academy Award nominations, inThe Age of InnocenceandLittle Women.Alien Resurrectioncame after all of these roles, with the film’s critical and commercial underperformance causing her role as Call to fade into obscurity, further overshadowed by Rider’s eventual acting hiatus until she appeared back in the spotlight inStranger Things.
Alien Resurrection
Alien Resurrection is the fourth installment in the Alien franchise, featuring Sigourney Weaver as a cloned version of Ellen Ripley. Set 200 years after her death, the film follows a team of scientists who resurrect Ripley, leading to unforeseen consequences and a battle to prevent aliens from reaching Earth.
InAlien Resurrection,Brad Dourif plays a minor character named Jonathan Gediman. Gediman is one of the scientists who helps to clone Ellen Ripley 200 years after the events ofAlien 3, getting caught up in the fight against Xenomorphs aboard the Auriga ship.Dourif’s role is small inAlien Resurrection,with his character being taken to the Xenomorph nest early on, only to be found later before being abruptly killed. This small role alone is enough to cause many to forget that Dourif was part of theAlienseries.
Dourif is also known for providing the voice of Chucky in the Child’s Play franchise.
To further overshadow Dourif’s minor role, he is more well-known from other major movies and TV shows. Like Holm, Dourif is arguably most known for his role inThe Lord of the Ringsas Grima Wormtongue. Dourif was also nominated for an Academy Award for his role inOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.BesidesThe Lord of the Rings, Dourif’s post-Alienroles include the 2007 remake ofHalloweenand its sequel, as well as the TV seriesDeadwood, all of which cause many to forget about Jonathan Gediman.
3Raymond Cruz
Perhaps the most surprising actor to feature in theAlienfranchise is Raymond Cruz. Cruz is best known for his role as Julio Sanchez inThe Closerand its spin-off series,Major Crimes. Cruz’s film career includes appearances inTraining Day, Collateral Damage, andThe Curse of La Llorona.Despite not appearing in many episodes, Cruz has mainstream recognition for his role as Tuco Salamanca inBreaking BadandBetter Call Saul. The latter two shows, as well as those featuring Cruz’s Julio Sanchez, make his appearance inAlien Resurrectionmore surprising.
InAlien Resurrection,Cruz plays one of the marines, named Vincent DiStephano, who board the Auriga. DiStephano joins the other characters as they attempt to escape the ship once the Aliens break out. DiStephano eventually sacrifices himself to save Winona Ryder’s Call, who is being attacked by a Xenomorph hybrid.Alien Resurrection’s plot sets up anEarth-boundAlienTV show, yet that is not enough to make Cruz’s individual role more memorable above his other career highlights.
2Patrick Wilson
First Appeared In Prometheus (2012)
Patrick Wilson’s role inPrometheusis extremely minimal, contributing to why many will forget he is in the film. Wilson only appears in a few scenes throughout the entire film, notably in the beginning as a dream by Noomi Rapace’s character is shown.Wilson portrays Elizabeth Shaw’s father and is somewhat integral to Shaw’s character arc and the overall themes of the film, despite appearing in a few sceneswith no more than a few minutes of total screen time.
The minuscule length of Wilson’s role alone means many will forget he was inPrometheus, yet Wilson also has several more mainstream performances under his belt. Some of Wilson’s earlier movies includeThe Phantom of the Opera. Little Children, Watchmen,andThe A-Team. Wilson’s most-known roles are arguably those of Josh Lambert in theInsidiousfranchise, and Ed Warren inThe Conjuringuniverse. These roles, alongside King Orm in the DCEU’sAquamanand its sequel, completely removePrometheusas a recognizable role for Patrick Wilson.
Prometheus
Prometheus, released in 2012, is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. It follows a team of explorers as they uncover clues about humanity’s origins, embarking on a perilous interstellar expedition where they confront formidable challenges to secure the future of mankind.
Prometheus’ Title Explained & How It Connects To The Alien Franchise
Prometheus may not be the most popular movie in the Alien franchise, but it did start a new trend for the series as a whole with the titles.
1James Franco
First Appeared In Alien: Covenant (2017)
Finally,the last actor many will forget played a role in theAlienfranchise is James Franco. Like Patrick Wilson before him, Franco has a minor role at the beginning ofAlien: Covenantas Jacob Branson, the original captain of the titular Covenant and the husband of Katherine Waterstone’s Daniels. Franco appears in a stasis pod at the beginning of the movie which catches fire, killing him, before having a brief speaking scene in a recording later watched by Daniels.
James Franco’s role inAlien: Covenantwas originally planned to be much more extensive, yet Scott cut many scenes from the final film.
Franco is another actor who is known for a variety of popular roles. Franco’s first prominent TV role came inFreaks and Geeksbefore he appeared in the three Sam RaimiSpider-Manmovies as Harry Osborn. Other prominent movie roles includePineapple Express, 127 Hours Rise of the Planet of the Apes, This is the End, andThe Disaster Artist. These roles are primarily what Franco is known for, making his role in theAlienfranchise as a bit part ofAlien: Covenant’s opening rather unmemorable.
Alien: Covenant
Alien: Covenant, directed by Ridley Scott, follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant as they discover an uncharted planet. Initially seeming like a paradise, the planet soon reveals dark secrets. Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, and Billy Crudup lead the cast in this science fiction horror film, which serves as a direct sequel to Prometheus and continues to explore the origins of the Alien species.
