20 Stars You Forgot Were in the “Spider-Man” Movies: From B.J. Novak to Bryce Dallas Howard

Whether they were already established or had just been bitten by the Hollywood bug, these stars all spun their way into the live-action 'Spider-Man' flicks

Seems like these stars were in the neighborhood.

Ever since Sam Raimi's 2002 live-action blockbuster first introduced the beloved comic-book hero Spider-Man (co-created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko) to the big screen, a web of films centered on the wall-crawling Peter Parker — portrayed by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland — have followed.

With many fan-favorite, niche Spider-Man characters popping up over the years, it's a little tricky to recall the multitude of actors who've brought them to life, some even before their own rise to fame. Moreover, it's no easy feat to keep track of all the blink-or-you'll-miss-it cameos scattered throughout these massive films.

From Octavia Spencer in the 2002 original to B.J. Novak in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), here are the famous faces with credits in the Spider-Man movies.

Bruce Campbell

A childhood friend of Raimi (and the star of the director's Evil Dead film series), Bruce Campbell graced all three of the director's Spider-Man movies.

In the 2002 original, he portrayed the ring announcer at the wrestling competition where Peter Parker goes up against Bone Saw McGraw (WWE's Randy Savage). Upon hearing Peter's self-proclaimed wrestling name "Human Spider," the less-than-impressed announcer promptly rebrands him as "the terrifying, the deadly, the amazing Spider-Man."

In Spider-Man 2, Campbell appears as the pretentious head usher at the theater who denies Peter entry after the doors have closed, causing him to miss Mary Jane Watson's (Kirsten Dunst) big performance. And in the third installment, Campbell assists Peter in proposing to MJ as the maître d' of a fancy French restaurant.

Fun fact: Campbell cameoed as the Pizza Poppa in Raimi’s contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. (Doctor Strange is an original character from Spider-Man co-creator Ditko.)

Emily Deschanel

Before her star-making role on Bones, Emily Deschanel had a quick but unforgettable appearance in Raimi's Spider-Man 2 (2004).

The movie kicks off with Peter Parker balancing his life as a superhero and his gig as a delivery guy at Joe's Pizza, renowned for its 29-minute guarantee policy (otherwise, the pizzas are on the house). With his job on the line, Peter is tasked with delivering eight extra-large deep-dish pizzas across 42 blocks within a tight time frame, and of course, there are people to be saved along the way.

Deschanel plays a gum-smacking receptionist who checks the clock and informs Peter — who greets her with his now-iconic "Pizza time!" line — he's late with her delivery, so she's "not paying for those."

Joe Manganiello

In Raimi's Spider-Man, the Magic Mike actor played Eugene "Flash" Thompson, a high school football jock who constantly bullies Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker. He is also Mary Jane's boyfriend at the beginning of the first film. Joe Manganiello’s Flash also makes a brief appearance in Spider-Man 3, where he can be seen at Harry Osborn's (James Franco) funeral.

Fun fact: Spider-Man was actually the movie that started Manganiello's professional film career.

Elizabeth Banks

Throughout Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, Elizabeth Banks played Betty Brant, who works as J. Jonah Jameson's (J.K. Simmons) secretary at The Daily Bugle. She is one of Peter Parker's co-workers as well as one of his early love interests.

The Hunger Games actress originally auditioned for the role of Mary Jane, but was told she was "too old to play her," Banks told Glamour U.K., according to Vanity Fair.

Octavia Spencer

Spencer had a minor part playing "Check-In Girl" in Raimi's first Spider-Man film before going on to land leading roles in movies such as The Help (2011) and Hidden Figures (2016) — and became an Academy Award-winning actress.

In a January 2023 interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Spencer — a "big Marvel Comics nerd" — joked about doing a standalone "Check-In Girl" movie. "I think [my character] should run Doctor Octopus' lab or Venom's lab," she joked. "I wanna be on the avenging side because they're the ones who come back.

Daniel Dae Kim

The Avatar: The Last Airbender actor appeared in Raimi's Spider-Man 2 playing the role of Raymond, a scientist who assisted Dr. Otto Octavius in his experiments.

James Cromwell

In Spider-Man 3 (2007), Succession actor James Cromwell played George Stacy, the NYPD captain who gave Spider-Man the key to the city when he saved his daughter, Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard), from falling from a building.

Later in the film, Captain Stacy delivers the news to Peter and Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) that Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church) — a.k.a. Sandman — was the true perpetrator of Uncle Ben's (Cliff Robertson) murder.

B.J. Novak

The Office actor played Alistair Smythe, a member of Oscorp responsible for Max Dillon's (Jamie Foxx) mutation into Electro in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Prior to the film's release in 2014, Webb teased Novak's role by making a reference to The Office, posting on X (formerly Twitter): "Day 38. A supposed rumor about a Dunder-Mifflin takeover of Oscorp?"

Lucy Lawless

Lucy Lawless played "Punk Rock Girl" in Raimi's Spider-Man. She appeared in a crowd scene when the press was interviewing citizens on their thoughts about the local hero.

The Xena: Warrior Princess actress in part landed the role because her husband, Rob Tapert, is friends with Raimi.

"Sam Raimi was one of the executive producers on Xena and Hercules and is one of Rob's oldest friends, so he just invited me. I was in New York and just rocked up," the actress told Collider in March 2021.

Joel McHale

The Community actor played Mr. Jacks in Raimi's Spider-Man 2, the bank manager infamously known for his sarcastic remark when Peter Parker abandons Aunt May during Doc Ock's attack. Joel McHale's character utters to May, "Oh, that boy of yours is a real hero."

Speaking about Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), McHale told Comicbook.com in February 2021: "Believe me, I wanted Mr. Jacks the bank manager to come back."

Felicity Jones

The Midnight Sky actress played Felicia Hardy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Her character was an executive assistant for Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) after his father Norman Osborn (Chris Cooper) died. Hardy is known for transforming into Black Cat in the comics (though she did not do so in the film).

Dylan Baker

In both of Raimi's Spider-Man sequels, The Good Wife actor Dylan Baker appeared as Dr. Curtis Connors, the physics professor who taught Peter Parker at Columbia University.

In Spider-Man 2, Dr. Connors expresses concern over Peter's attendance and recommends he intern with nuclear scientist Dr. Octavius (Alfred Molina) to avoid academic failure. In the next film, Peter seeks Connors' expertise to analyze the substance of a parasitic Venom symbiote, who warns him about its aggressive nature and the challenges of breaking the bond once it's formed.

Sara Ramirez

The And Just Like That... actor — also known for their role in Grey's Anatomy — played an NYPD officer who kept Peter Parker back when he noticed Uncle Ben on the ground in Raimi's Spider-Man.

Aidy Bryant

The former Saturday Night Live cast member Aidy Bryant had a cameo as a costumed Statue of Liberty in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, where she looks at Spider-Man and says: "Nice outfit."

Donna Murphy

Before voicing Mother Gothel in Tangled (2010) and starring on The Gilded Age, Donna Murphy portrayed Rosalie Octavius, Otto Octavius's kindhearted wife and scientific assistant, in Spider-Man 2.

During Otto's demonstration of his prototype harness — featuring a set of mighty robotic arms with artificial intelligence — a power surge occurs, destabilizing the fusion reactor and resulting in Rosalie's tragic death. This event marks the beginning of Otto's changeover into the supervillain known as Doctor Octopus.

Aasif Mandvi

The Evil star played Mr. Aziz — the owner of Joe's Pizza and Peter Parker's boss — in Raimi's Spider-Man 2. The two had a mixed relationship since Peter always arrived late to work due to Spider-Man's saving-the-world antics, and Mr. Aziz eventually fired him.

Fun fact: Mr. Aziz was a character written for the screen and had no mention in the original comics.

Daniel Gillies

The Originals star played John Jameson in Raimi's Spider-Man 2, the only time he appeared in the trilogy. His character was the love interest of Mary Jane and Peter Parker's natural rival.

Fun fact: Spider-Man 2 marked Daniel Gillies' first major Hollywood movie.

Bryce Dallas Howard

The Argylle actress played Gwen Stacy — classmate, lab partner, and love interest of Peter Parker — in Raimi's third Spider-Man. This relationship is interrupted by Mary Jane, who ends back up in Spidey's arms by the end of the film.

Fun fact: Howard was unaware she was pregnant while filming. "Oh my gosh, didn’t know it at the time but I was pregnant," she said during an interview on The Drew Barrymore Show in February 2024. "And ironically my son is blonde."

Macy Gray

The R&B singer made a quick appearance as herself in Raimi's original Spider-Man. Although the cameo is rather brief, it's one of the most action-packed scenes in the entire film — when the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) has his first major confrontation with the web-slinger in the middle of Times Square. During the fight, Gray performed her song "My Nutmeg Phantasy" to a large crowd outside.

Hannibal Buress

The Comedy Central comedian played Coach Andre Wilson in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and reprised his role in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Fun fact: Hannibal Buress was out of town during the Spider-Man Homecoming premiere in 2017, and hired a body double to stand in for him!

He told PEOPLE: "I just couldn't not be involved at all, and I knew it would get some interest, but I definitely didn't expect it to go this crazy. I don't know how the higher-ups feel about it, but I think it was good for all parties. It's a fun thing — it was harmless."

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