Hollywood has long been fascinated by the battle between good and evil. Religious themes appear throughout cinema history, and the Judeo-Christian framework of Heaven and Hell, God and the Devil, has proven especially compelling. Countless actors have taken on faith-based roles over the decades, but only a select few have tackled the ultimate parts — the Creator and the Prince of Darkness.
Browse through the gallery below to discover which performers brought the lord of light and the lord of darkness to life on screen.
Actors Who Played God
Let us start with the performers who took on the role of the Almighty.
Rex Ingram in ‘The Green Pastures’ (1936)
Ingram portrayed “De Lawd” in this groundbreaking film that retells Biblical stories through the eyes and experiences of Black Americans.
Emily Watson in ‘Breaking the Waves’ (1996)
Watson portrays a young Scottish woman who holds personal conversations with God, believing deeply that divine responses come back to her through her own inner voice, making her a vessel for the Almighty.
Val Kilmer in ‘The Prince of Egypt’ (1998)
Beyond lending his voice to Moses, Kilmer also served as the voice of God in this celebrated animated feature, giving him a uniquely dual presence in the film.
Charlton Heston in ‘The Ten Commandments’ (1956)
Most famous for his portrayal of Moses in this beloved Biblical epic, Heston also provided the voice of God, earning him a rightful spot on this list.
Alanis Morissette in ‘Dogma’ (1999)
The iconic Canadian musician brought God to life in this irreverent fantasy comedy, with her character silencing a fallen angel through the sheer force of her voice alone.
Morgan Freeman in ‘Bruce Almighty’ (2003)
Few casting choices feel as natural as Morgan Freeman playing God. In this comedy, the Almighty steps away from his responsibilities and temporarily hands them over to a chronically dissatisfied man who never stops complaining about divine decisions.
Whoopi Goldberg in ‘A Little Bit of Heaven’ (2011)
This heartfelt drama features Goldberg as God, who appears before a young woman facing a terminal illness and offers her the remarkable gift of three wishes.
Actors Who Played the Devil
Now for the other side of the spiritual spectrum. These are the performers who stepped into the role of Satan.
Claude Rains in ‘Angel on My Shoulder’ (1946)
After a murdered gangster gets the chance to return to the living world and settle scores with his killer, there is naturally a price attached. That arrangement comes courtesy of the Devil himself.
Vincent Price in ‘The Story of Mankind’ (1957)
Once again stepping in as Mr. Scratch, Price plays a devilish figure attempting to convince a celestial court that humanity deserves destruction, specifically through a weapon powerful enough to eliminate all human life.
Ray Walston in ‘Damn Yankees’ (1958)
A passionate baseball supporter makes the ultimate sacrifice, trading his soul to the devilish Applegate for the chance to see his beloved team finally beat the Yankees.
Harvey Stephens in ‘The Omen’ (1976)
What appears to be an ordinary orphaned child slowly reveals himself to be something far more sinister, the living embodiment of pure evil.
Tim Curry in ‘Legend’ (1985)
Curry delivers a theatrical and chilling performance as the Lord of Darkness, standing between a young Tom Cruise and the princess he is determined to save.
Jack Nicholson in ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ (1987)
Nicholson plays a version of Satan operating under a human alias, Daryl Van Horne, as he gradually works to bring three unsuspecting women under his influence.
Robert De Niro in ‘Angel Heart’ (1987)
In one of cinema’s most striking Devil portrayals, De Niro plays the mysterious Louis Cyphre, a thinly veiled Lucifer who commissions a private detective to locate a missing jazz musician whose soul was long ago promised to the dark side.
Max von Sydow in ‘Needful Things’ (1993)
Drawing from Stephen King’s horror fiction, von Sydow plays Leland Gaunt, a soft-spoken newcomer who opens a curious shop in a small town, offering residents exactly what their hearts secretly crave, at a steep personal cost.
Viggo Mortensen in ‘The Prophecy’ (1995)
Mortensen brings a cold, unsettling energy to his portrayal of Lucifer, appearing before a young woman to reveal a secret with dangerous consequences.
Al Pacino in ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ (1997)
Frequently cited among the finest work of both Pacino and Keanu Reeves, this thriller follows a rising legal star who accepts a position at a high-powered New York law firm, only to discover its founding partner harbors a far darker identity.
Gabriel Byrne in ‘End of Days’ (1999)
With the new millennium approaching, an ex-cop played by Arnold Schwarzenegger races to prevent catastrophe while the Devil, portrayed by Byrne, walks among ordinary people in a borrowed human body.
Elizabeth Hurley in ‘Bedazzled’ (2000)
Hurley delivers one of cinema’s most memorable and unconventional takes on the Devil, playing a charming and manipulative figure who hands a desperate young man seven chances to get whatever he wants.
Harvey Keitel in ‘Little Nicky’ (2000)
Keitel plays a Devil with unexpected family troubles, dispatching his youngest son Nicky, played by Adam Sandler, to retrieve two older brothers who have gone rogue on Earth.
Peter Fonda in ‘Ghost Rider’ (2007)
While audiences focused on Nicolas Cage tearing through scenes on a supernatural motorcycle, it was Fonda pulling the strings as Mephistopheles, the Devil behind the whole arrangement.
Tom Waits in ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ (2009)
The celebrated musician brought an eccentric and quietly menacing quality to Mr. Nick, his version of the Devil in this imaginative fantasy film.
