Sebastian Stan’s 12 Most Iconic Roles
Ater over two decades as an actor, the L'OFFICIEL cover star has starred in some of Hollywood’s biggest television series and franchises.
Sebastian Stan has had quite the filmography thus far in his career. His innate ability to adapt to complex roles has made him a household name and a fan favorite. From the commercial success of Pam & Tommy to the critically acclaimed film Fresh, the Marvel alum has starred in some of the biggest blockbusters and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
However, the Romanian-American actor had very humble beginnings in the United States. He first immigrated to America from Vienna, Austria, at the age of 12. His love for film began when he watched classics like Back to the Future and Ace Ventura to perfect his American accent.
Before he found himself on the big screen, Stan starred in local productions of musicals such as West Side Story and Little Shop of Horrors. After a minor role in an Austrian film in 1994, Stan found himself on a set that every young actor in New York has to pass through at least once: Law & Order.
Now, after over two decades as an actor, the L'OFFICIEL cover star has starred in Hollywood’s biggest television series and franchises. In honor of Stan's two upcoming highly anticipated films, The Apprentice, in theaters on October 11, and A Different Man, set to be released on January 24, L'OFFICIEL rounds up his most iconic roles.
In 2003, a fresh-faced Stan had a one-episode stint on Law & Order in which he played Justin Capshaw, a teenage sniper accused of killing four people. He shared his first episode on American television with Modern Family star Ty Burrell, who played his father.
Following a few indie movies, Stan starred in this supernatural horror flick alongside Friday Night Lights alum Taylor Kitsch and his soon-to-be Gossip Girl castmate Chace Crawford. Stan played Chase Collins, a high schooler and descendant of a witch family. While the film wasn’t a critical success, with the rise of streaming services, it has garnered a cult fanbase.
From 2007 to 2010, Stan left his mark on the incredibly popular teen show in just 11 episodes. He played everyone’s favorite rich outcast Carter Baizen, who, in true Gossip Girl fashion, was involved with both Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and her BFF Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively). Stan and Meester actually dated for a short time while on the show together before she met her husband Adam Brody.
In other series, Carter and Serena had the original PR relationship while he helped her search for her father undercover, but she eventually dropped him after finding out he was withholding information so he could spend more time with her. When asked a few years ago if he would ever partake in a Gossip Girl reunion, Stan was optimistic. "Sure, I would do it, why not? It was a great experience," he said. "It was one of my first jobs in New York, and I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for that show and everybody who was on it." Fans were hopeful Stan would make a surprise cameo in the Gossip Girl reboot, however it was shortly cancelled after Season 2.
When his time on Gossip Girl came to a close, Stan was cast as Marvel comic book character Bucky Barnes (a.k.a. the Winter Soldier). In the first of his seven MCU films, Stan plays alongside Chris Evans as Captain America’s best friend and later brainwashed assassin. Over the next decade, Stan starred in some of the studio’s highest-grossing films including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.
After his first Marvel movie, when he reportedly thought he wouldn’t be able to pay his rent, Stan joined the cast of the beloved ABC mystery-drama Once Upon a Time. His performance of The Mad Hatter was praised by TV critics who called him a "scene-stealer," and he quickly became a fan favorite. However, he was only on the series for a total of six episodes due to his contract with Marvel Studios.
In 2015, after a whirlwind of films and TV appearances, Stan played Dr. Chris Beck in the Golden Globe-winning science-fiction film The Martian. The star-studded cast included Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, and Donald Glover. He also worked with legendary director and producer Ridley Scott.
In his biggest leading film role to date, Stan starred in 2017’s biographical black comedy about famous figure skater Tonya Harding as Jeff Gillooly, the abusive ex-husband of Harding (played by Margot Robbie). The Oscar-winning film was shot in just 30 days and Stan said it was an equally exciting and exhausting experience. 'Working with Margot was a dream come true,” he said in a 2017 interview. 'We laughed, we cried, we were exhausted at some points. There’s a scene with a gun that loomed large in my mind; I was always sort of dreading it because I knew it would be difficult emotionally. We shot it over and over again. We went from over-the-top to subtle, just trying to find it,” the actor explained. “Margot was very inspiring to be around during difficult times… she kept showing up and having the best attitude. It inspired and motivated you.”
Following the success of WandaVision in 2021, Stan reprised his role as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel and Disney+ limited series. Stan and his co-star Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson in the MCU), were praised for the show’s social commentary and their chemistry with each other. The six-episode series garnered five Emmy nominations and a fourth Captain America film is currently in the works as a continuation of the show’s plot.
In perhaps his most controversial role to date, Stan played real-life Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in Hulu’s hit show, Pam & Tommy. The limited series follows the rise and fall of Baywatch star Pamela Anderson (played by Lily James) and her husband, Lee, after their sex tape is stolen and released on the internet. Stan actually met with Lee as preparation for the role. “My intention was simply just to introduce myself and raise my hand,” he said in an interview. “I just thought that was the respectful and decent human thing to do when someone’s alive.” Stan spent months preparing for the role, learning the drums, adopting Lee’s voice, and losing a considerable amount of weight. Stan opened up about his experience with body dysmorphia, saying he often fasted for up to 18 hours a day while running or getting in at least 20,000 steps. "It was always difficult because I just wasn't the same frame as him,” Stan said. “I was trying to lose weight and I still felt I didn't lose enough weight, and people were telling me I was crazy and going, 'You have body dysmorphia now,' which I always did anyway."
In 2022, Stan starred in the black comedy thriller Fresh. Hulu’s original film, written by Lauryn Kahn and produced by Adam McKay, has been praised by critics who commended Stan’s unsettling performance in this "meat-cute." The film follows Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a young woman who goes on a spontaneous, yet charming date with Stan’s character Steve, but soon finds out a horrific secret. As scary as it is satisfying, this film proves that Stan can truly do it all.
Sebastian Stan takes the leading role in ‘The Apprentice,’ playing Donald Trump in 1970s New York. In the film, Stan portrays the frustrations that led to Trump's decision to break away from his father's influence. With the influence of a famous and dominating lawyer, Roy Cohn, he enters the Manhattan real estate shark tank and soon builds an empire.
In this role, Sebastian Stan plays a budding actor who undergoes an intensive reconstructive surgery to completely transform his original appearance. In a twist, his new face becomes the source of a living nightmare, and throughout the film, he becomes obsessed with securing what he has lost.
