The charismatic and always charmingNathan Fillionhas been an endearing and playful presence on both the big and small screen for over two decades. The dynamic actor is known for his intriguing and colorful characters, appearing in a slew of successful shows and films that have showcased his compelling wit, humor, and all-around range as a performer.
After getting his start as Joey Buchanan on the soap operaOne Life to Live,Fillion went on to play supporting roles in shows likeTwo Guys and a Girl(opposite Hollywood leading man Ryan Reynolds) and in Steven Spielberg’sSaving Private Ryan.His first and arguably most prominent breakthrough performance was as Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the short-lived yet deeply adored sci-fi television seriesFirefly.
Update June 18, 2025: Following the recent announcement of Nathan Fillion joining the DCU in Superman: Legacy as Guy Gardner, this list has been updated with even more great performances by the actor.
From that moment on, Fillion took on the entertainment world and continued polishing his craft, starring in popular movies like the romantic dramaWaitress, Fireflyspin-offSerenity,and James Gunn’s homage to B-movie horror flicks,Slither.He has also notably appeared as the eponymous character in the adored ABC mystery crime seriesCastleand can currently be seen on the police procedural dramaThe Rookie.2023 saw Fillion play a small but memorable role inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3and has now recently joined friend James Gunn’s upcoming DC projectSuperman: Legacyplaying the character of Guy Gardner, one of many Green Lanterns. These are the best Nathan Fillion performances so far.
12Johnny Donnelly (Two Guys and a Girl)
One of Nathan Fillion’s earliest breakthrough roles was opposite the now-massivemovie star Ryan Reynoldsin the 1998 ABC sitcomTwo Guys and a Girl,in which he portrayed Johnny Donnelly, the boyfriend of the aforementioned “girl” of the series, Sharon Carter. The comedy follows three 20-somethings who share an apartment in Boston while hanging out and working in a pizza place. The role was one of his most resolutely ‘straight man’ roles to date, setting up punchlines and jokes that were often executed by his co-stars, despite the actor becoming famous for his wit and endearing humor.
The sitcom ran for four seasons, with Fillion appearing in 60 episodes; both he and Reynolds have since expressed interest in having a reunion for the program,having told Inverse, “A couple of years ago, I ran into one of my former cast members. We were laughing about old times, and he mentioned, ‘Wouldn’t a reunion be great?’ Wouldn’t that be cool? So yeah, it’s been mentioned.”
11Sterling (Cars 3)
Fillion joined the star-studded cast of the 2017 animated sports comedyCars 3, appearing alongside the likes of talented performers like Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, and Cheech Marin as the newly-appointed Rust-eze team owner and wealthy business car Sterling. In the third installment of the popular franchise, legendary professional racer Lightning McQueen makes it his mission to remind the naysayers and newcomers just what he’s capable of and why he’s the best in the business.
Cars 3grossed over $380 million at the box office and earned praise for its humor, dazzling animation, and overall emotional depth, with many critics believing it to be a triumph over its predecessor. The addition of the feel-good flick’s new characters, like Fillion’s conniving antagonist Sterling was were also singled out, withCars 3receiving numerous award nominations including a Satellite, Annie, and Saturn Award.
10Rainer Shine (Modern Family)
In 2016, Nathan Fillion joined the cast of the smash hit ABC showModern Familyin a recurring role, portraying the charismatic weatherman Rainer Shine, who quickly strikes up a bromance with Phil while pursuing a relationship with his daughter Haley at the same time. The actor was able to embrace his fun and silly side in the role, as Rainer (like Haley) is very image-obsessed and vain, and the duo together were hilarious and enjoyable for longtime viewers to watch even though their romance was short-lived.
Fillion appeared in six episodes from 2016 to 2018, and he revealed to theNew York Posthe was initially worried about joiningthe successful comedyas he deeply admired the ensemble cast. Regardless, he jumped at the guest role, saying, “It’s kind of a niche for me to play characters who are vain but don’t know that they’re vain. It’s something I’m practiced at. It’s very easy to laugh at a character who’s that stupid. He’s kind, he’s nice, he’s sort of charming, but he’s just so cheesy and so flawed.”
9Hal Jordan / Green Lantern (Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox)
Since 2011, Fillion has been providing his vocals as Hal Jordan, aka Green Lantern, in various DC Comics animated films, with 2013’sJustice League: The Flashpoint Paradoxbeing the most well-received by both fans and critics. In the direct-to-video flick, The Flash (Justin Chambers) is trapped in an alternate timeline where the Justice League does not exist, and he must race against time and join forces with Batman and Cyborg to reestablish peace and normalcy for his fellow superheroes.
Fillion reprised his voice role as Green Lantern in the exciting animated picture, appearing alongside notable stars like Michael B. Jordan, C. Thomas Howell, Kevin Conroy, and Ron Perlman and helping the DC installment earn a highly-coveted 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. It might be a brief appearance, more of a full callback, but it is still worthy of mention as it is one of many times Fillion has been part of the Green Lantern Corp. In July 2023, it was announced that Fillion would be taking onthe role of Guy Gardner, one of the Green Lanterns, in the upcoming and highly-anticipated 2025 filmSuperman: Legacy.
8John Nolan (The Rookie)
The 2018 ABC police proceduralThe Rookiestars Nathan Fillion as a 40-year-old newly divorced man from Pennsylvania who, after inadvertently helping police officers during a bank robbery, moves to Los Angeles and pursues a career in the LAPD. The series is based on the real-life police officer William Norcross, who moved to L.A. and joined the department in his mid-forties; LAPD is just one of two agencies who accepts new officers over the age of 37. Fillion’s character John Nolan must navigate the wild and dangerous nature of the job while dealing with being the oldest rookie on the force.
To prepare for the show, the actor slimmed down to physically prepare for the commanding job of being an on-screen officer in thispolice procedural cop show. Fillion’s character John is endearing and relatable, demonstrating to audiences that you’re never too old to follow your dreams and goals and that while big life changes can be intimidating, they can also be incredibly rewarding. In March 2022,The Rookiewas renewed for a fifth season and an FBI spin-off series was ordered.
7Jacques Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
For the 2017 Netflix dark dramedy adaptation ofLemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events,Nathan Fillion appeared in the show as the dashing adventurer brother of the mysterious author, charmingly portraying the VFD member who enlists Olivia Caliban to help the Baudelaire children. The star joined Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, and Alfre Woodward for the exciting series,revealing to TV Fanatic,“It’s such a beautiful program. My God, it’s so good. Spooky painting, you know what I mean? Just a really gross place you wouldn’t want to live and it’s so gorgeous. You’re just like, ‘It’s captivating.’ It’s written so eloquently.”
Fillion appeared in ten episodes of the second season ofA Series of Unfortunate Events,dazzling audiences as the optimistic character who faces off against the greedy and conniving Count Olaf, leaving a lasting impression on fans of the show.
6Dogberry (Much Ado About Nothing)
Nathan Fillion teamed up with frequent collaborator and popular filmmaker Joss Whedon, who wasgoing from superheroes to Shakespearefor the 2013 romantic comedyMuch Ado About Nothing. Based on the classic Shakespeare play of the same name, the film finds Fillion joining fellow Whedon favorites Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, and Frank Kranz for the big-screen adaptation. Fillion portrays Dogberry, the constable in charge of Messina’s night watch, showing off his trademark charisma and playfulness for the literary character.
Related:The Best Modern-Day Shakespeare Adaptations
The black and white film was shot over the course ofjust 12 daysin Whedon’s Santa Monica home, having been described by many as a spontaneous project; his idea to adapt the play for the screen originated from having “Shakespeare readings” at his house with several of his friends, years prior. Fillion himself has expressed how much he enjoys working with the director,once telling IGN,“When I can come and participate in something with Joss, first of all, I know I’m going to have a good time, and I know it’s going to do very well… I make new friends, and the quality of my life improves because I get to do great projects and meet great people.”
5Bill Pardy (Slither)
James Gunn’s 2006 sci-fi dark comedy horror flickSlithertakes place in the sleepy town of Wheelsy, South Carolina, where a meteorite brings a malevolent alien plague that turns its residents into terrifying mutant monsters. Nathan Fillion stars alongside Elizabeth Banks and Michael Rooker in the picture, portraying Wheelsy Police Chief Bill Pardy, who must battle against the sentient extraterrestrial parasite to protect the town from its vicious attack.
The charming actor was the perfect choice to headline Gunn’s homage to B-movie horror films, with his performance garnering a Fangoria Chainsaw Awards nomination in the category “Dude You Don’t Wanna Mess With.” Despite failing at the box office,Slitherwas well-received by critics, with many calling it an over-the-top and bizarrely brilliant spectacle;Empire magazine wrote,“Undeniably funny and gooey to boot,Slithermay not be groundbreaking, but it is a rarity; a horror-comedy that does both its genre-parents proud.” It’s now considered one ofJames Gunn’s best movies.
4Dr. Jim Pomatter (Waitress)
Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion headlined the 2007 romantic dramedyWaitress,which follows the unhappily married and pregnant Jenna Hunterson, a waitress at a small-town southern diner who creates delicious desserts and pies in an effort to save up enough money to skip town and leave her bleak life behind. Jenna’s life changes profoundly when she meets her new obstetrician, the kind and comforting Dr. Jim Pomatter (Nathan Fillion), whom she begins a passionate and secret affair with.Waitresspremiered at the Sundance Film Festival, though its debut was bittersweet because of the tragic murder of writer and director Adrienne Shelly just three months shy of its release.
The picture was warmly received by critics, who praised the cast’s tender and heartfelt portrayals, unique script, and Shelly’s cinematic vision;Fillion had opened upat the Sundance Film Festival, saying, “You know what, this is a beautiful movie, it’s a really sweet movie…I’m amazed, proud, very, very excited about how well it’s done.”Waitresswent on to be adapted into a successful stage musical, making its initial run in 2015.
3Caleb (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Shaking up his penchant for portraying lively and charismatic characters, Nathan Fillion decided to switch lanes by appearing as the misogynistic and sadistic sociopath Caleb for the final season of the beloved television seriesBuffy the Vampire Slayer.Whedon told IGNthat he introduced the character because of the non-corporeal nature of the First Evil (the main antagonist of the last season), which “meant that we didn’t really have anything to push against. We needed…a sidekick. Somebody physical that we can see from episode to episode.”
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He haddescribed Fillion’s roleas “the creepiest priest” and “the most bald-faced misogynist;” Caleb appeared for five episodes of the show, terrorizing and torturing the Scooby Gang and showcasing the actor’s incredible range and ability to dominate any role he’s in. The character is frightening in large part because of Fillion’s delivery, utilizing a deceitfully sweet and menacing approach and southern drawl that masks his true nature; the actor definitelyslayedat his portrayal of a “Big Bad.”
