Key Takeaways
- Connection: The crossover between Supernatural and <em>The Boys</em> continues to grow, with many actors from the former appearing in the latter.
- Iconic Cast: The Boys features a cast that includes notable Supernatural alumni, enhancing its appeal to fans of both series.
- Character Contrast: Characters played by Supernatural actors in The Boys often showcase different moral complexities compared to their original roles.
- Future Appearances: Several actors are expected to reprise their roles in upcoming seasons, keeping the connection alive.
The trend of Supernatural actors in The Boys continued until the very last season, with the connection between the two shows being further cemented. Before overseeing the wild superhero satire The Boys, Eric Kripke created Supernatural, which starred Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as Sam and Dean Winchester, a pair of monster-hunting brothers. After the show ended in 2020, Kripke moved on to adapting Grant Morrison’s popular The Boys comic book series. However, he kept his Supernatural connections strong with a number of notable actors from the show joining The Boys.
The main cast of The Boys has become iconic for bringing these comic book characters to life, from Karl Urban as Billy Butcher to Anthony Starr as Homelander to Erin Moriarty as Starlight. Kripke has managed to thrill fans of Supernatural by filling many of these roles with actors they will recognize, bringing the two ensembles together. While some are smaller cameo roles, others have been significant parts of The Boys even after winning fans over on Supernatural. Each character feels perfectly distinct from the other show, though, showing off the actors’ range.
|
Actor |
The Boys Character |
Supernatural Character |
|---|---|---|
|
Jensen Ackles |
Soldier Boy |
Dean Winchester |
|
Nathan Mitchell |
Black Noir |
Kelvin |
|
Lesley Nicol |
Connie Butcher |
Katja |
|
Adrian Holmes |
Dr. Park |
Holmes/Unnamed Demon |
|
Christian Keyes |
Nathan Franklin |
Michael |
|
Isaiah Adams |
Dan Miller |
Forensic Technician |
|
Kai Bradbury |
Younger Kenji Miyashiro |
Clerk |
|
Alvina August |
Monique Milk |
Tasha |
|
Jim Beaver |
Robert A. Singer |
Bobby Singer |
|
Jeffrey Dean Morgan |
Joe Kessler |
John Winchester |
|
Rob Benedict |
Splinter |
Chuck Shurley/God/Carver Edlund |
|
Misha Collins |
Malchemical |
Castiel |
|
Gattlin Griffith |
Young Gunpowder |
Jesse Turner |
|
Jared Padalecki |
Mister Marathon |
Sam Winchester |
|
Alexander Calvert
|
Rufus McCurdy
|
Jack Kline
|
Jensen Ackles
Supernatural Character: Dean Winchester / The Boys Character: Soldier Boy
Jensen Ackles is the most notable Supernatural actor to also appear in The Boys . He played Dean Winchester on Supernatural , serving as one of the two leading heroes for the entirety of the show’s run. Going to Hell and back, as well as realms beyond, Dean was a heroic, funny, and charming protagonist with Ackles earning a strong following of fans. After Supernatural ended, Ackles served as narrator for the Supernatural prequel series The Winchesters .
While his role in The Boys might not have been as big as Dean on Supernatural , Ackles became the highlight of season 3 with his performance as Soldier Boy. Seen as the quintessential patriotic “super”, Soldier Boy was seemingly killed in Vietnam, only to be found by Butcher and the others and recruited to take down Vought. However, Soldier Boy is worse than Homelander in some ways, with no moral code, racist attitudes, and a cold-blooded nature that makes him a memorable villain. This puts his The Boys character in direct contrast with his Supernatural one. Dean is a morally ambiguous anti-hero. He may have cold-blooded tendencies, but they are all in the name of loyalty and doing what’s right. Ackles returned to cameo as Soldier Boy in the spinoff series Gen V .
Nathan Mitchell
Supernatural Character: Kelvin / The Boys Character: Black Noir
Though his face might not be seen, Nathan Mitchell plays a prominent role in The Boys as Black Noir. Across the episodes, the mysterious, silent warrior became a firm fan favorite. Despite fighting aggressively on the side of Vought International, viewers were won over by the character’s hidden depths. This led to some incredible development in season 3 before ending with his tragic death, but Black Noir will return in The Boys season 4 with some big surprises.
Before joining the superhero world, Mitchell had a two-episode recurring role on Supernatural where he played Kelvin, a friendlier and more open-minded angel who briefly aligned with Castiel (Misha Collins). Mitchell first appeared in season 12, episode 15, “Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell.” He later returned for season 12, episode 19, “The Future.” He is the only Supernatural actor to become part of the main cast of The Boys from the very start, though Soldier Boy eventually became just as important to the story in later seasons.
Lesley Nicol
Supernatural Character: Katja / The Boys Character: Connie Butcher
Lesley Nicol is a very accomplished actor, perhaps best known for playing Mrs. Patmore on Downton Abbey over six seasons. However, she has also guest-starred on many other shows, including The Boys and Supernatural . Nicol appeared on The Boys season 2, episode 7 , “Butcher , Baker , Candlestick Maker.” She played Connie Butcher , Billy’s long-suffering mother . Visiting from England , she tried to facilitate a reconciliation between Billy and his abusive father , Sam (John Noble). Though Billy refused to bury that hatchet , he parted on good terms with his mother.
Years prior , Nichol starred in Supernatural season10 , episode12 , “About A Boy.” She portrayed Katja ,the cannibalistic witch from the Hansel and Gretel fable and responsible for briefly reverting Dean Winchester to his teenage self . The move was an amusingly fitting one since Lesley effectively went from playing a butcher in nature to a Butcher in name.
Adrian Holmes
Supernatural Character: James Turner / The Boys Character: Dr. Park
Adrian Holmes is another actor who has a strong career outside these two shows on which he has guest-starred . More recently , fans might know him as Admiral Robert April on Star Trek : Strange New Worlds . Holmes has actually had two separate Supernatural roles.
The actor first debuted in Supernatural season3 , episode15 , “Time Is On My Side,” playing an unnamed demon Dean Winchester caught and tortured for information . Holmes later returned for two episodes of Supernatural season13 , playing James Turner ,the estranged son of psychic and longtime Winchester ally Missouri Moseley (Loretta Devine).
Holmes has only appeared once on The Boys ,in a smaller role in season2 , episode2 , “Proper Preparation and Planning.” He played Dr.Park,the scientist who oversaw the Vought compound that housed Becca Butcher (Shantel VanSanten) and her son,Ryan (Cameron Crovetti). Following Becca and Ryan’s escape , he has never returned to the show.
Christian Keyes
Supernatural Character : Michael/The Boys Character:Nathan Franklin
the Winchesters for multiple episodes of
Supernatural .
Playing
the villainous archangel Michael,
the actor debuted
in Supernatural season13,
episode2,
“The Rising Son.”
Hailing from a parallel,
apocalyptic world,
he harbored a desire
to conquer
the prime universe.
In pursuit of that end,
he recurred across four more episodes before switching bodies to possess Dean Winchester.
This makes him one of a few Supernatural villains to appear
in The Boys.
Jumping over to Amazon Prime show,
Keyes played A-Train’s (Jessie T.
Usher) older brother and coach,
Nathan Franklin,
in The Boys seasons1and3.
A-Train’s redemption arc is largely due to Nathan,
who encouraged his brother
to speak out
and fight for Black community.
This is further cemented when Nathan is paralyzed after being assaulted by racist supe Blue Hawk.
With A-Train’s story continuing inThe Boys season4,
it is likely Nathan will return.
Isaiah Adam
Supernatural Character:
Forensics Tech/The Boys Character:Lance Corporal Dan Miller
the actors who appear
in both SupernaturalandThe Boys might not be overly recognizableto fans of either show,
such as Kai BradburyandGattlin Griffith.
They can appearin smaller roles,
withthe connectionbetween the two series potentially being coincidental.
Isaiah Adam briefly appearedinSupernaturalseason7,
episode2,”Hello,CruelWorld.”
There,
he played aforensic technicianwhomDeanWinchesterencounteredwhile investigatinga stringof murders.
For thesatirical superhero drama,
Adam featuredinTheBoyseason2,
episode1,”TheBigRide.”
He seemingly playedLanceCorporalDanMiller,a soldier appearingalongsideHomelanderandQueenMaeveinaVoughtpromotionalvideo.
However,it was quickly revealedbyStormfront(AyaCash)that”D an”
was simplyanactorplayingarole,
onceagainshowingthefacadecreatedtomakethesesupes seemmoreheroicthan theyreallyare.
Kai Bradbury
Supernatural Character:
Clerk/The Boys Character:
Young Kenji Miyashiro
episode6,”TheInnocents.”
AfterthetitulargroupvisitedMesmer(HaleyJoelOsment),
viewers were treatedtoaseriesofflashbacks.
Onetookplace sometimeafterherenforcedinductionintotheShiningLightLiberationArmy.Bradburyplayedayoungerversionofherbrother,K enji,to whom she gave her foodand soughttoprotect.
Bradbury starredinSupernaturalseason13,
episode15,”AMostHolyMan.”
Heplayedaclerkata couriercompanyvisitedbyoneofthatparticularep isode’smanyvillains.
While neither roleisverybig,B radbury’sroleinTheBoysismoreimportantbecauseitconnectstoKimiko’stragicbackstory.
Though it wouldbe easyto forgetabout or overlookboth.
Alvina August
Supernatural Character:Tasha/The Boys Character:
Monique Milk
having guest-starred on ArrowandNancyDrew.
In2017,theactressalsoappearedinSupernaturalseason12’s”T w igs&Twine&TashaBanes”Asth e titularTasha,a powerfulandgood-naturedwitch.Thecharacter died,w as resurrected,and diedagainoverthespanoftheepisode,p reventingherfrommakinganysubsequentappearances.
Instead,shedebutedasMoniqueinTheBoyseason1,e pisode7,”TheSelf-PreservationSociety.”As th e wifeofMother’sMilk(LazAlonso),Moniquewasforcedtogointofederalprotectionandlater divorcedM.M., marryingToddinstead.Thecharacterreturned inseason3withherstorylinegettingmoreinterestingthankstoToddbecomingaferventsupporterofHomelander.Howe ver,forknownreasons,theoriginalactordidn’treprisetherolewithFrancesTurnertakingoverthepartthoughit’sbelievedthatAugusthad schedulingconflicts.
Jim Beaver
Supernatural Character:Bobby Singer/The Boys Character:
Robert A.Singer
Jim Beaver is oneof themostnotableSupernaturala ctorsinTheB oys.Beaverinitiallymadeasurprisecameoon t heAmazonPrime series.AsSecretaryofDefenseRobertA.Singer(the namebeingaSupernaturalreferenceinitself),theveteranactorshare dascenewithMadelynStillwell(ElisabethShue)inTheBoyseason1,e pisode8,”YouFoundMe.”BeaverlaterreprisedtheroleforTheBoyseasons23.Season3revealedthatSinger,gob ythefolksy nickname”DakotaBob,”wasrunningforPresidentwithsecretsupeVictoriaNeumanas hisrunningmate,suggestinghehasaroletoplayinseason4.
Beforethat,enjoyedalong-serving,fanfavorite roleonKripke’spreviousshow.As th elovablycrotchetyBobbySinger,theactordebutedinSupernaturalseason1,e pisode22,”Devil’sTrap.”AWinchesterfamilyfriendandfellowhunter,h e recurredthroughouttheoverall15-seasonrun,bouncingbackfromseveraldeathsandevengu est-starringinSupernaturalsseriesfinale.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Supernatural Character:JohnWinchester/TheB oysCharacter:JoeKessler
Also very well-knownforplayingNeganonTheWalkingDeadJeffreyDeanMorganplayedtheWinchesterbrothers’estrangedhunterfatherJohnWinchester inmanyepisodesofSupernaturalovertheyears.Althoughnotexactlyan antagonistJohnisn’talwaysthegoodguyeitheras he spendsmostoftheshow pushingSamandDeanto their emotional limit.Howeverhewasa fan-favoriteaspectofthe showwhichdoesn’tmakesurprisingthathewasalsoinvitedtojoinTheB oys.Season4willseethedebutofMorgan’scharacter.JoeKessler.Althoughnotmuchisknownaboutthecharacter,thetrailersforTheB oysseason4have shownthatheisanallyofButcherwiththetwo sharingapast.Kessleralsosees thesupesasveryrealthreatsthesameasButcherd oes.Morganhasbeenconfirmedtoappear inmultipleepisodesinthe newseasonofthe show.
