While most associate theHulkwith actors like Lou Ferrigno, Edward Norton, or Mark Ruffalo, the character has actually been portrayed by a surprising number of other performers – often in unexpected or comedic settings. The Hulk is one ofMarvel’s most recognizable characters in pop culture: a green-skinned, rage-fueled powerhouse who has appeared in comics, cartoons, TV shows, blockbuster movies, andthe MCU timeline. However, he has also appeared in some other surprising projects, played by some unexpected famous faces.
Over the years, the Hulk has become more than just a Marvel staple – he’s a go-to pop culture symbol of uncontrollable rage and superhuman strength. That iconic status has made him a favorite for parody and impersonation. While the character’s official portrayals have evolved from the bodybuilder look of Lou Ferrigno to the CGI-enhanced, emotionally complex version seen in the MCU, comedy has always found a way to use the Hulk to make a point, or punchline. Over the decades, a few major stars have donned green makeup to play this larger-than-life icon for laughs.
8Idris Elba
Saturday Night Live Season 44, Episode 15
Idris Elba – known for his suave, commanding presence in roles like Heimdall in theThorfilms and Luther in the hit BBC crime series – once played the Hulk onSaturday Night Live. During a 2019 episode he hosted, Elba took part in a sketch titled “The Impossible Hulk,” aparody of both Marvel tropes and modern social etiquette. Rather than transforming into a monstrous green brute over physical danger, Elba transformed into an entitled middle-aged white woman.
Hulk morphed whenever faced with social awkwardness – like rude and helpful shop workers or a noisy neighbor. The sketch hilariously subverted expectations and gave Elba a rare chance to embrace physical comedy. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect wasthe comic book-style backstory, which depicted Elba’s unsuccessful attempts to experiment with gamma.
7Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Saturday Night Live Season 40, Episode 16
Before becoming a blockbuster superhero himself inBlack Adam, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson took a hilarious swing at playing the Hulk onSaturday Night Live. During a 2000 episode, Johnson starred in a sketch titled “The Rock Obama,” in which Fred Armisen played Barack Obama, who, when under stress,transformed into the Hulk Obama, played by Johnson. Johnson’s Hulk was fittingly furious, and even displayed some of his wrestling moves on senators.
The scene featured a thrilling parody ofThe Incredible Hulkseries, with Johnson’s bulging muscles tearing through his shirt and pants. The sketch exploited Johnson’s muscular frame and was botha nod to his wrestling persona and a superhero spoof. The sketch became a hit, eventually being reprized in future episodes. It showed that even before his full transition to Hollywood stardom, Johnson had the charisma, and physique, to be the Hulk.
6John Belushi
Saturday Night Live Season 4, Episode 15
Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, John Belushi brought a wild, hilarious version of the Hulk to life inSaturday Night Live’s early seasons. His portrayal debuted in a 1979 sketch titled “Superhero Party,” depicting Hulk attending a dinner party at Superman and Lois Lane’s house. The episode was hosted by Margot Kidder, reprising her role as Lois Lane from theSupermanmovies. Belushi played a version of the Hulk, complete with green facepaint, but witha surprisingly jovial and relaxed personality.
In typical Belushi fashion, the sketch leaned into absurdity and comedic contrast, with joining with Superman about their strength and stinking up the bathroom. This early spoof predated modern superhero satire and highlighted how iconic the Hulk had already become, even in the late ‘70s. Belushi’s physical comedy and unpredictable energy made the Hulk sketch unforgettable, and it remains one of the earliest and funniest send-ups of the Marvel character.
5Zach Braff
Scrubs Season 1, Episode 17
Zach Braff, best known as the quirky and lovable J.D. onScrubs, once offered a hilarious Hulk moment thatblended medical drama with comic book absurdity. In the episode “My Student,” Braff’s character finds himself getting frustrated with his medical student, and imagines himself transforming into the Hulk. In 1970sIncredible Hulk-style, JD’s clothes rip as his face is cast in green light.
Braff transforms into bodybuilder Richard Piana, who is painted green in a manner reminiscent of Lou Ferrigno. Hulk then hilariously continues with his medical work and talks to a patient with Braff’s voice. This brief transformation poked fun at superhero tropes and waspart of the show’s signature use of exaggerated daydreams. While no one would mistake Braff for a serious Bruce Banner replacement, the gag worked as a clever tribute to the Hulk’s pop culture presence.
4Chris Farley
Saturday Night Live Season 18, Episode 8
Chris Farley brought his trademark explosive energy to the Hulk in a memorableSaturday Night Livesketch from the early 1990s. In the sketch “Superman’s Funeral,” Farley portrayed a version of the Hulk who, along with other superheroes from Marvel and DC, attended Superman’s funeral. Painted in green body paint, Farley wasdressed in tattered, Hulk-out clotheswith his large frame on full display.
Like many other Farley sketches, this one poked fun at his size by comparing him to the Hulk while also yelling and gesturing wildly. The best joke comes from Hulk’s inability to speak properly during his speech, before quicklyswitching to an erudite and sophisticated vocabularywhen he reads from his prepared speech. It’s a forgotten gem that shows how Farley’s fearless comedy could make even Marvel’s angriest Avenger hilarious.
3Charles Napier
The Incredible Hulk
Charles Napier might not have worn green makeup, but he still played a crucial version of the Hulk – or at least, a part of him. InThe Incredible HulkTV series starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, Napier provided thevoice of the Hulk’s growls and roars. Every time Ferrigno’s Hulk smashed through a wall or let out a guttural scream, that sound came from Napier.
The actor was an accomplished voice and character performer, known for his deep, intimidating tone, as seen inThe Silence of the LambsandAustin Powers. Though his role wasuncredited during the original broadcast, viewers later learned that Napier’s vocal work helped give the Hulk his primal ferocity. It’s one of the most important yet overlooked portrayals of the character – and without Napier’s booming delivery, Ferrigno’s physical presence wouldn’t have felt nearly as convincing.
2Ted Cassidy
Ted Cassidy, best known for playing Lurch inThe Addams Family, also contributed significantly toThe Incredible HulkTV series – albeit in a way most never realized. Cassidy was the original voice behind the Hulk’s iconic growls and roars during the show’s first two seasons. His deep, resonant voice gave the creaturea frightening, otherworldly soundthat added emotional weight to Lou Ferrigno’s silent performance.
Cassidy’s Hulk didn’t speak but expressed pain, anger, and even sadness through those growls,making him an unsung contributor to the character’s pathos. Sadly, Cassidy passed away during the show’s run, and Charles Napier later replaced him in the vocal role. Though Cassidy was never seen on-screen in green, his voice helped define the Hulk’s presence, making him an invisible but essential piece of Marvel TV history.
1George Foreman
Saturday Night Live Season 20, Episode 9
Boxing legend George Foreman once portrayed the Hulk onSaturday Night Live. During a 1994 episode, Foreman hosted the show and appeared in a sketch titled “The Incredible Hulk.” The sketch lampoonedThe Incredible Hulkseries, repeatedlytriggering a transformation that used the same stock footage. Foreman’s Hulk was dressed in town purple clothing but was without the usual face paint.
The crux of the sketch wasForeman’s dissatisfaction with the repetition and the writing. The sketch played off his real-life reputation for being gentle and soft-spoken outside the ring, making his transformation into the Hulk even more absurd. While his performance was tongue-in-cheek, it showed surprising comedic timing and putHulkin another surprising project.
