Sebastian Stan is an actor that has been climbing the Hollywood ladder for the last decade. Born in Romania on August 13, 1982, Stan moved to New York when he was 12 and his passion for acting was soon lit up. He studied at Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts before further honing his craft at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.
In 2024, he is set to forefront the dark comedy drama, A Different Man, focusing on Edward, a man who undergoes facial reconstruction and then becomes fixated on an actor in a stage production based on his former life. Before the movie lands in theaters on October 3, 2024, here’s a selection of roles you may have seen him in.
The MCU
Before his breakout role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Sebastian Stan’s film and television career was marked by a string of relatively small and supporting roles. He made appearances in popular shows like Gossip Girl and Kings, but it wasn’t until his introduction as Steve Rogers’ (Chris Evans) best friend, Bucky Barnes, in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, that he began to gain recognition. As the Winter Soldier, Stan brought a level of nuance to the role, portraying a complex and multifaceted character who is both elusive and dangerous.
With his character’s re-emergence in subsequent MCU films, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Endgame, Stan’s performance continued to impress audiences, showcasing his range as an actor. His portrayal of the amnesiac assassin has become iconic in the MCU, and his character’s moral ambiguity has added depth to the franchise. Through his work in the MCU, Stan has solidified his status as a talented and versatile actor, earning him a dedicated fan base and cementing his place as a veteran member of the Marvel family.
Watch Avengers: Endgame on Disney+
I, Tonya (2017)
I, Tonya is a biographical sports drama film that tells the story of Tonya Harding, a figure skater who became infamous for her involvement in the attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan in 1994. The film stars Margot Robbie as Tonya, a talented but troubled athlete whose life was marked by abuse, poverty, and a tumultuous marriage to Jeff Gillooly (played by Sebastian Stan). The movie follows Tonya’s journey from her childhood to her rise to fame, including her marriage to Jeff, who is depicted as a controlling and abusive partner.
The film explores the events leading up to the infamous attack on Nancy Kerrigan, and its aftermath. Despite receiving widespread critical acclaim, Sebastian Stan’s performance as Jeff Gillooly was surprisingly overlooked during awards season, with Margot Robbie receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Tonya. Stan’s performance as the volatile and manipulative Jeff was widely praised for its nuance and complexity, but he was snubbed by the Academy. Despite this, Stan’s role added tremendous dimension to the film, providing a nuanced exploration of the toxic relationship between Tonya and Jeff that may have contributed to the events that unfolded.
Fresh (2022)
Fresh is a critically acclaimed horror film that tells the story of Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a young woman who has grown weary of the dating scene and its shallow connections. When she meets Steve, a charming and handsome man who seems to be everything she’s been looking for, she can’t help but be swept off her feet. Despite her reservations, Noa agrees to join Steve on a romantic weekend getaway, hoping to take their relationship to the next level. But as the weekend progresses, Noa begins to notice strange and unsettling behavior from Steve, and it soon becomes clear that he has been hiding some dark and sinister secrets.
As the tension builds, Sebastian Stan shines as Steve, bringing a level of charm and menace to the role that is both captivating and terrifying. His performance as the seemingly perfect man who slowly reveals his true nature is expertly refined, making it impossible to look away as Noa’s nightmare unfolds. With its slow-burning tension and masterful pacing, Fresh is a must-see for horror fans, and Stan’s standout performance is undeniably a major part of its success.
Pam & Tommy (2022)
If you couple Pam & Tommy with Fresh, 2022 was a major year for Sebastian Stan in terms of mainstream acclaim and visibility. The Hulu limited series tells the true story of the tumultuous relationship between Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee amidst the infamous sex tape scandal that shook the world in the 90s. The show masterfully balances the dark and heavy subject matter with a dash of humor, thanks in large part to the talents of Seth Rogen and Nick Offerman, with Rogen portraying Rand, the disgruntled destruction worker that stole the tape in the first place.
Lily James and Sebastian Stan shine as Pamela and Tommy, bringing their characters to life with a depth and complexity that captivates the audience. Their volatile relationship is a whirlwind of passion, drama, and chaos, and their performances bring all of these emotions to life with precision. As the scandal unfolds, Pam & Tommy takes viewers on a wild ride through the highs and lows of celebrity culture, exploring themes of fame, power, and the blurred lines between public and private life.
Dumb Money (2023)
In 2023, Sebastian Stan continued his penchant of playing real-life people caught up in major scandals when he re-teamed with I, Tonya and Pam & Tommy director Craig Gillespie for Dumb Money. This David vs. Goliath tale tells the remarkable story of how a group of everyday people turned the tables on Wall Street and became millionaires by flipping the script on the financial industry. The film chronicles the rise of GameStop, a struggling video game retailer that was written off by most investors, to become the world’s hottest company. Led by a group of amateur traders, including Keith Gill aka Roaring Kitty, who used social media platforms to share their knowledge and strategies, the unlikely band of rebels took on the giant hedge funds and institutional investors who had bet against GameStop’s success.
Amongst a star-studded cast, Sebastian Stan shines as Vlad Tenev, the co-founder of the financial company, Robinhood, who froze all purchases and trades of the gaming retailer, GameStop. However, this led to a Congressional investigation into the company. To that, although he was a supporting character in the film, Stan’s scenes were some of the most dramatic and pivotal in the picture. Want to read more about the true story behind the GameStop short squeeze? Here’s our breakdown of the real events.
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