Early in his career, Tony Shalhoub kept getting offered roles that painted Middle Eastern characters as dangerous. He made a point of turning those stereotypical villain parts down, refusing to let his heritage define his opportunities. Instead, he focused on showcasing his range in roles like Monk, proving that actors of his background can lead major shows without falling back on tired tropes. | © Peacock
Henry Cavill's role choices are guided by a deep loyalty to his characters' roots. He famously left The Witcher over clashes with writers who strayed from the source material. Cavill is naturally drawn to heroic figures, and his commitment to authentic storytelling often conflicts with broader studio visions. | © Netflix
Denzel Washington rarely chooses a villain unless the character has compelling depth, as he did with Alonzo Harris in Training Day. More often, he turns down parts that feel one-dimensional or don't align with his personal ethics, like the passive scientist in Terminator 2. Washington sees himself as a good guy, and he gravitates toward roles with a strong moral core or significant complexity that his audience can connect with. | © Paramount Pictures
Hugh Jackman tends to choose heroes or anti-heroes where he can explore growth over time. He's less interested in playing a straightforward villain, preferring roles that challenge him to find new emotional and physical layers, as he did across decades as Wolverine. For Jackman, avoiding stagnation means continually evolving a complex character rather than embodying pure antagonism. | © Walt Disney Pictures
Tom Hanks actively avoids villain roles because he finds most movie antagonists too one-dimensional. He's said he doesn't think he could convincingly fake that kind of pure malevolence. Instead, he's drawn to the relatable inner struggle of a character who chooses to be good, finding more complexity in heroes than in straightforward villains. | © Paramount Pictures
Will Smith has built his entire brand on being the charismatic hero, and he's careful not to disrupt that image. He's turned down darker, complex parts because they often clash with his preference for stories with a positive message or a clear path to winning. For instance, he passed on Django Unchained because he wanted it to be less about violent vengeance and more of a classic love story. | © Columbia Pictures
Matt Damon usually comes down to scheduling or creative fit. He famously passed on playing Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight because he was already committed to another film. Damon tends to prioritize leading roles in projects that align with his vision, sometimes choosing a major part over a significant villainous one. | © DreamWorks
After Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Alexander Siddig kept getting offered the same tired terrorist parts. He started refusing them all, not wanting to add to the harmful stereotypes about his heritage in Western media. Siddig often points out how unimaginative the roles for actors of color can be, which is why he looks for complex characters that aren't defined by a single background. | © Paramount Pictures
Leonardo DiCaprio is incredibly selective, prioritizing prestigious director collaborations over typical villain parts. He'll take on dark, morally compromised roles, but only if they offer deep psychological exploration rather than simplistic evil. That's why he passed on projects like American Psycho and major franchises, choosing instead the challenging, character-driven work he's known for. | © 20th Century Studios
For years, Danny Trejo was stuck playing tough guys and convicts, often typecast because of his look and past. He had a turning point when he realized how his roles might influence younger audiences. That's why he set a rule: if he plays a villain, that character has to die or face clear consequences, never glamorizing a criminal life or Latino stereotypes. | © Lionsgate Films
Dev Patel has always been careful to steer clear of limiting tropes like the tech geek or exploitative stories. That's led him to turn down high-profile roles he felt were poor representations of his culture. He's even moved into producing and directing to better control the kinds of narratives he helps tell, putting artistic growth and cultural respect first. | © The Weinstein Company
Jackie Chan became incredibly selective about his roles when he hit the international stage. Famously, he turned down the villain part in Lethal Weapon 4 because it was just a stereotypical Chinese criminal. He consciously chose to be the heroic, relatable underdog instead, building his entire Hollywood career on action-comedy and characters with strong moral codes. | © Netflix
Sung Kang is best known as the effortlessly cool Han in the Fast and Furious series. He's talked a lot about wanting to be more than just a background figure or a predictable bad guy. That's why he seeks out roles that treat his ethnicity as just one facet of a fully-realized person. | © 20th Century Studios
Erick Avari's long career is built on incredible versatility across every genre. He actively steers clear of roles defined by ethnic stereotypes or one-note villainy. For him, every character’s distinct personality and history come first, proving that an actor's skill should always outweigh their background. | © 20th Century Studios
Rami Malek won't take roles that fall into harmful stereotypes based on religion or ethnicity. When offered the villain part in No Time to Die, he sat down with the director to talk it through. He only signed on once he was convinced the character was driven by his own personal agenda, and not reduced to a cultural or ideological symbol. | © USA Network
Hollywood often expects actors to fit neatly into a box, especially when it comes to playing the antagonist. But many stars have made a conscious choice to say no. Here are 15 actors who turned down villain roles to avoid typecasting, protect their image, or simply wait for a part with more depth.
