10 Actors Who Had The Most Posthumous Roles

10. James Dean

James Dean died in a car crash at 24, just as his career was taking off. He received two posthumous Oscar nominations, a first in history, for East of Eden and Giant, while Rebel Without a Cause also hit theatres after his death. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

9. Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman died in 2020 after a private battle with colon cancer, leaving behind powerful roles in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Marvel’s What If…?. He became the first Black actor to receive a posthumous Oscar nomination. | © Marvel Studios

8. Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee died at just 32, shortly before the release of his breakout film Enter the Dragon. His unfinished project The Game of Death was released years later, completed with stand-ins and archived footage to fill the gaps. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

7. Stan Lee

Stan Lee, the beloved face of Marvel cameos, died in 2018 at 95, but still appeared in four films after his death, including Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel. His final on-screen line, “Hey man, make love, not war,” marked the end of an era for Marvel fans. | © Marvel Studios

6. Bernard McCullough

Bernie Mac passed away in 2008 from pneumonia, just months before the release of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Soul Men, and Old Dogs. Old Dogs was later dedicated to both Mac and co-star John Travolta’s son, who also died before the film came out. | © 20th Television

5. Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger’s unforgettable role as the Joker in The Dark Knight earned him a posthumous Oscar in 2009. His final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, was completed with help from Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell stepping into his role. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

4. Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy died in 2009 under strange circumstances that still raise questions today. After her death, Abandoned and Something Wicked were released, and a documentary on HBO Max later explored the mystery surrounding her passing. | © Vertical

3. John Candy

John Candy died of a heart attack in 1994, just before the release of Wagons East and Canadian Bacon. His role in Wagons East was finished with a stunt double and effects, and years later, Toronto honored him with his own commemorative day. | © 20th Century Studios

2. Paul Walker

Paul Walker died in a car crash in 2013 while filming Furious 7, which was later completed using visual effects and help from his brothers. After his death, three films were released – Hours, Brick Mansions, and Furious 7, and he won several posthumous awards for his work. | © Universal Pictures

1. Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher passed away in 2016, but her presence lived on in four posthumous releases, including The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. She also won a Grammy after her death and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. | © Lucasfilm