Battlestar Galacticahas earned critical acclaim throughout the years as the series boasts some memorable performances by actors who’ve starred in a variety of other remarkable projects. It’s not an easy task to impress the cult following of a short-lived series like the originalBattlestar Galactica, but the re-imaginedsci-fi series from the 2000smanaged to pull it off.The Syfy original seriesran for four seasons and isfilled with compelling character relationships and interstellar conflict. Actors like Edward James Olmos, Katee Sackhoff, and Jamie Bamber lead the series and are beloved by audiences for their sci-fi roles.
The series' main cast is made up of re-imaginedversions of characters in the originalBattlestar Galactica, but the show introduces some new characters as well. Olmos and Mary McDonnell are among the actors inBattlestar Galacticawhose biggest role outside the show came before its premiere. Other actors like Grace Park and Aaron Douglas led notable projects following the series finale in 2009.Battlestar Galacticacontinues to be watched and celebrated as an exceptional sci-fi show, with the cast’s other well-known projects being the perfect addition to the watchlist of audiences looking for more of their favorite actors.
The Bridge
Cast
The Bridge is a Canadian police drama series aired in 2010, starring Aaron Douglas. Set in Toronto, the series explores the societal divide between the affluent Rosedale neighborhood and the impoverished St. James Town, drawing its name from the bridge linking these contrasting areas.
The character Galen Tyrol is a new addition to the world ofBattlestar Galacticaand is played by Canadian actor Aaron Douglas. Galen plays a significant role in the show and is one ofBattlestar Galactica’s best Cylon characters.After the series finale, Douglas went on to star in other sci-fi TV shows, includingEureka,Falling Skies, andResident Alien. However, while the shows are among the more well-known titles in Douglas' filmography, his part in them was small.
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Instead, Douglas' biggest role outsideBattlestar Galacticacame a year after the show’s ending.The Bridgeis a police drama that aired on CTV, a Canadian TV network, and on CBS in the United States. In the show,Douglas plays the head of a police union, Frank Leo, who finds himself taking down criminals as he’s dealing with corruption among his superiors. The series was unfortunately quickly canceled in the United States due to low ratings and ended after one season in Canada as well.
Dollhouse
Dollhouse, created by Joss Whedon, stars Eliza Dushku as Echo, an “Active” who can be imprinted with any personality or skill set by a secret organization. As she begins to regain her memory, Echo uncovers hidden truths about the Dollhouse and herself, challenging the morality of the people behind it. The series explores themes of identity, freedom, and the ethical implications of advanced technology.
InBattlestar Galactica, Tahmoh Penikett played Captain Karl “Helo” Agathon. The character, who was originally meant to die off-screen early on in the series, became an unexpected fan favorite. Since Penikett had impressed the series' showrunners, his character arc was rewritten, and he became a crucial member of the team. AfterBattlestar Galacticaended, Penikett went on to have guest roles in popular series likeArrowandSupernatural. However,the biggest show with Penikett in a main role is the under-appreciated seriesDollhouse.
These people are created with a set of skills that benefit wealthy clients wanting to hire them for various reasons, including assassinations and heist missions.
Dollhousehas a unique concept and revolves around a business that creates individuals known as Dolls. These people are created with a set of skills that benefit wealthy clients wanting to hire them for various reasons, including assassinations and heist missions. InDollhouse, Penikett plays an FBI agent who gets swooped up in the Dollhouse operation after investigating a case.
Teen Wolf
This supernatural drama follows a high school student in Beacon Hills who becomes a werewolf after being bitten. Alongside his best friend, he navigates newfound powers and dangers, confronting various threats while entangled in the complexities of adolescence and the supernatural world. Created by Jeff Davis.
While Saul Tigh isn’t theBattlestar Galacticacharacter that’s easiest to root for, his arc is among the series' most compelling. Tigh’s ability to keep audiences invested in his story is largely due to Michael Hogan’s solid performance.Though Hogan’s acting career began in the late ’70s, the role of Saul Tigh is one audiences know him best for,as the actor played the character in the main series, the TV films, and various web series.
One of Hogan’s biggest projects afterBattlestar Galacticawas MTV’ssupernatural teen dramaTeen Wolf. In the show, Hogan plays Gerard Argent for 22 episodes throughout a handful of seasons. Gerard is amongTeen Wolf’s intimidating villainsand is a consistent enemy of the series' protagonist, Scott McCall. Gerard is determined in his fight for the termination of supernatural creatures.His knowledge of the supernatural world and his ability to manipulate others to join his fight makes him a powerful figure, with his menacing demeanor effectively captured by Hogan.
Hawaii Five-0
A modern imagining of the classic series that was released during the 1960s, Hawaii Five-0 is an action series that follows a special task force that handles various crimes in Hawaii. Acting outside their normal jurisdiction and given free rein across the state from the Governor himself, the twosome of Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams deal with terrorist plots, kidnappings, and other serious crimes.
Compared to her counterpart in the originalBattlestar Galactica, Grace Park’s humanoid Cylon character has a much more fascinating arc. Throughout the series, Park’s Number Eight model is copied twice as pilots Boomer and Athena. Aside from her role in the sci-fi series,Park is best known for playing Officer Kono Kalakaua inHawaii Five-0. The 2010 show is a reboot of the late ’60s series of the same name.
In the show, Kono is a former professional surfer who turns to a career as a police officer after a career-ending injury to her knee.
Kono’s commitment to her career and her good nature has made her a fan-favoriteand one ofthe best characters onHawaii Five-0. The TV show aired for 10 seasons and earned a great amount of praise, earning several Golden Globe nominations throughout the years.
Lucifer
Lucifer, released in 2016, follows Lucifer Morningstar, the former Lord of Hell, who retires to Los Angeles. There, he partners with LAPD detective Chloe Decker to solve crimes. As he distances himself from the underworld, a potential threat looms, risking the unleashing of humanity’s darkest forces.
Portrayed in the series as a Cylon infiltrator, Number Six is played by Tricia Helfer. Sixes are among the most common Cylon models shown inBattlestar Galactica, and they have individualistic traits. Starting her career as a model, Helfer became a full-time actress by the early 2000s.One of Helfer’s earliest TV appearances was in an episode ofCSI. However, just a year later, the actor starred in theBattlestar Galacticaminiseries that premiered before the official first season.
Helfer’s biggest role post-Battlestar Galacticais in the supernatural seriesLucifer. The show follows the titular character adjusting to his life in Los Angeles after leaving Hell.Helfer plays the mother of Luciferand the exiled wife of God. When on Earth, the character’s soul inhabits the body of a murdered lawyer known as Charlotte Richards. Helfer remains part of the main cast for two seasons and returns in seasons 5 and 6 in a guest role.
Castlevania
Based on the video game franchise, Castlevania is a Netflix original animated action series that follows the never-ending battle of the monster-slaying Belmont clan as they continue to face off against the hordes of the night. When Count Dracula’s human wife is murdered, his grief leads him to doom the world to eternal darkness. To stop him, it’ll take a team of three unlikely heroes banding together: the last remaining Belmont, Trevor, a magic-wielding seeker named Sypha Belnades, and the tortured half-human, half-vampire son of the count himself, Alucard.
Though Gaius Baltar isn’t as straightforward of a villain as others inBattlestar Galactica, he does commit villainous acts that make him a complex and extremely compelling character.Gaius, played by James Callis, is known for his charismatic personality and amoral behavior, though he does redeem himself towards the end of the series. Callis played a supporting role inBridget Jones’s Diaryin the early 2000s, playing the role of Tom throughout the sequels, including the upcomingBridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
Still, Callis' biggest role aside from Gaius Baltar is Alucard inCastlevania, an animated Netflix series based on a Japanese video game of the same name.Castlevaniais regarded as one ofthe best TV show adaptations of a video game, earning praise for its animation, characterization, and writing.Alucard’s backstory is sadand lonely, as he joins the series' protagonists in their fight against Dracula, Alucard’s father.
Law & Order: UK
Law & Order: UK is a British adaptation of the American series that premiered in 2009. The show focuses on a team of police detectives and prosecutors working within the UK’s criminal justice system to serve the public interest.
The son of William Adama, Lee Adama, is played by Jamie Bamber. The two have a complicated relationship that’s only further strained when Lee defends Gaius Baltar.Still, Lee is characterized as a good leader, and his relationship with his father is eventually mended. Bamber’s TV career is far more extensive than his film career, with his most significant project beingLaw & Order: UK.
Matt is a police sergeant and partner to Bradley Walsh’s Ronnie Brooks.
The TV show is the British adaptation ofLaw & Order,and the format of each episode is nearly identical to that of the American series.Bamber plays Matt Devlin for five of the series' eight seasons. Matt is a police sergeant and partner to Bradley Walsh’s Ronnie Brooks. Known for being personable and smart, Matt was well-loved by audiences and characters within the show, making his unexpected departure one of the series' saddest moments.
The Mandalorian
Released on June 23, 2025 The Mandalorian follows a lone gunfighter navigating the galaxy’s outer reaches after the Galactic Empire’s fall. As a skilled bounty hunter, he operates in a lawless universe, undertaking various missions on the fringes of the New Republic’s territories.
Katee Sackhoff’s Kara Thrace, whose callsign is “Starbuck,” is a complex character.Starbuck is tough, with her rugged personality and tendency to challenge others being intimidating to many. As one of the series' leading heroines, Kara has strong morals and a loyal personality, making her someone audiences and critics have praised over the years.AfterBattlestar Galacticaended, Sackhoff stayed working in the sci-fi genre.
Most notably, Sackhoff appears inThe Mandalorianon Disney+. Sackhoff playsMandalorian warrior Bo-Katan Kryze,a character voiced by the actor in the animated seriesStar Wars: The Clone WarsandStar Wars Rebels. Bo-Katan is focused, quick, and skilled with her weapons, making her a compelling character for audiences to engage with. The character is a crucial part of the series, especially in season 3, and Sackhoff handles the weight of the character with ease.
Dances With Wolves
Dances With Wolves, directed by Kevin Costner, follows Civil War soldier John Dunbar, who is sent to a remote post on the Western frontier. There, he forms an unexpected bond with a Sioux tribe, challenging his own beliefs and understanding of culture and identity.
President Laura Roslin often makes tough decisions inBattlestar Galactica. Though her decisions do not always please audiences or characters within the show, it can almost always be guaranteed thatRoslin feels she’s doing what’s best for the greater good. Played by Mary McDonnell, Roslin is headstrong and positively complex. BeforeBattlestar Galactica, McDonnell was best known for her role inDances With Wolves.
The ’90s Western stars Kevin Costner, who also directed and produced the film.Dances With Wolvesis consideredone of Costner’s best Western movies, and in the film, McDonnell plays Stands With A Fist, a girl who was adopted by the film’s Sioux characters. Compared tothe bookDances With Wolvesis based on, Stands With A Fist is aged up in the film. However, this change didn’t impact the critical and audience response to the film. For her work,McDonnell was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 63rd Academy Awards.
Stand and Deliver
Stand and Deliver is a 1988 film featuring Edward James Olmos as Jaime Escalante, a dedicated mathematics teacher in an underprivileged Hispanic neighborhood. Faced with unmotivated students, Escalante uses unorthodox teaching methods to inspire them to overcome challenges and excel academically in algebra and calculus.
William “Bill” Adama, portrayed by Edward James Olmos, is a strong and dedicated leaderdetermined to keep humanity safe in their fight against Cylons. Adama’s relationship with those around him is complicated, especially with his son, but he’s often a considerate character and goes through an appreciated amount of growth throughout the show. BeforeBattlestar Galactica, Olmos was already well-known and celebrated for his role inMiami Vice.
However, a few years after the series' premiere, Olmos starred inStand and Deliver, playing his most memorable movie role, Jaime Escalante. The movie is based on a true story and Jaime, both in real life and in the film, is a math teacher.The story of Jaime and his students is inspiring, and Olmos excels in capturing his charismatic and driven attitude. The film had great success at the Independent Spirit Awards, winning Best Feature, Director, Male Lead, and more. At the Oscars, Olmos was nominated for Best Actor.
