Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and John Romita Sr. are the developers of the Marvel Comics character Wolverine. The Incredible Hulk #180, which was written by Wein and illustrated by Herb Trimpe, featured Wolverine for the first time in the last teaser panel. After that, the character made several appearances in Marvel Comics advertising until making his first significant appearance in The Incredible Hulk #18, also by the Wein-Trimpe team. Wolverine joins a new team in 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men #1, which was written by Wein and illustrated by Dave Cockrum.

James Howlett was born in 1832 in Canada. At the age of 13, after he stabs his family’s groundskeeper for killing his father, James discovers that the groundskeeper is actually his biological father. After seeing his mother’s disgust at James’ killing him, he flees. Howlett spends the following century fighting in battles, including the Second World War, when, while imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp in 1945, he prevents the bombing of Nagasaki from taking the life of Japanese commander Ichiro Yashida. In 1962, Charles Xavier (most notably played by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy in live action) and Erik Lehnsherr (Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender) visit Howlett about hiring mutants. Howlett, however, declines their offer. As Logan, he later joins the X-Men when the mutant issues become too pronounced to ignore, utilizing the codename Wolverine.

In addition to the live-action X-Men film series by 20th Century Fox, Wolverine has appeared in a number of animated television programs and motion pictures. Hugh Jackman is a phenomenally brilliant actor most known for playing Wolverine, a role he will revisit in Deadpool 3. But in addition to Jackman, a lot of other actors have voiced or played the part. Here is a ranking of every actor who has played this illustrious character in live action and animation.

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15 Joaquín Cosio

     Marvel Entertainment

Joaquín Cosio is a Mexican actor best known for the 2008 film Quantum of Solace, the 2010 movie Hell, and the 2012 film Savages. He voices Wolverine in the Spanish adaption of the Marvel podcast series Wolverine: La Larga Noche.

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14 Richard Armitage

Richard Armitage is best known for his work in the Hobbit film trilogy. He has also had roles in the television series: Robin Hood and MI-5. Armitage voices Wolverine in the English version of the Marvel podcast series Wolverine: The Long Night.

13 Alessandro Juliani

     Marvel Knights Animation

Alessandro Juliani is best known for his film work. He made appearances in movies such as the 2007 Chaos Theory, the 2009 Watchmen, the 2013 Man of Steel, and the 2017 War for the Planet of the Apes. He voices Wolverine in the 2013 Wolverine: Origin motion comic.

12 Jeffrey Hedquist

Jeffrey Hedquist is most well known for his roles in the 2017 film Last Tree Standing and the 2021 television series Tuttle Twins. He voiced Wolverine in the 2009 Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D. motion comic.

11 Marc Thompson

Marc Thompson is best known for his voice work in the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, the 2005 G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 series, and the 2015 Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin I - Blue-Eyed Casval series. He is one of the actors who played the voice of Wolverine in the 2009 Astonishing X-Men motion comic / miniseries.

10 Rikiya Koyama

     Marvel Entertainment / Madhouse

Rikiya Koyama is a Japanese actor best known for his work on the 2008 Resident Evil: Degeneration movie, the 2001 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within film, and the 2020 Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train. He voices Wolverine in four of the Japanese X-Men miniseries, including Marvel Anime: Iron Man, Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, and Marvel Anime: Blade.

9 Milo Ventimiglia

     Marvel Enertainment / Madhouse

Milo Ventimiglia is best known for his acting credits in the 2001 television show Gilmore Girls, the 2006 television series Heroes, the 2009 film Gamer, the 2016 television series This is Us (which fans feel was snubbed at the Emmys, per Entertainment Weekly), and the 2016 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Netflix continuation. He does the English dub of the voice of Wolverine in the four X-Men miniseries: Marvel Anime: Iron Man, Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, and Marvel Anime: Blade.

8 William Callaway

     NBC

William Callaway is most well known for playing a party guest in the 1977 film, Annie Hall. He also voice-acted in episodes of G.I. Joe and Scooby-Doo. Callaway voices Wolverine in the 1981 animated series, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends.

7 Patrick Pinney

     New World Pictures

Patrick Pinney’s lengthy career includes 1984s The Terminator as a bar customer, acting as various voices on Spongebob Squarepants, and voicing the cyclops in the 1997 animated Hercules film. Pinney played the voice of Wolverine in the 1989 animated Pryde of the X-Men TV Movie.

6 Scott McNeil

     Kids WB

Scott McNeil is best known for his voice role in the 2004 film Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and in the 2009 Ocean Group Dub of the Dragon Ball Z series, but his voice work spans over 50 years. He voiced Wolverine in the 2000 X-Men: Evolution animated television series.

5 Kevin Michael Richardson

Kevin Michael Richardson is most well known for his deep voice which he puts to use. With over 500 acting credits, mostly in voice work, he is doing quite well for himself. He is recognizable in the 2015 film Mortal Kombat, the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch, and the 2010 HBO Max series Young Justice. He voices Wolverine in the 2010 Black Panther animated television miniseries.

4 Cal Dodd

     Fox

Cal Dodd guest starred on an episode of the 1995 Goosebumps series and an episode of the 1984 Fraggle Songs series, but he is most well known for his Marvel animated character voice work, which is extensive. Dodd played the voice of Wolverine in the 1992 X-Men: The Animated Series, the 1994 Spider-Man: The Animated Series, and the X-Men: Mutant Academy video game.

3 Brian Drummond

Brian Drummond is most well known for his voice work in the 1989 Dragon Ball Z television series, the 2006 Death Note television series, and the 2002 Mobile Suit Gundam Seed anime. He voiced Wolverine in four X-Men motion comics: Astonishing X-Men, Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk, Wolverine vs. Sabretooth, and Wolverine: Weapon X.

2 Steve Blum

     Cartoon Network

Steve Blum has over 800 voice acting credits to his name. His work spans multiple decades and generations. He is most well known for his work in Cowboy Bebop, as dozens of characters from Star Wars: Rebels, multiple characters from Naruto, Diablo 3, Call of Duty, and Final Fantasy VII. He plays Wolverine in several incarnations of X-Men including animated movies, games, television series, and more. Blum’s Wolverine resume includes X-Men Legends, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, the X-Men: The Super Hero Squad Show, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and the Deadpool video game.

1 Hugh Jackman

     20th Century Fox

Hugh Jackman has over 60 acting credits to his name and is a legend in his own right. He starred in the 2012 film Les Misérables and the 2017 movie The Greatest Showman. Jackman is most well known for playing Wolverine in the 20th Century Fox X-Men adaptations. His work as the clawed mutant spans over 15 years, including films such as X-Men, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and The Wolverine. Jackman took a break from the character after the 2017 Logan, set in the future and where his character meets his end, but is set to reprise the role in the upcoming Deadpool 3 alongside Ryan Reynolds.