The theme of supernatural performers in The Boys will continue in season 4, with the connection between the two series becoming more solidified. Before supervising the wacky superhero spoof The Boys, Eric Kripke created Supernatural, starring Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as monster-hunting siblings Sam and Dean Winchester. After the show concluded in 2020, Kripke went on to adapt Grant Morrison’s popular The Boys comic book series. However, he maintained his Supernatural connections, with several major actors from the show joining The Boys.
The Boys’ principal ensemble has become renowned for bringing these comic book characters to life, including Karl Urban as Billy Butcher, Anthony Starr as Homelander, and Erin Moriarty as Starlight. Kripke has thrilled Supernatural viewers by casting familiar actors in many of these parts, bringing the two ensembles together. While some are minor cameos, others have become integral elements of The Boys even after winning over fans on Supernatural.
Actor | The Boys Character | Supernatural Character |
---|---|---|
Jensen Ackles | Soldier Boy | Dean Winchester |
Nathan Mitchell | Black Noir | Kelvin |
Lesley Nicol | Connie Butcher | Katja |
Adrian Holmes | Dr. Park | Holmes/Unnamed Demon |
Christian Keyes | Nathan Franklin | Michael |
Isaiah Adams | Dan Miller | Forensic Technician |
Kai Bradbury | Young Kenji | Clerk |
Alvina August | Monique | Tasha |
Jim Beaver | Robert A. Singer | Bobby Singer |
Jeffrey Dean Morgan | Joe Kessler | John Winchester |
Jensen Ackles
Supernatural Character: Dean Winchester / The Boys Character: Soldier Boy
Jensen Ackles is the most notable Supernatural actor to also appear in The Boys. He played Dean Winchester on Supernatural, serving as one of the two leading heroes for the entirety of the show’s run. Going to Hell and back, as well as realms beyond, Dean was a heroic, funny, and charming protagonist with Ackles earning a strong following of fans. After Supernatural ended, Ackles served as narrator for the Supernatural prequel series The Winchesters.
While his role in The Boys might not have been as big as Dean on Supernatural, Ackles became the highlight of season 3 with his performance as Soldier Boy. Seen as the quintessential patriotic “super”, Soldier Boy was seemingly 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed in Vietnam only to be found by Butcher and the others and recruited to take down Vought. However, Soldier Boy is worse than Homelander in some ways with no moral code, racist attitudes, and a cold-blooded nature that makes him a memorable villain. Ackles returned to cameo as Soldier Boy in the spinoff series Gen V.
Nathan Mitchell
Supernatural Character: Kelvin / The Boys Character: Black Noir
Though his face might not be seen, Nathan Mitchell plays a prominent role in The Boys as Black Noir. Across the episodes, the mysterious, silent warrior became a firm fan favorite. Despite fighting aggressively on the side of Vought International, viewers were won over by the character’s hidden depths. This led to some incredible development in season 3 before ending with his tragic death but Black Noir will return in The Boys season 4 with some big surprises.
Lesley Nicol
Supernatural Character: Katja / The Boys Character: Connie Butcher
Years prior, Nichol starred in Supernatural season 10, episode 12, “About A Boy.” She portrayed Katja, the cannibalistic witch from the Hansel and Gretel fable and responsible for briefly reverting Dean Winchester to his teenage self. The move was an amusingly fitting one since Lesley effectively went from playing a butcher in nature to a Butcher in name.
Adrian Holmes
Supernatural Character: James Turner / The Boys Character: Dr. Park
Holmes has only appeared once on The Boys, in a smaller role in season 2, episode 2, “Proper Preparation and Planning.” He played Dr. Park, the scientist who oversaw the Vought compound that housed Becca Butcher (Shantel VanSanten), and her son, Ryan (Cameron Crovetti). Following Becca and Ryan’s escape, it is unlikely he will return.
Christian Keyes
Supernatural Character: Michael / The Boys Character: Nathan Franklin
As well as appearing within the Arrowverse as Neron, Christian Keyes antagonized the Winchesters for multiple episodes of Supernatural. Playing the villainous archangel Michael, the actor debuted in Supernatural season 13, episode 2, “The Rising Son.” Hailing from a parallel, apocalyptic world, he harbored a desire to conquer the prime universe. In pursuit of that end, he recurred across four more episodes before switching bodies to possess Dean Winchester.
Isaiah Adam
Supernatural Character: Forensics Tech / The Boys Character: Lance Corporal Dan Miller
In some instances, the actors who appear in both Supernatural and The Boys might not be overly recognizable to fans of either show. They can appear in smaller roles with the connection between the two series potentially being coincidental. Isaiah Adam briefly appeared in Supernatural season 7, episode 2, “Hello, Cruel World.” There, he played a forensic technician that Dean Winchester encountered while investigating a string of murders.
Kai Bradbury
Supernatural Character: Clerk / The Boys Character: Young Kenji Miyashiro
Bradbury briefly appeared in The Boys season 1, episode 6, “The Innocents.” After the titular group visited Mesmer (Haley Joel Osment), viewers were treated to a series of flashbacks to the early days of “The Female,” a.k.a. Kimiko Miyashiro (Karen Fukuhara). One took place sometime after her enforced induction into the Shining Light Liberation Army. Bradbury played a younger version of her brother, Kenji, to whom she gave her food and sought to protect. That particular storyline thread continued in The Boys season 2.
Alvina August
Supernatural Character: Tasha/ The Boys Character: Monique Milk
August has been no stranger to The CW, having guest-starred on Arrow and Nancy Drew. In 2017, the actress also appeared in Supernatural season 12’s “Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes” as the titular Tasha, a powerful and good-natured witch. The character died, was resurrected, and died again over the span of the episode, preventing her from making any subsequent appearances.
Jim Beaver
Supernatural Character: Bobby Singer / The Boys Character: Robert A. Singer
One of the most notable Supernatural actors in The Boys, Beaver initially made a surprise cameo on the Amazon Prime series. As Secretary of Defense Robert A. Singer (the name being a Supernatural reference in itself), the veteran actor shared a scene with Madelyn Stillwell (Elisabeth Shue) in The Boys season 1, episode 8, “You Found Me.” Beaver later reprised the role for The Boys seasons 2 and 3. Season 3 revealed that Singer, going by the folksy nickname “Dakota Bob,” was running for President with secret supe, Victoria Neuman, as his running mate, suggesting he has a role to play in season 4.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Supernatural Character: John Winchester / The Boys Character: Joe Kessler
Also very well-known for playing Negan on The Walking Dead, Jeffrey Dean Morgan played the Winchester brothers’ estranged hunter father John Winchester in many episodes of Supernatural over the years. Though not exactly an antagonist, John isn’t always the good guy either, as he spends most of the show pushing Sam and Dean to their emotional limit. However, he was a fan-favorite aspect of the show, which doesn’t make it surprising that he was also invited to join The Boys.
The Boys season 4 will see the debut of Morgan’s character. Joe Kessler. Though not much is known about the character, the trailers for The Boys season 4 have shown that he is an ally of Butcher with the two sharing a past. Kessler also seems to see the supes as the very real threats the same as Butcher does. Morgan has been confirmed to appear in multiple episodes in the new season of the show.