Band of brothers cast and crew

Ever since it originally premiered in , despite being a miniseries consisting of only ten episodes, Band of Brothers has been long-regarded as not just one of the greatest HBO series, but one of the best television shows of all time in general. This isn't just due to the strength of its storytelling, but the strength of its characters all of which were based on real-life WWII veterans as well.

The process of bringing these characters to the screen resulted in perhaps some of the best casting in television history. There were a few already-known names that helped bring a sense of star power, with the casting of those such as Donnie Wahlberg and David Schwimmer. At the time, there were several other members of the cast who were not exactly considered to be the biggest stars in the world.

The casting of such mostly unrecognizable faces, however, may have been what helped make the characters so easy to get invested in. It made it feel as if they were real soldiers, not just portrayals.

Cast of band of brothers real soldiers

In the two decades that have followed, however, many of these actors have become easily recognized not just for their work on Band of Brothers , but for their roles in other high-profile projects that have since further elevated their careers. Not all of them appeared in every episode; but those who did, from Damian Lewis to Michael Cudlitz, have gone on to have incredibly prosperous careers.

Police procedurals are a staple in many households, but few are more honest about the dark side of police work than HBO's The Wire. In a show that's filled with the grit, violence, and melancholy of war, Sergeant 1st Class Donald Malarkey was a small beam of light that shined through the darkness. Throughout the show, he carried a good-hearted and cheerful attitude that gave a sense of hope in the gloominess of any situation.

His comrades came to know and appreciate him for his sense of humor, which was often self-deprecating. In the years since Band of Brothers , Grimes has been perhaps best known for his roles and collaborations in various Seth MacFarlane series. Such roles in these series include Gordona Malloy in the sci-fi comedy The Orville , as well as the father of John Bennett in the Ted prequel series.

Arguably, his most famous role has also been his longest-running one, having lent his voice to Steve Smith on American Dad since