Ask anyone on the street who is the actor of Captain America, and they’ll probably bark back "Chris Evans" before you even finish the sentence. It makes sense. For nearly a decade, Evans was the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He played Steve Rogers with this earnest, boy-scout charm that somehow didn't feel cheesy. But honestly? The answer has changed.
If you're looking for who is wearing the stars and stripes right now, in 2026, the name you need is Anthony Mackie.
Mackie’s Sam Wilson officially took over the mantle in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and he just finished his first solo big-screen outing in Captain America: Brave New World. But if we’re being real experts here, the list of actors who’ve grabbed the shield is actually much longer and weirder than just two guys named Chris and Anthony.
The Chris Evans Era: Why he’s still the definitive Steve Rogers
Chris Evans didn’t even want the job at first. Did you know that? He turned it down multiple times because he was terrified of the fame and the multi-movie commitment. It took a pep talk from Robert Downey Jr. and a lot of persistence from Marvel to get him to say yes.
He debuted in 2011 with Captain America: The First Avenger. At the time, people weren't sure he could pull it off. He had already played the Human Torch in those early Fantastic Four movies, and he was known for being more of a "funny guy" or a "jock." But Evans brought a literal weight to the role. By the time we got to Avengers: Endgame in 2019, he had appeared in eleven MCU films (if you count the cameos).
When Steve Rogers went back in time to live a quiet life with Peggy Carter, he left a massive hole in the franchise. Evans recently joked that he’s lost about 15 pounds since retiring the shield because he doesn't have to live in the gym anymore. People keep asking him if he’s okay because he looks "normal" now, not "super-soldier" shredded.
Anthony Mackie and the new Captain America
So, who is the actor of Captain America today? That would be Anthony Mackie.
His journey is pretty cool because it wasn't a reboot. It was a promotion. Sam Wilson started as the Falcon, Steve Rogers' best friend and a veteran helping other vets. When Old Man Steve handed Sam the shield at the end of Endgame, it wasn't just a prop. It was a massive cultural shift.
Mackie has been very vocal about what it means to be a Black Captain America. In his recent movie, Brave New World, we saw a hero who doesn't have super-strength. He doesn't have the serum. He’s just a guy with a flight suit, a vibranium shield, and a lot of heart. It’s a different vibe—more political, more grounded.
The Captain Americas you probably forgot about
If we're talking about every actor who has played the role in live-action, we have to go back way before the MCU existed. Most of these movies were, uh, not great.
- Dick Purcell (1944): The very first one. He played Captain America in a black-and-white serial. Funny enough, he wasn't Steve Rogers. He was a District Attorney named Grant Gardner. He didn't even have a shield; he used a gun.
- Reb Brown (1979): He starred in two made-for-TV movies. His costume involved a motorcycle helmet and his shield was made of transparent plastic. It was very "seventies," to say the least.
- Matt Salinger (1990): This was a direct-to-video movie that most people try to forget. Salinger played a version of Steve Rogers that was reasonably comic-accurate, but the budget was so low you could practically see the sets wobbling.
- Wyatt Russell (2021): We can't forget John Walker. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the government tried to replace Steve with a "perfect soldier." Wyatt Russell played him as a complicated, somewhat unhinged version of the hero. He’s now known as U.S. Agent, but for a few episodes, he was legally Captain America.
Voicing the legend: The animated world
Sometimes the "who" refers to the voice. If you grew up watching Avengers Assemble or playing the video games, you've heard Roger Craig Smith. He’s basically the "voice" of Cap for an entire generation of gamers.
Then there’s Brian Bloom, who voiced him in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Many hardcore comic fans think Bloom’s performance is the closest we’ve ever gotten to the "classic" comic book version of the character. Even David Hayter (the guy who voiced Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid) had a turn as Cap in the 90s Spider-Man cartoon.
What’s next for the shield in 2026?
Right now, the focus is entirely on Anthony Mackie. With Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, Sam Wilson is expected to lead the new team. There are always rumors about Chris Evans returning through some multiverse shenanigans—and honestly, with Marvel, never say never—but for now, the shield belongs to Sam.
If you’re trying to keep track, here’s the quick breakdown of the main players:
- Anthony Mackie: The current, active Captain America (Sam Wilson).
- Chris Evans: The original MCU Captain America (Steve Rogers).
- Wyatt Russell: The "failed" government Captain America (John Walker).
- Harrison Ford: Okay, he’s not Cap, but he’s the President in the new movies and plays Red Hulk, which is basically the "anti-Cap" right now.
The question of who is the actor of Captain America isn't just a trivia point anymore; it's a reflection of how the Marvel world has grown. It started with a skinny kid from Brooklyn and turned into a legacy that spans generations of actors.
Actionable insights for fans
- Watch the transition: If you haven't seen The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, that’s where the "hand-off" actually happens emotionally.
- Check the archives: If you want a laugh, look up clips of Reb Brown’s 1979 Captain America on YouTube. The transparent shield is something else.
- Stay updated: Keep an eye out for Avengers: Doomsday news, as it will likely define Sam Wilson's role as the leader of the new Avengers lineup.
The legacy of the shield is bigger than one person. Whether it's Steve Rogers' moral compass or Sam Wilson's modern leadership, the character remains the heartbeat of the Marvel world. If you're looking to dive deeper into the lore, start by re-watching The Winter Soldier—it's widely considered the best performance by both Evans and Mackie in the entire franchise.
