Spider-Man actors then and now: what happened to the franchise's biggest stars?

No one wants to be bitten by a spider but everyone wants to be bitten by that radioactive spider – find out which actors got the chance

Nicholas Hammond as Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider Man posing against a solid blue background.© CBS via Getty Images
Daisy Finch
Daisy FinchAudience Writer
2 minutes ago
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The web-slinging superhero has had kids donning a red mask and shooting silly string across their local neighbourhood for decades. But just as well-loved are the famous faces who brought the iconic Spider-Man to life from 1977 up to the present day.

We're swinging back through time to chart the on-screen hero's evolution and getting our spidey senses tingling to see what the stars are up to now.

Split image of Nicholas Hammond. On the left, in 1977 posing for a portrait at the corner of a brick wall. On the right in 2024 at the opening night of Chicago the musical.© Getty Images,WireImage via Getty Images

Nicholas Hammond brought Peter Parker to the small screen in 1977

Nicholas Hammond

Nicholas Hammond starred in 1977's The Amazing Spider-Man which worked double duty as the pilot for the series of the same name. This early attempt to bring Peter Parker to the screen will always hold a special place in fans' hearts and earned a limited theatrical release at the time.

But it's not just the world of superheroes that brought him starring fame: Nicholas appeared as Friedrich von Trapp in sing-song classic The Sound of Music. His more recent projects include Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood, The Travellers and Good Cop/Bad Cop.

Split image of Tobey Maguire. On the left in 2002 in a suit and pale blue shirt. On the right, in 2023 wearing a tux with a faint beard.© WireImage via Getty Images

Tobey Maguire starred as Spider-Man between 2002 and 2007

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire's run as Spider-Man lasted between 2002 to 2007, before he and Andrew Garfield joined forces with the current Spidey super Tom Holland in 2021. 

He also brought to life Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby (2013) alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. Tobey has since stepped back a little from leading roles, focussing on his production company Material Pictures, which produced 2022's Babylon with Tobey also taking a role in front of the camera.

Split image of Andrew Garfield. On the left in a grey check shuit, knitted vest, white shirt and black tie standing in front of a promotional backdrop for The Amazing Sider-Man in 2012. On the right, wearing a green cardigan with lambs printed on either side and a white tshirt in 2026.© WireImage via Getty Images,Getty Images

Andrew Garfield joined fellow Spider-Man alum Tobey Maguire and current super Tom Holland in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield took over the mantle from Tobey Maguire in 2012, starring in The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). Like Tobey, he returned to help Tom Holland's Spidey in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Andrew's fame has only grown as he's worked on projects like We Live In Time (2024), Hacksaw Ridge (2016) and After the Hunt (2025). He most recently joined Nicola Coughlan and Claire Foy in a fantastical journey up The Magic Faraway Tree (2026).

Split image of Tom Holland. In 2016, wearing a suit with a black tie. On the eight, wearing a pink Miami jersey in 2026.© WireImage via Getty Images,AFP via Getty Images

Tom Holland is due to appear in 2026's upcoming Spider-Man instalment

Tom Holland

Last but certainly not least, today's Spider-Man Tom Holland made his role debut in 2016's Captain America: Civil War. He's since lead the way in Homecoming, Far From Home and No Way Home.

As well as the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Tom is due to appear in Greek epic The Odyssey as Odysseus' son Telemachus. He's also worked on crime thriller The Devil All the Time and action adventure Uncharted.

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