"I think it gets a little harder as you find more success. As success happens, you have to figure out this question of 'What I am going to do next that stands out?' Because then you get seen as 'this thing,' which is a part of you. But it's not really you."
Sebastian Stan (born August 13, 1982 in Constanța, Romania) is a Romanian-American actor.
He moved from his native Romania to Vienna, Austria at the age of 8, and from there to New York, USA at the age of 12. Starting out in Hollywood with roles in Gossip Girl and the cult movie The Covenant, Stan is nowadays best known for his role as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Roles:
- Law & Order (2003): Justin Capshaw, guest appearance
- The Covenant (2006): Chase Collins
- Gossip Girl (2007-2010): Carter Baizen
- Rachel Getting Married (2008): Walter
- Kings (2009): Prince Jack Benjamin
- Spread (2009): Harry
- Hot Tub Time Machine (2010): Blaine
- Black Swan (2010): Andrew/Suitor
- Marvel Cinematic Universe (2011 — present) as Bucky Barnes / The Winter Soldier:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Ant-Man (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Black Panther (2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
- What If...? (2021-2024)
- Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
- Thunderbolts* (2025)
- Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
- Political Animals (2012): T.J. Hammond
- Once Upon a Time (2012): Jefferson/The Mad Hatter
- Gone (2012): Billy
- The Bronze (2015): Lance Tucker
- Ricki and the Flash (2015): Joshua
- The Martian (2015): Dr. Chris Beck
- We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018): Charles Blackwood
- Logan Lucky (2017): Dayton White
- I, Tonya (2017): Jeff Gillooly
- Destroyer (2018): Chris
- Endings, Beginnings (2019): Frank
- The Last Full Measure (2020): Scott Huffman
- The Devil All the Time (2020): Lee Bodecker
- Monday (2021): Mickey
- The 355 (2022): Nick
- Pam & Tommy (2022): Tommy Lee
- Fresh (2022): Steve
- Sharper (2023): Max
- Ghosted (2023): God
- Dumb Money (2023): Vlad Tenev
- A Different Man (2024): Edward
- The Apprentice (2024): Donald Trump*
- Fjord (2026): Mihai Gheorghiu
- The Batman: Part II (2027): Harvey Dent
Provides examples of:
- Creator Backlash:
- His entire pre-Marvel filmography seems to receive this, at times. When asked which of his previous characters he'd import to the MCU:Stan: Well, looking at my brilliant filmography outside the Captain America movies, I am just not going to even speak right now. Pour myself a glass of water.
- When asked if he was bothered by having so little dialogue in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, he answered that sometimes, not having that much to say is a relief and that he's been burned more than once by having to say absolutely ridiculous lines that no-one would ever use in real life. Fans familiar with his past films know what he's talking about.
- His entire pre-Marvel filmography seems to receive this, at times. When asked which of his previous characters he'd import to the MCU:
- Deadpan Snarker: He has a snarky, self-deprecating sense of humor combined with stoic delivery. Displayed especially with fellow co-star Anthony Mackie.
- Meme Acknowledgement: On December 16th, 2017, Stan took a selfie
◊ of himself doing a Facepalm in front of a bunch of Iron Man suits, realizing what day it was (as evidenced by the caption mentioning December 16, 1991). - Playing Against Type: He often plays relatively dark and/or troubled characters, but his character in Ricki and the Flash is a sweetheart.
- Puppy-Dog Eyes: Used with extreme effectiveness when the role calls for it.◊ Especially as Bucky Barnes◊, who just looks like a kicked puppy sometimes.
- Romance on the Set:
- He dated his Gossip Girl co-star Leighton Meester from 2008 to 2010.
- He also briefly dated his Once Upon a Time co-star Jennifer Morrison.
- With his Spread co-star Margarita Levieva for a couple years as well.
- Star-Making Role: As Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger.
- Typecasting:
- An oddly specific one. Outside of the Captain America movies, his most popular roles — as Jack Benjamin and T.J Hammond — involve him playing the gay, troubled heir to a political dynasty. In a more general sense, most of the roles that have made him famous are of the Troubled, but Cute variety.
- He's also developed a niche playing less than likable real-life figures with a tendency for theatrics as his performances as seen in his performances as Jeff Gillooly, Tommy Lee and Donald Trump.
- Verbal Tic: It would be easier to make a drinking game out of the times when he does manage, speaking as himself and not when acting, to make it through a complete sentence without saying "um" or "y'know".
