From Keanu Reeves to Laurence Fishburne, the cast of The Matrix The trilogy is full of great movie stars who transformed their characters into unforgettable icons. The Wachowskis assembled one of the best film casts of the ’90s when they were putting together their groundbreaking sci-fi action film, and they brought back even more screen legends when they returned to direct the sequels. They recruited actors who were already big names in Hollywood, like Reeves and Fishburne, and also gave some new actors a big chance. Carrie-Anne Moss first gained international attention with her role in The Matrix.
The Matrix it almost had a very different cast. Will Smith was invited to play Neo and Sean Connery was invited to play Morpheus. Janet Jackson came close to securing the role of Trinity, but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts. With these original choices on paper, The Matrix it still would have been a star-studded film. But the final film has an all-star cast, and all the right people ended up playing each role. The cast of The Matrix the trilogy started with a bunch of celebrities and only gained more stars from there.
Actor |
Character |
---|---|
Keanu Reeves |
Neo |
Laurence Fishburne |
Morpheus |
Carrie-Anne Moss |
Trinity |
Hugo Tecelagem |
Agent Smith |
Gloria Foster/Mary Alice |
The Oracle |
Joe Pantoliano |
Cipher |
Jada Pinkett Smith |
Niobe |
Harold Perrineau |
Link |
Randall Duk Kim |
The Keymaker |
Lambert Wilson |
The Merovingian |
Monica Bellucci |
Persephone |
Keanu Reeves as Neo
Date of birth: September 2, 1964
Active since: 1984
Actor: Keanu Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and first broke out with his role as Matt in River Edge. Reeves is best known for playing Ted “Theodore” Logan in the Bill and Ted franchise and the titular killer in John Wick franchise. Reeves’ other action film roles include LAPD officer Jack Traven in Speed and FBI agent Johnny Utah in Breaking point. He also gave more dramatic performances as Scott Favor in My own private Idaho and Le Chevalier Raphael Danceny in Dangerous Connections.
Notable Movies and TV Shows:
Title |
Character |
Year |
---|---|---|
John Wick |
John Wick |
2014 |
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure |
Ted “Theodore” Logan |
1989 |
Breaking point |
Johnny Utah |
1991 |
Dangerous Connections |
Le Chevalier Raphael Danceny |
1988 |
Speed |
Jack Traven |
1994 |
My own private Idaho |
Scott Favor |
1991 |
Character: Reeves leads the cast of The Matrix trilogy as a computer programmer named Thomas Anderson, better known by his pseudonym “Neo”. Neo is brought from the Matrix to the real world because he is believed to be the prophesied “The One” who will end the war between humans and machines. At the end of the film, Neo fulfills this prophecy and prepares to free humanity from its cybernetic overlords.
Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus
Date of birth: July 30, 1961
Active since: 1972
Actor: Laurence Fishburne was born in Augusta, Georgia, and got his big break with the role of Tyrone “Mr. Clean” Miller in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam War epic Apocalypse now. He also gained prominence when he played Jason “Furious” Styles in Boyz and the Hood and Ike Turner in What does love have to do with it?. More than a decade later The Matrix trilogy ended, Fishburne reunited with Reeves to play “The Bowery King” in the John Wick franchise.
Notable Movies and TV Shows:
Title |
Character |
Year |
---|---|---|
Boyz and the Hood |
Jason’s “Furious” Styles |
1991 |
What does love have to do with it? |
Ike Turner |
1993 |
John Wick: Chapter 2 |
The Bowery King |
2017 |
Apocalypse now |
Tyrone “Mr. Clean” Miller |
1979 |
Man of Steel |
Perry White |
2013 |
Character: In The Matrix trilogy, Fishburne plays Morpheus, the leader of a resistance group that fights against the machines. Morpheus is Nebuchadnezzar’s captain and becomes Neo’s mentor. The Matrix Resurrectionsthe role was recast with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II taking over.
Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity
Date of birth: August 21, 1967
Active since: 1989
Actor: Carrie-Anne Moss was born in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and she first broke out with her role in The Matrix. She went on to play Caroline Clairmont in chocolateClaudia Wolf in Silent Hill: Revelationand Natalie in Christopher Nolan’s psychological thriller Memory. On TV, Moss played Indara in Star Wars series The Acolyte and Jeri Hogarth on several Marvel Television shows produced for Netflix, including Jessica Jones.
Notable Movies and TV Shows:
Title |
Character |
Year |
---|---|---|
Memory |
Natalia |
2000 |
Jessica Jones |
Jeri Hogarth |
2015-2019 |
chocolate |
Caroline Clairmont |
2000 |
The Acolyte |
Indara |
2024 |
Silent Hill: Revelation |
Claudia Lobo |
2012 |
Character: Moss plays Morpheus’ first mate, Trinity, in The Matrix trilogy. Trinity is Neo’s love interest that inspires him to embrace his destiny as “The One.” The Matrix Resurrections later revealed that Trinity is part of “The One” prophecy along with Neo.
Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith
Date of birth: April 4, 1960
Active since: 1981
Actor: Hugo Weaving was born in Ibadan, British Nigeria, and landed his first major role as English cricket captain Douglas Jardine in the Australian TV series Body line. He rose to prominence in Australian cinema, playing Martin in Proof and Mitzi Del Bra in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Since then, Weaving has gone on to blockbuster Hollywood roles with performances such as Elrond in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the eponymous character in V for VendettaRed Skull in Captain America: The First Avengerand Megatron in Transformers films.
Notable Movies and TV Shows:
Title |
Character |
Year |
---|---|---|
The Lord of the Rings |
Elrond |
2001-2003 |
V for Vendetta |
V |
2005 |
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert |
Anthony “Tick” Belrose/Mitzi Del Bra |
1994 |
Captain America: The First Avenger |
Red Skull |
2011 |
Character: Weaving plays Agent Smith, the main villain of The Matrix trilogy. Smith and the other Agents are computer viruses that obey the machines’ orders inside the Matrix. The role was taken over by Jonathan Groff in The Matrix Resurrections.
Cast and supporting characters of the Matrix trilogy
Gloria Foster / Mary Alice as Oracle: The Oracle, a sapient program capable of seeing all decisions made within the Matrix, was initially played by Gloria Foster in the first two films. In The Matrix Revolutionsafter Foster sadly passed away, the role was recast with Mary Alice. Foster is best known for playing Camille Bell in the 1985 miniseries The Atlanta Child Murders; Alice is best known for playing Lettie Bostic on the sitcom A different world.
Joe Pantoliano as Cypher: Joe Pantoliano plays Cypher, who betrays his crewmates to the Agents in the first Headquarters film. Pantoliano is best known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos. He also played Teddy Gammell in Memory and Captain Conrad Howard in the Bad Boys franchise.
Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe: Niobe, the captain of the Logos, is played by Jada Pinkett Smith. Pinkett Smith is best known for voicing Gloria in Madagascar films. She also played Carla Purty in The crazy teacher and Ronnie in Threat Society II.
Harold Perrineau as link: Harold Perrineau plays Link, the pilot of the Nebuchadnezzar, who replaces Tank and Dozer in The Matrix Reloaded. Perrineau is best known for his role as Michael Dawson in Lost. He also played Mercutio in Romeo + JulietMonte Augusto in ounceand Sheriff Boyd Stevens in Of.
Randall Duk Kim as the Keymaker: Randall Duk Kim plays Keymaker in The Matrix Reloaded. Kim is the co-founder of American Players Theater and the voice of Master Oogway in Kung Fu Panda franchise.
Lambert Wilson as the Merovingian: The Merovingian, one of the oldest programs in the Matrix that provides a safe haven for exiled programs, is played by Lambert Wilson. Wilson also played George Hedare in CatwomanYves Massarde in Saharaand Marquis of Chassagne in Mrs. Harris goes to Paris.
Monica Bellucci as Persephone: The Merovingian’s resentful wife, Persephone, is played by Monica Bellucci in The Matrix sequelae. Bellucci is best known for playing Alex in IrreversibleMary Magdalene in The Passion of Christand Betelgeuse’s ex-wife, Delores, in Beetle juice Beetle juice. Her role as Lucia Sciarra in Spectrum made her the oldest Bond girl in the franchise’s history.