Every Rob Zombie Acting Role (In Horror Movies & More)
While Rob Zombie is most famous as a rock star and horror film director, he's also played a few actual acting roles in movies and on TV shows. While Zombie, real name Robert Cummings, first gained fame for fronting the group White Zombie, then later got even more famous for his solo breakthrough Hellbilly Deluxe, it's a toss-up at this point whether he'll be more remembered as a musician or a filmmaker. Zombie has only directed seven live-action features - as well as the animated feature The Haunted World of El Superbeasto - but in that time he's earned an extremely loyal fanbase.
None of Zombie's movies have been crossover box office smashes, but for those Zombie's work clicks with, seeing his latest film is like returning to a world they know and feel comfortable in. That's even though Zombie's cinematic world is full of gore, torture, murder, and a general sleaziness. Zombie's movies are a throwback to the days of grindhouse cinema, making it appropriate that he also helmed the fake trailer Werewolf Women of the SS for the movie Grindhouse, which some still want him to expand into a real movie.
Aside from his exploits as a writer and director though, Zombie occasionally plays characters, although usually small parts, and almost always voice-only roles. Zombie clearly isn't super comfortable as an actor, but here's all the times he's done it so far.
Unlike many directors, Rob Zombie doesn't usually put himself in his own films. In fact, the only time he's done so is in his first effort, 2003's House of 1000 Corpses. Zombie can be seen briefly as the monstrous assistant to horror host Dr. Wolfenstein early on the film, who smashes pumpkins with a mallet. Zombie considered playing Dr. Wolfenstein himself, but felt that no matter how much make-up he put on to try and blend in, he still just looked like Rob Zombie and was too recognizable. Considering his unique look, that's not hard to imagine.
On MTV's 2003 Spider-Man animated series - not to be confused with the classic 1990s show Spider-Man: The Animated Series - Rob Zombie voiced Dr. Curt Connors, aka supervillain The Lizard. The episode The Lizard appears in, entitled "Law of the Jungle," effectively serves as his origin story, putting the spotlight on how Connors became the reptilian monstrosity. After his transformation, The Lizard targets Peter Parker's friend Harry Osborn, blaming OSCORP for the loss of his arm. As with most portrayals, Connors' turn to the dark side sees him made out to be a sympathetic figure.
In the 2003 Justice League animated series episode "The Terror Beyond: Part 2," the titular superhero team encounters Lovecraftian beasts modeled on the Great Old Ones. Rob Zombie voices Ichthultu, clearly meant to a version of Cthulhu. The league is forced to travel into another, darker dimension to battle the creature, in order to prevent its return to their world. Unsurprisingly, they do eventually win the fight, as they're the Justice League after all. Zombie's casting was a cool nod to horror fans, despite most of the show's target audience probably not being familiar with his work yet.
In James Gunn's directorial debut, 2006's Slither, Rob Zombie makes a vocal cameo as Dr. Karl, heard talking on the phone with Elizabeth Banks' Starla Grant. Starla is inquiring into the health of her husband Grant Grant (Michael Rooker), but is shocked to learn that he's been lying to her about all the so-called treatments he's been getting with the good doctor. Gunn and Zombie are friends, and this began an amusing tradition of the latter cameoing in all of the former's films. Those who aren't big into Zombie might miss him, but others will readily recognize his voice.
Super is possibly Gunn's oddest film to date, and considering how odd Slither is, that's saying something. It focuses on a mentally ill man named Frank Darbo (Rainn Wilson), who's inspired to become a superhero called The Crimson Bolt. He believes God himself directed Frank's metamorphosis, and even recalls how God spoke to him when he first met his eventual wife. God is voiced by Zombie, putting him into the eclectic mix of actors who've played the almighty over the years, right alongside the likes of Alanis Morissette and Morgan Freeman.
Gunn's affinity for Rob Zombie cameos even followed him over to Marvel Studios hit Guardians of the Galaxy, with the rock star turned director voicing an unseen navigator for Yondu's Ravager ship. Through voice work, Zombie has racked up way more roles in superhero movies that most would likely expect, albeit small ones. Considering the general anti-establishment, do what they want at all costs vibe the Ravagers give off, Zombie being one of them actually makes a ton of sense, at leat based on his wild stage persona. It's easy to imagine he and Yondu talking over a drink.
Mr. Pickles, a ridiculously offensive Adult Swim show about a family whose pet dog is in league with Satan sounds exactly like something Rob Zombie would want to be a part of. Hilariously though, he plays against type this time out, voicing the leader of a vegan cult. A smarmy, egocentric jerk, the cult leader is a fun departure for Zombie to play, and of course, the cult ends up slaughtered by Mr. Pickles, who kills way more people in horrifying ways than the vast majority of dogs. Funnily enough, Zombie is himself a vegan.
Of course, Rob Zombie returned to lend his voice to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, keeping his James Gunn ties alive. This time he voices another unseen Ravager, although apparently not the same one as before, this one being lower on the pecking order of the organization. One wonders where his voice will pop up during 2021's The Suicide Squad and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, as Gunn has been adamant that Zombie will be involved in some way with each of his films.