From Horror Icon To MCU Star: The 5 Actors Who Have Played The Grinch—And Who Is The Most Recent?

The Grinch is one of the most recognizable and enduring characters in holiday history, and the question of "who plays the Grinch" is more complex than many realize, spanning over five decades of adaptations. As of the current date in December 2025, the iconic green curmudgeon has been brought to life by a surprisingly diverse range of actors, from a classic horror legend who started it all to a modern Marvel Cinematic Universe superstar and a TV anti-hero. This deep dive explores the four most famous and recent portrayals, revealing the unique history behind each actor's take on the notorious resident of Mount Crumpit. The most recent actor to embody the Grinch is Walton Goggins, who took on the role for a high-profile holiday advertising campaign in late 2023, while Benedict Cumberbatch remains the voice of the Grinch in the newest major theatrical release, the 2018 animated film. The character's enduring appeal lies in his journey from a Christmas-hating menace to a heart-warmed hero, a transformation made memorable by the talents of these distinct performers.

The Grinch's Legacy: A Complete List of Major Actors and Their Biographies

The Grinch has been portrayed in various media—from the original 1966 animated television special to live-action blockbusters and modern animated features. Here is a look at the key actors who have taken on the iconic role, complete with their essential biographical details and most notable works.

Boris Karloff (1966 Animated TV Special)

• Full Name: William Henry Pratt
• Born: November 23, 1887, in Camberwell, London, England
• Died: February 2, 1969 (Age 81)
• Grinch Role: Voice of The Grinch and the Narrator in *How the Grinch Stole Christmas!* (1966).
• Career Highlights: Karloff is a horror film legend, best known globally for his iconic role as Frankenstein's monster in *Frankenstein* (1931), *Bride of Frankenstein* (1935), and *Son of Frankenstein* (1939). His distinctive, gravelly voice lent a perfect blend of menace and melancholy to the original Grinch.

Jim Carrey (2000 Live-Action Film)

• Full Name: James Eugene Carrey
• Born: January 17, 1962, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
• Grinch Role: The Grinch in the live-action blockbuster *Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas* (2000).
• Career Highlights: A comedic powerhouse known for his highly physical and rubber-faced style, Carrey rose to fame with films like *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective*, *The Mask*, and *Dumb and Dumber*. He also earned critical acclaim for dramatic roles in *The Truman Show* and *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*. His recent work includes portraying Dr. Robotnik in the *Sonic the Hedgehog* film series.

Benedict Cumberbatch (2018 Animated Film)

• Full Name: Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch
• Born: July 19, 1976, in Hammersmith, London, England
• Grinch Role: Voice of The Grinch in the Illumination animated film *The Grinch* (2018).
• Career Highlights: Cumberbatch is an acclaimed British actor known for playing intelligent, complex characters. He achieved global stardom as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series *Sherlock* and as Doctor Stephen Strange in the MCU, appearing in films like *Doctor Strange* and *Avengers: Infinity War*. His recent projects include the Netflix mini-series *Eric* and Wes Anderson's Oscar-winning short film *The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar*.

Walton Goggins (2023 Holiday Commercial)

• Full Name: Walton Sanders Goggins Jr.
• Born: November 10, 1971, in Birmingham, Alabama, USA
• Grinch Role: The Grinch in the 2023 Walmart holiday advertising campaign, "WhoKnewVille."
• Career Highlights: Goggins is celebrated for his versatile character work, especially in television, with notable roles as Shane Vendrell in *The Shield* and Boyd Crowder in *Justified*. He has also starred in *Vice Principals* and *The Righteous Gemstones*. Most recently, he received high praise for his performance as The Ghoul/Cooper Howard in the Amazon Prime Video series *Fallout*.

The Evolution of The Grinch: From Horror Voice to CGI Spectacle

The character of the Grinch, created by Dr. Seuss, has undergone a significant transformation across his major cinematic and television appearances, directly reflecting the distinct talents of the actors who play him. This evolution showcases how the same character can be interpreted through different lenses—horror, slapstick comedy, and modern animation. The foundational portrayal belongs to Boris Karloff. In the 1966 Chuck Jones-directed holiday special, Karloff's voice established the Grinch's dual nature: the deep, rumbling cynicism of the character's initial hatred, and the warm, narrative tone that guided the audience through the story. The animation style was simple and classic, relying on Karloff's vocal performance to carry the emotional weight of the story. The year 2000 brought the massive live-action feature, with Jim Carrey in the green suit. This version was a spectacle of elaborate makeup and physical comedy. Carrey's Grinch was a high-energy, manic, and deeply eccentric anti-hero, utilizing the actor's unique brand of slapstick to amplify the Grinch's misanthropy. His performance turned the character into a broader, more cartoonish figure, perfectly suited for the big-budget Hollywood treatment. The film introduced a deeper backstory, exploring why the Grinch hated Christmas and the residents of Whoville so intensely. In the 2018 animated film, Benedict Cumberbatch offered a more subdued, yet still grumpy, take. His British accent was deliberately softened to be more American, and his voice acting emphasized a tired, lonely Grinch rather than a purely malicious one. This Illumination version focused heavily on the Grinch's relationship with his loyal dog, Max, and positioned the Grinch as more of a misunderstood recluse than a true villain. The film was praised for its vibrant CGI animation and its gentler tone, making it highly accessible to a new generation.

The Most Current Grinch: Walton Goggins' Unexpected Take

While the major film roles are held by Carrey and Cumberbatch, the most *recent* and *current* on-screen Grinch to capture the public's attention is Walton Goggins. His appearance in the 2023 Walmart holiday campaign, "WhoKnewVille," was a fun, modern twist on the classic character. Goggins, an actor widely known for playing complex, often charmingly villainous characters in prestige television, brought a unique, world-weary swagger to the Grinch. His live-action portrayal, complete with the full green makeup and suit, showcased a Grinch that was less manic than Carrey's and more of a cynical, yet ultimately redeemable, schemer. This commercial portrayal proved that the Grinch remains a highly topical and bankable figure in pop culture, capable of being adapted for new media and unexpected contexts.

Other Notable Grinch Portrayals

The Grinch's story extends beyond the silver screen and major television specials, demonstrating his ubiquitous presence in holiday entertainment:

• Hans Conried (1977): Conried voiced the Grinch in the lesser-known but acclaimed TV special, *Halloween Is Grinch Night*. This special won an Emmy Award and expanded the Grinch's universe beyond Christmas.
• Matthew Morrison (2020): The star of *Glee* took on the role in *Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical!* which aired on NBC. Morrison's theatrical background brought a Broadway-style performance to the grumpy character, proving the Grinch's success on the stage as well as the screen.

The enduring fascination with "who plays the Grinch" is a testament to the character's status as a cultural touchstone. Whether through the classic voice of a horror icon, the physical comedy of a superstar, the modern voice of a Marvel hero, or the fresh take of a TV veteran, the Grinch continues to remind audiences that even the smallest heart can grow three sizes in a single day.

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