Band of Brothers is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. The 10-part HBO series, created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks after the success of Saving Private Ryan, follows the real-life story of Easy Company, a Second World War American paratrooper unit, from 1942 and the heavy cost of war. At its release in 2001, it was the most expensive mini-series ever made, reportedly costing $125 million. Based on Stephen E. Ambrose's best-selling novel, the drama earned seven Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Mini-Series, and 20 Emmy nominations.
Leads and later stars
Damian Lewis played main character and Easy Company commander Richard D Winters. After the war drama, he starred in Stephen King's Dreamcatcher, The Escapist and crime drama Life. Ten years later, Lewis landed the iconic role of Nicholas Brody in Homeland, which earned him an Emmy and a Golden Globe. He received more award nominations for playing Henry VIII in Wolf Hall and played Bobby "Axe" Axelrod in Billions. Lewis was married to Peaky Blinders actress Helen McCrory from 2007 until her death in 2021.
Donnie Wahlberg played stoic and calm-under-fire soldier C Carwood Lipton, having first found fame in the 1990s boyband New Kids on the Block. He went on to feature in Dreamcatcher with Band of Brothers co-star Lewis and in the memorable opening scene of the 1999 horror film The Sixth Sense. Wahlberg is now best associated with playing Danny Reagan in police drama Blue Bloods and its latest spin-off Boston Blue.
Breakout names: Tom Hardy, Neal McDonough and Michael Fassbender
Private John Janavec only appears in the final two episodes, joining Easy Company in liberating a Nazi concentration camp after being caught in bed with a German woman. Tom Hardy had his major breakout role in true crime drama Bronson before starring in Inception, Warrior, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Legend and as villain Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. He featured in BBC's Peaky Blinders as head of a Jewish gang Alfie Solomons and earned his first Oscar nomination for The Revenant in 2015. Hardy is set to return for the second season of crime drama Mobland on Paramount Plus. He is married to fellow actress Charlotte Riley, whom he met filming the TV adaptation of Wuthering Heights in 2008.
Renowned for his strong leadership and bravery, Lieutenant Lynn "Buck" Compton was a fan-favourite in the cast. Neal McDonough went on to play several high-profile villains, including Dave Williams in Desperate Housewives, Damien Darhk in the Arrowverse, a mobster in Justified, Cal Thresher in Tulsa King and Malcolm Beck in Yellowstone. McDonough met his wife, model Ruve Robertson, while filming Band of Brothers; they now have five children together.
Michael Fassbender's first major role was as fiercely competitive technical sergeant Burton Christenson. The Irish-German actor made his film debut in 300, followed by Steve McQueen's Hunger and then 12 Years A Slave, earning his first Oscar nomination. His other big roles include Inglourious Basterds, X-Men: First Class, Prometheus, Macbeth and Steve Jobs. Fassbender is married to Tomb Raider star Alicia Vikander, with whom he shares two children.
One episode, lasting impact
James McAvoy appeared in a single episode as new recruit Private James W Miller, but his career truly kicked off after the show. He went on to star as Mr Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia, Carl Colt in Wimbledon and a young Professor X in the X-Men prequel films. In recent years, McAvoy has turned to darker shows and films, including Split, It Chapter Two, HBO's His Dark Materials and Speak No Evil, now on Netflix.
Lt George C Rice, played by Jimmy Fallon, appeared in a single episode as part of an ammo run to Easy Company's location. Fallon had been a regular on Saturday Night Live since 1998 and had bigger roles in films like Fever Pitch and Taxi. He is by far best known as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, taking over from Jay Leno in 2014.
Depicting dry-witted and functioning alcoholic Lewis Nixon, Ron Livingston had already made his acting debut in Dolly Parton's sitcom Straight Talk. Sex and the City fans remember him as Carrie Bradshaw's ex-boyfriend who dumped her with a Post-It note. Livingston later featured in comedies like Dinner For Schmucks and Drinking Buddies, as well as dramatic roles in The Conjuring and Boardwalk Empire as Roy Phillips.
From comedy to the front line
Simon Pegg played First Sergeant Williams S Evans, who volunteers as a paratrooper at the start of the show to help his brothers and is promoted to sergeant after training. Pegg is best remembered for starring in The Cornetto Trilogy with Nick Frost - Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End. He has also starred as Benji Dunn in the Mission Impossible franchise, Dennis in Run Fat Boy Run and Scotty in the Star Trek reboot.
Michael Cudlitz played reliable and loyal Denver "Bull" Randleman. He cropped up in shows like Lost and 24 and starred in Southland before taking on the role of Sergeant Abraham Ford in The Walking Dead. Cudlitz also featured in Clarice, The Kids Are Alright and played Lex Luthor in Superman & Lois.
David Schwimmer, best known for playing Ross Gellar in Friends, played Captain Herbert Sobel, Easy Company's strict disciplinarian and insecure micro-manager. After Friends ended, Schwimmer voiced Melman the giraffe in the Madagascar franchise and played Robert Kardashian in The People v. O.J. Simpson, earning an Emmy Award nomination. His other notable roles include Feed the Beast and Intelligence. Schwimmer has also directed, including behind Run Fat Boy Run.
