Fans of the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother are only just realizing that a now-huge Hollywood star made an appearance in an early episode. Viewers have admitted that even after multiple rewatches, they failed to notice who it really was.
The series, which ran from 2005 to 2014, centered on Ted Mosby, an architect, who tells his children in the future about the events that led him to meet their mother. Along the way, he shares stories involving his friends Lily, Marshall, Barney, and Robin. At the time, it was seen by some as a Friends for a new generation.
Jon Bernthal's Hidden Role
The show was known for featuring big-name guest stars throughout its nine-season run, including Bryan Cranston, John Lithgow, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and James Van Der Beek. It also showcased performers early in their careers who would go on to gain significant roles. One such actor is now having a huge year in 2026.
A user on Instagram with the handle @actingclassweekly posted a video of them rewatching the show, captioning it: "Right after watching The Odyssey and Spider-Man Brand New Day, seeing this guy in a small cameo hits different." The clip revealed that in season one, episode two, titled Purple Giraffe, Jon Bernthal has a small supporting role near the end of the episode. He plays Carlos, a mystery person among the main cast for much of the installment.
Bernthal's Rise to Stardom
Bernthal would later star in The Walking Dead in 2010, then earned the role of The Punisher in Netflix's Daredevil adaptation before getting his own series on the streaming platform. He reprised the role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including in the recent Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In 2026, Bernthal has also appeared in a special installment of The Bear, the crime thriller His and Hers, and Christopher Nolan's epic The Odyssey.
Many fans have confessed that after being reminded of his early role, they either forgot or didn't realize it was him. One fan commented: "I’ve watched this show 12 times and I never realised Jon Bernthal was in the show." Another added: "I remember that guy and I didn’t realise until now that it was Jon Bernthal. Woah."
Someone else confessed: "I forgot he was in that." One person said "No freaking way that was him" followed by an exploding head emoji. Many enjoyed the coincidence that he starred alongside another fellow Marvel actor at the time: Cobie Smulders, who played Robin in the show, would go on to be Agent Hill in several projects including The Avengers.
A viewer joked: "The year was 2005, Aunt Maria was set up on a blind date with The Punisher." Others noted that Bernthal was destined to be the star he is now, replying: "Give Jon his flowers man, he kills any role."
How I Met Your Mother and The Punisher are streaming on Disney+.
