Iron Man was the first entry in the beloved MCU franchise and introduced several exciting cast and characters that continued to make appearances throughout the saga for many years to come. It tells the story of an arrogant millionaire named Tony Stark, whose traumatic experiences after being kidnapped by a rogue terrorist cell force him to question his own morality and develop a powerful suit of armor intended to protect those that his company has put in danger. The movie also introduced other important MCU characters such as, James Rhoades and Nick Fury, who went on to be important staples in the franchise.
Tony Stark’s powerful MCU arc played a huge role in the Infinity Saga, and that makes Iron Man one of the franchise’s most important stories of all. It’s the beginning of a huge story that entertained for almost a decade, and none of that would’ve been possible without the sharp storytelling and bold performances of the entire cast. They brought these characters to life in unique ways that really allowed viewers to relate to this story, and it’s because of them that the MCU ultimately became such a worldwide phenomenon that so many people found themselves emotionally connected to.
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark
Tony Stark is the protagonist of Iron Man, and it’s from his perspective that the majority of this iconic story is told. He’s the arrogant, egotistic heir to Stark Industries, which is the leading supplier of military weapons across the world. Tony Stark is inspired by several real-world entrepreneurs whose self-centered behavior has allowed them to rise the ranks of the industry, but Stark’s character undergoes a serious change in the movie that Downey Jr. captures perfectly. It was only the beginning of the actor’s tenure in the MCU, but he understood the roots of this character immediately. His other works include Tropic Thunder, Chaplin, and Sherlock Holmes.
Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts
Pepper Potts is Starks’ personal assistant and most trusted employee at Stark Industries, but more importantly, she’s the one that keeps him grounded to reality when his ego threatens to drag him away. Their relationship is an incredibly important and vulnerable one, and Paltrow’s performance in Iron Man really pushes home just how protective she is of Tony and how much she wants to see him thrive. Stark and Potts are soulmates, and while their relationship remains mostly platonic in this movie, the pair’s performances expertly lay the groundwork for their romance. Paltrow’s other works include Se7en and Shakespeare in Love.
Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger
There have been several great villains in the Iron Man trilogy, but Obadiah Stane remains the most important and memorable. He’s played by the hugely talented Jeff Bridges, who’d previously gained fame thanks to his roles in Tron and The Big Lebowski. He brings a perfect amount of intensity and unpredictability to the character, who serves as Tony Stark’s main adversary in their battle for Stark Industries. It’s his actions that finally cause Stark to understand how complicit he’d been in the company’s immoral actions, triggering his transformation and the beginning of his journey into heroism.
Terrence Howard as James Rhodes
Although Terrence Howard was later replaced in the MCU, his portrayal of Colonel James Rhodes in this first entry was among the film’s greatest assets. Although he wasn’t the most important character in the story, he’s crucial in understanding Tony Stark's behavior. Rhodes is Stark’s oldest friend, and despite the pair’s many conflicts about how the company should be run, he’s always the one that forces Stark to see sense when his intentions are misaligned. Although the character doesn’t shine until later movies, Howard’s one-time performance allows for several great comedic moments. Howard’s previous roles included Hustle & Flow and Get Rich Or Die Tryin’.
Iron Man’s Supporting Cast & Characters
Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan - Alongside directing the movie, Jon Favreau also plays the role of Tony Stark’s loyal advisor, Happy Hogan, who has many great moments throughout the MCU. Favreau has also starred in several movies, such as Rudy, and directed films like Elf, Jungle Book, and The Lion King.
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury - Despite only appearing in Iron Man’s post-credit scene, Nick Fury is a hugely important character in this story. He’s the one that ultimately recruits Tony into the Avengers, and Jackson’s ominous performance in Iron Man really establishes him as a force to be reckoned with. He’s best-known for his works in Pulp Fiction and Coach Carter.
Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson - After escaping from the Ten Rings using his mechanical suit, Stark is tracked down by Agent Coulson on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D. Gregg’s deadpan performance is consistently fun to watch, and he effectively introduces this running narrative thread of the MCU. His other popular movies include Choke and Trust Me.
Leslie Bibb as Christine Everhart - While many of Tony Stark’s jokes try way too hard, his interaction with journalist Christine Everhart at the beginning of Iron Man is admittedly hilarious to watch. Their dynamic is witty and sarcastic, and their brief romance helps establish Stark as the playboy that he is. Bibb’s other beloved projects include Law Abiding Citizen and Talladega Nights.
Paul Bettany as J.A.R.V.I.S. - Paul Bettany would later play Vision in the MCU, but his first appearance was actually as Tony Stark’s artificial assistant J.A.R.V.I.S. He provides the voice for Stark’s technology, adding just enough emotion and intelligence to provide the audience with a few laughs at Stark’s expense. Bettany has also worked on movies, such as A Knight’s Tale and A Beautiful Mind.
Peter Billingsley as William Ginter Riva - Riva only plays a minor role in Iron Man, but he’s one of several workers that’s vengeful against Stark for his arrogance and negligence. This subplot is further explored in one of the best Spider-Man movies, the MCU’s Far From Home. Billingsley is best-known for his iconic role as Ralphie in A Christmas Story.
Shaun Toub as Ho Yinsen - Yinsen is the multi-talented scientist that saves Stark’s life when they’re captured by the Ten Rings, and his consequent death is one of the main reasons that Stark begins to reform his actions. Toub gives an extremely emotional and moving performance - matching the talent that he’s shown in his previous works, The Kite Runner and The Nativity Story.
Faran Tahir as Raza - Raza is the head of the Ten Rings terrorist cell that captures Stark at the beginning of Iron Man, and it’s thanks to Tahir’s dominating and intimidating performance that these scenes are so fun to watch. The Ten Rings have caused several plotholes in the MCU, but that doesn’t stop Raza from being a terrifying villain in Iron Man’s first act. Tahir has since appeared in Flight World War II and Escape Plan.
Stan Lee (Cameo) - Stan Lee made a brief cameo in every single MCU movie before his unfortunate death, and Iron Man contains one of his most entertaining of all. He appears alongside two young models at Tony Stark’s party, providing audiences with another dose of his signature charm and charisma.