All 7 Green Arrow actors ranked from worst to best

5. Neal McDonough

Appeared in: DC Showcase: Green Arrow

There’s an irony in the fact that one of Neal McDonough’s most famous roles is as villain Damien Darhk in The CW’s Arrow (and spinoff DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), as he also voiced the Emerald Archer once upon a time.

He was tasked with bringing the role to life the animated short DC Showcase: Green Arrow, which did exactly what it said on the tin, showcasing the hero and highlighting his skills, talents, and personality.

McDonough took to the role like a natural that it’s almost hard to believe he was also the brooding and intimidating voice of Darhk. Oliver Queen’s charisma is captured in a heartbeat, right from “Sorry I’m late” to the very end of the short. He’s charming, and patient, with McDonough’s performance balancing Ollie’s light-heartedness with the seriousness of the situation incredibly well.

This short is considered Young Justice-adjacent, meaning that similar events are supposed to have transpired prior to that version of the character’s appearance on the show. It’s not exactly the same, which might explain why McDonough didn’t reprise the role on the show, but if this performance was anything to go by, he would have been a great addition to that show.