There have been some notable actors to play Gambit in X-Men media but how do they rank?
When Gambit debuted in the comics in 1990, he stood out nicely. The Cajun thief had a sneaky side and a mysterious past, but captivated readers with his slick accent, style, and mutant power to charge objects (usually playing cards) with kinetic energy to explode. Remy LaBeau was soon a mainstay of the comics.
The character rose to prominence with the 1990s X-Men animated series. Over the years, there were plans to integrate him into the X-Men movies that never came about. He finally got there with a couple of live-action appearances and many more in animation and video games.
There have been seven official actors to play Gambit in X-Men media, with each bringing their own style and abilities to the role. Here’s how they rank to show who brought this raging Cajun to life best for X-Men fans to enjoy.
7. Tony Daniels
Appeared in: X-Men: The Animated Series (season 5)
Talk about an unviable task. When Chris Potter wasn’t available for the fifth and final season of X-Men: The Animated Series, Tony Daniels replaced him as Gambit. It’s a bit tricky to judge the guy as he was trying too hard to copy Potter’s performance and came off lacking. He still had the accent and charm, but not the ease Potter possessed.
Maybe if Daniels had played Gambit from the beginning, he might have been seen better. Sadly, he was far too much in the shadow of Potter, so while his Gambit was good, it paled in comparison to the show’s final season.
6. Taylor Kitsch
Appeared in: X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine had a lot of problems (mute Deadpool, anyone?), yet Taylor Kitsch wasn’t too bad as Gambit. He had a nice charm for the role, and his intro scene was great, from throwing the playing cards to a fight with Wolverine. He does lose points for not getting the accent right, yet Kitsch still showed promise in the part.
The character wasn’t as prominent as some might hope, as he only gets a bit more to do in the finale. For the first live-action take on Gambit, Kitsch was a good choice and one of the few truly enjoyable things in the movie, so he deserves props for the part.
5. Alessandro Juliani
Appeared in: X-Men: Evolution
This fun animated series had the usually evil Acolytes more as anti-hero types. Gambit was a thief and more amoral than his usual persona. While Alessandro Juliani was good in the part, he ranks low as for most of his screen time, Gambit is missing his distinctive accent unless he speaks French. That’s a blow against the performance.
That said, Julliani does capture Remy’s charm, especially with Rogue and could stand up to bullies. The character deepened as it went on, eventually becoming a hero, so while Julliani’s take is a bit different than others, he still captured the essence of the character, which was what counted for the show.
4. Phil LaMarr
Appeared in: Wolverine & The X-Men
Veteran voice actor Phil LaMarr seemed an odd choice to play Gambit in this underrated animated series. This Gambit was more of a mercenary who clashed with Wolverine at first. He was later hired to steal Magneto’s helmet, so he was less a full member of the team than an adversary. Yet in those appearances, LaMarr managed to shine with a pitch-perfect take on the role.
He got the accent dead right with his charming demeanor and a more mischievous side to fit this version of Gambit. He wasn’t as honorable, willing to sell out anyone for money and run off, but LaMarr’s voice still captured Gambit’s unique style for a different take on the character.
3. A.J. LoCascio
Appeared in: X-Men ‘97
Like Daniels, A.J. LoCascio had a tough task following Chris Potter as Gambit in the 2024 revival of the 1990s animated series. LoCascio wisely didn’t try to perfectly emulate Potter but gave the character his own unique spin. He got the voice down so well, some might have been forgiven thinking it was Potter, yet still his distinctive take on Gambit.
He was more subtle, a bit more intense in battle, but truly came alive in the epic episode involving a shocking turn for the character. LoCascio silenced any doubters that his Gambit couldn’t match the original take and make it his own as well.
2. Channing Tatum
Appeared in: Deadpool & Wolverine
For years, plans for a Gambit movie starring Channing Tatum were stuck in development hell. At long last, Tatum got his shot in 2024’s massive hit Deadpool & Wolverine. And from the instant he stepped onto the screen in a comic-accurate outfit, Tatum proved he was born for the role.
It was astounding how he channeled the Cajun accent, the aura, the offbeat talk, even how Gambit moved in battle, throwing the playing cards and wielding the staff. He was an easy highlight of an already fun movie, and one can hope the success of the cameo finally gives him that solo film, as Tatum brought Gambit to wonderful life.
1. Chris Potter
Appeared in: X-Men: The Animated Series
Who else? To so many X-Men fans, Chris Potter was Gambit. He nailed the role perfectly from accent to charm, the way he rolled off “cherie” and other terms, it came so naturally for him. Potter was so amazing that most comic book fans reading Gambit “hear” his voice in the letter boxes.
He was slick, charming, mysterious, everything required for the character, especially in the later, darker parts of the show. It’s one of the best castings of a voice actor in a comic book series ever, as it was thanks to Potter that Gambit hit major popularity in the 1990s.