Only One Actor Starred in the Matrix, LoTR, and Star Wars Trilogies
The early 2000s were monumental for the movie industry, as CGI began catching up with the filmmakers’ visions and the world of cinema was being ushered into a new era.
Above all, three trilogies stood out: The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, and the Star Wars prequels. And only one actor connected the three monumental franchises: a man named Bruce Spence.
A New Zealand native, Spence had been working steadily in the industry since 1971, debuting in the Australian comedy Stork. The six-foot-six Spence has a long, skinny frame and a wide smile that borders on the uncanny - perfectly suited for creepy sci-fi characters.
He appeared in Matrix Revolutions, the third of the franchise, in 2003. He played the Trainman, the self-described “god” who captures Neo in Mobil Avenue. On top of being a formidable opponent, the Trainman’s disheveled look and wild eyes made him a frightening villain.
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That same year, he appeared in the Extended Cut of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King as the Mouth of Sauron - a grotesque mouth and eyes shielded by a mask.
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Though his scene was ultimately cut from the theatrical release, he was able to be part of the most successful film at the Academy Awards ever, having won eleven awards on as many nominations. That was the biggest Oscar sweep in history and tied for the most wins.
Two years later, he was Tion Medon in the Star Wars prequel finale, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Medon was the Port Administrator on the planet when Kenobi defeated General Grievous. He was a long-headed, priestlike figure with crooked teeth and hollow eyes, continuing Spence’s streak of portraying unsightly characters.
Spence appeared in two more iconic franchises of the 21st century - as Lord Rhoop in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) and as Mayor Dix in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). He previously appeared in the Mad Max franchise, as The Gyro Captain in 1981 and Jedediah the Pilot in 1985.
2003 was by far his most impressive year. On top of The Matrix and Lord of the Rings, he’s appeared in Finding Nemo, Inspector Gadget 2, and Peter Pan.
While Spence was the only actor to appear in all three trilogies, several actors played in two of them - most notably, Hugo Weaving and Christopher Lee.
Weaving starred in Lord of the Rings as Lord of Rivendell Elrond and Agent Smith in The Matrix; Lee was the Jedi-turned-Sith Count Dooku in Star Wars and Saruman the White in Lord of the Rings.
Spence has appeared in 127 titles in his five decades in the industry, most recently in the Australian short Cold Water as the lead character, Murray.