Who acted the role of Jesus Christ?

Stories of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have been frequently portrayed on television and movie screens around the world. Here are some of the major actors who have been cast to play him.

Max von Sydow played Jesus Christ in the 1965 American epic, "The Greatest Story Ever Told."

Popular silent era actor H. B. Warner played Jesus Christ in the 1927 silent film, "The King of Kings," produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille.

Jeffrey Hunter, who famously originated the role of Captain Christopher Pike in the 1966 "Star Trek" pilot, filled the role of Jesus in the 1961 biblical film, "King of Kings."

Robert Powell played the title role in the 1977 British-Italian television miniseries, "Jesus of Nazareth."

American voice actor Chris Sarandon took on the role of Jesus in the 1980 TV movie, "The Day Christ Died."

Long before he played a bad guy in "Django Unchained," Ted Neeley played the ultimate good guy in the 1973 film adaptation of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

"Titanic" actor Victor Garber played Jesus Christ in the 1973 film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical, "Godspell."

In 1988, when Martin Scorsese adapted Nikos Kazantzakis' controversial 1953 novel, "The Last Temptation of Christ" into a major motion picture. Willem Dafoe played Jesus.

Long before he stepped into the role of Batman for Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" franchise, Christian Bale played Jesus Christ in the 1999 television film, "Mary, Mother of Jesus."

When Mel Gibson directed the controversial movie, "The Passion of the Christ," in 2004, he cast American actor Jim Caviezel (previously best known for his work in "The Thin Red Line") as Jesus.

In March 2016, award-winning singer-songwriter and "Telenovela" actor Jencarlos Canela stepped into the mighty role in FOX's televised musical event, "The Passion Live."

In the 1999 film, "Superstar," based on Molly Shannon's popular SNL skit about a Roman Catholic schoolgirl, Will Ferrell played both her crush, popular boy Sky Corrigan, and Jesus.

Actor Ralph Fiennes, who famously played Lord Voldemort in the "Harry Potter" films, voiced the role of Jesus in the 2000 stop motion animated film, "The Miracle-Maker."

In 2003, Henry Ian Cusick, the actor best known for playing Desmond in the popular TV series "Lost," stepped into the role of Jesus in the three-hour epic feature film, "The Gospel of John."

In March 2013, Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado played Jesus in the History Channel miniseries, "The Bible."

Robert Torti played Jesus Christ in the 2005 movie musical, "Reefer Madness." And in keeping with the film's comedic tone, his Jesus cautions a young teen to change his marijuana-smoking ways from a Vegas-esque heaven.

In 2015, Keenan Thompson made a cameo as "black Jesus" in a "Saturday Night Live" skit about then-Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson's rocky youth.

"Last Days in the Desert" (2015) is an imagining of Jesus and his 40 days' wandering in the wilderness. Ewan McGregor plays both Jesus and Satan. 

Joaquin Phoenix starred as Jesus in Garth Davis' "Mary Magdalene" (2018).