The world of The Witcher is quite extensive and has branched out to other media for years, and thanks to this, various actors have played Geralt of Rivia in different adaptations. In 1990, Andrzej Sapkowski introduced the world to Geralt of Rivia and his unique fantasy universe in the short story collection The Witcher. After more short stories and a series of novels, The Witcher expanded to other media, such as comic books, TV shows, movies, and video games, the latter giving this universe worldwide popularity.

The Witcher got an extra boost with its first English language adaptation over at Netflix, premiering in 2019 to great success. Netflix’s The Witcher is now preparing for its fourth season, which will introduce a new actor as Geralt of Rivia after Henry Cavill’s departure. Netflix’s The Witcher has also expanded with an animated prequel movie, a live-action prequel miniseries, and an animated adventure. However, Geralt hasn’t been played by the same actor in all Witcher adaptations, but each performance has given the famous witcher a unique touch.

6 Douglas Cockle

Douglas Cockle Is Geralt’s Voice In Video Games & An Animated Movie

Douglas Cockle is an American actor and director, who became part of the world of The Witcher by being the English voice of Geralt of Rivia in the video games. Before voicing Geralt, Cockle played Father John Maloney in Band of Brothers and had minor roles in movies like The Tailor of Panama, Reign of Fire, and Captain America: The First Avenger. Cockle ed The Witcher in 2007 and has voiced Geralt in every English version of the video games since then. Cockle also voices Geralt in the Netflix animated movie The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep.

5 Jacek Rozenek

Jacek Rozenek Is Geralt’s Voice In Video Games

Jacek Rozenek is a Polish actor, best known for being the original Polish voice of Geralt in The Witcher video games. Like Cockle, Rozenek ed The Witcher in 2007 thanks to the first video game, and he also has uncredited voice roles as Geralt in video games like The Witcher: The Price of Neutrality and The Witcher: Side Effects. His most recent credit as Geralt is the 2018 video game Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. Rozenek suffered a stroke in 2019 and has undergone full rehabilitation.

4 Michał Żebrowski

Michał Żebrowski Is The First Live-Action Geralt Of Rivia

Michał Żebrowski is a Polish actor who entered the world of Sapkowski’s The Witcher as the first live-action version of Geralt of Rivia in The Hexer. In 2001, The Witcher got its first film adaptation, directed by Marek Brodzki, though it wasn’t well-received by critics. The Hexer was criticized for its chaotic and incoherent plot, low-quality special effects, and poor dialogue, though the performances, particularly that of Żebrowski, were praised.

Despite the many negative reviews, The Hexer made way for a TV series in 2002. Also titled The Hexer, the show was 13 episodes long and also starred Żebrowski as Geralt. Although the TV show was labeled as better than the movie, the bad reputation of the movie is considered one of the reasons why the show didn’t get more seasons (via IGN). Żebrowski was also the voice of Doctor Strange in the Polish editions of Doctor Strange and Thor: Ragnarok and Cavill’s Geralt in the Polish dub of Netflix’s The Witcher.

3 Tristan Ruggeri

Tristan Ruggeri Played Young Geralt In Netflix’s The Witcher

Tristan Ruggeri played the young version of Henry Cavill’s Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher. In season 1, after being attacked by a ghoul, Geralt had dreams of his past, specifically when his mother abandoned him and Vesemir took him in. In that flashback to one of Geralt’s most painful memories, young Geralt was played by Ruggeri, and this was his first credited role. Ruggeri went on to play Elliot and Nathan in 2022’s The Twin, Luca in two episodes of Silent Witness, and had a minor appearance in the TV miniseries Bodies.

2 Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill Played Geralt In The First 3 Seasons Of Netflix’s The Witcher

In 2019, Henry Cavill ed Netflix’s The Witcher TV series as Geralt of Rivia. Cavill’s performance earned the praise of critics and fans of the books and video games, who pointed out that Cavill captured the essence of the character quite well. Cavill was one of the few consistent elements in The Witcher, as the TV show has faced criticism for making too many changes to the books. However, Cavill left The Witcher after season 3, and so the character was immediately recast.

Outside The Witcher, Cavill’s most notable roles are Theseus in Immortals, Clark Kent/Superman in the DCEU’s Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (along with some uncredited cameos), August Walker in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, and Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes.

1 Liam Hemsworth

Liam Hemsworth Plays Geralt In Seasons 4 & 5 Of Netflix’s The Witcher

When Henry Cavill announced his departure from Netflix’s The Witcher after season 3, The Hunger Games movie series, Josh Taylor in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, and Dodge Maynard in the action TV series Most Dangerous Game.