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Actors who played God -

First, let's look at the actors who played God.

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Rex Ingram in 'The Green Pastures' (1936) -

Ingram played "De Lawd" in this film that tells stories from the Bible from the perspective of Black Americans.

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Emily Watson in 'Breaking the Waves' (1996) -

Watson plays a young woman in the Scottish Highlands who talks to God. She believes God replies to her and guides her through her own voice. So the character essentially channels the Almighty!

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Val Kilmer in 'The Prince of Egypt' (1998) -

The famous actor not only voices Moses, but he is also the voice of God in this animated film.

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Charlton Heston in 'The Ten Commandments' (1956) -

Yes, he plays Moses in this classic Biblical adaptation, but he also voices God, so Heston definitely deserves a place on this list.

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Alanis Morissette in 'Dogma' (1999) -

The Canadian singer played God in this fantasy comedy film. She destroys a fallen angel with her voice. Powerful stuff!

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Morgan Freeman in 'Bruce Almighty' (2003) -

When we talk about actors playing God, Morgan Freeman usually springs to mind. In 'Bruce Almighty,' God goes on vacation and hands over his duties to a guy who's always complaining about him.

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Morgan Freeman in 'Evan Almighty' (2007) -

His role in 'Bruce Almighty' was such a success that four years later he was back on the big screen, playing God again. This time, to warn a congressman about an upcoming flood.

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Whoopi Goldberg in 'A Little Bit of Heaven' (2011) -

'A Little Bit of Heaven' brings us yet another woman as God. In this movie, God appears to a terminally ill young woman and grants her three wishes.

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Actors who played the Devil -

Now, let's move onto the dark side of filmmaking. Behold the actors who played the Devil...

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James Craig in 'All That Money Can Buy' (1941) -

The actor plays Mr. Scratch, aka the Devil, who grants seven years of prosperity to a farmer in exchange for his soul.

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Claude Rains in 'Angel on My Shoulder' (1946) -

A gangster is given a chance to return to Earth and get revenge on the person who killed him. Of course, this deal is struck with the Devil himself.

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Vincent Price in 'The Story of Mankind' (1957) -

Mr. Scratch tries to persuade a judge that a weapon called "Super H-Bomb," which has the capacity to wipe out all humans, should be detonated.

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Ral Walston in 'Damn Yankees' (1958) -

A baseball fan sells his soul to Applegate (aka the Devil) for his team to win against the Yankees.

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Harvey Stephens in 'The Omen' (1976) -

An adopted orphaned infant turns out to be the personification of evil.

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Tim Curry in 'Legend' (1985) -

In this movie, we get to see a young Tom Cruise against the Lord of Darkness (played by Tim Curry) in a quest to save his princess.

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Jack Nicholson in 'The Witches of Eastwick' (1987) -

Nicholson plays Satan in disguise, under the name Daryl Van Horne, who tries to manipulate three women.

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Robert De Niro in 'Angel Heart' (1987) -

'Angel Heart' brings together Mickey Rourke and Robert De Niro in a one of the most emblematic portrayals of the Devil on the big screen.

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Robert De Niro in 'Angel Heart' (1987) -

De Niro plays Louis Cyphre (Lucifer), who asks a private investigator to track down a jazz musician, who happened to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for fame.

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Max von Sydow in 'Needful Things' (1993) -

Based on a Stephen King horror novel, Max von Sydow plays a man named Leland Gaunt, who opens a store called Needful Things in a town, where he stocks the local residents' deepest desires.

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Viggo Mortensen in 'The Prophecy' (1995) -

Mortensen plays Lucifer, who visits a young woman and tells her a secret.

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Al Pacino in 'The Devil's Advocate' (1997) -

'The Devil's Advocate' is probably one of Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves' most accomplished performances.

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Al Pacino in 'The Devil's Advocate' (1997) -

Pacino plays a top lawyer (who happens to be the Devil) who offers an up-and-coming attorney a position at his prestigious law firm. Things start to go wrong when the young lawyer moves to New York City.

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Gabriel Byrne in 'End of Days' (1999) -

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays an atheist ex-cop who tries to stop the Devil from bringing the world to an end on the turn of the millennium. The Devil, played by Gabriel Byrne, inhabits the body of a human.

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Elizabeth Hurley in 'Bedazzled' (2000) -

Probably the sexiest Devil in film history, Liz Hurley's character grants a young man seven wishes.

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Harvey Keitel in 'Little Nicky' (2000) -

Keitel plays the Devil in this movie, where his son, Nicky (Adam Sandler), is sent to Earth in search of his two brothers who escaped Hell.

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Peter Fonda in 'Ghost Rider' (2007) -

You probably remember Nicolas Cage riding a motorcycle in this movie, but it's Peter Fonda who plays Mephistopheles, aka the Devil.

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Tom Waits in 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' (2009) -

The famous musician plays Mr. Nick (aka the Devil) in this fantasy/adventure movie. 

Sources: (SBS) (Entertainment Weekly) The Hollywood Reporter) (IMDd)

See also: Musicians who played villains in movies

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