Hollywood loves a villain with a smoking beard. But when you ask who plays Blackbeard in pirates movies or shows, the answer depends entirely on which ship you’re boarding. Most people immediately think of the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but that's just one version of Edward Teach.
Honestly, the role has been passed around like a bottle of rum.
In the Disney universe, specifically Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), the legendary pirate is played by Ian McShane. You might know him as the terrifying Al Swearengen from Deadwood or the mysterious Winston from John Wick. He brought a sort of weary, supernatural menace to the role. Instead of the historical Blackbeard who tied smoking fuses into his hair to look like a demon, McShane’s version was a voodoo-practicing dark wizard who could control his ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, with a magic sword.
It was a choice. Some fans loved the grit; others felt it was a bit too "fantasy" for a guy who actually existed in the real world.
The Many Faces of Edward Teach
If you weren’t talking about the Disney movies, you might be thinking of the more recent, and much more "human," version of the character.
Taika Waititi in Our Flag Means Death
This is probably the most talked-about version right now. In the Max series Our Flag Means Death, Taika Waititi plays a Blackbeard who is... well, he’s having a mid-life crisis. He’s bored of being scary. He’s tired of the leather and the reputation. Waititi plays him with a mix of vulnerability and sudden, terrifying violence that feels way more "real" than a CGI wizard. It’s a queer romance, a comedy, and a character study all rolled into one. If you’re looking for the most "human" performance, this is it.
Ray Stevenson in Black Sails
For the history buffs or those who want their pirates gritty and R-rated, the late Ray Stevenson delivered what many consider the definitive performance in the Starz series Black Sails. Standing at 6'3", Stevenson was a colossus. He didn't need magic swords. He just needed to walk into a room. His Blackbeard was an aging lion trying to reclaim his legacy in Nassau. It’s a powerhouse performance that stays closer to the "historical" vibe while still being incredibly cinematic.
Hugh Jackman in Pan
Remember the 2015 movie Pan? Most people don't, but Hugh Jackman went full ham as Blackbeard there. He was unrecognizable with a shaved head, a bizarre goatee, and Marie Antoinette-style outfits. This version was a tyrannical dictator of Neverland who kidnapped orphans to mine for pixie dust. It was flamboyant and weird. Definitely not your traditional pirate.
Why Ian McShane’s Performance Still Matters
Even with all these other actors, Ian McShane is still the face most people see when they search for who plays Blackbeard in pirates lore.
Why? Because the Pirates of the Caribbean movies are massive.
McShane’s Blackbeard was the first time the franchise introduced a real-life historical figure as a primary antagonist. Before him, we had the fictional Hector Barbossa and the CGI-heavy Davy Jones. Bringing in Edward Teach gave the fourth movie a different weight. McShane played him as a man obsessed with his own mortality. He wasn't just pillaging for gold; he was hunting the Fountain of Youth because he was terrified of a prophecy that said a one-legged man would kill him.
"I am a bad man," McShane’s character famously says. He doesn't apologize for it. He just owns it.
The Historical Reality vs. The Actors
It’s kinda funny how none of these actors actually look like the real Edward Teach.
✨ Don't miss: Chet Baker in Tokyo: Why This 1987 Performance Was His True Final Act
History tells us Blackbeard was a master of psychological warfare. He wasn't necessarily the most murderous pirate, but he was the best at branding. He’d wrap hemp cords into his beard and light them during battle so he’d appear surrounded by a halo of smoke.
- Ian McShane captured the "legendary" status.
- Taika Waititi captured the "boredom" of the man behind the mask.
- Ray Stevenson captured the "physicality" and leadership.
Who Else Has Taken the Helm?
If you dig through the crates of TV history, you’ll find plenty of others.
John Malkovich played a version of the pirate in the short-lived NBC series Crossbones (2014). He played him as a genius inventor living in secret. It was... odd. Then you’ve got James Purefoy in the BBC’s Blackbeard: Terror at Sea, which tried to be more of a docudrama.
Even Doctor Who and Legends of Tomorrow have had their own versions of Blackbeard. It’s a role that actors seem to view as a "bucket list" item. Who doesn't want to wear the big coat and scream at a crew?
What to Watch If You Want the Best Blackbeard
If you’re trying to decide which version to binge-watch this weekend, here’s the breakdown based on what you’re into:
💡 You might also like: Why Regal Gallery Place is the Only Movie Theatre That Matters in Chinatown
- For pure Blockbuster Fun: Watch Ian McShane in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It’s big, it’s loud, and the ship is literally alive.
- For Emotional Depth and Laughs: Go with Taika Waititi in Our Flag Means Death. You’ll actually care about the guy.
- For Hardcore Pirate Action: Ray Stevenson in Black Sails is the gold standard. Seasons 3 and 4 specifically.
- For Something Weird: Check out Hugh Jackman in Pan if you want to see a great actor doing something totally unexpected (and very theatrical).
Blackbeard is more than just a character; he’s a trope. Whether it’s the voodoo king or the lovesick captain, each actor brings a different piece of the pirate’s complicated history to the screen.
The next time someone asks you who plays Blackbeard in pirates, just know there isn't one right answer—just a lot of very famous men in very itchy-looking beards.
Your Next Steps: Check out the first episode of Black Sails on Starz or Hulu if you want to see the most historically grounded (yet still epic) version of the pirate world. If you prefer the supernatural, On Stranger Tides is usually streaming on Disney+.