A prolific producer, acclaimed director, and talented actor, Jon Favreau really is quite a talented individual. He has been nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards and seems to know his way around the Hollywood media landscape. He has come into more of the spotlight recently for his on-screen performances in the MCU, playing the character of Harold “Happy” Hogan. But, before his involvement in the world of Marvel, he has been a part of some pretty notable films and television series.

His career started in Chicago, where Favreau landed a role in the 1993 film Rudy, starring alongside Sean Astin and playing the role of D-Bob. During the production of this film, he met Vince Vaughn, and later moved to Los Angeles, where he wrote and starred alongside Vaughn in his 1996 breakout film, Swingers. Favreau made his directorial debut in 2001 with the film Made, and from there has directed hit films such as Elf, Zathura, Iron Man, The Jungle Book, and The Lion King. His directorial talent is impressive, but so is his acting ability on-screen. Here are Jon Favreau’s best acting performances, ranked.

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6 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

     Sony Pictures Releasing

Spider-Man: Homecoming was the second Marvel reboot of the Spider-Man series, following Captain America: Civil War. The film is directed by Jon Watts and stars Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr., and Michael Keaton. Favreau plays his character of Happy Hogan in this film. Through the relationship between Peter Parker and Tony Stark, Hogan starts to become more closely aligned with Peter, which is a relationship that continues to develop throughout the subsequent MCU films. The film was nominated for three awards from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, and won one for the performance of Tom Holland as Spider-Man

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5 I Love You, Man (2009)

         Paramount Pictures

I Love You, Man is a 2009 comedy-romance film that John Hamburg directs. The film stars Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, and Rashida Jones, and tells the story of a man in search of a male friend to be his best man for his upcoming wedding. Favreau plays a small, but essential role in this film; he portrays the husband of one of Rudd’s soon-to-be-wife’s friends. The character Favreau plays is very adversarial to the main character and pushes him to look outside his circle for male friends. Favreau shines well in comedy films; his timing and line execution are spot-on, and he does an excellent rendition of a masculine and unenjoyable male acquaintance.

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4 Iron Man (2008)

Iron Man was the first film to take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was released in 2008. The film was directed by Jon Favreau and stars Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, and Terrence Howard. With Favreau at the helm of the production, the movie was nominated for two Oscars, one for its sound editing and another for its visual effects. This film is also where the character Happy Hogan is introduced to the franchise. His role in this film is small, but it is a notable start to the continued growth of the lovable character.

3 Swingers (1996)

     Miramax

Swingers is a 1996 film directed by Doug Liman and written by Jon Favreau. The film tells the story of a struggling actor and the escapades of his supportive friends. The movie stars Vince Vaughn, Heather Graham, and Jon Favreau, where Favreau plays the main character, Mike. The character is down on his luck, sweet, and slowly learning to be confident in himself. The young Favreau does a superb job in this role, and it is in comedic characters like this, where he really seems to shine.

2 The Sopranos (1999-2007)

     Warner Bros. Television Distribution

The hit HBO series The Sopranos also had a notable appearance from Jon Favreau. In the show, the character he played was himself, a producer looking for mob-related material to inspire a movie. He seeks out the help of one of the main characters, Chris Moltisanti, who becomes very attached to the idea of developing a film career. Favreau plays his character well and the premise comes across as incredibly fitting. A contemporary mob boss who looks to the film industry for cash flow as their more traditional forms of income become obsolete. Both realistic and enthralling, his performance here stands out against the other cameos in the enthralling mob thriller.

1 Chef (2014)

     Open Road Films

Completing the list is the 2014 film Chef. It is written, directed, and stars Jon Favreau, alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. Other notable actors in the film include John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, and Dustin Hoffman. The movie’s premise portrays a head chef who quits his restaurant job, and starts operating a food truck with his friends and family. The film received an audience-voted award for its narrative during its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and has since received favorable reviews for its wholesome and uplifting story.

Favreau’s performance in this film really is top-notch and employs a wide range of acting abilities which is not often seen in his other films. Throughout the film, he is able to switch from an enraged and stressed kitchen staff member to a supportive and caring father to his son. With Favreau behind the creative direction for this film, there is no dissonance between his vision and what is portrayed on screen. If you enjoy Jon Favreau, this is him at his best, and it is well worth the watch.