When it comes to DC villains, there are plenty of iconic ones to choose from: The Joker, Darkseid, Lex Luthor, and the Reverse-Flash all have earned their place. One villain took years to reach popularity and that is Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke. Even the character that was a parody of Deathstroke: Deadpool had more of a following for years.
Now after several movies, TV shows, and video game portrayals: the character of Deathstroke has become an iconic foe for many heroes of the DC universe. The question is: who portrayed the character the best? Plenty of famous actors have played the character in so many different ways.
Will Arnett
In Teen Titans Go! To The Movies, Will Arnett voices Slade that's more of a parody of the character. The Titans make fun that he's too similar to Marvel's Deadpool; much to the surprise of audiences, Deadpool was made to be a parody of Deathstroke.
Will Arnett's naturally deep and gruff voice also lends to a very fitting voice for Deathstroke. If Will Arnett was cast in a more serious version of the character, he likely could nail it. However, as is, his Deathstroke provided some good laughs fitting right into the style of the movie.
Miguel Ferrer
A few actors played Deathstroke in the DC Animated Movie Universe. In Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, Deathstroke was voiced by the late Miguel Ferrer in one of his last roles. Ferrer continues the cold and sinister portrayal of Deathstroke that was established by Thomas Gibson.
Ferrer's gruff voice definitely fits in the villainous role and was did a good job given the material. Unfortunately, the character is not given that much screentime to shine and when he is, it's featuring a rather disturbing relationship with a teenage girl.
Thomas Gibson
Before Ferrer, Thomas Gibson of Criminal Minds fame was the voice of Deathstroke in Son Of Batman. In this film, Gibson is given much more material to work with as the central villain of the story.
Son Of Batman still doesn't really delve much into the character of Slade Wilson. Instead, Gibson is just meant to be an intimidating threat for Batman and Robin. Just like Ferrer, Gibson excels given the material he was given to work with.
Joe Manganiello
It is unfair to judge this portrayal of Deathstroke given he was only on screen for a couple of minutes. That being said, this portrayal now lives in infamy due to the production disaster of 2017's Justice League. Many fans immediately embraced the casting of Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke.
Fans were excited to see him in both Justice League and Ben Affleck's now-canceled Batman movie. However, Joe's only time in the role was in Justice League, and for a brief time, not only did he look perfect but he seemed to really embody the character. That's why many look forward to him returning for more scenes in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
J.G. Hertzler
Typically, Deathstroke is the villain but in the Injustice canon, even he knows that the evil Superman needs to be stopped. So after the Regime tortures him, Slade joins the Insurgency to end the war and get some payback. This version of Slade is voiced by J.G. Hertzler who Trekkies might know as Martok from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
J.G. Hertzler nails the chill, strategic attitude of Slade Wilson and really shines during his chapter of Injustice: Gods Among Us. He takes on the likes of The Flash and Wonder Woman, delivering on making Slade a character one does not want to anger.
Manu Bennett
In the Arrowverse, Manu Bennett plays a very unique version of Slade. Instead of the cold and relentless assassin that most fans are used to, the Arrowverse made Slade into a megalomaniac hellbent on revenge.
He's a rival for Stephen Amell's Green Arrow and plays an integral part in the hero's origin story. Manu completely owned the role during his time on the show, giving a sinister and bombastic performance that feels similar to some of the more enigmatic Bond villains.
Michael Chiklis
No stranger to comic book projects, Michael Chiklis joined the animated DC world via Deathstroke's own solo adventure. In Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons, Michael Chiklis was given the chance to explore the more morally grey side of the character.
Slade may be a mercenary and a cold-killing assassin but he does love his family. Chiklis' take is more of a dark anti-hero and a really good one at that. From beginning to end, Chiklis carries the whole movie with his performance.
Ron Perlman
Probably the first famous portrayal of Deathstroke on screen fans have seen was in the Teen Titans animated series. Voiced by the legend that is Ron Perlman, Deathstroke was never even called Deathstroke: he was simply Slade.
In a show that was mostly geared towards a younger audience, Slade was a terrifying villain. He was methodical, calm, and would immediately command the screen the moment he would appear. Ron Perlman perfectly delivered on his take for the character and without him, the character would not be nearly as famous.
Mark Rolston
Appearing in two entries of the Arkhamverse, Deathstroke was voiced by Mark Rolston who most might know as Drake in James Cameron's Aliens. His Deathstroke debuted as one of the best boss fights of the game in Batman: Arkham Origins. Slade was also a playable character in that game and then he would reappear in Batman: Arkham Knight.
Rolston, with his smaller role, does give an excellent performance as the character. From the condescending attitude to the cold composure, Rolston's Deathstroke is one of the most standout villains of the Arkhamverse.
Esai Morales
The second season of Titans was flawed in many ways for fans. However, if there was one thing that everyone agrees was done perfectly: it was Deathstroke. Esai Morales' Deathstroke is like the perfect culmination of many different incarnations: the honorable soldier, the heartless assassin, the family man, the terrifying villain.
It all comes together with a shockingly good performance by Esai Morales. Every single time Deathstroke was on screen, Titans became The Deathstroke Show in the best way possible. Fans hope the character makes a return in future seasons because Esai Morales perfected the character.