Who plays the character of the Collector in the MCU?

Benicio del Toro plays the Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His character is Taneleer Tivan, an eccentric cosmic antiquarian who collects rare creatures, artifacts, and powerful objects from across the galaxy.

Del Toro first appears as the Collector in a mid-credits scene in Thor: The Dark World (2013). Sif and Volstagg deliver the Aether, later identified as the Reality Stone, to him for safekeeping because Asgard already possesses another Infinity Stone. He returns more prominently in Guardians of the Galaxy, where the Guardians visit his headquarters on Knowhere and attempt to sell him the Orb containing the Power Stone.

The role is sometimes confused with other flamboyant cosmic characters. Jeff Goldblum plays the Grandmaster, the Collector's brother, in Thor: Ragnarok. Kurt Russell plays Ego in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, while David Tennant voices a different Marvel character, the villainous Purple Man, in Jessica Jones.

Del Toro reprised the Collector in Avengers: Infinity War and also voiced alternate versions of the character in What If...? His performance makes Tivan memorable through exaggerated speech, theatrical mannerisms, and an unsettling fascination with living specimens.