If you grew up on Disney movies or the original J.M. Barrie stage plays, you probably have a very specific image of the boy who wouldn't grow up. He’s usually wearing green tights, crowing like a rooster, and fighting a bumbling pirate with a hook for a hand. He’s the hero. But back in 2013, the creators of the hit ABC series Once Upon a Time decided to flip that script entirely. They turned the legendary boy-hero into a sociopathic, manipulative, and genuinely terrifying antagonist.
The question of who plays Peter Pan in Once Upon a Time is one that still pops up in fan forums and trivia nights because the actor’s performance was so jarringly good. He didn't just play a kid; he played an ancient demon trapped in a teenager’s body.
The Face Behind the Pan: Robbie Kay
The actor responsible for this iconic portrayal is Robbie Kay.
When he was cast, Kay was only about 17 or 18 years old, yet he had to carry the weight of being the "Big Bad" for one of the show’s most beloved story arcs. It wasn't an easy task. Before he landed the role of the boy who never grew up, Kay had appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Pinocchio. But it was his stint in Neverland that truly put him on the map. He brought a certain sharpness to the character. His eyebrows alone seemed to do half the acting—arching in a way that signaled total malice while his mouth stayed fixed in a smug, punchable grin.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a young actor out-act industry veterans like Robert Carlyle (Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin) or Lana Parrilla (Regina Mills), but Kay held his own. He made you believe that this kid was actually centuries old.
Why This Version of Pan Was Different
In the Once Upon a Time universe, Peter Pan isn't just a mischievous runaway. He’s actually Malcolm, the father of Rumplestiltskin. This was a massive twist that caught the audience off guard during Season 3. To gain eternal youth and the power of flight, Malcolm abandoned his own son, trading his fatherhood for a permanent stay in Neverland.
This backstory added a layer of disgusting narcissism to the character. Robbie Kay had to play a man who hated being a father so much that he chose to become a child himself. That’s dark. Like, really dark for a Disney-owned network show. He wasn't looking for "lost boys" to save them; he was building an army of discarded children to serve his own ego.
The Acting Mechanics of a Teenage Villain
Kay’s performance relied heavily on stillness. Most TV villains chew the scenery. They yell, they throw things, they have big, sweeping monologues. Kay’s Pan was different. He whispered. He stood perfectly still while everyone around him panicked. This created a sense of "quiet power" that made the adult characters look like the children.
When you look at who plays Peter Pan in Once Upon a Time, you're looking at an actor who understood the assignment: don't play him like a kid. Play him like a shark.
The physical demands were also interesting. Because Neverland was mostly a green-screen set in a Vancouver studio, Kay had to project a sense of wonder and terror without much to look at. He’s spoken in interviews about how he tried to make Pan feel "unsettling." It wasn't about being scary in a monster way; it was about being scary in a "I know your deepest secrets" way.
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The Return of the Character
While his primary arc was in the first half of Season 3, Robbie Kay wasn't done with the role. He returned later in the series, specifically during the 100th episode arc when the show went to the Underworld. Seeing him back in the green tunic (well, a more muted, gritty version of it) was a highlight for many fans who felt the show lost some of its edge after he left.
Even when Pan was dead, his influence lingered. The dynamic between Pan and Rumplestiltskin is arguably the most complex father-son relationship in the entire series. It’s a complete reversal of the traditional trope. Usually, the son resents the father for growing up; here, the son resents the father for refusing to.
Career Impact for Robbie Kay
After his time on Once, Robbie Kay moved on to other notable projects. He starred in Heroes Reborn as Tommy Clark, showing a much more heroic, vulnerable side that was a total 180 from the sociopath in Neverland. He’s also appeared in films like Locating Silver Lake and the horror-comedy Blood Fest.
But for a specific generation of TV viewers, he will always be the "Real" Peter Pan. Not the one who takes you on adventures, but the one you desperately hope you never meet in a dark forest.
Technical Details and Casting
The casting directors, Alicia Talton and Veronica Collins Rooney, were looking for someone who could look innocent one second and demonic the next. They found that in Kay. It’s worth noting that before he got the role, there were rumors that the show might cast someone much older and use CGI, or go with a more traditional "Disney" look. Choosing a British actor with a naturally posh but sinister cadence was the right move. It leaned into the British roots of the original story while subverting the expectations of the audience.
Tracking the Legacy of the Character
The legacy of who plays Peter Pan in Once Upon a Time is tied to the show’s peak. Season 3 is widely regarded by fans as the "golden era" of the series. The Neverland arc felt high-stakes because the villain felt unbeatable. Pan wasn't just a guy with magic; he was a guy who understood how to manipulate the hearts of the heroes.
He played on Emma Swan’s feelings of being an orphan. He played on Regina’s insecurities as a mother. He played on Neal’s trauma. That’s what made Robbie Kay’s performance so effective—he wasn't just fighting with a sword; he was fighting with psychology.
If you’re looking to revisit his performance, here is the basic roadmap of his essential episodes:
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- Season 3, Episode 1 "The Heart of the Truest Believer": Our first real introduction to the mystery of Pan.
- Season 3, Episode 8 "Think Lovely Thoughts": The big reveal of his origin story as Malcolm. This is Kay's best work in the series.
- Season 3, Episode 11 "Going Home": The "finale" of his main arc where the stakes reach their breaking point.
- Season 5, Episode 12 "Souls of the Departed": His return in the Underworld.
How to Watch and Experience the Arc
If you're jumping into the show just for Pan, you can find Once Upon a Time streaming on Disney+ in most regions. It's also available for purchase on platforms like Amazon and Apple TV.
For the best experience, don't just skip to his scenes. The tension of the Neverland arc relies on the build-up. The first two seasons establish Rumplestiltskin as the most dangerous man in the world. When you finally meet Pan and realize that Rumple is afraid of him, it makes Robbie Kay’s entrance that much more impactful.
Final Thoughts on the Casting
In the end, Robbie Kay’s Peter Pan remains one of the most successful character reinterpretations in modern fantasy television. He took a character that was essentially a symbol of childhood innocence and turned him into a symbol of stagnant, selfish adulthood. It was a risky move by the writers, and it could have easily failed if the actor wasn't up to the task.
Fortunately, Kay was. He gave us a villain that we loved to hate and a version of Peter Pan that we’ll never forget.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch Season 3, Episode 8: If you want to see the exact moment the character changes forever, "Think Lovely Thoughts" is the definitive episode for Robbie Kay’s performance.
- Compare the Versions: Watch the 1953 Disney animated version of Peter Pan followed by a Season 3 episode of Once. It’s a fascinating study in how tone and acting choices can completely transform the same source material.
- Follow the Actor: Check out Robbie Kay’s more recent work in Heroes Reborn to see his range beyond the villainous confines of Neverland.