Simon West’s “The Mechanic” — a remake of Michael Winner’s 1972 action thriller of the same name — follows the eponymous Arthur Bishop, a professional assassin or “mechanic,” whose speciality is making his hits look like accidents, suicides, or the actions of petty criminals.
It stars Jason Statham as Bishop, with able support from Ben Foster, Tony Goldwyn, and Donald Sutherland.
“The Mechanic” was released on January 28, 2011, meaning its 15th anniversary is approaching fast. With that in mind, let’s take a look at its main stars today, compared to how they looked when the movie was released…
Jason Statham (Arthur Bishop)
GettyBritish actor Jason Statham played Arthur Bishop in “The Mechanic.” Bishop is the eponymous character — an assassin or “mechanic” — with the unique skill of making his kills look like he had nothing to do with them.
Age when “The Mechanic” released: 43.
Selected movie credits before “The Mechanic”: Snatch (2000), Crank (2006), The Expendables (2010).
Above is a 2025 social media post by Jason Statham with a recent picture of him.
Age now: 58.
Selected movie credits after “The Mechanic”: Furious 7 (2015), The Meg (2018), The Beekeeper (2024).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Ben Foster (Steve McKenna)
GettyFormer Disney Channel star Ben Foster played Steve McKenna in “The Mechanic.” McKenna is the son of Arthur Bishop’s mentor, Harry McKenna, who asks Bishop to train him as an assassin.
Age when “The Mechanic” released: 30.
Selected movie credits before “The Mechanic”: Alpha Dog (2006), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), 3:10 to Yuma (2007).
GettyAge now: 45.
Selected movie credits after “The Mechanic”: Hell or High Water (2016), Warcraft (2016), Christy (2025).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Tony Goldwyn (Dean Sanderson)
GettyActor and director Tony Goldwyn played Dean Sanderson in “The Mechanic.” Sanderson is the man who employs Arthur Bishop to carry out his hits.
Age when “The Mechanic” released: 50.
Selected movie credits before “The Mechanic”: Ghost (1990), Tarzan (1999), The Last House on the Left (2009).
Above is a 2025 social media post by Tony Goldwyn with a recent picture of him.
Age now: 65.
Selected movie credits after “The Mechanic”: Divergent (2014), Oppenheimer (2023), One Battle After Another (2025).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Donald Sutherland (Harry McKenna)
GettyLegendary actor Donald Sutherland played Harry McKenna in “The Mechanic.” Harry is the father of Steve McKenna and the mentor of Arthur Bishop, who Bishop is reluctantly hired to kill.
Age when “The Mechanic” released: 75.
Selected movie credits before “The Mechanic”: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), Space Cowboys (2000).
GettyAge now: Sadly passed away in 2024 aged 88.
Selected movie credits after “The Mechanic”: Horrible Bosses (2011), The Hunger Games (2012), Moonfall (2022).
Filmography info per IMDb.
“The Mechanic” doesn’t break any new ground in terms of action thrillers, but it boasts great performances from Jason Statham and Ben Foster, and it’s a marked improvement on the original. So, if it’s excessive violence and genre cliches you’re after, it’s well worth a watch.
May Donald Sutherland rest in eternal peace.
