Best Actors Ever

IMO, the voters are showing preferences for the more modern method actors as opposed to the classic "legends." All are entitled to their opinions.

It is obvious that this web site is being manipulated. All the great actors are moving down very fast, while the average or below average get moved up. It looks like one person's favorites have to become the greatest of all time. It makes these lists worthless.

He didn't dominate the screen. He owned it

agreed :)

3/13/10 - You can now vote for your favorite Newman films in the list "Best Films of Paul Newman."

Are you kidding? James Dean should seriously be higher on this list. He was one of the first stars to use Method acting, and even though he only made three films, in my opinion they were all incredible performances. No, he wasn't copying Brando. In Dean's own words, "People were telling me I behaved like Brando before I knew who Brando was!" Did you realize that Dean was dyslexic? That's right. He had a natural gift for improvisation. In sum, I think quality matters more than quantity.

He was only in two films and though his death was unfortunate, he does not belong on a list of the best of all time, let alone very high on that list.

James Dean, killed in a car accident in his early 20s, was uncredited in 4 films before he made the three that made him famous. He received the first ever posthumous Oscar nomination as Best Actor for East of Eden [1955], made Rebel Without a Cause [1955], and became the only actor ever to receive two posthumous Oscar nominations for Best Actor with Giant [made in 1955, released in 1956].

Of course Brando is the greatest screen actor.Any other actor will tell you that.Just like Streep is the greatest actress.This list is screwy anyway.DEan and Newman were iconic stars but their acting abilities cant hold a handle to Brando.And what is Don Johnson doing on this list?Its bizarre.

That may be true, but I think the quality of Dean's work is what matters, not the quantity. He was the first actor ever to be nominated for two Best Performance Oscars posthumously. Although he didn't live long enough to see his success, he's still more of an icon than Brando.

You can't possibly be comparing James Dean to Brando. Though Dean's death was sad, he still had a very small body of work to compare to Brando's vast body of highly acclaimed work. Dean simply doesn't belong on the list and Brando belongs in at least the top 50.

Totally overrated. James Dean should be here!

Seventeen times the vote count for Bing Crosby (two Oscars) or John Wayne, not to mention Yul Brynner or Sidney Poitier? He is way overrated.

Academy Award for Best Actor in The Godfather. Academy Award for Best Actor in On The Waterfront. Academy Award Nominations for Best Actor for: Last Tango In Paris, A Streetcar Named Desire, Viva Zapata!, Julius Caesar, Sayonara. Obviously his industry rated him very highly!

Completely overrated.

3/13/2010 - You can now vote for your favorite Brando films in the list "Best films of Marlon Brando."

You can vote for him in Best Western Films for One Eyed Jacks [1961].

What can you say. Jimmy was was man. I pity the youth who can't see beyond fx and watch the masters at work,

Simply a legend!

I'm sorry, what "snide" comments did I make? I simply said that Don Johnson shouldn't be listed with the great actors. That's my opinion, and I have a right to it, the same as you. BTW, I am convinced of my opinion, the same as anyone else. As for John Wayne, I said biggest movie star of all-time, I didn't say greatest actor, even though I always thought him underrated. It's ok for me to think that isn't it? I mean, I'm not going to hell for disagreeing with you am I? As for Gary Cooper not making the top 10 list, no he didn't, but I'm sure he ranked high. Unless you were under a rock your entire life, if your age is correct on your profile, you know what a big star he was. As for Matt Damon, I didn't say he was a top anything, I said he is 'MY' current, at least one of my current, favorites. I'm sorry my opinions seem to upset you so much, but this is the United States. I have a right to free speech the last time I checked.......

Oh, and there's another list on this website that lists John Wayne as #62 of 75. Just saying...

By the way, you could have voted Don Johnson down without making snide comments.

Where is Mr. Wayne on the top 10 list you quote? "Quite possibly the biggest movie star of all-time." You seem so very positive in your opinions, I'm surprised you haven't made your own list. All the lists on this entire site were made by individuals. It's not a requirement of anybody, but I'm sure someone as convinced as you seem to be of your correctness could do us all a service with a list. I didn't see your choices of Gary Cooper or Matt Damon on the AFI list either.

I didn't know that it was required that I make lists of my own. I'm sure as hell not going to be "shamed" into doing it by someone who knows nothing at all about me. This is an opinion site. What I said about Mr. Wayne is my opinion. If you have a different one, feel free to say so, about him. I'm not the one being critiqued.....

Maybe underrated for good reason? Tboneya makes critical comments, but doesn't seem to have enough knowledge to create any lists of his own???

Should be in the top 10 on this list. A very, very underrated actor. Quite possibly the biggest movie star of all-time.

He had an endearing speech impediment which added to his charm. But it was the same in every part since he couldn't alter it, so it always seemed as if he was acting as himself rather than the character. Fantastic in Casablanca and African Queen. No 1 actor? Quite possibly, if you like that type of acting. Personally, I thought his voice was the same old, same old, and I found the impediment distracting. IMO the method actors that came after him are superior.

Humphrey is one of reasons I have faith in the cinema. Casablanca? African Queen? Definitely deserves No. 1.

Not my No1 but still belongs right up there.

I am happy to see that is up at number 1, where he belongs.

I agree, Bogart was the best ever. From Casablanca to Key Largo to the Caine Mutiny and so many others, he brought something to the screen that no one else ever has.

This ranking is absolute lunacy .. its ridiculous how the younger generation has no interest in the classics. Im a baby boomer and I still recognize this man as the best... he is number 1..

A legend who is often overlooked.

3/21/10 - You can now vote for your favorite Fonda films in the list "Best Films of Henry Fonda."

3/29/10 - You can now vote for your favorite Peck films in the list "Best Films of Gregory Peck."

i am very surprised that mitcum is rated at no 75 considering the amount of great films that he was in and being a very versatile actor that was

3/25/10 - you can now vote for your favorite Eastwood films in the list "Best Films of Clint Eastwood."

Sidney Poitier is the number 1 African American actor

Burton should be in top-5

Not just because of the wonderful movies he did but the the actuation is always perfect for the characters. My favorites are The Terminal, Cast Away, Forrest Gump and Philadelphia.

Another great movie with him is Castaway. A large portion of the movie is him going through the different emotions of being alone on a desolate island. Another example of Tom Hanks disappearing into his character. Awesome actor.

Forrest Gump is a classic example of an actor disappearing into the character. When you realize this is actually Tom Hanks and not Forrest Gump, you realize what fine acting is. Very underrated and the heir apparent to the "Next Jimmy Stewart" throne.

"Papion" Was a hard role to capture from 1 actor.He did it really great,that alone makes for a good actor.And i never even seen his other movies.

Actualy he was damn good..surprising because he was no intellect..just very real on thescreen like Cooper or Stewart.

blasphemy

Legend, yes, but not a very good actor and belongs in the bottom 5, not the top.

LEGEND!!! should be top 5

Let's see here. DANCES WITH WOLVES = he was the star and director, it got Academy Award Best Picture, Academy Award Best Director, Nominated for Best Actor. FIELD OF DREAMS, BULL DURHAM, JFK, THE GUARDIAN, THE UNTOUCHABLES = critically acclaimed in all of them. I saw them, IMHO he was exceptional.

From someone who has friends in the industry, this guy is not a good actor. Sorry but no way.

No offence taken, but I'm curious as to your reason. You mean not at all, or just at this height on the list? Thanks for your comment about Steve McQueen - he's one of my absolute favorites.

"you gotta ask yourself, are you a wolf?...or are you a sheep?"

LARRY OLIVIER NO.1

THERE HAS BEEN ONLY 2 ACTORS EVER AND THAT IS BETTE DAVIS AND LAURENCE OLIVIER ALL THE OTHERS STINK. LAURENCE NO.1 AND BETTE DAVIS NO.2 THOSE TWO ARE REAL ACTORS

I enjoyed his performance in High Noon, but I liked him better in Sergeant York, The Pride of the Yankees, and A Farewell to Arms. He turned down the role of Rhett Butler because he said the role was too sympathetic to the southern rebellion and romanticized the Confederacy and its racist protection of slavery - which makes him a true hero to me.

Who can forget his stellar performance in High Noon, one of the best westerns ever.

At one time Cooper was the biggest and most sought after movie star in the world. A great actor, how soon people forget....

Watch " The Old man and the Sea". Then you will realize 35 is to low for this great man

3/18/10 - You can now vote for your favorite Gable films in the list "Best Films of Clark Gable."

Once again you're ignoring talent for personal comments. Papasmurf, darlin', your continued defense of a guy that cheated on his wife for decades says a lot. But Tboneya had it right. This is the United States and everyone has a right to their opinion, INCLUDING ME. I find your comments quite amusing, keep them coming! I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PUTTING THE WOMEN ON THIS LIST. You might consider a remedial reading course.

It takes two to tango, and her boyfriend is up there in the top 20.

Golly, I thought this list was for best actors...not your personal dislike of their lifestyles!

To those who object to women being on this list, I personally entered about 30 ladies in the actress list, none here. That being said, Hollywood uses the words actress and actor both for the women. Anybody who cares to see for themselves can look up the 2010 Oscar tribute to the deceased on the internet - there you will see the word ACTOR beneath the picture of each actress shown. In addition, each lady was [and they all are] a member of SAG in order to work. That stands for Screen ACTORS Guild. Both words are interchangeable in Hollywood and it's unnecessary to criticize those who entered them here.

3/19/10 - You can now vote for your favorite Holden films in the list "Best Films of William Holden."

A mans man ,but not my fav

Yay, tboneya, you have made my point exactly! This IS the United States and we all have free speech. So do the ladies [I'm making an assumption here] that had Don Johnson in first place, or near there, when you entered this list. [He was first when I entered, and I was moving Brando and Newman up the ladder]. Your comment was fine...it was the part at the end, "just wrong" that implied his voters' opinions were not valid. We are all entitled to our opinions. Yes, I'm familiar with actors - I was raised in California and my father was wealthy enough to send me to private schools with lots of celebrity kids. Classmates in college included Bergman's daughter Pia and Casey Cagney. I took some acting classes but didn't care for the lifestyle that went with that profession. I was first blown away by DJ's talent when I saw some scenes in Miami Vice with his little boy Billy. Subsequently I marveled at his depiction of someone close to a mental breakdown in Shadow In The Dark. And I was quite surprised, much as I liked him, to be elated when he plunged to his death in the film Guilty As Sin, in which he was scarily convincing as a serial marry-er of rich women which he then killed for their money. In acting class we studied all the greats in slow motiion. I began to use slo--mo on DJ, and he has more expression in his just his eye/eyebrow area than most of the rest of them have in their entire faces. Watching him in slow motion is a master class in natural acting. My opinion is he was a great actor and for you to tell me I'm "wrong" is just wrong. See how you reacted when your choices were criticized? Maybe now you understand the problem I have with your comments. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. And that reminds me of Mother Goose, which was hysterical. Good idea on the lists. Wish there was one for silent stars too.

I do agree with you that there should be a list for pre-1960 or so, and another for 1960 to today. It would be much easier, and fair, to vote. As for rating by Oscars, Golden Globes, etc., I don't know if that's really fair. There were years in which some deserving actors, actresses, movies, etc. didn't win an award because of tough competition. Some years two, and sometimes three nominations were deserving. I give you the example of best picture of 1939. The Wizard of Oz and Wuthering Heights were deserving but didn't win because they had the misfortune of going up against Gone With the Wind.

By the way, I've forgotten to mention that when I first entered this site as a guest 5 months ago, I'm the one who made the entries of Marlon Brando and Paul Newman. Can you imagine they had begun this list without them.

There are many lists of best actors on the internet. Not all agree with AFI. Charlie Chaplin? C'mon!! Bogart #1 - oh please. By the way, I guess you noticed all of them have passed away - apparently the living actors were not considered for that particular list, ever think of that? Why don't you compile a list of awards - include Oscars, Golden Globes, People's Choice, etc., etc.- for all the actors on this list. It would prove much more accurate than the list you quote.

I respect your opinion, no matter how wrong I feel it is. Still, let's see what the "experts" have to say. I checked AFI's list of best actors. They had Bogart at # 1. Guess who they had at # 2? That's right, Grant. Here is the top 10: Bogart (#1) Cary Grant (#2), James Stewart (#3), Marlon Brando (#4), Fred Astaire (#5), Henry Fonda (#6), Clark Gable (#7), James Cagney (#8), Spencer Tracy (#9) and Charlie Chaplin (#10). Funny, I didn't see "Don Johnson" listed anywhere on that list. Cary Grant would be my choice no matter what, but it looks like this time the so-called "experts" agree with me, and your attempts at sour grapes are so much hog wash.

Mr. Grant, while quite charming, doesn't even come close to many of the actors listed after him.

My personal favorite. IMO, the greatest actor of all-time.....

Overactor if ever there was one. Just plain bad!!

Completely agree. Always interesting and entertaining. He's played a wide range of really great characters and I think he's very underrated.

Too overrated. He acts like a pretty boy in his James Bond movies (1995-2002). In the voice acting of the video game Tomorrow Never Dies, he almost sounds too feminine when he takes a hit.

johnny depp is the greatest actor.how can they put him so low!!!!

As the other voters realize, quirky parts, elaborate costumes and over-the-top makeup do NOT create an actor. He is the only actor on the list who has relied on these factors in most of his films. They are great fun, but ACTING??

number 1

How on earth can people put Orlando Bloom over Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp is the best actor in the world for playing excentric roles!

A fun actor,not a great one.Even Bill admits He is a big ham. To all you trekkers it takes more than one role to be top 50.

One of the most versatile actors ever

The best actor

Robert DeNiro is the greatest actor in the world.

make bobby top 10.... screen god

You have got to be kidding...Top 5 all time.

No one delivers a soliloquoy like Pacino. Any Given Sunday, Scent of a Woman, He is terrific.

Where's the joke?

This guy seems good until you see him alongside Sandra Bullock. Then you see what a stiff he is. He is as smart as...a chair.

Batman

Bob Hope was a comedic GENIOUS!!!