Most of us appreciates a good movie and has favourite actors. A good movie does not leave anyone indifferent. Besides a good script and a good director, the impact that movies have on us is only possible because of the great actors that play their roles brightly.
These are some of the most iconic actors of all time and are part of some of the greatest movies of all time with countless Academy Awards between them.
Jack Nicholson, an American actor, producer, screenwriter and director, is a three-time Academy Award winner and 12-time nominee. He’s basically done it all. With his enormous talent and intoxicating charisma, Jack Nicholson is one of the greatest actors Hollywood has ever come across. A supremely versatile actor whose filmography boasts of uniquely challenging roles one after the other, he ruled the screen for decades, dominated by his presence especially during the 70s.
Best Movies – “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” “The Bucket List” “The Shining” “Chinatown” and “As Good As It Gets.”
Brando’s school of acting is considered one of the most influential of all time. His anguished howl of “I coulda been a contender” in “On the Waterfront” remains one of the most outstanding readings in cinema. Towards the later part of his career, he made some eccentric choices, but even at this point he gave one of his best performances as the mafia don, Corleone in “Godfather.” The movie went on to become one of the most widely watched. His artistry in films was so immense; no one could be compared to him. He captured all hearts with his magnetism and the kind of range he possessed.
Best Movies – “The Godfather,” “Viva Zapata,” “Julius Caesar,” “On the Waterfront,” “The Wild One” and “Sayonara.”
Considered one of the best actors of his generation, he built a strong star career out of his fearsome ability to become a character. He first gained fame for his role in “Bang the Drum Slowly.” The 69-year-old actor, who is widely considered one of the best ever, hit it big playing mobsters, but froze his legacy with fearless performances in films such as “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull.” Till date, he boasts of a legendary line up of films.
Best Movies – “The Godfather: Part II,” “Taxi Driver,” “Bang The Drum Slowly,” “Raging Bull” and “The Deer Hunter.”
He made smoking look cool. He was the top box office attraction during the 40s and 50s. He created a rich and powerful screen image that is widely regarded as iconic. Whether playing ex-con, war hero, detective or more out of the ordinary characters, his combination of traits ultimately gave Bogart a massive romantic appeal. Bogart was the man!
Best Movies – “Casablanca,” “The Maltese Falcon,” “The Big Sleep,” “The Treasure of Sierra Madre” and “The Caine Mutiny.”
One of the greatest actors in all of film history, Al Pacino established himself during one of film’s greatest decades, the 1970s, and has become an enduring and iconic figure in the world of American movies. With his brooding yet powerful personality, he remained as one of Hollywood’s most charming and premier actors. In a career across several decades, he has to his credit some of the best movies made in Hollywood. He has played quite a few roles as a lawyer, a detective and a police officer, but he’s more popular for his roles on the other side of the law. His portrayal of don Michael Corleone in “Godfather” and as a mobster Tony Montana in “Scarface” are of immense popularity.
Best Movies – “Scent of a Woman,” “Scarface,” “The Godfather” (I and II), “The Devil’s Advocate” and “Heat.”
His career track is the stuff of legends. He is one actor who has made smart choices and refrained from being typecast. He didn’t shy away from playing the hero every now and then, although these roles were usually challenging and complicated. His career soared with two successive Academy Awards for “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump.” The quintessential nice guy collaborated multiple times with the best directors in Hollywood.
Best Movies – “Saving Private Ryan,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Philadelphia,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “Forrest Gump” and “Castaway.”
Considered to be one of the greatest living actors, Anthony Hopkins was Influenced by Richard Burton. Hopkins is well known for his superb portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Best Movies: “Nixon”, “Hannibal”, “Silence of the Lambs” and “The Remains of the Day”
He was nothing like your standard hero, yet it took him very less time to become one of the most celebrated performers in Hollywood. He frequently portrayed roles that cast him as anti-hero, troubled and even slated for a tragic ending. He was known to be difficult to work with and, at the same time, highly valued for completely engrossing himself in a role. It was the movie “The Graduate” that served as his breakthrough role. In more ways than one, Dustin Hoffman broke new ground for all other actors. And he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down yet!
Best Movies – “The Graduate,” “Kramer vs. Kramer,” “Papillon,” “Tootsie,” “Rain Man” and “All The President’s Men”
His voice alone could win an Oscar. We all would agree. Besides taking a great role to even greater heights, Freeman infuses calmness and perfection in it, outdoing himself every time. He can be somber, he can be funny, he can be intense and he can be god like (literally in “Bruce Almighty”). There are no limits for this man. He’s stunned us with his impressive range from musicals to contemporary drama to Shakespeare. If you’re watching a Morgan Freeman film, there’s just no way you could turn it off.
Best Movies – “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “Se7en,” “Driving Miss Daisy” and “The Bucket List.”
Gregory Peck made a generation of women swoon with his dapper look, wind-kissed hair and sophisticated casualness in films like “Spellbound” and “Roman Holiday.” His performances embodied perfection, intelligence and class all at the same time. He was one of the most successful actors of the post-war era, working in movies of his own choosing. Always exactly bang on with his performance, not to forget the calibre of the films he chose to be in. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Gentleman’s Agreement” and other great films would not have been nearly as significant without him.
Best Movies – “To Kill A Mocking Bird,” “Roman Holiday,” “Gentleman’s Agreement,” “Duel in the Sun” and “Spellbound.”
