Top 50 Legendary White Actors Of All Time [2023 Updated]

 

We are all aware of the fact that cinema is magic and that its impact on our minds is so powerful that it can often end up changing our perspectives on life.

 

To make a movie experience fulfilling in the true sense of the word requires a truly talented actor to work his magic.

 

Not only do the actors have to manage to surprise the audience with their acting abilities but they also have to gain their confidence for the long term to amass a loyal fan base.

 

Needless to say, if cinema is magic and a reflection of society, actors are magicians and often a reflection of ourselves.

 

Acting is an art that is not very easy to master.

 

However, when our readers go through our much-awaited compilation of the finest actors to have ever graced the screen, they will know that we have tried our best to master this list.

 

We have attempted to place the actors based on the awards and nominations that they have received, their acting skills, and versatility.

 

That said, we would like to make it clear that to their millions of fans worldwide, many of these actors would indeed be number 1 in their respective personal lists, and that is perfectly okay and justified.

 

So without further ado, let's take some time out and appreciate the greatness of these beloved screen legends.

 

 

50. Fred Astaire

 

 

 

Often seen wearing top hats and tails, Fred Astaire is an inimitable on-screen performer who had managed to charm the audience both with his acting and dance abilities.

 

He is credited with transforming the musical movie genre with his all-dancing, all-singing mannerisms.

 

In fact, he is considered to be the best Hollywood actor who was also the perfect dancer.

 

Fred Astaire shared great chemistry with Ginger Rogers and the duo was seen in flicks such as Top Hat, Swing Time, and Shale Dance, to name a few.

 

 

 

49. Tommy Lee Jones

 

 

 

Tommy Lee Jones made his debut in a feature film titled Love Story.

 

He has delivered strong performances in motion pictures such as No Country for Old Men, In the Valley of Elah, Batman Forever, Under Siege, and JFK, to name a few.

 

The actor has been nominated for the Academy Awards four times.

 

That said, he did win the Best Supporting Actor award for his adroit performance in a 1993 thriller feature, titled The Fugitive.

 

 

 

48. Sir Sean Connery

 

 

 

The tall and handsome actor Sean Connery burst into the scene during the late 1950s.

 

He was the first actor to play the fictional character of the British secret agent James Bond, appearing in as many as seven motion pictures of the franchise.

 

The success of the Bond films made iconic directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Lumet, and John Huston take notice of Sean Connery.

 

The actor soon starred in feature films such as Marnie, Murder on the Orient Express, and The Man Who Would Be King for the aforementioned filmmakers.

 

He even headlined the Indiana Jones series of films for ace director Steven Spielberg.

 

 

 

47. George Orson Welles

 

 

 

George Orson Welles made arguably the most extraordinary Hollywood debut of all time.

 

He not only directed his first feature film titled Citizen Kane, but he also produced and starred in it.

 

Today, Citizen Kane is considered to be one of the greatest feature films ever made.

 

Not often do great directors turn out to be great actors themselves.

 

But, the legendary Orson Welles was perhaps as promising an actor as he was a filmmaker.

 

Aside from Citizen Kane, some of his finest projects both as an actor and director are The Lady from Shanghai, The Trial, Othello, and Touch of Evil, to name a few.

 

 

 

46. Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer CC

 

 

 

Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer, who is popularly known as Christopher Plummer, is perhaps Canada's greatest thespian.

 

He has delivered fantastic performances in the movies, on stage, and on television.

 

He has been a recipient of an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

 

In addition, he was also nominated for a Grammy.

 

The actor shot to fame after having played the role of Captain Georg von Trapp in the classic musical drama, titled The Sound of Music.

 

 

 

45. Sir Alec Guinness CH CBE

 

 

 

Alec Guinness was first seen playing the role of an extra/uncredited actor in Evensong.

 

He burst into the mainstream by performing in motion pictures such as Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Lavender Hill Mob, and The Ladykillers.

 

He is also popular for portraying Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy.

 

He collaborated six times with director David Lean.

 

One of their collaborations, titled The Bridge on the River Kwai, ended up winning Alec Guinness both the Academy Award for Best Actor and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor, respectively.

 

 

 

44. Kirk Douglas

 

 

 

Hollywood star Kirk Douglas, who was born Issur Danielovitch, did not have a financially supportive childhood.

 

The actor made his debut in a feature film titled The Strange Love of Martha Ivers and soon turned out of one of the most sought-after actors throughout the 1950s.

 

He was placed at number 17 on the American Film Institute's list of 25 Greatest Male Stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

 

Even though Kirk Douglas never won an Oscar, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performances in Champion, The Bad and the Beautiful, and Lust for Life, respectively.

 

 

 

43. John Wayne

 

 

 

Marion Robert Morrison, who was known to the cinematic universe as John Wayne, played quite a few uncredited and minor roles before making it big in Hollywood.

 

He was arguably the biggest Western and war movie star in the history of American cinema.

 

He was seen in spectacular motion pictures such as Stagecoach (which made him a mainstream star), The Searchers, Red River, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Quiet Man, and Rio Bravo, to name a few.

 

For his amazing character play in True Grit, he received a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Actor.

 

 

 

42. William Holden

 

 

 

William Holden, who was born William Franklin Beedle Jr., was one of the biggest box offices draws in Hollywood during the 1950s.

 

The actor made his debut by playing an uncredited role in a feature film, titled Prison Farm.

 

He soon shot to fame after having delivered commendable performances in motion pictures such as Sunset Boulevard, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Sabrina, Picnic, and The Wild Bunch, to name a few.

 

For his outstanding performance in Stalag 17, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

 

A television film called The Blue Knight had also fetched him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.

 

 

 

41. Richard Burton, CBE

 

 

 

Richard Burton, who was perhaps first seen in a television movie titled The Corn Is Green, established himself as a fabulous Shakespearean actor during the 1950s.

 

This assertion was fully substantiated after his extraordinary performance of Hamlet in 1964.

 

He is also known for his turbulent personal life with screen icon Elizabeth Taylor.

 

Richard Burton impressed his viewers in movies such as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, My Cousin Rachel, Becket, and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, among others.

 

He had been a recipient of BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Tony Awards for Best Actor.

 

 

 

40. Burton Stephen Lancaster

 

 

 

Burton Stephen Lancaster, who was known professionally as Burt Lancaster, was mostly seen projecting tough characters with a kind heart on celluloid.

 

The four-time Academy Award nominee made his debut in Stanley Kubrick's critically acclaimed feature film, titled The Killers.

 

He has been a recipient of two BAFTA Awards and one Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor.

 

Burt Lancaster has been placed at number 19 on the American Film Institute's list of 25 Greatest Male Actors of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

 

 

39. Frederick George Peter Ingle Finch

 

 

 

Frederick George Peter Ingle Finch was known to the cinematic world as Peter Finch.

 

He made his big-screen debut in a feature film, titled The Farmer Goes to Town.

 

His role as an eccentric television anchor in the 1976 feature Network ended up fetching him an Academy Award for Best Actor, albeit posthumously.

 

For his performance in the very same movie, he even won his fifth Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and a Best Actor award from the Golden Globes, respectively.

 

 

38. Peter Sellers CBE

 

 

 

Peter Sellers was an actor, comedian, and singer who first shot to fame after performing on the BBC Radio comedy series, called The Goon Show.

 

He is popular for playing the role of Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther series of feature films. 

 

He was mostly seen doing a parody of authoritative characters in his projects.

 

He won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role twice; once for I'm All Right Jack and once for The Pink Panther.

 

 

37. Charles Laughton

 

 

 

Trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Charles Laughton is one of the most memorable screen performers to have ever hit the screen.

 

Following his stint on the stage, the actor made his debut playing an uncredited role in a feature film, titled Piccadilly.

 

However, he soon rose to prominence after having won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Private Life of Henry VIII.

 

The late actor can be seen in hits such as The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Big Clock, and Witness for the Prosecution, to name a few.

 

 

36. Jason Nelson Robards Jr.

 

 

 

Jason Nelson Robards Jr. was one of the most respected screen performers of his time.

 

His memorable work in cinema allowed him to be a recipient of two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor, respectively.

 

He is one of the 24 actors to have ever achieved the Triple Crown of Acting.

 

Jason Robards was seen making his presence felt in motion pictures such as A Thousand Clowns, All the President's Men, Once Upon a Time in the West, and Melvin and Howard.

 

 

35. George Campbell Scott

 

 

 

George Campbell Scott was a supremely talented actor on the stage, in films, and on television.

 

He mostly used to play stern and dominating characters in the projects that he was part of.

 

Some of his finest performances came in motion pictures such as Dr. Strangelove, Anatomy of a Murder, A Christmas Carol, and The Hospital, to name a few.

 

His brilliant character play in Patton won him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

 

 

34. Gary Cooper

 

 

 

Gary Cooper was a remarkable film star who was known for his understated style of acting and calm execution of sequences.

 

One of the most bankable Hollywood stars for close to two decades, he had been a recipient of two Academy Awards for Best Actor.

 

Gary Cooper has been in motion pictures such as High Noon, Meet John Doe, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, and The Pride of the Yankees, among others.

 

He has been placed at number 11 on the American Film Institute's list of the 25 Greatest Male Stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema.

 

 

33. William Clark Gable

 

 

 

Clark Gable has often been referred to as the 'King of Hollywood' by many of his fans and critics of that era.

 

He has played a variety of roles in different genres in over 60 motion pictures that he has been a part of.

 

Clark Gable found stardom after featuring in a film called Red Dust.

 

His popularity went beyond the roof after he appeared in one of Hollywood's biggest box office blockbusters ever, namely Gone with the Wind.

 

The superstar had won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in director Frank Capra's cult romantic comedy feature, titled It Happened One Night.

 

 

32. Eldred Gregory Peck

 

 

 

Eldred Gregory Peck, who was popularly known as Gregory Peck, was one of the most popular and liked screen performers from the 1940s to the 1960s.

 

The American Film Institute had placed him at number 12 in their list of the 25 Greatest Male Stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema.

 

Gregory Peck had appeared in some amazing feature films such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Cape Fear, Moby Dick, Roman Holiday, The Keys of the Kingdom, The Omen, and Spellbound, to name a few.

 

 

31. Kevin Spacey Fowler KBE

 

 

 

After having begun his career as a stage performer during the early 1980s, Kevin Spacey soon started getting roles to play in films and on television.

 

He gained prominence after his strong performance in The Usual Suspects - a motion picture that fetched him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

 

However, Kevin Spacey only gained further recognition after winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his splendid character projection in the drama film, titled American Beauty.

 

He has since been seen in movies and television shows such as Seven, L. A. Confidential, Pay It Forward, Baby Driver, and House of Cards.

 

 

30. Philip Seymour Hoffman

 

 

 

Philip Seymour Hoffman is known to have delivered some truly subtle and effective performances throughout his career.

 

He had made his screen debut in a television show, titled Law & Order.

 

The late actor was popular for playing different kinds of supporting roles both in theatrical productions and in motion pictures.

 

He gained widespread acclaim for his roles in movies such as Scent of a Woman, Boogie Nights, The Big Lebowski, Almost Famous, and The Talented Mr. Ripley, among others.

 

He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Capote.

 

 

29. Russell Ira Crowe

 

 

 

Russell Ira Crowe is known to have portrayed strong-willed and talented individuals in a lot of his projects.

 

The supremely talented screen performer gained international attention after having played the role of Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the epic historical feature film, titled Gladiator.

 

The aforementioned blockbuster fetched him an Academy Award, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, Empire Award, and London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Leading Actor, respectively.

 

He has been seen in exceptional films such as L. A. Confidential, The Insider, and A Beautiful Mind, to name a few.

 

 

28. Sir Ben Kingsley

 

 

 

Sir Ben Kingsley is yet another admired actor who first made an appearance in a television series before trying his luck in the movies.

 

The actor's well-regarded career spans over five decades.

 

He has been a recipient of an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, respectively.

 

Some of his best performances have come in feature films such as Gandhi, Schindler's List, Shutter Island, and Sexy Beast, to name a few.

 

 

27. Eugene Allen Hackman

 

 

 

Eugene Allen Hackman is popularly known within the cinematic universe as Gene Hackman.

 

He is a retired professional actor and novelist.

 

He is a recipient of two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, one Screen Actors Guild Award, and two BAFTAs.

 

He has been seen in motion pictures such as The French Connection, Unforgiven, Bonnie and Clyde, and Mississippi Burning, to name a few.

 

In order to support himself financially between acting jobs, Gene Hackman even worked at a restaurant before making it big in the industry.

 

 

26. Sean Justin Penn

 

 

 

Sean Justin Penn was first seen making an appearance as a teenager on the television show Little House on the Prairie.

 

He is an actor, director, screenwriter, and producer par excellence.

 

The actor made his feature film debut in Taps and has won two Academy Awards ever since; once for his role in Mystic River and once for the biopic, titled Milk.

 

Sean Penn soon became a leading mainstream performer after having impressed everyone with his character projections in movies such as Bad Boys and At Close Range.

 

He also appeared in State of Grace, Carlito's Way, and Dead Man Walking, among others.

 

 

25. Clinton Eastwood Jr.

 

 

 

Clinton Eastwood was first seen playing an uncredited role in a feature film called Revenge of the Creature.

 

He is one of the best multi-talented personalities to make it to our list.

 

He made a name for himself by appearing in the television series Rawhide.

 

After that, he shot to global fame by playing the role of "Man with No Name" in filmmaker Sergio Leone's trilogy of Dollars films.

 

He is often dubbed the cultural icon of masculinity. 

 

Clint Eastwood has also directed some critically acclaimed feature films such as Unforgiven, The Bridges of Madison County, Sully, Changeling, Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino, among others.

 

He has himself starred in a few of the aforementioned movies.

 

 

24. Peter Seamus O'Toole

 

 

 

Peter Seamus O'Toole gained recognition as a Shakespearean actor while working in theatre.

 

He shot to fame after having played the role of T. E. Lawrence in a feature film, titled Lawrence of Arabia.

 

He holds the record for the most Oscar nominations for acting without ever having won.

 

However, he did receive an Academy Honorary Award for his undeniable contribution to cinema.

 

Peter O'Toole delivered some of his career-best performances in feature films such as Becket, The Lion in Winter, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and My Favorite Year, to name a few.

 

He has been a recipient of four Golden Globe Awards, one BAFTA Award for Best British Actor, and one Primetime Emmy Award, respectively.

 

 

23. Jeffrey Leon Bridges

 

 

 

Jeffrey Leon Bridges, who was first seen playing a minor role in the feature film The Company She Keeps, is known for his versatility and distinct acting style.

 

He is popular among his admirers as "The Dude", courtesy of his ultra-cool character play in the cult film The Big Lebowski.

 

Jeff Bridges won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his superb performance as an alcoholic singer in Crazy Heart.

 

He has been seen in motion pictures such as Hell or High Water, True Grit, King Kong, Tron, and Bad Times at the El Royale, to name a few.

 

 

22. James Francis Cagney Jr.

 

 

 

James Francis Cagney Jr. was famously known as James Cagney.

 

He is one of the most celebrated screen performers in the history of cinema.

 

He is known for his unmatched energy and distinct vocal style.

 

He made a name for himself by appearing in several gangster films throughout his distinguished career.

 

Some of his best feature films are The Public Enemy, Taxi!, The Roaring Twenties, Angels with Dirty Faces, White Heat, and City for Conquest, to name a few.

 

He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his character projection in Yankee Doodle Dandy.

 

James Cagney was placed at number 8 on the American Film Institute's list of the 25 Greatest Male Actors of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

 

 

21. Henry Jaynes Fonda

 

 

 

Often seen playing heroic characters with the neverending search for peace and justice, Henry Fonda is easily among the greatest Hollywood stars of all time.

 

The actor rose to prominence after having delivered strong performances in feature films such as Jezebel, Jesse James, Young Mr. Lincoln, My Darling Clementine, and The Ox-Bow Incident, to name a few.

 

In addition, his deep character projections in 12 Angry Men, The Wrong Man, and The Grapes of Wrath brought him further fame and recognition.

 

Henry Fonda hit the ball out of the park by winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his final film performance in the endearing family drama, titled On Golden Pond.

 

 

20. Robert Selden Duvall

 

 

 

Robert Selden Duvall's acting career spans over seven decades.

 

He has been a recipient of an Academy Award, four Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

 

After having started his career in theater, the actor ventured into playing film and television roles during the 1960s.

 

He has been seen in titles such as M*A*S*H, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Apocalypse Now, Tender Mercies, Days of Thunder, and The Judge to name a few.

 

 

19. Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio

 

 

 

Given the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio has been facing the camera ever since he was only five years old, it would be safe to assert that the classy performer was born to act.

 

This prolific actor is known for acting in biopics and has won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Hugh Glass in the movie 'The Revenant'.

 

Leonardo DiCaprio had delivered a load of highly successful movies over the years, that includes Romeo and Juliet, Titanic, Inception, Aviator, The Revenant, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to name a few.

 

He had received numerous accolades that include an academy award, one BAFTA, and lot many nominations.

 

 

18. Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. KBE

 

 

 

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. KBE, who is known to the world as the incredible Charlie Chaplin, was seen in a string of one-reel short features at the beginning of his illustrious career.

 

The celebrated performer was considered to be the most famous person on the planet during the 1910s and 1920s.

 

Considered to be one of the most influential actors in the history of motion pictures, Charlie Chaplin gained worldwide recognition for his on-screen portrayal of the Tramp.

 

Some of his best projects are City Lights, Modern Times, The Kid, The Gold Rush, The Circus, and The Great Dictator, among others.

 

 

17. Robin McLaurin Williams

 

 

 

He is often called one of the greatest comedic actors in the history of cinema.

 

Robin McLaurin Williams continues to be remembered for the wide range of characters that he played in many iconic feature films.

 

His excellent improvisational skills can be related to the fact that he has also proved himself as a stand-up comedian.

 

Robin Williams has been a recipient of an Academy Award, six Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Grammy Awards, respectively.

 

He has been seen in terrific movies such as Good Will Hunting, Jumanji, Dead Poets Society, Good Morning, Vietnam, and Mrs. Doubtfire, to name a few.

 

 

16. Sir Michael Caine CBE

 

 

 

Michael Caine was first seen playing an uncredited role in a television movie titled Morning Departure.

 

He is known for his distinctive South London articulation.

 

In a career that has spanned over seven decades, he has starred in over 160 motion pictures.

 

It would be important to mention that the films that he has been a part of have gone on to amass over $7.8 billion at the global box office.

 

He has been a recipient of two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and one BAFTA Award, respectively.

 

 

15. Cary Grant

 

 

 

He is known for his transatlantic accent, great comic timing, and light approach to performing. 

 

Cary Grant has been placed at number 2 on the American Film Institute's list of the 25 Greatest Male Stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

 

The good-looking superstar won hearts by making his charming presence felt in feature films such as Arsenic and Old Lace, Charade, Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, Notorious, North by Northwest, and His Girl Friday, to name a few.

 

Cary Grant is arguably the most popular star in Hollywood history to have never won an Oscar for acting.

 

 

14. James Maitland Stewart

 

 

 

James Stewart was known to bring a great amount of depth to the simplistic characters that he used to play.

 

He is one of the greatest American actors of all time.

 

He is known for his inimitable dialogue delivery and stuttering voice that was exaggerated to dramatize scenes. 

 

He has acted in some of the finest motion pictures of his time.

 

While he was seen playing a charming and idealistic young man in Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, one can also find him portraying serious roles in features such as Vertigo and Winchester '73.

 

He is ranked number three on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest American male actors of all time.

 

 

13. Humphrey DeForest Bogart

 

 

 

Humphrey DeForest Bogart has been called the greatest male actor by the American Film Institute.

 

He is one of the biggest cultural icons in America.

 

He is often referred to as Bogie by his fans and colleagues.

 

He found stardom after having starred in motion pictures such as High Sierra and The Maltese Falcon in 1941.

 

He headlined one of Hollywood's most loved motion pictures, titled Casablanca.

 

His performance, dialogues, and story left an everlasting impact on the minds of the viewers.

 

He received a Best Actor nomination for his performance in the aforementioned classic.

 

However, Humphrey Bogart managed to win the award for his character play in the 1952 film, titled The African Queen.

 

 

12. John Uhler Lemmon III

 

 

 

He is called "the most successful tragi-comedian of his age" by The Guardian. 

 

Jack Lemmon was an iconic actor who was known for his remarkable character projections in comedy flicks.

 

However, that does negate the fact that this exemplary actor also aced dramatic roles as well.

 

He is best known for playing a jittery middle-class American in his projects. 

 

The actor has been a recipient of two Academy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, two Cannes Film Festival Awards, two Volpi Cups, one Silver Bear, and three BAFTA Awards, and two Emmy Awards, respectively.

 

 

11. Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM

 

 

 

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM is professionally known as Laurence Olivier.

 

He was one of three male actors who largely dominated the British stage during the mid-20th century.

 

He can be seen making his dynamic presence felt in critically acclaimed cult classics such as Rebecca, Wuthering Heights, Henry V, Hamlet, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and King Lear, to name a few.

 

The iconic film star has been a recipient of four Academy Awards, five Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and two British Academy Film Awards, respectively.

 

 

10. Spencer Bonaventure Tracy

 

 

 

Spencer Tracy was a natural actor who was known for his versatility.

 

He was the first actor to have won an Academy Award for Best Actor for two consecutive years.

 

Even though this classy actor took his time to make an impact at the box office, success came to him as he continued to star in great movies and impressed the critics with his performances.

 

Spencer Tracy even went on to win the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for his performance in a feature film, titled Bad Day at Black Rock.

 

 

9. Paul Leonard Newman

 

 

 

Paul is an absolute screen legend and a bonafide superstar. 

 

Paul Newman was blessed with the most striking blue eyes in the history of cinema.

 

Aside from being an award-winning actor, he was also an entrepreneur, race car driver, and film director.

 

He has been a recipient of an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, among others.

 

We would like to mention the fact that The Hustler actor has been nominated for the Oscars ten times and that he earned the Best Actor award for his performance in The Color of Money.

 

 

8. Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins CBE

 

 

 

Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins is popular in the cinematic universe as Anthony Hopkins.

 

He is said to have been inspired by the legendary Richard Burton.

 

He is the oldest actor to have ever won an Oscar for Best Actor.

 

Anthony Hopkins stunned the world with his mind-boggling portrayal of a father struggling to fight old age and dementia in The Father.

 

Anthony Hopkins has gone on to play a number of outstanding characters on the big screen. 

 

The one that has cemented its place in the minds of his fans is his unbelievable portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.

 

 

7. Dustin Lee Hoffman

 

 

 

The versatile Dustin Lee Hoffman's legendary career has spanned over five decades in the entertainment industry.

 

The actor, who shot to fame by playing a career-defining role in Mike Nicholls’ The Graduate, originally wished to be a classical pianist.

 

In fact, he had even played the instrument during his years in college.

 

Aside from The Graduate, Dustin Hoffman has been seen delivering power-packed performances in feature films such as Kramer vs. Kramer, Rain Man, and Midnight Cowboy, to name a few.

 

The actor has received two Academy Awards for acting for his performances in Kramer vs. Kramer and Rain Man, respectively.

 

 

6. Thomas Jeffrey Hanks

 

 

 

Thomas Jeffrey Hanks is known professionally as Tom Hanks. 

 

He is easily among the best actors to have been produced by Hollywood.

 

The legendary screen performer has managed to impress his viewers worldwide with a diverse range of roles that he has portrayed on celluloid.

 

He is known for starring in cult classics like Big, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, and Saving Private Ryan. 

 

His kind nature and friendly disposition have ensured that he mostly ends up playing the good-guy roles, or characters that are always hopeful despite the odds that they might be facing within their lives.

 

He has won the Oscar for the Best Actor twice; once for his performance in Philadelphia and once for Forrest Gump.

 

 

5. Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis

 

 

 

Considered by many to be the finest screen performer of his generation, Daniel Day-Lewis is a recipient of three well-deserved Academy Awards for Best Actor.

 

He is the only actor in cinema history to have won the Oscars thrice in the Best Actor category.

 

It is not surprising then that he is known to stay in character throughout the course of any film that he is doing; sometimes, even off-camera.

 

Needless to mention, his dedication to his art has set a precedent in Hollywood.

 

However, we would like to inform our readers that this magnificent actor announced his retirement following the release of his critically acclaimed motion picture titled Phantom Thread in 2017.

 

 

4. Alfredo James Pacino

 

 

 

Alfredo James Pacino is popularly known to the world as Al Pacino.

 

He is one of the most iconic actors in the history of Hollywood.

 

He has a career that has spanned over five decades.

 

This acting legend is one of the very few actors to have received the Triple Crown of Acting – Academy, Emmy, and Tony Awards in the acting category.

 

Even though the enigmatic Pacino was seen on-screen prior to his appearance in The Godfather in 1972, it was the Francis Ford Coppola directorial venture that truly made him a global star in the true sense of the word.

 

Al Pacino has demonstrated his acting skills by playing different kinds of roles on the big screen.

 

Not only has he been seen playing a merciless gangster, but he has also played a cop, a hijacker, a small-time crook, a football coach, a musician, and a truth-seeking journalist, among others.

 

He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his terrific character projection of a blind military veteran in Scent of a Woman.

 

 

3. Robert Anthony De Niro Jr.

 

 

 

Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. is professionally known as Robert De Niro. 

 

He made his first screen appearance by playing an uncredited role in a feature film, titled Three Rooms in Manhattan.

 

Today, he stands tall as one of the greatest actors to have ever graced the silver screen anywhere in the world.

 

He is known for playing tough-guy roles with great charm and depth. 

 

Robert De Niro has also proved his versatility in films that require him to thrive on his humor as well.

 

The actor, who is popular for easily submerging himself into his characters, has won the Academy Award for acting twice.

 

He won the Best Supporting Actor for his role as Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s crime saga The Godfather Part II.

 

He grabbed the award for the Best Actor for portraying a boxer in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull.

 

 

2. Marlon Brando Jr.

 

 

 

Marlon Brando Jr. is considered to be the greatest Hollywood actor of the 20th century by many fans and critics across the globe.

 

One of the first few mainstream performers to apply the technique of method acting in 1950s Hollywood, Brando's celebrated career spans over five wonderful decades.

 

He received great acclaim for his performances in motion pictures such as A Streetcar Named Desire, Burn!, Julius Caesar, The Wild One, and Last Tango in Paris.

 

His mind-blowing character in On the Waterfront fetched him his maiden Academy Award.

 

However, the marvelous Marlon did not stop there.

 

He won an award for the Best Actor for the second time for his unparalleled performance as Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s cult classic, titled The Godfather.

 

Marlon Brando was also known for raising his voice against the misrepresentation of Native Americans in mainstream cinema.

 

 

1. John Joseph Nicholson

 

 

 

He is known for his method of acting and for playing some of the grittiest on-screen characters of all time.

 

Jack Nicholson has entertained the cinematic universe for over five decades now.

 

He is one of the only actors to have received an Oscar nod in every decade from the 1960s to the early 2000s.

 

However, this does not come as a surprise if one takes into consideration the fact that Jack Nicholson has played a variety of roles.

 

He is best known for playing authoritative characters or ones with a sardonic sense of humor. 

 

He shot to international fame after having appeared in classic motion pictures such as Easy Rider, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Chinatown, The Shining, Batman, A Few Good Men, As Good as It Gets, and The Departed, to name a few.

 

He is the most nominated male actor in the history of Academy Awards with twelve nominations to his credit.

 

He has won the award for Best Actor twice; once for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and once for As Good as It Gets.