Top 10 Famous Actors You Need to Know
Fame in Hollywood often seems ephemeral, with fresh new faces popping up on our screens each year. But there are a select few actors whose stellar talents and memorable performances have cemented their place among the greats. These famous actors have not only demonstrated exceptional mastery of their craft, but have given us iconic roles and moments that will endure for decades to come.
Top 10 Most Famous Actors
Tom Hanks
With an acting career spanning over 40 years, Tom Hanks has become one of America’s most beloved movie stars. Some of his most iconic roles include Forrest Gump, Woody from the Toy Story franchise, and Robert Langdon from The Da Vinci Code series. Hanks often plays the everyday man thrust into extraordinary situations, bringing sincerity and depth to all his performances.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leo burst onto the scene with his standout performance in 1993’s What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. He then cemented his reputation as a versatile actor in films like Romeo + Juliet, Inception, The Departed and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His collaborations with director Martin Scorsese have been particularly noteworthy, resulting in four Oscar nominations and one win for The Revenant.
Denzel Washington
With an authoritative yet magnetic screen presence, Denzel Washington has brought complexity and dignity to his roles. His compelling performances as Malcolm X and Rubin “Hurricane” Carter showed his commitment to playing iconic Black figures. Washington has also displayed exceptional range in films like Training Day, Flight, and Fences. He’s won two Academy Awards and continues to choose substantive, challenging projects.
Hollywood’s Biggest Stars
Jennifer Lawrence
Bursting onto the Hollywood A-list with her acclaimed performance in Winter’s Bone, Jennifer Lawrence has since starred in major blockbuster franchises like X-Men and The Hunger Games. Her relatable off-screen persona has made her one of the most prominent celebrities of her generation. Lawrence won the Best Actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook.
Sandra Bullock
With her bright smile and natural charm, Sandra Bullock has starred in countless fan favorite films from Speed to Miss Congeniality to The Proposal. She won an Oscar for her complex performance as Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side. And her blockbuster status was cemented with Gravity and Ocean’s 8. Bullock’s everyday likability radiates through all her roles.
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling’s breakout role came as Noah in 2004’s weepy romance The Notebook. Since then, Gosling has established himself as a versatile, moody leading man in films like Half Nelson, Drive, La La Land and Blade Runner 2049. His brooding good looks and intense acting style have made him a magnetic on-screen presence.
Legendary Actors of All Time
Robert De Niro
With nine Oscar nominations and two wins under his belt, Robert De Niro is considered one of the greatest actors of all time. His collaborations with directors like Martin Scorsese have yielded some of cinema’s most iconic tough guy characters. Highlights include Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and The Irishman. Very few actors have had the career longevity and consistency of De Niro.
Meryl Streep
Recognized as the best actress of her generation, Meryl Streep has displayed exceptional range and skill across every genre. She holds the record for most Oscar acting nominations at 21, winning Best Actress for films Sophie’s Choice and The Iron Lady. Some highlights include The Deer Hunter, Kramer vs Kramer, The Devil Wears Prada and The Post. Streep’s masterful performances have made her a living legend.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Retired from acting since 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis leaves behind an exceptional legacy with his meticulous character transformations in films like My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood and Lincoln. He won the Oscar for Best Actor three times, the only male star to do so. Day-Lewis was known for his rigorous role preparation and his ability to fully immerse himself in his characters.
A-List Actors Who Have Made Their Mark
Brad Pitt
Initially gaining attention as a handsome heartthrob in films like Thelma Louise and Legends of the Fall, Brad Pitt later proved himself to be a seriously talented actor in movies like Fight Club, Moneyball and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His natural charisma lights up any screen role, no matter the genre. Pitt finally won an Oscar in 2020 for his witty supporting turn in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Will Smith
Charming audiences since his early days in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith transitioned smoothly into film acting, starring in blockbusters like Independence Day, Men in Black, I Am Legend and Bad Boys. His comedic and action chops have made him one of Hollywood’s most bankable leading men. And Smith continues to take on more serious roles, earning his first Oscar nomination for King Richard in 2022.
Angelina Jolie
With her striking looks and undeniable screen presence, Angelina Jolie established herself as an action hero with films like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Mr. Mrs Smith. She later wowed critics with her performances in Girl, Interrupted, Changeling and A Mighty Heart, winning an Oscar for Girl, Interrupted. Jolie’s star power and humanitarian efforts have cemented her status as a global celebrity.
The Most Recognizable Faces in Film
Tom Cruise
Likely the biggest movie star of the last 40 years, Tom Cruise has headlined countless blockbusters since his early 80s breakout role in Risky Business. With his daredevil charisma and commitment to death-defying stuntwork, Cruise has shined in action flicks Top Gun, Mission: Impossible series, and Jack Reacher. He’s also displayed serious dramatic chops in films like Born on the 4th of July and Jerry Maguire, earning him three Oscar nominations.
Julia Roberts
America’s sweetheart first stole our hearts with her effervescent star turn in 1990’s Pretty Woman opposite Richard Gere. Roberts soon established herself as one of Hollywood’s top leading ladies with acclaimed performances in films like Steel Magnolias, Erin Brockovich and Eat Pray Love, winning the Oscar for Erin Brockovich. Her sparkling on-screen smile and spirited characters remain thoroughly captivating.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp first rose to fame playing offbeat roles in films like Edward Scissorhands, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and Ed Wood before becoming a bonafide movie star with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Known for radically transforming himself for roles, Depp has immersed himself in unique characters across a variety of genres, collaborating eight times with director Tim Burton.
Famous Actors Who Started on the Stage
Denzel Washington
Before becoming thepowerful screen presence that he is today, Denzel Washington got his start on stage, winning a 1982 Obie Award for his performance in A Solider’s Play before originating the role of Ford in August Wilson’s Fences on Broadway. The training ground of theater allowed Washington to master his craft and gave him an edge when transitioning to film roles.
Viola Davis
Like Washington, the formidable Viola Davis also came from the theater world with Tony wins for her Broadway performances in King Hedley II and the 2010 revival of Fences. Already admired for her stage work, Davis has become one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actresses with her brutally honest performances in films like The Help, Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, winning an Oscar for the latter role.
Hugh Jackman
In his breakout performance as Wolverine in 2000’s X-Men, Australian actor Hugh Jackman displayed the dedication, physicality and raw emotion that had made him a musical theater star back home. From hosting the Tony Awards to earning a Tony nomination himself for The Boy from Oz, Jackman’s musicality and dedication to character has enhanced his stellar film work, which includes acclaimed dramas like The Prestige and Les Misérables.
From TV to the Big Screen: Actors Who Made the Jump
George Clooney
Prior to becoming a big time movie star and Oscar winning director, George Clooney got his start on classic 80s sitcom The Facts of Life before his career-defining turn as Dr. Doug Ross on hit drama E.R. Clooney has seamlessly transferred his charming but flawed TV character to flawed by charismatic movie heroes in films like Ocean’s Eleven, Michael Clayton and Up in the Air, winning Best Supporting Actor for Syriana.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston will likely always be best known as Rachel Green, the spoiled but lovable character she portrayed for 10 seasons on smash-hit sitcom Friends. But in films like The Good Girl, Horrible Bosses and Cake, Aniston has proven her range extends far beyond television comedy. While she’s still searching for that breakthrough dramatic role, Aniston remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable celebrities.
Steve Carell
After gaining fame as bumbling boss Michael Scott on The Office, Steve Carell has established himself as an A-list comedic movie star with box office hits like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Crazy Stupid Love and the Despicable Me franchise. Carell has also been praised for his dramatic work in Foxcatcher and Beautiful Boy, earning an Oscar nod for the former. Very few actors can successfully bridge comedy and drama like Carell.
Actors Who Have Won Multiple Academy Awards
Dustin Hoffman
With seven Academy Award nominations and two Oscar wins, Dustin Hoffman established himself early on as one of the most versatile actors of his generation with films like The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy and Kramer vs Kramer, winning Best Actor for the last title. Regardless of the role, Hoffman fully disappears into his complex, often unlikable characters. His career has now spanned six decades and shows no sign of slowing.
Sally Field
Sally Field has the distinction of twice winning the Best Actress Oscar two years in row, first for Norma Rae in 1980 and then again for Places in the Heart in 1985. Beginning on TV shows like Gidget and The Flying Nun, Field later became an in-demand dramatic actress in films like Absence of Malice before finding her groove in steel-willed roles that showcased her emotional depth and physicality.
Mahershala Ali
Although Mahershala Ali rose to fame for his performance on House of Cards, he has become one of Hollywood’s most respected actors with his film work in Moonlight and Green Book. Ali makes history as the first Muslim actor to win two Academy Awards, taking home consecutive Best Supporting Actor trophies for those projects. His soulful performances lift any film material he takes on.
The Most Iconic Performances by Famous Actors
Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger posthumously won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his chilling interpretation of the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. With his sinister voice and tics, Ledger revolutionized the character, making the Joker frighteningly unhinged and cementing Ledger’s legacy as one of Hollywood’s greats. It remains one of the most iconic villain performances in cinema history.
Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia
While he holds the record for most Oscar acting nominations without a win at eight, Peter O’Toole delivered what many consider the greatest film performance of all time in David Lean’s 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia. As the enigmatic British World War I officer T.E. Lawrence, O’Toole is magnetic, containing multitudes in his ticks, stares and moments of intensity. It set the bar for all future screen performances.
Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs
Anthony Hopkins only appears on screen for about 16 minutes in The Silence of the Lambs, but his chilling performance as refined serial killer Hannibal Lecter earned Hopkins a Best Actor Oscar and icon status. With his terrifying intelligence, sly wit and delivery of immortal lines like “I ate his liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti,” Hopkins created the definitive Lecter.
Exploring the Impact of Cleft Lip on Famous Actors
Up-and-Coming Actors to Watch Out For
Timothée Chalamet
Despite being just 27 years old, Timothée Chalamet has already established himself as one of the finest actors working today with universally praised performances in films like Call Me By Your Name and Little Women. His ability to tap into the emotional state of young people with sensitivity and nuance has drawn comparisons to a young Leonardo DiCaprio. It’s clear Chalamet is just getting started.
Saoirse Ronan
With four Oscar nominations already under her belt at just age 28, Irish-American actress Saoirse Ronan has wowed critics with her portrayals of spirited young heroines in films like Atonement, Lady Bird and Little Women. Her striking looks and natural screen presence convey both strength and vulnerability. Ronan has proven herself a gifted performer who only continues to get better over time.
Zendaya
Former Disney star Zendaya exploded onto the adult drama scene with her Emmy-winning performance as Rue on HBO’s Euphoria. She also drew praised as the lead of Chani in sci-fi epic Dune. Poised and eloquent beyond her 26 years, Zendaya has seamlessly transitioned to more mature film roles, bringing grace and conviction to every character. With so much already accomplished, Zendaya’s career promises to scale even greater heights.
Conclusion
From screen legends like Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro to contemporary stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Sandra Bullock, Hollywood is filled with famous actors at the peak of their powers. These standouts not only showcase impeccable acting skills, but light up our screens with charisma and watchability that place them in the very top tier of the profession. Even as new generations emerge, the iconic performances and unique screen presences of these famous actors will never fade. Their names will endure as Hollywood royalty for decades to come.
