Throughout the years, some of the most talented and influential actors have graced the big screen and the stage. But who is the biggest actor of all time?
In order to answer this question, we must first look at the criteria for greatness. What makes an actor the biggest in history? It could be the number of awards they have won, the number of films they have been in, or the impact they have had on the industry.
To determine the biggest actor in history, we must look at all of these factors. We must also look at the career of each actor and the impact they have had on their respective eras. With these criteria in mind, let us take a look at the 20 best actors of all time.
Ranking the 20 Best Actors of All Time
1. Marlon Brando – Marlon Brando is considered to be one of the greatest actors in history. He was known for his intense performances, his method acting technique, and his ability to bring characters to life. Brando won two Academy Awards for Best Actor and was nominated for eight more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as The Godfather, A Streetcar Named Desire, and On the Waterfront.
2. Jack Nicholson – Jack Nicholson is another actor who has had a long and successful career. He is known for his larger-than-life performances and his ability to bring out the humanity in his characters. Nicholson has won three Academy Awards and has been nominated for twelve more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Shining, and A Few Good Men.
3. Robert De Niro – Robert De Niro has had a long and successful career that has spanned over five decades. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. De Niro has won two Academy Awards and has been nominated for eight more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull.
4. Al Pacino – Al Pacino is a veteran actor who has been in the business for over fifty years. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Pacino has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for eight more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, and Scarface.
5. Daniel Day-Lewis – Daniel Day-Lewis is a three-time Academy Award-winning actor who has been in the business for over thirty years. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Day-Lewis has won three Academy Awards and has been nominated for seven more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and Lincoln.
6. Meryl Streep – Meryl Streep is an award-winning actress who has been in the business for over four decades. She is known for her versatility and her ability to bring out the nuances of her characters. Streep has won three Academy Awards and has been nominated for twenty-one more. She is also remembered for her iconic roles in films such as The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Kramer vs. Kramer, and The Devil Wears Prada.
7. Clint Eastwood – Clint Eastwood is an award-winning actor and director who has been in the business for over six decades. He is known for his subtle performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Eastwood has won four Academy Awards and has been nominated for six more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino.
8. Morgan Freeman – Morgan Freeman is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over five decades. He is known for his deep voice and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Freeman has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for five more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as The Shawshank Redemption, Seven, and Million Dollar Baby.
9. Tom Hanks – Tom Hanks is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over three decades. He is known for his everyman performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Hanks has won two Academy Awards and has been nominated for five more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, and Saving Private Ryan.
10. Denzel Washington – Denzel Washington is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over three decades. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Washington has won two Academy Awards and has been nominated for six more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as Glory, Training Day, and Malcolm X.
11. Russell Crowe – Russell Crowe is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over two decades. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Crowe has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for four more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, and Master and Commander.
12. Joaquin Phoenix – Joaquin Phoenix is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over two decades. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Phoenix has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for three more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as Gladiator, Walk the Line, and The Master.
13. Paul Newman – Paul Newman is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over four decades. He is known for his natural performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Newman has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for eight more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and The Color of Money.
14. Robert Redford – Robert Redford is an award-winning actor and director who has been in the business for over five decades. He is known for his natural performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Redford has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for six more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as The Sting, All the President’s Men, and Out of Africa.
15. Sean Connery – Sean Connery is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over five decades. He is known for his macho performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Connery has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for three more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as Dr. No, Goldfinger, and The Untouchables.
16. Gene Hackman – Gene Hackman is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over four decades. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Hackman has won two Academy Awards and has been nominated for five more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as The French Connection, Unforgiven, and The Royal Tenenbaums.
17. Jeff Bridges – Jeff Bridges is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over four decades. He is known for his natural performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Bridges has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for seven more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as The Big Lebowski, True Grit, and Crazy Heart.
18. Anthony Hopkins – Anthony Hopkins is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over four decades. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Hopkins has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for five more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as The Silence of the Lambs, The Remains of the Day, and Amistad.
19. Dustin Hoffman – Dustin Hoffman is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over four decades. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. Hoffman has won two Academy Awards and has been nominated for seven more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as The Graduate, Tootsie, and Rain Man.
20. Leonardo DiCaprio – Leonardo DiCaprio is an award-winning actor who has been in the business for over two decades. He is known for his intense performances and his ability to bring out the nuances of his characters. DiCaprio has won one Academy Award and has been nominated for six more. He is also remembered for his iconic roles in films such as Titanic, The Departed, and The Revenant.
Notable Mentions and Future Legends
While the list above includes some of the greatest actors of all time, there are plenty of other actors worth mentioning. Some of the most notable actors who didn’t make the list include James Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, and Sidney Poitier.
In addition to the greats of the past, there are a number of actors who are destined to become the next generation of legends. Some of the most promising actors of the present include Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, George Clooney, and Matt Damon.
Conclusion
The biggest actor in history is a difficult question to answer as there are so many talented actors who have made significant contributions to the industry. However, the 20 actors listed above are widely considered to be some of the greatest actors of all time. Each actor has made a lasting impact on the industry and has left an indelible mark on the art of acting. Whether it is Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, or Leonardo DiCaprio, each actor has left an incomparable legacy and is worthy of being called the biggest actor in history.
