The Top 100 Living Actors

[Ayre]

This list is from referenced from a link on IMDB's front page. I don't know (or care) who made it, but as these types of lists go it is pretty darn good (IMO).

The two basic rules are that they must be alive (or appear to be alive) and have been nominated for an Oscar.

*NOTE - There is a black & white photo of Faye Dunaway (#60) that is absolutely amazing.

http://www.freewebs.com/top100actors/index.htm

1. Robert De Niro
2. Al Pacino
3. Jack Nicholson
4. Paul Newman
5. Robert Duvall
6. Gene Hackman
7. Dustin Hoffman
8. Michael Caine
9. Meryl Streep
10. Liv Ullmann

11. Harrison Ford
12. Johnny Depp
13. Cate Blanchett
14. Deborah Kerr
15. Tom Hanks
16. Julianne Moore
17. Emma Thompson
18. Peter O'Toole
19. Olivia de Havilland
20. Kevin Spacey

21. Kate Winslet
22. Shirley MacLaine
23. Morgan Freeman
24. Sidney Poitier
25. Kirk Douglas
26. Albert Finney
27. Diane Keaton
28. Max von Sydow
29. Judi Dench
30. Billy Bob Thornton

31. Frances McDormand
32. Anthony Hopkins
33. Clint Eastwood
34. Ellen Burstyn
35. Philip Seymour Hoffman
36. Edward Norton
37. Ian McKellen
38. Karl Malden
39. Angela Lansbury
40. Jean Simmons

41. Daniel Day-Lewis
42. Leonardo DiCaprio
43. Chris Cooper
44. Russell Crowe
45. Samuel L. Jackson
46. John Hurt
47. Denzel Washington
48. Sissy Spaceck
49. James Earl Jones
50. Sean Penn

51. Ed Harris
52. Julie Christie
53. Tom Cruise
54. Brad Pitt
55. Ralph Fiennes
56. Robin Williams
57. Sean Connery
58. Juliette Binoche
59. Maggie Smith
60. Faye Dunaway

61. Ian Holm
62. Ben Kingsley
63. Sigourney Weaver
64. Uma Thurman
65. Don Cheadle
66. Tim Robbins
67. Benicio Del Toro
68. Nicole Kidman
69. Laura Linney
70. Alan Arkin

71. Vanessa Redgrave
72. Jeff Bridges
73. Joan Fontaine
74. Helen Mirren
75. Woody Allen
76. Emily Watson
77. Jodie Foster
78. David Strathairn
79. Renee Zellweger
80. Jane Fonda

81. Bill Murray
82. Harvey Keitel
83. Charlton Heston
84. Dennis Hopper
85. Jon Voight
86. Laurence Fishburne
87. Judy Davis
88. Tom Courtenay
89. Bob Hoskins
90. Helena Bonham Carter

91. Gerard Depardieu
92. Liam Neeson
93. Willem Dafoe
94. Isabelle Adjani
95. William H. Macy
96. Gena Rowlands
97. Elizabeth Taylor
98. Jennifer Jones
99. William Hurt
100. Susan Sarandon

[William Fuld]

I disagree.

[Rockmjd23]

I'm surprised Julia Roberts isn't on there. I'm not a fan of hers, but I figured she would be there.

Edit: nevermind kidman is there.

[Giantrobo]

Hmmmm, not sure I buy all the names on that list and some great names were left out. But I guess that's simply the nature of these lists right?

[Shannon Nutt]

Wow, considering what she's done (and what she's been awarded), Jodie Foster is WAY too far down on that list. Someone must have made the list after viewing THE BRAVE ONE. ;)

[Ayre]

Wow, considering what she's done (and what she's been awarded), Jodie Foster is WAY too far down on that list. Someone must have made the list after viewing THE BRAVE ONE. ;)
I agree. Juliette Binoche at 58 is nothing short of a crime.

The author of the list did an exceptional job of presentation, with photos and descriptions of each actors 5 most notable roles.

[Toad]

I like the first bracket (1-10) and agree with it.

The fourth bracket (40-49) is the most interesting to me - DiCaprio, Crowe, Darth, etc.

[PopcornTreeCt]

Harrison Ford needs to drop about 50 spots.

[Toad]

There was a time where he was my #1.

[inri222]

These folks are still alive :

Alain Delon
Jeremy Irons
Isabelle Huppert
Gary Oldman
Harriet Andersson
Bibi Andersson
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Catherine Deneuve
Nick Nolte
Jeanne Moreau
Forrest Whitaker

[PopcornTreeCt]

Me: Gary Oldman, which actors on this list do you think you're better than?

Gary Oldman: EVERYONE!!!!!!

[Lee Harvey Oswald]

Harrison Ford #11 :lol:

I know he's played memorable characters, but he's not a better "actor" than those below him.

And where the fuck is Christian Bale?

[Giggles]

What, Gene Hackman is so much better than William H. Macy? I doubt. More popular - maybe, but hardly better. I wouldn't place them in order. I believe everyone in Top 100 deserves to be named the first. Whole other question is that this Top lacks many other great actors because there are much more of them in our world to fit into this list of 100.

[nateman]

Robert De Niro definitely deserves the #1 spot, for Taxi Driver alone he deserves that spot.

I think Jack Nicholson should have been #2, I know I’m going to get sh*t for this but Al Pacino is overrated, in my opinion.

Peter O’Toole should have been higher up on the list & Tom Hanks is a much better actor than Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett or Mr. Ford.

Robin Williams should be MUCH lower. Like #250.

No love for Alan Alda?

[baracine]

Gary Oldman is the greatest living actor today (in the English-speaking world, anyway).

[Charlie Goose]

Al Pacino - #2? Not in the last 15 years. He's a caricature of what he was.

Clint Eastwood is my favorite movie star of all time, but #33 is a little too high, he never was a great actor.

Doesn't matter though, a top 100 Living Actors list without Mickey Rooney is useless. Nobody on that list is as versatile as Rooney.

[Lemdog]

Gary Oldman is the greatest living actor today (in the English-speaking world, anyway).

Oldman is absolutely in the top 5 in the English-speaking world. Was there any non-english speakers on the list?

[movieguru]

I would have put Harrison ford in the top 10.

[fiver]

I think this list is biased anyway towards English speaking actors since to be on the list, you have to have won an oscar (undoubtedly the mark of quality ;/ ).

Michael

[baracine]

Oldman is absolutely in the top 5 in the English-speaking world. Was there any non-english speakers on the list?

Only one: Gérard Depardieu and that's probably because English-speaking film critics have invested so much time in pronouncing his name right.

(I assume Juliette Binoche is on there for the same reason.)

Did Sophia Loren die?

[Suprmallet]

I find it funny that nobody else has mentioned that WOODY ALLEN is on that list. I mean, I love his movies to death, but one of the world's greatest living actors? Come on.

[KillerCannibal]

I could argue this list to death, but I'm pretty pleased with the top choice. De Niro is (arguably) the greatest actor living today. Maybe he's been making some bad choices lately, but his prior body of work is astounding.

[Toad]

And where the fuck is Christian Bale?

Good point. He doesn't have a whole shitload of movies, maybe that's what kept him off the list (for now, anyway).

[Shannon Nutt]

I would have put Harrison ford in the top 10.

I would have but Crowe in the top 10. He's probably going to be recognized down the road as one of our greatest living actors...it's only his "bad boy" image that's prevented him from being seen as such right now.

And Max Von Sydow can drop some...he's a good actor, but he needs to learn how to say "no" to roles...he's been in some horrible films. :)

[MoviePage]

Meryl Streep not #1 = INVALID.

I think a majority of the other actors on that list would agree with me. In fact I've heard several of them state as much in interviews etc.

[Mr. M]

Me: Gary Oldman, which actors on this list do you think you're better than?

Gary Oldman: EVERYONE!!!!!!

:lol:

I can't believe he was overlooked.

[Drop]

After her turn in Inland Empire, Laura Dern deserves to be on this film.

Angels in America cements Pacino in his position on the list. DeNiro hasn't anything close to that performance in 15 years.

[Giles]

I would have put Harrison ford in the top 10.

as much as I have enjoyed his earlier films, his most recent though: the man can't act. Is he still with Clarista Flockhart?

and what the hell, no Tony Leung - scandulous.

I'd also add:

Daniel Auteuil
Ray Winstone

[baracine]

The rules are:

1. The actor must have been nominated for an Oscar.
2. He/she must be alive.

So, where's Barbra Streisand?

[MartinBlank]

The rules are:

1. The actor must have been nominated for an Oscar.
2. He/she must be alive.


49. James Earl Jones

56. Robin Williams

80. Jane Fonda :lol:

82. Harvey Keitel

What films were these 4 nominated for Oscars for?

No Gary Oldman -ohbfrank-

[starman9000]

Robin Williams won for Good Will Hunting and was nominated 3 other times
Jones was nominated for The Great White Hope
Fonda won 2 times and was nominated 5 other times. (did you think she was only in Barbarella?)
Keitel was nominated for Bugsy

Gary hasn't been nominated, unfortunately.

[matome]

Wow, considering what she's done (and what she's been awarded), Jodie Foster is WAY too far down on that list. Someone must have made the list after viewing THE BRAVE ONE. ;)

Yep, this ranking is silly.

[baracine]

I guess whoever made up that list really, really hates Sally Field, especially after she made her political opinions public at the last Emmys.

And - Oh My God!!! - I just realized Gary Oldman WAS NEVER NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR EVER! :jawdrop:

http://www.legends-online.com/lrg_this-wizard.jpg

[Coral]

I was shocked when I didn't see Gary Oldman at #1, and then I lauged out loud when I didn't even see him on the list.

Once again they keep forgetting that there are movies made outside of the US with only a piddly amount of foreign-language actors.

[JumpCutz]

I would have put Harrison ford in the top 10.

rotfl You're kidding right?

[wendersfan]

Once again they keep forgetting that there are movies made outside of the US with only a piddly amount of foreign-language actors.They make movies in other countries?

:hscratch:

[Giantrobo]

And since they threw in a handful of Brothahs, mind you, they left out Andre Braugher, where the hell are the Sistahs?

Angela Bassett?
Alfre Woodard?
CCH Pounder?

[PopcornTreeCt]

I'd have to put Jack Nicholson over Al Pacino. I love Al Pacino but Jack has done more and his most recent performance in The Departed is way better than anything Pacino has done (or DeNiro for that matter) lately.

[Numanoid]

Replace Harrison Ford with Alec Baldwin, and I'd buy it.

[wm lopez]

Harrison Ford plays the same part in all his movies.
He should be number 100 if that.

[thecrazydude]

No John Malkovich?

Throw the list out!

[wlj]

I am sorry, but Denzel Washington should be in the top 15.

[nateman]

I am sorry, but Denzel Washington should be in the top 15.
Denzel Washington is great; don’t get me wrong but Top 15? I don’t know.

[Shannon Nutt]

The rules are:

1. The actor must have been nominated for an Oscar.
2. He/she must be alive.


So where the hell are Marissa Tomei and Cuba Gooding, Jr.?! ;)

[pjflyer]

This list should be called Top 100 living Oscar Nominees.

There are many current actors that deserve to be on this list who have never been nominated.

I would rather see a list of the weakest actors that have received oscar nominations.

[SmartisSexy]

These folks are still alive :

Alain Delon
Jeremy Irons
Isabelle Huppert
Gary Oldman
Harriet Andersson
Bibi Andersson
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Catherine Deneuve
Nick Nolte
Jeanne Moreau
Forrest Whitaker

Indeed, a best living actors list without Isabelle Huppert or Catherine Deneuve? What a joke. Juliette Binoche at 58? Is that some kind of fucking joke? Helen Mirren at 74? That list should be called "The Best Living Actors According To Your Average Stupid American." Nathalie Baye belongs on that list and so does Jeanne Moreau, Emmanuelle Béart, Audrey Tautou, Fanny Ardant, Daniel Auteuil, John Malkovich, and Monica Bellucci.

[Giantrobo]

Denzel Washington is great; don’t get me wrong but Top 15? I don’t know.


:(

[DrRingDing]

Alan Arkin deserves to be much higher.
-ringding-

[nateman]

I know he might not be considered as “famous” as some of the actors on the list but no love for Martin Landau?

I mean, I know he hasn’t starred in every “quality” film/TV series but his brilliant performance as Bela Lugosi in the fantastic film, Ed Wood & his performance in Crimes & Misdemeanors was just as good. In television you can’t forget about his performance as Rollin Hand for 3 seasons on Mission: Impossible.

Sure Space: 1999 wasn’t the highest point of his career but he’s been in a lot of good stuff.

& yes, Gary Oldman should be on the list. Forrest Whitaker should definitely be on it as well.

[Oakland]

I'll take this opportunity to remind the world again that Val Kilmer was not nominated for Tombstone. Sigh.

[Giantrobo]

And Benicio Del Toro? Don't get me wrong, he was ok in the 2 or 3 films I've seen him in but one of the 100 greatest?

[astrochimp]

First thing i agree:no Oldman=crappy list.

Streep would be #1 for me.

Macy at #95? -confused-

Also i would have Jim Carrey and Paul Giamatti in my top 100 easily.

[Drexl]

Kenneth Branagh didn't make it either. :thmbsdwn:

[wendersfan]

I know he might not be considered as “famous” as some of the actors on the list but no love for Martin Landau?That's something I might be interested in.

[Bareit]

Meryl Streep not #1 = INVALID.

I think a majority of the other actors on that list would agree with me. In fact I've heard several of them state as much in interviews etc.


{Seinfeld} Oh that Meryl Streep, she’s such a phony baloney!

[toddly6666]

Here are the one's that should be removed from that list. They are certainly entertaining actors, but not that good ones. Just because they may have won an Oscar doesn't make them good actors in their following movies:


11. Harrison Ford
27. Diane Keaton
30. Billy Bob Thornton
54. Brad Pitt
60. Faye Dunaway
63. Sigourney Weaver
64. Uma Thurman
69. Laura Linney
75. Woody Allen
79. Renee Zellweger
80. Jane Fonda
81. Bill Murray
83. Charlton Heston
100. Susan Sarandon


Christain Bale, Jeffrey Wright, and tons of other foreign actors did not get on the list.

[Giantrobo]

Where's Belladonna, Lex Steele, and Gianna Michaels? I find their performances far more engaging than many on that list and when I watch them performing my emotions just spill out....