Favorite actors of past and present. . . . .

[JLBats]

I think it's stupid for there to be so many names on some people's lists. It's like they've just been thinking of actresses and writing them down.
I think a favorite actors list should be compiled of actors who are truly your favorite ones, not just actors that you like for a role or something.

ANTHONYNASTI always has phonebook sized lists.

 

[Alpha and Omega]

Brando was in North By Northwest? I think you mean A Streetcar Named Desire. I always found Brando to be overrated.

Cary Grant: No one epitomizes swave like Cary Grant with his wry sense of humor coupled with flawless style. Through his performances as Hitchcock's leading man in To Catch a Thief, Suspicion, Nortorious and North by Northwest, to his fantastic comedic roles in Arsenic and Old Lace, Bringing Up Baby, Philadelphia Story and His Girl Friday, Grant is the quintessential actor.

Nice catch w/ the error.

When I was making the thread, I actually thought of Grant while I was typing in why I liked Brando.

I agree that Cary Grant was an amazing talent in his day.

I also like:
Humphrey Bogart
Ingrid Bergman
Fred Estaire
Gene Kelly
Sinatra (I like the first Manchurian Candidate more than the latest one; I'm not taking anything away from the second one, but it was just an updated rehash in a sense.)

Gene Hackman - One of my favorites. He seems like a regular guy who just went to work, did his job, and remained low key. I always admire that in people.

Judi Dench - Imo, Europe's greatest actor is a woman.
Ian McKellen - He can read the worst lines and actually make them better, believable, and he was Gandalf.

Christopher Lee - This guy was awesome as Dracula and my personal fav: The villain in the Bond flick: The Man w/ the Golden Gun. I didn't really like him in SW, but he was okay in LOTR.

Hugo Weaving - Another guy who's voice gives him the edge in any reading. It's fluid, commanding, and haunting at times.

Christopher Walken - I like his versatility. He's played so many different roles in comedies, dramas, thrillers, and action tales.

Sean Connery - The epitome of a dignified ladies man. (still the Best Bond)

Jet Li - I know a lot of people typecast him as an action star w/ minimal dramatic ability, but I think he can really perform. He has great facial mechanics.

John Malkovich - This guy was an underrated Bond villain imo. Sure, his Bond counterpart was view as disgrace, but the villain he played was pretty good. I also liked him in Dangerous Liasions, Rounders, and In the Line of Fire. In the latter, I always loved how his character created the wooden gun. (I'm pretty sure he used a Co2 cartridge for the propelling force, but not 100 percent.)

Whoopi Goldberg - She's probably the greatest black female actress of all time. I like her wit and resolve to say whatever comes to mind.

Lastly, the very, very, very, underrated Hugh Laurie - To this day, when I see 'The Man in the Iron Mask,' I wonder how such a great talent can only have mere lines in a film w/ lesser ones as leads. (excluding Malkovich and Irons)

 

[Poetic Chaos]

Jude Law
Julia Roberts
Clive Owen
Natalie Portman

Closer.

 

[gvcool2]

Jude Law
Julia Roberts
Clive Owen
Natalie Portman

Closer.

brilliant play...i was better than clive owen in my performance though

 

[Alpha and Omega]

I think it's stupid for there to be so many names on some people's lists. It's like they've just been thinking of actresses and writing them down.
I think a favorite actors list should be compiled of actors who are truly your favorite ones, not just actors that you like for a role or something.

That's true, but some of my favorites are so BECAUSE of their specific roles and what dementions they brought to the character.

I like a lot of different actors and actresses. I've mentioned around 20 or so, but I could easily narrow down my list to my 5 favorite.

In fact, I will:

5) Yul Brynner
4) Clint Eastwood
3) Paul Newman
2) Michael Caine
1) Jack Nicholson - Without a doubt, he is my favorite actor of all-time.

I know Humphrey Bogart was voted as the best leading man of all-time, but seriously, I just don't think that he had the energy or presence of Nicholson. JN's more versatile imo.

I didn't put any comedic actors down because I like comedy, but I don't respect it as much as drama. This is just my op.

 

[Balian]

That's true, but some of my favorites are so BECAUSE of their specific roles and what dementions they brought to the character.

Sorry, I should have said that a person decides an actor is one of their favorites by seeing only one film on theirs.

 

[Shuley]

I know Humphrey Bogart was voted as the best leading man of all-time, but seriously, I just don't think that he had the energy or presence of Nicholson. JN's more versatile imo.

Bogart made better films,and played it quiet and cool like alot of hollywood stars of today.Jack Nicholson played alot of people who were crazy or drunk. Easy Rider,The Shinning,One Flew over the Couckoo's Nest,The Joker in Batman and now the villain in The Departed,you get the idea...If you haven't checked out some of Bogarts fims,you should.

BTW, "We are all Brando's children" - Jack Nicholson

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

Present favorites:

Robert DeNiro
Al Pacino
Ed Norton
Gene Hackman
Morgan Freeman
Anthony Hopkins
Daniel Day Lewis

 

[mister Lennon]

I think it's stupid for there to be so many names on some people's lists. It's like they've just been thinking of actors and writing them down.
I think a favorite actors list should be compiled of actors who are truly your favorite ones, not just actors that you like for a role or something.

Thats is wrong in my case. I liked all those actors and actresses in several movies and roles, not just in some role or a pair of movies.


Also, i dont remember who said that, but judi dench is far to be the best european actress. She is a great actress, no doubt, but they are several actor or actresses so good or evern better than her in Europe.

 

[mister Lennon]

Also, i dont think that the versality from an actor or actress is a sign of genious. Could you say that people like Chaplin, Keaton or the marx brothers have a lot of versality? I would say not, but they are genious in their own style.

 

[Alpha and Omega]

BTW, "We are all Brando's children" - Jack Nicholson

He only said that because Brando did a lot of improv.


Why? Sometimes Brando would show up to a set loaded. People would have to hold up his cue cards just so he could give the lines that he didn't learn. I still like a lot of his roles, but JN's my personal fav.

 

[Alpha and Omega]

Also, i dont think that the versality from an actor or actress is a sign of genious.

Actually, I'd think that is was one aspect of ingenuity. If a person can disappear into different roles that have stark contrasts, it's pretty impressive imo. An actor who has different feel in each film has longevity imo.

Some ex(s): Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Walken, John Malkovich, Heath Ledger, Bruce Campbell, etc. . .

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Everybody's suggestions have been awesome so far but I'd like to add Larry David and Jeff Garlin. Any Curb Your Enthusiasm fans will appreciate these two guys.

 

[U.S War Machine]

Theres too many to list

 

[Mr.Webs]

Jimmy Stewart - A brilliant actor in his own right, but, I also really respect him. Why? Nearly from the beginning, he was typecast as the 'general nice guy', and it seemed as if he could get no other role. But, what is so great was what he did with these typecast roles. He played the cliche' nice guy, but every character had that small change that made the performance work. From 'A Philadelphia Story's' stubborn, arrogant reporter, to 'Mr. Smith Goes To Washington's' ruthless determination, to 'It's a Wonderful Life's' intense, suicidal portrayal, to even his role in 'Vertigo', where there is a tinge of insanity played throughout the film.

That is why he's my favorite actor. He took the roles that Hollywood thought he could only play, but then made them his own.

 

[PoppaRotzi]

Shirley Maclaine. She was smoking hot in her early movies.....long, long, long legs...hotter than Jessica Alba could ever be.