Best male actor of all time? (Only one!)
Jack Nicholson
shareJackie Chan
I always wanted for someone to ask me this question so I could answer this. Hehe I truly admire him though.
MovieChat Forums > Best and Worst > Best male actor of all time? (Only one!)
I'm not sure if Nicholson is my own favorite but he's hard to argue against... for me the best actor should be able to play violent, funny, sexy, romantic, and tragic roles... and Jack has played all of these roles well. Some actors like De Niro, Day Lewis, Tom Hardy have excelled at dramatic parts but have never really played a great romantic comedy lead. If Nicholson has a weakness it might be that he never seems to disappear into a role like Dustin Hoffman, he just plays variations of Jack which are extremely entertaining but not really transformative. Tom Hanks also has done a nice variety of roles although he's never done a great angry bad ass, I don't think. He played a gangster in Road to Perdition but that guy was still pretty low key. Paul Newman was pretty good too. But yeah, they should be able to play all of those types to be the best actor in my book.
shareHanks briefly played a psychotic Irish gangster in Cloud Atlas.
shareDustin Hoffman and James Stewart.
shareJimmy Stewart, hands down the best, great dramatic actor can also handle comedy. He played romantic leads and also a bad ass in winchester 73. I think you have to play an unsavory character to show your range. Tom Hanks played a jerk in punchline and one in a league of there own but I think jimmy edges him out.
Yep, Jimmy Stewart is one of my favorites too... played every type of part in a lot of great films but like Nicholson he lacks the ability to transform like Hoffman, De Niro, Day Lewis
shareThere is a fabulous Jimmy Stewart Museum in his home town, Indiana, PA. Stop by if you are ever in the area.
shareMy favorite actor is Peter O'Toole. He could handle comedy, drama, action as well as a little singing. And no one could "chew up the scenery" like O'Toole. He was credible as a leading man as well as a mad man. And his elocution was always spot on!
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Robin Williams, equally adept at funny and serious roles. John Candy. We lost the best ones far too soon.
shareI think that Robin Williams is a tremendously underrated actor.You are correct. He was as effective at comedy as he was at drama.
share I have trouble picking just one, so my top three... Joe Pesci, Gene Hackman and Robert de Niro. All could play drama and comedy, scary dudes and and funny guys. With de Niro, I always have the feeling that I am spying on his private life and not a man who is acting. He is just SO believable.
Pesci can make me laugh (My Cousin Vinnie) and scare the heck out of me in other roles like Goodfellas and Casino.
Gene Hackman is just amazing in anything.
Gene Hackman is great. He made a lot of stinkers but he was always the best thing in them.
shareRoy Scheider.
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I agree. Jack Nicholson.
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