Who's the best actor ever?

[Davefinan]

Jack Nicholson seems to be able to play any part very well.

 

[padam]

Paul Newman

Plus he became a pretty good race car driver

 

[6PKRTSE]

Hard to choose. Best actor, or best movie. In most cases the actor made the movie good.

 

[themechanic]

Buster Keaton

 

[33 IMP]

William Powell.

 

[Jim 68cuda]

My buddy who convinced his wife that buying a classic car would be a father-daughter project they could bond over.

 

[68BabyBlue]

My buddy who convinced his wife that buying a classic car would be a father-daughter project they could bond over.

To me, that sounds more like "advocacy" than acting, but they do overlap. I was an aspiring trial lawyer when I passed the bar in 1983, and pulled a similar stunt to the one mentioned above, when I convinced my wife to let me buy a '68 GTX, after we sold our first home to raise money for my law practice. The practice folded a year later, but I then convinced my wife to let me keep the car, when I went back to driving a truck to pay the rent. We are still married. I ended up making a enough money that she kept me. I would have considered an acting career, but I didn't have the looks.

 

[DeltaV]

I would have considered an acting career, but I didn't have the looks.

A career in radio!

 

[#41]

There are plenty of actors who are considered great because they are beloved, prolific, and financially successful..... but as far as having an ability to actually transform themselves into varied believable roles..... these are far and few between.

Maybe between Jack Nicholson or Sean Penn for me. If you look at the varied roles Penn has taken on its pretty astounding. I think Nicholson is more playing himself in every role than really becoming the role, but he's just so damn fun to watch.

 

[Armyvet25]

Bruce Willis is an actor whose movies I can usually watch over and over

 

[padam]

There are plenty of actors who are considered great because they are beloved, prolific, and financially successful..... but as far as having an ability to actually transform themselves into varied believable roles..... these are far and few between.

Maybe between Jack Nicholson or Sean Penn for me. If you look at the varied roles Penn has taken on its pretty astounding. I think Nicholson is more playing himself in every role than really becoming the role, but he's just so damn fun to watch.

I agree. When you see some actors you know what the character is going to be.

Al Pacino is one of the greats in my book. You never really know what to expect. To me he becomes the character.
He's played gangsters, but his role in Donnie Brasco was very different and convincing.

 

[themechanic]

Lon Chaney, Vincent Price

 

[hdwrench]

man that’s a great question? there are many i’d call great don’t really call one favorite. i like a handful of hollywood actors but dislike many many more .

 

[khryslerkid]

Moe Howard, hands down.

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I think Curly was way better than Moe.

 

[Sixpactogo]

I like most of the above noted actors. I was surprised not to see Charles Bronson mentioned. He was always one of my favorites

 

[padam]

Richard Harris

 

[Don Frelier]

James Gandolfini was really good

 

[Dipstick]

Anthony Hopkins. From Shakespeare to Hannibal Lecter.

 

[Dennis H]

William Holden.

 

[RR Fan Dan]