Top 10 Favorite Actors Part 1: 10-6

Actors, possibly the most important aspect of any film, without them would there even be films? For this countdown I will be listing my Top 10 favorite actors. This is not a list of "best" actors, although none of these actors would be considered bad, it is a list of the actors that I enjoy watching the most. Remember, this is a list of my all-time favorite actors, not just the ones that are still acting, nearly half the actors on the list are either retired or dead, and the other half are currently acting. Also there are some that are among my favorites, but I have not seen them in enough movies to make this list like Chris Evans or Alan Tudyk. While many viewers are often negatively influenced by an actor's off-screen actives, what an actor does off the screen is of little interest to me. Typically, I avoid knowing about what an actor has done off-screen as to not influence my opinion of his acting ability. However, there are a few actors that have positively influenced my opinion them, mostly from interviews, kindness to fans, and general likeability off the screen. For each actor, I will say something him and why he is one of my favorite actors followed by list a few of his best movies/TV shows and best roles not in any particular order.

 

 

Honorable Mention: Tom Hiddleston

I have said many times that Hiddleston kills it as Loki. However, I have only seen him in the Avengers, Thor, and War Horse, therefore he is an honorable mention due to the lack of films I have seen in, certainly not lack of skill. Alec Guinness would be another honorable mention, he is one of my favorite actors. 

At Number 10: Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson makes any movie he is in infinitely more awesome and BA, that is one of the fundamental laws of the universe. While I have mostly seen him in supporting roles, that is no reason not to include him on the list because he is such a crazy and cool actor. Although most of performances are not Oscar worthy by any means, he is consistently one of the best parts of any film. For this number ten spot it was a real toss up between Morgan Freeman and Sam L. Both have epic voices and screen presence, and make movies better in general. Even though Freeman might be the better actor, Sam L. takes it for his sheer monkey fighting awesomeness (reference to video below).

 

Best Movies: The Avengers, Iron Man 2, Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, The Other Guys, The Incredibles, Die Hard 3, Jurassic Park,

Best Roles: Nick Fury, Mace Windu,

Censorship makes everything funnier.

 



At Number 9: Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion is the only actor on this list that I have seen mostly on television and just in a couple of movies, but that makes no less fun to watch. After becoming a Browncoat (Firefly fan) earlier this year, Fillion quickly became one of my favorite actors. Just like the other cast members of Firefly, I am always looking for great movies that Fillion is in because he is a fun actor to watch. His sarcastic wit and dialogue delivery are always perfect and hilarious as Captain Mal in Firefly, and he is hilariously cheesy as Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Basically, anything that Joss Whedon works on with Fillion is pure gold. Please Whedon, cast him in something Marvel related!

Best Movies/TV Shows: Firefly, Serenity, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog,

Best Roles: Malcolm Reynolds, Captain Hammer,

  

 

At Number 8: Cary Grant



Cary Grant is an all too often forgotten actor by most of today's modern audience. Despite playing very similar character in all his films, I never get tried of Grant's humor and witty remarks. Grant's work with legendary director Alfred Hitchcock has produced some of his best films, particularly the revolutionary North By Northwest. Interesting fact: if it where not for his age, Grant would have played James Bond and he probably would have done very well in the role.
Best Movies: North By Northwest, Charade, To Catch a Thief, The Philadelphia Story, Notorious, Gunga Din,

Best Role: Roger Thornhill

At Number 7: John Wayne

John Wayne, the Duke, one of the most famous actors in the history of filmmaking. Everyone has at least heard of Wayne and most have seen a few of his films; he is an American icon. While his acting prowess is not always the best, particularly in his early films, he always plays the best cowboys and has starred in many of the greatest western films ever made. Wayne's strongest performances were in Rio Bravo, The Searchers, and his Oscar Winning role of Roster Cogburn in the original True Grit.

Best Movies: True Grit, The Searchers, Roster Cogburn, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Hondo,

Best Role: Roster Cogburn

 

At Number 6: Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart is considered by many to be one of the best actors of all-time, and it is a title that he is most certainly deserving of. I have yet to see a Bogart film that I would consider bad, or even below average. While I am not the biggest fan of his most famous film, Casablanca, his other films like the Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Big Sleep, and the Maltese Falcon are the three best films of the 40s and his other films are among the best of the era. His performance in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre was particularly amazing, one of the best performances I have ever seen.
Best Movies: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, To Have and Have Not, The Caine Mutiny, Casablanca, Key Largo, The Left Hand of God

Best Role: Dobbs, Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe

 

Please check back soon for the next part of my countdown. Are any of these among your favorite actors? Who are your favorite actors? Please comment below.

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