Top 10 Favorite Actors Part 2: 5-1

Here is the second and final part of my Top 10 Favorite Actors countdown. If you have not seen the first part, please click here to read it.

At Number 5: Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood is the ultimate tough guy and has played the two best movie cowboys on film, and there are almost no other actors like him around. There is something about his mannerisms and the way he talks that makes him a fun actor to watch, even if the movie he is in sucks. As a director Eastwood has made several great films including his overall best film, and personal favorite of mine, the Outlaw Josey Wales.

Best Movies: The Outlaw Joesy Wales, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Where Eagles Dare, Kelly's Heroes, Dirty Harry, A Fistful of Dollars, Unforgiven, Pale Rider, Trouble with the Curve,

Best Roles: Joesy Wales, Kelly, Harry Callahan, "Man With No Name",

 

At Number 4: James Stewart

James Stewart is an all too often forgotten actor. He has always been one of my favorite actors and I have yet to see a weak performance from him, even in a few below average films. Stewart has great charisma and always delivers excellent humor in all of his roles. Most of Stewart's best films come from his work with Alfred Hitchcock in the classic and unbelievably suspenseful Rear Window, and the almost as good Vertigo.

Best Movies: Rear Windo, Vertigo, The Naked Spur, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Destry Rides Again, It's a Wonderful Life, The Man Who Knew Too Much,The Philadelphia Story

Best Roles: L. B. "Jeff" Jeffries, John "Scottie" Ferguson, Howard Kemp, Mr. Hobbs, Destry,

 

At Number 3: Robert Downy Jr.

Robert Downey Jr., who I consider to be the best actor in the business right now. After drug abuse seemed to bring his career to an end, Downey was cast as Tony Stark and now he is one of the most successful actors around. From both a critical and entertainment standpoint, Robert Downey Jr. has consistently been giving brilliant performances, particularly as Tony Stark, that are unmatched among his peers. While not everyone agrees, and I am sure it will never happen, Downey should get serious Oscar recognition, especially for his latest performance in Iron Man 3. Alas, the Oscar board are a bunch of pompous bigots that will never even consider it, regardless Downey is the best.

Best Movies: Iron Man trilogy, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,

Best Roles: Tony Stark, Sherlock Holmes

 

At Number 2: Sean Connery

Sean Connery has been my second favorite actor for as along I can remember actually caring who the actors were in movies. He was hilarious in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, my tenth favorite movie of all-time, as Indiana's father, and he was, of course, James Bond. Daniel Craig might be a better Bond in terms of acting skill, but there will never be a better Bond than Connery. While Connery is best known for his role as Bond, he has given his best dramatic performance in the Untouchables; the movie in which he won his only Oscar and it was well deserved.
Best Movies: Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, The Untouchables, Goldfinger, Dr. No, From Russia with Love,  The Hunt for Red October, The Rock, You Only Live Twice, Thunderball,

Best Roles: James Bond, Henry Jones Sir., Jim Malone,

 

At Number 1: Harrison Ford

Wow! How can one actor play so many iconic roles!? Harrison Ford has played my two favorite fictional heroes, Han Solo and Indiana Jones, to perfection, and he has been the star in several other of my favorite films. Unlike most of Ford's action movie star counterparts, he gives his characters an "very-man" quality that makes his characters human and relatable, which is present in most of his roles, particularly, Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Richard Kimble, and Rick Deckard just to name a few. It is a shame that he has never won an Oscar, although that might change with his recent performance in 42.
Best Movies: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Indiana Jones Trilogy, The Fugitive, Blade Runner, 42, Air Force One, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, 

Best Roles: Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan, Dr. Richard Kimble, Rick Deckard,

What are your thoughts on my list? Who are your favorite actors (if you haven't answered already)? Please comment below.
 

Below is my absurdly long list of honorable mentions in no particularly, and I am sure there are many actors that I am forgetting.
 

Honorable Mentions: Avengers cast, Firefly cast, Lord of the Rings cast, Star Wars Original cast, Michael Fassbender, Bruce Willis, Hugh Jackman, Kevin Conroy, Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Alec Guinness, Mel Gibson, Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Gardner, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, James McAoy, Charlton Heston, Hugo Weaving, Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, Sean Astin, Ewan McGregor, Tom Kane, Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, Mark Hamill, Denzel Washington, James Earl Jones, Michael Caine, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Christopher Eccleston, Jeff Bridges, Gary Cooper, Arnold Schwarzenegger,

 

 

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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.

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.