Best Actors of All Time

Everyone has their own personal choices when it comes to the actors and actresses. The world of cinema would remain incomplete if these talented people were not present to enrich every film with their body of work. These talented performers have enthralled audiences every time they came on the movie screen. Behind this magnificent on screen person lies perfection, countless hours of practice and a desire which keeps them burning and giving amazing performances.

This list is random and includes actors from the current generation and not from the 40s, 50s and 60s.

Best Actors Ever

This list will change depending on whom you ask this question. However, this article on the greatest actors of all time caters to today's generation. The list has been made by looking first at the career graph, their earnings and then various other factors.

Leonardo DiCaprio
He is my favorite actor and a heart-throb of millions of women all around the world. He is fondly remembered as the handsome artist Jack Dawson from the greatest romance saga "Titanic". Not many know but Leo was an actor even before Titanic hit the silver screen. He is widely remembered as the young Arnie Grape from What's Eating Gilbert Grape. The role of a mentally challenged guy earned him his first Oscar nomination for supporting actor at the age of 19. Since then he has received many Academy nominations and the total collection of his movies have made more than a billion dollars. Memorable films include, The Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Catch Me If You Can, The Departed and many more to come.

Tom Hanks
No list of great actors can be complete without Tom Hanks. He is called the greatest actor of the 21st century. He is also a two-time Academy award winner for best actor. A great actor who prefers to live a normal and simple life with his family. His fan base can be found in every country and most people remember him as Steven Spielberg's most preferred actor. No one can forget the portrayal of the innocent Forrest Gump which won him the Oscar for best actor. Even at the age of 54 he is working non-stop and giving every young actor a run for his money. Hanks is one of the first actors who played a role of an AIDS victim in the 1993 hit "Philadelphia" and educated the world about this serious issue. The total collection of his films has been more than 3.9 billion dollars. Memorable films include, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, You've Got Mail, Saving Private Ryan, The Terminal, Toy Story Franchise, Road to Perdition, Cast Away and The Da Vinci Code.

Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp can wear anything and still look good. He is one of those actors who will always be there in your mind. He has an unforgettable face. His carefree attitude and creative approach to every role that he works for has made him a heart-throb of millions around the globe. He started his career as a TV star and then jumped into films. His breakthrough role was "Edward Scissorhands" which won him many accolades. But the role that gave him worldwide recognition and made him an icon was of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean Series. Mr. Depp is also known for losing his temper when people have come too close to his family. Due to the rising media interest in him and his private life, he resides in France away from the public eye. His movies have grossed over 2 billion dollars globally making him one of the most bankable stars in the world. Memorable films include, Ed Wood, Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Sleepy Hollow, Finding Neverland, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of the Fleet Street and Public Enemies.

Robert De Niro
People call him the greatest actor alive and I am sure he thinks the same. With a successful career of more than 3 decades, De Niro has proven again and again why he's still the Big Man. Winning everyone's hearts as the young Vito Corleone in the Godfather 2, the actor gave us many memorable roles. He is also remembered for his collaboration with the master maker Martin Scorsese. Together they have made many successful films, the most popular being "Raging Bull" which won his first best actor Oscar. Due to his old age the actor is seen less in the media these days but he's still working in great films and hunting great scripts. Memorable films include, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, New York New York, Cape Fear, Goodfellas and Casino.

Sean Penn
When I think of Sean Penn, I just remember one term "Perfection" and that's what the man is all about. Regarded as a living legend, Sean Penn makes every film a worth watch. Most of us remember him as the lovable Sam Dawson from "I am Sam". The portrayal of a mentally challenged father earned him his second Academy Nomination for best actor. He is one of the most talented actors to face the screen. Also known for his unpredictable temper, Sean Penn was the highlight for many years due to his marriage to pop star Madonna. His love for acting has shocked audiences worldwide many times. He has won the Oscar for best actor two times, for Mystic River and Milk. Memorable films include, Carlito's Way, Dead Man Walking, Sweet and Lowdown, 21 Grams, The Assassination of Richard Nixon.

Jack Nicholson
The ultimate bad man of Hollywood, Jack Nicholson is an actor who is born once in generations. Jack wanted to be an actor from the beginning, he started his career working at an animation studio and soon made his first step in acting. Soon people start noticing him and money and critical acclaim was at his feet. His most memorable performance is in the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" which also won him the Oscar for best actor. Jack has also led a very glamorous personal life. Being tagged as a womanizer from the beginning, Mr. Nicholson even at the age of 73 is considered as one of the most desirable men in Hollywood. He is an American icon and still doing some amazing roles which leave an impression on a lot of minds. Memorable films include The Departed, About Schmidt, The Last Detail, Chinatown, Terms of Endearment, Batman (1989), As Good As It Gets, A Few Good Men, How Do You Know.

Brad Pitt
Today Brad Pitt is famous for being the partner of the most beautiful woman in the world Angelina Jolie. Mr Pitt has often been named as the sexiest man alive. But this doesn't mean that this pretty looking man doesn't know acting. He has starred in some of the most critically acclaimed films of this generation and has been one of the most successful stars in Hollywood. Brad Pitt began his acting career in the late 80's and revived critical acclaim in the thriller drama "Se7en", and then in "Twelve Monkeys" for which he also got his Academy nomination for supporting actor. Then started a string of successful and critically acclaimed films. Today the sexiest man is a father of 6 children with his partner Angelina and they are under the media eye constantly. Memorable films include, The Oceans Series, Babel, Fight Club, Snatch, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Mr and Mrs Smith, Inglorious Bastards, Troy and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Best Actors of All Time: Male and Female

Listing out only seven great names is just not enough, there are many more talented actors and actresses who have dazzled audiences every time they appeared on screen. Here's a list of those great names.

Male Actors	Female Actors
Al Pacino	Katherine Hepburn
Morgan Freeman	Meryl Streep
Clint Eastwood	Angelina Jolie
Will Smith	Kate Winslet
George Clooney	Cate Blanchett
Tom Cruise	Nicole Kidman
Joe Pesci	Laura Linney
Russell Crowe	Cameron Diaz
Liam Neeson	Julia Roberts
Edward Norton	Marion Cotillard
Heath Ledger	Ellen Page
Kevin Spacey	Helena Bonham Carter
Michael Caine	Judi Dench
Daniel Day Lewis	Halle Berry
Matt Damon	Jodie Foster
Robin Williams	Emma Thompson
Christian Bale	Hillary Swank

So this was my take on the best actors of all time. I guess most of you liked reading the information on your favorite actors. If you think this table should be filled with more names, please leave your opinions.