Who do you think are the 5 greatest living actors?

[Atreus21]

1. Harrison Ford
2. Morgan Freeman
3. Gary Oldman
4. Robert Downey Jr.
5. Rutger Hauer

I have a particular fondness for versatile actors, hence the Gary Oldman and Robert Downey Jr.'s placement.

Harrison Ford isn't particularly versatile, I suppose. Nonetheless, Blade Runner makes him my No. 1, and Rutger Hauer my number 5.

 

[swbsam]

1. Phillip Seymore Hoffman
2. Robert Downey Jr.
3. Leo DiCaprio
4. Jack Nicholson
5. Javier Bardem

 

[Chryso]

I like your list but I would put Meryl Streep in there.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Male actors? I dunno, about "greatest" but my favorites are:

Brad Pitt
Johnny Depp
Leonardo DiCaprio
Tom Hanks
Daniel Day-Lewis

I think each one is extremely talented, versatile and tend to pick good movies to role in.

runners up:
Ed Norton
Kevin Spacey
Philip Seymore Hoffman
Don Cheadle
Will Smith
Terrence Howard (well, most of his roles have been similar, but I think he has tons of potential. He was excellent in Hustle & Flow.)
Christian Bale
Gary Oldman
George Clooney
bah...too many

Actresses:
Meryl Streep
Natalie Portman
Angelina Jolie
Kate Winslet
Jodie Foster
Holly Hunter
Frances McDormand
again...too many

edit: replaced Ed Norton with Leo...I wasn't thinking straight.
edit2: Yeah, 5 just isn't enough. I had to edit my post several times and add a runners-up list. And that still doesn't cover it when other people keep bringing up other excellent and versatile actors.
edit3: Added Actresses

 

[m1ldslide1]

1. Gary Oldman
2. Ed Harris
3. Dennis Hopper
4. Christopher Walken
5. Harvey Keitel

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Male actors? I dunno, about "greatest" but my favorites are:

Brad Pitt
Johnny Depp
Edward Norton
Tom Hanks
Daniel Day-Lewis

I think each one is extremely talented, versatile and tend to pick good movies to role in.

Brad Pitt...lol


"What's in the box...?!"

 

[Anubis]

Daniel Day-Lewis
Liam Neeson
Tom Hanks
Jack Nicholson
Sean Connery

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Male actors? I dunno, about "greatest" but my favorites are:

Brad Pitt
Johnny Depp
Leonardo DiCaprio
Tom Hanks
Daniel Day-Lewis

I think each one is extremely talented, versatile and tend to pick good movies to role in.

runners up:
Ed Norton
Kevin Spacey
Philips Seymore Hoffman
Don Cheadle

I'd take out Brad Pitt and swap with one of your runners up, probably Ed Norton, add Sean Connery and Jack Nicholson for longevity

Edit: Ed Norton is way better than Leo imo.

 

[nace186]

Tim Robbins
Tom Hanks
Morgan Freeman
Will Smith

 

[lokiju]

In no specific order...

Leonardo DiCaprio
Tom Hanks
Ed Norton
Liam Neeson
Ewan McGregor

 

[Tooncesthedrivingcat]

Lists that do not include DDL have no credibility.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Not one person has mentioned Robert Deniro or Al Pacino. Wow.

 

[Atreus21]

Originally posted by: nace186
Tim Robins
Tom Hanks
Morgan Freeman
Will Smith

Ordinarily, I'd say, "Tim Robbins?!" but then I saw Shawshank Redemption.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
Not one person has mentioned Robert Deniro or Al Pacino. Wow.

where is the versatility? I like them, but they sort of stick to the same roles.

 

[amish]

i'm really surprised that nobody has mentioned patrick bateman, i mean christian bale.

in no order:

christian bale
harrison ford
sean connery
johnny depp
liam neeson

 

[Strk]

I can't think of five, to be honest. Gary Oldman is definitely one of the top actors though. He is one of the few I can actually take seriously in any roll he does.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Anubis
Liam Neeson

He was pretty bad ass in Taken.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: amish
i'm really surprised that nobody has mentioned patrick bateman, i mean christian bale.

in no order:

christian bale
harrison ford
sean connery
johnny depp
liam neeson

Bale's been sadly one note lately - the obsessed man on a mission

 

[foghorn67]

Not in order
1-Chris Cooper. Seriously underrated.
2-Bill Murray
3-Gary Oldman (amazing versatility like in said in OP)
4-Robert Duvall - A lot of his roles are too similar, but there are so many times where nobody could have done it better.
5-Leonardo DiCaprio - Yeah, I hate saying it...but after watching Aviator and Blood Diamond...I'm convinced.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Not in order
1-Chris Cooper. Seriously underrated.
2-Bill Murray
3-Gary Oldman (amazing versatility like in said in OP)
4-Robert Duvall - A lot of his roles are too similar, but there are so many times where nobody could have done it better.
5-Leonardo DiCaprio - Yeah, I hate saying it...but after watching Aviator and Blood Diamond...I'm convinced.

Both good roles, both surpaseed (imo) by his roles in Gangs of New York and The Departed.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
.
5-Leonardo DiCaprio - Yeah, I hate saying it...but after watching Aviator and Blood Diamond...I'm convinced.

IDK if i would put Leo in a top 5 yet however he has become a pretty damn good actor, the 2 you mentioned as well as the Departed, all kick some serious ass. i have not seen it but Body of Lies looked good as well

 

[shortylickens]

I like the list but I'd replace Harrison Ford with Sean Connery.
And maybe rearrange a bit.

But Gary Oldman would definitely be up there.

 

[Sphexi]

Friggen hard to choose.

Gary Oldman
Liam Neeson
Denzel Washington
Christopher Walken
George Clooney


Clooney only makes it on there because of Burn After Reading....I mean, come on. A rocking chair with a rubber dong on it? Genius!

 

[Atreus21]

Originally posted by: Sphexi
Friggen hard to choose.

Gary Oldman
Liam Neeson
Denzel Washington
Christopher Walken
George Clooney


Clooney only makes it on there because of Burn After Reading....I mean, come on. A rocking chair with a rubber dong on it? Genius!

I know. 5 is woefully short to name favorites. That's the idea tho.

 

[Jeffg010]

I have to put Robin Williams in the top 5.
from playing a wacky alien in Mork & Mindy to Popeye, Moscow on the Hudson, Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Awakenings, Hook, Bicentennial Man, list goes on.