Hollywood Hall of Fame: Actor's Division

He's no slouch as an actor.

My list (just off the top of my head): Hanks, Roberts, Penn, Meg Ryan, Denzel, Pitt, Foster.

 

Downey, Jr. for his performances in Chaplin and Less Than Zero.

Any takers?

 

Christian Bale has built quite a substantial portfolio. He was amazing as a child in "Empire of the Sun," and he has done his share of blockbusters (Batman) as well as lesser-known movies. He was very good in "Rescue Dawn" and "3:10 to Yuma" and still has a lot of years to go.

 

Chris Cooper
Gabriel Byrne
George Clooney

 

I almost feel like someone should list all of the A-list movie stars of the last two decades and then we can go through and say yes or no...

Bill Murray has to be in.

 

Exactly. I read the original post as talking about people from our era who rank with the legends: Stewart, Cagney, Bogart. People who need no first names.

Not to say they aren't fine actors, but I don't think in 50 years you'll be able to mention, "the great ones, like Witherspoon, Downey, Wahlberg, Reilly, Bale," without getting a blank stare in return. These aren't people who will stand the test of time.

Cruise probably ranks -- yeah, he's a loon, but he's been in some huge films, has three Oscar nominations and has been very famous off-screen. Maybe Ford. Maybe Pitt. Maybe Clooney.

 

I seriously got this far and no mention of mother fucking DANIEL DAY LEWIS?!?

DID I MISS IT?

 

I'll offer up a pair of Johns.. Malkovich and Turturro..

What's with all the love for Sean Penn? What acting roles have enamored him to the SportsJournalists.com nation? Shanghai Surprise? Fast Times at Ridgemont High? U Turn? Colors? Cool Blue? Hugo Pool? We're no Angels?
The guy has acted in some good films, but he might be the Jim Rice of post-1980 Hollywood actors. A pretty good actor.
While many laud his directing chops. I hate - HATE - his directing attempts (The Crossing Guard, The Pledge).

I think the same is true of Joe Pesci. He was IN some great films Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Goodfellas 2 (AKA Casino), but he seldom ever starred and he made a lot of crap too - see Lethal Weapon sequels and that shitty fishing movie he made with Danny Glover...
He's the Peter Lorre of post-80 films.


Mizzou? Bruce Willis? Dude.

That's my two cents anyway ...

 

Hanks is the only lock to be a legend right now.

 

No you didn't, as I was just as astounded his name was not mentioned. Matter of fact, I think he should be at the top of the list.

 

Oh, and for the record...

First Ballot
1) Tom Hanks
2) Tom Cruise
3) Denzel Washington
4) Susan Sarandon
5) Daniel Day-Lewis

An Extra Year or Two
1) Leonardo DiCaprio
2) Morgan Freeman
3) Johnny Depp
4) Hilary Swank (bumping off Will Smith)
5) Sean Penn (bumping off Tim Robbins)

Need a Little Push
1) Matt Damon
2) Will Smith (bumping off Paul Giammatti)
3) P.S. Hoffman
4) Edward Norton
5) Robert Downey Jr. (bumping off Benicio del Toro)

 

No women, GBNF?