What actors have starred in the largest number of great films?

SB-08 · 26-05-2010 10:31PM #1

So which actor do you think has starred (a staring or supporting role, not a cameo) in the largest number of great films? It doesn't have to be one of your favourite actors - eg. I am not a big fan of Tom Hanks but can see he is up there when it comes to having loads of great films. He's had far more than someone like Brando although is nowhere near as good imo. Obviously it's all subjective and I know this thread could turn into a list one, but hopefully we can discuss which films we agree with being great or not.

My personal choice is Robert De Niro. I don't think any major actor has had a starring role in as many classics as Deniro. Here's a list of what I think are his great films.

Mean Steets
Godfather Part II
Taxi Driver
1900
New York, New York
The Deer Hunter
Raging Bull
True Confessions
The King Of Comedy
Once Upon A Time In America
Brazil
The Mission
Angel Heart
The Untouchables
Midnight Run
Goodfellas
Awakenings
Cape Fear
A Bronx Tale
This Boy's Life
Casino
Heat
Sleepers
Cop Land
Jackie Brown
Wag The Dog
Ronin
Analyse This
Meet The Parents
The Score

He's also been in loads of good but not great films such as Guilty By Suspision, Backdraft, Jacknife, 15 Minutes, Meet The Fockets, The Good Sheperd etc. It's a shame he has got so many average films this decade though.

Clint Eastwood has had loads as well:
A Fistfull Of Dollars
For A Few Dollars More
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Where Eagles Dare
Kelly''s Heros
Play Misty For Me
Dirty Harry
High Plains Drifter
Magnum Force
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Escape From Alcatraz
Sudden Impact
Pale Rider
Heartbreak Ridge
Unforgiven
In The Line Of Fire
A Perfect World
The Bridges Of Madison County
Million Dollar Baby
Gran Torino

CoalBucket · 26-05-2010 10:34PM

De Niro is the man alright, that list is unvbelievable, only thing though I wouldn't put copland on it.

Kess73 · 26-05-2010 10:37PM

Paul Newman has starred in a good number of excellent films.

Toshiro Mifune has been in a number of classic films as well as a number of top notch films. At least 8 of his top films have been under the Helm of Kurosawa.

SB-08 · 26-05-2010 10:48PM

CoalBucket wrote: »

De Niro is the man alright, that list is unvbelievable, only thing though I wouldn't put copland on it.

Yeah I supose it probably isnt comparable to some of the others but I have always loved Cop Land. The same goes with The Score - I know alot of people will dissagree with that one but I think it was an excellent thriller, and the novelty of seeing De Niro and Brando together with an added bonus. Ed Norton gave one of his best performances in it as well.

Agree with those especially Newman - I'd also add Jack Nicholson and Jimmy Stewart to the list.

Papa_Lazarou · 26-05-2010 10:51PM

Dan Dyer would have to be my choice. He spews out so many movies every year of such high quality how could you not appreciate him........

Kess73 · 26-05-2010 10:56PM

SB-08 wrote: »

Yeah I supose it probably isnt comparable to some of the others but I have always loved Cop Land. The same goes with The Score - I know alot of people will dissagree with that one but I think it was an excellent thriller, and the novelty of seeing De Niro and Brando together with an added bonus. Ed Norton gave one of his best performances in it as well.

Agree with those especially Newman - I'd also add Jack Nicholson and Jimmy Stewart to the list.

How did I not think of Jimmy Stewart.?!?!?!? One of my all time favourites. He has a silly amount of class films.

Think I will throw Lee Marvin's name into the mix as well.

rednik · 26-05-2010 11:18PM

I will have to mention the late great Gregory Peck.
To kill a mockingbird
The guns of Navarone
The Big Country
How the west was won
Moby Dick
Cape Fear
Roman holiday
The gunfighter
The Yearling
The paradine case
Spellbound
Duel in the sun
Captain Horatio Hornblower
The million pound note
Pork chop hill
The boys from Brazil
The Omen
Gentleman's agreement.

niallon · 26-05-2010 11:37PM

It may not be a huge list but Viggo Mortensen has been quite wise with his film choices. Maybe not all great films but definitely few you could call terrible or flops:

Prison (Don't care, schlocky but excellent!)
A Perfect Murder (There's been worse remakes)
The Road
LOTR Trilogy
A History Of Violence
Eastern Promises
Daylight (I love it, don't care!)
Crimson Tide
The Prophecy
Carlito's Way
The Indian Runner
Witness
Appaloosa

Even the genre films he has done (The Prophecy, Daylight, Prison) though arguably not great films, are still held fondly in their respective genres.

Just don't mention Texas Chainsaw 3!

And once again, Daylight is a great film!

Scuba Ste · 27-05-2010 12:02AM

Pacino. Serious run of films from panic in needle park up to probably any given sunday.

CoalBucket · 27-05-2010 12:24AM

Dustin Hoffman deserves a mention.

The Graduate
Midnight Cowboy
Papillion
Marathon Man
Little Big Man
Lenny
Straw Dogs
All The Presidents Men
Tootsie
Kramer V Kramer
Rain Man

Classic films from a great actor and later on in his career taking it easy with a few comedys and kiddies movies (Meet the Fockers, Hook, Mr. Magoriums Magic Emporium)

*

Wolfe Tone · 27-05-2010 12:25AM

I would agree with Clint.

ziedth · 27-05-2010 12:43AM

Would you not think it would be fair that for every really bad film they do it count as one off their list? Or maybe that would be a good idea for another thread?

Pacino would be well boned,

DazMarz · 27-05-2010 12:43AM

There is one actor I love, and I believe he has a 100% record... All the films he has been in have been genuine classics... Maybe this goes against the point of this thread, but he only starred in 5 films in his career, yet all were nominated (and some won) the Best Picture Oscar. That man is John Cazale, a brilliant and gifted actor.

The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
The Deer Hunter
Dog Day Afternoon
The Conversation

Not exactly a long list, but almost assuredly the most consistent C.V. of any actor ever! R.I.P. John...:(

marwelie · 27-05-2010 01:15AM

DazMarz wrote: »

There is one actor I love, and I believe he has a 100% record... All the films he has been in have been genuine classics... Maybe this goes against the point of this thread, but he only starred in 5 films in his career, yet all were nominated (and some won) the Best Picture Oscar. That man is John Cazale, a brilliant and gifted actor.

The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
The Deer Hunter
Dog Day Afternoon
The Conversation

Not exactly a long list, but almost assuredly the most consistent C.V. of any actor ever! R.I.P. John...:(

We have a winner!

TheDoc · 27-05-2010 05:35PM

Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson spring to mind for movies starred and riected.

Cant remember seeing either in anything I didnt like

Cactus Colm · 27-05-2010 08:57PM

I think Gene Hackman might well be worth a mention.

The Royal Tenenbaums
Heist
Enemy Of The State
Antz
Get Shorty
Crimson Tide
Unforgiven
Mississippi Burning
No Way Out
Hoosiers
Superman and Superman II
The French Connection and The French Connection 2
Young Frankenstein
The Poiseidon Adventure
The Conversation
Bonnie and Clyde

foxyboxer · 27-05-2010 09:14PM

Cactus Colm wrote: »

I think Gene Hackman might well be worth a mention.

As my dad always said "Even if the film is crap, i'd watch it through anyway if he was in it"

Wacker · 27-05-2010 10:17PM

Brad Pitt deserves a mention. I won't bother going through his list, but what sets him apart from the likes of De Niro, Hoffman, Pacino, Eastwood, Hackman et all is that he is only 47. His CV is simply stunning for a man of his age.

MagicMarker · 27-05-2010 10:21PM

niallon wrote: »

Daylight (I love it, don't care!)
And once again, Daylight is a great film!

The rock climbing dude!! Man I haven't seen that in ages, I don't think Vigo was really a household name (probably still isn't in fairness) until LOTR, seeing what he was in before that can be quite surprising!

SB-08 · 28-05-2010 12:22AM

Cactus Colm wrote: »

I think Gene Hackman might well be worth a mention.

The Royal Tenenbaums
Heist
Enemy Of The State
Antz
Get Shorty
Crimson Tide
Unforgiven
Mississippi Burning
No Way Out
Hoosiers
Superman and Superman II
The French Connection and The French Connection 2
Young Frankenstein
The Poiseidon Adventure
The Conversation
Bonnie and Clyde

Spot on - Hackman is incredible and is one of the few actors capable of making an average film good just bt his presence. I'd also add a few more to that list - a highly underrated little known road movie (it's not even available on R2 DVD) 'Scarcrow' co-staring Al Pacino from the early 70's. Also supporting roles 'A Bridge Too Far', 'Reds', 'The Firm', 'Wyatt Earp, - Loved 'The Birdcage', 'Narrow Margin', 'Absolute Power' and ''Runway Jury' - what should have been his final film instead of the awful 'Welcome To Mooseport'

He truly is one of the all time greats. I wish he would come out of retirement for one last role. I heard rumours he was set to be in Jack Nicholson's rumoured future film 'Last Vegas' along with Morgan Freeman but I doubt it. Eastwood could probably convince him for one of his directed films seeing as they are friends and have worked together several times.

Agree with Brad Pitt - also Tom Cruise really has an impressive amounts of great films at this stage

bnt · 28-05-2010 01:51AM

I second the Gene Hackman nomination, and have another name to add: Katharine Hepburn. Her career was all the more remarkable for surviving near-failure early on, when she was labelled "box office poison". Her great films include Morning Glory, Little Women, Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, Woman Of The Year, Adam's Rib, The African Queen, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, Rooster Cogburn and On Golden Pond. Her Oscars record says it all: 12 nominations and 4 wins, all for Best Actress. :cool:

sxt · 28-05-2010 02:00AM

Danny Trejo... I misread the original question for which actor appeared in largest amount of movies, this kid has 20 projects on the go for 2010:eek:

Meryl Streep
Denzel Washington

Mackman · 28-05-2010 02:47AM

Come on guys, you all know who should win this,

Conan
Terminator
Commando
Predator
Terminator 2
True Lies
Total Recall

And to a lesser extent:
Last Action hero
Kindergarden Cop
The Running Man
Eraser

login1 · 28-05-2010 02:55AM

Can't believe noones mentioned Will Ferrell yet

Thepones · 28-05-2010 11:22AM

Could we argue Kevin Bacon????

Hank_Jones · 28-05-2010 12:45PM

How about Tom Hanks?

Toy Story
Toy Story 2
Catch Me If You Can
Road to Perdition
Cast Away
The Green Mile
Saving Private Ryan
Apollo 13
Forrest Gump
Philadelphia

And then he has all his comedy films from the 80’s and early 90’s which I love.
Big is one of my favourite films.

zimovain · 28-05-2010 01:42PM

Brian Dennehy anyone?

paddyismaddy · 28-05-2010 02:54PM

de niro would be the one that comes to my mind and also jack nicholson

duckworth · 31-05-2010 02:55PM

I think some of the lists above are generous in naming 'great' movies. But my bet would probably be with James Stewart,

It's a Wonderful World
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
The Philadelphia Story
It's a Wonderful Life
Rear Window
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Vertigo
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

He even took a break from his movie career to become a fighter pilot in the American army and earned plenty of medals. He was some fella Jimmy Stewart.

Hump is up there too.

Angels with Dirty Faces
High Sierra
The Maltese Falcon
Casablanca
The Big Sleep
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The African Queen

That's 7 true classics, and I'm probably forgetting some.

I think in the modern era only De Niro really has been in as many great films.

What actors have starred in the largest number of great films?

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