Hollywood has produced generations of legendary male actors whose performances have defined cinema. From golden age greats to modern-day icons, these men have graced the screen with unforgettable roles, charisma, and talent.
In this post, we celebrate 200 of the most iconic Hollywood actors of all time, categorized by eras and genres. Whether they are Oscar winners, blockbuster leads, or indie favorites, each has left an enduring legacy in film history.
Categories of Hollywood Actors
To help you explore this list, we’ve organized the actors into the following categories:
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Golden Age Legends (Classic Hollywood)
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80s & 90s Icons
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Modern Powerhouses (2000s–Present)
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Oscar-Winning & Critically Acclaimed Actors
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Action & Blockbuster Heroes
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Comedy Kings
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Indie & Arthouse Favorites
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Rising Stars & Breakout Performers
1. Golden Age Legends (Classic Hollywood)
These men defined the early decades of cinema with legendary performances and unforgettable charm.
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Humphrey Bogart
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Cary Grant
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James Stewart
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Marlon Brando
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Clark Gable
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Gregory Peck
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Spencer Tracy
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Fred Astaire
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Laurence Olivier
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John Wayne
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Errol Flynn
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William Holden
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Henry Fonda
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Gary Cooper
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Montgomery Clift
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Burt Lancaster
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Sidney Poitier
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Gene Kelly
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Robert Mitchum
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Rock Hudson
2. 80s & 90s Icons
These actors dominated the box office and the awards circuit during the 1980s and 1990s.
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Tom Cruise
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Brad Pitt
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Leonardo DiCaprio
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Johnny Depp
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Denzel Washington
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Tom Hanks
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Kevin Costner
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Richard Gere
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Bruce Willis
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Mel Gibson
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Keanu Reeves
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Nicolas Cage
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John Travolta
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Robin Williams
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Val Kilmer
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Patrick Swayze
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Morgan Freeman
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Al Pacino
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Robert De Niro
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Sean Penn
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Matthew Broderick
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Michael Douglas
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Jeff Bridges
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Harrison Ford
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Daniel Day-Lewis
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Tim Robbins
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Ralph Fiennes
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Edward Norton
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Bill Murray
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Steve Martin
3. Modern Powerhouses (2000s–Present)
These actors continue to lead major films and shape the industry in the 21st century.
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Christian Bale
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Jake Gyllenhaal
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Ryan Gosling
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Ryan Reynolds
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Chris Hemsworth
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Chris Evans
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Jeremy Renner
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Benedict Cumberbatch
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Tom Hardy
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Michael Fassbender
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Oscar Isaac
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Mahershala Ali
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Adam Driver
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Bradley Cooper
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Joaquin Phoenix
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Mark Ruffalo
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Idris Elba
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Paul Dano
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt
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Andrew Garfield
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Taron Egerton
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Dev Patel
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Riz Ahmed
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Donald Glover
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Cillian Murphy
4. Oscar-Winning & Critically Acclaimed Actors
These actors have wowed critics and audiences alike with their award-winning performances.
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Forest Whitaker
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Jamie Foxx
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Christoph Waltz
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Eddie Redmayne
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Adrien Brody
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Gary Oldman
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Matthew McConaughey
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Anthony Hopkins
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Rami Malek
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Jared Leto
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Casey Affleck
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Russell Crowe
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Philip Seymour Hoffman
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Sean Connery
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William Hurt
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Gene Hackman
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Martin Landau
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Alan Arkin
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Kevin Spacey
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J.K. Simmons
5. Action & Blockbuster Heroes
These guys are known for their explosive roles in action, superhero, and adventure films.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Sylvester Stallone
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Jason Statham
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Vin Diesel
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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
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Chris Pratt
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Hugh Jackman
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Liam Neeson
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Bruce Lee
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Jackie Chan
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Will Smith
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Mark Wahlberg
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Channing Tatum
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Josh Brolin
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Karl Urban
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Paul Walker
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Wesley Snipes
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Michael B. Jordan
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Henry Cavill
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson
6. Comedy Kings
These actors made us laugh while delivering some of the most beloved comedic roles ever.
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Jim Carrey
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Steve Carell
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Seth Rogen
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Jonah Hill
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Adam Sandler
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Ben Stiller
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Vince Vaughn
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Will Ferrell
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Bill Hader
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Jason Bateman
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John C. Reilly
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Zach Galifianakis
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Owen Wilson
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Martin Short
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Chevy Chase
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Andy Samberg
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Chris Rock
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Kevin Hart
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Jack Black
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Eddie Murphy
7. Indie & Arthouse Favorites
Known for their deep, introspective roles and unique projects.
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Ethan Hawke
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Gael García Bernal
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Willem Dafoe
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Benicio del Toro
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Sam Rockwell
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Michael Shannon
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John Hawkes
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Lucas Hedges
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Timothée Chalamet
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Shia LaBeouf
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Jesse Eisenberg
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Ezra Miller
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Rory Culkin
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John Turturro
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Jim Jarmusch
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Denis Lavant
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Tom Waits
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Adrien Grenier
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Paul Giamatti
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James Franco
8. Rising Stars & Breakout Performers
These rising actors are shaping the future of Hollywood.
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Austin Butler
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Barry Keoghan
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Kelvin Harrison Jr.
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Jacob Elordi
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Noah Centineo
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Timothée Chalamet
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Lucas Till
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Joe Keery
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Caleb Landry Jones
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Finn Wolfhard
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Justice Smith
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Charles Melton
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Mason Gooding
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Jonathan Majors
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George MacKay
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Harris Dickinson
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Cooper Raiff
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Logan Lerman
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Dylan O’Brien
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Wyatt Russell
Honorable Mentions (25 More Greats)
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Donald Sutherland
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Peter O'Toole
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Alec Guinness
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Alan Rickman
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Ben Kingsley
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Richard Harris
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Christopher Lee
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Ian McKellen
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Patrick Stewart
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Max von Sydow
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Vincent Price
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Peter Sellers
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James Dean
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River Phoenix
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Heath Ledger
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Jude Law
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Clive Owen
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Colin Firth
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Brendan Fraser
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Stanley Tucci
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Michael Keaton
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Jeff Goldblum
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Jason Isaacs
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John Malkovich
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Terrence Howard
Final Thoughts
This list celebrates the immense talent and diversity of Hollywood actors throughout history. From silver screen legends to today’s trendsetters, these men have helped shape the way we experience movies.
🎬 Who’s your favorite actor of all time? Did we miss someone iconic? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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