Greatest Film Actors of all time

Starting in New York, Brando brought realism on a new scale to film that directors wanted but few could deliver. More than just a professional who hit his mark and memorized his lines, Brando made us believe in his characters.

Nominated more times than any actress in the history of film, Meryl is the epitome of what all female actors should aspire to. Like Brando, she brought a new level of realism to her roles that surpassed anything actors have ever attempted and still does. If she ever gave a bad performance, I never saw it.

Stern, gentle, understanding, kind, generous... you could use all of those adjectives and more to describe Tracy in one sentence but you couldn't fit it on one page. No matter where he was in any shot, you couldn't take your eyes off him. He had quintessential screen presence.

More than any actress of her generation, Kate Hepburn gave her all to a part and tried to give it moments of truth. Often starring with her off screen lover, Spencer Tracy, she overpowered the camera with more than beauty - she had honesty that flowed from her eyes at 24 frames per second.

It isn't easy winning Best Actor of the Year Oscars back to back. Hanks not only accomplished that feat but continues to deliver the same level of incredible screen acting that has made him one of the all time great actors of the silver screen.

Honesty in an actor is not only rare but very difficult to portray. Actors must bear their soul in front of a camera. Think "being stripped naked" and then let a billion people watch. Fonda is an actor's actor and had delivered that true quality to her characters repeatedly.

To say that greatness runs in some families would be an understatement if you were speaking of the Fonda's. One only has to see "The Grapes of Wrath" once to know the breadth of Henry's abilities. Then multiply that times a hundred when you see the huge body of work he produced on the same level.

When she was good, she was very very good... the other films were just bad ones. However, she made so many great ones that they dwarf any mistakes she made along the way. History will judge that Bette Davis paved the way for actors like Meryl Streep and Jane Fonda who followed. My personal favorite was "Now, Voyager."

While Jack had humble beginnings, by the time he landed major roles, he had honed his craft and instantly made a name for himself as an actor of the highest quality. His ability to make a character real is second to no other actor when it came to the roles he portrayed.

Rounding out the top ten is New York's favorite son and one of the Twentieth Century's or any century's best actor. Like Brando and Nicholson, De Niro brought a high level of believability to his roles, making us believe he was a boxer or a hoodlum and what it must have been like. They can't all be number one, but Bobby certainly shares the top with Brando.

The only male actor in cinema history to win three Academy Award for Actor in a leading role; is perhaps one of this generations best for his strong performances in My Left Food and Lincoln.

Very few actors emerge in their first film with a home run. Usually it takes time to hone one's craft. That was never the case with Jennifer Jones. She had such powerful screen presence that it was difficult if not impossible for directors to rein her in.

Hepburn (no relation to Katherine) was another actor with incredible screen presence. Like Jones, Hepburn took the film world by storm when she first appeared and continued to wow them until her untimely death.

Peck had one of the most powerful screen presence of any actor of his age or any age. In almost every film he ever did, his characters came across with great power and empathy. No matter the genre, Peck could play anything and do it well.

England has given us many great actors, most come from the stage and do well in film. Few come from the stage and do not retain that overt style of acting. Subtle, honest, brilliant - Hopkins is one of those actors you wish you were, even if you had no such aspirations.

I can think of very few child actors that became superstars except for one. Jodie Foster not only became a good adult film actor but a great one, surpassing each role with better and better performances. Courageous best describes this incredible actor.

As much as Brando and De Niro brought a brutal realism to the screen, Paul Newman brought subtly, charm, wit, and grace. He was a man that any member of the audience could relate to and did. His list of nominations are as long as the number of times he amazed us with his high level of superb acting.

As much as acting is involved in making a role great, screen presence is another factor in being a successful screen actor. I doubt anyone would disagree that Liz Taylor had more presence in her little finger than most people have in a lifetime of work. She could just walk into a scene and you'd wonder what she would do for an encore.

Bogie is one actor who was never given a chance to be the star until late in career. But oh when he did reach star status, look out. There was no stopping him. He gave us some of film's most memorable characters and no one else could have done that but him. Here's looking at you, kid.

She's been nominated numerous times but never won. Close is the lovable loser. So much for the Oscar p***ing contest. That doesn't mean she doesn't deserve to win. Whether her roles are likable or not, she is a great actress and has the admiration of this cinemaphile.

Starting with his first great role as "Lawrence of Arabia" all the way through to his older performances, O'Toole is another lovable loser who never took home the big prize but still the won the hearts of many cinema fans, including this one.

No one can deny that being beautiful helps in any career. But being that and then making yourself look plain for the camera is not easy. Roberts is both beautiful and intriguing when brings her powerful screen presence to roles and gives them life.

This next choice was difficult as there were three or four who could have come in at this level. However, Burton was on that short list of English actors who made the successful transiton from stage to screen and kept all of the subtlty that make for great performances.

Both comedy and tragedy were well within the range of Lemmon's work if you look at "Mr. Roberts" or "Days of Wine and Roses" and realize the same actor was capable of both.

Few modern actors can bring to the screen the variety and depth that Kate Winslet has to her roles whether being glamorous on the "Titanic" or despised as in "The Reader." She has a powerful undeniable screen presence.

Although seldom mentioned at award time, Sellers was one of the most versitile actors of all time. He could play any part and do it with such conviction that the transformation was remarkable. "Dr. Strangelove" only gives us a glimpse of his great talent.

One of the greatest contemporary actors of her generation, Lange has a power on the screen that is difficult to match or counter against. I would not want to share the same frame with her. She overpowers you like a warm gentle welcome wave of honesty in her level and style of acting.

A body of work with some of Hollywood's greatest directors places this incredible actor as best on any list.

Can anyone name an actor who has started and sustained his career as well as Hoffman has? I doubt it. He has consistantly delivered his professional best to every role he has ever attempted and delivered so many times I've lost count.

While his best work came at the beginning of his career and his personal life seems to have blackened his name somewhat, the overall body of work by Bill Hurt is tremendous and merits mention with those of the great screen actors.

Nominated six times as Best Actress, this lovable loser never took the golden statue home but that does not lessen her valuable contribution to film. She was not only one of the most liked actresses of all time but a real charmer on the screen as well.

Greer Garson was nominated seven times for Best Actress and finally won for William Wyler's "Mrs. Miniver" in which she portrayed an English housewife. In both life and on the screen, she was more than any housewife. In addition to being very beautiful, she had an incredible screen presence and friendly nature that made her a favorite among fan and other actors.

While I take pride in noting examples of great acting, one of the most obvious blunders I made was to exclude Stewart from this list. His contribution to cinema is both large and broad. While relegated to comedic roles early, his sense of drama grew as he matured, especially his work with Hitchcock.

Another oversight I made was to exclude the man who made The Godfather a compelling film to watch. Pacino's performance is riveting and that was at the beginning of his career. Nominated eight times for an Academy Award and winning for "Scent" Pacino has left a legacy of great film roles in a long illustrious career.

What list would be complete without Denzel? He's been in so many movies I've loved over the years and the Academy has seen fit to reward him for a couple of those roles. He is intense, funny, and full of charm.

Nominated twice for an Oscar and having won SAG and Tony Awards, I feel that like Smith, it's only a matter of time before Davis gets her statue. She is one of the finest actors today and is overdue.

Trained at Julliard in the art of acting, Williams tended to use his ability to extemporize on stage. However, when it came to film, Williams learned to focus his unique talent to his roles, making them memorable ones.

Ever since Bale starred in "Empire of the Sun" he has shown the world his versatile talent as an actor transcends generations. Despite his temperament, he is an asset to any project.

What genre can't Jennifer Lawrence play? She's an actor for the ages as she's proved in film after film. I predict she will be at the top of any list before she's finished her incredible run in the cinema.

At first we believed Coop had comedic talents... until "Silver Linings..." Bradley has demonstrated that rare ability to shine in every role he's been given. He's this generation's actor's actor.

With "Carol" Blanchett has cemented her place in the current lexicon of contemporary Hollywood stars that give a film its polish of excellence. Gradually, she's accumulate a list of outstanding performances.

Through out his career, Poitier had to trailblaze his way into a white dominated field. He made his mark early and made it possible for many other actors of color to have a career in this business.

Like Cary Grant before him, Clooney creates a screen persona that looks easy and relaxed. If only most actors could turn on charisma the way he does. You can't take your eyes off him. His talent is as natural as walking.

It wasn't easy being Cary Grant. He didn't just stumble onto a movie set and turn heads. He worked hard in dozens of small roles before he earned his stardom. But through the years, Grant shined in his roles and earned the respect of his fellow thespians, even though Grant never took home the Academy's coveted prize.

Known mostly for his stage acting, Olivier finally understood the nuances of film after William Wyler nursed him into movie health. After "Wuthering Heights" Olivier became a household name and would never look back. He had a stellar career and easily earns a spot here.

Though nominated twice, Will has yet win the coveted prize despite his outstanding performances in several movies. I feel it's only a matter of time before his talent is recognized this way.