# Actors who will stand the test of time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 7, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483 "2005-07-07T17:43:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/1 "2005-07-07T17:43:56Z")
In the latest issue of Newsweek there is an article wherein the author speculates on which actors/actresses and which of their movies people will be watching 50, 70 years from now. We still watch Clark Gable; will people still be watching [ugh] Tom Cruise. Anyway, in the article the author [sorry I don’t have the name] rates how many movies a mega star has made which are in his terms “lasting”. [“Top Gun”? “Risky Business”?]. To get to the point, he rates Cruise high with 8 lasting films, Nicole Kidman low with only one film that will stand the test of time. (“Moulin Rouge”). He ends the article by finding that of our current actors Nick Cage will Stand The Test of Time best because he’s starred in the most movies that will last!!! Aargh. The logic’s, um, ok, I guess, but I just don’t like his conclusions. Any comments, film buffs? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/2 "2005-07-07T19:16:06Z")
When I read the title, my first thought was Harrison Ford. ---
**Author:** ![slinkydink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@slinkydink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slinkydink)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/3 "2005-07-07T19:57:31Z")
There was a thread dealing with this a while ago: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=293471&highlight=broadway](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=293471&highlight=broadway) I especially liked the categories: > [@](#): > > (1) **Superstars** - These are the Jimmy Stewarts or Charlie Chaplins who will remain legendary forever. When you hear about their deaths on TV, you stop and take a deep breath and try to imagine the world without Bob Hope. They will not soon be forgotten. > (2) **Famous But Not Quite Upper Pantheon** - Very prominent, but not quite in that A-List. Their deaths will make the nightly newscast, but they will not be on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. This may face criticism, but I put a Gregory Peck in this category (he’s borderline, Superstar). > (3) **Will Be Remembered Only By the Dopers** - But not the general public. They may have been the top of their game at the time, but after a while, they will fade from John Q’s memory. I associate this category with Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. They were the biggest stars of their day, but I doubt most people would have the foggiest clue who they were. I could see most of the big stars of the day winding up in this group. > (4) **Will Be Remembered Only By Eve** - The saddest group (not because of EVE! ). These are the beautiful and talented people whose stars will fade so that when they die, an expert like Eve will have to create a post that tells us of their passing. We will likely have SOME recognition of the name, but we will still have to read the link she provided to recall their contribution. And you know that people we think are legitmate stars will be in this group. I could see a Tim Robbins or a Kurt Russell fading into this group. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/4 "2005-07-07T20:09:22Z")
How old are the actors allow to be? Tom Hanks will lead the Pack. Pacino & Nicholson I think Jodie Foster will last longer than any other actress of this time. I hope that many years later people will realize the genius of John Cusack, I think he is the most underrated actor of this time. Harrison Ford is a good pick; He will be this generation’s swashbuckler equivalent. Sean Connery should have staying power as should Clint. Both have really strong presences. As really well remembered Character actors: Think Peter Lorre DeNiro & Christopher Walken will be remembered. I hope Cruise & Keanu will be thankfully forgotten. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/5 "2005-07-07T20:09:43Z")
> [@](#): > > (4) Will Be Remembered Only By **Eve** I’m a _category!_ I’m so proud . . . ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/6 "2005-07-07T20:41:32Z")
Robert Duvall, who I think also falls into the underrated category and has had starring or major supporting roles in quite a few very good films ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/7 "2005-07-07T20:45:44Z")
> [@ColonelDax](#): > > Robert Duvall, who I think also falls into the underrated category and has had starring or major supporting roles in quite a few very good films I think Gary Oldman and Edward Norton will probably fall into this category, too. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/8 "2005-07-07T20:53:51Z")
> [@ColonelDax](#): > > Robert Duvall, who I think also falls into the underrated category and has had starring or major supporting roles in quite a few very good films I don’t think Duvall is underrated at all. The guy is already a legend. Hell, that was probably sealed up when he did _The Godfather_. Don’t even get me started on _Apocolypse Now_. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/9 "2005-07-07T21:36:23Z")
You have to preface any name with the phrase “There will never be another. . .” That’s a pretty short list. Nicholson, Eastwood, maybe Connery, Hoffman and Hanks. And looking at the list of underrated, I have to add Jack Lemmon. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/10 "2005-07-07T21:47:39Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > You have to preface any name with the phrase “There will never be another. . .” > > That’s a pretty short list. Nicholson, Eastwood, maybe Connery, Hoffman and Hanks. And Gene Hackman. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/11 "2005-07-07T21:49:43Z")
Woody Allen seems pretty obvious for the A list. Meryl Streep probably makes it, too. Bruce Willis will probably be on the B list. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/12 "2005-07-07T21:49:49Z")
Outstanding Actor who picked good scripts: Russell Crowe. Underrated actress: Laura Linney ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/13 "2005-07-07T22:16:08Z")
there should be a category for worst actor with best agent (ala keanu…) i think gary oldman (someone said) is probably one of the best actors of our time - what other white actor would accept the role of a black pimp named drexel over the phone without even reading the script? ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/14 "2005-07-07T22:40:49Z")
And, (drumroll), **Bugs Bunny!** ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/15 "2005-07-07T23:45:40Z")
Keven Spacey hold a place in my heart ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/16 "2005-07-08T00:44:08Z")
**Steve Buscemi** will probably be remembered in much the same way as Peter Lorre. **Jeff Bridges** will probably get some respect in the future as well. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/17 "2005-07-08T00:51:40Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Underrated actress: Laura Linney I dunno…maybe in the public eye. But she’s garnered a couple of Oscar nods, so at least some of her peers recognize her. But she’s also drop-dead gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/18 "2005-07-08T00:57:08Z")
> [@well he's back](#): > > Nicole Kidman low with only one film that will stand the test of time. (“Moulin Rouge”). …And only then, I think, being carried by Ewan. Like it or not, I think Jim Carrey has made enough of a mark to be remembered for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/19 "2005-07-08T01:19:11Z")
In the ‘Superstar’ category you can add **Robert DeNiro** , and probably Al Pacino, although I’d personally move Pacino down a category. I don’t know if there’s an age limit, but the actor still working who will be remembered longest and mourned the most when he dies is probably **Paul Newman**. **Robert Redford** isn’t quite in that class. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/20 "2005-07-08T01:29:47Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Johnny Depp yet. I think he’s the most talented, versatile actor in his age group and will stand the test of time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483.md?page=2)