# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/41 "2005-07-09T02:14:59Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > … The guy who was the Wizard guy in LoTR… Which wizard guy would that be? Sir Ian McKellen or Christopher Lee? ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/42 "2005-07-09T02:28:37Z")
I’ll definitely agree with Johnny Depp, Harvey Keitel and Gary Oldman and add that I believe Gary Oldman will be remembered as an A-List guy. He’s every bit the chameleon that Depp is, and he’s pushed too many boundaries to be relegated to the B-List. Once you’ve seen him in **True Romance** , **Romeo Is Bleeding** , and **The Professional** , you’ll never forget him. Oh, and Daniel Day Lewis is definitely headed for the A-List, although he’s not _quite_ there yet. He needs more parts in bigger movies. While I love Christopher Lee and think he’s an excellent actor, I think that appearing in all those Hammer films is going to drop him to a favorite cult actor, rather than an A-List actor. He’s appeared in too many movies as a parody of himself to be taken seriously enough for the A-List category (although having seen **Revenge of the Sith** and **Lord of the Rings** , I admit I might be mistaken.). One guy who won’t make the A-List, but I kind of wish he would, 'cause he’s such a fantastic character actor: William Forsythe. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/43 "2005-07-09T02:29:25Z")
I predict Chris Walken a cult favorite for the next few generations. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/44 "2005-07-09T02:30:53Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Male: Jon Voight Jon Voight, and Dustin Hoffman, have been in some crappy movies but are both outstanding actors. I suspect Voight will have more of a cult following though - he’s a little less recognizable than Hoffman. Unfortunately among a lot of people he’s just known as “the father of Angelina Jolie.” (An overrated actress if there ever was one.) I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned Sean Penn. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/45 "2005-07-09T09:35:39Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned Sean Penn. Wow. You’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/46 "2005-07-09T12:21:19Z")
Queen Latifia & Will Smith. I’m not sure about Travolta, but he could become a great “older man” actor a la Connery. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/47 "2005-07-09T14:04:42Z")
> [@Linty Fresh](#): > > Oh, and Daniel Day Lewis is definitely headed for the A-List, although he’s not _quite_ there yet. He needs more parts in bigger movies. Then he’ll never make it. Making movies is no longer his top priority. I think his current body of work stands up. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/48 "2005-07-09T15:52:02Z")
I think Samuel L. Jackson will definitely be remembered as A-List. I think Matt Damon will make it too. Matt’s logged some pretty solid performances. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/49 "2005-07-09T15:56:54Z")
If this thread is to be believed, there are a LOT of legends in the making! ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/50 "2005-07-09T16:18:14Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > For women, I think as of today the one with the best shot at lasting fame is **Nicole Kidman.** I hear this a lot but I can’t think of one movie she’s in that’ll be remembered in 20 years, much less 50. The only one I can remember her being in that was popular was _The Others_ and even that seems to have been consigned to the dustbin since the twist is widely known now. ---
**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 9, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/51 "2005-07-09T17:06:52Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > I hear this a lot but I can’t think of one movie she’s in that’ll be remembered in 20 years, much less 50. The only one I can remember her being in that was popular was _The Others_ and even that seems to have been consigned to the dustbin since the twist is widely known now. You know, you’re right. She’s definitely an A-list actress, probably one of the highest paid around today, but looking at her body of work, it’s hard to see why. I mean, she’s done a lot fo great work (I loved her in **To Die For** and she was great in **Dead Calm** ), but none of her movies seem to be huge blockbusters. **Moulin Rouge** and **Cold Mountain** maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483/52 "2005-07-09T21:39:46Z")
You know, there’s a lot of personal preferences here, and along with that, wishful thinking. To be truly legendary, iconic, not only should the name shine, but just a photo of the actor should do. Everyone, even those who’s never seen any of their films, will recognize Bogey, Marilyn and Elvis. Acting ability doesn’t really enter the equation. If you did a Jay Walking segment for Leno and showed photos of Errol Flynn, Rita Hayworth and Peter sellers to people under 30, I doubt anyone would recognize them. So, who’s achieved that kind of recognition now, which is what’s needed to perpeptuate it? Cruise is one, Ahnold is another. Somehow, there are very few actors that fit the bill. However, characters or creatures is another kettle of fish: Darth Vader, Terminator, ET, Harry Potter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-will-stand-the-test-of-time/311483.md?page=2)