# Among all of Hollywood's iconic superstars, who was the best actor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946 "2016-07-26T15:53:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/41 "2016-07-27T16:23:40Z")
These guys were all pretty well type-cast, even if they wanted to go different directions they wouldn’t have been offered the parts. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/42 "2016-07-27T16:39:46Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > The in-joke being that Stewart was a real-life WW2 bomber pilot. I was amused by the fact that when Steward perfomed in “Strategic Air Command”, he actually outranked his character in the movie for part of it (he was a Colonel in real life, and his character was a Lt. Col). I always wondered how the costuming worked- did he wear his own uniforms? If not, did he keep the costume uniforms as his own? But as for the OP’s question, I’d say Jimmy Stewart and Spencer Tracy are my picks- both are very versatile and excellent at their craft, being able to do both convincing comedy and drama with ease. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/43 "2016-07-27T19:31:28Z")
Sorry, the Bergman film I was thinking of was _Notorious_, not _Suspicion_…Cary Grant and Claude Rains co-starred. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/44 "2016-07-27T19:55:50Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > He also gets a mentsch award for telling the producer of _The Music Man_, who wanted Grant in the lead, because he wanted a big name, and not the unknown Robert Preston from the Broadway version, that he (the producer) was nuts if he used anyone other than Preston. As much as I love Cary Grant, I cannot imagine him in The Music Man, which is my favorite musical EVAH. Robert Preston was robbed of an Oscar. Speaking of Robert Preston, he was an actor with a pretty good range. From Beau Geste to Harold Hill ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/45 "2016-07-27T22:57:48Z")
I’m not sure why everyone is focusing on stars from several generations ago, but **Leonardo Di Caprio** is a fantastic actor. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/46 "2016-07-27T23:34:09Z")
If we’re going full-on contemporary, then what Daniel Day-Lewis does when he gets into character pretty much goes beyond acting. Like, he’s what Robert Downey Jr was parodying in TROPIC THUNDER, only the reality was _more_ over-the-top. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/47 "2016-07-28T01:12:23Z")
Tom Hanks anyone? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/48 "2016-07-28T01:29:03Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > As much as I love Cary Grant, I cannot imagine him in The Music Man, which is my favorite musical EVAH. Robert Preston was robbed of an Oscar. Speaking of Robert Preston, he was an actor with a pretty good range. From Beau Geste to Harold Hill I agree that no one was as perfect for that role as Robert Preston, but I can see what the producer wanted, and I can imagine Cary Grant in the role. He had a big personality, and could talk people into things. If he hadn’t been an actor, he could have been a salesman. FWIW, I can’t see _Victor/Victoria_ enough times. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/49 "2016-07-28T01:49:15Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I’m not sure why everyone is focusing on stars from several generations ago, but **Leonardo Di Caprio** is a fantastic actor. I used to dislike his acting, but Django Unchained, Catch me if you Can and Wolf of Wall Street- all outstanding performances ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/50 "2016-07-28T01:50:18Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > If we’re going full-on contemporary, then what Daniel Day-Lewis does when he gets into character pretty much goes beyond acting. Like, he’s what Robert Downey Jr was parodying in TROPIC THUNDER, only the reality was _more_ over-the-top. He is my top pick. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/51 "2016-07-28T01:56:39Z")
Two guys who seem to fly under the radar, yet are wonderful actors are **William H. Macy and John Turturro. they both have a wide range of abilities from comic to serious to weird. Hmmmm… I just reminded myself of Steve Buscemi**. (must’ve been the word _weird_) (Okay, maybe they’re not iconic superstars. Yet! ) ---
**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 28, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/52 "2016-07-28T13:44:57Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Tom Hanks anyone? And Meryl Streep hasn’t been mentioned? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/53 "2016-07-28T15:11:39Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > And Meryl Streep hasn’t been mentioned? I think the question was not “who is the best actor in hollywood”. Everyone knows that Daniel Day-Lewis and Meryl Streep are fantastic actors. It’s (or at least this is how I interpreted it) who is the best actor who was also an A+++ list “movie star”. Ie, matinee idol, crush-object-for-millions-of-preteens, hounded by paparazzi, etc, etc. Which I don’t think either Meryl Streep or Daniel Day-Lewis ever were. And that certainly doesn’t fit the William H. Macys and Steve Buscemis of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/54 "2016-07-28T18:32:44Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > He was pretty much a stinker in _Hud._ And in _Hudsucker Proxy_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/55 "2016-07-28T18:34:57Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > And in _Hudsucker Proxy_. And in _Road To Perdition_. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/56 "2016-07-28T19:48:21Z")
Katharine Hepburn deserve more mentions in this thread. Unbelievably convincing in anything she did, she does hold the record for most Oscars in all acting categories, for whatever that’s worth. She was nothing but riveting in absolutely every role. For the men, I think I’d probably go with Peter O’Toole, who also deserves more mentions here. Although I can absolutely understand all of the attention on Jimmy Stewart, Marlon Brando, and Paul Newman. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/57 "2016-07-29T00:48:00Z")
I assume this thread is meant to be about icons of yesteryear and not current actors, so in addition to my aforementioned Cary Grant, I’ll nominate Buster Keaton. I think he was better than Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. Unfortunately he did not age gracefully, and his voice in the few talkies he made was dreadful. He had a great cameo as himself in _Sunset Boulevard_ (1950), but those Kodak commercials he made in the 1960s were painful to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/58 "2016-07-29T03:40:52Z")
[Edward G. Robinson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SojaL9M5Pqs). He had the golden touch of making everything a million times better with his presence. He could play the heel and the hero, the scary and the quietly dignified. Now, that was an actor. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/59 "2016-07-29T05:18:27Z")
Leo DiCaprio or Christian Bale. Not sure if they are what the OP means by iconic. But both have an amazing range of characters they can play, and both are really dedicated to their craft. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/60 "2016-07-29T09:13:15Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I assume this thread is meant to be about icons of yesteryear and not current actors, so in addition to my aforementioned Cary Grant, I’ll nominate Buster Keaton. I think he was better than Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. \ The big 3 silent era comics (Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd) are certainly all deserving of the accolades they receive, but Harold Lloyd is my favorite. I find his acting quite nuanced and easy to relate to, even with a 21st century mindset (though he was an ingrained product of the Roaring 20s). As film critic, Dave Kehr said, \*“The other great silent comics defined their own worlds; Lloyd lives dangerously in ours.” \* To expand on George C. Scott. I’m impressed how he could take basically the same character and perform it as pure drama ([Patton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrtS2_TfbeY)), or high comedy ([Dr. Stangelove](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuP6KbIsNK4))–a commanding and brilliant performance in both cases. (He played a more convincing Patton than Patton himself). Wish he had done more comedy roles though; he had the chops for it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946.md?page=4)