# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/61 "2016-07-29T11:09:02Z")
When I think of actors that make it look easy, I think of Spencer Tracy and Gene Hackman. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/62 "2016-07-29T12:31:32Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > He played a more convincing Patton than Patton himself I think a lot of people would be surprised if they watched a film of the real Patton. He didn’t look or sound at all like Scott’s portrayal. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/63 "2016-07-29T13:43:58Z")
Recentlty we began watching as many films as we could featuring one star or director. We gave up on Peck after watching a number of stinkers. Sure, a good actor can be in a lousy movie, but we saw nothing to come close to **Mockingbird**. For me, the test is whether I can accept the role rather than simply seeing the actor. For example, John Wayne was always John Wayne first, rather than the character. Same way Kevin Costner is always Kevin Costner (whom no one would suggest is a great actor) walking through a role. I feel similarly (many would disagree with many of these choices) about Tom Hanks, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, and Probably Bogart, Cagney, and Nicholson. I note a number of folk suggest an isolated role or 2, as tho that shows “range.” Interesting. Raises the possibility that some actors might have been capable of greater range if given the opportunity, but instead were primarily typecast. So does some of that go to the actor’s choices? I don’t believe Robert Duvall has been mentioned yet. I’d agree with folk like Lemmon, Tracy, Hepburn, Lancaster, Newman, Streep. Also think the OP could benefit from some definition of “iconic supertars”. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/64 "2016-07-29T15:09:31Z")
Contrast Bogie in Casablanca or The Maltese Falcon with Bogie in A Quiet Place or Mutiny on the Bounty to see how brilliant he can be playing dissimilar roles. Check out pre The Shining Nicholson roles to see just how versital he could be (The Last Detail, Five EasyvPieces, Carnal Knowledge, The King of Marvin Gardens.) ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/65 "2016-07-29T15:12:24Z")
Regarding Peck, have you watched Arabesque? I enjoyed it…its a thriller also starring Sophia Loren at her most stunning. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/66 "2016-07-29T15:18:11Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Tom Hanks anyone? I was hoping to be the first to mention Hanks. He is clearly an iconic actor and has quietly assembled a staggering resume of magnificent performances. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/67 "2016-07-29T15:31:32Z")
If we’re doing some contemporary: Kevin Spacey Meryl Streep Daniel Day-Lewis Eddie Redmayne ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/68 "2016-07-29T15:51:05Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Contrast Bogie in Casablanca or The Maltese Falcon with Bogie in **A Quiet Place or Mutiny on the Bounty** to see how brilliant he can be playing dissimilar roles. Check out pre The Shining Nicholson roles to see just how versital he could be (The Last Detail, Five EasyvPieces, Carnal Knowledge, The King of Marvin Gardens.) Just keeping facts straight (bolding mine): The Bogie films are “In a Lonely Place,” and “The Caine Mutiny,” (which was excellent). ---
**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 29, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/69 "2016-07-29T16:01:34Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > If we’re doing some contemporary: > Kevin Spacey > Meryl Streep > Daniel Day-Lewis > Eddie Redmayne Someone upthread argued that Daniel Day-Lewis shouldn’t count because he doesn’t really qualify as a heart-throb movie star, but I think he hit “sex symbol” status for a while around when LAST OF THE MOHICANS was a big deal in theaters. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/70 "2016-07-29T16:03:19Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Just keeping facts straight (bolding mine): > > The Bogie films are “In a Lonely Place,” and “The Caine Mutiny,” (which was excellent). Research? We don’t need no stinking research!! 😛 ---
**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, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/71 "2016-07-29T18:50:24Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think a lot of people would be surprised if they watched a film of the real Patton. He didn’t look or sound at all like Scott’s portrayal. Agreed. The real Patton’s appearance and voice was somewhat underwhelming. If George C Scott led the 3rd and 7th Army, WWII would no doubt have concluded earlier. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/72 "2016-07-29T18:53:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think a lot of people would be surprised if they watched a film of the real Patton. He didn’t look or sound at all like Scott’s portrayal. To my ears, the real Patton sounded a little like Walter Brennan. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/73 "2016-07-29T19:09:53Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > To my ears, the real Patton sounded a little like Walter Brennan. I was thinking Carroll O’Connor. ---
**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, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/74 "2016-07-29T19:30:26Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > To my ears, the real Patton sounded a little like Walter Brennan. Walter Brennan would have made a good general, too. _“Now listen here Little Luke, ya yella-bellied bastaad…I won’t have no cowaards workin’ on this here faarm…”_ ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/75 "2016-07-29T20:12:06Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Regarding Peck, have you watched Arabesque? I enjoyed it…its a thriller also starring Sophia Loren at her most stunning. That was the last one we watched. Wife and I both thought it unwatchable. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/76 "2016-07-29T20:56:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I was thinking Carroll O’Connor. “De Gaulle? He ain’t even _in_ this war!” ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/77 "2016-07-29T21:18:56Z")
Since we’re stuck with “Hollywood” actors, I would think that Kevin Spacey, Edward Norton and Gary Oldman should be considered. If we broadened it to include iconic character actors, M. Emmett Walsh was amazing. If we could break out of Hollywood, people like Helen Mirren, Alec Guinness and Peter O’Toole would make the list. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/78 "2016-07-29T23:42:59Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > That was the last one we watched. Wife and I both thought it unwatchable. I can understand. Stanley Donan was experimenting with various FX and camara techniques and it does seem the story is something of an afterthought. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/79 "2016-07-30T01:21:33Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Also think the OP could benefit from some definition of “iconic supertars”. Without a definition, I’m forced to assume it means “my personal favorite indie-hipster cult film actors”. 😃 ---
**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 30, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946/80 "2016-07-30T02:58:37Z")
I’m starting to think maybe a list of iconic actors who _can’t_ act may be shorter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/among-all-of-hollywoods-iconic-superstars-who-was-the-best-actor/760946.md?page=5)