With the rapidly dying off of the giants of show business, Gregory Peck being the latest example, some may be feeling as if the end of the long-term superstar status is at hand.
Meanwhile the next younger generation of DeNiro, Pacino, Hoffman, Hackman, and so many others in their 50’s and up are likely to become as long-lasting as the older guys by the time their careers are done.
Now, of the under-40 crowd active today, who do you predict will have a career of the sort that will (by the time they’re in their 70’s or over) match the Pecks and Mitchums and Waynes and the Redgraves and Hayeses and Hepburns?
Ed Norton occurred to me as well. Also, a bit further down the road, Natalie Portman. Beautiful, talented, and smart. (The general dissatisfaction with Episodes I & II aside, she’s done some fantastic work in other films.)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman was the first to come to mind. He has shown brilliance in some of his character roles. Also Brad Pitt…he may be pretty, but I have been impressed with his non-pretty roles in movies such as “12th Monkey”. If he keeps honing his craft instead of becoming just another Tyrone Power, he may be in for a long ride.
and nominate Tobey Maguire.
Even aside from his blockbuster lead in Spiderman, he’s turned in memorable performances in The Cider House Rules, Wonder Boys, Pleasantville and other movies. He’s a great actor and he’s making pretty good decisions (so far) about the roles he takes on. If he keeps it up, he’ll have a long career.
Reese Witherspoon could have quite a career in front of her, too.
Don’t laugh, but after seeing his performance in “The Watcher,” I would be surprised if ten years from now Keanue Reeves is in the running.
But what is quite a career these days? With some of the TV salaries, there may be some actors who would just as soon spend five or six years on a TV show, instead of the old star model of having a TV show in your later years.
I think in time we’ll think “legend” when we think of:
Jodie Foster (in the Orson Welles actor/director vein, I think)
Audra McDonald (if you don’t know her yet, you will)
Kate Winslet (Titanic notwithstanding)
Reese Witherspoon
Renee Zellweger
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Samuel L. Jackson
Ewan McGregor
Gary Sinise
Kevin Spacey
I think he’s going to do less of the physical comedy thing and take on more challenging acting roles, ie. The Truman Show and The Majestic. Early on he did a pretty convincing job as an alcoholic brother in a dysfunctional family in Doing Time on Maple Drive (made for TV). Like Tom Hanks, he’s got a wide range and I think that’s what makes for a long acting career.
I don’t know how old Julianne Moore is, but I think she will endure. How old is Billy Bob Thornton? I think he’s first rate.
Ashley Judd has as much potential as any actress I know. But she needs roles that require more of her. She was off to a good start in Ruby in Paradise.
If Claire Danes and Christina Ricci ever get some “star making” roles they could be contenders.
Little Dakota Fanning is going to be a beauty when she grows up and has that Jodie Foster “I’m too smart to fall into the usual child actor probs” thing.
Others:
Drew Barrymore
Gwenyth Paltrow
Tim Robbins
Julianne Moore and Reese Witherspoon are both going to stick around for a while (but I have the feeling that Natalie Portman will eventually drop out of Hollywood altogether). On the other side of the camera, I think Drew Barrymore and George Clooney will both have a hand at running things.
Well, the last time I did a prediction like this I chose River Phoenix, who of course had to up and DIE so we’ll never know what kind of career he would have had…and since I don’t want to jinx anyone else, I’ll have to pass on this poll.
Actually, nevermind. Let me pick two: Jim Carrey Keanu Reeves
