Not “one of the”, but the best. In all respects, combined, including popularity, talent, appeal, etc. Especially popularity, I think.
I think Shirly Temple. Everybody loved her movies, even into the '50s when I was a kid. I remember watching old movies with my stoned hippie friends and talking about how cool she, and her movies, were.
This is not a poll, I think, because you have to pick just one to answer.
Yes, I’ve watched “Shirley Temple: America’s Little Darling” on PBS. It’s coming around on 2/01/10, Good television.
Peace,
mangeorge
None of the below.
There’s a huge difference between acting talent and popularity. There are actors and there are movie stars. Sometimes someone is both, but not always. John Wayne was a movie star and one of the most popular actors ever, but probably not likely to be voted Best Actor ever.
I’d vote for Meryl Streep.
I think Gary Oldman is a great actor. I hardly recognize him in some roles.
God damn it! Three replies in and Gary Oldman was already mentioned!
You beat me to it. Gary Oldman, IMHO, is the BEST actor I have ever seen. And yes, he is so good, sometimes you don’t know it is him in the role.
And he has never even been NOMINATED for an Oscar.
You TOO beat me to it.
I agree with Meryl Streep. She’s fantastic in everything she’s been in, can be a complete chameleon language-wise and is, I believe, pretty popular.
For me, movies are entertainment. Pure and simple. I leave it to The Critics to point out and discuss the finer points of movies, and limit my own opinions to how well actors please the masses. That’s why I asked for the “best” and not the “most skillful”.
Marlon Brando.
Jeff Bridges.
Lets just end this thread with Robert Duvall shall we.
A close second to Temple. He truely was a contender imo. How many acting students have taken a shot at that line?
Oldman is great too, but for some reason he just doesn’t have such a wide appeal.
Enough with the “Starving Artists”, okay? I included popularity as criteria for a reason. 
As soon as I saw the title I was coming to say Gary Oldman as well. He really is the best.
Brad Pitt is probably the modern Marlon Brando, so if MB qualifies as a contender, Pitt does.
Ignoring popularity, I’d vote for Edward Norton though.
Looks like Oldman’s a lot more popular than I thought!
BTW, The Man In Black, a relative of yours?
If that’s what you’re looking for, fine. But don’t use the word “best.”
True. So does Sean Penn. There are many contenders. I found myself trying to decide on #1, and Shirley Temple came out on top.
Toss up between Gary Oldman and Spencer Tracy.