# Which actor has appeared most times in the movies you have seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2006, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982 "2006-03-19T08:12:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/1 "2006-03-19T08:12:59Z")
In another thread someone in praise of Robert De Niro linked to the IMDB list of his movies. Looking through it I discovered that _Meet The Fockers_ which I saw a couple of months ago is the 50th De Niro movie I have seen. I looked at a few other favourites but can’t get anywhere near that. Any suggestions from your experience? ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/2 "2006-03-19T14:34:17Z")
For me it might be Harrison Ford. De Niro is probably up there as well. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/3 "2006-03-19T14:48:46Z")
> [@Laughing Lagomorph](#): > > For me it might be Harrison Ford. De Niro is probably up there as well. Only 28. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/4 "2006-03-19T15:08:14Z")
I’ve probably seen 60 movies with Christopher Lee in them. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/5 "2006-03-19T15:10:49Z")
I would have to be either Cheech Marin or Tim Curry. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/6 "2006-03-19T15:21:05Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’ve probably seen 60 movies with Christopher Lee in them. He seemed like a posibility but only 27 CL movies. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/7 "2006-03-19T16:03:51Z")
[Michael Caine?](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000323/) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/8 "2006-03-19T17:31:42Z")
Either Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant. (I can’t remember whether I’ve seen _My Favorite Wife_ or not.) ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/9 "2006-03-19T17:43:15Z")
And in anticipation of the question of who are the most prolific movie actors: the actor who _starred_ in the most feature-length _Hollywood_ movies was John Wayne. [Most prolific actors](http://us.imdb.com/Prolific/actors). [Most prolific actresses](http://us.imdb.com/Prolific/actresses). Note many caveats: The list treats television work equal to feature film work; e.g., appearing on 1,543 episodes of a weekly television show is equal to making 1,543 feature films. The list also treats performances in short films (e.g., cartoon voices) equal to performances in feature films. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/10 "2006-03-19T18:27:35Z")
Jackie Chan, closely followed by Yun-fat Chow Elvis Tsui Maggie Cheung ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/11 "2006-03-19T18:44:43Z")
[Clint Howard](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397212/). Brother Ron makes sure he’s in every movie he directs. Plus, he’s just a workin’ fool, takes any and every part that comes along. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/12 "2006-03-19T20:51:39Z")
Clint Eastwood ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/13 "2006-03-19T22:10:31Z")
Sean Connery (27 movies) ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/14 "2006-03-19T23:38:15Z")
robert deniro - 47 gene hackman - 46 robert duvall - 37 walter matthau - 33 anthony hopkins - 32 robin williams - 32 james woods - 32 jeff bridges - 32 mel gibson - 31 morgan freeman - 30 richard dreyfuss - 29 susan sarandon - 29 steve buscemi - 29 nicholas cage - 29 john cusack - 29 katharine hepburn - 28 jack nicholson - 28 tim robbins - 28 meryl streep - 28 tom hanks - 27 robert redford - 27 tommy lee jones - 26 paul newman - 26 denzell washington - 25 richard gere - 25 michelle pfeiffer - 25 julia roberts - 25 john travolta - 25 kathy bates - 24 harrison ford - 24 kevin spacey - 24 meg ryan - 24 drew barrymore - 23 sean penn - 23 andy garcia- 23 jane fonda - 23 signourney weaver - 23 sally field - 21 sissy spacek - 21 gabriel byrne - 21 jodie foster - 21 Yeah, I had some time on my hands today. 😉 I was a bit surprised at my findings, because if you asked me who my favorite actor was, Gene Hackman would not be the actor to come to mind (though I do think he’s a terrific actor). I was also surprised I’d seen so many Robin Williams movies. I mean, I didn’t even know he MADE that many movies. And how is it possible that I’ve seen more Susan Sarandon movies than Katharine Hepburn movies? Thanks for starting this very interesting thread! ---
**Author:** ![AmbushBug](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ambushbug/32/4600_2.png) [@AmbushBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmbushBug)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/15 "2006-03-20T07:16:20Z")
IMDB has [Evelyn Venable](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0892867/bio) as the “Original model for Columbia Pictures logo” (i.e., the “Torch Lady”) so she, or whoever she really was, gets my vote. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/16 "2006-03-20T14:31:31Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > robert deniro - 47 > gene hackman - 46 > > I was a bit surprised at my findings, because if you asked me who my favorite actor was, Gene Hackman would not be the actor to come to mind (though I do think he’s a terrific actor). He wasn’t amongst the few I checked against De Niro’s 50 either, but good call - I have seen 49 Hackman movies. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/17 "2006-03-20T15:48:08Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > [Clint Howard](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397212/). Brother Ron makes sure he’s in every movie he directs. Plus, he’s just a workin’ fool, takes any and every part that comes along. First name that popped into my head. Dopers here seem to be stating stars mostly but I think that the actors who make up the supporting casts probably appear in more movies, though unnoticed, and Clint has been one of the most recognizable. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/18 "2006-03-20T15:51:23Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > First name that popped into my head. **Dopers here seem to be stating stars mostly but I think that the actors who make up the supporting casts probably appear in more movies, though unnoticed, and Clint has been one of the most recognizable.** Notes to self. 1. You don’t need to try to cram every thought into one sentence 2. That decaf pot was incorrectly marked 3. Preview is my friend ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/19 "2006-03-20T15:59:51Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > First name that popped into my head. Dopers here seem to be stating stars mostly but I think that the actors who make up the supporting casts probably appear in more movies, though unnoticed, and Clint has been one of the most recognizable. A mere 19 including movies that I watched with my kids and can’t remember anything about the cast. ---
**Author:** ![Jessica\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Jessica\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jessica_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982/20 "2006-03-20T16:25:55Z")
Ok, this is a bit off the subject, as he hasn’t actually _acted_ in many of them, but I’m always amazed by the fact that Danny Elfman has been involved in 182 movies and tv shows (mostly writing scores, but also acting, producing and singing) in the last 25 years. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-appeared-most-times-in-the-movies-you-have-seen/348982.md?page=2)