Greatest Living American Actors

[OldBrownShoe]

At the risk of upsetting some such as MoFulham from our youth academy, I think Clint Eastwood is worth a shout. A great director too.  

John Malkovich top notch.  Another good and often forgotten American actor is James Woods.

[licker]

You've left off our two best film actors:

Chris Cooper
Meryl Streep

I'd also say that there are several out there better than RR's original list, including -- believe it or not -- Leonardo Di Caprio.

Pacino is a caricature of himself these days.

I'd have thought that Meryl Streep would not be described as an actor, more like an actress.

Sorry Don.

[Lighthouse]

The word actor refers to a person who acts regardless of sex, while actress refers specifically to a female person who acts; therefore a female can be referred to by either term

[mofulham]

Actually, Matt Damon is better than most of the people mentioned.  

Whoever said Clint, he is one-dimensional.  The only role he can play well is a cowboy.  Watching him in any other type of role is embarassing.

[The Equalizer]

At the risk of upsetting some such as MoFulham from our youth academy, I think Clint Eastwood is worth a shout. A great director too.  

John Malkovich top notch.  Another good and often forgotten American actor is James Woods.

Worth a shout? WORTH A SHOUT? Ruddy Ada, he should've been first on the list!

Gene Hackman needs to be on this list too, if only for his role in The Conversation. I'd also like to add Harvey Keitel for just being a genius.

[OldBrownShoe]

I know Eq! A poor piece of irony on my part. I couldn't help notice though that he is yet another red rag to the bull to FoF's own Barry Norman ;) ;D

[The Equalizer]

Actually, Matt Damon is better than most of the people mentioned.  

Whoever said Clint, he is one-dimensional.  The only role he can play well is a cowboy.  Watching him in any other type of role is embarassing.

Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino anyone? Anyone?

[The Equalizer]

Not to mention City Heat and Firefox ;)

[OldBrownShoe]

Not to forget Play Misty For Me either and many other films he has made (back to 1955!).  Gran Torina excellent of course.

[RidgeRider]

Actually, Matt Damon is better than most of the people mentioned.  

Whoever said Clint, he is one-dimensional.  The only role he can play well is a cowboy.  Watching him in any other type of role is embarassing.

Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino anyone? Anyone?

Exactly! Saying an actor is one dimensional is easy. If an actor is good at playing a certain type of character he can be dubbed as one dimensional but that is not fair. It matters if he is convincing only. How about Bridges over Madison County....not exactly Dirty Harry.

Agree with FoF's foremost authority 'mofulham', Damon actually is a decent actor, not great, only in that has shown some range but his performances are not always convincing to me.

I like OldBrownShoes shout on James Woods and John Malkovich as well, both professionals and superb actors.

[finnster01]

Actually, Matt Damon is better than most of the people mentioned.  

Whoever said Clint, he is one-dimensional.  The only role he can play well is a cowboy.  Watching him in any other type of role is embarassing.

Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino anyone? Anyone?

Exactly! Saying an actor is one dimensional is easy. If an actor is good at playing a certain type of character he can be dubbed as one dimensional but that is not fair. It matters if he is convincing only. How about Bridges over Madison County....not exactly Dirty Harry.

There is only one Bridges mate, and his name is Jeff.

Wins the Oscar hands down this year so get your bets on. You read it here first. Donations on large winnings to the upkeep of FoF please.

[HatterDon]

Doug McClure HAMMY? Surely not. The Virginian tv series  was a classic. The Land That Time Forgot was ... Yes I see your point.

Troy Donahue on the other hand I knew nothing about. But will find out.

Troy Donahue is the bloke in Godfather II that Michael's little sister wants to marry at the beginning. However crap an actor he might have been, he does have the "honor" of having his name in song lyrics in

a. perhaps the worst American musical ever to be perpetrated on an audience WHICH WAS THEN
b. turned into a load-o-crap movie starting Olivia Andy-Gump and Juan Revolting.

Here's the song:

Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee
Lousy with virginity
Won't go to bed 'til I'm legally wed
I can't; I'm Sandra Dee

Watch it! Hey I'm Doris Day
I was not brought up that way
Won't come across,
Even Rock Hudson lost
His heart to Doris Day

I don't drink (no)
Or swear (no)
I don't rat my hair (eew)
I get ill from one cigarette
(cough, cough, cough)
Keep your filthy paws
Off my silky draws
Would you pull that crap with Annette?

As for you Troy Donahue,
I know what you wanna do
You got your crust
I'm no object of lust
I'm just plain Sandra Dee

Elvis, Elvis, let me be!
Keep that pelvis far from me!
Just keep your cool
Now your starting to drool
Hey Fongool, I'm Sandra Dee!

[RidgeRider]

Doug McClure HAMMY? Surely not. The Virginian tv series  was a classic. The Land That Time Forgot was ... Yes I see your point.

Troy Donahue on the other hand I knew nothing about. But will find out.

Troy Donahue is the bloke in Godfather II that Michael's little sister wants to marry at the beginning. However crap an actor he might have been, he does have the "honor" of having his name in song lyrics in

a. perhaps the worst American musical ever to be perpetrated on an audience WHICH WAS THEN
b. turned into a load-o-crap movie starting Olivia Andy-Gump and Juan Revolting.

Here's the song:

Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee
Lousy with virginity
Won't go to bed 'til I'm legally wed
I can't; I'm Sandra Dee

Watch it! Hey I'm Doris Day
I was not brought up that way
Won't come across,
Even Rock Hudson lost
His heart to Doris Day

I don't drink (no)
Or swear (no)
I don't rat my hair (eew)
I get ill from one cigarette
(cough, cough, cough)
Keep your filthy paws
Off my silky draws
Would you pull that crap with Annette?

As for you Troy Donahue,
I know what you wanna do
You got your crust
I'm no object of lust
I'm just plain Sandra Dee

Elvis, Elvis, let me be!
Keep that pelvis far from me!
Just keep your cool
Now your starting to drool
Hey Fongool, I'm Sandra Dee!

Hmmm, well it's all in the eye of the beholder. My kids love that movie and I did as well when I was 13. Ok, the acting is not great but music and dancing weren't bad. Not Astaire or Kelly good but not bad.

[TonyGilroy]

[/quote]
There is only one Bridges mate, and his name is Jeff.

[/quote]

Beau would disagree. An equally fine actor IMO.

Has everyone forgotten that Kirk Douglas is still alive.

[Huge]

Jeff Bridges for sure, The Big Lebowski is my all time favorite film.
Morgan Freeman
Al Pacino
Christopher Walken
People love Sean Penn but i dont get it.

[Lighthouse]

Hatter - I feel so ashamed I didn't connect the Sandra Dee song with mentioning Troy Donahue.

Huge - I agree about Sean Penn. Either Under Acts to the point of being comatose or over acts to the point of just being high.