Get ready for a star-studded journey through Hollywood's most beloved actors! From legendary performers who defined entire generations to modern icons who've captured our hearts, this countdown celebrates the most unforgettable talents in cinema history.
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00:00Oh my God, I had such happiness that night, such hope.
00:07Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most well-known and well-liked actors in history.
00:13No matter what anybody says, you'll always be a prince to me.
00:22Han Solo. I'm Captain of the Millennium Falcon.
00:26Chewie here tells me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system.
00:29Whether you know him as a renowned archaeologist or the pilot of the Millennium Falcon, the point is you definitely know him.
00:35Throughout his career that spanned over half a century, Harrison Ford has dazzled us on screen with his charming half-smirk and his acting ability,
00:42particularly in films involving action and suspense.
00:45The place is completely surrounded. The entire place is crawling with living things.
00:49That's why they call it the jungle, sweetheart.
00:51Even in his 80s, he has pleasantly surprised us with ever-evolving acting chops and dynamic roles,
00:57such as a psychologist on the comedy series Shrinking.
01:00Ford is a charismatic, timeless actor. Both his older and newer works are worth watching.
01:16He may not be your typical triple threat, but he's got skills so unique that there may never be another like him in our lifetime.
01:27Don't move!
01:36Jackie Chan is forever known for his contribution to the world of martial arts and cinema,
01:40but he should also be recognized as one of the greatest stuntmen and comedic actors of our generation.
01:46That is a good fall. Absolutely nice.
01:49Ain't nobody know what?
01:50Everybody knows what.
01:52Who?
01:53Yeah.
01:54From buddy action movie series like Rush Hour and Shanghai to martial arts dramas like the 2010 Karate Kid,
02:00Chan has left his mark, both literally and figuratively.
02:03Perhaps what we like most about him though is his humility and approachability, qualities we love to see in the celebs we admire.
02:17Number 8. Marlon Brando.
02:19Whether he's the godfather yelling, Stella! or playing Superman's father, he's hard not to love.
02:25Marlon Brando set the bar high as one of the original greats, acting in films from the 1950s until his death in 2004.
02:33You don't think I'm not gonna take care of you? I'm not gonna cover your expenses and all that?
02:37It's not about covering my expenses. I want the money. We gotta find another buyer.
02:41Offscreen, he was known for his charm, charisma, and activism in the civil rights movement.
02:46In 1973, he protested Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans by refusing to accept his Oscar for The Godfather.
02:53How did things ever get so far? I don't know.
03:00It was so unfortunate.
03:03Instead, he sent Native American actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather to represent him at the ceremony,
03:08where she gave a speech about the mistreatment of indigenous people in the film industry.
03:12Brando was ahead of his time in both his art and activism, and that is to be admired.
03:17You don't understand. I could've had class. I could've been a contender. I could've been somebody.
03:25Number 7. Marilyn Monroe.
03:27She's the original blonde bombshell, and though our time with her was cut way too short, Marilyn Monroe left her mark.
03:34A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend.
03:43While some may remember her for her infamous relationships and good looks, it's her talent on the screen that will never be forgotten.
03:50With films like The 7-Year Itch and Some Like It Hot, for which she won a Golden Globe, she set the stage for actresses that came after her.
03:57I wanna be loved by you, just you. Nobody else but you. I wanna be loved by you alone.
04:09Monroe also broke barriers by founding her own production company before turning 30.
04:14Her legacy is undeniable, and it's praiseworthy that she did it all with a smile on her face and a skip in her step,
04:20despite everything going on behind the scenes in her life.
04:23Ooh, do you feel the breeze from the subway? Isn't it delicious?
04:28Number 6. Morgan Freeman.
04:30We think it'd be tough to find someone who's never seen a Morgan Freeman film, and for good reason.
04:35All I want is to be back where things make sense, where I won't have to be afraid all the time.
04:42He's got great range and has appeared in films from almost every genre.
04:46He's seemingly well-liked by everyone in the industry, too.
04:49In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.
04:55Whether it's playing a convict in The Shawshank Redemption, winning an Oscar for Million Dollar Baby,
05:00or literally playing God in Bruce Almighty, he's always a pleasure to watch.
05:04Also, we wouldn't say no if he wanted to narrate bedtime stories to us,
05:09because there's just something about his voice that we can't get enough of.
05:12Oh, I see where this is going. Bruce, I'm God.
05:18Number 5. Betty White.
05:20She has been an icon for a long time, and remains as beloved as she's ever been.
05:26I'm not doing it for myself, you understand, but for those ladies out there who need me.
05:33Early in her career, Betty White became the first woman to produce a sitcom.
05:37Since then, she's had notable roles in shows like The Golden Girls, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Hot in Cleveland.
05:43But she was also adored for her off-screen persona.
05:46People say, but Betty, Facebook is a great way to connect with old friends.
05:51Well, at my age, if I want to connect with old friends, I need a Ouija board.
05:57White was a hilarious woman who talked candidly about everything from relationships to career to the beauty of aging,
06:04and everything in between. Needless to say, we wish we had more Betty White in our lives.
06:09Dorothy, you're the smart one, and Blanche, you're the sexy one, and Sophia, you're the old one.
06:16I'm the nice one. Everybody always likes me.
06:24Truth is, I am Iron Man.
06:33If there's anyone who's turned their lives around and made the most out of their career, it's RDJ.
06:38Despite a rough childhood and battles with substance use,
06:41he's overcome it all to become one of the most well-known yet humble stars in Hollywood.
06:53We love him as Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chaplin, and, of course, Tony Stark.
06:57We couldn't help but smile when he finally won his first Academy Award for his role in Oppenheimer after years of dedication to his craft.
07:04You sat here and let me tell you how it's done, but you've been far ahead all along.
07:10Survival in Washington is about knowing how to get things done.
07:15All of his contributions to the world of cinema have made him one of the highest-grossing actors ever.
07:22Name a more iconic actress than Meryl Streep. We'll wait, but not for long, because you can't.
07:27And it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry
07:32when, in fact, you're wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room.
07:38The Iron Lady, Julian Julia, The Devil Wears Prada.
07:41We could literally go on for hours about her amazing performances.
07:45The fact that she's been nominated for over 20 Oscars and has won three of them pretty much sums up her greatness.
08:00Yet through all her success, she has stayed approachable and humble.
08:04She's the goat for a reason, and the fact that she seems like the most lovely human off-screen is just the cherry on top.
08:21You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't like Tom Hanks.
08:35In real life, he's a husband, father of four, environmentalist, member of the National Space Society,
08:40and honorary member of the United States Army Rangers Hall of Fame.
08:44On screen, he's effectively portrayed a wide variety of characters, including an astronaut, a toy, a castaway, a captain, and a professor, just to name a few.
08:53What would you do if you had such limited time to send a message?
08:58Oh, I suppose I'd try to identify my killer.
09:03First and foremost, he is clearly a stand-up guy on top of being incredibly talented.
09:08It's safe to say that if he's in a movie, we'll be watching it.
09:11So long, partner.
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09:35He's made everyone that's crossed his path laugh, and a good chunk of them cry.
09:43If it's not a whim for you, you prove it to him by your conviction and your passion.
09:47You show him that, and if he still doesn't believe you, well, by then you'll be out of school and you can do anything you want.
09:52To say we miss him would be an understatement.
09:55Throughout his life and career, Robin Williams put humor at the forefront, as we saw in films like Mrs. Doubtfire and The Birdcage.
10:02All right, first, get your pinky down. It's up again.
10:06All right, and your punch.
10:08Oh, my God! Are you crazy? What are you doing?
10:12He was also amazing in his dramatic roles, such as Good Will Hunting, for which he won an Academy Award.
10:18On screen and off, he was always helping others by doing things like co-creating Comic Relief USA,
10:24participating in USO tours, and contributing to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
10:28He's impossible to hate and will be remembered and revered for years to come.
10:33You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend. You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend.
10:37You ain't never had a friend like me.
10:44Which of these actors is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
10:47His dog died.
10:49That's your plan?
10:51No, I'm going to replace his dog.
10:54Rose, you don't even like bringing me my slippers.
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