The George Clooney of the comedy world, Steve Martin is a top contender for our list of Hollywood greats. His standup albums have reached platinum status and he has a Grammy for the best comedy album. Martin also made a smooth transition from standup to film.
With films like “The Jerk,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and “Parenthood,” Martin is comedy king. He blew us away as the sadistic dentist in “The Little Shop of Horrors” and on top of that, the man is also an accomplished touring banjo player.
Jackie Chan
Before Jackie Chan's successful Hollywood life, he was a movie king in China, kicking butt in countless martial arts movies such as "Drunken Master" and "Police Story." Crossing over wasn't so easy at first and it was only in 1995 when Chan hit it internationally with his breakthrough film "Rumble in the Bronx."
From then it was smooth sailing and throughout the late 90s and 2000s the actor was churning out the hits. How can we ever forget him alongside Chris Tucker in "Rush Hour" - it's probably the best films of his career. Chan has remained super active and has worked on over 200 films. He was even given an honorary Academy Award in 2016.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Many wrestlers have gone the Hollywood route once they've retired from the ring. Not many stick around for as long as this guy has. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has led (and still is) a mega-successful acting career. He made his debut with "The Scorpion King." That movie was probably his best performance and set up what would later be a huge career.
Very quickly the actor proved that he is far more than an action star and went on to star in a string of comedy films (with an action flavor) like g "Tooth Fairy" and "Hercules" and much more. Catch the muscle machine tear it up in the new "Fast and Furious" films.
Danny DeVito
In 1978 Danny DeVito landed on our radar as Louie De Palma with the classic sitcom "Taxi." His mischievous antics and dark humor quickly threw him in the ranks of some of America's greatest comedic actors. Devito continued to roll out the hits with films like "Terms of Endearment" and "Romancing the Stone."
While "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" killed, audiences will never forget the dynamite duo that was Danny Devito and Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Twins" and "Junior."
Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker received widespread attention during the late '80s when he appeared in the famous Vietnam War films "Platoon" and "Good Morning, Vietnam." However, it was when he starred in the Oscar-winning biopic about Ugandan dictator Idi Amin that he truly became a household name.
His role as Amin in "The Last King of Scotland earned him an Academy Award for best actor. In addition to that, his film "The Butler" also earned him acclaim. Whitaker also wowed movie-goers in box-office hits such as "Arrival," "Rogue One" and "Black Panther."