Bill Murray went from sketch comedy to big-time Hollywood. In his early days, he was a notable feature player on “Saturday Night Live.” His success on the NBC show launched his movie star status with films like “Caddyshack,” “Ghostbusters” and probably his most famous “Groundhog Day.”
In his later years Murray took on a new form of comedy with his now long-term collaborator Wes Anderson frequently collaborates with director Wes Anderson, appearing in such films as “Rushmore” and “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.” His signature dry wit and deadpan delivery make him one of the most unique comedic actors of our time, it’s no surprise that in 2016, he received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
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."
Eddie Murphy
Another SNL legend turned movie star here. In 1980 Comedian Eddie Murphy rose to fame when he joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live." Just two years later he starred along with Nick Nolte in the classic buddy cop "48 Hrs." The comedian went on to star in a series of massively successful films such as "Beverly Hills Cop" and "The Nutty Professor" (1 and 2.)
And can we ever forget him as the voice of Donkey in "Shrek"? Murphy took a step back from acting for quite a few years but made a comeback quite recently, with the Netflix film "Dolemite Is My Name." Our favorite Eddie Murphy Film? "Coming to America." In 2015 he also got the well-deserved Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Dick Van Dyke
Since the 1940s Dick Van Dyke has been entertaining moviegoers, but he only really became a household name in 1961 with the CBS sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show." We loved him in charming Disney musical classics like "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."
These performances have brought him countless awards including Van Dyke has received numerous awards during his career including five Primetime Emmys, a Tony, and the SAG Life Achievement Award. While some of his performances are less timeless than others, we will always remember him as the soot-faced cockney chimney sweep in "Mary Poppins."
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage kicked off with two hits at the beginning of his career "Raising Arizona" and "Moonstruck." By the year 1995, he won the Academy Award for best actor for "Leaving Las Vegas." Ever since, the box-office hits kept coming, from"Face/Off," to "Con Air" to "National Treasure" Cage has appeared in over 100 films, most of them successful.
He played twin brothers in the brilliant Charlie Kaufman film about the woes of screenwriting "Adaptation," and an arms dealer in "Lord of War," the list goes on. Cage also outdid himself as the 'noir version' of Spider-Man in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse."