In the first few decades of his career, most people knew Bryan Cranston as either Dr. Tim Whatley from NBC’s popular sitcom “Seinfeld”, or as Hal from the Fox sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle”. He was considered your average nice, goofy and funny older male actor, but everything changed when he took the role of Walter White on AMC’s iconic “Breaking Bad”, which is widely considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time.
“Breaking Bad” revolves around Walter White, an aging and depressed chemistry teacher, and his new partner, Jesse Pinkman, a high-school dropout. The two decide to work together and open a meth business after Walter discovers he has terminal cancer and that his family isn’t financially secure. Bryan Cranston’s performance in the show is considered among the best on-screen acting of all time.
Dustin Hoffman
Another endearing star on our list is the incredible Dustin Hoffman. What makes Hoffman different from other Hollywood stars is his ability to portray the emotionally vulnerable anti-hero, due to his relatability and lovable personality. Hoffman had his acting breakthrough when he portrayed Benjamin Badock, in one of the most successful romantic comedy-dramas of all time, 1967's "The Graduate". He has appeared in numerous successful films ever since, and even made his directorial debut in 2012. Hoffman has won two Oscars and an Emmy throughout his career.
Some of his best films include "Midnight Cowboy", "Lenny", "Kramer vs Kramer", "Tootsie", "Rain Man", "Wag the Dog" and "Death of a Salesman". The actor has taken a back seat in recent years to focus more on directing films and lending his voice to animated movies, such as "Kung Fu Panda". Despite his absence, he remains one of the most well-known and beloved stars in Hollywood. Hoffman managed to successfully portray many historically and culturally influential roles over the years.
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy is well known as one of Hollywood’s most versatile male actors. He's portrayed various incredible characters, from UFC fighters to gangsters, and even a Batman villain. Hardy is one of the most consistently well-performing actors on the big screen and regularly draws crowds to films that have his name on them. He proved his incredible acting abilities in films such as Legend, where the actor played both of the film’s main characters.
If you really want to enjoy Tom Hardy at his best, you should check out either "Bronson" or "Legend". The actor plays a gangster/criminal in both films and does an incredible job in both.
Richard Burton
While most actors are known primarily for their acting skills, Richard Burton is known for his endearing look, commanding voice, and ability to portray highly intellectual male protagonists. Burton was nominated for seven academy awards, but never received an Oscar. He was one of Hollywood's most well-paid actors in the late '60s, earning a reported $1 million or more per film. The actor is also known for being married to popular British-American actress, Elizabeth Taylor, twice.
His most successful film to date is the 1953 biblical epic, "The Robe", where he plays a Roman tribune who was tasked with supervising the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Another highly successful film Richard Burton appeared in was "Look Back in Anger", a film about a guy who decides to rebel against life. Despite not being awarded as much as he should have, the actor is widely known as one of the greats.
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson is known as one of Hollywood's darkest, most mysterious and best actors of all time. There has never been an actor who was known for playing such a large and varied range of genres. His roles include everything from light-hearted comedies and romance films, to some of the darkest and most terrifying movies of all time. The veteran actor is known as an outsider and often rebels against common traditions, in both his personal and professional life. He has received 12 Academy Award nominations over the years, making him the most nominated male actor of all time.
Some of Jack Nicholson's most brilliant roles include the iconic "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", Stephen King's novel-to-film adaptation of "The Shining", the romantic comedy film "As Good as It Gets", and his enduring performance as Batman's arch nemesis, the Joker. Two of his top movies to date are also actually some of his latest. "About Schmidt" and "The Bucket List" are both drama heavy films with a sprinkle of comedy that focus on the struggles of old age.