Humphrey Bogart is considered the single greatest male actor of all time. He first began acting in Broadway shows, but quickly made his way into films in the 1930s. The actor has appeared in numerous roles over the years, and had an acting career which lasted for over three and a half decades. Bogart has a cult following even to this day. Some of his most successful roles from the ’40s include “High Sierra”, “The Maltese Falcon”, “The Big Sleep”, and the well known classic, “Casablanca”, which landed him his first nomination for an Academy Award.
Bogart’s two best performances, according to many critics and fans, are 1948’s neo-western film “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre”, and 1950’s old school crime drama, “In a Lonely Place”. Unfortunately, the actor was a heavy smoker and drinker, which considerably shortened his lifespan and killed him at the relatively young age of 57. In 1997, he was named the number one movie legend of all time by Entertainment Weekly Magazine. Later in 1999, he was also chosen as the American Film Institute’s greatest male screen legend.
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.
Robert De Niro
There’s not much to say about Robert De Niro except that he’s one of the most legendary actors of our generation. De Niro first rose to prominence when he took up some of the most difficult roles, in films such as Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" and "Mean Streets". He somehow manages to reinvent himself in every single film, much like the iconic Marlon Brando. His impressive career currently spans over four decades, but De Niro just keeps making hit after hit.
Two of Robert De Niro’s latest films, "Joker" and "The Irishman", have been extremely successful. It seems that the actor is still very much in touch with what makes him a great actor. Although De Niro had a bit of a rough period in the 2000s, where he mostly played comedies and goofy roles, it looks like he got his mojo back.
Edward Norton
One of the most iconic actors of the '90s, Edward Norton became a household name after appearing in some of the most popular and successful films in past decades. Two of this most popular and widely acclaimed roles include "American History X", where he plays as a neo-Nazi who goes to jail and repents for his mistakes, and "Fight Club", a film based on Chuck Palahniuk's best selling novel.
Some of the actor’s most impressive performances include his almost-theatrical role in "Birdman", alongside Michael Keaton, Derek Vinyard in "American History X", the classic "Moonrise Kingdom", where he played alongside Bruce Willis as Scout Master Ward, and "The Grand Budapest Hotel".