Top 10 Best Actors of the '70s

The 1970s were an unforgettable decade for movies. It was a time when Hollywood broke new ground, shaking off the conventions of the past and letting actors experiment with bolder, riskier roles. The era brought an edge and authenticity that audiences hadn't really seen before, and much of that came from the performers themselves, who weren't afraid to get gritty and real in a way that still feels fresh today.

If you're a fan of '70s films, then you'll know just how unique the acting talent was in this period. This list celebrates those who helped define the movies of the time.
The Top Ten
Al Pacino Alfredo James "Al" (April 25, 1940) Pacino is an American actor and filmmaker. Pacino has had a career spanning more than five decades, during which time he has received numerous accolades and honors.

Amazing string of movies in quick succession.

The best there ever was!

Jack Nicholson John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker, who has performed for over 60 years. Nicholson is known for playing a wide range of starring or supporting roles, including satirical comedy, romance and dark portrayals of antiheroes and psychopathic characters. In many... read more

Tough choice between De Niro and Nicholson.

Should be #1. Way better than Al Pacino.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Chinatown - simply wow!

Robert De Niro Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. (born August 17, 1943) is an American actor and producer. He is particularly known for his nine collaborations with filmmaker Martin Scorsese, and is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and a Screen... read more

Mean Streets, The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, New York, New York, The Deer Hunter. Robert is GOD.

Gene Hackman Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman is a retired American actor and novelist. In a career that spanned nearly five decades, Hackman was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Best Actor in The French Connection and Best Supporting Actor in Unforgiven.

A couple of masterpieces in the '70s.

Warren Oates
Robert Redford Charles Robert Redford Jr., known professionally as Robert Redford, is an American actor, director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, and philanthropist.

Lively and fun. Took part in a couple of the greatest movies of this decade, namely The Sting.

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American actor, film director, and activist. He is credited with bringing a gripping realism to film acting, and is often cited as one of the greatest and most influential actors of all time. He died on July 1, 2004 at the age of 80.

The Godfather (1972), Apocalypse Now (1979), Superman (1978), On the Waterfront (1954).

The Godfather. That's enough.

Dustin Hoffman Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor and director with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters.

Dustin is one of the most innovative actors of his genre. Love him in everything he does. Timeless.

His outstanding decade!

Woody Allen Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing material for television in the 1950s, mainly Your Show of... read more

So unique, fresh, and funny - genius!

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford is an American actor and film producer. He gained worldwide fame for his starring roles as Han Solo in the original Star Wars epic space opera trilogy and the titular character of the Indiana Jones film series.

The Newcomers

? Christopher Lloyd Christopher Allen Lloyd is an American actor, voice actor and comedian best known for his roles as Emmett "Doc" Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Merlock the Magician in DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, Uncle Fester in The Addams Family and... read more
? Ron Howard Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. He gained national attention for playing young Opie Taylor, the... read more
The Contenders
Walter Matthau
Dom DeLuise
John Travolta John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer, and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease.
James Caan James Edmund Caan was an American actor. After early roles in films such as El Dorado, Caan came into prominence in the 1970s with significant roles in films such as Brian's Song, The Godfather, The Gambler, Funny Lady and A Bridge Too Far.
Yaphet Kotto
Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, filmmaker, businessman, investor, author, philanthropist, activist, former professional bodybuilder and former politician.
Gene Wilder Jerome Silberman, known professionally as Gene Wilder, is an American stage and screen comic actor, screenwriter, and author. Wilder began his career on stage, and made his screen debut in the TV-series Armstrong Circle Theatre in 1962. On August 28th 2016, Wilder died due to complications with Alzheimer's... read more
Burt Lancaster
Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine, CBE (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 March 1933) is an English actor, producer and author. He has appeared in more than 130 films in a career spanning 70 years and is considered a British film icon. Known for his cockney accent, Caine was born in South London, where during his... read more
James Earl Jones James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 - September 9, 2024) was an American actor known for his film roles and his work in theater. He was one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985 and was honored with the... read more
Christopher Reeve Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor who played DC comic book superhero Superman, beginning with the acclaimed Superman, for which he won a BAFTA Award.
Harvey Keitel Harvey Keitel is an American actor and producer. An Oscar and Golden Globe Award nominee, he has appeared in films such as Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, Ridley Scott's The Duellists and Thelma & Louise, Peter Yates' "Mother, Jugs & Speed", Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Pulp... read more
Sean Connery Sir Thomas Sean Connery (August 25, 1930 - October 31, 2020) was a Scottish actor and producer. He won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes... read more
Robert Duvall Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has been nominated for seven Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and has multiple nominations and one win each of the BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Emmy Award.
Martin Sheen
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