Top 10 Best Actors of the 1980s

1. Tom Hanks

   

   Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker.

   He is known for his performances in Splash, Big, Turner & Hooch, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, You've Got Mail, The Green Mile, the Toy Story franchise, Cast Away, The Da Vinci Code... read more

   The Money Pit, Big, and Punchline, not to mention Turner & Hooch. Great actor, my favorite!

   Such pure and innocent performances. So easy to love.

2. Tom Cruise

   

   Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is an American actor and producer with a career spanning more than four decades. He has received various accolades for his work, including three Golden Globe Awards and four Academy Award nominations. Cruise is best known for starring in the Mission: Impossible franchise, which... read more

   I love The Color of Money and Top Gun. He's a great actor, one of the best of all time.

   The liveliest of them all. He played a big part in making the 80s awesome.

   Endless Love (1981), Taps (1981), The Outsiders (1983), Losin' It (1983), Risky Business (1983), All the Right Moves (1983), Legend (1985), Top Gun (1986), The Color of Money (1986), Cocktail (1988), Rain Man (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989).

3. 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 trilogy and the titular character in the Indiana Jones film series. Ford has also received critical acclaim for roles in films such as The Fugitive, Witness, and... read more

   Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Blade Runner are just a few outstanding movies Harrison Ford ruled in.

   An absolute gem of an actor, as well as an icon of the 80s. So handsome, talented, and laid back.

   Come on, people, it's Harrison Ford!

4. Arnold Schwarzenegger

   

   Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, filmmaker, businessman, investor, author, philanthropist, activist, former professional bodybuilder, and former politician.

   He is best known for his iconic roles as the T-800 and Terminator in the Terminator series, Douglas Quaid in Total... read more

   Classics:

   Conan the Barbarian (1982), The Terminator (1984), Commando (1985), Predator (1987).

   Above average:

   Raw Deal (1986), The Running Man (1987), Red Heat (1988), Twins (1988).

   He built the road that others just used to get to the top.

   Seriously, everyone who lived in that era knows Arnold was the action king of the 80s.

   With the two Terminator movies, he achieved superstar status.

5. Al Pacino

   

   Alfredo James "Al" Pacino (born April 25, 1940) is an American actor and filmmaker. Pacino has had a career spanning over five decades and is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in film history. He has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime... read more

6. Sylvester Stallone

   

   Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer.

   He is best known for his roles as Rocky Balboa in the Rocky series and John Rambo in the First Blood and Rambo series. His most well-known films are primarily action movies.... read more

   Best action actor ever. His most badass look was in Cobra. I don't know why this movie is so underrated. Stallone all day, every day. I've watched each Rocky and Rambo movie about 100 times. He's my favorite actor, and by the way, he is still kicking ass in his 70s.

   He is the best in the world. Tom Cruise is nothing. Stallone is the champ, and he will always be the champ in Hollywood.

   Nighthawks (1981), Victory (1981), Rocky III (1982), First Blood (1982), Rhinestone (1984), Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rocky IV (1985), Cobra (1986), Over the Top (1987), Rambo III (1988), Tango & Cash (1989), Lock Up (1989).

7. Bill Murray

   

   William James "Bill" Murray is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He first gained national attention on Saturday Night Live, for which he won his first Emmy Award. He later starred in a series of successful comedies including Meatballs, Caddyshack, Stripes, Tootsie, Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II... read more

   An American legend, a treasure.

8. Michael J. Fox

   

   Michael Andrew Fox (born June 9, 1961), known professionally as Michael J. Fox, is a Canadian-American actor, author, producer, and advocate. He is best known for his roles as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy (1985-1990) and Alex P. Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties (1982-1989), winning multiple... read more

   Okay, this is the best actor of the 80s. He worked so hard to get to where he was, and he made it! You probably don't know, but he was in America for a little while, starving! He needed to get on Family Ties, and he did! He knew he had what it took! And he's hot, not to mention.

   I absolutely LOVE Michael J. Fox! From Family Ties to Teen Wolf to Back to the Future, he is absolutely iconic. Michael is adorably cute and sexy in a really adorable way! What an absolutely talented actor. Love him!

   He should be at the top. He is a great actor and fits into many different roles well. Back to the Future, The Secret of My Success, Bright Lights, Big City, and Casualties of War are a few examples. Not to mention Family Ties or Spin City.

9. Jack Nicholson

   

   John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker whose career has spanned over 60 years. He is known for his wide range of roles, including satirical comedies, romantic dramas, and portrayals of antiheroes and psychopathic characters. In many of his films, Nicholson plays... read more

   Stunning intensity and versatility.

   The Shining (1980), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), Reds (1981), The Border (1982), Terms of Endearment (1983), Prizzi's Honor (1985), Heartburn (1986), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Broadcast News (1987), Ironweed (1987), Batman (1989).

10. Gene Hackman

    

    Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman (January 30, 1930 - February 26, 2025) was an American actor and novelist. His career spanned nearly five decades. During that time, he earned two Academy Awards from five total nominations: Best Actor for The French Connection (1971) and Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Albert Brooks

12. ?

    David Keith

The Contenders

13. Matt Dillon

    

    Yes! Matt deserves a spot among the best 80s actors!

14. 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

    Once Upon a Time in America, Raging Bull, The Untouchables - what more do you want?

    Raging Bull (1980), True Confessions (1981), The King of Comedy (1982), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), Falling in Love (1984), Brazil (1985), The Mission (1986), Angel Heart (1987), The Untouchables (1987), Midnight Run (1988), Jacknife (1989), We're No Angels (1989).

15. Bruce Willis

    

    Walter Bruce Willis, known professionally as Bruce Willis, is a retired American actor, producer, and singer. He rose to fame in the 1980s with roles in Moonlighting and the Die Hard series. In 2022, his family announced he was stepping away from acting due to aphasia and later diagnosed with frontotemporal... read more

16. Michael Biehn

    

    Michael Connell Biehn is an American actor. He is primarily known for portraying military characters in science fiction films directed by James Cameron. Biehn's most notable roles include Kyle Reese in The Terminator and Corporal Dwayne Hicks in Aliens.

    Hog Wild (1980), The Fan (1981), The Lords of Discipline (1983), The Terminator (1984), Deadly Intentions (1985), Aliens (1986), Rampage (1987), The Seventh Sign (1988), In a Shallow Grave (1988), The Abyss (1989).

17. Emilio Estevez

    

    Emilio Estevez, born May 12, 1962, is the eldest son of actor Martin Sheen (born Ramón Esteves) and Janet Templeton. He has three younger siblings, including Carlos Esteves, who is professionally known as Charlie Sheen. Emilio rose to fame in the 1980s as one of Hollywood's most recognizable young actors.... read more

18. Eddie Murphy

    

    Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American comedian, actor, writer, singer, and producer. Murphy was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984. He gained fame through hit films such as Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and The Nutty Professor, and has received numerous awards... read more

    So funny, a breath of fresh air in the 80s.

19. Matthew Broderick

    

    Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is an American actor and singer known for his work in film, television, and theater.

    He gained early recognition for his role in WarGames (1983), in which he played a teenage hacker who inadvertently triggers a potential nuclear crisis. He also starred in... read more

    So laid back and accommodating to others, the viewers, and life itself. He got along effortlessly with everything - smooth!

20. River Phoenix

    

    River Jude Phoenix, born River Jude Bottom (August 23, 1970 - October 31, 1993), was an American actor, musician, and activist. He was the older brother of Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix, and Summer Phoenix. Phoenix earned critical acclaim for his performances in films such as Stand by... read more

    He is very underrated but should be remembered by many in today's society. Not only were his natural acting abilities inspiring, but he also cared deeply about everything. He was very environmentally friendly, a strict and committed vegan, and supportive of homosexuals even in the 80s and 90s. I love him so much, and words can't describe how inspiring he is to me and many other people. RIP, sweet River Jude Phoenix.

    The greatest young actor of all time, River brought so much soul and emotion to his performances. His role as Chris Chambers in Stand By Me is one of the most beautiful performances in any film. River was a beautiful person inside and out, and his death was such an enormous loss. He is truly and deeply missed.

21. Josh Brolin

    

    Josh James Brolin is an American actor. He made his film debut in 1985 in The Goonies. Brolin has since earned acclaim for roles such as Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and George W. Bush in the biographical film W. released in 2008.

22. Dan Aykroyd

    

    Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd is a Canadian‑American actor, comedian, musician, businessman, and filmmaker. He first rose to fame as an original member of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on Saturday Night Live. Aykroyd co‑wrote and starred in The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters, two iconic... read more

23. Charlie Sheen

    

    Carlos Irwin Estévez, known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor.

    Sheen has appeared in films including Platoon, Wall Street, Young Guns, Eight Men Out, Major League, Hot Shots!, and The Three Musketeers.... read more

24. Dustin Hoffman

    

    Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor and director with a career spanning film, television, and theatre since the 1960s. He's known for his portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable characters. Hoffman has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards for Best Actor for Kramer... read more

    Tootsie (1982), Death of a Salesman (1985), Ishtar (1987), Rain Man (1988), Family Business (1989).

25. Rob Lowe

    

    Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor who gained fame in the 1980s after appearing in films including The Outsiders (1983), Oxford Blues (1984), and About Last Night… (1986). He's sustained a long career in film and television. Lowe has earned multiple Emmy nominations, including for his work... read more

    He was really beautiful and talented.

26. Chevy Chase

    

    Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase (born October 8, 1943) is an American comedian, actor and writer. He became the breakout cast member in the first season of Saturday Night Live (1975-1976), where his recurring Weekend Update segment became a staple of the show. As both a performer and a writer on the series... read more

27. Michael Douglas

    

    Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and producer. His career includes a diverse range of films in both independent and blockbuster genres, for which he has received a number of accolades both competitive and honorary. He won Academy Awards for producing One Flew Over the... read more

    It's My Turn (1980), The Star Chamber (1983), Romancing the Stone (1984), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), A Chorus Line (1985), Fatal Attraction (1987), Wall Street (1987), Black Rain (1989), The War of the Roses (1989).