Top 10 Most Revolutionary Actors and Actresses of All Time

Many actors and actresses are known to be intelligent, witty, charming, and fit. Those are some qualities that can help you make big bucks in a career.

And yet, some actors and actresses want to do more than that. They create new styles of acting, introduce new genres and personalities, and inspire many others to step up. They're revolutionary. Enjoy!

Please note that at times in this list, I will use actors or actor instead of actress. This is not an omission of the female gender and not a sexist remark. It's just a way to make the writing process quicker.

The Top Ten

  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

  2. Charlie Chaplin

    Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE (April 16, 1889 - December 25, 1977), was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame during the silent film era. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. Chaplin is best known for his iconic... read more

    Charlie Chaplin is undeniably number one on this list. He is a revolutionary figure in the film industry, having pioneered the silent comedy genre. He was the standout comedy actor in an era dominated by dramas and historical tales.

    Chaplin inspired countless people to find humor in life and to pursue acting. He will be remembered as "the father of film" for years to come.

    There is no debate that Charlie Chaplin is number one. He played a pivotal role in popularizing movies. While he may not be the best, his iconic status and revolutionary impact on the film industry are undeniable.

  3. Buster Keaton

    Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 - February 1, 1966) was an American actor, director, producer, writer, and stunt performer.

    He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The... read more

    Buster Keaton's influence on physical comedy is rivaled only by Charlie Chaplin. He was one of the first actors in the business and played a significant role in revolutionizing film.

  4. Bette Davis

    Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (April 5, 1908 - October 6, 1989) was an American actress who worked in film, television, and theater. She is regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history. Davis was known for her willingness to portray unsympathetic, sardonic characters and for her versatility... read more

  5. 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

    Jack Nicholson created a new, revolutionary style of acting. Few other actors have been able to replicate it, cementing his status as an acting legend.

  6. Meryl Streep

    Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress. Frequently cited in the media as the "best actress of her generation," Streep is renowned for her versatility, ability to fully embody diverse characters, and mastery of various accents.... read more

    Meryl Streep has won so many awards that we have lost count. This proves that she is one of the greatest actresses of all time.

  7. Lillian Gish

    Lillian Diana Gish (October 14, 1893 - February 27, 1993) was an American actress of the screen and stage, as well as a director and writer. Her film acting career spanned 75 years, from her debut in silent shorts in 1912 to her final appearance in 1987.... read more

    Lillian Gish became known as the first lady of the silent screen. She was virtually the first actress to act in a film.

  8. Marilyn Monroe

    Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson, June 1, 1926 - August 5, 1962) was an American actress, singer, and model. Decades after her unexpected death, she has remained one of Hollywood's greatest sex symbols with her eye-catching style, champagne blonde hair, and breathless manner of speaking. She... read more

    Marilyn Monroe won many honors and introduced a new style of acting with her breathy voice and hourglass figure. She is both famous and influential.

  9. 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.

    Marlon Brando brought a unique purity to the art of acting. His ability to seamlessly slip in and out of character seemed almost magical. Whether charismatic or serious, Brando is a true legend.

  10. Sidney Poitier

    Sir Sidney Poitier was a Bahamian-American actor, film director, author, and diplomat. In 1964, he became the first Bahamian and first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field. He also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for the same performance.

    Sidney Poitier was the first Black man to ever receive an Academy Award. If that doesn't count for something, I don't know what does.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Edward Norton

    Edward Harrison Norton is an American actor, filmmaker, and activist. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards for his performances in Primal Fear, American History X, and Birdman. Norton is also known for his roles in Fight Club, The Incredible Hulk, and The Illusionist.... read more

  12. ?

    Alan Rickman

    Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (February 21, 1946 - January 14, 2016) was an English actor and director known for playing a variety of roles on stage and screen, most notably Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series and Hans Gruber in Die Hard. He passed away of pancreatic cancer in 2016. Rickman also... read more

    13. The Contenders

  13. Maggie Smith

    Dame Margaret Natalie "Maggie" Smith CH DBE (28 December 1934 - 27 September 2024) was an English actress known for her wit in both comedic and dramatic roles. She had an extensive and varied career on stage, film, and television spanning over seven decades. Smith appeared in more than 50 films and was... read more

    Maggie Smith's acting career is one of the longest in history, spanning almost 70 years from 1956 to 2021. She is still scheduled to star in more movies later this decade. Her career is both inspiring and revolutionary.

  14. Robin Williams

    Robin McLaurin Williams was an American actor and comedian. He began performing stand-up comedy in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the mid-1970s and helped lead a comedy renaissance in San Francisco. He died in August 2014 and is remembered for his improvisational genius, charity work, and heartfelt... read more

  15. Christopher Lee

    Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (1922-2015) was an English actor, singer, and author. He gained fame for villainous roles such as Dracula in the Hammer horror films, Francisco Scaramanga in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, Saruman in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies... read more

  16. Michelle Pfeiffer

    Michelle Marie Pfeiffer is an American actress and producer. She gained major popularity during the 1980s and 1990s. Pfeiffer has earned international acclaim and numerous awards for her performances in both comedic and dramatic roles.

  17. Philip Seymour Hoffman

    Philip Seymour Hoffman (July 23, 1967 - February 2, 2014) was an American actor. Known for his distinctive supporting and character roles such as eccentrics, lowlifes, underdogs, and misfits, he appeared in many films and theatrical productions. His work included both leading and supporting roles from... read more

  18. Leonardo DiCaprio

    Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974) is an American actor and film producer. Known for his work in biopics and period films, he's received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. As of 2019, his films have grossed over... read more

    Leonardo DiCaprio has truly mastered the art of facial expressions and tone of voice. He consistently delivers top-notch performances in every movie. He is one of the most revolutionary actors still working today.

  19. Laurence Olivier

    Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (22 May 1907 to 11 July 1989), was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud formed a trio that dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century. Olivier also appeared in over fifty films and achieved considerable... read more

  20. Morgan Freeman

    Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director, producer, and narrator recognized for his authoritative voice and commanding screen presence. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Million Dollar Baby (2004) and received Oscar nominations for Street Smart (1987), Driving... read more

  21. 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

  22. Katharine Hepburn

    Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress. Known for her fierce independence and spirited personality, Hepburn was a leading lady in Hollywood for more than 60 years. She won four Academy Awards for Best Actress, the most of any performer in that category.

  23. Audrey Hepburn

    Audrey Hepburn, born Audrey Kathleen Ruston (May 4, 1929 to January 20, 1993), was a British actress and humanitarian. Widely recognized as a film and fashion icon, she was a prominent figure during Hollywood's Golden Age. The American Film Institute ranked her as the third greatest female screen legend... read more

    Audrey Hepburn was a joy to watch onscreen. Having seen her films, she was an emblem of style and was both intelligent and kind.

  24. Orson Welles

    George Orson Welles was an American actor, director, writer, and producer who worked extensively in theater, radio, and film. He is best known for directing and starring in Citizen Kane (1941), which is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. Welles also co-founded the Mercury Theatre... read more

  25. Sandra Bullock

    Sandra Annette Bullock is an American actress and producer. She has been one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses and has received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Her notable films include Speed, Miss Congeniality, The Blind Side, and Gravity.

  26. Greta Garbo

    Greta Garbo, born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson (September 18, 1905 - April 15, 1990), was a Swedish-born American film actress active during the 1920s and 1930s. She was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress and received an honorary Oscar in 1954 for her "luminous and unforgettable... read more

  27. Asta Nielsen

    Asta Sofie Amalie Nielsen (11 September 1881-24 May 1972) was a Danish silent film actress who was one of the most popular leading ladies of the 1910s and one of the first international movie stars. Seventy of Nielsen's 74 films were made in Germany, where she was known simply as Die Asta (The Asta)... read more

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