Top Ten 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 some big bucks as a career. And yet, some actors and actresses want to do more than that. They create new styles of acting, new genres and personalities, and inspire many others to step up. They're revolutionary. Enjoy!Please note that sometimes during this list, I will say actors or actor instead of actress. This is not an omission of the female gender and not a sexist remark, just a way to take less long to write. Thanks, Sloth21.
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the silent era. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. 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.
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 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.
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.
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his roles 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, Captain Phillips,... read more
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress. Cited in the media as the "best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility in her roles, transformation into the characters she plays, and her accent adaptation. 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.
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 whose film acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912 in silent film shorts to 1987. Gish was called the First Lady of American Cinema, and she is credited with... 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.
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.
Sir Sidney Poitier was a Bahamian-American actor, film director, author, and diplomat. In 1964, Poitier became the first Bahamian and first black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field. 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.
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.
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 66 years. Smith appeared in over 50 films and was one of... 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.
Robin McLaurin Williams was an American actor and comedian. Starting as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, he is credited with leading San Francisco's comedy renaissance. He died in 2014.
Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (1922-2015) was an English actor, singer, and author. He was best known for his villainous roles in films 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 Hobbit... read more
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer is an American actress and producer. One of the most popular actresses of the 1980s and 1990s, she has received international acclaim and many accolades for her work in both comedic and dramatic films.
Philip Seymour Hoffman (July 23, 1967 – February 2, 2014) was an American actor. Known for his distinctive supporting and character roles— eccentrics, lowlifes, underdogs, and misfits—he acted in many films and theatrical productions, including leading roles, from the early 1990s until his death... read more
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (February 21st 1946 - Janurary 14th 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
Edward Harrison Norton is an American actor, filmmaker and activist. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards for his work in the films Primal Fear, American History X and Birdman.
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974) is an American actor and film producer. Known for his work in biopics and period films, he is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. As of 2019, his films have grossed... 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.
Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director and narrator. He has appeared in a range of film genres portraying character roles and is particularly known for his distinctive deep voice. Freeman won an Academy Award in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor with Million Dollar Baby (2004),... read more
George Orson Welles was an American actor, director, writer, and producer who worked in theatre, radio, and film.
Audrey Hepburn, born Audrey Kathleen Ruston (4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognized as a film and fashion icon, Hepburn was active during Hollywood's Golden Age. She was ranked by the American Film Institute as the 3rd greatest female screen legend in American... 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.
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier was an English actor who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century... read more
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
Sandra Annette Bullock is an American actress and producer. She is one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses, and is an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winner.
Daniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. Craig trained at the National Youth Theatre and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991, before beginning his career on stage. Daniel Craig's portrayal of James Bond sparked the trend of gritty reboots for campy movie franchises. Ironically, his scene in the sea was a nod to Dr. No.
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.