Top 10 Best Mob Actors

Many people have played mobsters and here are my top 10.
The Top Ten
1 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.
2 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.

Maybe not the most badass. Certainly the most credible boss in movies.

3 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

He did a great job and won an Oscar for Godfather Part 2 and was in multiple other gangster films such as Goodfellas, Casino, and The Untouchables.

Scorsese is king of the gangster film, and De Niro is his go-to man. His killer role in The Godfather Part 2 doesn't hurt either.

Robert De Niro was a very good actor. If I ever made a movie in his time, there is no doubt he would be the main character.

4 Joe Pesci Joseph Frank "Joe" Pesci is an Italian-American actor, comedian and musician, known for playing tough, volatile characters, in a variety of genres.

The epitome of a gangster. If I were to say to someone, 'that mob/gangster actor,' I'd put my money on most people thinking of Joe Pesci.

Some great actors are playing mobsters on this list, but I have to say, I think Joe Pesci is the greatest of all time. Joe is the only actor that really scares the hell out of me.

The list should be:

1. Robert De Niro
2. Joe Pesci
3. Al Pacino
4. Marlon Brando
5. Ray Liotta

Just consider Pesci's performance and impact in Goodfellas, which is one of the greatest movies of all time.

5 James Gandolfini

You might argue and say he was not the best, but if you watch The Sopranos from day one and watch Tony develop, it would be impossible to name a better tough guy. He was the bear. He didn't just give orders. He was it. He could kill with his bare hands. Watching him drive through Jersey in the opening credits, smoking a big cigar, it doesn't get better.

From him being so true on camera as Tony, so believable, he did for TV what The Godfather did for movies. He changed what we watched on TV for years. Let's also take into account that these other guys were in movies that last a few hours. The Godfather had 3 parts, 3 hours each, the most out of all the mob movies. The Sopranos has 6 long seasons spanned out over many years. He stuck with that part day in and day out, and millions of people waited for every second.

6 Frank Vincent

People forget about Raging Bull. Mob or connected.

Simply the greatest of all time!

7 Ray Liotta Raymond Allen Liotta (December 18, 1954 - May 26, 2022) was an American actor and producer. He was known for playing Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams (1989), Henry Hill in Goodfellas (1990), and Tommy Vercetti in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)... read more
8 Chazz Palminteri
9 Joe Viterelli
10 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.
The Contenders
11 Steve Buscemi Steven Vincent "Steve" Buscemi is an American actor, comedian, director, and former firefighter. Buscemi has starred and supported in numerous successful Hollywood and indie films.
12 Johnny Depp John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, producer, and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor... read more
13 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

He played Jimmy Hoffa in Hoffa. Jimmy Hoffa was the leader of a notorious gang called the Teamsters.

14 Vincent Pastore
15 Andy Garcia Andrés Arturo García Menéndez, professionally known as Andy García, is a Cuban American actor and director.
16 Christopher Walken Christopher Walken is an American actor of screen and stage who has appeared in more than 100 films and television shows.
17 Cillian Murphy Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor of stage and screen. Since making his debut in his home country in the late 1990s, Murphy has also become a presence in British and American cinemas noted by critics for his performances in a wide range of roles.
18 Costas Mandylor
19 Michael Madsen Michael Søren Madsen (born September 25, 1958) is an American actor, producer, director, writer, poet and photographer. He starred in feature films including Thelma & Louise, Reservoir Dogs, Wyatt Earp, Free Willy, Species, Donnie Brasco, Sin City, Kill Bill and The Hateful Eight. He guest starred... read more
20 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 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
21 Gary Oldman Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, filmmaker, musician, and author. Renowned for his "big" acting style, Oldman is one of the most celebrated thespians of his generation, with a diverse career encompassing theatre, film, and television. He has received a Golden Globe award and an Academy Award:... read more

Jackie Flannery in 'State of Grace'.

22 Alan Ford
23 Edward G. Robinson Emanuel Goldenberg, known professionally as Edward G. Robinson, was an American actor, born on December 12, 1893, in Romania. A popular star on stage and screen during Hollywood's Golden Age, he appeared in 40 Broadway plays and more than 100 films during a 50-year career. He is best remembered for... read more
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