The modern era of the film has seen an enormous number of talented actors take to the big screen, each with his or her own style and body of work. These ten actors are some of the most prolific in modern cinema, having starred in dozens of films that have resonated with audiences around the world. Here are the 10 most prolific actors of the modern era to know about.
1) Robert Downey Jr
Robert Downey Jr. has been nominated for eight Oscars and four Golden Globes. His most recent nomination was in 2011 after he starred in Sherlock Holmes. Since then, he's been featured in a number of films, including Iron Man 3, which opened in May 2013 and became a box office hit. In 2010, Downey released his directorial debut film, Due Date, which he starred in with Zach Galifianakis. He will next appear as Iron Man in Marvel's The Avengers: Age of Ultron, scheduled to open in 2015. In 1999 he played Charlie Chaplin in an Academy Award-winning performance that revived his acting career.
2) Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt has always had his eye on success. After appearing in TV shows throughout his teen years, he made it big with films like Thelma and Louise and Interview with a Vampire. Since then, he’s starred in many films, including Fight Club, for which he won an Oscar. Although he hasn’t won any awards since 2000, Pitt is still one of Hollywood's most popular actors—and we look forward to what he does next.
3) Daniel Day-Lewis
In a career that spans three decades, Day-Lewis has created some of our most memorable cinematic experiences. With 10 Academy Award nominations to his name (with two wins), Day-Lewis is one of Hollywood’s most decorated actors. He’s also brought life to iconic characters like Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood, Christy Brown in My Left Foot, and Bill The Butcher Cutting in Gangs of New York. The actor has an impressive five BAFTA Awards under his belt as well as two Golden Globes—and still counting. He was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his incredible body of work.
4) Leonardo DiCaprio
DiCaprio is one of America’s most famous actors in film history. He has built an impressive career by appearing in numerous films over his 25-year acting career. He is renowned for his environmental activism and philanthropic work with organizations such as WWF, Red Cross, and UNICEF. DiCaprio uses much of his fame to spread awareness about global warming, among other things. Some of his most popular films include The Departed, Titanic, and Inception.
5) Tom Hanks
Though he was born in Concord, California on July 9, 1956, Tom Hanks is known for many different roles. In 1999 he won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia. He has also been nominated three other times. Most recently he starred in Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies where he played James Donovan. Previous to that Hanks starred in Captain Phillips and Saving Mr. Banks which all came out in 2013. These films grossed a combined total of over $250 million dollars worldwide. Before that Hanks made a series of successful comedies including Big, Sleepless In Seattle, and Forrest Gump which grossed over $650 million dollars worldwide.
6) Matt Damon
Matt Damon has become one of Hollywood’s most prolific actors in modern history, with roles in blockbuster franchises including The Bourne Identity, Ocean’s Eleven, and Contagion. That last film marked his third collaboration with director Steven Soderbergh, who cast him in all but one of his movies since 1998. His resume also includes hits like Saving Private Ryan, Courage Under Fire, and The Talented Mr. Ripley. In 2015, he was cast as Jason Bourne for a rebooted action franchise featuring yet another new actor portraying assassin/spy David Webb.
7) George Clooney
There are many reasons why Clooney is considered one of Hollywood’s most esteemed actors. Some people praise his acting skills, some appreciate his movies, and others just love how handsome he is. It’s no surprise that Clooney is at number 1 on our list. With nine Academy Award nominations, four Golden Globe Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and one Screen Actors Guild award, there is no denying that Clooney belongs in our top ten most prolific actors of all time. And with a net worth estimated to be $220 million, he should stay there for quite some time.
8) Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp is an American actor, musician, and film producer. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol. Since then, he has undertaken diverse roles, ranging from romantic leads, including in Cry-Baby (1990), Edward Scissorhands (1990), and Benny & Joon (1993), to character roles such as that in Donnie Brasco (1997), thriller films (Blow 2001). The independent comedy-drama Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, based on Hunter S.
9) Russell Crowe
I know, I know. Some people don’t like him, but he’s made a ton of great movies—and seems to have evolved into a really interesting guy. Plus, he can be pretty funny. Here are three reasons why Russell Crowe should be one of your favorite actors. 1. Animal Rights Activism 2. Interesting personality type 3. He was in Cinderella Man . (And if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it.) It’s amazing how much people change over time; sometimes for better or worse...or even both! The point is that some actors go from being on top of their game to totally crashing down (at least on our radar). And then there are those who move up through their career with grace and poise before eventually becoming household names.
10) Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson is one of Hollywood’s greatest living actors, but what many people may not know is that he has had his fair share of supporting roles before finally breaking out with 1994’s Pulp Fiction. Since then, Jackson has become one of Hollywood’s best working actors. With an extensive list of films to his name, Jackson has had a successful career over three decades-long and is considered by many to be one of the most prolific actors in film history. Here are some other things you might not know about him.
Conclusion
With studios seemingly more willing to gamble on up-and-coming talent, there’s no better time than now to be an actor. But with so many coming out of so many schools, it can be hard to know which ones you should pay attention to. Some will go on to become household names, others will fade into obscurity. If you want to be one of those that matter, start by keeping an eye on these ten actors. They might just go down in history as some of The Most Prolific Actors of The Modern Era.