Back in the ’50s, James Dean was considered a symbol of cultural rebellion. Unfortunately, the actor died during a car crash at just 24 years old, effectively ending one of the most promising film careers of all time. He only acted in three films, “Rebel Without a Cause”, “East of Eden” and “Giant”. Dean has since been branded as a social icon and is credited for much of the development of Rock and Roll music. Many musicians, such as Elvis Presley, claim to have been influenced by the actor.
His most endearing and celebrated film to date was 1955’s drama film, “Rebel Without a Cause”, where he portrayed Jim Stark. The film was a social rebuke of many cultural stagnations, and gave a social commentary on many of the time’s traditions. The film is considered as one of the most culturally and historically influential films of all time, and has received many awards and recognition over the years.
Clark Gable
Clark Gable, often known as "The King of Hollywood", is one of the most endearing and iconic masculine figures in Hollywood. He appeared in over 60 films over a four-decade career. The actor's final role was an aging cowboy in 1961's drama film, "The Misfits", which was released after his death in 1960. Gable began his career in film as an aerial cameraman in World War II, and debuted as an actor back in the early '20s.
One of Gable's best films include Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night", a romantic comedy released in 1934. He went on to appear in a string of highly successful films during the '30s. The actor came back with a bang after a few weak years in the late '40s, and continued to star in many Westerns and war movies. Although he wasn't the most beloved actor by critics, Gable always managed to make it big when it came to box-office performance. He's considered the seventh-greatest male star of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute.
Javier Bardem
Javier Bardem is a heavyweight Spanish actor who is known as one of the best Latin actors in Hollywood. His major breakthrough was playing Anton Chigurh in the Coen Brothers' award winning film, "No Country for Old Men". His role as the psychopathic villain in the film was considered by many to be one of the best villain roles of all time. His character was also nominated as one of number 26 in Entertainment Weekly's "50 Most Vile Villains in Movie History" list.
Despite Bardem appearing in many films over the years and doing fantastic work in all of them, nothing stands up to his magnum opus role in "No Country for Old Men". If you’re looking to see the Spanish actor at his very best, you don't need to look any further than this award-winning movie. Bardem practically stole all of the awards that year for his role. As long as you’re not too sensitive to violence, you should definitely give this one a watch.
Aaron Eckhart
Many fans of Aaron Eckhart swear by the actor’s performances and hail him as one of the best actors of this generation. This fifty year old American actor has first made his debut in the 1997 black comedy film titled "In the Company of Men". He has since performed in various key roles, including as Harvey Dent in the acclaimed "Dark Knight" film, George in the biographical film "Erin Brockovich", and Nick Naylor in "Thank You for Smoking".
If you’re looking for Aaron Eckhart’s best and most prominent role, it’s quite clear what the best film to watch is. The actor’s most iconic role is undoubtedly that of the charismatic and manipulative Nick Naylor in "Thank You For Smoking". In the film, Eckhart plays the spokesperson for the cigarette industry. He received a Golden Globe nomination for his role, and enjoyed critical acclaim for the film.
Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall's career is considered by many as one of the most successful and inspirational ones in all of Hollywood. The actor has appeared in some of the most famous films of all time. He portrayed Boo Radley in "To Kill a Mockingbird", Tom Hagen in "The Godfather", and even had some major roles in 1963's horror anthology show, "The Twilight Zone". He's also one of the only actors in Hollywood that is an outspoken Republican, and has served in the United States Military with the rank of Private First Class.
Duvall has been nominated for seven Academy Awards, and finally won when he portrayed Mac in the drama film "Tender Mercies". This was one of the only films where he played a starring role. He’s mostly been known for being one of the best supporting actors in Hollywood, but that doesn’t take away from his incredible skills.