Actor-producer, Tom Cruise, is an international superstar, heartthrob of millions and is a recipient of numerous awards. The Mission: Impossible star has been one of the most bankable and versatile Hollywood actors since 1980s. Interestingly, he once aspired to be a priest but is now amongst the highest paid actors in the world.
One of the finest comedians of all time, Robin Williams began his career as a stand-up comedian and soon moved to act in television and films. Though widely recognised for his comedic skills, the immensely talented Williams proved his versatility by taking up and successfully performing more serious roles in films like Good Will Hunting and The Fisher King.
With an extensive career spanning six decades, veteran actor Harrison Ford is a major figure in Hollywood. The recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award, he is one of the highest-grossing domestic box office stars of all time. Besides acting, he is a licensed pilot of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the most popular English actors of the current generation. Apart from his acting skills, he is also known for his charity work. In 2014, he was named in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world. In 2015, he was appointed a CBE for services to charity and performing arts.
Eminent British actor, Patrick Stewart, is best known for his work in television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and four films associated with it. Another project that brought him immense recognition was the X-Men film series. A passionate stage artist, he has devoted considerable time to stage and delivered strong performances in Anthony and Cleopatra and A Christmas Carol.
Donald Sutherland is arguably the greatest Canadian actor of all time. In an illustrious career, that spans over more than five decades, Sutherland has played an influential role in both Canadian and American entertainment industries. He won an Academy Honorary Award in 2017 for his immense contribution to cinema. He is the father of actors Kiefer, Rossif, and Angus Sutherland.
One of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, Tom Hanks is known for both his comedic and dramatic roles. Making his breakthrough with leading roles in the 1980s, he went on to further cement his place in Hollywood in the 1990s by taking up poignant and sensitive roles. He is also a director, producer, and screenwriter.
One of the legendary American actors, screenwriters and directors, Sylvester Stallone is best known for his iconic performance in Rocky and Rambo film series and later in the The Expendables film franchise. Amongst the biggest action stars in the world, Stallone had a tough childhood and did a variety of jobs before eventually making it big in the film industry.
American comedian and actor, Kevin Hart attained fame as a stand-up comic and then established himself as a leading comedic actor on the big screen with films like Get Hard, About Last Night, Ride Along and The Wedding Ringer. He has also been part of two Jumanji films. He was critically acclaimed for the 2019 comedy-drama film The Upside.
Popular American actor, Tobey Maguire, gained fame playing the titular character in the Spider-Man film trilogy. The versatile actor began his career on television and later shifted to films. In between, he also struggled with alcohol issues. His other significant films include The Cider House Rules, Brothers and The Great Gatsby. Maguire has also produced numerous films including Pawn Sacrifice.
Will Ferrell rose to fame in the mid-1990s when he acted in a comedy show Saturday Night Live. He then went on to act in a series of comedy films such as Talladega Nights, Step Brothers and The Other Guys. He’s considered part of the ‘Frat Pack’, essentially meaning Hollywood comic actors who emerged in the late 1990s and 2000s.
Much loved for his distinct gravelly voice, Willem Dafoe is one of the most popular American actors. Thanks to his incredible performance as Norman Osborn in Spider-Man (2002), Willem instilled fear in the hearts of many Spider-Man fans, especially children. Willem, who holds American and Italian citizenship, is a pescatarian and practices ashtanga yoga.
Kevin Norwood Bacon is an American actor well-known for his work in the film and TV industry. One of the most versatile and talented actors of his generation, Bacon was named in The Guardian as one of the best actors to have never received an Oscar nomination. Also a philanthropist, Kevin Bacon established a charitable foundation called SixDegrees.org in 2007.
From being a licensed physician, Korean-American actor Ken Jeong went on to do stand-up comedy and eventually ventured into acting. He got his breakthrough role with film Knocked Up but he garnered widespread fame with The Hangover film franchise and the acclaimed sitcom Community. His other notable films include Pineapple Express, Crazy Rich Asian and a recent Netflix stand-up special.
A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Sam Claflin gained international recognition for his role in The Hunger Games films. Also known for his good looks, Claflin won the Man of the Year award at the 2014 Glamour Awards. A football fanatic, Claflin's dream of pursuing a football career was shattered after an ankle injury.
John Cusack started his career as a teen actor. He is known for his unconventional choice of films. Grosse Pointe Blank, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, The Raven and The Grifters are some of his notable films. He is also known as an activist and has often taken a strong stand on issues like war, drone usage, civil liberties, press freedom and whistleblowers.
Milo Ventimiglia is best known for acting in American television series Gilmore Girls, Heroes and This Is Us. His role in This is Us has been critically acclaimed and he has won three Emmy awards for it. He has also acted in films like The Art of Racing in the Rain, Devil’s Gate, Gamer, The Divide, Rocky 6 and Pathology.
Australian heartthrob Jacob Elordi was a film buff since an early age and wanted to become an actor like his idol, Heath Ledger. Following a debut in a musical and few more acting assignments, he ultimately hit it big with Netflix teen film The Kissing Booth and HBO series Euphoria. Jacob Elordi is also a budding young activist and has spoken out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
James Cagney was an American dancer and actor who won the Academy Award for his performance in the 1942 musical, Yankee Doodle Dandy. In 1984, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to the entertainment industry. In 1999, he was named in the American Film Institute's Greatest Male Stars of the Classical Hollywood Cinema list.
David Spade is an American comedian and actor. Also a well-known philanthropist, David Spade helped the Phoenix Police Department buy 300 firearms by making a donation of $100,000. In 2013, he donated $200,000 to rebuild Oklahoma after it was hit by a tornado. In 2018, he donated $100,000 to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Dan Aykroyd is a Canadian comedian, actor, musician, and filmmaker. He is credited with co-founding the popular blues and soul revivalist band The Blues Brothers along with legendary comedian John Belushi. The Blues Brothers was conceived as a musical sketch for Saturday Night Live; its popularity turned it into an actual band and was later made into a film.
Vincent D'Onofrio is an American actor, director, and producer. Apart from playing important roles in popular films, such as Men in Black and Jurassic World, Vincent D'Onofrio is also renowned for his work off-stage. He is credited with co-founding the RiverRun International Film Festival, which continues to showcase best movies offered from the international and independent industry.
Patrick Wilson is an American actor, director, and singer. He is known for his contribution across all the three major acting mediums. Well-known for playing demonologist Ed Warren in popular supernatural horror film, The Conjuring, Patrick Wilson is often cast in horror films, due to which he has earned a reputation as a scream king in Hollywood.
American actor, voice actor, and comedian, Pat Morita first gained recognition with drama series Happy Days, though it was his inspiring performance as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid film series that really skyrocketed his fame. The Asian-American actor was also known for his TV movie Amos and animated movie Mulan and Mulan II where he voiced the Chinese Emperor.
Ricky Gervais is one of the best known comedians in the world. He attained fame after starring in the British television series The Office. Later, he ventured into a successful stand-up comedy career. He has performed at many shows and has also acted in several films. However, his dark comedy has often been called insensitive and offensive by several critics.
From working at a video store, Josh Hartnett rose to being a Hollywood star. His filmography includes the war dramas Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, thrillers such as The Black Dahlia, and horrors such as 30 Days of Night. He also appeared in the award-winning horror series Penny Dreadful.
A popular English comedian, actor, writer, and presenter, Jack Whitehall has hosted the BRIT Awards on multiple occasions. He has also performed stand up comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Apart from playing important roles in Bad Education and The Bad Education Movie, he also co-wrote the projects. Whitehall has established an impressive career despite dropping out of college.
Nick Offerman, best known for his award-winning performance as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation, is also a professional wood craftsman. He has voiced characters in films such as Hotel Transylvania 2 and Ice Age: Collision Course, hosted a Netflix documentary and a reality series, and written three semi-autobiographical books.
Travis Fimmel never thought about becoming a model or actor before he was spotted working out at a gym by a talent scout's flatmate. In fact, he wouldn't even have been working out at that gym had he not broken his leg before making his debut for the St Kilda Football Club. Well, Australian football’s loss is film industry’s gain!
Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor received scars on his forehead when he was just 11 as a result of an accident in which he lost his father. Although the scars might bring back terrible memories, they might have played a crucial role in Steven Spielberg selecting him for a role in Amistad, a film based on the events aboard a slave ship.
Danny Glover is an American actor whose career has spanned more than four decades. Apart from being an actor, Danny Glover has had a major impact as an activist; he has made his presence felt as an activist in countries like Brazil, Iraq, Venezuela, Israel, and many African countries.
David Hasselhoff played the iconic role of Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch. He has also starred in The Young and The Restless and Knight Rider, judged on America’s Got Talent, released a music album, and appeared in Broadway musicals. He has a Guinness record for being the most-watched man on TV.
J.J. Abrams is an American filmmaker and screenwriter. He is credited with creating television series like Felicity, Alias, Lost, and Fringe. Among his most prominent contribution to the film industry are films like Mission: Impossible III and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which he directed. Apart from being a director, Abrams also works closely with an anti-corruption organization called RepresentUs.
One half of the popular actor duo The Two Coreys, Corey Feldman started out as a child actor before establishing himself as a popular star in the American film industry. An ardent advocate against child molestation, Feldman was summoned to testify against Michael Jackson in the latter's child molestation trial; being Jackson's close friend, he did not testify against Jackson.
Topher Grace is an American actor who has played important roles in popular films like Spider-Man 3, Interstellar, and BlacKkKlansman. Apart from acting, Topher Grace has held an interest in editing popular films; he turned the Star Wars prequel trilogy into an 85-minute movie. He has also been an ardent supporter of a non-profit microfinance organization called FINCA International.
Widely regarded as one of the most beloved American actors of all time, Don Knotts achieved popularity after portraying Barney Fife in the popular TV series The Andy Griffith Show. Knotts is often considered a major influence on other actors and entertainers. In 1979, he was ranked 27th on TV Guide's list of 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
Michael Weatherly is an American actor, director, and producer. He is best known for portraying Anthony DiNozzo in the TV series NCIS. Michael Weatherly became involved in a controversy in 2019 when actress Eliza Dushku accused him of sexual harassment on the set of the legal drama television series Bull. Dushku was subsequently fired from the series.
South Korean actor and singer, Ji Chang-wook, is best known for playing the lead role of Dong-hae in the daily drama series, Smile Again. Beginning his career in musical theater, he soon ventured into TV and films and made an impact with his role in the TV show Warrior Baek Dong-soo. He has also made a few music video appearances.
Brian Dennehy was a prolific stage actor with two Tony Awards under his belt. He is credited with exploring playwright Eugene O'Neill’s works and bringing his popular characters to life at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. Also an acclaimed television and film actor, Brian Dennehy appeared in more than 180 films and several TV series.
A comedian, actor, and writer, Colin Jost has played a major role in the success of the popular TV show, Saturday Night Live; he is the writer of the show since 2005. Colin Jost has won many awards for his contribution to the famous show and has had a major impact in the show's overall success for many years now.