Robert De Niro and Al Pacino sit atop British film magazine Empire's poll of the greatest living movie stars over the age of 50. The co-stars of the Godfather saga took the top two places in the vote of 10,000 readers.
The magazine writes:
- They are the pinnacle of the acting craft, the men and women who have defined cinema over the decades. They are, of course the Gods Aong Us and, after months of voting, the head of the pantheon has now been revealed. The competition was fierce, with Al Pacino, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson and the late Marlon Brando all vying for the top spot but, in the end, it was the one and only Bobby De Niro who emerged as the singular actor who has most affected our readers' lives.
From Mean Streets back in '73 to his recent comedy hits like Meet The Parents, Robert De Niro's career has been an awesome collection of performances. Taxi Driver's Travis Bickle, Raging Bull's Jake La Motta, Goodfellas' Jimmy Conway, The Untouchables' Al Capone and, of course, Godfather II's Vito Corleone, few actors can boast so many iconic roles on their CV. He is, quite simply, the man and we at Empire and all of our readers salute him.
The full list:
1. Robert De Niro
2. Al Pacino
3. Jack Nicholson
4. Paul Newman
5. Marlon Brando
6. Anthony Hopkins
7. Morgan Freeman
8. Dustin Hoffman
9. Clint Eastwood
10. Sigourney Weaver
11. Gene Hackman
12. Harrison Ford
13. Sean Connery
14. Meryl Streep
15. Ian McKellen
16. Christopher Lee
17. Sidney Poitier
18. Robert Redford
19. Alan Rickman
20. Judi Dench
21. Samuel L Jackson
22. Peter O'Toole
23. Bill Murray
24. Albert Finney
25. Woody Allen
26. Helen Mirren
27. Christopher Walken
28. Ben Kingsley
29. Lauren Bacall
30. John Hurt
Looking at the overall career it's hard to argue with De Niro and Pacino, but both have faded of late. I am especially not a fan of De Niro's comedy performances of recent vintage — Meet the Parents, Analyze This, Analyze That — although he was terrific as an unfunny comedian in The King of Comedy.
Great to see Bill Murray on the list - he has developed a real inner life to his characters since the classic Groundhog Day, where we see a real, seismic transformation of the standard Murray semi-charming, shallow, self-serving prick into a vulnerable, empathetic man in love.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - visualsimplicity
I don't know, but I think Christopher Walkin falls a little too low on that list, no? He should be some where higher I think.
2 - Eric Olsen
he had a great early career, and has sure come on again in the last 10 years or so - you can't stumble into a movie theater without seeing him in something
3 - Jim Carruthers
I'm surprised Chris Cooper isn't on the list, but then, he's an actor, not a star.
For DeNiro, I remember once when I was editing a publication, during the Montreal International Film Festival, a young woman said she had lined up an interview with him at his suite. I said, yeah, whatever, because she was, to be somewhat kind, a bimbo. The next day she called me, and said, "it turned out he didn't want to do an interview at all!. Quel surprise!
4 - Mac Diva
Brando's on there. When was the poll taken? Woody Allen doesn't belong. I used to be a fan, but it was for the total package of his talents, not just the acting. He is always himself. I am unable to say who I think is the best actor without some thought.
5 - Distorted Angel
You're right about Woody Allen, Mac -- I'm a huge fan of his work, but he does not in any way reflect the pinnacle of the acting craft, and his true gifts are as writer and director, although I'm sure no one else could play Woody like Woody does. I like Christopher Lee, but I'm not sure how influential he's been overall, so I'm a bit surprised to see his name there. And while I really like Nicholson a lot, and consider him a cultural icon of sorts, he's another actor who mostly seems to inhabit his own skin (with the exception of his role in "About Schmidt", which was really a different Jack Nicholson altogether).
6 - Eric Olsen
I just noticed Sigourney Weaver, whose swell and everything, is ahead of Meryl Streep - that's astonishing
7 - Jim Carruthers
Signourney Weaver won my vote for her role in "Half Moon Street".
8 - MT
James Dean?
9 - MT
John Garfield?
10 - visualsimplicity
I don't think I can agree with the comment about Jack Nicholson playing every role the same. I mean, look at the range between One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Batman, A Few Good Men, and About Schmidt. Seems all pretty different to me.
If we're talking about a person who plays his role the same, I'd say that'd be Al Pacino. I mean he plays a gangster, bank-robber, blind veteran, and Lucifer, all the same, LOUD. That's it. That's all there is to his characters, nothing but LOUD. Maybe I'm missing something, but oh well.
And I still clamor for Christopher Walken, he's a scene stealer in pretty much everything he's in.
11 - SFC SKI
Well, maybe the list should read "in no particular order" There aren't any I'd argue over, though.
Look at Jack Nicholson in "5 easy Pieces", The Last Detail", and "Terms of Endearment", he is always, Jack, but he can vary betweenroles both subtly and wildly, his body of work shows his abilities.
It would great to see a similar list of character actors, those who never get top billing as leading actors, but always turn in a great performance.
12 - JR
Peter Sellers?
13 - Victory Plenty
Being long deceased might disqualify someone from the list of greatest living actors. That may be why the article doesn't mention Peter Sellers, James Dean, or John Garfield.
It isn't clear what exactly they've done about Marlon Brando, though. They still put his portrait in the spot for 5th place, but there's no number next to it. Every other portrait in the article has a big ranking number right next to it, but not his. Instead, his portrait has a little text caption saying "Marlon Brando was no longer be eligible for the Gods Among Us vote since his tragic death earlier this year." (Does the odd grammar indicate some hasty editing, perhaps?)
Are they trying to say they've left the 5th place slot empty in his honor, or something?
Does noticing things like this mean I can describe myself as "detail-oriented" next time I apply for a job?
14 - Eric Olsen
Victor, the answer is yes - perhaps you should join Blogcritics
15 - JR
Oh.
Yeah, that would explain it.
16 - Alok Jesudasen
Dustin hoffman..way down at no 8..c'mon..do i have to mention Tootsie,RAinman,Lenny Bruce,straw dogs...the man is a class ator..definitely better than morgan freeman...
Totally agree with deniro at no 1..he is a class apart..
17 - Anthony J. Salemi
Marlon Brando is the greatest actor of all time, period. He revolutionized the craft and has been the gold standard of which all other actors are judged. Jack Nicholson had a better career, and probably more memorable perfomances, but Brando reigns supreme as far as talent. Deniro, is a bit overrated to me. He's been miscast in several roles, Frankenstein comes to mind, he reminded me of Leo Gorcey, I regard him like a male Meryl Streep, his performances don't resonate. Actually character actors like Gary Oldham and Philip Seymour Hoffman should be in the top 10.
18 - fvbvb
kingsley should be higher
19 - Sajjid Manuel
I agree with my cousin Alok Jesudasen. Although, I feel that we can never compare anything to anything unless they are identical. Each one is unique in there own way.
Acting is an art. Art is universally accepted by all. There is a market for everything. This poll about Robert Deniro is unnecessary. It all comes down to ones preference which is debatable by the way.
Nobody is an authority on anything. It's just a man made Roller Coaster. You never know who's going to be next in the ride.
And this concludes the topic...
Regards,
Sajjid Manuel
20 - RFR
I am a bit confounded as to how Daniel Day Lewis did not make the list. Also to consider with a great deal of heft- Jeff Bridges.
21 - eddvedder
Gary Oldman! Gary Oldman!
22 - Christian Monturano
most of u are stupid. I am an actor and IM going to be the next Brando. But Brando isnt the baest Laurence Olivier is the greatest by far. NAd so many peoel dont know him its redicules. He has the most nominations ins a lead role plus he accomplished more than anyone on the sateg as well. Brando doesnt come close. James Dean would have been 2nd best if he didn die so young. Then Brando and Spencer Tracy and even Richard Burton and MOntgomery Cliff. BUs still alive how is Daniel Day Lewis not in there and Sean Penn, and Peter otoole should be as hight as Pacino. also yes pacino is alittle better than DInero and whatever I say is the truth my opinion should count for 10 thoudans idiots that dont know anything about acting. Chris Walken is not in the top 20 sorry. Dustin Hoffman shpould be higher than Deniro also. Sam Jackson in the list thats a joke. Who made up this list. What about Maxmillian Schell hes still alive. S weaver im sorry should not be there either. where michael Dougless and Kirck Dougless he stil alive. elie Wallach stil alive, so is Ernest Borgnie. U peoel better study film and theatre histiry before u make stupid remarks.
23 - vip
what a sexist list. Just count the handful number of women actors in that list. Pathetic.
24 - vip
5 out of 30. o god
25 - Me
Why is Daniel Day Lewis not included?
Simple, because this blog is all about actors and actresses over the age of 50...fecking ijiot!!!