10 Actors Whose Movies Define An Entire Decade

For more than 100 years of movie making, incredible actors have been leaving their mark on the world of cinema. While there are so many passionate and talented performers, there are only a select few who can claim the honor of defining an entire decade of movies. From the silent era, into the Hollywood studio system, throughout New Hollywood, and right up to modern times, one thing has been for certain, and that is that iconic stars have become forever associated with the times in which they produced their best work.

Performers like Charlie Chaplin are intrinsically linked with the characters, such as The Tramp, that they played, and this memorable imagery is now so readily associated with the 1920s, that it is difficult to even think of that time without these characteristics coming to mind. The over-the-top spectacle of 1980s blockbusters is forever associated with the witty one-liners of a particular action star. While the biggest releases of the modern age are best represented by the iconic performances of modern actors, some of whom passed away far too soon, but not before defining an entire decade of film.

10 1920s: Charlie Chaplin

Standout film: The Gold Rush (1925)

The legend of the silent film era, Charlie Chaplin, became a worldwide icon due to his portrayal of the bumbling, good-natured character of The Tramp. Characterized by his signature bowler hat, baggy trousers, and toothbrush mustache, and seen in many films throughout the 1910s, it was The Gold Rush that would stand as the definitive moment featuring this memorable character. Today, almost 100 years later, The Tramp is as recognizable as ever, and Charlie Chaplin has earned his place as one of the most important filmmakers who ever lived.

9 1930s: Clark Gable

Standout film: It Happened One Night (1932)

Often known as The King of Hollywood, Clark Gable is the original leading man and appeared in several 1930s classics, such as Mutiny on the Bounty and Gone with the Wind. His portrayal of Peter Warne in Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night, was a defining moment in the history of romantic comedy and its influence can still be seen in the genre today. Gable’s personality in the film, as well as his carrot eating scene, even had an influence far extending the genre, as his mannerisms and habits would serve as the basis for the Looney Tunes character Bugs Bunny, created just a few years later.

8 1940s: Humphrey Bogart

Standout film: Casablanca (1942)

An absolute icon of film noir, Humphrey Bogart was one of the biggest stars of the 1940s Hollywood studio system and starred in classic films The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, and The Treasure of Sierra Madre. Equally known for his love affair, and eventual marriage, to Lauren Bacall, the duo were the original Brangelina, and their romance was well-documented in the press. However, it was Bogart’s role opposite Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca that would be forever remembered as his defining role and one of the most important films of the decade.

7 1950s: James Stewart

Standout film: Vertigo (1958)

James Stewart made a name for himself in Hollywood starting in the 1930s, but by the 1950s Stewart had transformed into the biggest star of the decade. Taking up darker roles with major directors, Stewart’s performances in Alfred Hitchcock productions such as Rear Window and The Man Who Knew Too Much showcased his ability to play morally ambiguous, complex characters. Everything that was spectacular about Stewart would come together in his role as Scotty Ferguson in Hitchcock’s Vertigo, which today is not only revered as a triumph of the 1950s, but Sight and Sound declared it the best movie of all time in 2012.

6 1960s: Jack Lemmon

Standout film: The Apartment (1960)

Jack Lemmon was an extraordinary actor with incredible natural charm, impeccable comedic timing, and a unique knack for portraying anxious, middle-class, everyman characters. Having honed his skills throughout the 1950s, Lemmon started the next decade with a triumph in his portrayal of Bud Baxter in Billy Wilder’s The Apartment. The funny, tender, and sentimental movie that deals with infidelity and adultery would set Lemmon on course for a decade full of strong performances in movies such as Days of Wine and Roses, The Fortune Cookie, and, of course, his acclaimed role in The Odd Couple.

5 1970s: Robert De Niro

Standout film: Taxi Driver (1976)

By the 1970s, American cinema had broken away from the old studio system and entered the New Hollywood era, a shift in filmmaking categorized by auteur driven narratives and countercultural innovations. No actor better encapsulated this time in Hollywood than Robert De Niro. A method actor in films like Mean Streets, The Godfather Part II, and The Deer Hunter, De Niro’s outstanding performances redefined what it meant to be an actor. His portrayal as Travis Bickel in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver best encapsulated this new era of acting and was a dark, gritty, and effective presentation of the human condition.

4 1980s: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Standout film: The Terminator (1984)

Arnold Schwarzenegger was undoubtedly one of the biggest movie stars of the 1980s. In movies like Commando, Predator, and The Running Man, Schwarzenegger’s muscular aesthetic, iconic one-liners, and hero persona, left their mark on the over-the-top action-packed movie landscape of the 1980s. His role as the cyborg killing machine T-800 in James Cameron’s The Terminator, would solidify his reputation as the most significant movie star of that decade. While Schwarzenegger’s star power continued well into the 1990s, he never again reached the incredible heights of that era.

3 1990s: Will Smith

Standout film: Independence Day (1996)

Following the success of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air sitcom, Will Smith’s star would soar even higher as he found fame as a leading man in movies like Bad Boys and Men and Black. By the time Independence Day was released, Smith was truly one of the most bankable stars of the 1990s. Possessing unmatched charisma, strong versatility, and innate likability, Smith had an undeniable impact on popular culture throughout that decade, and his ability to excel in both action and heartfelt drama made him a winner with all types of audiences.

2 2000s: Heath Ledger

Standout film: The Dark Knight (2008)

Heath Ledger was on course to become one of the most significant actors of his generation when he tragically died at the age of 28 in 2008. Ledger made a name for himself with a complex portrayal of a same-sex relationship in Brokeback Mountain, and in the experimental biopic of Bob Dylan I’m Not There. However, it was his take on the supervillain the Joker in The Dark Knight that brought Ledger universal acclaim and popularity. Ledger posthumously received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role, and it is now the benchmark on which all subsequent Joker performances are judged.

1 2010s: Joaquin Phoenix

Standout film: Her (2013)

Joaquin Phoenix came to mainstream prominence throughout the 2000s, but by the 2010s, was one of the most established actors of his generation. Starting off the 2010s with the mockumentary exploration of fame and celebrity I’m Still Here, Phoenix would deliver extraordinary performances for director Paul Thomas Anderson in The Master and Inherent Vice, as well as closing out the decade with an Oscar-winning performance as Arthur Fleck in Joker. However, it was his reserved and gut-wrenching portrayal of romance in the age of AI in Her that would showcase Phoenix as one of the most tender and vulnerable actors of the 2010s.