Thanks for joining me, kittens & dawgs! First off, let me apologize. I had every intention of sharing this post with you last Thursday, but my schedule got too full and I couldn’t devote the time needed to it.
Secondly, I truly appreciate your sticking it out with me as I presented My 25 Favorite Male Actors series to you. This will be my final installment. Don’t worry, if you haven’t been following along with me then you can catch up with Part 3, Part 2, and Part 1.
Two wise-cracking, prankster cops assigned to watch an escaped convict’s girlfriend home in the uproariously flick, Stake Out.
The 70’s cult classic Jaws introduced me to Richard Dreyfuss, but it was in this movie as Detective Chris Lecce I became an instant Dreyfuss fan, along with his side-kick Emilio Estevez (Detective Bill Reimers). This blockbuster hit cranked out a sequel in 1993 with the same fun-loving, witty duo and Rosie O’Donnell in Another Stakeout.
When you think of Sylvester Stallone, what movie comes to mind? I know what many of you are thinking. Rocky, right? Believe it or not, I have yet to watch these movies. The first movie I saw Stallone in is Rambo: First Blood.
His dialogue in this movie was very little, but did he really need it? The whole quiet persona of a Vietnam war hero struggling to fit back in with society was executed brilliantly by Stallone. He plays the silent tough guy very well. I have followed his career over the years enjoying many outstanding features with the Italian Stallone, but one of my all-time favorites is Cliffhanger.
Born Edward Regan Murphy in Brooklyn, New York to one telephone operator, Lillian, and transit police officer, Charles Edward Murphy. Edward Regan or as we better know him, Eddie Murphy, had aspirations as a young child to be in show business and at the age of 19 he got his start on the Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players of Saturday Night Live (SNL). I use to not be much of a late night person, so these programs I didn’t watch often and although I knew who Murphy was I didn’t really get to appreciate his talents until he hit the big screen in 1982 in 48 Hrs. as Reggie Hammond, a convict who is forced to help a cop locate a fellow partner in crime who he fears will double cross him. Check out one of my favorite scenes with Murphy singing Roxanne.
My Favorite Male Actor list wouldn’t be complete Steve Martin and the late John Candy. Martin and Candy have starred in various well-written comedies and appeared on SNL over the years, but nothing they did separately compares with their partnership in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles starring as Neal Page (Martin) and Del Griffith (Candy).
This late 80s smash hit is one of our Thanksgiving traditions. It’s a chock-full of laughs rolled in with a handful of tenderness. Two unlikely people brought together by a common denominator and that is to get home for Thanksgiving. I love, love this movie!
I was introduced to Tom Hanks in 1980 in the TV sitcom Bosom Buddies.
Hanks is an incredibly well-rounded actor. I love him in romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail; he’s wonderful in dramas like Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, or Catch Me If You Can. No matter what role he undertakes, he does it justice. He’s just that kinda good.
Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are a dynamic duo in the Rush Hour trilogy.
I would love to see the 4th production but I am growing weary in seeing this come to fruition. Outside of these fun flicks, Chan has been a limited number of movies. The first thing I ever saw Chan in is The Cannonball Run (1981) and there are few others that are good, but my favorite features by far are the Rush Hour movies. I don’t get it because he’s a natural on screen with his bigger than life smile, quick reflexes, and choppy English. Tucker, on the other hand, has done only one other movie, The Fifth Element, that I’ve seen him in. I’m beginning to question if Tucker even needs to be on my list now. scratch head Oh well, I do love him in Rush Hour, so I’ll keep him on till someone boots him off my top 25.
In doing this list, I just sorta threw it together. There is no rank, no pattern, no rhyme or reason. I allowed the top 25 male actors pop in my head at random. That being said, my final actor is Michael Douglas. The first thing I recall seeing Michael in is Star Chamber. He was great in it! The movies that made me really fall in love with this actor is Romancing the Stone and Jewell of the Nile, too. He is another actor who does comedy and dramas equally well. The list of fantastic movies is long. To name a few of my favorites: Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction, Shinning Through, Disclosure, The American President, The Ghost and the Darkness, The Game, A Perfect Murder, Wall Street, The In-laws, The Sentinel, and And So It Goes. In retrospect, I believe Douglas might be my #1 favorite male actor judging the movies that I’ve seen that he starred in over the years.
I reckon I could come up with another 25 favorite male actors, but my brain is frazzled. In the coming months, maybe after the holidays, I will roll up my sleeves to create My 25 Favorite Female Actors list for you.
Which of these actors do you love and why?
Next week I am taking a break for Thanksgiving, but I will be back for my first round of December BoTB on the 1st and I hope you’ll play along with me. Meanwhile, I’m linking up with Ink Interrupted and Stacy Uncorked this morning. One more thing before I scoot, I wanted to remind ya that my #WW linky is set to go live tonight at 8pm and I invite you to get in on the fun!
Have a latte fun!
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Tom Hanks is amazing. Always enjoy him and I can even remember Bosom Buddies!!
Michael Douglas is definitely one of the legends of our generation. I am sure there is nothing he can’t do in a film. What a talented family he comes from.
And Jackie Chan holds a special place because my step dad introduced me to kung fu style movies and that is what we would always go see — and always Jackie Chan. “Do you understand the words coming outta my mouth?!” LOL
I say that to my kids a lot. they love it.
Les, I often used the same Jackie Chan line to my own kids. Thanks for putting a smile on my face.
Tom Hanks inclusion reminds me of a discussion some students were having about Halloween costumes. Several boys wanted to some sort of theme, and one boy suggested they all dress up as Tom Hanks characters from various movies. He had a Forrest Gump and Cast Away (can’t remember the character name) all designated. Alas, I don’t think they followed through.
Liz, well that kid had a great idea for a costume theme. Too bad it didn’t catch on, though. That’s definitely creative thinking.
Tom Hanks is a great actor! I don’t think I’ve seen him in anything I didn’t like. That said, I wouldn’t say he’s a favorite actor of mine. Mostly because I don’t really keep up with that sort of thing? But I guess if I had to list… Johnny Depp, Adrien Brody, Tom Hiddleston, David Tennant, Chris Pratt… Uhm… Nick Offerman… others?
Madilyn, On your list I’d have to say Johnny Depp is my favorite. He’s a fabulous actor, especially in the Pirates of the Caribbeans series.
I love Eddie Murphy singing Roxanne. Thanks for including that clip. I’m familiar with most of the actors you listed today. Tom Hanks is probably the greatest of his generation. Steve Martin has proven himself to be a serious actor over the years, but I love many of his comedic roles.
Love,
Janie
Janie, there’s nothing like a good comedy featuring any of these actors. They all do it funny and serious equally well. I can’t wait to watch Trains, Planes, and Automobiles!