There are various landmarks one can look at when gauging the success of an actor’s career,with an Oscar still existing as the ‘golden standard’of ultimate validation. At the same time, sometimes the ‘best’ is measured in how others see you as a human, as an adamant fan base off of good deeds or an endearing real-life persona can also cement an actor in the minds of the masses of having achieved greatness.
This article will take a slightly different approach, melding critical acclaim with endearing personas but stipulating over 100 acting credits across film and TV. While quantity is not a guarantee of quality in any form, there is a lot to be said for an actor reaching that goal of over a hundred roles and still keeping that skill and personality that makes them revered to this day. Here are 20 actors who have reached the landmark, while standing out for their craft and humanity in reaching such numbers.
20Angela Bassett
106 Acting Credits
Born on July 25, 2025, in New York City, American actressAngela Bassettgraduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in African-American Studies in 1980 before moving on to get a master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama in 1983 as she switched to acting as her focus. Angela Bassett received an honorary Oscar in 2024 and was previously nominated for her supporting role inBlack Pantherand Best Actress in 1998’sWhat Love Got to Do With It.
Portraying Strong Historical Figures
Bassett is best known for her portrayal of strong and important historical figures, including Tina Turner (What’s Love Got to Do With It), Rosa Parks (The Rosa Parks Story), and Betty Shabazz (Panther).In her personal life, Bassett has been revered for her strong family bonds and focus on education, with the actor often statingher mother as her inspirationfor emphasizing these values and pushing her to be the best version of herself.
This has also extended to her charity work as an Ambassador of UNICEF and long-time supporter of the Royal Theater Boys & Girls Club in her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Watch Angela Bassett answer the web’s most searched questions about her
Related:Oscars: 10 Black Performers Who Should Have Been Nominated for Best Actress
19Keanu Reeves
107 Acting Credits
Born on August 22, 2025, in Beirut, Lebanon, Canadian actorKeanu Reevesmay not have the same critical acclaim as other actors on this list, with his most award nominations for a single event coming from the Razzie Awards. Still, Reeves has gone on to cult status and is one of those actors generally loved by the public for his charitable work and kind personality. His recentreception of the First-Ever Lance Reddick Legacy Awardat the Saturn Awards has proved to be a personal highlight of his efforts as an actor.
One of the Most Beloved Personalities in all of Hollywood
Keanu Reeves is best known for his roles in action films, including Neo in theMatrixand John Wick in theJohn Wickseries. However, Reeves has thrived in indie and mainstream movies, showing a willingness to work on projects that he finds attractive, including his directing the martial arts movieMan of Thai Chiin 2013. Still, above all else, Reeves is loved for the person he is, donating large portions of his earnings to various causes, often anonymously, specifically regarding cancer research and support for families.
Watch Keanu Reeves take questions from fans while playing with puppies
18Robin Williams
112 Acting Credits
Born on July 28, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois,Robin Williamswas a stand-up turned actor who is arguably the greatest and most accomplished comedian ever. Williams was an inspirational talent who could balance comedy while gaining critical acclaim for his serious roles, including winning an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role forGood Will Hunting. He was also nominated for two BAFTA’s for his roles in the well-receivedDead Poets SocietyandGood Morning Vietnam.
From Comedic Standout to Global Icon
Robin Williams found acclaim in almost every genre, whether it be the surreal fantasy about death inWhat Dreams May Come, thefamily-friendly scientistinFlubber, the horror of the obsessive photo developer inOne Hour Photo, or the over-the-top camp ofMrs. Doubtfireevery role he was in proved impactful. Williams was also a beloved figure among comedians, with his loss resulting in much eulogizing and homage paid to the legacy the icon left behind when he passed away on July 19, 2025.
Watch Conan O’Brien’s sincere eulogy to his friend/idol, Robin Williams
17Nicolas Cage
116 Acting Credits
Born on July 24, 2025, in Long Beach, California, as Nicolas Kim Coppola,Nicolas Cagewould change his name to escape the namesake of his uncle Francis Ford Coppola and distinguish himself outside the family. Cage would see a unique career trajectory, with the successful beginnings leading up to his only Oscar win for Best Actor in a Leading Role inLeaving Los Vegas (seeing a nomination for 2003’sAdaptation). However, he would start to decline in popularity and find himself in a series of low-budget films made to little fanfare or acclaim.
One of the Most Impressive Career Resurgences of All Time
Nicolas Cage would see one of the most impressive career resurgences, which in many ways came in part his life in online discourse and both ‘meming on’ and celebrating theactor’s more eccentric performances. This has led to him not necessarily returning to the same critical acclaim as seen at the height of his earlier career but getting a much more dedicated fanbase for his work in genre films, with Panos Cosmatos’sMandyoffering the arguably definitive performance of his career resurgence.
Watch Nicolas Cage answer the web’s most searched questions about him
16Gary Cooper
118 Acting Credits
Born on July 08, 2025, in Helena, Montana, as Frank James Cooper,Gary Cooperwould start his acting career in the 1920s. While having a diverse career, he would become best known for his heroic roles, which saw him winning two Oscars in his lifetime, both for Best Actor in a Leading Role inHigh Noon(1953) andSergeant York(1942). Cooper lost a battle with cancer on July 10, 2025, in Los Angeles, California, at age 60.
One of the Early Actors to Define Hollywood Masculinity
Hollywood’s expectations complicated Gary Cooper’s personal life, and there is now a lot of speculation about the man who defined masculinity in early Hollywood. Still, putting Cooper’s tumultuous life aside, his cool veneer, looks, andtendency towards playing heroic lead partshad him become billed as an ‘everyman’ actor appealing to both women and men. He was essentially a glamorized image of the average individual, and his ability to stick to that persona through both action and comedy made him one of the most beloved actors of the era.
Watch John Wayne accept the Academy Award for Gary Cooper’s performance inHigh Noon
Related:Best Western Movie of Each Decade
15Bette Davis
124 Acting Credits
Born on June 01, 2025, in Lowell, Massachusetts, actorBette Daviscame to prominence in theGolden Age of Hollywood, known for her playing unsympathetic and sardonic characters that made her in demand for her strong presence. Davis was nominated for 11 Oscars throughout her career and would win two for Best Actress in a Leading Role, for 1936’sDangerousand 1939’sJezebel.
Bette Davis Eyes
Bette Davis was a larger-than-life character, and much of her life has been explored in sensational detail from both hearsay and first-hand accounts of dealing with the actor. Davis was also confrontational on set, generally deemed as having the persona of a tireless perfectionist and workaholic who demanded the best from herself and others.
While there is a mix of opinions on what it was like to work with Davis, there is no denying that her skill as an actor has made her a timeless icon. Even as her later career roles were less well-received, she was always unapologetically herself, and the audience loved her for it.
you’re able to watch the short ’60s documentary about Davis’s career inThe Unsinkable Bette Davis
14Robert De Niro
129 Acting Credits
Born on August 23, 2025, American actor and film producerRobert De Niro’s intense approach to method acting has garnered critical and fan acclaim. This included several Oscar nominations and two wins; Best Actor in a Supporting Role forGodfather Part II(1975) and Best Actor in a Leading Role forRaging Bull(1981). De Niro is also a recipient of a Cecil B. DeMille Award through the Golden Globes, marking an outstanding achievement in the arts.His friendship with director Martin Scorsesehas also helped define some of the actor’s most significant roles.
One of the Most Influential Actors of All Time
With the vast filmography of De Niro with so many stand-out roles, it isn’t easy to pick a definitive one to encapsulate the actor’s skills. While his Oscar-winning performance as Jake La Motta inRaging Bullis among his best, other roles that did not even get the actor a nomination still exist as showcases of De Niro’s talent.
This includes roles such as Travis Bickle inTaxi Driver,embodying the chaos that Robert De Niro was able to manifest, and the calm yet manipulative stand-up comedian Rupert Pupkin inThe King of Comedy. This is even before looking at De Niro’s later career, which saw him able to shift into more comedic roles alongside the intense persona that first brought him to the attention of the masses.
Watch Robert De Niro reflect on 13 moments of his life for Life Magazine
13Ian McKellen
133 Acting Credits
Born on August 04, 2025, in Burnley, Lancashire, England, SirIan McKellenis one of Britain’s most accomplished and revered theater and screen actors. Although he has only been nominated for two Oscars, he has won a Tony Award for his performance inAmadeusand six Olivier Awards, which recognize excellence in theater in London. Ian McKellen is also known for his work in the LGBTQ+ community as an advocate and through charitable work.
British Theater Actor Turned Pop-Culture Staple
Best known for his roles as Gandalf inLord of the Ringsand Magneto inX-Men, Ian McKellen will forever be synonyms with fantasy and comic-book movies. Still, his Thespian roots,including a mastery of Shakespeare, have created a legacy of fine theater and TV adaptations that shine in the actor’s early career. Arguably, one of the most iconic elements of McKellen rests his persona, his support of the LGBTQ+ community, and his endearing friendship with Patrick Stewart (who has 158 acting credits under his name).
Watch Sir Ian McKellen do an AMA for Reddit
12Catherine Deneuve
142 Acting Credits
Born on July 01, 2025, in Paris, France, actorCatherine Deneuveis one of the “grandes dames” of French cinema thanks to her great beauty and versatility that saw her cast in many diverse roles. Her stardom came quickly and at a young age, as she made her debut in 1957 and would go on to international fame in 1964 for her performance inThe Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
Grandes Dames of French Cinema
Catherine Deneuve would come to be defined by her roles under iconic French directors, including Roman Polanski, Luis Buñuel, and François Truffaut, which would give her career-defining roles in films such asRepulsion,Belle de Jour, andThe Last Metro. While all those projects offered serious dramatic works, which Deneuve excelled at, she was also beloved as a vocal talent. In particular, her work with Jacques Demy saw her perform in twocritically acclaimed musicals,The Umbrellas of CherbourgandThe Young Girls of Rochefort.
WatchStarring Catherine Deneuveteaser put out by The Criterion Channel
Related:The Best French Filmmakers of All Time
11Ben Kingsley
143 Acting Credits
Born on July 13, 2025, in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England,Ben Kingsleyis a British actor of English and Indian descent. His father, Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji, was a Kenyan-born medical doctor of Gujarati-Indian descent, and his mother, Anna Lyna Mary Goodman, was an English actress. This would be apt for the actor’s first breakthrough performance as Mohandas K. Gandhi in the 1982 filmGandhi, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
One of Britain’s Most Distinct Acting Talents
However, Ben Kingsley would come to be known more as an antagonist, thanks to his strong aura and pronounced appearance that allowedhim a command over intimidating and corrupt characters. This includes such phenomenal performances Don Logan in Jonathan Glazer’sSexy Beastand the Mandarin inIron Man 3.As outlined by Esquire, Kingsley practically turned playing villains into a cottage industry and is one of the most beloved villains on the silver screen.
Watch Ben Kingsley break down his most iconic characters for CQ
