Only current guys I like are Russell Crowe,Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell.&Matthew McConnaughey.Lots iof fine single performances from lower-level non -star actors always more satisfying from the usual star turns in vehicles designed only to promote and sell the star, and hence, the film. Clooney, Damon, and a bunch of others fit this category.The old -timers look better everytime I see them in a movie:Jimmy Stewart, Gable, Lee J. Cobb, Fredric March, Gary Cooper. But towering above them all is my odd favorite movie actor in American film: Walter Huston. See Dodsworth , from the mid-30s, to see the most pitch-perfect performance ever.
You’ve listed some great names.
Some of my favs, in no particular order, are:
Sir Laurence Olivier
Albert Finney
Judi Dench
Charlton Heston
Mel Gibson
Maureen O’Hara
Emma Thompson
Julie Andrews
Helena Bonham Carter
Peter O’Toole
Richard Harris
I would add Robert Duvall to your otherwise good list. I have yet to see him in a bad movie.
I second that and add Edward G. Robinson and Jimmy Cagney.
Ditto on Treasure of Sierra Madre. He did a bang up job on that one.
Sam Dodsworth sounds like a familiar man.
I’m glad to see that someone else recognizes Walter Huston and his role in “Dodsworth”. That’s ACTING at its best!