40 Actors I Love to Watch...

by rosi-11 | created - 16 Oct 2011 | updated - 06 Mar 2016 | Public

When I originally started this list, I was going to list the actors in order of my favorites. However, it was too hard to choose, so I've listed my top 40 actors I love to watch in alphabetical order by 1st name. (I updated this list 3/6/16 by changing the total from 30 to 40 actors. I added some new ones and deleted some old ones.)

1. Adam Driver

Actor | Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

Adam Douglas Driver was born in San Diego, California. His mother, Nancy (Needham) Wright, is a paralegal from Mishawaka, Indiana, and his father, Joe Douglas Driver, who has deep roots in the American South, is from Little Rock, Arkansas. His stepfather is a Baptist minister. His ancestry includes...

Adam Driver...I love this guy! Yes, the first time I ever saw him was on Girls and I know that lots of people either love him or hate him, especially in the newest Star Wars as Kylo Ren, but Adam Driver has this way of showing vulnerability without holding back that really touches my heart.

2. Adam Scott

Actor | Parks and Recreation

Adam Scott was born in Santa Cruz, California, the son of Anne and Dougald Scott. He has two older siblings, Shannon and David. Scott has said that his brother David "looks like me but is far more cerebral and inherited the intellect of our parents," both of whom are retired teachers. He graduated ...

Adam Scott also on Park and Recreation like Nick Offerman & Chris Pratt on my list is someone I like to watch in whatever I see him in.

3. Alec Baldwin

Actor | The Departed

Alec Baldwin is the oldest, and best-known, of the four Baldwin brothers in the acting business (the others are Stephen Baldwin, William Baldwin and Daniel Baldwin). Alexander Rae Baldwin III was born on April 3, 1958 in Massapequa, New York, the son of Carol Newcomb (Martineau) and Alexander Rae ...

Not only is he funny, he has a mischievous twinkle in his eye which makes watching him so much fun!

4. Andy Samberg

Actor | Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Andy Samberg was born in Berkeley, California, to Marjorie (Marrow), a teacher, and Joe Samberg, a photographer. With Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, Samberg is one of three Los Angeles, California-based writer-performer-filmmakers--all childhood friends--dubbed The Lonely Island, whose short ...

First time I saw Andy Samberg was on SNL and of course he was funny, but he's been a hoot to watch on Brooklyn 9-9 for the last 3 seasons.

5. Ashton Kutcher

Actor | That '70s Show

Christopher Ashton Kutcher was born on February 7, 1978 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Diane (Finnegan), who was employed at Procter & Gamble, and Larry Kutcher, a factory worker. He has a fraternal twin brother, Michael, and a sister, Tausha. He is of Czech (father) and Irish, German, and Czech (mother...

I like the fact that he's good-looking and doesn't mind making a fool of himself when he acts.

6. Bradley Cooper

Actor | A Star Is Born

Bradley Charles Cooper was born on January 5, 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother, Gloria (Campano), is of Italian descent, and worked for a local NBC station. His father, Charles John Cooper, who was of Irish descent, was a stockbroker. Immediately after Bradley graduated from the ...

Bradley Cooper is not only easy on the eyes, he comes across as playful, fun and sincere. I love him in everything I've seen him in.

7. Chris Pratt

Actor | Guardians of the Galaxy

Christopher Michael "Chris" Pratt was born on June 21, 1979 in Virginia, Minnesota and raised in Lake Stevens, Washington, to Kathleen Louise (Indahl), who worked at a supermarket, and Daniel Clifton Pratt, who remodeled houses. He is of mostly Norwegian descent. He graduated from Lake Stevens High...

Chris Pratt was awesome on Park and Recreation and so much fun to watch and his bust out movies Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy were lots of fun with him, but I can honestly say I prefer him as the chubby lovable Andy on P&R.

8. Colin Firth

Actor | A Single Man

Colin Andrew Firth was born into an academic family in Grayshott, Hampshire, England. His mother, Shirley Jean (Rolles), was a comparative religion lecturer at the Open University, and his father, David Norman Lewis Firth, lectured on history at Winchester University College (formerly King Alfred's...

Whenever I watch his movies, I believe whatever he says...he comes across as so sincere. And OMG...did you see him in Pride & Prejudice?

9. Daniel Day-Lewis

Actor | There Will Be Blood

Born in London, England, Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis is the second child of Cecil Day-Lewis, Poet Laureate of the U.K., and his second wife, actress Jill Balcon. His maternal grandfather was Sir Michael Balcon, an important figure in the history of British cinema and head of the famous Ealing ...

Isn't he nominated for an Academy Award every time he makes a movie?

10. Edward Norton

Actor | Fight Club

American actor, filmmaker and activist Edward Harrison Norton was born on August 18, 1969, in Boston, Massachusetts, and was raised in Columbia, Maryland.

His mother, Lydia Robinson "Robin" (Rouse), was a foundation executive and teacher of English, and a daughter of famed real estate developer ...

I first saw him in Primal Fear and he hasn't disappointed since.

11. Evan Peters

Actor | X-Men: Apocalypse

Evan Peters was born in 1987 in St. Louis, Missouri to Phil and Julie Peters. When his father's job was transferred, the family moved to Grand Blanc, Michigan. There, Evan began taking acting classes and at age 15, he moved with his mother to Los Angeles in hopes of pursuing a career in the ...

To me, Evan Peters, has been my favorite male actor in the entire "American Horror Story" series. In my humble opinion, his character "Tate Langdon" in the first season has been the most engaging character in the entire 5 seasons.

12. Ewan McGregor

Actor | Moulin Rouge!

Ewan Gordon McGregor was born on March 31, 1971 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, to Carol Diane (Lawson) and James Charles McGregor, both teachers. His uncle is actor Denis Lawson. He was raised in Crieff. At age 16, he left Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents ...

He can sing, he can act, he's a Jedi...what more is there to say?

13. Gerard Butler

Actor | 300

Gerard James Butler was born in Paisley, Scotland, to Margaret and Edward Butler, a bookmaker. His family is of Irish origin. Gerard spent some of his very early childhood in Montreal, Quebec, but was mostly raised, along with his older brother and sister, in his hometown of Paisley. His parents ...

He is a manly man...such a good actor and so lovely to watch!

14. Jack Nicholson

Actor | Chinatown

Jack Nicholson, an American actor, producer, director and screenwriter, is a three-time Academy Award winner and twelve-time nominee. Nicholson is also notable for being one of two actors - the other being Michael Caine - who have received an Oscar nomination in every decade from the '60s through ...

The first time I saw him was when I was a kid in 1975 and my parents took me to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He made quite an impression & he's never let me down since!

15. James Franco

Actor | Spring Breakers

Known for his breakthrough starring role on Freaks and Geeks (1999), James Franco was born April 19, 1978 in Palo Alto, California, to Betsy Franco, a writer, artist, and actress, and Douglas Eugene "Doug" Franco, who ran a Silicon Valley business. His mother is Jewish and his father was of ...

When I saw him as James Dean in 2001 I was sure he was going to skyrocket to stardom. It didn't happen over night, but everyone knows who he is now. I think taking the "risk" to be on General Hospital catapulted him into the limelight where he belongs.

16. James McAvoy

Actor | Filth

McAvoy was born on 21 April 1979 in Glasgow, Scotland, to James, a bus driver, and Elizabeth (née Johnstone), a nurse. He was raised on a housing estate in Drumchapel, Glasgow by his maternal grandparents (James, a butcher, and Mary), after his parents divorced when James was 11. He went to St ...

I've seen him do Bollywood, a quadriplegic, a half-human/half-goat, comedy, drama...he's brilliant in everything he does and his acting in Atonement was a tear-jerker and a half!

17. Javier Bardem

Actor | Skyfall

Javier Bardem belongs to a family of actors that have been working on films since the early days of Spanish cinema.

He was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, to actress Pilar Bardem (María del Pilar Bardem Muñoz) and businessman José Carlos Encinas Doussinague. His maternal grandparents were...

The first time I saw him was in 2000's Before Night Falls and I knew then that he was someone to watch.

18. Jeff Bridges

Actor | The Big Lebowski

Jeffrey Leon Bridges was born on December 4, 1949 in Los Angeles, California, the son of well-known film and TV star Lloyd Bridges and his long-time wife Dorothy Dean Bridges (née Simpson). He grew up amid the happening Hollywood scene with big brother Beau Bridges. Both boys popped up, without ...

He's handsome, he's an awesome actor & a loving family man...I'd say he's even cooler than "The Dude"!

19. John Cusack

Actor | Grosse Pointe Blank

John Cusack is, like most of his characters, an unconventional hero. Wary of fame and repelled by formulaic Hollywood fare, he has built a successful career playing underdogs and odd men out--all the while avoiding the media spotlight. John was born in Evanston, Illinois, to an Irish-American ...

I have been jokingly referring to him as my "movie-boyfriend" since 1986. He's been in the movies almost 30 years and I've loved everything I've ever watched him in.

20. Joseph Fiennes

Actor | Shakespeare in Love

Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, to Jennifer Anne Mary Alleyne (Lash), a novelist, and Mark Fiennes, a photographer. He is one of six children. Four of his siblings are also in the arts: Ralph Fiennes, an actor; Martha Fiennes, a director; Magnus Fiennes, a...

The year that I saw Joseph Fiennes in "Shakespeare in Love" and "Elizabeth" I was sure he was destined for movie stardom. His career did not take off the way I thought it would. He was involved with "American Horror Story" and another TV series "Flashforward" and many other movies, but I don't feel they used his abilities to the fullest potential. However, he has just starred in the movie "Risen" and to me, that was FINALLY a role that used his abilities the best way possible.

21. Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Actor | Inception

Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt was born February 17, 1981 in Los Angeles, California, to Jane Gordon and Dennis Levitt. Joseph was raised in a Jewish family with his late older brother, Dan Gordon-Levitt, who passed away in October 2010. His parents worked for the Pacifica Radio station KPFK-FM and ...

I thought he was funny at 15 years-old in 3rd Rock From The Sun and he's grown up to be a fine actor in all genres as a young man.

22. Jude Law

Actor | The Talented Mr. Ripley

Jude Law is an English actor. Law has been nominated for two Academy Awards and continues to build a prolific body of work that spans from early successes such as Gattaca (1997) and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) to more recent turns as Dr. John Watson in Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes:...

I had watched him for years, but when I saw him in Cold Mountain his acting broke my heart and he was added to my list.

23. Lee Pace

Actor | Guardians of the Galaxy

One of the most versatile actors working in Hollywood today, Lee Pace has established himself as a powerful leading man, consistently delivering compelling performances in film, television, and on stage.

Pace will next be seen in the highly anticipated Apple TV+ series FOUNDATION. Scheduled for a ...

Yes, I loved him in Pushing Daisies, but after watching Soldier's Girl and especially The Fall I wonder why he isn't offered HUGE roles, he's an amazing actor!

24. Leonardo DiCaprio

Actor | Inception

Few actors in the world have had a career quite as diverse as Leonardo DiCaprio's. DiCaprio has gone from relatively humble beginnings, as a supporting cast member of the sitcom Growing Pains (1985) and low budget horror movies, such as Critters 3 (1991), to a major teenage heartthrob in the 1990s,...

Watching all his movies after "Growing Pains" has been a treat. My daughter wrote him off as a pretty boy but she finally had a change of heart after Shutter Island.

25. Mark Ruffalo

Actor | Spotlight

Award-winning actor Mark Ruffalo was born on November 22, 1967, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, of humble means to father Frank Lawrence Ruffalo, a construction painter and Marie Rose (Hebert), a stylist and hairdresser; his father's ancestry is Italian and his mother is of half French-Canadian and half ...

I first noticed him in My Life Without Me. and his charisma shines through in every role.

26. Matt Bomer

Actor | In Time

Matthew Staton Bomer was born in Webster Groves, Greater St. Louis, Missouri, to Elizabeth Macy (Staton) and John O'Neill Bomer IV, a Dallas Cowboys draft pick. Matt was raised in Spring, Texas, and educated at Klein High School, near Houston. After school, he attended Carnegie Mellon University in...

Yes...he has been in Magic Mike and American Horror Story and he's well-known for his chiseled looks and body, but I really enjoyed watching him for 6 seasons on "White Collar" the most. He was such a charming and engaging conman opposite his FBI counterpart played by Tim DeKay. They had a great bro-mance/friendship and I miss that show and those characters.

27. Michael Easton

Actor | One Life to Live

Born in Inglewood, California, Michael was raised and educated in both the US and Ireland - the homeland of his parents - and double majored in English and History at UCLA. He traveled through Europe, parts of Africa and India, supporting himself as a bartender and in various construction jobs. All...

He plays Lt. John McBain on One Life to Live and I've jokingly referred to him as my TV boyfriend ever since I saw him as Caleb in 2003 on the soap opera Port Charles. As far as I'm concerned, he should be a major movie star!

28. Michael Imperioli

Actor | The Sopranos

Imperioli was born Michael Imperioli in Mt. Vernon, New York on March 26, 1966. His film work began in the late 1980s. An early part that brought him recognition was in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990), as Spider, a local kid who works for the gangsters and has a run-in with a psychopathic mob ...

Michael Imperioli is a natural and his characters are so believable to me. I also can't deny that I find him incredibly handsome with that great curly hair and his deep eyes.

29. Nathan Fillion

Actor | Castle

Nathan Fillion was born on 27 March 1971 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is the son of Cookie (Early) and Bob Fillion, both retired English teachers, and has an older brother, Jeff. His father is of French-Canadian descent, and his mother is of English, German, Finnish, and Norwegian ancestry. In ...

I first saw Nathan Fillion as Joey Buchanan on "One Life to Live" and loved him, of course, and he's acted in lots of things since then, but watching him in 8 seasons of Castle has been awesome. He's charming, funny and so much fun to watch. I never get bored with his acting.

30. Nick Offerman

Actor | Devs

Nick Offerman was born in Joliet, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Parks and Recreation (2009), The Founder (2016), 21 Jump Street (2012), 22 Jump Street (2014), We Are The Millers (2013), and Fargo (2014). He has been married to Megan Mullally since September 20, 2003.

Nick Offerman is a manly man who excels in deadpan humor! He's awesome.

31. Paul Rudd

Actor | Ant-Man

Paul Stephen Rudd was born in Passaic, New Jersey. His parents, Michael and Gloria, both from Jewish families, were born in the London area, U.K. He has one sister, who is three years younger than he is. Paul traveled with his family during his early years, because of his father's airline job at ...

I don't care what movie or TV show Paul Rudd is in...whatever it is, he makes it fun to watch.

32. Robert De Niro

Actor | Cape Fear

One of the greatest actors of all time, Robert De Niro was born on August 17, 1943 in Manhattan, New York City, to artists Virginia (Admiral) and Robert De Niro Sr. His paternal grandfather was of Italian descent, and his other ancestry is Irish, English, Dutch, German, and French. He was trained ...

He was so beautiful in The Godfather Part 2 & Mean Streets back in the early 70's and has made so many excellent movies ever since! I was happy to see his comedic side come out in Analyze This. I think it would be safe to say that he's had a career that many actors would love to have.

33. Russell Crowe

Actor | Les Misérables

Russell Ira Crowe was born in Wellington, New Zealand, to Jocelyn Yvonne (Wemyss) and John Alexander Crowe, both of whom catered movie sets. His maternal grandfather, Stanley Wemyss, was a cinematographer. Crowe's recent ancestry includes Welsh (where his paternal grandfather was born, in Wrexham),...

He becomes whatever character he is portraying. He is so believable...I'd say he's like a chameleon and it's always exciting to see who he will become next.

34. Ryan Gosling

Actor | Blue Valentine

Born Ryan Thomas Gosling on November 12, 1980, in London, Ontario, Canada, he is the son of Donna (Wilson), a secretary, and Thomas Ray Gosling, a traveling salesman. Ryan was the second of their two children, with an older sister, Mandi. His ancestry is French-Canadian, as well as English, ...

I first noticed his intense performance in The Notebook and the last movie I saw him in was "Drive". He can say so much without words making him one of my favorite actors at the moment.

35. Ryan Reynolds

Actor | Deadpool 2

Ryan Rodney Reynolds was born on October 23, 1976 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the youngest of four children. His father, James Chester Reynolds, was a food wholesaler, and his mother, Tamara Lee "Tammy" (Stewart), worked as a retail-store saleswoman. He has Irish and Scottish ancestry. ...

First time I saw Ryan Reynolds was in 2 Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place back in 1998 (coincidentally Nathan Fillion was also on that show) and thought he was funny. I've watched him in various things over the years and always enjoyed watching him, but his most recent movie playing "Deadpool" was AWESOME!

36. Sean Penn

Actor | Mystic River

Sean Penn is a powerhouse film performer capable of intensely moving work, who has gone from strength to strength during a colourful film career, and who has drawn much media attention for his stormy private life and political viewpoints.

Sean Justin Penn was born in Los Angeles, California, the ...

My first Sean Penn experience was Jeff Spicoli in 1982's Fast Times At Ridgemont High which was playing at the theater I worked at. I saw that movie a million times and thought he was so cool. I never imagined that he would become one of the best actors of his time, but I think he is.

37. Steve Carell

Actor | The Office

Steve Carell, one of America's most versatile comics, was born Steven John Carell on August 16, 1962, in Concord, Massachusetts. He is the son of Harriet Theresa (Koch), a psychiatric nurse, and Edwin A. Carell, an electrical engineer. His mother was of Polish descent and his father of Italian and ...

Steve Carell has the ability to make me laugh and cry from one scene to the next. With every episode of The Office that he was in and all his movies, I'd say he's made me laugh more than anyone else in the last 10 years. I appreciate the way he allows himself to show such sincerity and vulnerability in all his roles.

38. Will Ferrell

Producer | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

John William Ferrell was born in Irvine, California, to Betty Kay (Overman), a teacher, and Roy Lee Ferrell, Jr., a musician. His parents were originally from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Ferrell became interested in performing while a student ...

Just looking at Will Farrell on the screen doing ANYTHING makes me laugh. He was a laugh every week on SNL and every movie since. My parents don't seem to get his humor and maybe he's not for everyone, but I think he's brilliant!

39. Will Forte

Actor | MacGruber

Forte was age 32 before he came to the public's attention on Saturday Night Live (1975), but had been working in comedy since 1997.

Will Forte was born in Alameda County, California, and is the son of artist Patricia (Stivers) and financial broker Orville Willis Forte III (divorced). He has an older...

Yes, I watched Will Forte on SNL, but that didn't make as much of an impression on me as he has in "Last Man On Earth". He is ridiculously funny and I love watching him every week.

40. Zachary Levi

Actor | Shazam!

The middle child between two sisters, Zachary Levi was born as Zachary Levi Pugh on September 29, 1980 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Susan (Hoctor) and Darrell Alton Pugh. He uses his middle name as his stage surname because his birth name, "Pugh", which is of Welsh origin, sounds too much like "...

I watched Zachary Levi for many years as "Chuck" and I was sad when that role ended, but I've seen him in other roles. I think what I like best is that he is so likable and he is funny in a subtle way.



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