Who is the Most Successful Actor and Why?

Who is the Most Succesful Film Actor and Why?

Who is the most successful film actor of all time? Is it Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda? Do we measure success by box office, critical acclaim or some other intangible factor? Maybe Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, or Robert DeNiro would fill the bill? Or, should we judge an actor much like we judge an NFL quarterback – by his winning percentage and ability to win the big game? Should actors be gauged on how good their movies are, and how consistently they are a part of quality films? For the sake of this argument, the Maven thinks so. So, who is the most successful film actor of all time? The spotlight illuminates the stage. The seal on the envelope is broken. The card with the actor’s name is revealed. And, the winner is… John Cazale.

I know, you’ve never heard of John Cazale or you’re thinking Cazale, come on, seriously. Do you remember Stan, Gene Hackman’s sidekick in The Conversation? How about the part of Stanley ‘Stosh’ in The Deer Hunter? Maybe you recall Sal, Al Pacino’s hapless partner in crime in Dog Day Afternoon. If none of these classics ring a bell, surely you remember Fredo Corleone in The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II? Of course, you do. How could anyone forget the line, “But, you’re my kid brother Mikey” coming from Cazale’s distorted, perfectly pathetic voice. Cazale played all of these parts and these five feature films were the only ones he ever appeared in. Cazale only lived to be 52 with his untimely death from bone cancer coming in 1978.

The Godfather (1972) was nominated for eleven Oscars and won three including best picture. The Conversation (1974) was nominated three times including best picture and best screenplay. The Godfather: Part II (1974) received eleven nominations and took home six Oscars including best picture. Dog Day Afternoon (1975) garnered six nominations and won for best screenplay. The Deer Hunter (1978) got nine nominations and took home five Academy Awards including best picture (it should be noted that Cazale was in excruciating pain and was barely able to finish filming). No, he was never nominated for an Academy Award, and, of course, he was no Humphrey Bogart, but John Cazale’s track record of consistently appearing in the greatest films of his time is unmatched.

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