Many actors have made their mark on Hollywood and have been tagged as movie stars, all thanks to a few insanely successful movies.
However, only a small number of actors have that charisma that can guarantee a box-office success even if they are not appearing as the main character in the movie.
Because of their bankability as actors, their careers have stretched over decades, appearing in multiple hits and high-grossing franchises and winning major film awards.
Tom Hanks A two-time Academy Award winner, Tom Hanks has appeared in more than 50 movies, with at least half of these movies surpassing the $100 million box-office mark.
Hanks earned his first Academy Award for the movie "Philadelphia," but he is best known for his portrayal of the endearing character Forrest Gump, where he earned numerous awards, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.
He became one of Hollywood's most bankable actors in the movie "Sleepless in Seattle.
" Hanks is one of the most versatile actors in the industry, often playing difficult and eccentric roles such as the struggling castaway in the movie "Castaway" and as an antihero in the critically acclaimed film "Road to Perdition.
" Hanks and the renowned director Steven Spielberg collaborated in several projects, including "Saving Private Ryan" and "Catch Me If You Can.
" His most successful movies include the film adaptations of Dan Brown's novels "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons.
" He has also voiced Woody in the highly popular "Toy Story" movies.
Hanks will appear in the movie biopic "Captain Philips" and in the Walt Disney movie "Saving Mr.
Banks," both scheduled for release in 2013.
Robin Williams A one-time Academy Award winner, Robin Williams is a gifted comedian and one of the most valuable actors of all time.
He has starred in more than twenty unforgettable and critically acclaimed movies, including "Patch Adams," "Mrs.
Doubtfire," "Jumanji," "Dead Poets' Society," "Man of the Year," and the two "Night at the Museum" movies.
Interestingly, he earned his Academy Award for a supporting role in "Good Will Hunting," where he played the role of a deep and thoughtful psychologist.
Williams has also established himself as a talented and powerful voice actor, and he has voiced unforgettable roles in several movies, including the quirky Genie in "Aladdin" and the romantic Ramon in "Happy Feet.
" Williams will have four big-screen comebacks in 2013 after a yearlong hiatus.
Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman is one of the most respected veteran actors in Hollywood.
He is rarely the quintessential lead character in most of the movies he played in, but his calm and authoritative presence alone makes a movie worth watching.
He has starred in more than fifty productions, including widely successful films such as the "Dark Knight Saga," "Deep Impact," "The Sum of all Fears," and "Bruce Almighty.
" Freeman has received numerous Academy nominations for his roles, but it was in his role in "Million Dollar Baby" that has won him the coveted Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Freeman is also a brilliant narrator, and his voice has been used to narrate the Academy Award-winning documentary the "March of the Penguins.
" He is currently working in five different movies that are set to be released in 2013.
Tom Cruise Hollywood's highest-paid actor in 2012, Tom Cruise is considered as one of the most powerful celebrities in the world.
His blockbuster films have transcended culture and have broken language barriers.
Some of his most first successful movies are "Top Gun," "Jerry Maguire," "Interview with a Vampire," "Rain Man," and "A Few Good Men.
" He would later rose to international fame with his role as Ethan Hunt in the successful spy film saga "Mission Impossible.
" The epic drama film "The Last Samurai" was more financially successful in Japan than in the United States, earning Cruise the respect and admiration of Japanese fans.
His next big project is the movie "Oblivion" to be released in theaters in July 2013.
Samuel L.
Jackson After gaining critical acclaim for his role in "Jungle Fever" in 1991, not a year goes by without seeing Samuel L.
Jackson in a highly acclaimed or financially successful movie.
He rose faster into fame in the movie "Pulp Fiction" and would later earn his first Academy Award nomination for the legal thriller movie, "A Time to Kill.
" His early works in theaters shaped him as a great cinema and voice actor.
He has lent his voice in popular children movies, including "The Incredibles" and "Astro Boy.
" Some of his most successful films are "Star Wars Episode I, II, and III," "Deep Blue Sea," "S.
W.
A.
T.
," "Iron Man 2," and "The Avengers.
" Jackson is currently filming for the movie "Robocop" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
"
However, only a small number of actors have that charisma that can guarantee a box-office success even if they are not appearing as the main character in the movie.
Because of their bankability as actors, their careers have stretched over decades, appearing in multiple hits and high-grossing franchises and winning major film awards.
Tom Hanks A two-time Academy Award winner, Tom Hanks has appeared in more than 50 movies, with at least half of these movies surpassing the $100 million box-office mark.
Hanks earned his first Academy Award for the movie "Philadelphia," but he is best known for his portrayal of the endearing character Forrest Gump, where he earned numerous awards, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.
He became one of Hollywood's most bankable actors in the movie "Sleepless in Seattle.
" Hanks is one of the most versatile actors in the industry, often playing difficult and eccentric roles such as the struggling castaway in the movie "Castaway" and as an antihero in the critically acclaimed film "Road to Perdition.
" Hanks and the renowned director Steven Spielberg collaborated in several projects, including "Saving Private Ryan" and "Catch Me If You Can.
" His most successful movies include the film adaptations of Dan Brown's novels "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons.
" He has also voiced Woody in the highly popular "Toy Story" movies.
Hanks will appear in the movie biopic "Captain Philips" and in the Walt Disney movie "Saving Mr.
Banks," both scheduled for release in 2013.
Robin Williams A one-time Academy Award winner, Robin Williams is a gifted comedian and one of the most valuable actors of all time.
He has starred in more than twenty unforgettable and critically acclaimed movies, including "Patch Adams," "Mrs.
Doubtfire," "Jumanji," "Dead Poets' Society," "Man of the Year," and the two "Night at the Museum" movies.
Interestingly, he earned his Academy Award for a supporting role in "Good Will Hunting," where he played the role of a deep and thoughtful psychologist.
Williams has also established himself as a talented and powerful voice actor, and he has voiced unforgettable roles in several movies, including the quirky Genie in "Aladdin" and the romantic Ramon in "Happy Feet.
" Williams will have four big-screen comebacks in 2013 after a yearlong hiatus.
Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman is one of the most respected veteran actors in Hollywood.
He is rarely the quintessential lead character in most of the movies he played in, but his calm and authoritative presence alone makes a movie worth watching.
He has starred in more than fifty productions, including widely successful films such as the "Dark Knight Saga," "Deep Impact," "The Sum of all Fears," and "Bruce Almighty.
" Freeman has received numerous Academy nominations for his roles, but it was in his role in "Million Dollar Baby" that has won him the coveted Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Freeman is also a brilliant narrator, and his voice has been used to narrate the Academy Award-winning documentary the "March of the Penguins.
" He is currently working in five different movies that are set to be released in 2013.
Tom Cruise Hollywood's highest-paid actor in 2012, Tom Cruise is considered as one of the most powerful celebrities in the world.
His blockbuster films have transcended culture and have broken language barriers.
Some of his most first successful movies are "Top Gun," "Jerry Maguire," "Interview with a Vampire," "Rain Man," and "A Few Good Men.
" He would later rose to international fame with his role as Ethan Hunt in the successful spy film saga "Mission Impossible.
" The epic drama film "The Last Samurai" was more financially successful in Japan than in the United States, earning Cruise the respect and admiration of Japanese fans.
His next big project is the movie "Oblivion" to be released in theaters in July 2013.
Samuel L.
Jackson After gaining critical acclaim for his role in "Jungle Fever" in 1991, not a year goes by without seeing Samuel L.
Jackson in a highly acclaimed or financially successful movie.
He rose faster into fame in the movie "Pulp Fiction" and would later earn his first Academy Award nomination for the legal thriller movie, "A Time to Kill.
" His early works in theaters shaped him as a great cinema and voice actor.
He has lent his voice in popular children movies, including "The Incredibles" and "Astro Boy.
" Some of his most successful films are "Star Wars Episode I, II, and III," "Deep Blue Sea," "S.
W.
A.
T.
," "Iron Man 2," and "The Avengers.
" Jackson is currently filming for the movie "Robocop" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
"
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