it was the end of a century and these actors sought out in style I’m just an
actors sought out in style I’m just an
actors sought out in style I’m just an ordinary guy with nothing to lose
ordinary guy with nothing to lose
ordinary guy with nothing to lose welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten decade defining actors of the 1990s
decade defining actors of the 1990s
decade defining actors of the 1990s service my first day is a woman getting
service my first day is a woman getting
service my first day is a woman getting hot flashes for our series on the top
hot flashes for our series on the top
hot flashes for our series on the top ten decade defining male actors / period
ten decade defining male actors / period
ten decade defining male actors / period we’ve made our choices based on a
we’ve made our choices based on a
we’ve made our choices based on a combination of their commercial success
combination of their commercial success
combination of their commercial success their box-office scores their
their box-office scores their
their box-office scores their productivity their awards and how they
productivity their awards and how they
productivity their awards and how they helped set the tone and raise the
helped set the tone and raise the
helped set the tone and raise the standard in Hollywood for the era I’m
standard in Hollywood for the era I’m
standard in Hollywood for the era I’m ready for my close-up mr. DeMille
ready for my close-up mr. DeMille
ready for my close-up mr. DeMille number 10 Robin Williams Robin Williams
number 10 Robin Williams Robin Williams
number 10 Robin Williams Robin Williams earned two Academy Award nominations in
earned two Academy Award nominations in
earned two Academy Award nominations in the 80s and was nominated twice more in
the 80s and was nominated twice more in
the 80s and was nominated twice more in the 1990s so excited for his role as a
the 1990s so excited for his role as a
the 1990s so excited for his role as a homeless man in the Fisher King he fell
homeless man in the Fisher King he fell
homeless man in the Fisher King he fell just short of the accolade but for his
just short of the accolade but for his
just short of the accolade but for his depiction of doctor Shawn Maguire in
depiction of doctor Shawn Maguire in
depiction of doctor Shawn Maguire in Good Will Hunting he nabbed the golden
Good Will Hunting he nabbed the golden
Good Will Hunting he nabbed the golden statuette you need to choose a hugely
statuette you need to choose a hugely
statuette you need to choose a hugely acclaimed actor his role as the genie in
acclaimed actor his role as the genie in
acclaimed actor his role as the genie in Disney’s Aladdin proved that star power
Disney’s Aladdin proved that star power
Disney’s Aladdin proved that star power and voice casting was a recipe for
and voice casting was a recipe for
and voice casting was a recipe for success 10,000 years will give you a
success 10,000 years will give you a
success 10,000 years will give you a such a crick in the neck and his part in
such a crick in the neck and his part in
such a crick in the neck and his part in mrs. Doubtfire showed that even in a
mrs. Doubtfire showed that even in a
mrs. Doubtfire showed that even in a dress Williams was a king of the screen
dress Williams was a king of the screen
dress Williams was a king of the screen I’m here guys
I’m here guys
I’m here guys some from number 9 Kevin Spacey you’re
some from number 9 Kevin Spacey you’re
some from number 9 Kevin Spacey you’re looking for me the winner of two Oscars
looking for me the winner of two Oscars
looking for me the winner of two Oscars within the decade Kevin Spacey scooped
within the decade Kevin Spacey scooped
within the decade Kevin Spacey scooped the Best Supporting Actor Award for his
the Best Supporting Actor Award for his
the Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in the usual suspects saw
performance in the usual suspects saw
performance in the usual suspects saw there and a Best Actor win for his
there and a Best Actor win for his
there and a Best Actor win for his depiction of Lester Burnham’s midlife
depiction of Lester Burnham’s midlife
depiction of Lester Burnham’s midlife crisis in American Beauty I rule his
crisis in American Beauty I rule his
crisis in American Beauty I rule his sophisticated style professional
sophisticated style professional
sophisticated style professional approach and careful delivery led to
approach and careful delivery led to
approach and careful delivery led to many a casting as the thinking man the
many a casting as the thinking man the
many a casting as the thinking man the scheming man or the evil man I’m not
scheming man or the evil man I’m not
scheming man or the evil man I’m not special
special
special he’s a good guy off-camera but there’s
he’s a good guy off-camera but there’s
he’s a good guy off-camera but there’s something about him that just frightens
something about him that just frightens
something about him that just frightens us I mean the devil himself how do you
us I mean the devil himself how do you
us I mean the devil himself how do you shoot the devil in the back what if you
shoot the devil in the back what if you
shoot the devil in the back what if you miss number eight Nicolas Cage whoa gosh
miss number eight Nicolas Cage whoa gosh
miss number eight Nicolas Cage whoa gosh NIC cages defining moment came in 1995
NIC cages defining moment came in 1995
NIC cages defining moment came in 1995 when he won the Academy Award for Best
when he won the Academy Award for Best
when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor let’s do it to it scooping it up
Actor let’s do it to it scooping it up
Actor let’s do it to it scooping it up for his portrayal of suicidal alcoholic
for his portrayal of suicidal alcoholic
for his portrayal of suicidal alcoholic Ben Sanderson in leaving Las Vegas cages
Ben Sanderson in leaving Las Vegas cages
Ben Sanderson in leaving Las Vegas cages performance was deemed tragic and all
performance was deemed tragic and all
performance was deemed tragic and all too true to life
too true to life
too true to life remember Stoddard
drinking cuz my wife left me on my wife
drinking cuz my wife left me on my wife left me cuz I drank films like the rock
left me cuz I drank films like the rock
left me cuz I drank films like the rock and Conair saw the actor soar to
and Conair saw the actor soar to
and Conair saw the actor soar to mainstream popularity as the public took
mainstream popularity as the public took
mainstream popularity as the public took to his regular guy personality I said
to his regular guy personality I said
to his regular guy personality I said put the bunny back in the box
put the bunny back in the box
put the bunny back in the box that being said he’s not your average
that being said he’s not your average
that being said he’s not your average man he’s actually the nephew of famed
man he’s actually the nephew of famed
man he’s actually the nephew of famed movie director Francis Ford Coppola but
movie director Francis Ford Coppola but
movie director Francis Ford Coppola but his acting credentials speak for
his acting credentials speak for
his acting credentials speak for themselves
themselves
themselves Tom left
Tom left
Tom left to have more money
to have more money
to have more money thank you can drink all your water
thank you can drink all your water
thank you can drink all your water just stay
just stay
just stay that’s what I wanted
that’s what I wanted
that’s what I wanted talk or listen just stay number seven
talk or listen just stay number seven
talk or listen just stay number seven Mel Gibson Scotland is free this man’s
Mel Gibson Scotland is free this man’s
Mel Gibson Scotland is free this man’s career spans either side of this
career spans either side of this
career spans either side of this particular decade but in the 90s
particular decade but in the 90s
particular decade but in the 90s Gibson proved to be at his versatile
Gibson proved to be at his versatile
Gibson proved to be at his versatile best oh this just gets better and better
best oh this just gets better and better
best oh this just gets better and better earlier films like maverick showed that
earlier films like maverick showed that
earlier films like maverick showed that he could be funny I don’t like being
he could be funny I don’t like being
he could be funny I don’t like being teased while the third and fourth
teased while the third and fourth
teased while the third and fourth installments of the Lethal Weapon
installments of the Lethal Weapon
installments of the Lethal Weapon franchise combined his wit with weaponry
franchise combined his wit with weaponry
franchise combined his wit with weaponry on the two old fish Braveheart was his
on the two old fish Braveheart was his
on the two old fish Braveheart was his brightest moment though and for his
brightest moment though and for his
brightest moment though and for his portrayal of William Wallace he won huge
portrayal of William Wallace he won huge
portrayal of William Wallace he won huge critical acclaim Gibson got real good in
critical acclaim Gibson got real good in
critical acclaim Gibson got real good in the 90s for one chance just one chance
the 90s for one chance just one chance
the 90s for one chance just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies
to come back here and tell our enemies
to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they’ll
that they may take our lives but they’ll
that they may take our lives but they’ll never take our freedom
number six Denzel Washington when they
number six Denzel Washington when they fired Andrew Beckett because he had AIDS
fired Andrew Beckett because he had AIDS
fired Andrew Beckett because he had AIDS they broke the law Washington rode the
they broke the law Washington rode the
they broke the law Washington rode the wave of his 1989 Oscar win into the next
wave of his 1989 Oscar win into the next
wave of his 1989 Oscar win into the next ten years and he dominated cinema
ten years and he dominated cinema
ten years and he dominated cinema screens
his Supporting Actor role in glory led
his Supporting Actor role in glory led to a series of high-profile parts
to a series of high-profile parts
to a series of high-profile parts beginning with a role as the black
beginning with a role as the black
beginning with a role as the black nationalist leader Malcolm X the
nationalist leader Malcolm X the
nationalist leader Malcolm X the following year he starred in the
following year he starred in the
following year he starred in the oscar-winning picture Philadelphia
oscar-winning picture Philadelphia
oscar-winning picture Philadelphia continued and in 1999 he portrayed
continued and in 1999 he portrayed
continued and in 1999 he portrayed former boxer slash wrongly imprisoned
former boxer slash wrongly imprisoned
former boxer slash wrongly imprisoned convict Rubin Carter in the hurricane
I’ve been locked up and for 30 years for
I’ve been locked up and for 30 years for Washington the 90s were a whirlwind of
Washington the 90s were a whirlwind of
Washington the 90s were a whirlwind of success he put me in prison
love’s gonna bust me number five
love’s gonna bust me number five Brad Pitt it’s only after we’ve lost
Brad Pitt it’s only after we’ve lost
Brad Pitt it’s only after we’ve lost everything we’re free to do anything
everything we’re free to do anything
everything we’re free to do anything Brad Pitt is about his box office as
Brad Pitt is about his box office as
Brad Pitt is about his box office as they come but it wasn’t always that way
they come but it wasn’t always that way
they come but it wasn’t always that way he endured criticism during the early
he endured criticism during the early
he endured criticism during the early 90s largely due to his apparent
90s largely due to his apparent
90s largely due to his apparent one-dimensional Hollywood hunk quality
one-dimensional Hollywood hunk quality
one-dimensional Hollywood hunk quality as evidenced by his breakthrough part in
as evidenced by his breakthrough part in
as evidenced by his breakthrough part in Thelma & Louise
Thelma & Louise
Thelma & Louise ladies gentlemen let’s see wins prize
ladies gentlemen let’s see wins prize
ladies gentlemen let’s see wins prize keeping their cool sam says everybody
keeping their cool sam says everybody
keeping their cool sam says everybody down on the pool the tie began to turn
down on the pool the tie began to turn
down on the pool the tie began to turn when he starred as a detective in seven
when he starred as a detective in seven
when he starred as a detective in seven episodes at home he was nominated for a
episodes at home he was nominated for a
episodes at home he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 12
Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 12
Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 12 monkeys and he played Tyler Durden in
monkeys and he played Tyler Durden in
monkeys and he played Tyler Durden in cult classic Fight Club gentlemen
cult classic Fight Club gentlemen
cult classic Fight Club gentlemen welcome to Fight Club the first rule of
welcome to Fight Club the first rule of
welcome to Fight Club the first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about
Fight Club is you do not talk about
Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club 10 years before he was just a
Fight Club 10 years before he was just a
Fight Club 10 years before he was just a pretty boy by the time 2000 rolled
pretty boy by the time 2000 rolled
pretty boy by the time 2000 rolled around he was a very pretty boy who
around he was a very pretty boy who
around he was a very pretty boy who could act very few of us here actually
could act very few of us here actually
could act very few of us here actually mentally him I’m not saying you’re not
mentally him I’m not saying you’re not
mentally him I’m not saying you’re not mentally along for all I know you’re
mentally along for all I know you’re
mentally along for all I know you’re crazy though room number 4 Kevin Costner
crazy though room number 4 Kevin Costner
crazy though room number 4 Kevin Costner it’s difficult to accept this the early
it’s difficult to accept this the early
it’s difficult to accept this the early 90s were for Kevin Costner a huge
90s were for Kevin Costner a huge
90s were for Kevin Costner a huge Hollywood heyday at the turn of the
Hollywood heyday at the turn of the
Hollywood heyday at the turn of the decade he directed and starred in a huge
decade he directed and starred in a huge
decade he directed and starred in a huge critical and commercial success Dances
critical and commercial success Dances
critical and commercial success Dances with Wolves you have everything from the
with Wolves you have everything from the
with Wolves you have everything from the soldiers work yes there’s nothing for me
soldiers work yes there’s nothing for me
soldiers work yes there’s nothing for me there that’s good an epic historic
there that’s good an epic historic
there that’s good an epic historic Western he went on to recreate more
Western he went on to recreate more
Western he went on to recreate more iconic American history as the district
iconic American history as the district
iconic American history as the district attorney in Oliver Stone’s JFK you loved
attorney in Oliver Stone’s JFK you loved
attorney in Oliver Stone’s JFK you loved the grand juries you can lie to me I’m
the grand juries you can lie to me I’m
the grand juries you can lie to me I’m not charge you with perjury dabbling in
not charge you with perjury dabbling in
not charge you with perjury dabbling in British legend – Costner also had
British legend – Costner also had
British legend – Costner also had success as medieval hero Robin Hood what
success as medieval hero Robin Hood what
success as medieval hero Robin Hood what do we need that the forest cannot
do we need that the forest cannot
do we need that the forest cannot provide he created history by recreating
provide he created history by recreating
provide he created history by recreating history this is English church and by
history this is English church and by
history this is English church and by 1992 he was still at the top this time
1992 he was still at the top this time
1992 he was still at the top this time keeping Whitney Houston safe as the
keeping Whitney Houston safe as the
keeping Whitney Houston safe as the bodyguard
bodyguard
bodyguard I can’t protect your life is it’s a
I can’t protect your life is it’s a
I can’t protect your life is it’s a it’s impossible the odds are all on his
it’s impossible the odds are all on his
it’s impossible the odds are all on his side I will do whatever you say
side I will do whatever you say
side I will do whatever you say number three Will Smith you will see
number three Will Smith you will see
number three Will Smith you will see that there is nothing to be scared of
that there is nothing to be scared of
that there is nothing to be scared of Will Smith’s box-office career came
Will Smith’s box-office career came
Will Smith’s box-office career came about through his work on the smaller
about through his work on the smaller
about through his work on the smaller screen the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince
screen the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince
screen the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of bel-air thrust Smith into the
of bel-air thrust Smith into the
of bel-air thrust Smith into the limelight and confirmed him as a
limelight and confirmed him as a
limelight and confirmed him as a first-class actor let’s come up with
first-class actor let’s come up with
first-class actor let’s come up with something better that you could call me
something better that you could call me
something better that you could call me what would you prefer
what would you prefer
what would you prefer take this His Royal freshness test dope
from then on roles in bad boys and men
from then on roles in bad boys and men in black confirmed him as a leading face
in black confirmed him as a leading face
in black confirmed him as a leading face in the increasingly popular action
in the increasingly popular action
in the increasingly popular action comedy crossover genre to be honest I’d
comedy crossover genre to be honest I’d
comedy crossover genre to be honest I’d appreciate it if he eased up off my back
appreciate it if he eased up off my back
appreciate it if he eased up off my back about it and Independence Day assured
about it and Independence Day assured
about it and Independence Day assured audiences he could save the world
welcome to earth early in his career
welcome to earth early in his career Smith had stated his intentions to be
Smith had stated his intentions to be
Smith had stated his intentions to be the biggest movie star on the planet and
the biggest movie star on the planet and
the biggest movie star on the planet and in the 90s he very nearly got there you
in the 90s he very nearly got there you
in the 90s he very nearly got there you know what the difference is between you
know what the difference is between you
know what the difference is between you and me
I make this look good all right now it’s
I make this look good all right now it’s my turn
my turn
my turn number two Jim Carrey that’s a lovely
number two Jim Carrey that’s a lovely
number two Jim Carrey that’s a lovely accent you have New Jersey Austria
accent you have New Jersey Austria
accent you have New Jersey Austria Austria
Austria
Austria well then g’day mate bursting onto the
well then g’day mate bursting onto the
well then g’day mate bursting onto the scene with more noise and facial
scene with more noise and facial
scene with more noise and facial expressions than the average actor Jim
expressions than the average actor Jim
expressions than the average actor Jim Carrey first tasted fame as a Sven syrup
Carrey first tasted fame as a Sven syrup
Carrey first tasted fame as a Sven syrup pet detective I’m gonna execute a
pet detective I’m gonna execute a
pet detective I’m gonna execute a buttonhook pattern super slow-mo 1994
buttonhook pattern super slow-mo 1994
buttonhook pattern super slow-mo 1994 turned out to be a very busy year for
turned out to be a very busy year for
turned out to be a very busy year for the bonkers comedian as the mask and
the bonkers comedian as the mask and
the bonkers comedian as the mask and Dumb and Dumber confirmed him as a
Dumb and Dumber confirmed him as a
Dumb and Dumber confirmed him as a box-office smash hey when you’re the
box-office smash hey when you’re the
box-office smash hey when you’re the most annoying sound in the world
four years later Carrie gained
four years later Carrie gained considerable critical acclaim for his
considerable critical acclaim for his
considerable critical acclaim for his role as the title character in The
role as the title character in The
role as the title character in The Truman Show in case I don’t see ya good
Truman Show in case I don’t see ya good
Truman Show in case I don’t see ya good afternoon good evening and good night a
afternoon good evening and good night a
afternoon good evening and good night a very funny man he could also act up a
very funny man he could also act up a
very funny man he could also act up a storm a deserved wearer of our silver
storm a deserved wearer of our silver
storm a deserved wearer of our silver medal Josh garland I do give it him
pardon me before we unveil our pick for
pardon me before we unveil our pick for decade defining actor of the 1990s here
decade defining actor of the 1990s here
decade defining actor of the 1990s here are a few honorable mentions get busy
are a few honorable mentions get busy
are a few honorable mentions get busy living or get busy dying
that’s nice that’s very good news
that’s nice that’s very good news suddenly there was a terrible roar all
suddenly there was a terrible roar all
suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what
around us and the sky was full of what
around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats all swooping and
looked like huge bats all swooping and
looked like huge bats all swooping and screeching and diving around the car and
screeching and diving around the car and
screeching and diving around the car and a voice was screaming holy Jesus world
a voice was screaming holy Jesus world
a voice was screaming holy Jesus world he’s got him at all who are you doing oh
he’s got him at all who are you doing oh
he’s got him at all who are you doing oh god no babe no for some reason I thought
god no babe no for some reason I thought
god no babe no for some reason I thought of my first fight with Tyler No
I know gun food number one Tom Hanks my
I know gun food number one Tom Hanks my mom always said life was like a box of
mom always said life was like a box of
mom always said life was like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re
chocolates you never know what you’re
chocolates you never know what you’re going to get if ever an actor inspired a
going to get if ever an actor inspired a
going to get if ever an actor inspired a generation it’s this man shall we
Tom Hanks enjoyed impossible success
Tom Hanks enjoyed impossible success throughout the 90s Sleepless in Seattle
throughout the 90s Sleepless in Seattle
throughout the 90s Sleepless in Seattle established his rom-com credentials
established his rom-com credentials
established his rom-com credentials while Philadelphia proved he could
while Philadelphia proved he could
while Philadelphia proved he could handle heavier roles I think I need to
handle heavier roles I think I need to
handle heavier roles I think I need to go to hospital next came Forrest Gump
go to hospital next came Forrest Gump
go to hospital next came Forrest Gump for which he won his second Oscar I’m
for which he won his second Oscar I’m
for which he won his second Oscar I’m not a smart man but I know what love is
not a smart man but I know what love is
not a smart man but I know what love is then Toy Story and then Saving Private
then Toy Story and then Saving Private
then Toy Story and then Saving Private Ryan which was labeled one of the finest
Ryan which was labeled one of the finest
Ryan which was labeled one of the finest war movies ever made your brothers were
war movies ever made your brothers were
war movies ever made your brothers were killed in combat
all with his long list of blockbusters
all with his long list of blockbusters we could go on and on and we still
we could go on and on and we still
we could go on and on and we still wouldn’t do justice to Hanks
wouldn’t do justice to Hanks
wouldn’t do justice to Hanks achievements he’s a living legend
achievements he’s a living legend
achievements he’s a living legend I feel heartfelt sorrow for the mother
I feel heartfelt sorrow for the mother
I feel heartfelt sorrow for the mother of private James Ryan been willing to
of private James Ryan been willing to
of private James Ryan been willing to lay down my life
lay down my life
lay down my life wives are my men especially you ride
wives are my men especially you ride
wives are my men especially you ride them to ease her suffering
them to ease her suffering
them to ease her suffering do you agree with our list which 1990s
do you agree with our list which 1990s
do you agree with our list which 1990s actor do you think is the most iconic
actor do you think is the most iconic
actor do you think is the most iconic for more classic top 10s published every
for more classic top 10s published every
for more classic top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to
day be sure to subscribe to
day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com thank you no more question
”
Be First to Comment