Prolific Actors Who Crushed It and Appeared on The Most Number of Acting Projects

Some actors in Hollywood are well-known for a certain sort of character that they have played. It makes sense to recast an actor in the same role if he or she has demonstrated a special ability or love for that particular performing style in the past.

While it is reasonable to claim that trying something new will not always be successful, the alternative is just as dangerous as the first.

Most actors dislike this since it limits their ability to express themselves creatively and hinders them from trying new things.

Actors are periodically given the opportunity to expand their artistic horizons by taking on new roles. This serves as a good reminder of why confident performers are cast in particular parts the vast majority of the time. However, every now and again, an actor arrives in a role you wouldn't expect them to portray and absolutely destroys it.

1. Daniel Craig, Logan Lucky

Before he was cast as the next James Bond, most people probably had no idea who Daniel Craig was as an actor. Layer Cake is the most probable place you've seen him previously. As a result, his appearance in Steven Soderbergh's heist film Logan Lucky as a bank robber with a propensity for explosives was unexpected. If we hadn't already seen Craig, we would have thought that was who he was based on his appearance alone. Logan Lucky wouldn't be the same without him, so we're eager to see what more he has in store for us in the future.

2. Jim Carrey, The Truman Show

In 1998, Jim Carrey was well known for his over-the-top comedy like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, although he has branched out into other genres. These movies were a natural progression from his work on the sketch comedy series In Living Color. So when he left his comfort zone for the first time in The Truman Show, no one was entirely sure what to expect. We weren't expecting any slapstick humor from the actor, but he was perfectly cast in part. Carrey was able to open several new doors as a genuine movie star due to this.

3. Robin Williams, One Hour Photo

Like Jim Carrey, Robin Williams was formerly recognized only for his comedic roles in movies and television shows. He was well suited to comedic roles in movies and television series that made you laugh till you cried. In films like Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting, where he earned an Academy Award, he astonished us all by stepping up to the tragic roles he was playing. However, compared to his transformation in One Hour Photo, this adjustment was not quite as stunning. A picture developer who becomes obsessed with his clientele, Williams' portrayal of him was both shockingly serious and downright frightening. 2

4. Charlize Theron, Monster

In her career, Charlize Theron has been awe-inspiring to fans. As a result, she is frequently cast as the femme fatale or, in part, that relies heavily on her sex appeal. However, for her Award-winning Academy performance in Monster, the actress transformed everything about her, even the type of part she performed. As a serial murderer, Theron was utterly unrecognizable to the audience, which may have helped them recognize the performance as exceptional. Since then, she hasn't done anything remotely similar.

5. Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

It's possible that your first encounter with Heath Ledger came from various sources. Ten Things I Hate About You, A Knight's Tale, or Brokeback Mountain may have made you recognize him. When Heath Ledger was cast as The Joker in The Dark Knight, no one could have predicted what to anticipate. The performance we received was probably not what anyone was expecting. Even in such a short period, Ledger's portrayal as Heath Ledger has become one of the most recognizable films. Heath Ledger is the only one who can play The Joker currently, even though the character has been around for decades.

6. Jonah Hill, Moneyball

Comedies written and starred in by Judd Apatow and featuring Seth Rogen made Jonah Hill a household celebrity. Consequently, throughout the early stages of his career, Hill became linked not just with humor but also with a specific type of comedy. The young actor's performance in Moneyball was a memorable one. As a Yale-educated geek, Hill portrays Brad Pitt's straight man in the film. Hill received his first Oscar nomination for Moneyball, and he deserved it. It was also the springboard for several other projects that led to nominations for various awards.

7. Emma Watson, The Bling Ring

Since Hermione Granger was the focus of Emma Watson's career for a decade, she wasn't only renowned for one sort of role. The character of Hermione Granger was the furthest thing from Watson's family-friendly Hermione once the Harry Potter movies ended. Watson starred in The Bling Ring as a member of a gang of Hollywood burglars that targeted the mansions of A-listers. Everyone adores Hermione, but Watson demonstrated she could also portray a repulsive part.

8. Steve Carell, Foxcatcher

Steve Carell built his name on The Daily Show, so it only makes sense that he began with comedy when he transitioned to the big screen. It is expected that he will appear in films such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin or Despicable Me. We don't anticipate him to play a mad wrestling coach who turns into a murderer in Foxcatcher. Not only does Carell's portrayal of John du Pont fail to amuse, but it's also downright scary. It's not that we doubted the actor's abilities; we just never expected to see him succeed in such a role.

9. Cameron Diaz, Being John Malkovich

Because Being John Malkovich is a Charlie Kaufman film, we're not sure if anyone in the film is playing to type. On the other hand, Cameron Diaz was arguably the last person we would have expected to portray the character she did. Being John Malkovich is a strange form of comedy for Diaz, who had previously worked on various comedies. Her character is as far off from the sex appeal of a typical romantic comedy as we could get her. Plain and weird, she was a standout in the crowd. That is what I was looking for in a woman.

10. Michael Keaton, Clean and Sober

In the late 1980s, Michael Keaton's movies all had humor every day. When it comes to comedic films, Keaton had a great run. To our amazement, Keaton wasn't Batman when he first appeared on screen; instead, he played a heroin addict trying to overcome his addiction. While it was the last thing on our minds, it was a sign of things to come, such as how many significant dramatic parts he had recently taken on.

11. Samuel L. Jackson

You'll see him wherever you look. Given the number of films he's slated to feature in, I'm sure Samuel L. Jackson will soon be at the top of this list. You'll have a hard time thinking of a movie where he didn't appear.

With his appearances in the Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe, Samuel L. Jackson has become a vital component of contemporary pop culture. One can safely state that Jackson has the most film credits of any actor, with over 160 films to his name.

12. Danny Glover

Danny Glover is a force to be reckoned with. When this article was written, the actor had 15 projects in development. It's hard to argue with Glover's popularity with a resume that includes Lethal Weapon, The Color Purple, Saw, and Predator 2.

Danny Glover has featured in a little over 120 films over his career as an actor and political activist. In addition to being a member of the Jazz Foundation of America, Glover has also been highly involved in the music industry. Lethal Weapon may be his best-known performance, but he's also recently been in a slew of dramatic roles. For a man in his seventies, Glover still has a long career ahead of him in film and television roles. Glover would have been in 131 films, which is quite a feat for any actor.

13. Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan has starred in more than 190 films as an actor and stuntman throughout the years. Chan's career has spanned both the Hollywood and Chinese cinema markets, making him one of the actors with the most credits.

Chan had already built a reputation for himself in Hong Kong and mainland China before he arrived in the United States. The actor's ability to blend physical humor with jaw-dropping feats has made him one of Hollywood's most known faces. And the most significant thing is that Chan is still quite active: he acted in three films last year and will participate in three more films in 2022.

14. Danny Trejo

A look at Danny Trejo's filmography shows just how far the actor has come since his first film appearance, 1985's Runaway Train, came about while Trejo was visiting the set to help with drug difficulties, having worked in sober living centers.

As Machete, Trejo is most known for his role in the Spy Kids trilogy but has since appeared in several more mature and violent films, including Heat, Con Air, and Desperado.

Trejo, 77, is still working as an actor. Thus his net worth is sure to rise in the future.

15. Christopher Lee

Dracula, Saruman, Scaramanga, and Dooku were just some of Christopher Lee's many roles, including those in the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Man with the Golden Gun. As of 2018, Lee had appeared in 213 films, spanning seven decades and seven decades.

16. Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney's career spanned nine decades, and he had 201 picture credits to his name over that period. He portrayed in 16 films; Andy Hardy was one of MGM's most successful performers and his most recognized role. Additionally, Rooney is known for his work with Judy Garland in such films as Breakfast in Tiffany'S, Babies in Arms, and appearances in It's a Mad World and The Black Stallion National Velvet.

17. Christopher Plummer

After taking over for Kevin Spacey in All the Money in the World, Christopher Plummer became the oldest actor nominated for an Academy Award three years before his death in 2021. One of his most famous roles was as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music; he appeared in 119 films over his career. Among them were A Beautiful Mind and Knives Out.

18. Susan Sarandon

Her acting career began in 1970 with the film Joe, and five years later, she was cast as Janet in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which became an instant classic. Since then, Sarandon has been in Thelma and ' Louise and Dead Man Walking and Stepmom, Little Women, and The Witches of Eastwick.

19. Bette Davis

A five-decade career saw Bette Davis appear in 90 films, yet she turned down significant roles and became more selective as her popularity rose. Dangerous, Jezebel, All About Eve, Death on the Nile, and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane was her most famous films. To date, Davis is the only actor to have been nominated for 10 Oscars and to win an Academy Award.

20. James Earl Jones

Dr. Strangelove is a terrific way to get your film career started, and you can expect an impressive resume as a result. James Earl Jones is an actor and singer best known for his work in the film Coming 2 America, released this year. Mufasa in "The Lion King" and Darth Vader in "Star Wars" are among the most well-known roles he has performed.

21. Eli Wallach

Eighty-four film credits later, Eli Wallach's cinematic career began with a role in 1956's Baby Doll. Magnificent Seven, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, The Godfather Part III (The Associate), and The Holiday are many films made by the late actor.