Most over rated actor of all time

It's going back a bit, but I always thought Burt Lancaster was the most overrated male to emerge from Hollywood. He came across as a big, dumb, embarrassing ox. I could never understand why anyone would rave over him or, for that matter, call him an actor.

I was gonna say Tom Cruise, but Steven Seagal would have to top the list.

http://www.stevenseagal.com/

It wouldn't surprise me if he created that site.

Lancaster had some excellent roles where he turned in some great performances:

1982 Nominated Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role
for: Atlantic City (1980)


1963 Nominated Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role
for: Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)


1961 Won Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role
for: Elmer Gantry (1960)


1954 Nominated Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role
for: From Here to Eternity (1953)

BAFTA Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
1984 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Supporting Actor
for: Local Hero (1983)


1982 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Actor
for: Atlantic City (1980)


1963 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Foreign Actor
for: Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
USA.

1961 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Foreign Actor
for: Elmer Gantry (1960)
USA.


Golden Globes, USA
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
1991 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
for: The Phantom of the Opera (1990) (TV)


1982 Nominated Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama
for: Atlantic City (1980)


1963 Nominated Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama
for: Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)


1961 Won Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama
for: Elmer Gantry (1960)


1957 Nominated Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama
for: The Rainmaker (1956)

Not that he wasn't given, especially in 1950's - 60's Westerns, some "big, dumb, embarrassing ox" roles, as in "Vera Cruz" (only one of the villains against one of Gary Cooper's last roles as the hero). He doesn't deserve to be entered in any Worst Actor Ever nor Most Over-rated list as he was only lauded for these roles when he deserved it, but was very good in, say, "From Here to Eternity," "The Rose Tatoo" and many other films despite some of the those bad roles. Looks like about every big name actor in Hollywood who survived WWII Hollywood in the 40's and the advent of television that broke down the studio system and the theater monopolies in the 50's. That studio system was as all out for box-office and turned out just as many clunkers as there are today, although now they can wow audiences with special effects, et al, when the script itself sucks.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000044/

Good idea: if anyone hasn't seen it, rent "Atlantic City," a film late in his career where he was just simply incredible.

Without a doubt, Robert Wagner.

Will Smith.

Will Smith performs the roles of (often funny) adventurer very well. He's no dramatic artist, of course, and he acknowledged that the other day in a TV interview. But he does very well in the roles he chooses
I used to think that William Shatner competed with Robert Wagner for worst actor (his acting in Star Trek used to curl my toes) until he took on the role of Denny Crane (Boston Legal) on TV. It was made for him in his heavier and older stage of life. Many, if not most, "movie stars" can only play a very limited range of characters. The Russel Crows and Anthony Hopkinses are very rare

Will Smith was usually put in goofy roles, but he can deliver a dramatic performance as well. I truly enjoyed The Pursuit of Happyness, where he stars along with his son. I enjoy actors who have a wide range of delivery and that he does have.

Ronald Reagan..

Hey, I like William Shatner He's a very funny, guy, actually. He probably laughed his way through the original Star Trek series

That may be true, Mame.

Ben Stiller for sure.

Once Curly Joe came on the show it became unwatchable.

Funny. Keanu Reeves truly puts out the same dull-witted performance in every film. But, he's really appealing. I especially liked him in My Own Private Idaho. I think the part worked well for him because he was supposed to be a shallow but a total hipster-stud.