35 Leading Actors Who’ve Appeared in the Most Movies, Ever

We all have our favorite actors, the ones we get excited about when they announce their latest roles. But which actor’s face always seems to be in the newest Hollywood blockbuster or the latest TV series? If you answered Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, or Julia Roberts, you’d be wrong. While these actors have been in plenty of movies, they don’t even break the top ten.

The production of thousands of movies and television series annually makes the movie industry one of the busiest in the world and necessitates the employment of many active performers. However, these renowned actors and actresses would surpass all other actors in terms of acting credentials, regardless of how hard other actors worked. So who has been in the most movies and shows? For actors who are famous for their live-action roles, some of them are the hardest-working men and women in show business. Your favorite actors likely have dozens, if not hundreds of credits under their names.

35

Bela Lugosi

113 acting credits

Born Blaskó Béla Ferenc Dezső, Hungarian-American actor Bela Lugosi is most memorable for the original screen portrayal of Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula in 1931’s Dracula, which he reprised in 1948’s Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Before joining Hollywood, Lugosi appeared in silent films of Weimar-era Germany, like Hypnose: Sklaven fremden Willens and Der Januskopf. From 1902, Lugosi appeared in more than a hundred productions in Hungary, followed by his first American film, The Silent Command, in 1923.

Between 1931 and 1956, Lugosi garnered popularity and acclaim for his prolific work in horror films, mostly with genre icon, Boris Karloff, having co-starred in films like The Raven, The Black Cat, and Son of Frankenstein. The success of his performance in Dracula gained him an important niche in classic horror films, but it quickly became a typecast that turned Bela Lugosi into a legendary horror villain, inspiring actors and filmmakers of the future. —Maddie P

34

Bette Davis

124 acting credits

Bette Davis, born Ruth Elizabeth Davis in 1908, was an American actor with a career spanning almost 50 years and 124 acting credits under her belt. She was one of the most iconic actors from Hollywood’s Golden Age for her performances in a variety of movie genres and for portraying characters who were cold and sarcastic.

Davis’ first acting credit was for the movie Bad Sister (1931) in which she played Laura Madison, establishing her career forwards. After that, hardly ever a year went by without the release of a film starring Bette Davis. She is most famous for her role as Margo in the 1950 film, All About Eve, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), Dark Victory (1939), and Now, Voyager (1942). Moreover, Davis won two Oscars for her performances in Dangerous (1935) and Jezebel (1938) throughout her successful career.

33

Nicolas Cage

125 Acting Credits

Nicolas Cage was born Nicolas Kim Coppola on January, 7 1964 and is the nephew of Oscar-winning director, Francis Ford Coppola. The actor changed his name to separate himself from his famous roots and established himself during the 1990s with hit films such as Con Air, The Rock, and Face/Off, becoming one of the decade’s most popular leading men.

Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 1995 drama Leaving Las Vegas and earned a second nomination in the category in 2002 for Adaptation. With an impressive 125 acting credits, Cage shows no signs of slowing down any time soon after recently starring in the successful horror thriller, Longlegs, as well as several other films in the past few years, such as The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent with Pedro Pascal and Dream Scenario.

32

Robert Mitchum

132 acting credits

Robert Mitchum has been regarded as the heart and soul of classic noir and is ranked as one of the biggest stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mitchum rose to stardom in the mid-1940s after receiving an Oscar nomination for his performance in the 1945 film, The Story of G.I. Joe. He went on to star in an array of film genres, such as Westerns, comedy dramas, and thrillers, including River of No Return, El Dorado, and The Night of the Hunter.

The actor went on to star in dozens of classic films, including Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison, Cape Fear, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, and Farewell, My Lovely. The American Film Institute ranked Mitchum as the 23rd greatest actor of all time and, with 132 acting credits, he rightfully earned his spot on the list of one hundred notable names. — Andrea Ciriaco

31

Myrna Loy

141 Acting Credits

Classic film icon, Myrna Loy, was one of the most versatile performers during Hollywood’s Golden Age and gained notoriety for her ability to adapt to her on-screen partner’s acting styles. Born in Helena, Montana, Loy’s career peaked in the 1940s with hit films such as The Best Years of Our Lives, The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, and Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home with Cary Grant. She also became widely recognized for her reoccurring role as Nora Charles in The Thin Man films series co-starring William Powell.

Surprisingly, Loy never received an Academy Award nomination throughout her lengthy career and is one of few stars who The Guardian named as one of the best actors to have never earned an Oscar nomination. Despite her baffling lack of recognition by the Academy, Loy is one of the most beloved classic film stars who many today admire for her genuine charm and stunning beauty that establishes her as a cinematic icon. — Andrea Ciriaco

30

Robert Duvall

146 acting credits

Making his film debut as Boo Radley alongside Gregory Peck in the 1962 classic To Kill a Mockingbird, Robert Duvall has made a name for himself ever since, seamlessly transitioning from the stage, where he began his illustrious acting career, to the big screen.

Duvall has worked with some heavy hitter directors in his time, appearing as the lead in George Lucas’ directorial debut THX 1138 (1971) and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972), The Godfather: Part II (1974) and Apocalypse Now (1979). Despite his only Oscar win in 1984 – Best Lead Actor for Tender Mercies – Duvall has continued to flex his acting muscles in Deep Impact (1998) and The Judge (2014), with a movie due for release this year and one currently in production.

29

Jackie Chan

152 acting credits

Jackie Chan is no stranger to moviegoers and fans of great martial arts films, gaining fame for his action-comedy style. Some of his most popular movies include Drunken Master (1978), Police Story (1985 – 1992), Rush Hour (1998), and Shanghai Noon (2000). Moreover, Chan has received numerous accolades for his contributions to film and philanthropy. He has been recognized with awards like the Honorary Oscar for his extraordinary achievements and lifelong dedication to the industry.

Chan’s first credited role in a film was in the 1962 movie titled Big and Little Wong Tin Bar. At the time, Chan was only eight years old. Although considered a minor role, it marked the beginning of his prolific career in the film industry. He later goes on to be in numerous action-comedy blockbusters such as Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, Shanghai Knights (2003), and Kung Fu Panda (2008). Chan’s latest appearance is in the animated movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) where he voices Splinter.

28

Anthony Hopkins

154 acting credits

Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins started his career with a recurring television spot in 1960 but is probably best known for his stint as Hannibal Lector in the hugely successful The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and its less-successful follow-ups, Hannibal (2001) and Red Dragon (2002). With a penchant for playing evil characters, Hopkins, now aged in his 80s, has continued to take on big roles.

He’s reprised his role as Odin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), and Thor: Ragnarok (2017), as well as notable performances in Hitchcock (2012), The Two Popes (2019), The Father (2020) – the last of which earned him an Oscar for Best Actor – and as Dr. Robert Ford in the TV series Westworld (2016 – 2018). Hopkins is showing no signs of stopping any time soon, as he’s voiced the character Jimmy in the Rebel Moon (2023) franchise.

27

Shelley Winters

163 acting credits

Shelley Winters is one of the most celebrated actresses of classic cinema and is best known for her roles in films such as The Diary of Anne Frank, A Place in the Sun, and Lolita. The Oscar-winning actress was born in St. Louis, Missouri and started her acting career on Broadway before transitioning into films, making her first on-screen appearance in an uncredited role in the 1943 movie, There’s Something About a Solider.

Her breakthrough performance came in George Cukor‘s 1947 film, A Double Life, which led to Winters signing a long-term contract with Universal Pictures. While Winters initially made headway as a blonde bombshell, she quickly proved her range and talent, taking on more serious roles in films like The Raging Tide and Phone Call From a Stranger, that solidified her as a promising box office star. Winters was the recipient of two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress for The Diary of Anne Frank and A Patch of Blue, deeming her to be one of Hollywood’s greatest female stars. — Andrea Ciriaco

26

Nicole Kidman

164 acting credits

Discerned to be one of the most influential actresses since the 1990s, actor-producer Nicole Kidman began her journey with the Australian film Bush Christmas. Following her breakthrough with 1989’s Dead Calm, she rose to prominence with her supporting performance in Days of Thunder, followed by successes like To Die For and Eyes Wide Shut. She captivated her audience with her roles in Moulin Rouge! and Hours, the latter of which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

From mainstream blockbusters to independent films, art-house cinema, musicals, and animated films, Nicole Kidman has over 160 acting credits, garnering global popularity with Cold Mountain, Lion, The Others, Bewitched, and Rabbit Hole. On the small screen, she made a mark by producing and starring in critically acclaimed shows Big Little Lies, The Undoing, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Lioness. Besides her prolific acting, Nicole Kidman is reputed for her work with female directors and became the first Australian actor to earn the AFI Life Achievement Award. —Maddie P