Among the most fan-favorite decades in the history of film would have to be the1990s. Much of its popularity can be attributed to the work of American filmmakers, fromGoodfellas(1990) andThe Silence of the Lambs(1991) toGroundhog Day(1993) andPulp Fiction(1994). Those all featured famous performers, and even star-studded casts. Many prolific actors from Hollywood history delivered their finest work throughout this decade, and their efforts hold up wonderfully today. You should recognize most of the names on the list, while one or two could appear more unfamiliar. All that said, these are the twenty greatest American actors of the 1990s, ranked.
20Tommy Lee Jones
Perhaps the greatest supporting actor of the 1990s wasTommy Lee Jones, who got off to a terrific start in that regard thanks toJFK(1991). He plays Clay Shaw, who stood trial for conspiring to murder the titular president. His efforts stole the show, as they did a couple of years thereafter inThe Fugitive(1993). Starring Harrison Ford, the two shared a phenomenal chemistry as Ford’s character goes on the run from Tommy Lee’s. And for his work, the man of the hour walked away witha golden statuetteat the 66th Academy Awards.
In the following years, he made a couple of other supporting appearances in well-known titles likeThe Client(1994) andBatman Forever(1995). The former further showcased his prowess as a high-quality actor, whileBatman Forevermade great waves at the box office and bolstered his overall name value. Then, there’sMen in Black(1997). That’s one of the funniest film from the 1990s, and it holds up wonderfully today. By far, Tommy Lee was at his best in this decade.
19Ice Cube
Upon seeing the nameIce Cube, one of two films likely materialized in your head: eitherBoyz n the Hood(1991) by John Singleton, orFriday(1995) by F. Gary Gray. The former remains one of his greatest films to this day, asBoyz n the Hoodboasts a 96% approval rating on critical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s even been preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Film Registry. But it also marked Ice Cube’s on-screen debut. Meanwhile,Fridaygoes down among the funniest films of the decade, and it holds up wonderfully today.
There’s one film that often gets thrown by the wayside:Three Kings(1999), written and directed by David O. Russell. Ahigh-quality war comedy, it stars George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg alongside the actor at hand in one of the more underrated stints from everyone involved. Ice Cube of course appeared in numerous other features throughout the nineties. ButBoyz n the Hood, Friday, andThree Kingsare the cream of the crop.
18Angela Bassett
After appearing amid the star-studded cast ofBoyz n the Hood(1991) by John Singleton, American actressAngela Bassettmade a name for herself as one of the hottest up-and-coming actresses in the industry. Over the next two years alone, she would appear in some of the highest-rated films of the decade. She collaborated twice with John Sayles: once inCity of Hope(1991), and again inPassion Fish(1992). Both received widespread praise from critics and audiences alike despite holding less appreciable name value today.
Receiving further acclaim, Bassett appeared alongside Denzel Washington inMalcolm X(1992) by Spike Lee. She portrayed Betty Shabazz, with the role also garnering her popularity as a promising performer. Then, she shocked everyone with her portrayal of Tina Turner inWhat’s Love Got to Do With It(1993). That’s her greatest work, even if she came up short for Best Actress at the Oscars. When looking at other films likeStrange Days(1996) andContact(1997), her status as an all-time great of the nineties is clearly closed to debate.
17Joe Pesci
One of thebest performances of the decadewas put on byJoe PesciinGoodfellas(1990). His efforts as Tommy DeVito garnered widespread acclaim, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Even today, it’s commonly discussed as one of the most committed performances to ever grace the silver screen, and it will forever be the role associated with Pesci. His efforts were elicited by the great Martin Scorsese, with whom Pesci frequently collaborates.Goodfellasmarked their second work afterRaging Bull(1980) in the prior decade, whileCasino(1995) saw them reunite a few years hereafter.
Though he doesn’t perform to the same extent, Pesci once again shares a tremendous chemistry with Robert De Niro. And overall,Casinoremains among the finest films from everyone involved. But those are just the critical darlings of Pesci’s from the ’90s. In terms of commercial value, you can look no further thanHome Alone(1990) andHome Alone 2: Lost in New York(1992). He shines alongside Daniel Stern, with the wet bandits leaving the water running for production as a whole.Home Alonedefinitely bolsters Pesci’s case.
16Tim Allen
There are many roles in this regard that are commonly associated withTim Allen. The ’90s were by far his biggest decade, not just because the entirety ofHome Improvementaired throughout these years. Even with regard to cinema, Allen wasat his peak: just look at his voice work inToy Story(1995) andToy Story 2(1999), for instance. Buzz Lightyear is among the most famous animated characters to ever grace the silver screen, and that can be attributed to the vocal efforts of Allen.
But there’s alsoThe Santa Clause(1995) and, perhaps his most underrated film,Galaxy Quest(1999). The former is still played throughout households today come Christmastime,whileGalaxy Questshould be known among the funniest films from the 1990s. And as an overall product, it’s among the best from Allen’s filmography. On any given day, those four films could land Allen even higher on the list.
15Frances McDormand
There’s one role in the 1990s most commonly associated withFrances McDormand, and with good reason. But off the bat, it’s worth noting a number of more underrated films made by talented directors:Darkman(1990) by Sam Raimi,Hidden Agenda(1990) by Ken Loach,Primal Fear(1996) by Gregory Hoblit, andLone Star(1996) by John Sayles. That’s quite the variety of genre, and each film holds up wonderfully today despite a respective paucity of popularity. But the most famous McDormand performance of the decade remains the most revered of her entire career.
She’s worked on numerous occasions with Joel and Ethan Coen, her husband and brother-in-law (respectively).Fargo(1996) is the trio’s best film, as it received widespread acclaim upon release and still holds up wonderfully today. McDormand famously wonthe Academy Award for Best Actressthanks to her work as Marge Gunderson, and it remains her most essential role all these years later. That will forever be the case.
14Jim Carrey
Off the bat, it’s worth noting the monumental efforts ofJim Carreyin just one of these ten years: 1994. Often regarded among the finest years in cinema history, it saw three releases that featured Carrey in the starring (or co-starring) role:The Mask(1994),Dumb and Dumber(1994), andAce Ventura: Pet Detective(1994). Those are three of the most famous films of the 1990s, let alone of Carrey’s career. And further efforts inBatman Forever(1995),The Cable Guy(1996), andLiar Liar(1997) rendered him one of the greatest comedy actors of his generation.
But there’s alsoThe Truman Show(1998) andMan on the Moon(1999), which showcased Carrey’s aptitude as an affecting actor.The Truman Showis easily among the best roles of Carrey’s career, and it garnered him widespread acclaim while his prior performances in the nineties mostly bolstered his status as a household name. But combined, they all render Jim Carrey one of the most important actors of the decade.
13Johnny Depp
From well-known moneymakers and critical darlings to independent and monochromatic films, Johnny Depp had a diverse streak in the 1990s. Hecollaborated with Tim Burtonon three occasions, and he never recycled personalities:Edward Scissorhands(1990),Ed Wood(1994), andSleepy Hollow(1999) all feature vastly disparate versions of Depp as the lead. And while those may be the first films you thought of upon seeing his name on the list, Depp appeared in several other (often better, frankly) projects throughout the decade at hand.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape(1993) andDonnie Brasco(1997) received widespread acclaim for everyone involved, whileFear and Loathing in Las Vegas(1998) is considered today as a cult classic. That helps his name value. But there’s also a little-known acid western calledDead Man(1995) — perhaps the most underrated movie of Depp’s career, and easily of the decade. Depp had quite the variety in the nineties, and it may represent his zenith.
Throughout the decade,Brad Pittrose to fame throughout these ten years unlike few of his contemporaries.Thelma and Louise(1991) put him on the map witha charismatic supporting effort, while bothA River Runs Through It(1992) andTrue Romance(1993) continued his success in the critical department. And although they aren’t the best films you’ll read about today,Interview With a Vampire(1994) andLegends of the Fall(1994) only bolstered his name value even further.
He also collaborated twice with David Fincher: once withSe7en(1995), followed more prominently byFight Club(1999). Not that the latter is better, necessarily. But Pitt’s efforts were more renowned, and with good reason. And none of this was to even mention12 Monkeys(1995). That may be the greatest performance of his entire career, and it helps astronomically in landing Pitt on the list.
11Leonardo DiCaprio
In his second ever feature film appearance, Leonardo DiCaprio shared the screen with Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin inThis Boy’s Life(1993). He portrayed real-life figure Tobias Wolfe, garnering great acclaim along the way. But that reverence was nothing compared to the reception ofWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape(1993). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and his work as a mentally disabled youth put him at the center of Hollywood’s map.
A couple of years later, he starred in two massively underrated features:The Basketball Diaries(1995), a sports film, andThe Quick and the Dead(1995), a western. The latter waswritten and directed by Sam Raimi, and it features quite the star-studded cast on top of DiCaprio: names like Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, and Russell Crowe are all in prominent roles. And when considering the box office success ofRomeo + Juliet(1996) along with the record-breakingTitanic(1997), this list would be incomplete without DiCaprio’s inclusion.
