By far the best work of a screen actor's life

What about his turn as Cpt. Dudley Smith in L.A. Confidential?

 

Peter Fonda and Dean Stockwell were both in 'The Trip,' written by Jack Nicholson.

 

Jeff Bridges in 'The Big Lebowski'
Sean Penn in 'Carlito's Way'
Terrence Stamp in 'The Limey'
Emilio Echevarría in 'Amorres Perros'
Tim Roth in 'Little Odessa'

 

Speaking of Bridges, how about Beau Bridges in "Fabulous Baker Boys"?
Probably Michelle Pfieffer's best work, as well.

Jeff Bridges was great for the part as well, but it's hard to pick his best work because he's had many good roles.

 

Another person who fails to understand the idea of the thread. While I really like that we're talking acting performances (one of the main reasons I love movies), you have listed here at least three actors who do good to great work each time they're in a movie.

Bridges (Door In the Floor, to name one) and Penn (Mystic River, to name one) have done great work in many films, while Roth was superb in Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and especially Four Rooms ("I have prah-blames. Ploo-rule.")

 

How about Max Baer Jr. as Jethro Bodine in "The Beverly Hillbillies"? Come to think of it, did he ever act in any other role? ;D

I'm not surprised that Ronald Reagan was mentioned in this thread, but for "The Killers"? I would've thought his best acting was during the 1966, 1970, 1980 and 1984 campaigns. ;D ;D

Someone also mentioned, back-to-back, Bruce McGill in "61*" and John Belushi in "Animal House." Why not Bruce McGill in "Animal House"? He played a wonderful rendition of "The William Tell Overture" on his throat after riding his motorcycle upstairs in the frat house.

 

Max Baer Jr. became a big-money producer in Hollywood, which was Jethro's goal, come to think of it. At one time, he was trying to get a Beverly Hillbillies-themed thing going in Vegas or Branson.

 

It always amused me that his dad was the world heavyweight champion and yet Granny, who was about four-foot-nothing and weighed about 50 pounds, would slap him around mercilessly. Ellie Mae used to kick his ass regularly too.

 

Maybe Max Jr. preferred to be the bottom in his relationships.

 

Mr J,

Famously in The Killers (got it the other day on the Criterion Collection) ol' Ron, in the last honest work that he ever did, slugged Angie Dickinson. First time he was a bad guy.

Hanging curveball: Haing Ngor, The Killing Fields.

YHS, etc

 

He slugged Angie Dickinson and married Nancy Davis. Talk about screwed-up priorities.

 

So this is kind of a "one-hit wonders" thread? I misunderstood and took it as "best ever". Sorry.

I stand by Echevarria and Stamp in the truer spirit of the thread. (I think).

And Sean Penn does not do good to great work EVERY time he's in a movie...

Anyhow, carry on. Hope I didn't ruin anything.