Many would consider the glamorous life of a movie star to be ideal – with fame, fortune, and never ending parties. Yet, there is one often overlooked side of an actor’s life. For many of today’s top actors, the day-to-day primarily consists of hard work.
In order to stay in the public eye, an actor must take big roles. Every project is a gamble, however, and it is not always clear which movies will go on to become hits. For this reason, some of the most recognizable names in Hollywood also have some of the longest filmographies. John Goodman has 153 acting credits to his name. James Franco – more than 25 years his junior – has 141 credits. Samuel L. Jackson tops our list, with 175 reported acting credits.
Click here to see the 25 busiest actors in Hollywood.
Click here to see our methodology.
All these roles result in only a handful of top films. They result in even fewer major awards. Of the 25 actors on our list, only two – Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence – have won Academy Awards.
Of course, these heavy hitters can find comfort in the vast monetary compensation they receive for their work. In 2016, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson earned $64.5 million, making him the world’s top-paid actor, according to Forbes. The highest-paid female actor was Jennifer Lawrence, who made $46 million.
24/7 Wall St. has identified the 25 busiest actors working in Hollywood today, based on the number of appearances in the most popular film and television series over the past five years.
25. Jason Statham
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: The Transporter
> Total lifetime acting credits: 46
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24. Michael Fassbender
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: Inglourious Basterds
> Total lifetime acting credits: 55
23. Amy Adams
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: Arrival
> Total lifetime acting credits: 56
22. Scarlett Johansson
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: Lost in Translation
> Total lifetime acting credits: 57
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21. Ryan Reynolds
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: Deadpool
> Total lifetime acting credits: 68
20. Owen Wilson
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: Midnight in Paris
> Total lifetime acting credits: 69
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19. Joel Edgerton
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: Warrior
> Total lifetime acting credits: 71
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18. Kevin Hart
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
> Total lifetime acting credits: 75
17. Paul Rudd
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: Ant-Man
> Total lifetime acting credits: 108
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16. James Franco
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: 127 Hours
> Total lifetime acting credits: 141
15. John Goodman
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 10
> Known for: Monsters, Inc.
> Total lifetime acting credits: 153
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14. Jennifer Lawrence
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 11
> Known for: The Hunger Games
> Total lifetime acting credits: 30
13. Chris Pine
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 11
> Known for: Star Trek
> Total lifetime acting credits: 48
12. Channing Tatum
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 11
> Known for: 21 Jump Street
> Total lifetime acting credits: 51
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11. Matthew McConaughey
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 11
> Known for: Interstellar
> Total lifetime acting credits: 64
10. Steve Carell
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 11
> Known for: The Office
> Total lifetime acting credits: 73
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9. Kristen Wiig
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 11
> Known for: The Martian
> Total lifetime acting credits: 91
8. Samuel L. Jackson
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 11
> Known for: Pulp Fiction
> Total lifetime acting credits: 175
7. Zac Efron
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 12
> Known for: 17 Again
> Total lifetime acting credits: 48
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6. Bradley Cooper
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 12
> Known for: Silver Linings Playbook
> Total lifetime acting credits: 59
5. John Cusack
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 12
> Known for: Being John Malkovich
> Total lifetime acting credits: 85
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4. Mark Wahlberg
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 13
> Known for: Boogie Nights
> Total lifetime acting credits: 26
3. Anna Kendrick
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 13
> Known for: Up in the Air
> Total lifetime acting credits: 47
2. Robert De Niro
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 13
> Known for: Goodfellas
> Total lifetime acting credits: 115
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1. Dwayne Johnson
> Appearances in top film and TV since 2012: 14
> Known for: Moana
> Total lifetime acting credits: 98
Methodology:
To determine the 25 busiest actors and actresses in Hollywood, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of major feature films and television series each performer has starred in since the beginning of 2012 as listed by IMDb. Only movies with more than 10,000 user reviews and television series with more than 5,000 reviews were counted. To be considered one of the film’s or series’ stars, performers must be listed among the four top actors or actresses on the film or series’ IMDb star listing. Ties were broken using total acting credits. The highest rated film or television series each performer appeared in, total acting credits, and award data also came from IMDb.
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