All time?? No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Let me just say....

.... no.

Now, that said, Cruise's best acting job was Colonel van Stauffenberg in Valkyrie. That movie flat out shocked me, because I thought there was no way a dolt like Cruise could carry that kind of movie. But he really, really did. He was great.

If you are talking "mainstream" or "actors for the general public moviegoer", your answer is Tom Hanks all time American actor based on body of work. Clint Eastwood also has a claim.

If you are talking real American actors for the connoisseur types, the answer is Brando or Duvall.

If you are talking best single performance all time by an American male actor, the answer is F. Murray Abraham as Salieri in Amadeus.

In response to this post by DaveVT

Posted: 09/28/2021 at 3:13PM

Tom Cruise - top not best male actor (USA) all time? -- DaveVT 09/28/2021 1:59PM

Denzel. ** -- YardBird 09/28/2021 10:07PM

Jack Nicholson and Billy Bob Thornton have to get consideration. Bill -- DonHo-kieHi 09/28/2021 6:09PM

Humble start -- DaveVT 09/28/2021 7:14PM

This? -- DaveVT 09/28/2021 6:12PM

I really like the majority of his movies but -- No Clue 09/28/2021 4:05PM

Harrison Ford ** -- Hokie1744 09/28/2021 3:13PM

He hasn’t done a good movie in 20 years ** -- HokieJamie 09/28/2021 3:28PM

Can’t fly for crap, either ** -- B777Fr8Dog 09/28/2021 5:53PM

Fingers crossed for Indiana Jones 5. ** -- HokieNoVA 09/28/2021 3:38PM

I don’t have much faith he already got hurt filming it ** -- HokieJamie 09/28/2021 3:41PM

All time?? No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Let me just say.... -- VToncologyNurse 09/28/2021 3:13PM

Tom Cruise is a dolt? I don't understand the low regard many have for him. -- HokieJay 09/28/2021 3:19PM

Cruise’ career went south when he was caught up in his religion -- Hokie1992 09/28/2021 4:28PM

His Mission Impossible movies are killing it in the box office. -- HokieJay 09/29/2021 11:01AM

I think he has a very hard time overcoming his "prettiness". Really.... -- VToncologyNurse 09/28/2021 3:28PM

With the notable exception of Tropic Thunder, all his performances are -- HokieNoVA 09/28/2021 3:26PM

Perhaps a modern day John Wayne? Good company. ** -- HokieJay 09/28/2021 3:29PM

Charles Nelson Reilly in Cannoball Run II = masters class ** -- HokieDan95 09/28/2021 3:18PM

And I don't count Anthony Hopkins as American or he would be the answer. -- VToncologyNurse 09/28/2021 3:17PM

Prolific ** -- DaveVT 09/28/2021 3:14PM

I think the answer for prolific might still be Hanks. ** -- VToncologyNurse 09/28/2021 3:17PM

Spencer Tracy or Gregory Peck. ** -- Femoyer Hokie 09/28/2021 3:05PM

Nobody has said de niro yet? ** -- HokieJamie 09/28/2021 3:00PM

Brando, Hackman, Fonda, Hoffman, Hopkins... ** -- ColoVT82 09/28/2021 2:58PM

Duvall and Hackman -- Guy LeDouche 09/28/2021 2:54PM

I always wondered why James Caan didn't get more work. -- Riverguy 09/28/2021 3:55PM

Yes, one of the best -- Vienna_Hokie 09/28/2021 6:10PM

Tom Hanks way before that nut job... ** -- UTPr0sim 09/28/2021 2:47PM

Rosie O'Donnell ** -- vt90 09/28/2021 2:47PM

I think as a box office draw and longevity Eastwood has him beat.... -- vthhhi 09/28/2021 2:43PM

Jimmy Stewart says "w..w..w..w..well just hold on a gol darn minute there. ** -- TexasGobbler 09/28/2021 2:35PM

Yeah, they refer to Tom Hanks as the modern day Jimmy Stewart -- No Clue 09/28/2021 4:01PM

You seem to have an unhealthy Tom Cruise obsession -- LonghornHokie 09/28/2021 2:33PM

I think he and b-st should discuss the Top Gun volleyball scene. ** -- vthokieq 09/28/2021 2:50PM

Tom Hanks for Body of work, I would think. -- HokieSignGuy 09/28/2021 2:29PM

Not even top 5. ** -- HokieNoVA 09/28/2021 2:26PM

Based on longevity and quality Jack Nicholson ** -- jdkhokie 09/28/2021 2:24PM

Keanu Reeves ** -- JoesterVT 09/28/2021 2:22PM

Possibly the worst actor ever ** -- CrystalCoveHokie 09/28/2021 3:42PM

David Caruso on Line 1 ** -- MAHokie69 09/28/2021 4:07PM

John Wayne says "that'll be the day." ** -- mancunian 09/28/2021 2:21PM

Clark Gable says hold my beer. ** -- mancunian 09/28/2021 2:20PM

Anthony Hopkins ** -- great2bahokie 09/28/2021 2:18PM

USA ** -- DaveVT 09/28/2021 2:23PM

Proud American since 2000 ** -- JoesterVT 09/28/2021 2:38PM

Residence in Malibu, California ** -- great2bahokie 09/28/2021 2:32PM

Hello. Mr Eastward ** -- HOKIEVET 09/28/2021 2:18PM

Taking a guess you mean 'Eastwood' ** -- statmanfromHCyrs 09/28/2021 2:43PM

Yeah sorry ** -- HOKIEVET 09/28/2021 2:55PM

Al Pacino ** -- Brown Water 09/28/2021 2:16PM

Daniel Day-Lewis. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/28/2021 2:12PM

English ** -- typed by ben 09/28/2021 2:31PM

Doh. I missed the USA part. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/28/2021 2:41PM

Tom Hanks then. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/28/2021 2:41PM

Californian ** -- typed by ben 09/29/2021 08:36AM

Tommy Lee Jones ** -- TomTurkey 09/28/2021 2:07PM

Best actor or best body of work? -- Happy Dog 09/28/2021 2:05PM

All time?? No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Let me just say....

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