There are so few greats any more: Johnny Depp is another of those actors who can be dropped into any role and be brilliant. Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Duvall, Morgan Freenman, Will Smith (the total surprise but the consumate actor), DiNero,
Nicholson, Hopkins, Firth, Jeff Bridges, Alex Baldwin (another surprise but so accomplished) ...
I would consider these the very best of the best, along with Hanks and Hoffman.

Let's not forget Denzel Washington either!!
One hand,he can play the meanest SOB out there
in"Training Day"yet can play the kinda hero you
can root for in"Unstoppable"!!

also,Gene Hackman!!Like Denzel,he can also play the meanest,sorriest SOB out there in"Unforgiven"and"Quick and The Dead"yet also be
the hero you'd root for in"Behind Enemy Lines"!!

Cary Grant could handle comedy and still remain a sophisticate; people loved him for it. He handled drama as well and was recently listed by “Entertainment Weekly” at the top of their greatest “movie star” or whatever rankings of all time (although most others were of the most recent vintage). It is sad many did not or would recognize his acting talent—jealousy perhaps—as his Academy Honorary Award came late in life.

Paul Newman handled drama and anything else with the best of them and made you cry, laugh, hate and love.

William Holden was favored by the great director, Billy Wilder, and did both comedy and drama for him. I assume Wilder knew what he was doing. And Holden’s performances were excellent, although he was never recognized. He was in some of the best movies made in his time.

Jack Lemmon: another Wilder acting choice, who could handle both drama and comedy and never failed to deliver the goods but was seldom recognized to the extent he should have been, but always delivered and was a joy to watch.

Gary Cooper was an excellent actor who seemed to meld into his roles, much as Alec Guinness did as described above. Cooper, however, did seem to get more recognition—perhaps it was the roles he chose.

George Clooney is no slouch in the acting department.

Karl Malden was always exception in his roles.

Excellent supporting character actors abound who never get any credit for the very excellent work they do and have done: Henry “Harry” Morgan, Charles Coburn, Eugene Pallette, Eric Blore, William Demarest, Walter Brennan, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, and others.