Happy Birthday, Chris Evans!

Today, we are celebrating the 31st birthday of actor Chris Evans. A native of Boston, Evans' acting career began at a young age as he performed in school productions and plays. After teachers noticed and commended him on his talent, he began to look upwards towards bigger and bigger roles. He interned at a casting agency and created relationships with a number of agents, one of whom would eventually sign him as a client. Evans was drawn to the screen rather than the stage, and he began to audition for television shows and feature films. Based on his talent and his good looks, it wasn't long until he managed to nab a role here and there. Despite working consistently through the early 2000s, it wasn't until the mid-2000s that Evans erupted into stardom, and it has only been recently that he has become a Hollywood superstar. Here's a look at some of the fun facts regarding Evans' acting career:

Acting

First Film: The Newcomers (2000)

Last Film: The Avengers (2012)

Next Film: The Iceman (2013)

Over the years, I have seen ten of Evans' films, and on average, they have received a 'C+' grade. From those ten, I have created the following list of my five favorite of Chris Evans' performances:

5. Johnny Storm

Fantastic Four (2005)

*****

4. Jake Wyler

Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

*****

3. Jensen

The Losers (2010)

*****

2. Lucas Lee

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)

*****

1. Steve Rogers / Captain America

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Once again, I would like to wish Chris Evans a happy 31st birthday!

Happy Birthday, Johnny Depp!

Today, I am happy to celebrate the 49th birthday of Oscar-nominated actor Johnny Depp. A native of Kentucky, Depp has spent his career making a name as one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. Originally, he aspired to be a rock musician, but after nabbing a leading role in the television show "21 Jump Street," he shifted his aspirations to the silver screen. Over the years, Depp has formed a very close relationship with director Tim Burton, and he has appeared in seven of Burton's films. It is this relationship for which he is most known, but Depp has managed to wow audiences and critics on a number of other occasions as well. His superstardom skyrocketed with his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. He based the character off Keith Richards, a member of the Rolling Stones, and one could say that Depp finally got the opportunity to be a rock star, if only for a little while. Depp's performance as Jack Sparrow has opened a number of doors for his career, and he has only continued to grown in popularity ever since. Here's a look at some of the fun facts and accolades that Depp has earned throughout his career:

Acting

First Film: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Last Film: Dark Shadows (2012)

Next Film: The Lone Ranger (2013)

Academy Awards

Nominated: Best Actor, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Nominated: Best Actor, Finding Neverland (2004)

Nominated: Best Actor, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2009)

Over the years, I've managed to see twenty of Depp's films, and on average, his films have received a 'B+' grade. From these twenty, I have created the following list of my five favorite of his performances: 

5. John Dillinger

Public Enemies (2009)

*****

4. Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

*****

3. Sir James Matthew Barrie

Finding Neverland (2004)

*****

2. Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

*****

1. Captain Jack Sparrow

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Once again, I would like to wish Johnny Depp a happy 49th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Paul Giamatti!

Today, we're celebrating the 45th birthday of Academy Award-nominated actor Paul Giamatti. A Connecticut native, Paul is the son of the late Bart Giamatti, who served as both President of Yale University as well as Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Paul himself attended Yale, where he began his acting career in their theater department. From there, he channeled his energies to regional productions before finding his start on the big screen in the early 1990s. He married his wife Elizabeth in 1997, and the two remain happily married to this day. Here's a look at some of the fun facts and accolades that Giamatti has earned throughout his acting career:

Acting

First Film: Past Midnight (1991)

Last Film: The Ides of March (2011)

Next Film: Rock of Ages (2012)

Academy Awards

Nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Cinderella Man (2005)

Over the years, I've managed to see thirteen of Giamatti's films, and on average, his films have received a 'B-' grade. From these thirteen, I have created the following list of my five favorite of his performances:

5. Mike Flaherty

Win Win (2011)

*****

4. Joe Gould

Cinderella Man (2005)

*****

3. Miles

Sideways (2004)

*****

2. Tom Duffy

The Ides of March (2011)

*****

1. Harvey Pekar

American Splendor (2003)

Once again, I would like to wish Paul Giamatti a happy 45th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Mark Wahlberg!

Today, we're celebrating the 41st birthday of actor Mark Wahlberg. A Boston native and the youngest of nine children, Mark had plenty of ups and downs during his adolescence and youth. He got his first big start as a member of his brother Donnie's musical group New Kids on the Block, but he soon branched out on his own and created Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. From there, Wahlberg channeled his impressive physique into modeling for Calvin Klein. At the same time, however, Mark had quite a few run-ins with the law after some rather serious offenses. Ultimately, he managed to keep his fury at bay, and he transitioned to the acting scene and has slowly grown into one of the more popular men to grace the silver screen. In 2009, Wahlberg married long-time girlfriend Rhea Durham, with whom he has four children. Wahlberg has also started to take seat in the producer's chair, most prominently with his producing role for the television show "Entourage." Here's a look at some of the fun facts and accolades associated with Wahlberg's acting career:

Acting

First Film: Renaissance Man (1994)

Last Film: Contraband (2012)

Next Film: Ted (2012)

Academy Awards

Nominated: Best Supporting Actor, The Departed (2006)

Nominated: Best Picture, The Fighter (2010)

Over the years, I've managed to see twelve of Wahlberg's films, and on average, his films have received a 'B-' grade. From these twelve, I have created the following list of my five favorite of his performances:

5. Micky Ward

The Fighter (2010)

*****

4. Mickey

The Basketball Diaries (1995)

*****

3. Eddie Adams / Dirk Diggler

Boogie Nights (1997)

*****

2. Dignam

The Departed (2006)

*****

1. Tommy Corn

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

Once again, I would like to wish Mark Wahlberg a happy 41st birthday!

Happy Birthday, Morgan Freeman!

Today, we're celebrating the 75th birthday of Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman has continued to gain popularity throughout his career and has become one of the more beloved performers to grace the silver screen. His first big-screen appearance came with an uncredited role in 1964's The Pawnbroker, but it wasn't until 1973's Blade that audiences actually started to take notice. He earned his first Oscar nomination for 1987's Street Smart, but 1989 proved to be his breakout year when he appeared in the films Lean on Me, Glory and Driving Miss Daisy, which would go on to win Best Picture. In the early 1990s, one could find Freeman playing opposite Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven and Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption. He worked consistently through the end of the millennium and easily transitioned into 21st-century films, breaking through with the role of God in 2003's Bruce Almighty. The following year, Freeman won his first - and to date, only - Oscar for his supporting role in Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby. Most recently, audiences have seen Freeman in 2011's Dolphin Tale, and they'll next be able to see him in theaters reprising his role as Lucius Fox in this summer's The Dark Knight Rises. And so, to celebrate his birthday and honor his career, I've listed my ten favorite of Freeman's acting endeavors. I've found a few videos that correspond with this roles for your viewing pleasure, so I hope you enjoy them. Once again, I'd like to wish Morgan Freeman a very happy birthday.

10. Jack Doyle

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

*****

9. Carter

The Bucket List (2007)

*****

8. Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins

Glory (1989)

*****

7. Detective Lt. William Somerset

Se7en (1995)

*****

6. Principal Joe Clark

Lean on Me (1989)

*****

5. Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

*****

4. Nelson Mandela

Invictus (2009)

*****

3. Ned Logan

Unforgiven (1992)

*****

2. Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding

The Shawshank Redemption (2004)

*****

1. God

Bruce Almighty (2003)

Happy Birthday, Colin Farrell!

Today, we're celebrating the 36th birthday of actor Colin Farrell. A Dublin native, Farrell got his acting start in the mid-1990s, making his first credited appearance in a feature film in 1997's Drinking Crude. It wasn't until the turn of the millennium, however, that he started to gain a little more prominence on the silver screen. With larger roles in 2002's Hart's War opposite Bruce Willis and 2002's Minority Report opposite Tom Cruise, Farrell started to see a lot more screen-time. He's worked consistently throughout the 2000s, appearing in major films such as 2004's Alexander, 2008's In Bruges and 2009's Crazy Heart. Most recently, audiences have seen him in the 2011 films Horrible Bosses and Fright Night. We'll next be able to see his acting endeavors in this summer's remake of Total Recall. And so, to celebrate his birthday and his career, I've listed my five favorite of Farrell's acting performances and have found some clips for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy them. Once again, happy birthday, Colin!

5. Jerry

Fright Night (2011)

*****

4. Syracuse

Ondine (2010)

*****

3. Imaginarium Tony 3

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

*****

2. Bobby Pellitt

Horrible Bosses (2011)

*****

1. Ray

In Bruges (2008)

Happy Birthday, Paul Bettany!

Today, we're celebrating the 41st birthday of actor Paul Bettany. The London native got his acting start in the mid-1990s with a few television appearances, but it wasn't until 1997's Bent that he nabbed his first feature film role. In 2001, Bettany became a bit of an overnight sensation with his performances in A Knight's Tale opposite Heath Ledger and in A Beautiful Mind opposite Russell Crowe. He would rekindle his on-screen partnership with Crowe two years later in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Since then, he's worked relatively consistently, appearing in such films as 2006's The Da Vinci Code and 2008's Iron Man in a vocal performance that he has reprised in both Iron Man 2 and the recent release, The Avengers. Audiences will next see Bettany in the 2013 film, Blood. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've created a list of my five favorite of Bettany's performances, and I've found a few video clips for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Paul!

5. Silas

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

*****

4. Charles Darwin

Creation (2010)

*****

3. Charles

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

*****

2. Dr. Stephen Maturin

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

*****

1. Geoffrey Chaucer

A Knight's Tale (2001)

In Memoriam: James Stewart

Today, we are celebrating and remembering the life and career of Academy Award-winning actor James Stewart on what would have been his 104th birthday. A Pennsylvania native, Jimmy began his acting career in the mid-1930s, landing his first role in a feature film in 1935's The Murder Man. He worked consistently throughout the 1930s, appearing in a total of twenty-one feature films from 1935 to 1939, where he scored his first Oscar nomination for his performance in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The following year, Stewart nabbed his sole Oscar statuette for his role in 1940's The Philadelphia Story, which officially shot him to superstardom. Over the next twenty years, Stewart would score three more Oscar nominations for 1946's It's a Wonderful Life, 1950's Harvey and 1959's Anatomy of a Murder while also appearing in the 1952 film The Greatest Show on Earth, 1954's Rear Window and 1957's The Spirit of St. Louis. Sadly, Stewart passed away in 1997 at the age of 89, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate his memory. And so, I've listed my five favorite of Jimmy's performances for your viewing pleasure. I hope we can all enjoy the work that Stewart produced throughout his career and cherish the legacy he created on the Hollywood scene.

5. Dr. Hostleter

The Shootist (1977)

*****

4. L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies

Rear Window (1954)

***** 

3. John 'Scottie' Ferguson

Vertigo (1958)

***** 

2. George Bailey

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

***** 

1. Jefferson Smith

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Happy Birthday, Richard Jenkins!

Today, we're celebrating the 65th birthday of Academy Award-nominated actor Richard Jenkins. A native of Illinois, Jenkins nabbed his first feature film performance in 1985's Silverado, but it was until his role in 1986's Hannah and Her Sisters that he started to get noticed. He worked consistently in film and television throughout the late 1980s and all through the 1990s, but it is only recently that Jenkins has truly started to gain more prominent national attention. After an uncredited performance in the 2004 comedy I Heart Huckabees, Jenkins found work in such big-time fare as 2005's Fun with Dick and Jane and 2007's The Kingdom. He scored his sole Oscar nomination for his performance in the 2008 film The Visitor. Jenkins then burst onto the comedy scene after co-starring with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in 2008's Step Brothers, as well as co-starring in the Coen brothers ensemble comedy, Burn After Reading. Most recently, audiences have seen Jenkins in the 2012 film The Cabin in the Woods, and he'll appear in a slew of other 2012 releases, including Killing Them Softly and The Company You Keep. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've created a list of my five favorite of Jenkins' performances, and I've found some clips to illustrate those roles. Once again, happy birthday, Richard!

5. Dr. Robert Doback

Step Brothers (2008)

*****

4. Ted

Burn After Reading (2008)

*****

3. Mr. Tyree

Dear John (2010)

*****

2. Mr. Hooten

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

*****

1. Walter

The Visitor (2008)

Happy Birthday, Daniel Day-Lewis!

On this April 29th, I would like to send some hearty birthday wishes to Daniel Day-Lewis, who turns 55 today. The English actor has easily cemented himself as one of the top actors of today's Hollywood generation by turning in brilliant performance after brilliant performance. He's a four-time Oscar nominee and two-time Oscar winner, nabbing those illustrious statuettes for his leading roles in 1989's My Left Foot and 2007's There Will Be Blood. Day-Lewis is rather selective of his roles (for example, his next scheduled role won't come until 2013), so he doesn't have the massive quantity of films in his repertoire as some other actors; however, it really comes down to quality, and there are few - if any - of Day-Lewis's peers who come close to matching his level. As usual, I've broken down my five favorite roles for the birthday boy or girl, so here's a look at the five characters that Day-Lewis has brought to the screen that I've enjoyed the most. Once again, happy birthday Daniel Day-Lewis.

#5. Guido Contini
Nine (2009)


----------

#4. Hawkeye
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)


----------

#3. Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting
Gangs of New York (2002)


----------

#2. Daniel Plainview
There Will Be Blood (2007)


----------

#1. Gerry Conlon
In the Name of the Father (1993)

Happy Birthday, Jack Nicholson!

Today, we're celebrating the 75th birthday of the legendary, three-time Academy Award-winning actor, Jack Nicholson. He started acting in the mid-1950s and made his first feature film appearance in 1958's The Cry Baby Killer, but it wasn't until his performance in 1969's Easy Rider that he truly entered the public consciousness. Six years later, after hitting it big in 1974's Chinatown, Nicholson won his first Oscar for his leading role in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and a star was born. Since then, Jack has appeared in such big-time fare as 1980's The Shining, 1983's Terms of Endearment, 1989's Batman, 1992's A Few Good Men, 1997's As Good As It Gets and 2006's The Departed. Most recently, audiences have seen Nicholson in 2010's How Do You Know, and it is currently unknown as to what his next project might be. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my ten favorite of his performances, and I've managed to find clips for each for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Jack!

10. President James Dale

Mars Attacks! (1996)

*****

9. Edward

The Bucket List (2007)

*****

8. Dr. Buddy Rydell

Anger Management (2003)

*****

7. Warren Schmidt

About Schmidt (2002)

*****

6. Joker / Jack Napier

Batman (1989)

*****

5. Melvin Udall

As Good As It Gets (1997)

*****

4. Wilbur Force

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

*****

3. Frank Costello

The Departed (2006)

*****

2. Jack Torrance

The Shining (1980)

*****

1. R.P. McMurphy

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Happy Birthday, James McAvoy!

Today, we're celebrating the 33rd birthday of actor James McAvoy. A native of Scotland, McAvoy made his acting debut in the 1995 film The Near Room before spending most of his time making appearances in TV series and made-for-TV movies through the late 1990s and early 2000s. It wasn't until his starring role opposite eventual Oscar winner Forest Whitaker in 2006's The Last King of Scotland that McAvoy started to rise out of obscurity. He truly burst onto the scene in 2007's Atonement opposite Keira Knightley and then again in 2008's Wanted opposite Angelina Jolie. Most recently, audiences have seen McAvoy in 2011's X-Men: First Class as Charles Xavier, and they'll next see him in the 2012 films Welcome to the Punch and Filth. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've created a list of my five favorite of James McAvoy's performances. I've found a few clips to give you a sense of his acting ability, so I hope you can enjoy watching those. Once again, I'd like to wish James McAvoy a very happy birthday!

5. Frederick Aiken

The Conspirator (2011)

*****

4. Charles Xavier

X-Men: First Class (2011)

*****

3. Wesley

Wanted (2008)

*****

2. Dr. Nicholas Garrigan

The Last King of Scotland (2006)

*****

1. Robbie Turner

Atonement (2007)

Happy Birthday, Tim Curry!

Today, we're celebrating the 66th birthday of actor Tim Curry. A veteran with his name on over 200 hundred titles, Curry started his acting career in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a string of roles in made-for-TV movies and television series. It wasn't his starring role in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show that Tim truly started to make a name for himself. From there, he managed to secure roles in such fare as 1982's Annie, 1985's Legend, 1985's Clue and 1990's The Hunt for Red October. At the same time, Curry offered his vocal talents to a number of TV shows as well as feature films, including a starring role in 1992's FernGully: The Last Rainforest. He has worked consistently throughout the 1990s and 2000s, both on and off the screen. Most recently, audiences have seen him in the 2010 film Burke and Hare, and we'll next see him in a number of 2012 releases including Gingerclown, Ribbit and Glide. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've compiled a list of my five favorite of Curry's performances from over the years, and I've managed to secure clips from each. I hope you enjoy them! Once again, happy birthday Tim!

5. Rooster Hannigan
Annie (1982)


*****

4. Long John Silver
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)


*****

3. Pennywise
It (1990)


*****

2. Wadsworth
Clue (1985)


*****

1. Dr. Frank-N-Furter
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Happy Birthday, James Franco!

Today, we're celebrating the 34th birthday of Academy Award-nominated actor James Franco. He got his acting start in made-for-TV movies in the late 1990s, but it wasn't until 1999's Never Been Kissed that he managed to score a role in a feature film. In 2002, Franco took on a career-making role in Sam Raimi's Spider-man, propelling him into mass public consciousness. From there, he's appeared in films like 2005's The Great Raid and 2008's Pineapple Express, and he has reprised his Spider-man role twice since the first film was released. In 2010, Franco nabbed his sole Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Aron Ralston in 127 Hours. Most recently, audiences have seen him in 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and they'll next be able to see him in the 2012 films Cherry, Maladies, Tar and Lovelace. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've created a list of my five favorite of Franco's performances. I hope you enjoy the list! Once again, happy birthday, James!

5. Taste
Date Night (2010)


*****

4. Joey
City by the Sea (2002)


*****

3. Scott Smith
Milk (2008)


*****

2. Saul Silver
Pineapple Express (2008)


*****

1. Aron Ralston
127 Hours (2010)

Happy Birthday, Seth Rogen!

Today, we're celebrating the 30th birthday of actor Seth Rogen. He got his acting start on the short-lived TV show "Freaks and Geeks" in 1999, but it wasn't until 2001 that he made his feature film debut in Donnie Darko. In 2004, Rogen made his first real impact on the big screen in a bit performance in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, which he then followed with a supporting role in 2005's The 40 Year Old Virgin, cementing himself as one of the go-to comedy men in Hollywood. Seth nabbed his first leading man role in 2007's Knocked Up and also appeared in Superbad that same year. In 2008, Rogen made appearances in The Spiderwick Chronicles, Kung Fu Panda, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Step Brothers and Pineapple Express, and he has yet to slow down. Most recently, audiences have seen him in 2011's 50/50, and they'll next see Rogen in 2012's The Guilt Trip. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Seth Rogen's performances, and I've found a clip for each. Once again, happy birthday, Seth!

5. Ben Stone
Knocked Up (2007)


*****

4. Dale Denton
Pineapple Express (2008)


*****

3. Cal
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)


*****

2. Admiral Seaholtz / Roach
Fanboys (2009)


*****

1. Officer Michaels
Superbad (2007)

Happy Birthday, Russell Crowe!

Today, we're celebrating the 48th birthday of Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe. He got his acting start on television in the early 1970s, and he worked so sporadically through the 1980s. It wasn't until the 1990 film Prisoners in the Sun that he made his theatrical feature film debut, propelling him to more consistent work. In 1997, Crowe got his big break in L.A. Confidential opposite Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey and Kim Basinger. Two years later, Crowe nabbed his first Oscar nomination for his performance in The Insider. Crowe then managed to score two more nominations in the two years that followed, winning for his performance in 2000's Gladiator while falling just short with his nomination for 2001's A Beautiful Mind. Since then, Crowe has been a little more selective about his film choices, but he has managed to perform well in a few films in the 2000s, including in 2003's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and in 2007's remake of 3:10 to Yuma. Most recently, audiences have seen him in 2010's The Next Three Days, and we'll next see him in the 2012 film, The Man with the Iron Fists. And so, to celebrate his 48th birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Crowe's performances, and I've supplied clips from each for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Russell Crowe!

5. Capt. Jack Aubrey
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)


*****

4. Wendell 'Bud' White
L.A. Confidential (1997)


*****

3. Ben Wade
3:10 to Yuma (2007)


*****

2. Maximus
Gladiator (2000)


*****

1. John Nash
A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Happy Birthday, Paul Rudd!

Today, we're celebrating the 43rd birthday of actor Paul Rudd. He nabbed his first acting role in 1992's A Question of Ethics, but he didn't make a real audience splash until his performance in 1995's Clueless. Throughout the late 1990s, Rudd appeared in such films as 1996's Romeo + Juliet and 1999's The Cider House Rules as supporting characters. It wasn't until the mid-2000s, however, with appearances in films like 2004's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and 2005's The 40 Year Old Virgin, that Rudd truly burst onto the Hollywood scene. He has since made a name for himself as a top supporting character in a number of comedies, including 2007's Knocked Up and 2008's Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Rudd's fame grew enough to earn him a few leading man credits as well, including in 2008's Role Models and 2009's I Love You, Man. Most recently, audiences have seen Rudd in 2012's Wanderlust opposite Jennifer Aniston, and we'll next be able to see him in the 2012 film The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Rudd's performances. Once again, happy birthday, Paul!

5. Brian Fantana
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)


*****

4. David
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)


*****

3. Chuck
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)


*****

2. Pete
Knocked Up (2007)


*****

1. John Lennon
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

In Memoriam: Heath Ledger

On what would have been his 33rd birthday, we're celebrating the life of the late Academy Award-winning actor Heath Ledger. Heath got his acting start with an uncredited role in 1992's Clowning Around. He spent most of the 1990s working on television, but he managed to secure a few film appearances here and there, including a somewhat star-making role in 1999's 10 Things I Hate About You. Ledger increased his star power by appearing in big-time films like 2000's The Patriot and 2001's Monster's Ball and by starring in 2001's A Knight's Tale. In 2005, he starred in the controversial film Brokeback Mountain, which ultimately earned him his first Oscar nomination. Then, in 2008, Heath Ledger passed away only months before the release of 2008's The Dark Knight, where he would portray the villainous Joker in a role that would earn him a posthumous Oscar win. Ledger only appeared in one film beyond that - 2009's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. And so, to celebrate his life and his career, I've created a list of my five favorite of Ledger's acting performances. I hope we can all remember the man who was just coming into his own as an actor at the time he was taken from us. Rest in peace, Heath Ledger. You will always be missed.

5. Gabriel Martin
The Patriot (2000)


*****

4. William Thatcher
A Knight's Tale (2001)


*****

3. Sonny Grotowski
Monster's Ball (2001)


*****

2. The Joker
The Dark Knight (2008)


*****

1. Ennis Del Mar
Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Happy Birthday, Robert Downey Jr.!

Today we're celebrating the 47th birthday of Academy Award-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr. He scored his first film appearance in 1970's Pound, but it wasn't until his role in 1985's Weird Science that the public actually started to notice him. Downey worked consistently through the rest of the 1980s and scored his first Oscar nomination in 1992 for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in the film Chaplin. Although he continued to find film roles, his off-screen life started to fall into a bit of turmoil, and it wasn't until the mid-2000s that Downey truly started to make a comeback. In 2005, he appeared in the films Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Good Night, and Good Luck, but it was his roles in the 2008 films Iron Man and Tropic Thunder - for which he scored his second Oscar nomination - that truly put him back on the map. Most recently, Downey Jr. reprised his role of Sherlock Holmes in 2011's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and audiences will next see him reprise his role as Tony Stark in 2012's The Avengers. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of his performances and have supplied a few short clips for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday Robert!

5. Wayne Gale
Natural Born Killers (1994)


*****

4. Tony Stark / Iron Man
Iron Man (2008)


*****

3. James Barris
A Scanner Darkly (2006)


*****

2. Harry Lockhart
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)


*****

1. Kirk Lazarus
Tropic Thunder (2008)

Happy Birthday, Ewan McGregor!

Today, we're celebrating the 41st birthday of actor Ewan McGregor. His acting career began in the early 1990s with a series of television performances, but it wasn't until 1994 that he made his feature film debut in Shallow Grave. He garnered acclaim for his performance in 1996's Trainspotting, but McGregor burst onto the worldwide movie scene in 1999 when he first portrayed the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first of the Star Wars prequels, The Phantom Menace; he would go on to reprise the role in both of the film's subsequent sequels. Ewan has continued to have consistent work throughout the 2000s, appearing in such big-time films as 2001's Moulin Rouge and Black Hawk Down, 2003's Big Fish and 2010's The Ghost Writer. Most recently, McGregor appeared in the 2012 film Haywire, and he will next appear in the 2012 film The Impossible opposite Naomi Watts. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of McGregor's performances and have found videos offering clips from those films. Once again, happy birthday, Ewan!

5. Grimes
Black Hawk Down (2001)


*****

4. Oliver Fields
Beginners (2011)


*****

3. Camerlengo Patrick McKenna
Angels & Demons (2009)


*****

2. Ed Bloom
Big Fish (2003)


*****

1. Christian
Moulin Rouge! (2001)