Crime and mafia movies defined the film industry for decades, with certain actors making their careers out of playing villainous gangster characters. With organized crime and the Mafia so prevalent in American news in the 20th century, it’s no wonder the genre garnered a mass cultural appeal. Exploring criminals and the darker aspects of life allows audiences to escape into something dangerous and exciting, briefly romanticizing a life of money and power.
For every era of the gangster genre, some actors have to be mentioned in the conversation, be they supporting players or movie stars. Stars like Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp have played gangster roles expertly, but that’s not exactly what they’re known for. Al Pacino, on the other hand, has made great films in all categories, but his best work has been in the crime genre, with a notable reputation for playing gangsters like Tony Montana and Michael Corleone.
10 Michael Madsen
The cop torturer.
Michael Madsen hasn’t had too many gangster roles, but he brought something uniquely menacing to his performances that’s allowed him to be known as one. Madsen has played all sorts of characters throughout his career. Still, his performance as the sadistic Mr. Blonde, one of the best characters in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, is the role that’s defined him ever since the film’s release in 1992. Not to mention, he later played the character Sonny Black in Donnie Brasco, supporting Johnny Depp and Al Pacino in his role as the real-life mafia member.
9 Frank Vincent
The gangster genre’s most reliable character actor.
Frank Vincent may not be the most well-known name in Hollywood, but he’s a legend to mafia film lovers. Vincent played supporting roles as mobsters in the Scorsese films Goodfellas, Casino, and Raging Bull. He also appeared in gangster films like Gotti, Wise Guys, Chicago Overcoat, and This Thing of Ours. Vincent was an actor whose career was truly defined by playing violent criminals, with his prominent role as the antagonist Phil Leotardo in the TV series The Sopranos truly showcasing what the actor was capable of with more screen time.
8 Edward G. Robinson
Little Caesar.
In Hollywood’s Golden Age, Edward G. Robinson was one of the defining actors of the gangster genre. Robinson brought an intense screen presence, providing his characters with a toughness that made their ruthless criminal behavior believable while also possessing a powerful charisma. Robinson’s performances in films like Little Caesar, Key Largo, and Brother Orchid were influential on the crime genre, helping establish the archetype of the suave and menacing criminal lead.
7 Chazz Palminteri
The one-man show.
Chazz Palminteri is primarily known for his role as Sonny in A Bronx Tale, a gangster/coming-of-age film based on his solo act play of the same name. Following the successful film adaptation of his play, where he excelled starring across Robert De Niro, Palminteri began to find success in Hollywood film roles. He played mobster Paul Castellano in Boss of Bosses, Angelo Bruno in Legend, Cheech in Bullets over Broadway, Primo Sidone in Analyze This, and more. While many of his parts have been smaller supporting characters, Chazz Palminteri always brings an authoritative presence to gangster films.
6 Ray Liotta
Scorsese’s Henry Hill.
While Ray Liotta would never match up to Henry Hill in Goodfellas, he still had a successful career and found his way back in the crime genre multiple times. Henry Hill is an incredible role, and Liotta brings a unique likability to the character as he’s more of a low-level wannabe compared to the calculating mob boss leads the genre usually explores. On top of Goodfellas, Ray Liotta played drug kingpin Syd White in Cocaine Bear and “Hollywood Dick” Moltisanti in The Many Saints of Newark.
5 Joe Pesci
The funny gangster.
With an Academy Award-winning performance in Goodfellas headlining Joe Pesci’s most iconic roles, he would already be mentioned among the great gangster actors. However, he also played gangsters in the Scorsese films The Irishman and Casino, as well as a powerful criminal in Once Upon a Time in America. Pesci’s gangster roles have primarily been in supporting performances, but he brings something memorable to each one. No one could forget the iconic “Funny how? Funny like a clown?” scene from Goodfellas.
4 Humphrey Bogart
The Film Noir star made some great gangster films.
Humphrey Bogart is known widely as one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema. His career isn’t primarily known for the gangster genre, as many of Humphrey Bogart’s best films are in the noir genre, but he’s made enough contributions to the genre to count. Bogart offered a moral complexity to his gangster roles in films like High Sierra, where he played Roy Earle, giving a profound performance that solidified him as a Hollywood star. He also starred in ’30s gangster films like The Roaring Twenties and Invisible Stripes.
3 James Cagney
One of Hollywood’s earliest tough guys.
James Cagney is another classic film actor who made a monumental impact on the gangster genre. Cagney played gangsters in prominent films like The Roaring Twenties, where he starred alongside Humphrey Bogart. He also starred in The Public Enemy, Angels with Dirty Faces, and White Heat and was known for popularizing the ruthless, tough-talking gangster archetype.
2 Al Pacino
Tony Montana and Michael Corleone.
Al Pacino is neck-and-neck with Robert De Niro as the best gangster actor in movies, as The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are still considered among the best movies ever made. Aside from The Godfather films, Pacino has only had a few gangster roles in Scarface, Carlito’s Way, and Donnie Brasco. His resume of crime films is legendary, but while only counting the movies where he plays a gangster, De Niro has a slight edge. Al Pacino is still one of the greatest actors of all time, and the role of Michael Corleone has inspired villain performances for decades following it.
1 Robert De Niro
Cinema’s greatest gangster.
Robert De Niro is the king of the gangster genre, as even though Al Pacino may have reached the arguably higher peak with The Godfather, De Niro has had the highest quantity of starring roles in acclaimed gangster films. He’s played real-life gangsters like Al Capone in The Untouchables, Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas, Ace Rothstein in Casino, and Frank Sheeran in The Irishman. De Niro has also played fictional gangsters in Once Upon a Time in America and The Godfather Part II. He’s even played gangsters in comedy films like Analyze This. He’s one of the most iconic actors in film history, and crime movies are his trademark.
