Actors who are best known for their roles in action movies have a very specific "star quality" about them. From big action stars who walk away from explosions to martial artists who've spent years mastering the craft, these are the best action movie actors out there.

Linda Hamilton

Linda Hamilton is best known for her role as Sarah Connor in the Terminator films. Her role as Sarah Connor might be the only action-packed role on her resume, but she really made an imprint on the action world! After all, who doesn't love her in this film series?

Don't Mess With Linda

Her portrayal as the futuristic cyborg slayer in Terminator 2: Judgment Day is among the best action roles of all time. She also did some pretty good things in the action-thriller Dante's Peak. She ended up making it big in Black Moon Rising in 1986.

Wesley Snipes

Wesley Snipes had a lot of comedic roles in his early career, but everything changed with New Jack City in 1991. That was the film where people noticed his athletic ability and that he might have a future in action-packed films. It was only good things from there!

Action Professional

After that, he was an action-flick icon. He starred in hits like Passenger 57, Boiling Point, Demolition Man and U.S. Marshals. The film that really did him in was Blade in 1998. After that, it was smooth sailing.

Pam Grier

The types of characters that Pam Grier played were rare in Hollywood. She always played strong, independent women who didn't let men take advantage of her. The '70s, '80s, and '90s were filled with women fitting "cookie-cutter" roles of sweet damsels, but Pam Grier broke that mold.

Leading Lady

Grier is best known for her portrayal in Foxy Brown, Jackie Brown (unrelated to Foxy Brown), and Coffy. She will forever be remembered as the strong lead-woman who thrived in her strength and empowerment!

Keanu Reeves

Everyone knows that Keanu Reeves is the ultimate action star. He's had a decorated career with nearly every type of role, but fans love films where he's depicted as the brooding hero. To be honest, he's just got the look for it!

Ultimate Action Star

His action-flick career started in 1991 when he starred as Johnny Utah in Point Break. His next action hit was Speed in 1994 where he played opposite Sandra Bullock. Then, of course, The Matrix films came out, which totally sealed his destiny. Last but not least, he became John Wick, the man who tore apart the world to rescue his dog.

Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver is our very first sci-fi heroine. Her characters didn't need to rely on anyone, male or female, to save her own life multiple times. Of course, she's best known for her role as Ripley in Alien and Aliens.

A Jam-Packed Career

Weaver's career has gone through every genre in the book, including romance dramas and comedies, but her true calling is sci-fi action flicks. She also starred in Galaxy Quest and Avatar.

Bruce Lee

This generation may know Jackie Chan for his incredible acting and martial arts skills, but the older generations know that Bruce Lee was the original stuntman/actor. He opened the door for people like Jackie Chan!

A True Martial Artist

Despite his tragically short career, he really made a name for himself in '70s martial arts classics like Enter the Dragon and Fist of Fury. Lee tragically died when he suffered from cerebral edema made worse by an allergic reaction to a painkiller. He was only 35.

Antonio Banderas

Even the name "Antonio Banderas" seems fit for an action star. Banderas is a versatile actor who has played many different roles, but most fans will always say that his best roles were in action films. That, and in the Shrek series as Puss and Boots.

A Versatile Actor

His most notable roles are in the films Desperado, Assassins, The Mask of Zorro and even The Expendables. The 60-year-old actor hasn't been in many films as of late and is probably done taking part in the action world.

Charles Bronson

Ladies loved him, men feared him. Charles Bronson is a notable actor whose best roles consist of cops, cowboys, and soldiers. This only makes sense since the actor himself is a U.S. Army veteran.

Paving the Way

Bronson thrived in supporting roles until he got his big break in Death Wish back in the mid-'70s. The actor was already in his 50s, but did some incredible work and helped shape the face of the acting world. He passed away in 2003.

Nicolas Cage

Everyone loves to make fun of Nic Cage for his role in stealing the declaration of independence. In reality, he's quite a celebrated actor. Cage had a lot of roles in romance/drama films like Leaving Las Vegas and Moonstruck, but his action flick resume is nothing to brush off.

The Many Faces of Nic Cage

Cage has played a part in mainstream hits like The Rock, Face/Off, Con Air, and of course, National Treasure. He was definitely more active in the '80s and '90s, but at least he had National Treasure to fall back in on the 21st Century.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan is everybody's favorite actor-who-does-his-own-stunts. He's a fantastic martial artist with some impeccable comedic timing, which makes him one of the best action stars out there. He started out as a child actor, believe it or not, but never really thought that he'd go into the big leagues.

The Coolest of the Cool

Chan basically ran into mainstream success. His big films are Rumble in the Bronx, Rush Hour, The Karate Kid, and even Kung Fu Panda (where he lends his voice). He did a lot of work in movies for older children, so an entire generation got to know him as the coolest martial artist out there!

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig is the king is walking away from an explosion without looking back. That's basically all an action star is, right? He's had some incredible roles outside of his success in the James Bond series, even though that's what he's best known for at this point.

Bond

He took over James Bond from Pierce Brosnan in 2005 but also found success in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Munich. He was also in the high-impact action films Defiance, Cowboys & Aliens, and the heist comedy Logan Lucky.

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe is an actor who was born in New Zealand and grew up in Australia. Even that small bit of information will tell you that he's not one to be messed with. He's a versatile actor who is commonly referred to as one of the "best" of his generation.

All Over the Map

His most action-packed role was definitely in Gladiator in 2000, where he won the Best Actor Oscar. He played other kickass characters in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, 3:10 to Yuma, and Robin Hood. He even has a role in the upcoming superhero flick Thor: Love and Thunder.

Tom Cruise

Yes, Tom Cruise does his own stunts... That's been made painfully obvious since he loves to talk about it so much. That's not the only reason why he's recognized as one of the best action actors out there!

Mission Impossible

He's had roles in incredible films like Top Gun, Days of Thunder, Mission: Impossible, Vanilla Sky, Minority Report, Collateral, Tropic Thunder, Jack Reacher, American Made... Should we go on? It's obvious that the guy loves to act and loves action movies. He's quite literally made a career out of his passion!

Sean Connery

Everybody loves Sean Connery. From his drawling Scottish accent to his incredible comedic timing, Connery is hailed as the best of the best. His early portrayal as James Bond sealed the deal for his action film career.

An OG

Connery won an Oscar for playing Jimmy Malone in The Untouchables and for his roles in The Man Who Would Be King and Highlander. He sadly passed away in October of 2020 at the age of 90 and the world grieved together.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon is quite underrated in the action genre. He didn't start off as an action thriller star but quickly found his niche! He really made an impact in the Jason Bourne series, among others.

Jack of All Trades

He's had roles outside of action thrillers like Good Will Hunting and The Martian which many people pride him for. "Oh my God, it's Jason Bourne!" is probably going to be what he's remembered most for.

Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel, despite how odd he can be, is one of the top action stars on the planet. After all, what else do you call someone who has been in 1 million Fast and Furious movies? Diesel has also made it big in the Pitch Black films and XXX franchise.

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood might be an odd name to put on this list, but looking at his career... it checks out! Back in the day, he was a popular face in Spaghetti Westerns where he was commonly seen with a gun in his hand and a cigar in his mouth. He's best known for the flicks A Fistful of Dollars, The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, Heartbreak Ridge... So many more! At 90-years-old, his acting days are behind him.

Chow Yun-fat

Chow Yun-fat is one of Hong Kong's most prized actors. He's added so much flavor and talent to some already incredible films! His best work is definitely in The Replacement Killers, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

Harrison Ford

Everyone loves Harrison Ford. Whether he's killing Sith enemies in Star Wars or defeating Mola Ram in Indiana Jones, he's always kicking butt. He was also in The Fugitive, Air Force One, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Dangers and so many more!

Mel Gibson

Gibson is a bit of a problematic person, but if you remove the actor from his work, he's had a decorated history of beloved action movies. He was in the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon movies but really made it big in Braveheart. He eventually went on to direct as well as act in movies.

Tony Jaa

Tony Jaa looked up to Bruce Lee growing up and ended up following in his footsteps. He may not be a household name, but action film lovers definitely recognize him! His big-time debut was in Furious 7 back in 2015. His career will only go up from there!

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been in every type of movie known to man. From The Tooth Fairy to the Fast & Furious franchise, he can do it all. It seems like his calling is in action films, especially in the Fast & Furious movies. He even took a role in Jumanji: The Next Level which he totally rocked.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie is known as one of the most beautiful actors ever, but it's evident that she doesn't fall back on that. She's been in some incredible action films like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Wanted, and Salt. Jolie followed in the footsteps of Pam Grier as an independent woman who doesn't need help from anybody!

Mila Jovovich

VH1 once dubbed Mila Jovovich as the "reigning queen of kick-butt." Her breakthrough role was alongside Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element in 1977. The industry loved her in The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. Eventually, she went on to become the face of the powerful Resident Evil franchise.

Jet Li

Jet Li trained under powerful martial artists without the intention of going into the film industry, which is probably what made him so good! He starred in the flicks War, The Forbidden Kingdom, The Expendables, and Romeo Must Die. He's even worked alongside the famous Jackie Chan!

Dolph Lundgren

This may come as a surprise, but Dolph Lundgren's breakthrough role was as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Despite having all of that star power, he didn't have much success before becoming Rocky Balboa's enemy. The Swede went on to act in Masters of the Universe, Red Scorpion, and Universal Soldier.

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen was easily one of the biggest action stars of the '60s and '70s. He was a common face to see in dramatic thrillers where disasters, car crashes, and shootouts were common scenes. His most famous works are The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, and The Towering Inferno.

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson had a popular career before the Taken films, but he's easily known as the angry, vengeful father who is trying to get his family back. "I will find you, and I will kill you," is still a common reference in pop culture despite the film being 13 years old! He also starred in The Dead Pool, Darkman, Star Wars, and The A-Team.

Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris is the face of badassery. This man only starred in action-packed thrillers. He was who all men wanted to be, and who all men feared. Even today, jokes about how tough Chuck Norris is are still prevalent despite the fact that his career has been in retirement for nearly 10 years. He's been in The Octagon, Forced Vengeance, Missing in Action, Code of Silence, and The Delta Force.

Kurt Russell

If an actor is wearing an eye-patch for a film, you know that it's an action thriller. Kurt Russell is one of the most respected stars in the biz and has even been offered guest roles in the Fast and the Furious films. Cult classics like Escape from New York and Escape from LA still hold up!

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Before he was the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a world-class bodybuilder and action hero. He was in cult flicks Conan, Terminator, Commando, Predator, and Total Recall. He even poked fun at himself in Last Action Hero for being in so many manly-man action flicks.

Steven Seagal

Steven Seagal is like the modern-day Chuck Norris, even though modern-day Chuck Norris could still kick his butt. He was an action-film icon during the '80s and '90s best known for his jet-black ponytail. He was in the films Above the Law, Marked for Death, Out for Justice, Under Siege, and Executive Decision.

Will Smith

When most people think of Will Smith, they think of his comedy films and role in Fresh Prince of Bel Aire. But when you really think about it, he was in two of the best action flicks out there. Independence Day, Men in Black, and I Am Legend are some of the most popular action films in the modern world of film.

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone made his way into the action flick world with his intro roles as Rocky Balboa. Eventually, he became an action staple! He had roles in Nighthawks, Cobra, Tango & Cash, Demolition Man, and Judge Dredd.

Jason Statham

Jason Statham is another popular face in the Fast & Furious franchise, but he's been in other action flicks too! His first action role was in The Italian Job and then he went on to star in The Expendables. Now, it seems that the F&F films take up most of his time.

Patrick Swayze

Yes, Patrick Swayze is mostly known for his roles in sappy films like Dirty Dancing and Ghost, but he also had some pretty intense roles in action flicks. His most popular roles were in Red Dawn, Road House, and Point Break. Some might even say that his role in Uncommon Valor is sorely underrated.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme entered the actin gscene in the 1988 hit Bloodsport. The rest is history! He went on to star in Cyborg, Kickboxer, Double Impact, Universal Soldier, Timecop and so any more.

Mark Wahlberg

Sure, Marky Mark might have entered the celebrity world in a music group, but he did end up going into some incredible action-packed films. He did super well in the films Three Kings, Planet of the Apes, and Contraband. He definitely seems to prefer comedy films and maybe even reality TV, but he's an action star worth talking about.

John Wayne

John Wayne is the Western movie icon. He was in some iconic movies like Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Longest Day, and True Grit. He was one of the biggest stars in the late '30s well into the '70s. Wayne was basically the blueprint!

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis is definitely one of the best action stars around. Everyone loves his skills in Diehard, Armageddon, The Last Boy Scout, and Pulp Fiction. His smirks-into-the-face-of-death attitude is really what gets people hooked.

Denzel Washington

Who doesn't love Denzel Washington? He was in popular action flicks like The Equalizer, The Little Things, and Training Day. He's been commonly described as the actor who reformed acting.

Ziyi Zhang

Ziyi Zhang is so underrated despite being nominated for 10 Academy Awards. Her breakout in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon announced to the world that she was next in line to be the next action star. She was also in popular movies like Hero and House of Flying Daggers.

Michael Jai White

Michael Jai White's physical fighting ability is incredibly impressive, but his acting skills are just as good! He does a lot of straight-to-DVD films but has had a hand in some incredible mainstream films. He's been in popular flicks like Spawn and The Dark Knight.

Scott Adkins

Scott Adkins gets a lot of recognition from the martial arts world but not nearly enough from Hollywood. He's been in action flicks like Ninja II: Shadow of a Tear, Accident Man, Avengement, and Ip Man 4.

Donnie Yen

As the star of the Ip Men series, Donnie Yen is where it's at. The 57-year-old has been in tons of action flicks showing off his martial arts skills. He's one of Hong Kong's top stars!

Cynthia Rothrock

Cynthia Rothrock is a martial artist and actor who mainly dabbles in martial arts films. She also holds the black belt rankings in seven different styles of martial arts, which is pretty impressive! She was a high-level competitor in martial arts before going on to become an actor.

Paul Walker

Paul Walker was a popular face in the Fast and Furious series alongside Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson. Sadly, he died in 2013, but that doesn't mean he's not in any more of the F&F movies. They keep CGI-ing him into them, which is definitely a choice.

Zoë Bell

Bell hails from New Zealand as a professional stunt-double and actor. She's been in action flicks like The Hateful Eight, Raze, and Grindhouse. She even did stunts for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill!

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh is a Malaysian actor who rose to fame in '90s Hong Kong films. She had roles in James Bond films and famously Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The 58-year-old is still going strong!

Gary Daniels

Gary Daniels was born in London, England and went on to become a famous actor and martial artist. He was even a Light-heavyweight Kickboxing Champion. He started training in martial arts at the age of eight years old. He starred in Fist of the North Star, Bloodmoon, Skin Traffik, and Recoil.

These Are The Greatest Action Stars of All Time