Which actors/actresses do you think were the finest in a particular decade? They can either be from film, TV or radio. Here's mine, although I'll probably have changed my mind in ten minutes:
50s - Tony Hancock
60s - Peter Sellars
70s - Ronnie Barker
80s - Rowan Atkinson
90s - Steve Coogan
00s - Ricky Gervais (I know he's a bit of a one trick pony, but what a trick)
As true as it is, don't let zooo read the last one.
Anyway, I'm going to nominate Sid James for the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Quote: Aaron @ June 19 2008, 11:11 AM BSTAs true as it is, don't let zooo read the last one.
Anyway, I'm going to nominate Sid James for the 50s, 60s and 70s.
I may be wrong (although it's never happened before), but isn't Sid James South African?
Sid James came to England when he was forty I believe. From South Afrcia yes.
Great laugh.
Aye, that he was.
Quote: Marc P @ June 19 2008, 11:15 AM BSTSid James came to England when he was forty I believe. From South Afrcia yes.
Great laugh.
Great walnut face as well.
Don't know much about 50s and 60s, but from 70s onwards I would have pretty much the same.
Actually, a few small changes:
70s - Ronnie Barker
80s - Rowan Atkinson
90s - Rik Mayall (Bottom)
00s - Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge)
Steve Coogan could go in the 90s but I'll slot him into the noughties so I can have Rik Mayall in my list 
50s - Tony Hancock/Terry-Thomas
60s - Peter Sellers
70s - Ronnie Barker/Leonard Rossiter
80s - Rowan Atkinson
90s - David Jason
00s - Ricky Gervais
Let us not forget Stan Laurel, Charlie Chaplin and Bob Hope meanwhile.
Alistair Simm.
Quote: Alan C @ June 19 2008, 11:58 AM BST50s - Tony Hancock/Terry-Thomas
60s - Peter Sellers
70s - Ronnie Barker/Leonard Rossiter
80s - Rowan Atkinson
90s - David Jason
00s - Ricky Gervais
I'm glad you mentioned Terry-Thomas, he was great. And such a shame the way he died. I would have also liked to mention the mighty Alistair Sim. Possibly in a 40's slot, since Green for Danger came out in about 1946.
Yes Alistair Sim would have made my 50's list as well but I thought it would have been too much having 3
1950's British comedies really make me smile as soon as the opening credits role - The Green Man, School for Scoundrels - superb stuff
Two more actors who need mentioning. Margeret Rutherford, who had a face for comedy and was easily the best Miss Marple there's ever been. And Alec Guiness, who starred in a number of seminal comedy films, including The Lavender Hill Mob, The Lady Killers and Kind Hearts and Coronets. Timeless classics, every one.
I love Alec Guinness films but he never made me laugh for some reason. The quintissential straight man I suppose. Great actor - but Frankie Howard always made me laugh without quite being a great actor.
Howerd* 
A true great, but never did much acting beyond Up Pompeii! - which even then was basically him, in his stand up persona and style, just telling a story rather than any acting as such.
And I agree Margaret Rutherford - genius.
And I forgot to mention as we're going back in time... - Will Hay.
And perhaps overlooked although he was a top, probably our top comedy actor Cary Grant. Then David Niven after him..