Top Ten Young Hollywood Male Actors

The Silver Actors of Hollywood are a crop of actors that came up in the '90s and have impressed us ever since. They respectfully hold their own up against the most regarded actors in the industry. The brilliance of these young actors affords the pick of the best scripts, directors, and co-starring. The sky is virtually the limit for them and their futures are so very bright that even they just might have to wear shades.

10. Jake Gyllenhall's role in the classic comedy City Slickers (1991) as Danny Robbins was the beginning of many a great things for Jake. His career would not really take off until 1998 in films like Homegrown as Jake/Blue Kahan and October Sky (1999) as Homer Hickam. A breakthrough role opposite Jennifer Aniston saw him fitting nicely into the shoes of leading man in The Good Girl (2002) as Holden Worther The Day After Tomorrow (2004) as Sam Hall and Brokeback Mountain (2005) as Jack Twist affirmed his immense talent and range. He continues to win both media critics and Hollywood's praise

9. Tobey Maguire rise and rise in Hollywood begun on TV. His breakthrough roles came in The Ice Storm (1997) as Paul Hood and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) as Hitchhiker. He brought quirkiness to his portrayal of David in Pleasantville (1998). A compensate performance in The Cider House Rules (1999) as Homer Wells led him to exhibit the sensitive that comes out in depictions of his characters no matter the genre. In Wonder Boys (2000) as James Leernd the evidence of his talent filled screen along with co-stars Michael Douglas and Robert Downey Jr. He reached mega stardom with the successful of not one but two Spider-Man (2002/04) as Spider-Man/Peter Parker. He can be seen in the newly released The Good German (2006) as Patrick Tully.

8. Colin Farrell seems to have burst onto the Hollywood screen out of nowhere. The Irish born actor appeared in several TV shows in the UK that is until he appeared in Tigerland (2000) as Pvt. Roland Bozz. Not long after was Hollywood knocking down his door to cast him. It was his intense performance opposite Tom Cruise in Minority Report (2002) as Danny Witwer that saw him come into his own. With his movie stardom assure, he delivered even more intensity in The Recruit (2003) as James Douglas Clayton and Miami Vice (2006) as Det. James 'Sonny' Crockett.

7. Jamie Foxx first graced the silver screen in Toys (1992) as Baker. It was his roles in The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996) as Ed and The Players Club (1998) as Blue that he transformed from TV actor to movie actor. In Oliver Stones Any Given Sunday (1999) as Willie Beamen, Jamie Foxx showed evidence of true movie stardom in the making. His performances in both Collateral (2004) as Max and Ray (2004) as Ray Charles won him Golden Globe and Oscar nomination. It would be for Ray that Jamie Foxx received an Oscar for a more than deserving performance.

6. Heath Ledger brought screams from young fan with his breakthrough role in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) as Patrick Verona. He followed that role with a comedic delivery in A Knight's Tale (2001) as Sir William Thatcher/Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein of Gelderland. Film roles in both Monster's Ball (2001) as Sonny Grotowski and The Four Feathers (2002) as Harry Faversham provided glimpse into the sheer commitment he brings to every role. It was in Brokeback Mountain (2005) as Ennis Del Mar that all the elements came together. He stunned the world with a brilliant portrayal of a tortured man overwhelmed by his lust. The performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 2006.

5. Ed Norton is one actor who reminds us that the myth of the immensely private actor exist, especially when it comes to him. His rise in Hollywood came with a tremendous performance in Primal Fear (1996) as Aaron Stampler. He quickly caused Hollywood to take notice with amazing portrayals in two controversial films The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) as Alan Isaacman and American History X (1998) as Derek Vinyard. He took punches to the face with Brad Pitt in FIGHT CLUB (1999). He can be seen giving yet another breathtaking performance in The Illusionist (2006) as Eisenheim.

4. Djimon Hounsou entered the acting professional a little later in life then the other actors noted. His career begin on TV with roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990) and Stargate (1994) as Horus. His breakthrough came under the direction of Steven Spielberg in Amistad (1997) as Cinque. He fast tracked to movie stardom as a slave/fighter in the epic film Gladiator (2000) as Juba. He can be seen delivering what can only be described as intensifying and powerful performance as Solomon Vandy in Blood Diamond (2006).

3. Joaquin Phoenix burst onto the silver screen in the late eighty in the Parenthood (1989) as Garry Buckman-Lampkin. He made a bigger impact with his roles in Die For (1995) as Jimmy Emmett and 8MM (1999) as Max California. However, it was his stunning performance as Commodus in Gladiator (2000) that made him a sought after movie star status actor. A mesmerizing performance in Walk the Line brought to life the magic and legend that is Johnny Cash. It was that perfect performance that won him a Golden Globe in 2006..

2. Josh Harnette was launched into the heart and minds of many as John Tate in Halloween H20 (1998). The Faculty (1998) as Zeke Tyler and The Virgin Suicides (1999) as Trip Fontaine showed the raw talent and potiental of Josh that was to come. It is his action packed performances in Pearl Habor (2001) as Capt. Danny Walker and Black Hawk Down that solidified him as a movie star. He provides adorable comedic timing as Matt Sullivan in 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002). With films roles like Sin City (2005) as The Man and The Black Dahlia (2006) as Officer Dwight 'Bucky' Bleichert to his filmography, the longevity of this actor is assured.

1. Leonardo DiCaprio is at the top on the list of Hollywood's actors. He begin his acting career on Santa Barbara from 1984 to 1990, but emerged in the '90s on TV shows like Parenthood (1990) and Roseanne (1991). It was not long before he was taken the silver screen by storm in Critters 3 (1991) as Josh, What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Romeo and Juliet (1996) as Romeo. It was films like Titanic (1997) as Jack Dawson, Beach (2000/2001) as Richard, and Gangs of New York (2002) as Amsterdam Vallon that catapulted him to movie star status. He melted our hearts in Catch Me If You Can (2002) as Frank Abagnale Jr. and wowed us in the Aviator (2004) as Howard Hughes. He can be seen delivering powerful performances in The Departed (2006) as Billy Costigan and Blood Diamond (2006) as Danny Archer both for which he has received Golden Globe nominations.

Each of these actors has grown up before our very eyes into the multifaceted Hollywood actors of today and the future. We can only expect further greatness form each of these actors for decades to come.