Most movie stars did not disappoint or surprise, and once they found their “niche” (be it genre, part, or image), and apt mode of projecting and delivering, they stayed with their narrow sets of screen roles.
Records: Most Years–Top 10 Actors
25 John Wayne 1949–1957, 1959–1974
21 Clint Eastwood 1968–1986, 1992–1993
20 Tom Cruise 1983, 1986–1990, 1992–1994, 1996–1997, 1999–2007
18 Gary Cooper 1936–1937, 1941–1949, 1951–1957
17 Tom Hanks 1988–1989, 1993–1995, 1998–2000, 2002–2007, 2009–2010, 2013
16 Clark Gable 1932–1943, 1947–1949, 1955
15 Bing Crosby 1934, 1937, 1940, 1943–1954
14 Paul Newman 1963–1964, 1966–1975, 1982, 1986
13 Mary Pickford 1914–1926
13 Bob Hope 1941–1953
13 Harrison Ford 1981–1985, 1990, 1993–1997, 2000, 2008
Movie Stars: Durable Stars (by year)
Most movie stars did not disappoint or surprise, and once they found their “niche” (be it genre, part, or image), and apt mode of projecting and delivering, they stayed with their narrow sets of screen roles.
Records: Most Years–Top 10 Actors
25 John Wayne 1949–1957, 1959–1974
21 Clint Eastwood 1968–1986, 1992–1993
20 Tom Cruise 1983, 1986–1990, 1992–1994, 1996–1997, 1999–2007
18 Gary Cooper 1936–1937, 1941–1949, 1951–1957
17 Tom Hanks 1988–1989, 1993–1995, 1998–2000, 2002–2007, 2009–2010, 2013
16 Clark Gable 1932–1943, 1947–1949, 1955
15 Bing Crosby 1934, 1937, 1940, 1943–1954
14 Paul Newman 1963–1964, 1966–1975, 1982, 1986
13 Mary Pickford 1914–1926
13 Bob Hope 1941–1953
13 Harrison Ford 1981–1985, 1990, 1993–1997, 2000, 2008
13 Mel Gibson 1987, 1989–1996, 1998–2000, 2002
12 Burt Reynolds 1973–1984
11 Douglas Fairbanks 1916–1926
11 Cary Grant 1944, 1948–1949, 1959–1966
10 Spencer Tracy 1938–1942, 1944–1945, 1948, 1950–1951
10 Betty Grable 1942–1951
10 James Stewart 1950, 1952–1959, 1965
10 Doris Day 1951–1952, 1959–1966
10 Barbra Streisand 1969–1970, 1972–1975, 1977–1980
10 Julia Roberts 1990–1991, 1993, 1997–2001, 2003–2004
Most years ranked #1 Actor Years
7 Tom Cruise 1986, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000–2001, 2005
5 Bing Crosby 1944–1948
5 Clint Eastwood 1972–1973, 1983–1984, 1993
5 Burt Reynolds 1978–1982
5 Tom Hanks 1994–1995, 1998, 2002, 2004
4 Shirley Temple 1935–1938
4 John Wayne 1950–1951, 1954, 1971
4 Doris Day 1960, 1962–1964
3 Mickey Rooney 1939–1941
3 Robert Redford 1974–1976
3 Johnny Depp 2006–2007, 2010
2 William S. Hart 1915–1916
2 Douglas Fairbanks 1917–1918
2 Wallace Reid 1919–1920
2 Mary Pickford 1921–1922
2 Clara Bow 1928–1929
2 Marie Dressler 1932–1933
2 Rock Hudson 1957, 1959
2 Julie Andrews 1966–1967
2 Paul Newman 1969–1970
2 Sylvester Stallone 1977, 1985
Most Consecutive Years Ranked #1 Actor Years
5 Bing Crosby 1944–1948
5 Burt Reynolds 1978–1982
4 Shirley Temple 1935–1938
3 Mickey Rooney 1939–1941
3 Doris Day 1962–1964
3 Robert Redford 1974–1976