Top Hollywood Actors Who’ve Been in the Most Movies & Series

Hollywood has many actors who consistently appear in a wide range of projects – from big-budget films to small independent movies and popular TV shows. This list ranks those actors by how many different films and series they’ve worked on, starting with those who have the fewest and going up to the most prolific. The numbers are estimates based on credited roles in movies made for theaters and TV, and series. This ranking highlights how much these actors work, not necessarily how critically acclaimed or financially successful they are.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage has acted in around 150 films and TV shows throughout his career. He’s known for a wide variety of roles, from big action movies to smaller, more personal dramas, including acclaimed performances in films like ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ and ‘Face/Off’. He’s also made appearances on television, both as a guest star and in more recent streaming series. Cage continues to work on both popular and independent projects around the globe.

Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe has appeared in around 125 films and 30 TV shows, giving him a total of approximately 155 projects. He’s known for a diverse range of films, from intense war dramas like ‘Platoon’ to more unusual and artistic movies such as ‘The Lighthouse’. On television, he’s done both smaller series and one-off appearances. Throughout his career, Dafoe has successfully worked on big-budget studio films as well as independent, international projects.

Ron Perlman

Ron Perlman has an impressive body of work, appearing in roughly 190 projects including around 105 movies and 85 TV shows. He’s widely recognized for roles in films like ‘Hellboy’ and ‘Pacific Rim’, and on television in series such as ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Sons of Anarchy’. In addition to live-action roles, he’s a prolific voice actor in animation.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has an extensive filmography, with around 160 movies and 45 TV shows – totaling nearly 205 projects. He’s known for roles in a wide variety of genres, from crime and drama to superhero films like ‘Pulp Fiction’ and several ‘Avengers’ movies. He’s also appeared on television in limited series, specials, and one-off events, often providing voice work or making brief cameo appearances.

Richard Kind

Richard Kind is a prolific actor with around 210 credits in film and television. He’s appeared in roughly 85 movies, including the acclaimed ‘A Serious Man,’ and lent his voice to animated films like ‘Inside Out.’ On TV, he’s known for roles in shows such as ‘Spin City’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ and has experience in comedies, animation, and playing recurring characters.

Gary Busey

Gary Busey has acted in approximately 215 movies and TV shows throughout his career. He’s known for roles in films like ‘Point Break’ and ‘Lethal Weapon,’ and has appeared in both scripted dramas and reality television. He’s taken on leading and supporting roles in a variety of genres, including action, drama, and comedy.

M. Emmet Walsh

M. Emmet Walsh appeared in around 220 films and TV shows throughout his career, including memorable roles in ‘Blood Simple’ and ‘Blade Runner’. He made countless guest appearances on television series over many decades, often playing parts in crime dramas, comedies, and stories focused on interesting characters.

Brian Cox

Brian Cox has an extensive career with around 225 acting credits in both movies and television. He’s known for roles in films like ‘Braveheart’ and ‘Adaptation,’ and on TV shows including ‘Succession’ and various British series. He’s a seasoned stage actor who has worked on projects throughout the UK and the US.

Clancy Brown

Clancy Brown has worked on around 230 projects, including roughly 100 movies and 130 TV shows. He’s known for roles in films like ‘Highlander’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, and on television, he famously voices Mr. Krabs in ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ and has appeared in series such as ‘Dexter’. He’s built a successful career doing both on-screen acting and voice work.

James Cromwell

James Cromwell has an extensive film and television career, with nearly 240 total projects. He’s known for roles in films like ‘Babe’ and ‘L.A. Confidential,’ and significant appearances in TV shows such as ‘Six Feet Under’ and ‘American Horror Story.’ Beyond on-screen work, he’s also done voice acting and adapted performances from stage to screen.

Michael Madsen

Michael Madsen has appeared in around 210 films and 65 TV shows, giving him a total of approximately 275 acting credits. He’s well-known for his roles in films like ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’, and on television shows such as ‘24’ and ‘Hawaii Five-0’. Throughout his career, he’s worked on everything from small independent films to big-budget productions, and across a wide variety of genres.

Lance Henriksen

Lance Henriksen has built an impressive career with around 280 acting credits, including both movies and TV shows. He’s known for iconic roles in films like ‘Aliens’ and ‘The Terminator,’ and on television in the series ‘Millennium’ as well as many appearances in crime and thriller shows. He often works on science fiction and horror projects, making him a familiar face in those genres.

Stephen Tobolowsky

Stephen Tobolowsky has appeared in roughly 290 movies and TV shows throughout his career. He’s known for films like ‘Groundhog Day’ and ‘Memento’, and for his work on television series including ‘The Goldbergs’ and ‘Silicon Valley’. He’s worked across a wide range of projects, from comedies to dramas and major motion pictures.

Richard Riehle

Richard Riehle has an extensive film and television career, with around 210 movies and 110 TV shows – totaling nearly 320 projects. He’s known for roles in films like ‘Office Space’ and ‘Glory,’ and has appeared on television shows ranging from ‘The West Wing’ to ‘NCIS,’ often in guest roles. Riehle frequently plays supporting characters in both comedic and dramatic productions.

Udo Kier

Udo Kier is a prolific actor with a career spanning around 335 films and TV shows. He’s known for roles in movies like ‘Blade’ and ‘Downsizing,’ and has worked on both European and American television programs, often appearing in recurring or guest spots. Kier frequently participates in international art house and genre films.

Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee appeared in a remarkable number of projects – roughly 280 films and 70 TV shows, totaling around 350. He’s known for iconic roles in films like ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and the ‘Star Wars’ prequels, and he worked consistently in television for many years, appearing in miniseries and as a guest star. Throughout his long career, he excelled in genres like horror, fantasy, and grand historical dramas.

Danny Trejo

Danny Trejo is a prolific actor with over 410 credits in movies and television. He’s known for roles in films like ‘Machete’ and ‘Heat,’ and TV shows including ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Sons of Anarchy.’ He consistently appears in action, crime, and comedy projects.

John Carradine

John Carradine acted in around 360 films and 85 TV shows, giving him a total of nearly 445 acting projects. He was in well-known movies like ‘Stagecoach’ and ‘The Grapes of Wrath,’ and he appeared on many different television programs over several decades. His career spanned from the 1930s to the 1980s.

James Hong

James Hong has an incredibly extensive career, with around 510 acting projects including roughly 320 movies and 190 television shows. He’s appeared in iconic films like ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ and the recent hit ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ and his television work spans from classic shows like ‘Seinfeld’ to more recent series like ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ He’s also done a lot of voice acting for both live-action and animated projects throughout many different periods of television and film.

Eric Roberts

Eric Roberts is a prolific actor with over 650 credits in film and television. He’s worked on everything from small independent films to blockbuster movies like ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Runaway Train’. He’s also had memorable roles in popular TV series like ‘Heroes’ and ‘Suits’, and his work covers a wide range of genres including action, drama, and thrillers.

Who do you consider the most consistently working actor or artist right now? Feel free to share any other names of hard-working performers in the comments below.

2025-11-08 14:18