I was just watching a movie and I'm noticing how a lot of great actors and actresses are starting to get a bit too old to play in movies I like to watch them in.. In the early years of my life, people like Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood (help me name some more) were in lots of great movies. Now that they've been pretty much gone over the past 10 years, people like Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell, Sylvestor Stallone, Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken, Arnold Schwarzenneger, Tom Cruise have taken over..

But now - they're getting old too. Well, not old, but too old to play in the movies they were born to play in. So who's taking over? Someone let me know who the big names are these days. I'm really curious..

Oh, and at this very moment, I took the easy route and just named Actors that I know (I missed a lot of good ones there too). Please throw some actresses in the mix. Okay?

Thanks

That is an interesting one Sal. It seems that most of the current stars we have are nearing that time when they are getting too old to play certain roles, but there seems to be perhaps a lack of talent to take over from them. The oldies are still the biggest names for some reason.

I'm sure others will say there are plenty of young actors and actresses waiting to come up to take over some of these roles, but I'm not sure who they would be. Who are the upcoming Action stars for instance?

Like you Sal, I'm having trouble coming up with any realistic names. I'm betting on new names we haven't yet heard of.

Good question Sal. Every generation passes to a new, but it's the first time, in my life, that my heroes of yesterday are aging and steadily being replaced by new ones.

The calibur of actors is changing, most actors aren't as diverse as they used to be in the good 'ole days. Actors today are pideon-holed, Freddie Prinz, Jr. and his teen love & loss stories, Vin Diesel seems to be the new action/adventure hero, and he seems to have a bright future ahead, but I'm afraid that is all he's going to do. Russell Crowe has a bright future with diverse roles, at least I'd like to think so. Cate Blanchette is a fine actress who is very diverse and I see her career blossoming and more awards headed in her direction.

The bigger stars of today, in my opinion are Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Sean Penn, Julia Roberts, and Gary Oldman, to name a few. Though some mentioned are getting up there soon and could be on their way out, but not anytime soon!

^Tom Cruise is one timeless character isn't he? The guy has been famous for 20 years now I think. Wasn't one of his big movies in 1982? His career has never slowed down and he's never become "old news". The guy has remained an A-list star for two decades.

And the guy is still only about 37 or 38 years old, so he's got plenty of shelf life to him. Cruise will be like Sean Connery and Harrison Ford, people will still be talking about this guy 20 years from now. For whatever reason, guys like this remain timeless. I actually think Cruise will fair far better then Ford and Connery, because Cruise has always been very smart in the projects he has chosen.

By the way, if the '80s are truly making a comeback in this '00 decade, then I predict John Travolta's career will once again go down the toilet. John Travolta and the '80s do not go together.

Well. Two names were brought up of good new actors.. Vin Diesel and Russell Crowe. I don't think Vin Diesel will be all that great. Think Pitch Black. On the other hand, Russell Crowe does seem to have something. Pretty much all of his movies are great. His roles are always really good. Vin, on the other hand... Ahhh..

Who else? Who else is out there that's good? Sure, Tom Cruise will be here for a long time. He'll always be good. So there's another one... Anyone else? Oh, Freddie Prinz, Jr. Heh. I just don't see it. But, maybe that's because I'm a guy...

Some great older actors/actresses: Al Pacino, Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas, Deniro, Faye Dunaway

Some stars of today: Renee Zellweger, Ryan Phillippe, Matthew McConnauqhey, Nicholas Cage, Val Kilmer

Some not yet mentioned: Gwyneth Paltrow, Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon, Amanda Peet, Ewan McGregor, Joseph Fiennes, Ben Affleck, Keanu Reeves, Wesley Snipes, Owen Wilson and Josh Hartnett.
Though they haven't all proven themselves yet, they've also not yet been completly pigeon-holed either.
They just need more time and good script selections to make it bigger. But truth be told, there just aren't very many stand out leading actors or actresses, but there also aren't any stand out great movies being made either.

Gwyneth hasn't proven herself yet?? Yipes..I believe she did win an Oscar 1997..Shakespeare in Love.
But anyway, the new generation..definitely Russell Crowe and Ewan McGregor, oh, I can't forget George Clooney. As far as actresses, Reese Witherspoon will probably be the next big thing. She has the potential just needs the right script.

LOTS OF GOOD ONES.VIN MIGHT BECOME GOOD FOR ACTION FLICKS? MATT DAMON'S A GREAT ACTOR. I ALWAYS THOUGH SCOTT BAKULA WAS AN UNDERATED ACTOR! A UNDERATED OLDER
ACTORS RUTGER HAUER AND BRIAN DENNEHY. ANOTHER GREAT OLDER ACTOR..GENE HACKMAN! BEN STILLER'S BECOMING A GREAT COMEDIC ACTOR.WHATEVER HAPPENED TO STEVE GUTTENBERG? THAT GUY CRACKED ME UP! I TOLD PEOPLE JIM CAREY WAS GOING TO BIG WHEN I SAW "ONCE BITTEN" AT THE THEATER! DID THE SAME THING WHEN I SAW SANDRA BULLOCK ON THE TV SHOW"WORKING GIRL"! AS FAR AS THE LADIES I HAVEN'T BEEN REAL IMPRESSED. SURE LOTS OF BABES OUT THERE BUT ACTING WISE? EH I DON'T KNOW AMANDA PEET,CAMERON DIAZ MAYBE? I GOT A THING FOR THE WB NETWORK'S LADIES!CHARMED,DAWSON,FELICTY,ROSWELL!

COOL BREEZE

"CANNONBALLLLL CANNONBALL COMIN!..RIGHT BACK AT YA"