There are a host of legendary stars who have graced the halls of Hollywood, but the list that follows highlights the 15 most prolific stars the industry has ever known and whose output has been difficult to comprehend. These are individuals who, away from the bigger-than-life characters they create on the screen, are a delight in their own right and whose accomplishments are the stuff that overnight success is made of. What follows may surprise some readers, as the stars who are the busiest are certainly a degree removed from the usual suspects.
15. Nicole Kidman (164 credits)
Nicole Kidman has been a significant figure in Hollywood since the late ’80s, when she first appeared in films like Bush Christmas and then generally gained widespread attention with Dead Calm. Since then, she has proved to be quite versatile, moving easily from bold musicals like Moulin Rouge! to powerful dramas such as The Hours, which won her an Academy Award. With over 160 on-screen credits to her name, Kidman’s career shows how staying power and versatility can go hand in hand.
14. Shelley Winters (163 credits)
Shelley Winters was a Broadway legend who became a Hollywood icon. From The Diary of Anne Frank to A Place in the Sun and Lolita, Winters did it all. With two Best Supporting Actress Oscars and 163 credits, she switched seamlessly from bombshell roles to heavy drama, never giving up.
13. Anthony Hopkins (154 credits)
Anthony Hopkins is most famous for playing the terrifying Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, but he has had a career spanning decades and genres. From playing Odin in the MCU to winning his Oscar for The Father, Hopkins keeps adding to his impressive 154 credits, demonstrating his staying power.
12. Jackie Chan (152 credits)
Jackie Chan is action-comedy and stunt-perfection personified. Starting as a kid actor in Hong Kong, he’s appeared in Drunken Master, Rush Hour, and Kung Fu Panda. Chan’s 152 credits are a reflection of his tireless work ethic and his talent for reinventing himself for each new generation.
11. Robert Duvall (146 credits)
Robert Duvall started as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird and has starred in classics such as The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and Tender Mercies, for which he took home an Oscar. With 146 credits, Duvall is the epitome of the lasting strength of great character acting.
10. Myrna Loy (141 credits)
Myrna Loy was a Golden Age legend, appearing in The Best Years of Our Lives and The Thin Man series. With her charm and versatility, Loy accumulated 141 credits without ever taking home an Oscar, establishing her as one of classic Hollywood’s most prolific and well-loved actresses.
9. Robert Mitchum (132 credits)
A character-defining figure in film noir, Robert Mitchum’s work included Westerns, thrillers, and dramas. From The Night of the Hunter to Cape Fear, his 132 credits showcase his tough charm and perpetual adaptability.
8. Nicolas Cage (125 credits)
From Oscar-winning drama in Leaving Las Vegas to crazy cult classics such as Con Air and Face/Off, Nicolas Cage has constructed a distinctly eclectic career. With 125 credits, Cage continues to be one of Hollywood’s most prolific and mercurial actors.
7. Bette Davis (124 credits)
Bette Davis, the long-lasting symbol of Hollywood’s Golden Age, held everyone in her sharp wit and presence. With 124 credits and two Oscars, her acting in All About Eve and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Guarantees that her place in legend is cemented.
6. Bela Lugosi (113 credits)
Best recognized as Dracula, Bela Lugosi was a horror icon, but his career spanned well beyond fangs and capes. He worked in more than 100 Hungarian productions before Hollywood stardom, including projects with Boris Karloff such as The Raven and The Black Cat.
5. Eric Roberts (700+ credits)
Eric Roberts is an actual workhorse of Hollywood, boasting more than 700 acting credits to his name in films and TV. In 2024 alone, he worked on 46 projects, showcasing an unparalleled commitment to his work. He has worked across blockbuster, indie, and cult films.
4. James Hong (450+ credits)
95 and still going strong with more than 450 credits, James Hong is the epitome of a true survivor. From Blade Runner to Everything Everywhere All at Once, Hong’s career attests to perseverance, versatility, and an incredible capacity to survive for decades.
3. Samuel L. Jackson (Top-grossing actor, almost $30 billion)
Samuel L. Jackson doesn’t have the most credits, but he’s the film industry’s top-grossing actor with almost $30 billion in box office sales. From Pulp Fiction to the Marvel franchise, Jackson’s impact is gauged both in terms of performance and his broad influence.
2. Bess Flowers (1,045 credits)
Bess Flowers, who was dubbed “The Queen of the Hollywood Extras,” was on screen in a staggering 1,045 films between 1923 and 1964. She was featured in 23 Best Picture nominees and five winners, sharing the screen with legends from Alfred Hitchcock to Laurel and Hardy. Her record is unlikely to ever be beaten.
1. The Unbreakable Record
Bess Flowers’ legacy is not about numbers—it’s about being everywhere, every time. She has more on-screen credits than Christopher Lee and Danny Trejo combined. If you see a familiar face in the background of a classic movie, chances are it’s her, silently making Hollywood history one performance at a time.
Next time you’re watching a movie and catch an unfamiliar face, just remember: some actors aren’t stars for headline roles—they’re legends for being there every time, making movie history a credit at a time.