Career: After making the decision to get into acting in 1956, Hackman joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California (where incidentally, he struck up a friendship with Dustin Hoffman). After performances in several off-Broadway plays, Hackman's first movie was Lilith alongside Warren Beatty, who then cast him in his breakthrough film, Bonnie and Clyde. Hackman was soon in demand, showcasing his talents in everything from comedy (in Young Frankenstein) to villainy (as Lex Luthor in Superman). He's also won two Oscars - Best Actor for The French Connection, and Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven. He retired from acting in 2004 to concentrate on writing novels.

Career: DeVito's first movie was 1970's Dreams of Glass. Small roles followed in Bananas, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (produced by Douglas), and The Van. His big break came when he was cast as acerbic boss Louie in hit sitcom Taxi. Since then, he has worked steadily in such films as Terms of Endearment, Romancing the Stone, The Jewel of the Nile, Twins, Batman Returns, Big Fish and Be Cool. DeVito has also directed several movies and has his own production company, Jersey Films, which was responsible for classics such as Pulp Fiction and Erin Brockovich.

Career: Director Spike Lee gave Lindo's career a boost by casting him as the manic-depressive numbers boss Archie in Malcolm X in 1992. Lindo went on to appear as patriarch Woody Carmichael in Lee's semi-autobiographical comedy Crooklyn two years later. He landed major supporting roles in Get Shorty, Clockers and Feeling Minnesota. In 1997, he played an angel opposite Holly Hunter in Danny Boyle's offbeat romantic fantasy A Life Less Ordinary and another mobster with a heart in Romeo Must Die. Other hits include Heist, The Cider House Rules, Gone in 60 Seconds and Domino. He also featured in American crime drama The Chicago Code, which ran for one season in 2011. He continues to perform on stage on both sides of the Atlantic.

Career: In 1994, a Miller Ice beer commercial finally enabled him to quit his other jobs to concentrate on his acting career, which culminated in him having five movies out by 1996. In 1997 he found himself the star of another critically lauded film, Lawn Dogs. He had larger parts in two of the bigger hit movies to emerge in 1999: The Green Mile and Galaxy Quest, wowing audiences and critics alike. Big-budget films such as Charlie's Angels gave way to more subtle independent films like Welcome to Collinwood and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. More recent roles include Moon, Iron Man 2, Conviction, Cowboys & Aliens, Seven Psychopaths and The Way, Way Back.