Career: After being hired to make cabinets for George Lucas, Ford was cast in the director's 1973 film American Graffiti. They reunited for the original Star Wars trilogy, which made both their names. His role as intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark and its sequels cemented his position as one of the world's best-loved heroes. Ford was Oscar-nominated for Peter Weir's thriller Witness. He worked with the director again on 1986 project The Mosquito Coast, which despite being a flop remains one of his favourite movies. Other notable projects include The Fugitive, Blade Runner, Working Girl, Patriot Games and Cowboys & Aliens.

Career: Aykroyd met John Belushi in Chicago and introduced him to the blues before the pair appeared as The Blues Brothers on Saturday Night Live. He worked on the show between 1975 and 1979. Steven Spielberg cast him in his flop war comedy 1941, and a year later he and Belushi starred in a big-screen comedy featuring their Blues Brothers characters. They reunited for flop Neighbors before Belushi's death in 1982. Following the smash hit Trading Places, Aykroyd wrote and starred in 1984 hit Ghostbusters. A string of projects followed, including Spies Like Us, Dragnet, Driving Miss Daisy, Grosse Pointe Blank and 50 First Dates. He lent his vocal talents to the 3D Yogi Bear movie, working alongside pop star Justin Timberlake, and makes regular cameo appearances.

Career: Spielberg's 1971 thriller Duel paved the way for feature film The Sugarland Express, a modest hit. In 1975, Jaws started a long run of successes, including the Indiana Jones films, ET, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. He also co-founded studio Dreamworks SKG, which has backed various hits, including Shrek, American Beauty and Gladiator. Spielberg's recent films include The Terminal, Munich and War of the Worlds. He has also worked as the producer on a string of hit films, including The Goonies, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the Back to the Future trilogy, the Transformers trilogy, and True Grit. His recent work includes The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, War Horse and Lincoln. He won an Oscar for Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List and an honorary award in 1987.