Who is the Meryl Streep of male actors? What makes him so?

Daniel Day-Lewis; he's hardcore method, which I don't believe Meryl is, but in terms of respect from the public and their peers, I feel like he's the male equivalent.

Matt Damon. He can do no wrong. I wonder what B would say to that.

[quote] He can do no wrong.

He bought a zoo.

Viggo Mortensen as he can speak 7 languages and probably 20 accents.

Maybe Dustin Hoffman. Very few missteps. Consistently reliable.

Duvall

Lol! Viggo? Have you forgotten his campy turn in Carlito's Way?

"Keel mee you cokesucker!!!! I got fucking diapers man! I can even homp!!"

Too old now, but Jack Nicholson was.

The thing about Streep is...she's not a consummate actor in that she can't do comedy. Anything dramatic, she can blow the lid off. Personally, I think her performances don't seem very organic. To me, she performs more than she acts. But she doesn't have a funny bone in her body and yes, I've seen "Devil wears....". I think to be a consistently great actor, you need to be able to do it all. I think Damon, Roberts, Downy Jr. and a handful of others fit into that category.

Lewis or Washington could be considered the male Streep-- in comparison, I think their performances are far more natural--but like Streep, neither of them could pull off a comedy.

Denzel is the Streep of male actors, Will Smith is his G.

A click-click-click actor? Robert de Niro.

Since I don't consider Meryl Street a great actress, like what R9 said, she performs. Given that, I'll say Tom Hanks. They both do a great job playing leading characters and Oscars winners in leading rolls. Also, when I'm watching one of their movies, I know that I'm watching Meryl or Tom act, which is fine for general entertainment, but a mild distraction nonetheless.

Paul Muni.

[quote] Paul Muni.

You may be right. Obscure but right.

I agree with R1...DDL

Sean Penn

R9 Wait, Damon, Roberts and Downey have been funny? No funnier than Streep was in Postcards.

I saw Streep on stage in Mother Courage. Phenomenal. A male equivalent should be a powerhouse in theater too.

Christoph Waltz, because all kinds of directors try to cast him in their movies.

Really R17? You've never seen Tropic Thunder or early Kevin Smith stuff with Damon or his appearance on Will and Grace? I mean...you may not like them, but come on...