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James Cagney (1899–1986) -

While winning acclaim for a variety of roles, Cagney is best known for his tough guy persona in films like 'White Heat' (1949) and 'Angels With Dirty Faces' (1938).

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James Cagney (1899–1986) - One of Cagney's most memorable gangster movies was 'The Public Enemy' (1931), which featured the notorious grapefruit scene.

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Edward G. Robinson (1893–1973) -

Another legendary name from Hollywood's golden years, and another actor synonymous with the gangster genre.

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Edward G. Robinson (1893–1973) -

Robinson is especially remembered for his performance as the mobster Caesar Enrico "Rico" Bandello in 'Little Caesar' (1931).

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Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957) - One of cinema's greatest leading men, Bogart played many different characters throughout a distinguished career. But his early years saw him play a number of villains in a series of B-movie crime dramas.

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Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957) -

These movies included 'Dead End' (1937), a supporting role in 'Angels With Dirty Faces' (1938), and 'You Can't Get Away with Murder' (1939). His appearance in 'High Sierra' (1941) was his last playing a gangster.

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Robert Mitchum (1917–1997) - Celebrated for his work in film noir, Mitchum was one of Hollywood's most dependable heavies, and looked the part to a tee.

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Robert Mitchum (1917–1997) - One of his most memorable roles is as serial killer Harry Powell in 'The Night of the Hunter' (1955). He gave another menacing performance as Max Cady in 'Cape Fear' (1962). 

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Lee Marvin (1924–1987) -

Hard-drinking, hard-boiled Marvin excelled at playing unsavory loudmouthed characters in a host of films, including 'Bad Day at Black Rock' (1955) and the brutal 'Violent Saturday' (1955).

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Lee Marvin (1924–1987) - Marvin matured somewhat, but still put in some seriously gritty performances in films such as 'The Killers' (1964) and the neo-noir crime drama 'Point Blank' (1967).

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George Raft (1901–1980) - If you needed a gangster in '30s and '40s Hollywood, suave, sophisticated, and ruthless George Raft was often the man for the job. 

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George Raft (1901–1980) -

He costarred in the original 'Scarface' (1932), one of cinema's greatest gangster movies. He also appeared in 'Each Dawn I Die' (1939) with James Cagney.

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Lee Van Cleef (1925–1989) - Blessed—or cursed—with sinister facial features, the actor ended up playing a host of minor villainous roles to the point of being typecast.

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Lee Van Cleef (1925–1989) - His career turning point came when he was cast as "Angel Eyes" in Sergio Leone's seminal Western 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' (1966). The inscription on his grave marker reads: "BEST OF THE BAD."

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Joe Pesci (1943–) - Pesci's effortless ability to portray volatile, almost psychotic characters has seen him turn in some truly memorable and disturbing performances in several era-defining movies. 

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Joe Pesci (1943–) - These films include 'Goodfellas' (1990) and 'Casino' (1995). In both movies he portrayed characters based on real-life mobsters. 

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Vinnie Jones (1965–) - This British actor, a former professional soccer player who had a reputation for giving his opponents a hard time on the field, later channeled his aggression into acting and roles where he typically plays a thug or hardened criminal.

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Vinnie Jones (1965–) - Jones has brought his tough-guy image to the public in a string of hit movies including 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' (1998), 'Snatch' (2000), and 'Mean Machine' (2001).

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Robert Ryan (1909–1973) - A familiar face on screen throughout the 1940s, '50s and '60s, Ryan played many a villain in films like 'The Racket' (1951) and 'Bad Day at Black Rock' (1955).

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Robert Ryan (1909–1973) - A star of various Westerns and war dramas, Ryan's third to last film, 'The Outfit' (1973), saw him play a mob boss, one of his final roles as a villain.

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Richard Boone (1917–1981) - Granite faced with an imposing physique, Boone was a highly respected character actor who played more than his fair share of thugs and lowlifes.

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Richard Boone (1917–1981) - Notable roles include 'Siege at Red River' (1954) and 'Hombre' (1967). 

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Bob Hoskins (1942–2014) - Hoskins' masterful turn as British crime boss Harold Stand in 'The Long Good Friday' (1980) provided the actor with his breakout film role. 

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Bob Hoskins (1942–2014) - Hoskins won praise for another gangster role, this time for his low-level working-class villain in the highly regarded 'Mona Lisa' (1986). 

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Ray Winstone (1957–) - Winstone has helped redefine the British hard man role in several high-profile films. He is particularly remembered as the young offender Carlin in the harrowing and violent 'Scum' (1979).

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Ray Winstone (1957–) - The actor has since enjoyed success in numerous roles, but it's films like 'Ripley's Game' (2002) and 'Sexy Beast' (2000) where his sinister nature is always appreciated.

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Ernest Borgnine (1917–2012) - Borgnine's gruff looks and stocky frame led to early roles as a thug or misfit, including the sadistic Sergeant Judson in 'From Here to Eternity' (1953).

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Ernest Borgnine (1917–2012) -

In a career that spanned over six decades, the versatile Borgnine could be relied upon to put in a dark turn when required.

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Jack Palance (1919–2006) - Steely-eyed, square-jawed, and athletic, Palance made his screen debut in 'Panic in the Streets' (1950) as a gangster. 

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Jack Palance (1919–2006) -

Palance again played a villain in 'Second Chance' (1953), playing opposite fellow hard man Robert Mitchum. 

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Vincent Price (1911–1993) - A much-loved character actor who later became world famous for his creepy horror films, Price nonetheless began his career by playing villains in several film noir productions.  

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Vincent Price (1911–1993) -

These early crime thrillers include 'The Web' (1947) and 'The Bribe' (1949).

See also: Actors who can't escape their iconic roles

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