19. Tom Hanks (Philadelphia)
Before Andrew Beckett, Tom Hanks was the nice guy of Hollywood. Romantic coms, buddy movies or straight up gross out comedies was all you ever got from him. He wasn't a character actor, nor was he winning any awards and he certainly wasn't someone you could see being anything but type cast. Tom Hanks changed his career as Beckett, a Law firm worker who contracts AIDS, and hasn't looked back since. The subject of AIDS may be controversial enough in itself, but that alone isn't reason enough for this to be on this list. Hanks' career turn as Beckett stunned everyone and it firmly placed Hanks, who won an Oscar for his role, as hot property in Hollywood. If you want to go far in Hollywood; pick a script as far removed as possible for what you are known for and surprise everyone.