4. Charles Chaplin
While the other actors on this list may have been forgotten by mainstream film goers, Charles Chaplin is still an American icon. The only caveat is that he is British, yet, his character of the Tramp represented Americana. The Tramp was a lowly person whose shirt was too small, pants too baggy, and shoes too big. Yet, he exhibited such warmth and humanity; Chaplin was first and foremost a humanist as he got into his antics. He represented the lower class and the proletariat to the point that he was driven out of America because of possible Communist sympathies. He was the greatest star of the silent era, combining engaging stories with beautiful movements. He was called the greatest dancer of all time because of the way he was able to manipulate his body for the art of the slapstick gag. Silent film was his medium of choice, and through movement and facial expressions, he was able to get across much more meaning than the use of words.