Thespis. 530 BC. He was the first. Imagine people wondering what the f' are you doing pretending to be someone you are not, Plaktonkton the Mutton plunderer.
Willem Dafoe Cillian Murphy Robert Downey, Jr Tom Hanks Gary Oldman This list is unfair to actresses but I thought of dudes given the thread title. Also I’d say Daniel Day Lewis, but I kept it to “active players”
Tough to pick only five, but: Daniel Day-Lewis Ed Norton Al Pacino Tom Hanks Sir Anthony Hopkins Most slept on: Chiwetel Ejiofor - I could watch his performance in Redbelt over and over.