ICON: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

I've got some big words to share. 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the best actor of my generation! 

Joseph who?

Most people would say that they don't know who I'm talking about, but these same people would be very surprise that they have actually seen and enjoyed some of Joe's works.

Let's start from the beginning. Joe started as a child actor appearing in TV shows like Murder, She Wrote and L.A. Law and films like A River Runs Through It and Beethoven. His first leading man role was in Holy Matrimony opposite Patricia Arquette, he was 13 years old. But, his biggest break as a child actor was in a Disney classic, Angels In The Outfield. He had a short stint in Roseanne before he became a full-fledged comedy star playing Tommy Solomon in 3rd Rock from the Sun. As a young man, he held his own against comedy legends like Jane Curtin and John Lithgow.

In the 5 years that 3rd Rock from the Sun went on air, Joe never stopped making movies. He was Demi Moore's son in The Juror and he wooed Larisa Oleynik in 10 Things I Hate About You. 

After 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joe went on hiatus and attended Columbia University. He came back in 2001 with Manic, a film that started his indie journey. Critics raved about Joe's performance but despite that, Joe stuck with projects he believed in. He didn't go mainstream as many had expected. He continued to give superb performances in movies like Mysterious Skin, Brick, Havoc and The Lookout. For almost a decade, Joe was a staple in the indie film industry. 

Last year, we see Joe being introduced to the mainstream audience. With (500) Days of Summer, being the biggest hit to come out from last year's Sundance Film Festival, and G.I. Joe, where he played Rex Lewis aka Cobra Commander, he is on his way to making big-budget movies. This year, he will be appearing on Christopher Nolan's Inception alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page. 

Those who follow his career (e.g. me) are glad that he's getting the recognition he deserves. He has proven that he has excellent comedic chops (Saturday Night Live), a brilliant dramatic actor (Hesher), a wonderful character voice (Treasure Planet) and a great believer and promoter of art (http://hitRECord.org).

I also admire Emile Hirsch and Ryan Gosling and think that they are wonderful actors. But, their resumes pale in comparison to that of Joe's, who has done it all and will continue to do more.