1

Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis)

Image: Maarten Brakkee

Legendary method actor Daniel Day-Lewis definitively had big shoes to fill when he portrayed our 16th President. And we mean that quite literally: Historians believe that Lincoln had the largest feet of any U.S. President in history. In any case, Day-Lewis stood up to the task and his acting prowess earned him both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, Lincoln focuses on the year 1885 and President Lincoln’s struggles to abolish slavery. Famously, Day-Lewis requested everyone on the filming set to only refer to him as "Mr. President" or "Mr. Lincoln", in order to immerse himself in the role.

2

Jackie Kennedy (Natalie Portman)

Image: Cornelia Ng

Pablo Larrain’s 2016 film Jackie depicts the life of former First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy, both during her time at the White House and after the assassination of President Kennedy. Natalie Portman does an outstanding job in her role as Jackie, portraying her characteristic charm and quiet strength.

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Portman. Although she ultimately lost the Oscar to Emma Stone’s character in La La Land , movie critics acclaimed Natalie’s performance.

3

Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix)

Image: Dominik Scythe

Few musicians have the mysterious and fabled aura as " The Man in Black ", but American actor Joaquin Phoenix was able to faithfully portray Johnny Cash’s gritty character in the 2005 biopic Walk the Line . Directed by James Mangold, this film focuses on Cash’s rise to fame and turbulent career, as well as his relationship with singer June Carter, wonderfully played by Reese Witherspoon.

Phoenix and Witherspoon’s acting was universally praised by film critics, and they both received Best Actor and Actress nominations at the Oscars. While only Witherspoon won the Academy Award, this film remains an impressive highlight in Joaquin Phoenix’s career.

4

John Nash (Russell Crowe)

Image: Roman Mager

Ron Howard’s 2001 film A Beautiful Mind depicts the life of American mathematician and Nobel Laureate John Nash. Russell Crowe does a wonderful job portraying this brilliant American’s life, representing both his brilliance as well as his struggles with mental health.

While the film was based on a 1998 biography by Sylvia Nasar, Howard’s spin on Nash’s life results in a daunting yet inspiring movie. A Beautiful Mind received several nominations at the Academy Awards, winning four Oscars that included "Best Picture" and "Best Director".

5

Mark Zuckerberg (Jessee Eisenberg)

Image: Deeksha Pahariya

David Fincher’s 2010 movie The Social Network took on the formidable task of depicting the rise of the world’s largest social media company as well as the legal battles between two former best friends. Actor Jesse Eisenberg amazingly plays two sides of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, both as a 19-year-old college student and as the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world.

While many critiqued the movie’s lack of historical accuracy, Eisenberg’s portrayal was almost universally praised, earning the then-young actor his first nomination for an Academy Award.

6

Truman Capote (Phillip Seymour Hoffman)

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Truman Capote is revered as one of the greatest authors in American history: His groundbreaking book In Cold Blood is credited as starting the genre of non-fiction literature. The 2005 film Capote is a deep-dive into this author’s investigation into the murders that inspired this iconic book, as well as his interviews with Perry Smith, one of the criminals.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s inspiring portrayal of Capote is considered one of the peak performances of this amazing actor’s outstanding career. Hoffman earned a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actor, while the film was nominated in four other categories.

7

Howard Hughes (Leonardo Di Caprio)

Image: Rafael Garcin

Martin Scorsese is certainly a Hollywood legend: Few movie directors have such an incredible filmmaking record as he does. We could have chosen from many iconic Scorsese biopics (including Robert De Niro’s astounding performance in Raging Bull ), but we ultimately chose his depiction of American business magnate and pilot, Howard Hughes .

In that regard, Leonardo Di Caprio’s impressive range allowed him to portray the life of this American legend, faithfully representing both his business acumen as well as his fight against obsessive-compulsive disorder.

8

Muhammad Ali (Will Smith)

Image: Johann Walter Bantz

You might be surprised to learn that the 2001 film Ali , which depicts the life of the most famous American boxer in history, was a huge box office failure. However, this film was beloved by movie critics, particularly due to Will Smith’s outstanding performance as Muhammad Ali.

The film focuses on most turning points in Ali’s remarkable career, from his first heavyweight title win to his iconic "Rumble in the Jungle" fight against George Foreman. Will Smith was nominated for Best Actor at the 2001 Academy Awards, while Jon Voight’s portrayal of a journalist received a Best Supporting Actor nomination.

9

Charlie Chaplin (Robert Downey Jr.)

Image: Olesia Libra

Now, we know what you are thinking: Why is British legendary actor Charlie Chaplin in this list of American biopics? While it is true that Chaplin was not born in the United States, he was instrumental in building the American film industry, and his films are still revered as icons of our country’s culture. In that regard, Robert Downey Jr’s performance in the 1992 film Chaplin serves as a magnificent tribute to this Hollywood legend.

Directed by Richard Attenborough, this film also stars Chaplin’s daughter , Geraldine Chaplin, who portrays the actor’s mother. While Chaplin wasn’t a huge blockbuster, Downey Jr’s portrayal of the silent actor was particularly well-received.

10

Ray Charles (Jamie Fox)

Image: Andrik Langfield

We’ll end this article with one of America’s most iconic voices. American actor Jamie Foxx got in the skin of iconic musician Ray Charles in the 2004 film Ray . Directed by Taylor Hackford, this film focuses on Charles’ troubled youth and rise to fame, as well as his tragic sight loss.

Foxx’s amazing portrayal of the insanely talented Ray fooled audiences everywhere: Many to this day believe that the actor was actually singing in the film. Foxx was able to convincingly adopt Charles’ mannerisms and habits, which earned him his first Academy Award for Best Actor.

1

Jim Carrey

Image: Avel Chuklanov

Jim Carrey, the man with the "rubber face" himself, is a famously Canadian actor known for his comedic roles in Ace Ventura , The Mask , Dumb and Dumber , and for his more dramatic roles in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Truman Show , among many other movies.

Jim was born in Newmarket, Ontario , to Kathleen and Percy Carrey. He was raised Catholic and has three older siblings: John, Patricia, and Rita. The family’s original surname was Carré.

2

Avril Lavigne

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

Early 2000s skate-punk rock teenage star Avril Lavigne recorded Let Go , the best-selling album of the 21st century by a Canadian artist, in 2002 and was named the "Pop-Punk Queen" by the media at the time.

She was born in Belleville, Ontario , and, as the story goes, her parents recognized her vocal abilities when she was two years old and sang "Jesus Loves Me" on the way home from church.

3

Michael J. Fox

Image: Roger Ce

One of the most beloved Canadians of all time is Michael J. Fox, the actor who portrayed Marty McFly in the Back to the Future movies. He began his career as a child actor on the NBC sitcom Family Ties and starred in many movies in the '80s and '90s, beyond his famous role as the time-traveling teenager.

Fox was born in Edmonton, Alberta , and in 1998, he disclosed his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Since then, the actor has become an advocate for finding a cure and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help fund research. Worsening symptoms have since forced him to reduce his acting work.

4

Celine Dion

Image: Edward Cisneros

The Queen of Power Ballads, noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, was born into a large family in Charlemagne, Quebec . Despite starting her career singing in French, Celine Dion became internationally famous thanks to her best-selling albums Falling Into You and Let’s Talk About Love . Her song "My Heart Will Go On," the theme from the 1997 film Titanic , is probably her most famous work.

She was the youngest of 14 children and as a baby, Dion slept in a drawer instead of a crib to save money. With over 200 million records sold worldwide, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, the best-selling French-language artist, and one of the best-selling musical artists of all time.

5

Dan Aykroyd

Image: Lance Grandahl

Dan Aykroyd, known as one of the Blues Brothers and a member of the original Ghostbusters , is a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and former SNL cast member. Despite being best known for his comedic roles, he was nominated in 1990 for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Boolie Werthan in Driving Miss Daisy.

Aykroyd was born in Ottawa, Ontario , to Samuel Cuthbert Peter Hugh Aykroyd, a civil engineer, and Lorraine Hélène Marie, a secretary. His mother was of French-Canadian descent, and his father was of English, Scottish, Irish, French, and Dutch ancestry.

6

Chris Hadfield

Image: Niketh Vellanki

It is always inspiring to see someone who is truly in love with their job and shares that same passion with the rest of us. And, while one could argue that being an astronaut is an easy job to fall in love with, very few astronauts, if any, have been able to convey what Canadian retired astronaut Chris Hadfield does.

Hadfield was born in Sarnia, Ontario . As the first Canadian to perform extravehicular activity in outer space, he has flown on two Space Shuttle missions and also served as commander of the International Space Station (ISS). During this mission, he documented life onboard the space station by posting on various social media platforms. He appeared on television news and talk shows and gained popularity by performing David Bowie’s "Space Oddity" in space.

7

Alanis Morissette

Image: Jason Buscema

A 1990s phenomenon, Alanis Morissette stormed the charts with her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill , which sold more than 33 million copies worldwide and made her a star. She has released several albums since and has sold more than 75 million records.

Morissette was born in Ottawa, Ontario , to Georgia Mary Ann and Alan Richard Morissette. She has a twin brother, Wade (12 minutes older), who is also a musician.

8

Keanu Reeves

Image: Matthew Ball

A genuine on-screen tough guy and off-screen nice guy, Keanu Reeves is best known for his roles as Neo in the Matrix franchise and as John Wick in the films of the same name, among many other roles.

While Keanu was not born in Canada — he was born in Beirut —he is on this list because he was raised in Toronto and made his acting debut in the Canadian television series Hangin' In (1984). An avid motorcyclist, Reeves is the co-founder of the custom motorcycle manufacturer ARCH Motorcycle.

9

Neil Young

Image: Ahmed Rizkhaan

Legendary rocker Neil Young started his career in Winnipeg in the 1960s before joining Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles. He has released critically acclaimed albums like After the Gold Rush and Harvest , participated in the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and has been an active promoter of environmental causes in both his native Canada and the U.S.

Born in Toronto, Neil Young is one of the few people to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: in 1995 as a solo artist and in 1997 as a member of Buffalo Springfield.

10

James Cameron

Image: Michal Mrozek

Most people would think that being a film director known for Terminator 2 , Titanic , and Avatar , among many other blockbusters, would be accomplishment enough. But not for James Cameron, who also decided to become the first person to make a solo descent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of Earth's ocean.

Cameron was born in Kapuskasing, Ontario , and spent summers on his grandfather's farm. He attended Stamford Collegiate in Niagara Falls. Three of Cameron's films are among the top four highest-grossing films of all time: Avatar , Avatar: The Way of Water , and Titanic hold the positions of highest, third-highest, and fourth-highest-grossing films, respectively. Not bad, right?

1

Rich Uncle Pennybags

Image: Maria Lin Kim

Board games are popular, at least some of them. Clue, Pictionary, Monopoly—we’ve all played at least one of these. But Monopoly’s popularity is something else. And it’s not just the game’s popularity but the fine man who is the face of the brand.

Rich Uncle Pennybags was introduced in 1936 and is widely known as Mr. Monopoly. This rich guy, dressed in a smart tuxedo, turned out to be so popular that he’s been incorporated into the brand’s logo altogether.

2

Tony the Tiger

Image: Franki Chamaki

Introduced in 1951, Tony the Tiger has been a fixture in, possibly, every single household in the United States and many more countries around the world.

With his classic blue background, Tony the Tiger successfully helped Kellogg’s skyrocket as a brand and made not only the mascot but the cereal truly unforgettable. In spite of being a tiger, Tony is known for his courageous messages and friendly smile that invites consumers to take a scoop of cereal and be ready to face the day. Who doesn’t need this shot of inspiration every morning? We can definitely count on Tony the Tiger for that!

3

Pillsbury Doughboy

Image: Kelsey Todd

This fluffy, adorable mascot, affectionately known as Poppin’ Fresh has been making kitchens a little brighter since 1965.

His real name is the Pillsbury Doughboy, and he is famous for his infectious laugh that erupts whenever someone pokes his belly. Dressed in his signature white chef’s hat and scarf, this giggling, chubby fella is the best company one can have when baking. If you have any doubts, you can ask this baking master!

4

Gritty

Image: Lynda Sanchez

If chaos had a face, it would definitely be Gritty! This wild-eyed, orange furball took the world by storm as the official mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers NHL team.

He made his debut in 2018 and soon became a favorite thanks to his unpredictable antics and meme-worthy expressions, which you are surely familiar with!

Both his personality and his color are quite loud, making him quite unforgettable, as orange is also the color of the team. It represents their essence: unapologetically weird and proud of it!

5

Smokey Bear

Image: Brian Wangenheim

Nature is truly a wonder, but in order to keep it that way, we need to protect it. Now, when it comes to this, warning messages have effectively prevented people from accidentally starting wildfires, thanks to a strong brown bear with a powerful message "Only you can prevent wildfires."

The campaign started in 1944 when Smokey Bear was introduced to the nation to spread the message across radio, TV, and print media. In no time, he became a success and a mighty figure of environmental protection.

6

Mr. Met

Image: Lesly Juarez

The spring of 1963 must be a loving memory for Mets fans: that’s when their mascot, Mr. Met, was born. And he came to this world with only one purpose, to cheer the New York Mets for life, and oh-boy did he accomplish it!

For over four decades, and with a partner in crime who joined the family in the mid-1960s, Lady Met, this baseball-loving mascot with a giant baseball for a head, has not only been a mascot but has also become part of the family. Is he a part of yours?

7

Kool-Aid Man

Image: Reba Spike

This brand is one of the most consumed in America and, even though they didn’t need a mascot to be successful, the Kool-Aid man surely brought around a fair dose of cuteness and good marketing.

Originally known as Pitcher Man, which made sense since he is the drawing of a pitcher, he was later renamed Kool-Aid Man with a clear target audience: children. Once again, the brand mascot made it an undeniable success, and it soon became a cultural icon with an iconic "Oh, Yeah!" catchphrase that can make you thirsty just from reading it! Thank goodness we have the Kool-Aid man to assist us there!

8

The Laughing Cow

Image: Kenny Eliason

This brand has a namesake mascot which, ever since it was created in 1921, has undergone quite an evolution! The cheerful cow, known as the Laughing Cow, first appeared to promote high-quality dairy products when packaged cheese was a novelty.

The character, highly recognizable for its red color, has graced all kinds of the company’s product packages and has become a synonym for quality dairy products, so much so, that it continues to be the logo of the brand today!

9

Big Tex

Image: Ray Shrewsberry

If you are from Texas, or if you have attended its State Fair, you are probably familiar with this 55-foot-tall state mascot. Big Tex, the official mascot of the State Fair of Texas was introduced in 1952 as a repurposed Santa Claus figure!

At the time, he was completely transformed into the towering cowboy we all know today. With his classic cowboy hat and his iconic greeting "Howdy, folks!" However, it’s not entirely fair to call him just a mascot, as he actually serves as a cultural ambassador for everyone who visits the State Fair.

10

Cy the Cardinal

Image: Jacob Rice

Cereal, cleaning products, sports teams—mascots are everywhere. And universities also have their furry friends. In the case of Iowa State University, Cy the Cardinal is the one and he has been ever since 1954.

Born from a student contest to create a mascot that embodied the school pride, Cy was inspired by the university’s nickname, the Cyclones. He is characterized by his vibrant red plumage and his big smile, which is key to rallying fans at any sporting event. Isn’t he fierce?