For die-hard fans of film and TV, there is nothing more exciting than pulling back the curtain on the stars that bring your favorite stories to life. When so much of public perception is determined by polished publicity appearances or sanitized social media photos, it’s fascinating to be given an intimate view into a person who seems so recognizable. Not to mention, those in the entertainment industry tend toward the eclectic side, and there is never a shortage of talented actors or their complicated lives for documentarians to dive into. These films are also a great way for current audiences to come together to celebrate stars of the past and share their work with younger generations. The true embodiment of creative vision, actors literally give themselves — in reputation, body, and spirit — to the world, in honor of bringing art to the masses. That’s something to celebrate. Here are nine great documentaries about actors, ranked.
9 That Guy Dick Miller (2014)
Elijah Drenner’s documentary That Guy Dick Miller was funded through a Kickstarter campaign and focuses on the prolific character actor Dick Miller. Over the course of a 50-year career, Miller appeared in more than 170 films, often in single-scene appearances. He is perhaps most recognizable for his roles in Gremlins, A Bucket of Blood, and The Terminator. He often worked with director Roger Corman and was also cast in every film Joe Dante made while Miller was alive. That Guy Dick Miller has been praised for its extensive interviews with many of Miller’s friends and collaborators, who all expressed their admiration for Miller and the talent he brought to the screen.
8 I Am Divine (2013)
I Am Divine is a documentary from director Jeffrey Schwarz which focuses on singer, actor, and drag queen Divine, whose given name was Harris Glenn Milstead. Divine was a close friend and collaborator of independent filmmaker John Waters, and appeared in several of his movies. Divine often appeared in drag for his film roles, most notably in the 1988 version of Hairspray, and along with his music career, found success while bucking traditional standards. The documentary features extensive interviews with Divine’s mother, Frances Milstead, John Waters, and other members of the Dreamlanders — a group of Waters’ frequent collaborators. I Am Divine premiered at South by Southwest in 2013 and has been warmly received by critics.
7 Val (2021)
Val is a recent Amazon Original Documentary from Leo Scott and Ting Poo which highlights popular actor Val Kilmer. The film gives a big-picture view of Kilmer’s life through extensive footage he collected of himself from childhood until present day. In addition to a closer look at his acting credits and insight into his marriage to actress Joanne Whalley, the film follows Kilmer through his journey of living with throat cancer. The illness, which caused him to begin losing his voice, prompted his desire for a documentary. Kilmer narrates the film in his own words, though they are spoken by his son Jack Kilmer, giving viewers an intimate look into the star’s life from his own perspective. At its core, Val is a picture of a man that has been curated, packaged, and delivered in exactly the way he wants the public to perceive him.
6 I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale (2009)
I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale is a 2009 Richard Shepard documentary which depicts the career of actor John Cazale. Cazale was a successful Broadway and film actor throughout the '60s and '70s, before he passed away in 1978 at the age of 42. Cazale is best known for his role as Fredo Corleone in the Godfather films, and his subsequent friendship with director Francis Ford Coppola. Throughout his career, Cazale appeared in five feature-length films, all of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, with The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and Michael Cimino’s The Deer Hunter all snagging the win. I Knew It Was You features interviews with many of Cazale’s Hollywood friends and collaborators, including Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola, Philip Seymour Hoffman, as well as Meryl Streep, who was by Cazale’s side as he ultimately succumbed to cancer. The documentary gives an extensive look at Cazale’s professional career, but some critics noticed it was lacking some context regarding the rest of his life.
5 Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (2018)
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind is a 2018 documentary from Marina Zenovich which depicts the life and career of highly acclaimed comedian and actor Robin Williams, who tragically passed away in 2014. A beloved star, Williams earned a massive amount of success throughout his prolific career and kept audiences laughing for decades. The documentary features interviews with popular Hollywood icons, including Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Billy Crystal, and others, and sold out six different screenings when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Variety called Come Inside My Mind, “sharp-edged, humane, and deeply researched enough to take you closer to the manic engine of Williams’ brilliance and pain.” This is an exceptional film about an exceptional man; a man who battled personal demons, creative vision, and public scrutiny, but ultimately left behind a legacy and an astounding body of work that will keep him in the hearts of viewers for many more decades to come.
4 Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017)
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story is a 2017 documentary from first-time filmmaker Alexandra Dean and details the extensive and complicated life of old Hollywood starlet Hedy Lamarr. The film covers her decades of acting, in which she was often cast as the ultimate femme fatale; her complicated personal life, which consisted of six marriages, including MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer; and her career as an inventor in which she patented a frequency-hopping radio system during World War II. Bombshell has been lauded by critics and celebrated for its ability to mesh present day interviews with compelling archival footage to tell the story of this incredible woman. The documentary received several awards at the Tribeca Film Festival, among others, and features an original song called “She” by Alice Phoebe Lou, which was shortlisted for an Oscar. This is a great pick for any old Hollywood fans or anyone who is inspired by strong, determined, successful women.
3 Jane Fonda in Five Acts (2018)
Jane Fonda in Five Acts is a 2018 HBO documentary from director Susan Lacy that focuses on the extensive career and compelling personal life of esteemed actress Jane Fonda. The film offers a comprehensive look at the many decades Fonda has spent in the spotlight, in which she has starred in more than 50 films; won two Oscars; executive produced and starred in the hit TV show Grace & Frankie, and focused heavily on activism and philanthropy. It also features interviews with those closest to Fonda, including Robert Redford, Lily Tomlin, Sam Waterston, and others. Jane Fonda in Five Acts premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. Critics have praised the documentary for its vast and detailed portrayal of Fonda’s work and her dedication to the causes she believes in.
2 Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey (2000)
Though there have been many documentaries made over the years to celebrate the life and career of this talented man, Bruce Lee: A Warrior’s Journey has to be one of the best. In this 2000 film from director John Little, viewers are given a peek behind the curtain of Hollywood’s best martial arts actor of all time. The documentary is broken up into parts and features interviews with some of the people closest to Lee, including his widow, Linda Lee Caldwell, and close collaborators Taky Kimur, Hapkido Grandmaster Ji Han Jae, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It also features 23 minutes of never-before-seen original footage from Game of Death, the project that Lee was working on at the time of his death. A Warrior’s Journey should be top of the must-see list for any Bruce Lee fan.
1 Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (2016)
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds is a 2016 HBO documentary about the mother-daughter relationship between these two iconic Hollywood stars. One of Debbie Reynolds’ first break-out roles was in the 1952 musical classic Singin’ in the Rain, and she would go on to celebrate an acting career that spanned more than 70 years. Her daughter Carrie Fisher followed her into the limelight and became best-known for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars. The documentary Bright Lights follows the two women as Fisher prepared to present her mother with the 2015 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, and used archival footage and home video to give an inside look at the complicated history of these two magnificent women. Unfortunately, Reynolds and Fisher passed away just days apart from each other in the weeks before Bright Lights was released. This film is a moving tribute to the enduring legacy of their respective careers and their bond with one another.