While winning acclaim for a variety of roles, Cagney is best known for his tough guy persona in films like 'White Heat' (1949) and 'Angels With Dirty Faces' (1938).
These early crime thrillers include 'The Web' (1947) and 'The Bribe' (1949).
Robinson is especially remembered for his performance as the mobster Caesar Enrico "Rico" Bandello in 'Little Caesar' (1931).
Hard-drinking, hard-boiled Marvin excelled at playing unsavory loudmouthed characters in a host of films, including 'Bad Day at Black Rock' (1955) and the brutal 'Violent Saturday' (1955).
Palance again played a villain in 'Second Chance' (1953), playing opposite fellow hard man Robert Mitchum.
These movies included 'Dead End' (1937), a supporting role in 'Angels With Dirty Faces' (1938), and 'You Can't Get Away with Murder' (1939). His appearance in 'High Sierra' (1941) was his last playing a gangster.
Another legendary name from Hollywood's golden years, and another actor synonymous with the gangster genre.
He costarred in the original 'Scarface' (1932), one of cinema's greatest gangster movies. He also appeared in 'Each Dawn I Die' (1939) with James Cagney.
In a career that spanned over six decades, the versatile Borgnine could be relied upon to put in a dark turn when required.
Who are the most notorious heavies in Hollywood? In fact, most of them hail from cinema's golden years, when the gangster movie was the hottest ticket in town. But film noir and the Western also features some memorable bad guy actors.
Browse the gallery, turn nasty, and take a villainous look at characters you wouldn't want to meet on a dark night.
Classic cinema's most notorious villains
The greatest Hollywood heavies
MOVIES Hollywood heavies
Who are the most notorious heavies in Hollywood? In fact, most of them hail from cinema's golden years, when the gangster movie was the hottest ticket in town. But film noir and the Western also features some memorable bad guy actors.
Browse the gallery, turn nasty, and take a villainous look at characters you wouldn't want to meet on a dark night.