20 Most Famous Indonesian Actors

20 Most Famous Indonesian Actors

Originally published by  Linda on October 2022 and Updated by Beatrice J on May 2024

Indonesia’s rich history of Cinema has encountered various setbacks. Until the 1920s, foreign studios used to produce most Indonesian cinema. The foreign studios were mostly from Europe and the United States.

Additionally, various documentaries about nature and life in me Indonesia were sponsored by the Dutch East Indies government. The documentaries were usually made by the Dutch or at Western European studios.

Interestingly, despite the setbacks, there has been a notable resurgence in Indonesia in the past couple of years. Indonesia cinema has produced quality films and well-professional actors.

Indonesia is rich in opportunities and a platform for actors to showcase their talents. This has created new opportunities for a new wave of actors.

In this article, we have highlighted the 20 most famous Indonesian actors. The actors are talented and famous for their unique styles.

1. Reza Rahadian

Reza Rahadian Actor of the Year Indonesian Choice Awards 2017. Author Netmediatama. WIKIMEDIA

Reza Rahadian always pops out on the list of famous actors in Indonesia. Rahadian was born to an Iranian father and a Moluccan Indonesian mother.

Reza’s first career was modelling at a very young age. Interestingly, this was a path to help him become an actor. His modelling career made him and was cast in several Indonesian soap operas. Such as Culunnya Pacarku and Idola.

Reza made his acting career debut in 2007 with a horror comedy, Film Horror. Rahadian’s popularity as one an Indonesian actor started in 2009. This was after starring in a critically acclaimed film, Woman with a Turban. The same year, Reza was awarded his first Citra Award. He is well known for his flawless depiction of various roles in over a dozen films. The films range from comedies, and romances to dramas and biopics.

2. Iko Uwais

Iko Uwais at the premiere of Raid 2 in New York on 17 March 2014. Photo by Sachyn Mital. Author Sachyn Mital. WIKIMEDIA

Uwais was born in Jakarta, Indonesia. His real name is Uwais Qorny. He is established as one of Indonesia’s great action stars. Iko has a strong martial arts background.

Uwais started his acting career in 2007. Amazingly, his natural charisma and great camera presence led him to start his career in a leading role. He was discovered by director Gareth Evans. Gareth was filming a documentary about Silat. A form of martial arts in Uwais′s training hall. Uwais was cast as the leading role for his first martial art movie, Merant.

Uwais is established in his role in various action films. This includes Merantau (2009), The Raid (2011), The Raid 2 (2014), Headshot (2016), Mile 22 (2018), The Night Comes for Us (2018), Stuber (2019) and the Netflix series Wu Assassins.

3. Nicholas Saputra

Nicholas Saputra. Author Sorge Magazine. WIKIMEDIA

Nicholas has established himself as one of the most acclaimed actors in Indonesia. This by winning two Citra Awards for the Beat Actor as the titular character in Riri Riza’s Gie in 2005. Moreover, the Best Supportive Actor in Edwin’s Aruna and Her Palate in 2018.

It is interesting how Nicholas started his acting career. Runway model in the fashion industry was his first career. Nicholas appeared on Magazine covers when he was in high school.

Saputra landed his first leading role at the age of 17. He had no experience in the entertainment industry. His first film was Rudy Soedjarwo’s cult classic romance blockbuster Ada Apa Dengan Cinta. His acting skills were excellent and he earned his first (the Indonesian equivalent to the Oscars) nomination in the Indonesian Film Festival for Best Leading Actor.

Amazingly, Saputra owns a production company, Tanakhir Films. Through the company, he has expressed his strong dedication to environmental and conservation issues as well as children’s rights. He has served as the executive producer and producer of several environmental films through his company. In 2019, Saputra was named a UNICEF Indonesia Goodwill Ambassador.

4. Arifin Putra

Arifin Putra was born on 1 May 1987. He was well-established as an Indonesian actor internationally. His international recognition is largely attributed to his role in the Indonesian action film The Raid 2. The film was released in various markets around the world.

How he started his acting career is quite interesting. Arifin participated in several school plays. He expressed early interest in acting. However, his parents’ divorce took a toll on him. This turned him into a shy child.

Amazingly, Arifin gained his personality through the help of his sister. His sister helped him to gain back his courage. In 2000 l, Arifin tagged along with his sister to a television commercial shoot. This exposed him to the media. He landed his first major television role in 2004. His first role was Nerdy, a high school student on the national Tv series, High School Love Story in 2004.

Arifin made his film debut in 2008, in Lost in Love. In this film, he displayed his ability to communicate in different languages such as French, English and Indonesian fluently. His most notable role was Uco in the Raid Series, The Raid 2, and Berandal. This earned him the Indonesian Movie Awards and Piala Maya Awards for Best Supporting Role respectively.

5. Yayan Ruhian

Yayan Ruhian on Ini Talkshow. Author Netmediatama. WIKIMEDIA

Yayan Ruhian can never miss the list of the top famous actors in Indonesia. His acting style is unique. Yayan was born on 19 October 1968.

Yayan Ruhian has been established due to his Martial arts in the Indonesian movie scene. Ruhian appeared in the highly popular The Raid and The Raid 2. His acting career has made him recognised internationally.

On-screen, Yayan is often cast in antagonistic roles, portraying characters who speak little but have great endurance, stamina and fighting skills. He is known for co-starring in Gareth Evans’ films The Raid (2011) as Mad Dog, The Raid 2 (2014) as Prakoso, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) as Tasu Leech, and Beyond Skyline (2017) as the police chief. He reprises this role in Skylines (2020).

6. Joe Taslim

Joe Taslim on Festival Film Indonesia 2015.Author Netmediatama.WIKIMEDIA

Taslim was born in Palembang, Indonesia. Joe is well-established locally and internationally. His acting debut was in the role of Jaka in the Raid(2011). His first role outside Indonesia was as Jah in Fast & Furious 6.

7. Alex Abbad

Alex Abbad. Author slate_id. WIKIMEDIA

Alex Abbad is an Indonesian leading actor. He is well-established as a character actor who takes exceptionally challenging roles. Alex started his acting career as MTV Adia Vjin in the 90s.

Alex has starred in various films such as HBO original series Halfwords in 2015, The Raid 2 (2014) and Merantau (2009), both directed by Gareth Evans.

8. Adipati Dolken

Adipati was born in Ciputat, Tangerang Banten, Indonesia. His real name is Adipati Koesmadji. However, he adopted a stage name, choosing Dolken. Adipati is also a well-known actor in Indonesia. He gained prominence after appearing in a supporting role on the soap Opera Kepompong in 2008.

Additionally, Dolken appeared in the historical film The Clerics. His performance garnered him the Citra Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 2013 Indonesian Fim festival. At the age of 22, he was one of the youngest award recipients at the festival.

9. Rio Dewanto

Rio Dewanto is among the list of one most popular Indonesian actor stars. Dewanto started his acting career in 2009. He has played various roles in Indonesian movies such as Arisan! 2, Garuda di Dadaku, Hello Good Bye, Filosofi Kopi from one of the best Indonesian female writers Dewi Lestari, and many more. Moreover, he is a winner of several awards in his acting Career.

10. Lukman Sardi

Lukman is among the Indonesian actors. He started his acting career around 1978. Kembang-Kembang Plastik was his first movie. He has acted in various roles in some Indonesian popular movies. This includes Laskar Pelangi, Janji Joni, Nagabonar Jadi 2, 3 Dara, and many more. The legend is still active in acting and is a producer and director.

11.Oka Antara

 Since the beginning of his career in the early 2000s, Oka Antara has made a name for himself as a leading man, renowned for his alluring on-screen persona and capacity to capture the complexity of characters.

 He has worked with some of the most well-known directors in Indonesia, showing his flexibility in a variety of films from witty social dramas to charming romantic comedies.  To show his commitment to his craft, he has trained in martial arts and made considerable weight changes for particular parts.

12.Chicco Jerikho

Chicco Jerikho became well-known in the late 2000s in the Indonesian film industry. In spite of his tough exterior, he frequently gives his characters an unexpectedly vulnerable quality, exposing a depth that appeals to viewers.

Jerikho isn’t scared to take chances with his acting and role selection. Jerikho displays his versatility as a musician and aspiring businessman in addition to his acting career.

13.Jefri Nichol

Since the start of his career in his teens, Jefri Nichol has made a name for himself as the  main character in most films with a magnetic on-screen presence. Audiences find Nichol endearing because of his young energy and inherent charisma.

But he’s more than your average gorgeous face. He has proven to be a very good actor with an inspiration  to people who are juggling adulthood and self-awareness. Viewers are excited to see what emerging star Jefri Nichol will do next because he is developing into a versatile and well-respected actor very quickly.

14.Abimana Aryasatya

Abimana Aryasatya is renowned for his commitment to method acting. He gives his everything to his roles, frequently going through emotional and physical changes to produce performances that are truly memorable.

Aryasatya isn’t scared to step outside the bounds of what is deemed appropriate for on-screen behaviour by taking on dark and challenging roles. His eagerness to delve into the depths of human emotion and his sheer passion are what define his performances.

He has worked with some of the most creative directors in Indonesia, giving their characters a startling realist quality. Even though he’s played some scary characters, his performances are powerful and impactful.

15.Randy Pangalila

Randy Pangalila began his career as a martial arts star, showcasing his impressive skills and athleticism in action films. Because of his martial arts training, Pangalila’s action scenes are authentic and his characters possess a strong sense of discipline and physical prowess.

But he’s developed past the confines of the action genre, moving into more complex parts that highlight his breadth as an actor. Pangalila has proven to be skilled in portraying humorous characters, striking a balance between lighter moments and action scenes.

He is a captivating leading actor who can move between genres with ease. His action hero persona keeps spectators captivated, and his comedic timing surprises them.

16.Angga Yunanda

Angga Yunanda’s good looks and incredible acting skills have captured the attention of Indonesian fans. In the latter part of the 2010s, he became well-known for playing lovable characters in a variety of genres, including as drama, comedy, and romance.

Yunanda’s performances are distinguished by her innate charisma and capacity to emotionally engage audiences. He frequently plays people who are struggling with adolescence, coming to terms with who they are, and their first love.

17.Iqbaal Ramadhan

With success, Iqbaal Ramadhan went from being a well-liked teenage idol to a reputable actor in Indonesian cinema especially for his role in Dilan 1990. His boyish charm and musical prowess won over fans when he was a member of the legendary boy band CJR at the start of his career. But Ramadhan has shown that he is more than simply a charming appearance. As an actor, he has developed progressively.

18.Deva Mahenra

In Indonesian cinema, Deva Mahenra has made a name for himself as a fascinating leading man, enthralling viewers with his charm, good looks, and acting abilities. His portrayals of romantic leads in a number of motion pictures and television shows helped him become well-known in the early part of the decade.

Mahenra’s performances are distinguished by their innate charm and capacity to emotionally engage listeners. He frequently plays people who are struggling with love, grief, and the difficulties of interpersonal relationships. He is a frequent choice for romance and dramas because of his ability to give emotionally charged performances. 

19.Donny Damara

Actor Donny Damara has been a feature film star in Indonesia for more than thirty years. He is renowned for his chameleon-like ability to change into a variety of personas and transition between humorous and tragic roles with ease.

Since his career started in the 1980s, Damara has made a name for himself as a versatile actor who can pull off a wide range of personas with ease. He has worked with some of the most well-known directors in Indonesia in a variety of films from witty social dramas to charming romantic comedies.

20.Indro Warkop

For more than forty years, Indro Warkop’s most well-known role is that of a member of the legendary comic trio Warkop DKI, whose motion pictures and television series have delighted Indonesian audiences for decades.

Sharp social critique, physical humour, and observational wit are hallmarks of Warkop’s comedic approach. The impact of Warkop goes beyond humour. Having directed and appeared in multiple hit comedies, he is a well-known actor and director. His enduring body of work and ongoing impact on Indonesian comedy and popular culture serve as testaments to his legacy.

In the above list, you can watch some of the actors’ movies during your leisure time and enjoy their unique acting styles.