What Is The Highest Bacon Number? An Expert’s Guide

Have you ever played the game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? It’s a fun party game where you try to connect any actor or actress to Kevin Bacon in as few steps as possible.

But have you ever wondered what the highest Bacon number is? Is there an actor out there who is so disconnected from the Hollywood mainstream that they have a Bacon number of 10 or even higher?

In this article, we’ll explore the concept of Bacon numbers, how they are calculated, and try to uncover who holds the title for the highest Bacon number.

So sit back, grab some popcorn, and let’s dive into the world of Hollywood connections.

What Is The Highest Bacon Number?

The Bacon number is a measure of an actor’s connectivity to Kevin Bacon, based on the number of movies they have appeared in together. The higher the Bacon number, the more disconnected an actor is from Kevin Bacon.

While most actors have a Bacon number of 2 or 3, there are some with higher numbers. But what is the highest Bacon number on record?

According to the Oracle of Bacon, there are three actors with a Bacon number of 9, which is currently the highest listed. However, the Oracle does not reveal who these actors are.

It’s possible that there are actors with even higher Bacon numbers, but they may not be included in the Oracle’s database. In fact, about 12% of all actors cannot be linked to the rest of the movie universe, either because they have only appeared in TV features or straight-to-video releases that are not counted by the Oracle.

So while we may never know for sure who holds the title for the highest Bacon number, it’s safe to say that there are likely some actors out there who are incredibly disconnected from Kevin Bacon and the Hollywood mainstream.

What Are Bacon Numbers?

Bacon numbers are a way of measuring an actor’s connectivity to Kevin Bacon. It is based on the concept of “Six Degrees of Separation,” which suggests that everyone in the world is connected to everyone else through a chain of no more than six people. In the case of Bacon numbers, the chain is formed by the movies an actor has appeared in.

The Bacon number of an actor is determined by the number of movies they have appeared in with other actors who have also appeared in movies with Kevin Bacon. For example, if Actor A has appeared in a movie with Actor B, who has appeared in a movie with Kevin Bacon, then Actor A’s Bacon number is 2.

Kevin Bacon himself has a Bacon number of 0, as he has appeared in many movies with other actors. Actors who have worked directly with Kevin Bacon have a Bacon number of 1, and actors who have worked with someone who has worked with Kevin Bacon have a Bacon number of 2, and so on.

Bacon numbers can be used as a fun trivia game or as a way to measure an actor’s level of fame and connectivity within the movie industry. While most actors have relatively low Bacon numbers, there are some with very high numbers, indicating that they are very disconnected from Kevin Bacon and the Hollywood mainstream.

The Game Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon

The game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is a popular trivia game among film enthusiasts. It is based on the concept that any actor in the entertainment industry can be linked to Kevin Bacon through their film roles within six steps. For instance, if Actor A has worked with Actor B in a movie, and Actor B has worked with Actor C in another movie, and so on, until we reach Kevin Bacon, then Actor A has a Bacon number of 1. Similarly, if an actor has worked with someone who has worked with Kevin Bacon, they have a Bacon number of 2, and so on.

This game has gained popularity over the years, and there are even websites and apps dedicated to calculating an actor’s Bacon number. The game is not limited to Hollywood actors; it can be played with any actor worldwide.

The game is not only a fun way to test one’s knowledge of movies but also an excellent way to demonstrate the small-world phenomenon. The concept of six degrees of separation suggests that everyone in the world is connected through a chain of six or fewer acquaintances. The game shows that even in the vast entertainment industry, actors are connected through a few degrees of separation.

How Are Bacon Numbers Calculated?

To calculate an actor’s Bacon number, we must first determine their degree of separation from Kevin Bacon. An actor’s Bacon number is defined as the minimum number of connections between that actor and Kevin Bacon through shared movie appearances. For example, if an actor has appeared in a movie with another actor who has also appeared in a movie with Kevin Bacon, then their Bacon number is 2.

To calculate an actor’s Bacon number, we typically use the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) as the primary source for determining which movies an actor has appeared in. However, not all movies are considered valid for calculating Bacon numbers. Only movies produced by major studios are considered valid, and the Oracle of Bacon at Virginia notes that about 12% of all actors cannot be linked to the rest of the movie universe due to appearing only in TV features or straight-to-video releases that are not counted by the Oracle.

Once we have determined all of an actor’s valid movie appearances, we can then use graph theory to find their shortest path to Kevin Bacon. In other words, we can construct a graph where each actor is a node and each movie connection between actors is an edge. We can then use algorithms like Breadth-First Search or Dijkstra’s Algorithm to find the shortest path between any two nodes in the graph, including the shortest path between an actor and Kevin Bacon.

While most actors have a Bacon number of 2 or 3, there are some with higher numbers. The highest listed Bacon number on record is currently 9, according to the Oracle of Bacon. However, it’s possible that there are actors with even higher Bacon numbers who are not included in the database.

Who Holds The Title For The Highest Bacon Number?

While the Oracle of Bacon does not reveal the identities of the three actors with a Bacon number of 9, it’s interesting to note that there are some actors who have even higher numbers. For example, William Rufus Shafter is ranked at a 7, which is still a very high number.

It’s worth noting that the highest Bacon numbers are likely held by actors who have appeared in very obscure or niche films that are not well-known to the general public. These actors may have had very limited roles in these films, making it difficult to connect them to Kevin Bacon through other actors.

However, it’s also possible that there are actors with extremely high Bacon numbers who have simply not been included in the Oracle’s database. With over 562,600 actors and actresses listed in Wikipedia, it’s possible that some have been overlooked or excluded for various reasons.

Ultimately, the highest Bacon number is a somewhat elusive and ever-changing title, as new actors and films are constantly being added to the movie universe. But regardless of who holds the title, it’s clear that the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game continues to captivate and entertain people around the world.

Actors With Surprisingly High Bacon Numbers

While most actors have a Bacon number of 2 or 3, there are some with surprisingly high numbers. One example is William Rufus Shafter, an American military officer who served in the Spanish-American War. Using him as the center of the acting universe instead of Kevin Bacon, two actors have been found with a Rufus Shafter number of 15 – the highest known finite Bacon number.

Another surprising case is that of Paul Erdos, a renowned mathematician who has a Bacon number of 4 due to his appearance as himself in the 1993 film N Is a Number. This shows that even someone outside of the entertainment industry can be connected to Kevin Bacon through film roles.

It’s also worth noting that some actors who are highly regarded in their own right have relatively high Bacon numbers. For example, Rod Steiger, a legendary actor known for his roles in films such as On the Waterfront and In the Heat of the Night, has an average Steiger number of 2.660 – lower than the average Bacon number but still higher than expected for such a prominent actor.

The Significance Of Bacon Numbers In Hollywood

The concept of Bacon numbers has become a popular game and trivia topic in Hollywood, with many people fascinated by the idea of connecting actors to Kevin Bacon in just a few steps. But beyond the fun and games, Bacon numbers can also serve as a measure of an actor’s connectivity and fame within the industry.

Actors with lower Bacon numbers are typically more well-known and have worked with a greater number of high-profile actors and directors. On the other hand, actors with higher Bacon numbers may be less connected and have worked on more obscure or independent projects.

In some cases, an actor’s Bacon number can even impact their career opportunities. For example, an actor with a low Bacon number may be seen as more desirable for casting in a major Hollywood production, as they are likely to have worked with other well-known actors and directors.