The way this could be approached maybe is to consider which of these actors that are being suggested - Laurie, Depp, Ford and Nicholson - have a physical presence that seems almost to overwhelm what they're saying. What do you notice more, their physical actions or the words they say? When (if) you try to copy them what's harder to do accurately: their movements or their words?
Jack Nicholson acts with his marvelous face and voice but not really his body. I don't think he ever needed to because that was always enough. Harrison Ford, though he may chase down baddies and rescue family members fairly often, isn't a great physical actor. Plenty of actors do that. Sylvester Stallone does that but I wouldn't class him as
any kind of actor - he's basically the opposite of acting, physically and otherwise.
I think it's interesting that Ford was suggested, because out of all the actors that do that sort of action movies I'd put him forward as one of the
least physical actors. Is he ever flamboyant? No, he's always the opposite - reserved. Is his action ever unnecessary? Does he ever gesticulate or move his body more than is absolutely necessary? - almost all actors do at one time or another but Ford hardly ever seems to. He's a star but in a way he tries to deflect attention. It's what he's known for - he's a cool dude who gets the job done with minimum effort. Has he ever lost his temper? No, because he's the modern equivalent of Gary Cooper. Doesn't want attention, just does what's right because it needs doing and no-one else will. Compare him to Mel Gibson - another action star whose career has been roughly contemporary with Ford's. See the difference? It's my opinion therefore - and this not necessarily a positive or negative observation - that Ford is one of the
least physical actors. The same goes for Robert De Niro I think - surely one of the most respected actors but one accomplished at the sort of acting that doesn't
require physicality.
I can't make any informed comments about Hugh Laurie because I haven't seen him properly in House and I'm still trying to figure out Johnny Depp's physical merits. He's an odd one. I'll do so and report back later. In the meantime enjoy this clip of Jim Carrey being both Nicholson and De Niro!