I always heard the "Big 4" (white guys) were John Updike, McCarthy, Don DeLillo, and Philip Roth. I think somebody like, the disgraced, Harold Bloom at one point said they were the last 'great', living American Authors.
Bloom considered McCarthy the best living American author and Blood Meridian one of the best American novels, right up there with Moby Dick in terms of importance.
To my surprise, Don DeLillo is still alive.