I remember Lynn Hill (from magazine stories) and who was that French woman climber around the same time? Catherine Destivelle. (Thanks Google and Wikipedia). Trying to pick the "best ever" (a thread on Trailspace right now) seems impossible given different times and styles, but Honnold has to be right up there. The 60 Minutes story said he's done 1000 free climbs. Some are probably very short, but still, anything over about 25 feet could get you killed if you fell.

Todd Skinner was killed in Yosemite in 2006 when the belay loop on his harness failed, so even using ropes and protection is no guarantee of safety.