Hollywood has given rise to many a good-looking movie star in the past twenty-odd years. After all, where would celebrity crushes be without the likes of George Clooney and Brad Pitt?
That said, maybe I’m just being nostalgic, but it sure seems like they just don’t make ‘em like they used to!
The leading men of the moment — like good-hearted soccer player David Beckham — may end up on the cover of People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” issue, but they simply lack a certain je ne sais quoi.
I don’t know what it is about the film stars of the good old days, but they just had a certain charm, a rugged and dashing quality that todays movie stars seem to lack. Johnny Depp is great and all, but he doesn’t look like much next to the likes of Paul Newman!
Do you agree? Who was your favorite film star from the past?
Let us know in the comments, and check out our top picks for the most swoon-worthy actors of a bygone age!
1. James Dean
The devilishly handsome Rebel Without A Cause star was the original prototype for the Hollywood "bad boy," a reputation that he leaned into in his personal life as well.
2. Jimmy Stewart
Famous for playing protagonists in far over their heads, Jimmy Stewart was always the wise, capable everyman. Offscreen, he was known for his quiet humor and impressive military record.
3. Burt Lancaster
After returning from fighting in WWII, Lancaster began auditioning for plays. Before long, he was a big time star, known for his bright blue eyes and winning smile.
4. Cary Grant
British-born Cary Grant was a true ladies man. Over the course of his life, Grant married five times, and his heartthrob movie career made him synonymous with all that's dashing and debonair.
5. Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston got his start in film noir, but quickly became famous for his commanding leading roles in big-budget epics like Ben-Hur. He's still remembered for his dark good looks and fiery temperament.
6. Clark Gable
Clark Gable started his career in silent films, but by the end of the 1930s was most famous for his turn as the rugged, romantic Rhett Butler opposite Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind.
7. Montgomery Clift
Clift made a name for himself playing sensitive young men with troubled pasts, and was known for his frequent collaborations with Elizabeth Taylor.
8. Clint Eastwood
Along with John Wayne, Clint Eastwood was one of the original leading men of the Western genre. His all-American looks and rugged charm made him a surefire hit.
9. Harry Belafonte
Though Harry Belafonte originally made his name as a musician popularizing the "calypso" genre, he went on to star in a variety of films and make in-roads against some of Hollywood's most pervasive racial stereotypes.
10. John Cassavetes
John Cassavetes wrote and directed dozens of films in his career, but as an actor, he'll always be remembered for the steamy and controversial scenes he shared with Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby.
Now click through to the next page to see which dreamy male lead was awarded the title of "Baron" back in his native England!
11. Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier caught the acting bug early, playing leads in many Shakespeare plays, and eventually appearing as the ultimate tragic romantic, Heathcliff, in the film adaptation of Wuthering Heights. He was later made a Baron, a minor noble title, for his services to the dramatic arts.
12. Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas was one of Hollywood's golden boys in the '50s and '60s. He entranced female fans with his blonde curls, and deep, mischievous dimple.
13. John Wayne
Arguably the biggest star to emerge from the Western genre, John Wayne became known for playing stubborn, courageous protagonists fighting for love and limb on the frontier.
14. Marlon Brando
A star throughout his long and storied career, Marlon Brando gained a legion of female fans thanks to his risque, shirtless scenes in A Streetcar Named Desire.
15. Paul Newman
As clean-cut and winsome star of Hollywood's Golden Age, Paul Newman only got better with age, as he put into action the numerous charitable projects that were dear to his heart.
16. Robert Redford
Meanwhile, Newman's freuqnet collaborator Robert Redford made his name playing blonde romantic leads, but began to branch out later in his career with roles like Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby.
17. Paul Robeson
One of the few African-American actors to break through to the mainstream in his era, Paul Robeson starred in many films, and found particular popularity in the more tolerant environment of Great Britain.
18. Peter O'Toole
Known for his spellbinding blue eyes, which he used to his advantage in his early technicolor roles, Peter O'Toole became internationally famous as the titular lead of Lawrence of Arabia.
19. Richard Burton
Welsh actor Richard Burton is perhaps best known for his two marriages to actress Elizabeth Taylor, but was also a popular leading man in films like Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
20. Rudolph Valentino
Back in the early days of silent film, Italian actor Rudolph Valentino was the most sought-after man in the business, attracting a legion of followers (and a few jealous husbands) with his steamy portrayals of exotic male romantic leads.
Do you wish some of these swoon-worthy stars were still gracing the silver screen?
Then don't forget to SHARE on Facebook to show everyone what a real movie star looks like!
