50 Classic Stars That Have Changed Hollywood Forever

During the Golden Age of Hollywood, thousands of movies were issued from the Hollywood studios, creating some of the greatest performers of all time. Everyone from movie directors, sex icons, musicians, actresses, and actors galore have dominated this era, inspiring an entire culture and changing the face of cinema forever. In this list we cover the figures which have had a major impact both in their time and in ours, influencing generations to come.

American actor and teen heartthrob, James Dean is remembered as a cultural icon for teenage disillusionment, which he gained from his most celebrated film Rebel Without a Cause. Though he only starred in four films, Dean conquered Hollywood and was a force to be reckon with. Unfortunately, his reign ended suddenly. In 1955, at the age of 24, Dean got in a car crash and died. Though gone, his career was not quite over. Dean became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. To this day, he remains the only actor to have had two posthumous acting nominations. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him the 18th best male movie star of Golden Age Hollywood in AFI’s 100 Years . . . 100 Stars list. Sadly, we will never know what Dean could have accomplished if he didn’t get in the car on that fateful day, but with the short amount of time he had here on earth, he certainly left his mark.

Veronica Lake, born Constance Francis Marie Ockelman, was an American film and television actress, gaining both critical and popular acclaim for her role in Sullivan’s Travels. However, during the late 1940s, Lake’s career was suffering due to her alcoholism and had trouble finding roles. She tried to revitalize her fame in 1966 in the film Footsteps in the Snow, but it failed. Unfortunately, Lake was never able to regain her success and died at the age of 50 due to hepatitis and acute kidney damage.

The “King of Rock and Roll”, Elvis Aaron Presley, is arguably the most significant cultural icon of the 20th century. Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Presley got his big break with Sun Records in 1954. Since then, Presley has dominated the music charts and the hearts of America. Presley’s fans were fiercely loyal back then and are still to this day. There are many fan clubs that are passionate about keeping the legends legacy alive for years to come. Clearly, from this photo, Presley loved his fans right back.

Alfred Hitchcock has gone down in history as one of the most influential and successful film directors of all time. With a career that spanned over six decades, his 53 films have grossed over US$223.3 million worldwide and gained 46 Oscar nominations and six wins. “The Master of Suspense” not only directed films, but was also a producer, screenwriter, film editor, art director, and actor, appearing in most of his films.

Growing up in poverty, Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin had a successful career spanning over 70 years. Ever since his breakout role in The Tramp, Chaplin has changed the face of cinema through his roles in silent films, going down as one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry.

Lucille Ball was more than just the star in the beloved television show I Love Lucy. She was also an entertainment studio executive and producer, with I Love Lucy and other shows being self-produced. In 1962, Ball became the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu Productions, which produced many popular television shows such as Star Trek. Since then, she has dominated the entertainment world, winning awards such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986, the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1989, and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1984.

Born Ronald Walken, Christopher Walken is an American actor, dancer, screenwriter, and director who has made appearances in more than 100 films and television shows. Growing up in New York, Walken had a passion for theater and learned his stage craft and dancing at Hofstra University & ANTA. It wasn’t until 1969 when Walken broke out into cinema with his role in the film Me and My Brother. Over his long career, it is his eccentric performances and wide variety of roles which won him both popularity and critical admiration.

Julia Roberts entered stardom after headlining the romantic comedy Pretty Woman, which grossed $464 worldwide. Before she rose to fame, Roberts grew up in Smyrna, Georgia, being the youngest of three children. Her parents were both actors and they ran a workshop for aspiring writers and actors. Roberts originally wanted to be a veterinarian but realized that it involved too much science than she was ready for. So, instead, she decided to pursue acting, and the rest was history.

Known as one of classic Hollywood’s definitive leading men, Cary Grant, born Archibald Alec Leach, began his acting career in the early 1930s. He was mostly known for his suave demeanor and transatlantic accent. In the 1940s and 1950s, Grant developed a unique friendship with Alfred Hitchcock. Out of that relationship came films such as Suspicion, Notorious, To Catch a Thief, and North by Northwest. In fact, Hitchcock went on to say that he considered Grant the only actor that he had ever loved working with.

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was a British-American actress that started her career as a child actress in the early 1940s. Her career quickly flourished, and she soon became one of the most popular stars of classic Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. Here she is on the set of the film Giant, playing around with a lasso and looking fabulous as she does so. During the movie, she costarred along with Rock Hudson and James Dean, who would shortly die after the main shooting from a tragic car accident. A distraught Taylor was forced by the director, George Stevens, to complete reaction shots for a scene that she had played with Dean. Taylor never forgave him for that.

George Timothy Clooney has gone down in history as being one of the most handsome man in the world, causing millions to swoon over his dashing looks. However, judging from this picture of him as a teenager, one would have never known. Puberty, obviously, treated him very well. Apart from the looks, Clooney has built a name for himself ever since his acting debut on television in 1978. Since then, he has been the recipient of three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards. If that wasn’t impressive enough, in 2018, he was the recipient of the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.

Childhood star, Shirley Temple, and actor, Guy Madison, met on the set of Honeymoon. Temple has been in the spotlight of Hollywood ever since she began her film career at three years old. Madison started a little later, beginning his career in 1944 after being spotted by Henry Wilson on the streets. Unfortunately, the movie they starred in together was a huge flop. Thankfully, it didn’t hinder either of their careers.

Here is a unique picture of the iconic sex symbol of the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe, with no makeup, eyes closed, and hair flowing in the wind. Though her films would eventually gross about $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2018), Monroe came from a hard past. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and spent most of her childhood in foster homes and an orphanage. She first married at the age of 16 and worked in a radioplane factory as part of the war effort in 1944. Certainly, she did not live in the lavish lifestyle that most know her for today. It wasn’t until she was introduced to a photographer who worked for the First Motion Picture Unit that she began her pin-up modeling career, creating the icon that we know today.

Can you name a more iconic team than the one in this picture? No? I didn’t think so. The original cast members of the hugely famous franchise Star Wars all got together to pose for this iconic picture. In 1997, the eponymous film became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon, sending these actors careers into a galaxy far, far, away.

Jane Fonda is an American writer, actress, fitness guru, and activist. She made her screen debut in the romantic comedy Tall Story, but really rose to fame in the 1960s with appearances in movies such as Period of Adjustment, Sunday in New York, and Barefoot in the Park. Besides acting, one of Fonda’s biggest passions is defending rights, specifically women rights. She became involved in advocacy for Women during the Vietnam War and even protested the Iraq War. In 2005, she co-founded the Women’s Media Center, which is an organization that works to amplify the voices of women in the media through advocacy, media and leadership training, and the creation of original content.

Here in this photo Clint Eastwood and Maggie Johnson are dancing around lovingly in each other arms. Though the photo looks as though they are madly in love, the reality of their marriage was anything but romantic. Eastwood had various long-term relationships, starting from when he was 14 years old. Being married to Johnson did not change his ways. While married, the actor and filmmaker had other extramarital relationship, including a 14-year long relationship with actress and stunt woman Roxanne Tunis, which later produced a daughter. Johnson claimed that she was fine being in an open marriage with Eastwood, but, eventually, the two divorced, giving Eastwood more space to see other women.

Known professionally as Bruno Mars, Peter Gene Hernandez is and American singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Norn and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mars was surrounded by music with his mother being a singer and his father a Latin percussionist. The name Bruno, which he is famously known as today, was given to him by his family when he was just a baby. His older sister Jaime explained, “Bruno was always so confident, independent, really strong-willed and kind of a brute – hence the name Bruno – and it kind of just stuck.” Known professionally as Bruno Mars, Peter Gene Hernandez is and American singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist.

Norn and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mars was surrounded by music with his mother being a singer and his father a Latin percussionist. The name Bruno, which he is famously known as today, was given to him by his family when he was just a baby. His older sister Jaime explained, “Bruno was always so confident, independent, really strong-willed and kind of a brute – hence the name Bruno – and it kind of just stuck.”

Sophia Loren is an Italian singer and actress, making her debut in acting in 1950 when she was just 16 years old. Some of her notable performances include The Pride and the Passion, Houseboat, and It Started in Naples. Though it took a while before her talents as an actress were recognized, once people started paying attention to her, they couldn’t take their eyes away from her. With many awards under her belt, Loren, in 1999, was named by the American Film Institute as one of the 25 greatest female stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema. Currently she is the only living actress on the list.

Known as the “Blonde Bombshell” or the “Platinum Blonde”, Jean Harlow became a leading lady for MGM, rivaling and succeeding over colleagues Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer as the sex symbol of the 1930s. Her first appearance to the big screen was in the film Hell’s Angels, but she didn’t start gaining recognition until she joined MGM. Unfortunately, her fame was short-lived since she died when she was 26.

What many may not know about Robert Downey Jr. is that he is an extreme cat lover, both in the past and today. He gives his cats more attention than any dog and claims that his cats are the keys to his universe. As for his relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker, the woman petting the kitten alongside him, that is another story. The two of them were together from 1984-1991. Things ended as Downey’s struggle with addiction worsened. Looking back on the relationship now, Parker says, “I will say, I don’t regret any of it. I don’t resent the time spent.” What many may not know about Robert Downey Jr.

is that he is an extreme cat lover, both in the past and today. He gives his cats more attention than any dog and claims that his cats are the keys to his universe. As for his relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker, the woman petting the kitten alongside him, that is another story. The two of them were together from 1984-1991. Things ended as Downey’s struggle with addiction worsened. Looking back on the relationship now, Parker says, “I will say, I don’t regret any of it. I don’t resent the time spent.”

Over the course of a nearly 50-year career, Lana Turner achieved stardom as both a pin-up model, actress, and for her highly publicized personal life as well. In the mid-1940s, Turner became one of the highest-paid women in the United States, as well as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s (MGM) biggest stars, with her films earning the studio more than $15 million.

Marlon Brando Jr. was an American actor and film director and is often regarded as one of the first people to bring Method Acting to mainstream audiences. The beginning of his career started off rough, experiencing a series of blockbuster failures. That all changed when he starred as Vito Coleone in the critically acclaimed film, The Godfather. Since then, Brando gained huge success, being ranked by the American Film Institute as the fourth-greatest movie star among male movie stars whose screen debuts occurred in or before 1950. In addition, he was one of six professional actors along with Charlie Chaplin, U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe, named in 1999 by Time magazine as one of its 100 Most Important People of the Century.

It is a rare occurrence to see the eccentric musician, David Bowie, and queen of Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor, in one picture. What makes this photo even more interesting is that it was taken spontaneously. The story goes that Taylor wanted Bowie for a part in the film The Blue Bird. It was arranged for them to meet at the director George Cukor’s house. After Bowie being two hours late to the meeting, Taylor about had it and was on the verge of leaving. When Bowie did eventually arrive, Taylor’s friend Terry O’Neill thought it would be best to break the tension by taking photos, giving us this photo to enjoy. Though Bowie did not get the role, we still have this photo to remember the historic meeting between two major figures in Hollywood.

Marie Adrienne Koenig, most famously known as Mae Murray, rose to fame during the silent film era, being known as the “The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips” and “The Gardenia of the Screen.” At first, Murray enjoyed a large amount of success, and was a popular figure among movie goers, but things began to change when the silent film gave way to talkies. Murray tried to make it into the new industry by being in the talkie Bachelor Apartment and High Stakes. Even then, it wasn’t the same. Things, unfortunately, really took a turn for the worse when she married her fourth husband, David Mdivani, who basically drained her out of all her money. Murray never was able to make a comeback.

The cultural icon, Humphrey DeForest Bogart, was an American film and theater actor. After World War I, Bogart began his acting debut in Broadway shows. After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Bogart began his movie career, with his appearance being in Up the River. Since then, his fame reached new heights, being later nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for Casablanca and The Caine Mutiny, and won for the African Queen. In 1999 the American Film Institute selected him as the greatest male star of classic American cinema.

When Hollywood royalty and actual royalty collide, the results are amazing. Fun fact – Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe were born only ten days apart, but it took them until October 29th, 1956 for the two to meet in person. The special occasion which brought these two icons face to face was the London premiere of The Battle of the River Plate in Leicester Square. Though this was the first and last time the two would ever meet, this photo captures a moment in history that was truly spectacular.

Kirk Douglas (right), born Issur Danielovitch, is an American actor, filmmaker, and author. In addition, he is also one of the last surviving stars of the film industry’s Golden Age. Obviously, passion for cinema runs in the family, with his son Michael Douglas (left) following in his father’s acting footsteps. Now 50 years in the business, Michael received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 6, 2018. His father, now 101, was there to support him.

Born Vera Jane Palmer, Jayne Mansfield was a major sex symbol in the 1950s and early 1960s and was one of the early Playboy Playmates. She was also a film, theater, and television actress. Along with that, Mansfield is also widely known for her well-publicized personal life and publicity stunts, including, for example, wardrobe malfunctions. She was married and divorced three times and had five children. She was also allegedly intimately involved with many other men, including John F. Kennedy. Unfortunately, on June 29, 1967, she died in a car accident at the age of 34, ending her both her life and career short.

Here is a photo of Marlene Dietrich spending a day at the beach. When not dipping her toes in the ocean, Dietrich, a German American singer and actress, acted on the stage and in silent films in Berlin. She soon rose to international stardom and singed a contract with Paramount Pictures, appearing in films such as Morocco, Shanghai Express, and Desire. Besides her talents on the screen, Dietrich was also known for her humanitarian efforts during World War II. She went on the front lines to boost morale, which she received several honors from the United States, France, Belgium, and Israel. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Dietrich the ninth greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema.

Famously known for his role in Gone With The Wind, William Clark Gable was a film actor who was often referred to as “The King of Hollywood.” He first leading role was in 1931. Since then, he has been the leading man in more than 60 motion pictures. Gable is considered one of the most consistent box-office performers in history, appearing on Quigley Publishing’s annual Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll 16 times. In addition, he was named the seventh-greatest male star of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute.

It is true what they say - like mother, like daughter - and Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli can attest to it. Aside from the obvious similarities in their features, the two also shared similar lives. In fact, both women had gay fathers and had multiple marriages, with most of them being gay as well. Garland got singed onto MGM at the age of 13 and by the time Minnelli was 19, she received a Tony for her performance in Flora, the Red Menace. Both women suffered from alcohol and drug addiction as well. For Garland, her addiction eventually sealed her fate, dying from an overdose. Minnelli too started with drugs young. Learning from her mother, she entered rehab in the early 1980s. Both women shared many similarities, creating a unique bond between the famous daughter and mother.

Everybody knows her flamboyant costumes, provocative lyrics, and intense makeup; but many don’t know the beginning of the six-time Grammy award winner known as Lady Gaga. Christened Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, Gaga was one of those children who knew from a young age that she wanted to be a singer. She would often put on shows from her family and would sing to popular hits by Cyndi Lauper and Michael Jackson. Not only did she have the passion for music, but she also had the talent. Gaga learnt how to create music by ear with a piano and moved her body to sounds performed by The Beatles and Rolling Stones. It was clear from the start that Gaga was destined for great things, and she has succeeded with being one of the top pop icons in the world today.

On January 20, 1968, Sharon Tate married co-star and director of The Fearless Vampire Killers, Roman Polanski. On August 9, 1969, Tate and four others were murdered by the Manson Family in the home she lived in with Polanski. Tate was eight months pregnant when she was killed. The baby, unfortunately, also did not survive. Polanski was not present during the time of the attack, as he was working on in a film in Europe. The motive behind the murders? Manson wanted to break into the music industry with record producer Terry Melcher, who was the previous renter of Tate and Polanski’s home. Melcher denied him his desire, resulting in the gruesome mass murder.

Jon Voight is an American actor who is the winner of one Academy Award and four Golden Globe Awards. Marcheline Bertrand was an American actress and humanitarian worker, who co-founded the All Tribes Foundation, which provided cultural and economic benefits to Native Americans, and the Give Love Give Life organization, to raise public awareness of woman’s cancers. The two married on December 12, 1971, and they had two children; James Haven and Angelina Jolie, who is in the arms of her father in this picture. In 1976, Bertrand and Voight separated, specifically due to Voight’s adultery. In 1978, Bertrand filed for divorce, which was finalized in 1980.

Audrey Hepburn was a fashion icon that dominated Hollywood’s Golden Age and was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen legend in Golden Age Hollywood. One interesting fact about the famous British actress is that she had a pet deer who she named Pippin. The two first met on the set of the 1959 movie Green Mansions. The animal trainer suggested to Hepburn that she should take the deer home so that they could bond. After that, the pair became inseparable.

Diane Keaton and Woody Allen first met in late 1968 at an audition for Woody’s play, Play It, Again, Sam. It was a little-known fact that the little-known actress from California had already fallen for Allen ever since she watched him do his act on TV. By the time the play had opened, Allen had fallen in love with Keaton as well, beginning a relationship through one of Keaton’s darkest time. Their affair only lasted about five years, during which Keaton was struggling with bulimia. The relationship eventually ended, and Keaton was able to care of herself. Even though the couple have long separated, they maintain a good friendship and continue to support one another in their careers.

The relationship between Cher and the Allman Brothers Band front man Gregg Allman was a rocky one, to say the least. After leaving her husband, Sonny Bono, a year before in 1974 – Cher and Allman got hitched in a Las Vegas in 1975. Just nine days later, Cher decided to dissolve the new marriage. Soon after, they reconciled and managed to make it work . . . until they were on the verge of divorce again. However, once Allman discovered that Cher was pregnant with their son Elijah, he wanted to make the marriage work. Unfortunately, this third attempt was not the charm they were looking for and eventually divorced.

The French actresses, Catherine Deneuve and Francoise Dorleac were sisters who rose to fame, both appearing in a variety of films. Dorleac especially leapt to international stardom with the female lead in That Man from Rio. Soon after the film was released, Dorleac received an offer to play in the Hollywood film Genghis Khan. Before Dorleac and Deneuve enjoyed the luxurious lifestyle that comes with fame, they spent days like this, rehearsing for the next role.

Jayne Mansfield met Hungarian born actor and bodybuilder Miklos “Mickey” Hargitay in 1956, when he was performing in The Mae West Show at the Latin Quarter. The couple married two years later and had three children, including Mariska Magdolina Hargitay. The bliss of their marriage only lasted until 1963, when the couple filed for divorce. Their first attempt was denied, but that didn’t stop them from trying the next year, which succeeded and permanently ended the relationship.

Mick Jagger chose to marry his Nicaraguan socialite Bianca Perez-Mora Macias in France, causing a huge media frenzy. Small fishing towns were shut down as the couple got married in the romantic 17th-century Saint Anne Chapel. Though their wedding day was picture perfect, their relationship was anything but. In 1978, Bianca filed for divorce on the grounds of Jagger’s adultery with Jerry Hall. Bianca went on to say, “My marriage ended on my wedding day.” Mick Jagger chose to marry his Nicaraguan socialite Bianca Perez-Mora Macias in France, causing a huge media frenzy.

Small fishing towns were shut down as the couple got married in the romantic 17th-century Saint Anne Chapel. Though their wedding day was picture perfect, their relationship was anything but. In 1978, Bianca filed for divorce on the grounds of Jagger’s adultery with Jerry Hall. Bianca went on to say, “My marriage ended on my wedding day.”

Sean Connery and Bridgette Bardot were one of the top sex symbols in the 1950s and 1960s. Here Bardot, former actress and French animal rights activist, looks up at Connery, a Scottish actor and producer. The two starred in the 1968 Western film, Shalako, where they played a couple, gaining $1 million for the box office.

When Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons starred in the film The French Lieutenant’s Woman, they were not the icons which we know them as today. This major adaptation of John Fowel’s acclaimed best seller, gave both actors their first big-screen leading roles. Since then, they have skyrocketed into fame. Streep has been nominated for a record 21 Academy Awards, winning three, and received 31 Golden Globe nominations, winning eight. Meanwhile, Irons has received a Tony Award for Best Actor. From this picture, its hard to tell if either knew then that they would one day make it into Hollywood royalty.

Brigitte Bardot, at 18 years, would be the first of six wives for the French screenwriter Roger Vadim. The marriage lasted about five years until the couple eventually got divorced. However, after the divorce, they still managed to remain in touch and even worked on later projects together.

Though she has never been married, Diane Keaton has had many high-profile romances, with Al Pacino being one of them. She first met Pacino on the set of The Godfather in 1971. Immediately, Keaton had a crush. The eventually became a couple, but it ended when Keaton, wanting to get married, gave him an ultimatum, leading Pacino to say that it was over. Though their relationship ended, Keaton clearly left behind a strong influence. When Keaton received the American Film Institute’s 45th Lifetime Achievement Award, Pacino, who attended, told her from the stage that, “I love you forever.” Though she has never been married, Diane Keaton has had many high-profile romances, with Al Pacino being one of them.

She first met Pacino on the set of The Godfather in 1971. Immediately, Keaton had a crush. The eventually became a couple, but it ended when Keaton, wanting to get married, gave him an ultimatum, leading Pacino to say that it was over. Though their relationship ended, Keaton clearly left behind a strong influence. When Keaton received the American Film Institute’s 45th Lifetime Achievement Award, Pacino, who attended, told her from the stage that, “I love you forever.”

Liam Neeson and Dame Helen Mirren were and item in the early 1980s, and even lived together. They met while working on 1981s Excalibur. After five years, the couple eventually ended the relationship. It only took 35 years later for Mirren and Neeson to reunite on The Graham Norton Show, where they discussed the time they had together, which they both had treasured. Some love never dies!

Sean Penn, actor and filmmaker, met the famed pop singer Madonna in February 1985, and they instantly hit it off. It is important to note that Penn had been engaged to his co-star in Racing with the Moon, Elizabeth McGovern, since 1984. Apparently, that was of no matter because the two married that August on Madonna’s birthday. Though looking happy in matrimony, there was trouble brewing in their relationship. In December 1987, Madonna filed for divorce, but soon after dropped the charges to only file them again in January 1989. Madonna even filed an assault complaint, claiming that she was beaten in her Malibu, California. The relationship was unhealthy and destined to fail, which it eventually did in 1989.

The Gardner-Sinatra marriage was tumultuous. Though both claimed that the other was the love of their life, their reality was anything but a fantasy. Sinatra especially received a lot of flak by his fans and the Roman Catholic Church for leaving his wife, Nancy, for Gardner, making their marriage make major headlines. The couple eventually divorced in 1957, but the two remained good friends until Gardner’s death in 1990.

Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey developed a relationship while they were playing onscreen siblings on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. During filming, the couple kept their relationship a secret. Eventually, their relationship became known but in a tragic light. The incident happened when Broderick was driving Grey around Europe. He crossed in the wrong lane and collided head-on with another car, killing two, a mother and daughter. Neither Broderick and Grey fully recovered since, ending the relationship and even turning Grey away from showbiz at the age of 27.

Before Jessica Lange would become known for her role in American Horror Story’s, she was intimately involved with Mikhail Baryshnikov, the world-famous Russian ballet dancer. The couple even had a child together: a daughter by the name of Shura. The two never married, and eventually their relationship fizzled out, ending altogether in 1982 Before Jessica Lange would become known for her role in American Horror Story’s, she was intimately involved with Mikhail Baryshnikov, the world-famous Russian ballet dancer.

The couple even had a child together: a daughter by the name of Shura. The two never married, and eventually their relationship fizzled out, ending altogether in 1982