Throughout history, standards of male beauty have shifted. In the past, men who showcased masculine properties were considered handsome. However, recently, androgynous features are more commonly regarded as the ideal male beauty. However, some actors have transcended generations and are consistently regarded as attractive. Their striking looks established them as timeless standards of male beauty.
Alain Delon
French actor Alain Delon, born in 1935, worked countless jobs as a waiter, porter, and secretary to make ends meet when he was young. His friendship with actress Brigitte Bardot gave opportunity in his film career. Delon started becoming popular with his role in The Sun Also Rises. Known for his charismatic charm, he predominantly appeared in film noir, becoming a leading actor in French noir cinema. He continued to act into his later years and announced his retirement from acting on May 9, 2017.
Clark Gable
Clark Gable began his career as a supporting actor in 1917, at the end of the silent film era. He gained immense popularity and earned the nickname “The King of Hollywood.” His iconic role in Gone with the Wind remains a classic.
Björn Andrésen
The animated series The Rose of Versailles was revealed, featuring different handsome characters. These characters were referenced after the Swedish actor Björn Andrésen. He was born in January 1955 and was raised by a single mother. He quickly became popular right after his debut. Rumors even said he was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as a beauty. He is particularly popular in East Asia.
Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor, an American actor born in 1911, passed away in 1969 at 57. He stumbled into fame accidentally; he was an alternative actor for a short film as the original actor couldn’t play. Taylor rose to fame primarily in romance films and gained popularity with his roles in the college-themed sports movies The Hero of Oxford and The Gaze. He was often referred to as having “the most perfect face.”
Montgomery Clift
Montgomery Clift, known for his intellectual image, gained popularity in the 1940s and 1950s. He is often considered one of the first actors to adopt method acting in Hollywood. Clift gained fame for his role in Fred Zinnemann’s The Search in 1948, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He solidified his position with A Place in the Sun, earning another Academy nomination.
Gregory Peck
Iconic Gregory Peck embodies the image of a gentleman. He became globally recognized for his role in Roman Holiday. Peck gained fame through films such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound and Elia Kazan’s Gentleman’s Agreement. He also showcased a robust masculine persona in Moby Dick and The Guns of Navarone. He ultimately became a sex symbol of his time. Born in 1916, he passed away at 87 in 2003.
Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper symbolizes the Western films alongside John Wayne. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and earned the title of “the most American handsome man.” Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt once remarked that if Cooper ran for president, he would undoubtedly lose due to his unmatched popularity. Born in 1901, he passed away at 60 in 1961.
Paul Newman
Paul Newman is often regarded as one of the greatest actors in Hollywood history. After finishing his degree in acting at Yale University’s drama school, he made his debut in 1955 with The Silver Chalice. Nonetheless, it did not succeed at the box office. However, he gained popularity for his role as a poor, unknown boxer in Robert Wise’s boxing film Somebody Up There Likes Me and became a supersede with Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor who primarily acted in America. He gained popularity among women in the early 20th century due to his handsome looks and exceptional dancing skills. In particular, he was known for his exotic appearance. However, he tragically passed away at the young age of 31 in 1926 due to a ruptured stomach ulcer. Most of his acting was in silent films, so few songs of his singing were preserved.
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier is famous for his Shakespearean acting. He was the first foreign actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. His love story with actress Vivien Leigh also made headlines. Leigh passed away in 1967, and Olivier died at 82 in 1989. Although he won the Academy Award, his early performances did not receive much recognition. For instance, he first received the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor.
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