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See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
1990: Patrick Swayze
- Patrick Swayze was already well known by 1990, but his role in 'Ghost' solidified his spot in the hearts of audiences.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
1989: Michael Keaton
- Michael Keaton put on the Batsuit in 1989, starring in 'Batman,' and also dated a pre-fame Courteney Cox at the time.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
1988: Harrison Ford
- In 1988, Ford starred in 'Working Girl,' but was already well known for playing Han Solo in 'Star Wars' and for being the protagonist in 'Indiana Jones.'
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
1987: Michael Douglas
- In 1987, Michael Douglas starred in the thriller 'Fatal Attraction' with Glenn Close and took home the Academy Award for his performance in 'Wall Street.'
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
1986: Tom Cruise
- Tom Cruise came onto the scene in a real way in 1986 after he played the ultra-cool and talented pilot in 'Top Gun.'
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
1985: Michael J. Fox
- 'Back to the Future' is one of the most iconic movies of all time. Its predictions of the future were a little off, but it still launched Fox's career!
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
1984: Ralph Macchio
- Ralph Macchio starred as the young martial arts student in 'The Karate Kid,' inspiring a generation to take up the sport.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
1982: Sylvester Stallone
- Sylvester Stallone played Rocky Balboa in 'Rocky III' that year, a boxing film franchise that is still the best of its kind today.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
1982: Richard Gere
- in 1982, before he was dating Cindy Crawford, Richard Gere played in the romantic drama 'An Officer and a Gentleman.'
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
1981: Burt Reynolds
- In 1981, Burt Reynolds and his perfectly groomed mustache were no strangers to the Hollywood film world. His role in 'The Cannonball Run' made him the undisputed leading man of the year.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
1980: Jack Nicholson
- Nicholson starred in 'Easy Rider' in 1969, which was his breakout role, and the film became a cult classic. But it wasn't until 1980 that he became the undisputed lead man after his performance in 'The Shining.'
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
1979: Martin Sheen
-
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
1978: Ryan O'Neal
- Ryan O'Neal stole everyone's hearts with his role in 'Oliver's Story' in 1978.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
1977: Roger Moore
- Roger Moore took over Sean Connery's role as 'James Bond' in the franchise in 1973.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
1976: Robert De Niro
- Though it feels like every year is Robert De Niro's year, his stunning performance in 'Taxi Driver' earned him his place at the top.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
1975: James Caan
-
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
1974: Sidney Poitier
- Sidney Poitier made history as the first Black man to win an Academy Award. In 1974, he directed and starred in 'Uptown Saturday Night.'
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
1973: Marlon Brando
- Marlon Brando was establishing his career throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and by the 1970's he was the most iconic actor in Hollywood. In 1973, he rejected the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in 'The Godfather' in protest of Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans in film.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
1972: Billy Dee Williams
- Billy Dee Williams co-starred in the hit movie 'Lady Sings the Blues' with Diana Ross in 1972 and remained a very relevant actor for the next decade. He's, of course, best known as Lando Calrissian from the 'Star Wars' franchise.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
1971: Clint Eastwood
- "Dirty" Harry Callahan is still one of Clint Eastwood's most well-known roles to date and is one of the most well-known film characters of all time, period.
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
1969: Robert Redford
- 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' premiered in 1969, soon making Robert Redford the hottest actor in town.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
1968: Dustin Hoffman
- Dustin Hoffman made his film debut in 1967 in the comedy 'The Tiger Makes Out.' However, it was his role in 'The Graduate,' also from 1967, that led to his star status and a nomination for an Academy Award.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
1967: Gene Wilder
- It wasn't until 1967 that Gene Wilder landed his first major role and became a household name for the cult comedy classic 'The Producers,' for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
1966: Paul Scofield
- Scofield had been performing in films for years before 1966, but it was during that year that he really received widespread acclamation. His performance in 'A Man for All Seasons' earned him multiple awards and brought him to the forefront of popular cinema.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
1965: Rex Harrison
- In this image, Rex Harrison is standing with Audrey Hepburn holding the Academy Award. By 1965, after his performances in 'My Fair Lady' in 1964 and 'Cleopatra' in 1963, he was the lead man in Hollywood.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
1964: Albert Finney
- By 1964, Albert Finney had become one of the most prominent leading men in Hollywood films. He landed his film debut in 'The Entertainer' in 1960 and became well known in the next few years for his roles in 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' (also in 1960) and 'Tom Jones' (1963).
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
1963: Harry Belafonte
- By the 1960s, Belafonte had already established himself as a lead actor in Hollywood while also being an early supporter of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
1962: Gregory Peck
- Gregory Peck was one of the biggest in the game around this time, but especially in 1962 for his outstanding performances in 'Cape Fear' and 'How the West Was Won,' which were both hugely successful then and still well known today.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
1961: Maximilian Schell
- Austrian-born Swiss actor Maximilian Schell was the leading man by 1961, starring in 11 films since his film debut just six years before and winning multiple awards in 1961 for his performance in the courtroom drama 'Judgment at Nuremberg.'
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
1960: Burt Lancaster
- Traditionally known for playing the tough guy, Lancaster earned his notoriety for taking on more challenging and complex roles in the early 1960s. One of his first notable roles was a charismatic con man in 'Elmer Gantry' in 1960, which won him the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Actor, and from there on out he played lead roles in a string of successful films. Sources: (Esquire) See also: Vintage stars and their cars
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
1990: Patrick Swayze
- Patrick Swayze was already well known by 1990, but his role in 'Ghost' solidified his spot in the hearts of audiences.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
1989: Michael Keaton
- Michael Keaton put on the Batsuit in 1989, starring in 'Batman,' and also dated a pre-fame Courteney Cox at the time.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
1988: Harrison Ford
- In 1988, Ford starred in 'Working Girl,' but was already well known for playing Han Solo in 'Star Wars' and for being the protagonist in 'Indiana Jones.'
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
1987: Michael Douglas
- In 1987, Michael Douglas starred in the thriller 'Fatal Attraction' with Glenn Close and took home the Academy Award for his performance in 'Wall Street.'
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
1986: Tom Cruise
- Tom Cruise came onto the scene in a real way in 1986 after he played the ultra-cool and talented pilot in 'Top Gun.'
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
1985: Michael J. Fox
- 'Back to the Future' is one of the most iconic movies of all time. Its predictions of the future were a little off, but it still launched Fox's career!
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
1984: Ralph Macchio
- Ralph Macchio starred as the young martial arts student in 'The Karate Kid,' inspiring a generation to take up the sport.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
1982: Sylvester Stallone
- Sylvester Stallone played Rocky Balboa in 'Rocky III' that year, a boxing film franchise that is still the best of its kind today.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
1982: Richard Gere
- in 1982, before he was dating Cindy Crawford, Richard Gere played in the romantic drama 'An Officer and a Gentleman.'
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
1981: Burt Reynolds
- In 1981, Burt Reynolds and his perfectly groomed mustache were no strangers to the Hollywood film world. His role in 'The Cannonball Run' made him the undisputed leading man of the year.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
1980: Jack Nicholson
- Nicholson starred in 'Easy Rider' in 1969, which was his breakout role, and the film became a cult classic. But it wasn't until 1980 that he became the undisputed lead man after his performance in 'The Shining.'
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
1979: Martin Sheen
-
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
1978: Ryan O'Neal
- Ryan O'Neal stole everyone's hearts with his role in 'Oliver's Story' in 1978.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
1977: Roger Moore
- Roger Moore took over Sean Connery's role as 'James Bond' in the franchise in 1973.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
1976: Robert De Niro
- Though it feels like every year is Robert De Niro's year, his stunning performance in 'Taxi Driver' earned him his place at the top.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
1975: James Caan
-
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
1974: Sidney Poitier
- Sidney Poitier made history as the first Black man to win an Academy Award. In 1974, he directed and starred in 'Uptown Saturday Night.'
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
1973: Marlon Brando
- Marlon Brando was establishing his career throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and by the 1970's he was the most iconic actor in Hollywood. In 1973, he rejected the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in 'The Godfather' in protest of Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans in film.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
1972: Billy Dee Williams
- Billy Dee Williams co-starred in the hit movie 'Lady Sings the Blues' with Diana Ross in 1972 and remained a very relevant actor for the next decade. He's, of course, best known as Lando Calrissian from the 'Star Wars' franchise.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
1971: Clint Eastwood
- "Dirty" Harry Callahan is still one of Clint Eastwood's most well-known roles to date and is one of the most well-known film characters of all time, period.
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
1969: Robert Redford
- 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' premiered in 1969, soon making Robert Redford the hottest actor in town.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
1968: Dustin Hoffman
- Dustin Hoffman made his film debut in 1967 in the comedy 'The Tiger Makes Out.' However, it was his role in 'The Graduate,' also from 1967, that led to his star status and a nomination for an Academy Award.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
1967: Gene Wilder
- It wasn't until 1967 that Gene Wilder landed his first major role and became a household name for the cult comedy classic 'The Producers,' for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
1966: Paul Scofield
- Scofield had been performing in films for years before 1966, but it was during that year that he really received widespread acclamation. His performance in 'A Man for All Seasons' earned him multiple awards and brought him to the forefront of popular cinema.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
1965: Rex Harrison
- In this image, Rex Harrison is standing with Audrey Hepburn holding the Academy Award. By 1965, after his performances in 'My Fair Lady' in 1964 and 'Cleopatra' in 1963, he was the lead man in Hollywood.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
1964: Albert Finney
- By 1964, Albert Finney had become one of the most prominent leading men in Hollywood films. He landed his film debut in 'The Entertainer' in 1960 and became well known in the next few years for his roles in 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' (also in 1960) and 'Tom Jones' (1963).
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
1963: Harry Belafonte
- By the 1960s, Belafonte had already established himself as a lead actor in Hollywood while also being an early supporter of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
1962: Gregory Peck
- Gregory Peck was one of the biggest in the game around this time, but especially in 1962 for his outstanding performances in 'Cape Fear' and 'How the West Was Won,' which were both hugely successful then and still well known today.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
1961: Maximilian Schell
- Austrian-born Swiss actor Maximilian Schell was the leading man by 1961, starring in 11 films since his film debut just six years before and winning multiple awards in 1961 for his performance in the courtroom drama 'Judgment at Nuremberg.'
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
1960: Burt Lancaster
- Traditionally known for playing the tough guy, Lancaster earned his notoriety for taking on more challenging and complex roles in the early 1960s. One of his first notable roles was a charismatic con man in 'Elmer Gantry' in 1960, which won him the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Actor, and from there on out he played lead roles in a string of successful films. Sources: (Esquire) See also: Vintage stars and their cars
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
Hollywood's leading man the year you were born
The hunks of years gone by
© Getty Images
It seems like every year Hollywood has a leading actor that sits above the rest, a true actor in his prime. The talent and dedication that it takes to perform at such a high level are tolling, and so many have their year in the limelight and fade. Others can hold down their position as a household name for decades. Nevertheless, every actor has their year. The year when they really shine, whether through incredible performances in multiple movies or just by stunning audiences in one film that lives on in pop culture forever.
To see which actor was the leading man in Hollywood the year you were born, click through this gallery.
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