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Arnold Schwarzenegger - From 'Predator' to 'The Terminator,' Schwarzenegger became a reference when it comes to action movies.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger -

The quintessential action hero had his first leading role in the Netflix television series 'FUBAR' in 2023. He also became Netflix's Chief Action Officer and continues to be a strong advocate for climate change.

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Sylvester Stallone -

Another heavyweight of action movies, you probably know him by names such as Rambo or Rocky.

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Sylvester Stallone -

Despite having dozens of action movies under his belt, there was still room for 'The Expendables 4,' released in 2023, and the action-thriller 'Armored,' expected to premiere on November 20, 2024.

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Jean-Claude Van Damme - "The muscles from Brussels" is yet another action star. He is known for movies such as 'Bloodsport,'  'Kickboxer,' 'Double Impact,' and 'Universal Soldier,' among others.

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Jean-Claude Van Damme -

At 63, JCVD continues to bust moves! His most recent film is 'The Darkness of Men,' released in early 2024.

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Chuck Norris - From classic '80s action movies such as 'Missing in Action and 'The Delta Force,' to 'Walker, Texas Ranger' in the '90s, Chuck Norris is a true action movie star.

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Chuck Norris -

More recently, the actor returned to the big screen in the movie 'Agent Recon' (2024).

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Bruce Willis -

You can't think of action movies without 'Die Hard' coming to mind. Willis also played major action roles in hit films such as 'Pulp Fiction,' 'Twelve Monkeys,' and 'The Fifth Element.'

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Bruce Willis - Unfortunately, in March 2022, it was revealed that Bruce Willis was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia. In 2023, his family announced that his condition had progressed to dementia. The sad news was met with outpourings of love and support from fans and colleagues all over the world.

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Kurt Russell - Who can forget Russell's performance in movies such as John Carpenter's classic 'Escape from New York' and 'Big Trouble in Little China'?

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Kurt Russell -

More recently. he appeared in the penultimate 'Fast & Furious' movie in 2021.

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Sigourney Weaver - Who doesn't remember Ellen Ripley kicking a** in the 'Alien' movies? The actress gave life to one of the most iconic female action movie characters of the '80s.

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Sigourney Weaver -

Weaver continued her illustrious acting career, starring in countless films since then. Her most recent appearance was in 'Avatar: The Way of Water' (2022). At the 2024 Venice Film Festival, Sigourney received the Golden Lion, an award honoring her lifetime of achievements.

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Steven Seagal - Steven Seagal's Aikido moves set him apart from other action stars. He found success with movies such as 'Above the Law,' 'Hard to Kill,' 'Out for Justice,' 'Under Siege,' and 'On Deadly Ground.'

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Steven Seagal -

His last movies include 'Beyond the Law' and 'General Commander,' released in 2019.

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Mel Gibson - His role in the 'Mad Max' and 'Lethal Weapon' movies made Gibson an indisputable action star.  In the '90s, movies such as 'Braveheart,' took his career to new heights.

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Mel Gibson -

Gibson continues his prolific career, despite controversies in his personal life that made headlines over the years. He starred in two movies alone in 2024, 'Boneyard' and 'Monster Summer.'

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Clint Eastwood - From the 'Dirty Harry' movies to 'Unforgiven,' Eastwood is the stereotypical "tough guy."

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Clint Eastwood -

An accomplished actor and director, Clint Eastwood is unstoppable, even in his nineties! He directed and starred in 'Cry Macho' in 2021.

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Dolph Lundgren - Lundgren became famous with his iconic role as Ivan Drago in 'Rocky IV.' He then went on to star in a number of action movies, including  'Masters of the Universe' and 'Universal Soldier.'

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Dolph Lundgren -

The action star has been active in movies such as 'Aquaman' (2018) and more recently 'Wanted Men' (2024) which he also directed.

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Harrison Ford - From the 'Star Wars' movies to 'Indiana Jones,' Ford is a true action hero. 

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Harrison Ford -

He continues to star in major films, including the 'Indiana Jones' franchise, where Ford still cuts a dashing figure in his eighties.

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Grace Jones - The model-singer joined Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Conan the Destroyer.' She later starred in the famous James Bond movies 'A View to a Kill.'

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Grace Jones -

Grace continues her music performances and recently made appearances at the 2024 Love Motion Festival and Outside Lands.

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Jackie Chan - Not many actors are able to combine incredible stunts with martial arts like Jackie Chan does. Plus, he's funny too! His role in the 'Rush Hour' movies is a great example.

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Jackie Chan -

Chan continues to star in action-packed films. He has recently participated in the Chinese movie 'Legend' (2024).

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Pam Grier - Grier starred in a number of blaxploitation and prison movies in the '70s. In the following decades, she became famous for movies such as 'Above the Law,' 'Escape from L.A.,' and 'Jackie Brown.' She also starred in TV shows such as 'Crime Story' and 'Miami Vice.'

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Pam Grier -

In recent years, Grier has appeared in the movie 'Pet Sematary: Bloodlines' (2023).

See also: "And cut!" Movies that have been banned or censored

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