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« Kristen Stewart is a Rock Star and Other "On The Road" Discoveries | Main | Dlink. The D is Silent »
Friday
Dec282012

Who Were The Most Beautiful Men Ever To Hit the Screen?

If you're tired of all the bickering and partisanship from this very young Oscar season (We've got 8 more weeks of people fighting about Les Miz and whether or not Zero Dark endorses torture. Have...uh... fun!) why not choose sides on a much different less weighty topic? 

Boy Culture has launched a very extensive opinion piece on the History's 100 Hottest Movie Actors. It might be the perfect antidote right about now if you honestly can't take one more "Argo F*** Yourself" joke, Ode to Lincoln, or "Jennifer or Jessica?" blog post.

Only half of Matthew's list is currently up but there's already an impressive range of eras (a list which stretches from Rudolph Valentino through Colin Farrell is okay by me, clock-wise), nationalities, talent levels (from none to cup overflowing) and fame curve in the 50 men selected. If Takeshi Kaneshiro and Jude Law aren't top ten'ers I will pay for Matthew's next optometrist visit.

Who would you put in a top ten list?

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Reader Comments (44)

Monty for number one.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterPatryk

Tough choices but my top 10 in no particular order:
Jeffrey Hunter
Colin Farrell
Brad Pitt
Charles Farrell
Errol Flynn
Fabian
Joel McCrea
Rock Hudson
Tyrone Power
Warren Beatty

And the next 5 that I had to eliminate to get to 10:
Montgomery Clift
John Garfield
John Abraham
John Saxon
James Marsden

Could have easily done a list of 50.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered Commenterjoel6

In no particular order:

Glenn Ford
William Holden
Tyrone Power
Montgomery Clift
Robert Redford
Sean Connery
Alec Baldwin
Tom Selleck
Dennis Quaid
George Clooney

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterMarcos

Paul Newman No. 1 no question and have seen all his films to back it up.

In a Top 10 I'd add: Monty Clift, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, Fassy and Tom Hardy. A test for me is how many of their films I'm willing to sit through and, for these men, it's been a lot (including some real dreck!).

Crushes based on fewer films seen include Charles Farrell, Dana Andrews, Daniel Craig, Mark Ruffalo and Ryan Reynolds.

This will be a fun thread I can tell...

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterSteve G

This needs a great deal of thought, so here is an initial list in no particular order

George Nader
Terence Stamp
Buster Crabbe
Robert Taylor
Montgomery Clift
Farley Granger
Tab Hunter
Guy Madison
Robert Wagner
Jude Law

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJoe U.K.

Joe Dallesandro all the way.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterSam Brooks

I think silent comedians are hot. Namely Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterNathan

Also British Boys with Big Hair. (Ben Whishaw and Andrew Garfield).
When I die I want to be cremated and sprinkled into their hair.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterNathan

How come no one has said Paul Newman. He is my favorite actor of all time an he was quite a good looker.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJosh

I'm pretty sure Tony Leung will be in the top 20, at least.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterEdwin

Alain Delon throughout the 60s. Gobsmackingly beautiful.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterRoark

I would have Fassy, Alec Baldwin, Ryan Gosling, Cillian Murphy, Idris Elba, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ray Liotta, Christopher Meloni, Brad Pitt, Josh Lucas and Aaron Eckhart high up on my list.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJasmine

Nathan -- i love this entire category as well. I shall add Rupert Graves into that list from the 80s... though in that case the big hair is more of impossible bangs. BUT STILL.

December 29, 2012 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

William Holden and Tony Leung, for sure. The other eight are debatable, but maybe Steven Bauer, Alain Delon, Hugh Jackman, Cheyenne Jackson, Taylor Kinney (does he count?), Franco Nero, Paul Newman and Mickey Rourke in their respective prime.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterMareko

Antonio Banderas
Javier Bardem
Marlon Brando
George Clooney
Michael Fassbender
Ryan Gosling
Rock Hudson
Marcello Mastroianni
Steve McQueen
Paul Newman

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

Steve McQueen was hot!

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJoe U.K.

My top ten are:
Paul Newman
Brad Pitt
Montgomery Clift
Warren Beatty
Tom Cruise
Rob Lowe
Francisco Rabal
Raoul Bouva
James Marsden
Denzel Washington

The next 5:
Matthew McConaughey
Ewan McGregor
Alain Delon
Rodrigo Santoro
Kim Rossi Stuart

I would be able to continue up to 100...

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJJ79

Just... Can't... Narrow... Down.
I will say that Paul Newman is number one with a heart-shaped bullet, and that having those Warrior ads splashed all over the subway was a highlight of last year, and would have certainly pushed Edgerton/Hardy up my hypothetical top 10)

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterMike in Canada

Heath Ledger would make my top ten. James Marsden, Jude Law, Chris Evans, Colin Farrell, Chris O'Donnell, Chris Hemsworth, Antonio Sabato (does he count as an actor?), Jake Gyllenhall, & Matt Damon would likely round out the list.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterEddie

How has nobody said James Dean or Gene Kelly?! COME ON PEOPLE! ;-)

My ten is highly stilted to modern day (I need to learn more about my Golden Era and post-war hotties), but it would look something like: James Dean, Gene Kelly, Steve McQueen, Daniel Craig, Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender, Colin Farrell, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Whishaw, and Joseph Fiennes.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterEvan

I am very intrigued.....I look this over & the most obvious name has not been mentioned. The first name that instantly came to my my - very easy - is Cary Grant. Yet, I don't see him listed.

2. Paul Newman
3. William Holden

Most of the other names are just who's popular today.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered Commenterjimmy

Of the ones that haven't been mentioned...

Sterling Hayden
DeNiro
Fabio Testi
Hrithik Roshan
Mark Wahlberg
Vincent Cassel
Jean Reno
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Paul Belmondo
Jean-Pierre Leaud (when he grew up)

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered Commenterdenny

Wait a minute, no one has mentioned silent era Gary Cooper? Hmm, makes everyone's list pretty suspicious. Or if you need sound, go ahead and watch Morocco. I dare you!

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterDave in Alamitos Beach

James Dean
Jake Gyllenhaal
Laurence Olivier
Leonardo DiCaprio (focusing on the Titanic/R+J era, when I was completely in love with him)
Warren Beatty
Marlon Brando (1950s)
Michael Fassbender
Anthony Perkins
Cary Grant
Tom Cruise (sad but true)

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered Commentereurocheese

I forgot Brad Pitt! He goes on the list at #3. Goodbye Tom Cruise.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered Commentereurocheese

Evan--I was going to mention James Dean and Gene Kelly, but you beat me to it! So I'll shift my focus to Gael Garcia Bernal, who I think is super-hot and deserves more love.


My faves:

James Dean
Ewan McGregor
Gene Kelly
Gael García Bernal
Montgomery Clift
Colin Farrell
Marlon Brando
Tony Leung
Burt Lancaster
Ryan Gosling

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJoe

Patrick Wilson would be on there for me!!!

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterJoe

Brad Pitt for number one.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterKatie

Young Marlon Brando
James Dean
Ryan Gosling
Brad Pitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt

I'd have to think more...

For me, a lot of times good performances also increase their sexiness. After seeing Mysterious Skin, I will always have an affinity to JGL even though usually he's attractive, but not one of the most beautiful.

And Brad Pitt in Fight Club ... good gawd.

I'd have to think of my others.

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterPhilip

OMG I forgot Richard Gere! How could I? I deserve a few spanks...

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

Yes, as long as were just going for hotness, Joe Dallesandro all the way. After Joe:Alain Delon, then Monty, then Jean Marais

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterChristine

In no particular order:

Montgomery Clift
Marlon Brando
Paul Newman
Warren Beatty
Gary Cooper
Ryan Gosling
Brad Pitt
Johnny Depp
Steve McQueen
Cary Grant

Honorary mentions Top 5: George Clooney, Mel Gibson, Idris Elba, Omar Sharif, Rudolph Valentino

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterManuel

Ryan Phillipe
Ryan Gossling
Paul Newman
Rob Lowe
Brad Pitt
Colin Farrell
James Marsden
Ben Affleck
Jude Law
Montgomery Clift
Hayden Christensen
Matt Damon
Keanu Reeve

December 29, 2012 | Unregistered Commenterbrandz

Colin Farrell wore all the garish makeup in Fright Night, yet he was still able to rock the look and make it sexy. That is when you know you are a hottie.

Tom Hardy wore that atrocious wig and bad tight '70's jeans in Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy. He still looked great , and I still wanted to hump him.

Alec Baldwin is hot chunky or skin and bones ( his intelligence, humor, and fiery temper makes him more sexy) . But, he will never be more sexy than he was on Knots Landing. His youthful good looks burnt my tv screen.

The first time I spotted James Marsden was on a lousy mob wives type of mini-series, and I was immediately drawn to his extraordinary good looks and charisma ( his acting wasn't strong yet). And, I saw him on a cancelled show, Second Noah. On one episode he sung to Joey Lauren Adams with a guitar, I was completely in love after that performance.

Matthew Mcconaughey's sweaty hotness in A Time to Kill turned me on. And, of course , his body is to die for.

Seann William Scott has that naughty, goofy, and sneaky smile with his scorching body, makes him a major hottie. I really feel he is underrated.

Christian Bale is a bad boy, and he is an actor that can rock any look in any time period . He was always my crush since I saw him in Newsies ( a movie he loathes) and LIttle Women.

December 30, 2012 | Unregistered Commenterpenny

1. Montgomery Clift
2. Jeffrey Hunter
3. Timothy Olyphant
4. Jude Law
5. Paul Newman
6. Clint Eastwood
7. Michael Fassbender
8. Taye Diggs
9. Marlon Brando
10. Gregory Peck

subject to change

December 30, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterPaul Outlaw

Honorable mention to Ryan Gosling, Charlie Hunnam, Clive Owen, Colin Farrell, Christopher Reeve, Christian Bale, John Wayne (very early), Gary Cooper, Tyrone Power, and...

December 30, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterPaul Outlaw

I know I'm alone in this, but Kevin Costner wil always be my #1, now and forever.

January 3, 2013 | Unregistered Commenterforever1267

ALAIN DELON - There is nobody else.

November 3, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterMaria

How could Elvis Presley not make anyone's list?? One of the most attractive men ever!

June 11, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterTony

It's really a very difficult choice. After much pondering back and forth my poll somewhat hesitatingly comes up in this order:
1) Franco Nero
2) Alain Delon
3) Antonio Sabato/ and AS junior
4) Rock Hudson
5) George Peppard
6) Marlon Brando
7) Clint Eastwood
8) Gregory Peck
9) Sean Connery
10) Daniel Craig
11) Brad Pitt
12) Robert Shaw, would make up the clean suave dozen.
Many other stars come strongly to mind from the good old silver screen of Hollywood, Bollywood and Pinewood Studios. Yet these are the top in my polls compiled painstakingly over the last year. The majority of my one on one, web and personal interviews were with women. They were asked who they would think were the most gorgeous looking men (actors) they would consider being with. That is strictly their opinion and these women ranged in age from 20 to 50 years. When they were shown pictures of these stars the results came in very close on the first five. The next seven were a bit of a spread but interesting.
The most salient attractive features were the eyes, mouth (smile also) facial contour, symmetry and the nose. The ears came in behind these. The overall height, weight and build did not seem to factor in as heavily. Interesting, very interesting indeed. A lot of them said of their immediate noticeable reaction was they made their nipples perk up or gave them goosebumps as a warm feeling washed over them. Hmmm, go figure how the mind works.

February 4, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterArun s

Elvis has been the most beautiful man ever !!!

December 7, 2016 | Unregistered Commenterhenrichetta

My list is fairly long because it spans a few decades. I'll offer some of the standout names.
Alain Delon, George Peppard, Rock Hudson, Diogo Morgado, Franco Nero, Clint Eastwood, young Marlon Brando, Sean Connery, Jeffrey Hunter, Elvis Presley, Yul Brynner (especially those eyes), Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Clark Gable, Daniel Craig, Peter O'Toole, Antonio Sabato/junior, Sydney Poitier, Warren Beatty, Denzel Washington, James Dean, Hrithik Roshan, Amir Khan, Dev Anand, Gene Kelly, Sir Laurence Olivier, Robert Shaw, Montgomery Clift, Steve Reeves, Gordon Scott, Clint Walker, Tyrone Power and Terence Stamp.
Subject to change. Cheers!

December 8, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterArun s

you forgot Clive Owen and that Italian in under the Tuscan Sun adn really Patrick Swayze
yes to Franco Nero, Gary Cooper, Tyrone Power, how about Robert Taylot, yes to Clark Gable,
I love football hero Boomer Eiasison-handsome Norwegian - American and yes to the guys of Rich Man Poor Man Nick Nolte and Peter Strauss in their youth-Kurt Russell and love for the Italian Stallion Rocky Balboa-Sylvester Stallone and his resemblence to Victor Mature-throw in Richard Burton and Dennis Morgan...

For me, it begins and ends with the most magnetically attractive human being I have ever seen, the genuinely decent, late, great Tab Hunter. We are not talking about acting talent. We are talking about looks. When he was a boy, girls swarmed around him as though he was a celebrity.

July 13, 2019 | Unregistered CommenterPat
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