As part of the Golden Age of Hollywood, the 1950s produced some of Hollywood’s most famous movies—and movie stars. Some of the industry’s biggest names did their best work in the ’50s, from veterans finding continued success to breakout stars who impressed from their first frames onscreen.
Decades later, some of the biggest stars of the ’50s are still household names, thanks to their roles in classic movies and enduring star power. Whether they enjoyed long careers or made an impact in a short timespan, audiences are still enthralled with their films, from award-winning dramas to lighthearted comedies.
10Gene Kelly
Dancer and choreographer Gene Kelly is best known for his work in 1951’sAn American in Paris, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, andSingin’ in the Rain,known for its dance sequences. Kelly’s films later in the decade didn’t live up to his earlier successes, effectively ending his reign as an in-demand dancer and choreographer. His final film wasXanaduin 1980, which was not well-received but is now something of a cult classic.
Kelly is best known for his dancing rather than acting, so much so that he’s been called the most influential dancer in film second only toFred Astaire, and it’s hard to imagine the best musicals of the Golden Age without Kelly’s touch. BothAn American in ParisandSingin’ in the Rainare still widely acclaimed—the former has been called Kelly’s masterpiece, while the latter is considered by some to be the best dance film ever made.
9Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly began her career on Broadway before transitioning to film in 1951, andshe starred in 11 films. She won an Oscar for her role inThe Country Girl,and her work also included three films withAlfred Hitchcock:Rear Window,Dial M for MurderandTo Catch a Thief.After marrying Prince Rainier III, Kelly became Princess of Monaco in 1956. She died in 1982 after suffering a stroke while driving.
It doesn’t get more iconic than a princess. Her time in Hollywood may have been brief—she made her final film in 1956, just five years after her debut—but she made an impression, working with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and earning multiple Oscar nominations. Her work across genres proved her versatility, from her roles as socialites to her work in Hitchcock’s thrillers, often regarded as among her best.
8Charlton Heston
Charlton Hestonbegan his career on Broadway, and his career in Hollywood included everything from biblical epics to sci-fi classics. His work in the ‘50s included some of the decade’s most famous films, includingThe Ten CommandmentsandBen-Hur, the latter of whichearned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Heston later starred inThe Planet of the Apes. He was also known for his political activism, especially later in life.
Heston was one of Hollywood’s most beloved leading men, with a commanding onscreen presence which helped solidify his reputation for playing biblical and historical figures—and made his roles that much more memorable. That presence which made him perfect for such larger-than-life characters also made him a great choice for sci-fi films, where he often played a hero in a post-apocalyptic world. In addition to awards for acting, he also received a number of honorary awards recognizing his contributions to film.
7James Dean
Before his death,James Deanhad only starred in three films, all in the span of a year:John SteinbeckadaptationEast of Eden,Rebel Without a CauseandGiant. The latter two were released posthumously and also earned him two Academy Award nominations—also making him the first actor to be nominated after his death. He had a reputation for being difficult on set. He was killed in a car accident at just 24 years old.
It’s rare that an actor with just three starring roles can still be an icon decades later, andit’s easy to imagine what he could’ve accomplished with more time. Although Dean’s career was short, he left an undeniable mark on pop culture. He became a symbol of 1950s youth with roles likeRebel Without a Cause. His portrayals were honest and raw, making him easy to relate to, and his characters were typically angry and misunderstood.
6Jimmy Stewart
Between 1935 and 1991,Jimmy Stewartstarred in 80 films—over 20 of them were made in his first five years in Hollywood alone. He was known for his instantly recognizable voice. His work in the 1950s included threeAlfred Hitchcockfilms:Rear Window,VertigoandThe Man Who Knew Too Much. Although he was nominated for five Academy Awards, he only won once, for Best Actor in romantic comedyThe Philadelphia Story. He died in 1997.
Stewart is still regarded as one of the best, most beloved actors in Hollywood, and many of his films are still considered classics today,It’s a Wonderful Lifein particular, despite the fact that the film was not an immediate success. He was known as a leading man who played everyman characters embodying the American ideal, but he particularly impressed as he played against type in his roles in Hitchcock thrillers.
5Audrey Hepburn
After first studying ballet, British actorAudrey Hepburnbegan a career in acting—her career took off withthe romantic comedyRoman Holiday, for which she won her first Oscar. Her star power lasted into the ‘60s, when she starred inBreakfast at Tiffany’s,CharadeandMy Fair Lady. She was nominated for a total of five Academy Awards and was among the few to also be nominated for Emmy, Tony and Grammy awards.
Hepburn’s films throughout the ‘50s made her a star and led to her continued success in the 1960s with some of her most famous films—many of which are still beloved classics today.Her work spanned genres, from romantic comedies to thrillers, and she excelled in all of them, with multiple award nominations to show for it. In addition to her acting work, Hepburn was also known as a fashion icon.
4Elizabeth Taylor
British-American actorElizabeth Taylorbegan her career as a child star and went on to becomeone of the biggest stars of the 1950s, starting withFather of the Bride. Her success continued into the ‘60s with some of her most famous roles, includingButterfield 8andWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, both of which won her Academy Awards. She often drew tabloid attention for her personal life, specifically her multiple marriages and affairs.
Taylor’s early success and fame helped build the body of work she is still known for to this day, and her legacy lives on as she’s still the subject of numerous books, documentaries, podcasts and more. She was a thrilling, larger-than-life presence onscreen, but her career went beyond film work—she was among the first celebrities to launch her own perfume, and she was also known for her humanitarian work.
3John Wayne
Nicknamed “the Duke,”John Waynebegan his career in the Silent Era of the 1920s and went on to become one of the most famous actors of Hollywood’s Golden Age thanks to his work in Westerns and long, prolific career, with a total of over 140 film credits to his name. He often worked with directorJohn Ford,including inStagecoach, Wayne’s breakout role, andThe Searchers, often considered the greatest Western ever made.
Wayne’s name is practically synonymous with the Western—he’s still associated with the genre so strongly that even people who haven’t seen a single Western know who he was. He was also known for his roles in war movies. Some of his most famous films were made in the 1950s, and he dominated the box office that decade, thanks in part to starring in multiple films in a single year.
2Marlon Brando
Marlon Brandobegan his career onstage before transitioning to film. His best-known films of the ‘50s includeA Streetcar Named DesireandOn the Waterfront, the latter of which won him his first Oscar. His career struggled in the ‘60s, but he made a comeback in the 1970s as Don Corleone inThe Godfather, which won him his second Oscar. Brando was also known for his activism, and he died in 2004.
Known for his intensity, Brando is still regarded as not onlyone of the greatest actors of his generationbut of all time. Although one of his most iconic roles—Don Corleone—came in the 1970s, his work in the ‘50s showed how skilled he was and paved the way for his later success. His work inOn the Waterfrontis still considered one of the best performances of all time.
1Marilyn Monroe
With her signature breathy voice and blonde hair,Marilyn Monroeoften played bombshell characters, making her a sex symbol and one of Hollywood’s biggest stars starting in the early 1950s. She began her career as a pinup model, and although her career in Hollywood was fairly short-lived, she starred in a number of films throughout the decade, includingSome Like It Hot,The Seven Year ItchandGentlemen Prefer Blondes. She died in 1962.
Although her work was sometimes overshadowed by her personal life,Monroe was a dedicated actresswhose films were hugely successful, grossing over $200 million, and she has remained a star decades later. She’s still an instantly recognizable pop-culture icon, and she has left a lasting mark. Her life and legacy are still the subject of new films to this day, and she’s still frequently referenced in music, television and more.
NEXT:13 Movies From The 1950s Everyone Should See At Least Once
