As part of Hollywood's Golden Age, the 1950s produced some of Hollywood's most famous films and movie stars. Some of the biggest names in the industry did their best work in the 1950s, from veterans who found continued success to up-and-coming stars who impressed from their first on-screen frames.
Decades later, some of the biggest stars of the 1950s are still household names, thanks to their roles in classic films and enduring star power. Whether they've enjoyed long careers or made an impact in a short period of time, audiences are still captivated by their films, from award-winning dramas to light-hearted comedies.
10 Gene Kelly
1912-1996
Dancer and choreographer Gene Kelly is best known for his work from 1951 An American in Pariswhich won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Singing in the rain, known for its dance sequences. Kelly's films later in the decade failed to live up to his earlier successes, effectively ending his reign as an in-demand dancer and choreographer. His last film was Xanadu in 1980, which was not well received but is now a cult classic.
Kelly is better known for dancing than actingso much so that he has been called the most influential dancer in cinema only behind Fred Astaire, and it's hard to imagine the best musicals of the Golden Age without Kelly's touch. Both of us An American in Paris i Singing in the rain they remain highly acclaimed: the former has been called Kelly's masterpiece, while the latter is considered by some to be the greatest dance film ever made.
9 Grace Kelly
1929-1982
Grace Kelly began her career on Broadway before moving to the movies in 1951, starring in 11 films. He won an Oscar for his role in The country girl, and his work also included three films with Alfred Hitchcock: rear window, Mark M for murder i To catch a thief. After marrying Prince Ranero 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. His time in Hollywood may have been brief: he made his last film in 1956, just five years after his debut.but it made an impression, working with some of Hollywood's biggest stars and earning multiple Oscar nominations. His work in all genres demonstrated his versatility, from his roles as a socialite to his work in Hitchcock's thrillers, often considered his best.
8 Charlton Heston
1923-2008
Charlton Heston began his career on Broadway and his Hollywood career included everything from biblical epics to sci-fi classics. His work in the 1950s included some of the most famous films of the decade, including The Ten Commandments i Ben-Hur, the last of which earned him an Oscar for best actor. Heston later starred 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 screen presence that helped cement his reputation for playing biblical and historical characters, and made his roles that much more memorable. This presence that made him perfect for 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 the acting awards, he also received a number of honorary awards that recognize his contributions to cinema.
7 James Dean
1931-1955
Before his death, James Dean had starred in only three films, all in the course of a year: John Steinbeck adaptation East of Eden,Rebel without a cause i giant. The latter two were released posthumously and also earned him two Academy Award nominations, also making him the first actor to be nominated posthumously. He had a reputation for being difficult on set. He died in a car accident when he was only 24 years old.
It's rare that an actor with only three leading roles can still be an icon decades later, and it's easy to imagine what he could have achieved with more time. Although Dean's career was short, he left an undeniable mark on pop culture. He became a symbol of the youth of the 50s with roles like Rebel without a cause. His portrayals were honest and raw, making him relatable, and his characters were usually angry and misunderstood.
6 Jimmy Stewart
1908-1997
Between 1935 and 1991, Jimmy Stewart starred in 80 films, more than 20 of which were made in his first five years in Hollywood alone. He was known for his immediately recognizable voice. His work in the 1950s included three Alfred Hitchcock movies: rear window, Vertigo i The man who knew too much. Although he was nominated for five Academy Awards, he only won once, for Best Actor in a Romantic Comedy The story of Philadelphia. He died in 1997.
Stewart is still considered one of the best and most beloved actors in Hollywoodand many of his films are still considered classics today, It's a wonderful life in particular, despite the fact that the film was not an immediate success. He was known as a leading man playing universal characters who embodied the American ideal, but he particularly impressed when playing against type in his roles in Hitchcock thrillers.
5 Audrey Hepburn
1929-1993
After first studying ballet, British actor Audrey Hepburn began an acting career: her career began with romantic comedies. Roman festival, for which he won his first Oscar. His star power lasted until the 1960s, when he starred Breakfast at Tiffany's, charade i my beautiful lady. She was nominated for a total of five Academy Awards and was one of the few to also be nominated for Emmy, Tony and Grammy Awards.
Hepburn's films throughout the 1950s made her a star and led her to continued success in the 1960s with some of her most famous films, many of which are still beloved classics today. His work spanned genres, from romantic comedies to thrillers, and excelled in all of them, with multiple award nominations to show for it. In addition to her work as an actress, Hepburn was also known as a fashion icon.
4 Elizabeth Taylor
1932-2011
British-American actor Elizabeth Taylor began her career as a child star and became one of the biggest stars of the 1950s, beginning with Father of the Bride. His success continued into the 1960s with some of his most famous roles including Butterfield 8 i Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which won their Academy Awards. She often attracted tabloid attention for her personal life, specifically her multiple marriages and affairs.
Taylor's early success and fame helped build the body of work for which she is still known today, and his legacy lives on as he is still the subject of numerous books, documentaries, podcasts and more. She was an exciting and larger-than-life presence on screen, but her career went beyond film work: she was one of the first celebrities to launch her own perfume and was also known for her humanitarian work.
3 John Wayne
1907-1979
Nicknamed “the Duke,” John Wayne began his career in the silent era of the 1920s and became one of the most famous actors of Hollywood's golden age thanks to his work in westerns and a long and prolific career, with a total of over 140 film credits to his name. He often worked with the director John Fordincluded in Diligencethe prominent role of Wayne and The Seekersoften considered the best western ever made.
Wayne's name is practically synonymous with the West—is still so strongly associated with the genre that even people who haven't seen a western know who he was. He was also known for his roles in war films. 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 several films in a single year.
2 Marlon Brando
1924-2004
Marlon Brando he began his career on the stage before moving on to film. His best known films of the 1950s include A tram called Desire i On the promenade, the last of which earned him his first Oscar. His career struggled in the 1960s, but he returned in the 1970s as Don Corleone in the godfather, which earned him his second Oscar. Brando was also known for his activism and died in 2004.
Known for its intensity, Brando is still considered not only one of the greatest actors of his generation, but of all time. Although one of his most iconic roles, Don Corleone, came in the 1970s, his work in the 1950s proved his skill and paved the way for his later success. His work a On the promenade it is still considered one of the greatest performances of all time.
1 Marilyn Monroe
1926-1962
With her breathy voice and signature blonde hair, Marilyn Monroe often played bombshell characters, making her a sex symbol and one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the early 1950s. She began her career as a pinup model, and although her career in Hollywood was rather short-lived, she starred in several films throughout the decade, including Some like it hot, The seven-year itch i Gentlemen prefer blondes. He died in 1962.
Although his work was sometimes overshadowed by his personal life, Monroe was a dedicated actress whose films were very successful, which grossed more than $200 million, and has remained a star decades later. It's still an instantly recognizable pop culture icon and has left a lasting mark. His life and legacy are still the subject of new films to this day, and are still frequently referenced in music, television and more.
