Who are the all-time greatest action stars? This list includes some of the biggest names in movie history, and each actor or actress listed here is fully capable of kicking butt and taking names in any movie they're in. Action stars are a special breed. They combine great acting ability with physicality that brings an action film to life. Be sure to vote for your favorite action stars and vote down any you don't like. Also, feel free to add any great action movie stars who are missing from the list.
What makes an action star the best? It's someone who commands the screen with feats of strength and prowess - not to mention the uncanny ability to miraculously survive even in the face of impossible odds. Many people listed here are top action movie stars who starred in some of the greatest action movies of all time. Some are newcomers, having landed major roles in recent films, including the best action movies of 2012, for example.
Not all of the all-time greatest action stars are men, no no. Some of the sexiest women in action movies are included here. Among them: Sigourney Weaver, aka Ripley in Alien. She definitely qualifies. Angelina Jolie and Milla Jovovich are other good examples.
Enjoy voting for the best action stars, and remember: You can, and should, add any famous Hollywood action actors who deserve a spot but aren't already listed here!
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8,2492,731Arnold Schwarzenegger
Age: 73Birthplace: Thal, Austria
Credits: The Terminator, Predator, Total Recall, Pumping Iron
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5,9381,948Jackie Chan
Age: 61Birthplace: Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
Credits: Jackie Chan Adventures, Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2, Shanghai Knights
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5,7202,166Bruce Lee
Dec. at 33 (1940-1973)Birthplace: Chinatown, California, United States of America
Credits: The Big Boss, The Way of the Dragon, The Chinese Connection, Enter the Dragon
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5,1461,331Keanu Reeves
Age: 56Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Credits: The Matrix, Speed, John Wick, The Devil's Advocate
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5,4162,270Jason Statham
Age: 53Birthplace: Shirebrook
Credits: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, The Transporter, Crank
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6,9943,018Sylvester Stallone
Age: 74Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
Credits: Rocky, The Expendables, Rambo, Cliffhanger
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5,6832,402Bruce Willis
Age: 65Birthplace: Idar-Oberstein, West Germany
Credits: The Sixth Sense, Die Hard, The Fifth Element, Armageddon
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4,6631,993Harrison Ford
Age: 78Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Credits: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Blade Runner
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3,8481,371Jet Li
Age: 57Birthplace: Beijing, China
Credits: Hero, Unleashed, The Expendables, The Expendables 2
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4,8682,088Dwayne Johnson
Age: 48Birthplace: Hayward, California, United States of America
Credits: San Andreas, Fast & Furious 6, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, The Scorpion King
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4,7132,225Chuck Norris
Age: 80Birthplace: Ryan, Oklahoma, United States of America
Credits: The Way of the Dragon, Missing in Action, The Delta Force, The Expendables 2
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3,7151,689Liam Neeson
Age: 68Birthplace: Ballymena, United Kingdom
Credits: Schindler's List, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins, Taken
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5,1772,620Clint Eastwood
Age: 90Birthplace: California, United States of America
Credits: Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven, Rawhide
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4,0951,957Jean-Claude Van Damme
Age: 59Birthplace: Brussels, Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Belgium
Credits: Double Impact,Universal Soldier,Kickboxer,Bloodsport
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3,2911,680Sean Connery
Age: 90Birthplace: Fountainbridge, United Kingdom
Credits: Dr. No, The Hunt for Red October, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Rock
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2,579887Chris Evans
Age: 39Birthplace: Sudbury, Massachusetts, United States of America
Credits: Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Snowpiercer, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
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3,6151,727Hugh Jackman
Age: 47Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Credits: The Prestige, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men, Les Misérables
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2,8681,492Kurt Russell
Age: 69Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, United States of America
Credits: The Thing, Stargate, Death Proof, The Hateful Eight
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1,667698Chris Hemsworth
Age: 37Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Credits: Thor, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Rush
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3,7292,338Mel Gibson
Age: 64Birthplace: Peekskill, New York, United States of America
Credits: Braveheart, Signs, Lethal Weapon,The Patriot
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2,5841,488Denzel Washington
Age: 65Birthplace: USA, New York, Mount Vernon
Credits: Training Day, American Gangster American Gangster, Man on Fire, Inside Man
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2,0721,061Milla Jovovich
Age: 44Birthplace: Kiev, Ukrainian SSR
Credits: The Fifth Element, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction, Resident Evil: Afterlife
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2,3491,433Daniel Craig
Age: 52Birthplace: Chester, England
Credits: Skyfall, Casino Royale, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Quantum of Solace
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3,4532,201Tom Cruise
Age: 58Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, United States of America
Credits: Top Gun, Mission: Impossible, Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men
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2,2731,339Robert Downey Jr.
Age: 55Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America
Credits: The Avengers, Iron Man, Iron Man 3, Iron Man 2
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