As movie fans, we like to think of our favorite actors as being larger than life. With all of the coverage that these stars get, these cool customers know how to function both on and off the screen. Often times we think of our favorite actors as being fairly close in personality to our favorite characters to whom which they portray. Obviously it's impossible for them to be a lot like their famous portrayals, but that doesn't mean that these guys aren't cool. In fact, most of these guys epitomize what cool is. Beginning with actors like Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant during the Golden Age of Film, the best leading men have had a certain aura about them. James Dean, Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen are other actors who are considered some of the coolest guys ever.
More recently, tough guy actors like Bruce Willis and Daniel Craig mix brains with brawn in their iconic roles as John McClane and James Bond each. While they each exemplify a different kind of cool, people are still attracted to these actors because this coolness factor. These actors of the guys who you'd want to hang out with, talk shop and maybe down an adult beverage or two with.
Vote for who you think is the coolest actor ever. If you don't see a name on this list and the actor is cool, feel free to add a name to the legendary list of the coolest people history.
1
18,5975,883Tom Hanks
The Da Vinci Code, Forrest GumpAge: 64
Birthplace: Concord, CA
Profession: Television director, Television producer, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Actor
Schools: California State University, Sacramento, Skyline High School, Chabot College
Major/Field Of Study: Theatre
2
2,8241,510James Stewart
Rear Window, It's a Wonderful LifeAge: Dec. at 89 (1908-1997)
Birthplace: Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Profession: Pilot, Television director, Military Officer, Actor
Schools: Mercersburg Academy, Princeton University
Major/Field Of Study: Architecture
Cause Of Death: Cardiac arrest, Myocardial infarction, Pulmonary embolism
3
3,1211,789Viggo Mortensen
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingAge: 61
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America
Profession: Painter, Poet, Musician, Film Producer, Author
Schools: St. Lawrence University
4
5,1272,446Keanu Reeves
The Matrix, SpeedAge: 56
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Profession: Actor, Voice acting
Schools: De La Salle College, Avondale Secondary Alternative School, Etobicoke School of the Arts
5
5,2493,359Marlon Brando
The Godfather, Apocalypse NowAge: Dec. at 80 (1924-2004)
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
Profession: Actor
Schools: Actors Studio, The New School, Shattuck-Saint Mary's
Cause Of Death: Cardiovascular disease, Liver tumour, Respiratory failure
6
4,5912,950Cary Grant
His Girl Friday, NotoriousAge: Dec. at 82 (1904-1986)
Birthplace: Horfield, United Kingdom
Profession: Actor
Schools: Bishop Road Primary School, Fairfield Grammar School
Cause Of Death: Cerebral hemorrhage
7
7,3244,652Robert Downey Jr.
The Avengers, Iron ManAge: 55
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America
Profession: Comedian, Singer-songwriter, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Actor
Schools: Santa Monica High School
8
5,1853,006Sam Elliott
Hulk, Up in the AirAge: 76
Birthplace: Sacramento, California, United States of America
Profession: Film Producer, Actor, Voice acting
Schools: David Douglas High School, Clark College
9
6,2553,992Al Pacino
The Godfather, ScarfaceAge: 80
Birthplace: East Harlem, New York City, USA, New York
Profession: Theatre Director, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Film Director
Schools: High School of Performing Arts, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School
10
4,1972,698Robert Redford
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The StingAge: 83
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States of America
Profession: Activist, Businessperson, Environmentalist, Television producer, Film Producer
Schools: American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Van Nuys High School, Pratt Institute, University of Colorado Boulder
Major/Field Of Study: Painting
11
2,4791,083Gregory Peck
To Kill a Mockingbird, Roman HolidayAge: Dec. at 87 (1916-2003)
Birthplace: La Jolla, San Diego, California, United States of America
Profession: Film Producer, Actor
Schools: San Diego High School, Neighborhood Playhouse, St. John's Military Academy, San Diego State University, University of California
Cause Of Death: Bronchopneumonia, Pneumonia
12
4,1141,989Anthony Hopkins
Hannibal, Red DragonAge: 82
Birthplace: Margam, United Kingdom
Profession: Film Score Composer, Musician, Actor, Film Director
Schools: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, West Monmouth School, Cowbridge Grammar School, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
13
2,8741,419Robert Duvall
The Godfather, The Godfather: Part IIAge: 89
Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States of America
Profession: Soldier, Television producer, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Truck driver
Schools: Principia College, Severn School, Neighborhood Playhouse
14
3,8372,183Michael Caine
The Dark Knight, Batman BeginsAge: 87
Birthplace: Rotherhithe, London, United Kingdom
Profession: Entrepreneur, Film Producer, Author, Actor, Voice acting
Schools: Hackney Downs School, Wilson's School
15
4,9873,297Bruce Willis
The Sixth Sense, Die HardAge: 60
Birthplace: Idar-Oberstein, West Germany
Profession: Businessperson, Television producer, Musician, Film Producer, Actor
Schools: Penns Grove High School, Montclair State University
16
7,2924,647Morgan Freeman
The Shawshank Redemption, Se7enAge: 83
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
Profession: Businessperson, Television producer, Film Producer, Actor, Voice acting
Schools: Los Angeles City College, Pasadena Playhouse
17
6,0493,944Samuel L. Jackson
Pulp Fiction, Django UnchainedAge: 71
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States of America
Profession: Television producer, Film Producer, Actor, Voice acting
Schools: Morehouse College
Major/Field Of Study: Drama
18
4,3152,726Liam Neeson
Schindler's List, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom MenaceAge: 63
Birthplace: Ballymena, United Kingdom
Profession: Actor, Voice acting
Schools: Gaiety School of Drama, Queen's University Belfast
19
3,7711,933Matthew McConaughey
Interstellar, The Wolf of Wall StreetAge: 50
Birthplace: Uvalde, Texas, United States of America
Profession: Film Producer, Actor, Voice acting, Film Director
Schools: Longview High School, University of Texas at Austin College of Communication, University of Texas at Austin
20
4,6373,220Humphrey Bogart
Casablanca, The Maltese FalconAge: Dec. at 58 (1899-1957)
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Profession: Actor
Schools: Delancey School, Trinity School, Phillips Academy
Cause Of Death: Esophageal cancer, Cancer of the larynx
21
4,1482,096Alan Rickman
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetAge: 74
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom
Profession: Film Producer, Screenwriter, Graphic Designer, Actor, Voice acting
Schools: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Latymer Upper School, Derwentwater Primary Schooll, Royal College of Art, Chelsea College of Art and Design
22
5,7673,843Hugh Jackman
The Prestige, X-Men: Days of Future PastAge: 47
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Profession: Television producer, Film Producer, Actor, Voice acting, Singer
Schools: Knox Grammar School, Pymble Public School, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, University of Technology, Sydney
23
5,1693,491Brad Pitt
Inglourious Basterds, Fight ClubAge: 56
Birthplace: USA, Shawnee, Oklahoma
Profession: Television producer, Film Producer, Actor, Voice acting
Schools: Missouri School of Journalism, Kickapoo High School
Major/Field Of Study: Journalism
24
2,7861,287Tom Selleck
Magnum, P.I.Age: 75
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Profession: Television producer, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Actor
Schools: Grant High School, Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School, Grant High School, Pepperdine University, University of Southern California
25
5,6963,899Christopher Walken
The Deer Hunter, Pulp FictionAge: 77
Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York, Astoria
Profession: Screenwriter, Actor, Voice acting, Film Director
Schools: Hofstra University, Professional Children's School