30s 35 Famous Movie Stars of the 1930s
Lights, camera, action! These famous movie stars were the very definition of glitz and glamour in in the 1930s. Despite the recent stock market crash and the start of the Great Depression, the 1930s were part of the Golden Age of Hollywood, when "actors" were movie stars, and "films" were genre-based masterpieces. This era contains some of the best actors actresses of all time, many of whom are Academy Award winners, as well as classic film stars.
Who is the most popular movie star of the 1930s? James Stewart tops our list. Known for playing everyday men with real-life problems, James Stewart appeared in some of the most popular films of all-time in his over 50-year career. In the 1930s, he starred in such classics as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Destry Rides Again. Other great actors from the 1930s include Carey Grant, Humphrey Bogart and Henry Fonda.
Many great actresses thrived in the 1930s as well. Bette Davis, known for her bewitching eyes and cynical characters, started her career by appearing in the 1931 film, The Bad Sister. She went on to win two Academy Awards in her over 50-year career. Joan Crawford was a working actress for over 40 years, but she became a bonafide movie star in the 1930s. She was signed to MGM, and became one of the highest paid women in film of the decade.
Which 1930s movie star is your favorite? Take a look at this list and share your thoughts in the comments section.
James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive drawl voice and down-to-earth persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics. He was known for portraying the American middle class man with everyday life struggles. Stewart was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime Achievement award. Stewart was named the third greatest male screen legend in cinema history by the American Film Institute. ...more on Wikipedia
Credits (Film): It's a Wonderful Life, Vertigo, Rear Window, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Philadelphia Story, + more
Birthplace: Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age: Dec. at 89 (1908-1997)
Also Ranked
#42 on The Coolest Actors Ever
#4 on The Greatest Actors & Actresses in Entertainment History
#10 on The Best Actors in Film History
#13 on Which Actor Would You Bring Back for One Final Movie?
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Cary Grant was an English stage and Hollywood film actor who became an American citizen in 1942. Known for his transatlantic accent, debonair demeanor and "dashing good looks", Grant is considered one of classic Hollywood's definitive leading men. Grant was named the second Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute. He was known for comedic and dramatic roles; his best-known films include Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, His Girl Friday, Arsenic and Old Lace, Notorious, An Affair to Remember, North by Northwest, and Charade. He was nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Actor and five times for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. In 1970, he was ...more on Wikipedia
Credits (Film): North by Northwest, Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story, Arsenic and Old Lace, + more
Birthplace: Horfield, United Kingdom
Age: Dec. at 82 (1904-1986)
Also Ranked
#20 on The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
#25 on The Greatest British Actors of All Time
#19 on The Coolest Actors Ever
#15 on The Greatest Actors & Actresses in Entertainment History
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Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor with a career spanning five decades. He made his Hollywood debut in 1935, and his career gained momentum after his Academy Award-nominated performance as Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath. ...more on Wikipedia
Credits (Film): Once Upon a Time in the West, 12 Angry Men, The Grapes of Wrath, The Longest Day, How the West Was Won, + more
Birthplace: Grand Island, Nebraska, United States of America
Age: Dec. at 77 (1905-1982)
Also Ranked
#28 on The Greatest Actors & Actresses in Entertainment History
#49 on Which Actor Would You Bring Back for One Final Movie?
#2 on The Best Actors to Ever Win Best Actor in a Leading Role
#4 on The Best Actors Who Won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the Same Performance
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Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress. Known for her fierce independence and spirited personality, Hepburn was a leading lady in Hollywood for more than 60 years. She appeared in a range of genres, from screwball comedy to literary drama, and received four Academy Awards for Best Actress—a record for any performer. In 1999, Hepburn was named by the American Film Institute as the greatest female star in Hollywood history. Raised in Connecticut by wealthy, progressive parents, Hepburn began to act while studying at Bryn Mawr College. ...more on Wikipedia
Credits (Film): Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, The African Queen, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, On Golden Pond, + more
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
Age: Dec. at 96 (1907-2003)
Also Ranked
#3 on The Best Actresses in Film History
#5 on The Greatest Actors & Actresses in Entertainment History
#1 on The Best Actresses to Ever Win Oscars for Best Actress
#41 on Which Actor Would You Bring Back for One Final Movie?
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