The Most Popular Movie Stars of the ’50s

The 1950s saw many changes in cinema. The rise of excellent films continued; however, many challenges came. With television becoming more prominent, movies saw a decline in ticket sales. However, despite the challenges, several actors and actresses saw success during this decade.

To compile a list of the top movie stars of the 50s, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources, including IMDb. Now, here are the top movie stars of the 50s.

Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando is one of this decade’s most influential and talented actors. He was born in 1924 and was drawn to acting as a young boy. By the 50s, Brando had acted on Broadway with several plays, including his debut with “I Remember Mama.”

In 1950, Brando debuted on film with “The Men.” He also starred in the movies “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Viva Zapata!” and “Julius Caesar.”

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn was born in 1929 and was given the birth name Audrey Kathleen Ruston. Additionally, she is well-known for portraying Holly Golightly in the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” However, before this pivotal role in 1961, Hepburn had starred in several films. These pictures include “Roman Holiday,” “Sabrina,” and “Funny Face.” She was known as an elegant actress who starred in many popular movies. Hepburn decided to retire from acting while on the mountaintop in 1967. Audrey Hepburn also won an Oscar before the age of 30. Take a look at more actors and actresses who have the same accomplishments here.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Moviepix via Getty Images

 

James Dean was born in 1931, and tragically, his life was cut short in 1955. However, before his death, Dean had significant roles in three movies. These were “East of Eden,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” and “Giant.”

Dean’s rebellious persona on screen, coupled with his tragic death, propelled him towards public fixation for decades to come.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is perhaps one of America’s most prominent sex symbols. Many people are drawn to her story because Monroe led such a traumatic life, which ended tragically. She was born in 1926 with the given name Norma Jeane Mortenson. Monroe signed with Columbia in 1948.

During the 1950s, she starred in movies such as “All About Eve,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” and “The Seven Year Itch.” By the beginning of the ’60s, Monroe was facing turmoil that came in many forms, including drug dependency and fatigue. She passed away on August 4, 1962, and the coroner who performed the autopsy stated it was from acute barbiturate poisoning. However, 62 years later, there are still many conspiracy theories circulating about the death of Marilyn Monroe.

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas was born in 1916 and was given the birth name of Issur Danielovitch Demsky. Several characteristics set him apart from other actors, including a husky voice and a dimpled chin. His acting skills were vivid and convincing, and he had no problem drawing his audience in.

Douglas starred in numerous films from 1944 up until 2008. However, in the 50s, several of his movies include “Young Man with a Horn,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” “Paths of Glory,” and “The Vikings.” Douglas passed away in 2020 at the age of 103.

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly was born in 1929 and longed to be an actress even as a small child. In 1949, she debuted on Broadway while living in New York. However, Kelly decided California would be better suited for her and moved. During the 1950s, she starred in films opposite several prominent male actors, including Clark Gable in “Mogambo” and Gary Cooper in “High Noon.” Both of these films did very well. Yet, when she started working with Alfred Hitchcock, people began noticing Kelly more.

In 1956, Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco and had three children with him.

John Wayne

John Wayne is notable in Western movies. He was born in 1907 and given the birth name Marion Robert Morrison. Throughout his career, Wayne starred in well over 100 movies. The pivotal film that launched him into the limelight was “Stagecoach.”

In the 50s, Wayne starred in several films, which include “The Searchers,” “The Sea Chase,” and “Blood Alley.” Unfortunately, Wayne passed away in 1979 from gastric cancer and respiratory arrest.

Maureen O’Hara

Maureen O’Hara was born on August 17, 1920, as Maureen FitzSimons. As a child, she was athletic and loved theater. O’Hara began pursuing her career in theater at the age of 14. In 1939 she starred in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” which did very well. Furthermore, O’Hara was active during the years of 1938 until 1971. Then, in the 90s, she picked acting back up for a second time.

Several films O’Hara displayed her incredible talent in include “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Parent Trap,” and “The Last Dance.”

Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston held a career in acting that lasted over sixty years. He was considered an iconic actor with good looks and charismatic talents. All of which helped him become a leading man in Hollywood. Additionally, Heston is known for playing Moses in “The Ten Commandments.” This movie led him to receive his very first Golden Globe Award nomination.

Heston was born in 1923. He was already well on his way to establishing his career by the time the 50s rolled around. Heston starred in the film “Julius Ceasar” in 1950, a movie that did wonders for his career. He also starred in the movies “The Greatest Show on Earth,” “The Naked Jungle,” and Secret of the Incas” throughout the 1950s. Heston passed away in 2008 from pneumonia.

Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren was born in 1934 in Rome as Sofia Scicolone. When she was 14, Loren was placed as a finalist in a beauty contest, bringing her to the attention of Carlo Ponti. She began her career in Italy with several films, including “Le sei mogli di Barbablu.”

In 1957, Loren began her career in the United States with “Boy on a Dolphin,” “The Pride and the Passion,” and “Legend of the Lost.” She gained as much notice for her films as she did for her fling with Cary Grant, who was 31 years older than her. When the 80s rolled around, Loren slowed down her acting work, only making films occasionally. She is currently 89 years old, and her last film was “The Life Ahead,” which came out in 2020.

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was born in 1925 and given the birth name Roy Harold Scherer Jr. As a young child, Hudson struggled to remember lines and was passed over for school plays. However, he broke into acting in 1948 with the film “Fighter Squadron.” Many say his good looks gave him the chance of a lifetime.

He was given acting lessons after receiving a contract with Universal Pictures. In the 50s, he starred in a handful of movies, including “Magnificent Obsession,” “All That Heaven Allows,” and Written on the Wind.” Hudson also starred in “Giant” with Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. In 1985, Hudson passed away from AIDS, but beforehand, he had announced to the public that he did have AIDS, which drew worldwide attention during his pursuit of a cure.

Doris Day

Doris Day was born in 1922 as Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff. She was lovable and could sing and act. As a young child, Day dreamed of being a dancer. However, those dreams came to a tragic halt when she was hit by a train while riding in a car. The injuries she suffered meant a dancing career was out of the picture.

From there, Day decided to take up acting and singing. Her first movie was “Romance on the High Seas” in 1948. The audience fell in love with Day because her personality was captivating. Films she starred in during the 50s include “Calamity Jane,” “Lucky Me,” Love Me or Leave Me,” and “Pillow Talk.” Day passed away in 2019 at the age of 97.

Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly was born in 1912 and named Eugene Curran Kelly. Kelly was a star on Broadway and intended to only star in one film per his contract. The movie was”For Me and My Gal” opposite Judy Garland. However, Kelly made the decision to stay in Hollywood and went on to make several films. A couple during the 50s include “Singing in the Rain” and “An American in Paris.” Kelly suffered two strokes in 1996 and passed away from complications at the age of 83.

Deborah Kerr

Deborah Kerr was born in 1921 as Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer. As a child, she was shy. However, as she grew older, she evolved in confidence with acting. Kerr began acting in Britain with movies such as “Major Barbara” and “Love on the Dole.” She started working for MGM 1947 with films like “The Hucksters” and “Edward, My Son.”

In the 50s, Kerr saw even more fame with the movies “Tea and Sympathy,” “Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison,” “An Affair to Remember,” and “The King and I.” Audiences were drawn to her charisma on screen, bright red hair and her beauty. Kerr passed away in 2007.

Montgomery Clift

Montgomery Clift was born in 1920 and often went by the nickname Monty. He began his acting career on Broadway in New York at 13. However, ten years later, he broke into Hollywood. During the 1950s, Clift starred in movies such as “A Place in the Sun,” “The Young Lions,” and “Raintree County.”

Clift’s acting persona is often portrayed as brooding and emotionally plagued. Perhaps he played this persona so well because it was not far from the truth. During his career, Clift hid his sexuality and developed a reliance on drugs. He survived a car crash in 1957 because Elizabeth Taylor was able to help him. However, he died nine years later at the young age of 45. The coroner ruled the cause of death was the result of occlusive coronary artery disease.