When the 1940s rolled around, the world still felt the pressure of an economic downturn, World War II, and the Cold War. However, movies continued to offer solace for those who wanted an escape.
The 1940s saw the making of many popular movies that people still find comfort in today, movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Citizen Kane.” This list will look at the top movie stars of the ’40s and the incredible talent they brought on screen. (These are the most well-liked actors in America of all time.)
To create a list of the top movie stars of the ’40s, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources. These include IMDb and Biography.com.
Here are the top movie stars of the ’40s.
1. Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier was born in 1907 in England. Perhaps one of the most notable movie stars of the 40s, he began his acting career on stage. During this time, it was said he could “speak William Shakespeare’s lines as naturally as if we were thinking them,” by Charles Bennet, an English playwright. It was on the stage while he was playing Romeo when his future wife, Vivien Leigh, saw and fell in love with him. When they traveled to America, success was the future for both of them.
While she starred in “Gone with the Wind” in 1939, Olivier starred in the film “Wuthering Heights,” which was a fantastic success. His career propelled forward, and he would continue to star in successful movies throughout the 40s. These included “21 Days Together,” “That Hamilton Woman,” “Hamlet,” and “Henry V.” Throughout Olivier’s time acting, he earned four Emmys and three Academy Awards. His performances were adaptable, and he could take on the accurate representation of who he was playing, whether it be Hamlet or Henry V. Olivier passed away peacefully at the age of 82 in his home.
2. Joan Fontaine
Joan Fontaine was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1917. Her given name was Joan de Beuvoir de Havilland. Fontaine lived in Japan while younger. However, her dad moved them to California because she and her older sister Olivia were constantly sick, and he wanted to move them to a better climate for their health.
Fontaine’s acting career had a slow start. At first, she moved to Japan to attend school. When she returned to the U.S., she joined a couple of theater groups, eventually changing her name to Joan Burfield. This change was to keep her career and sister’s separate since her sister was already using their last name. In 1940, after a handful of minor roles and another name change, Joan starred in the film “Rebecca” and received her first Academy Award nomination. Throughout the 1940s, Fontaine was selective with her roles, starring in movies such as “Suspicion,” “This Above All, The Constant Nymph”, and “The Emperor Waltz.” Her acting career continued until 1994 when she finished her time in front of the cameras with the “Good King Wenceslas.” Fontaine passed away in 2013 at the age of 96.
3. Charles Chaplin
Charles Chaplin is considered one of the greatest actors of the silent film era. He was born in 1889 in England, and his acting career began at the age of 8.
By the time the 1940s rolled around, Chaplin had been acting for quite some time. While a famous actor in the 1940s, he was often center stage for several scandals rather than his movies. His first “talking” movie was “The Great Dictator,” where he played Adolf Hitler. The film was not received well by many who didn’t care for a comedy about Adolf Hitler. However, it still became a massive hit in the 1940s. More scandals include a paternity test, supporting Russia, allegedly having ties to communists, and not being able to re-enter the United States. He passed away in 1977 after having a stroke.
4. Paulette Goddard
Paulette Goddard was born in 1910 in New York. At 13, she began working as a model. Her beauty and talent were mesmerizing to all who met her. Throughout the 1930s, Goddard played minor roles in movies like “The Young Ironsides” and “Berthe Marks.” During this time, Goddard met and started seeing Charles Chaplin, a relationship that did not help her gain more significant parts. (Here is a list of the biggest scandals in Hollywood history.)
In 1939, Goddard finally received her big break in “The Cat and the Canary,” which landed her a contract with Paramount Studios. She starred in movies such as “Second Chorus,” “The Ghost Breakers,” “Pot o’ Gold,” and “The Lady Has Plans” during this time. In the late 1940s, she starred opposite Gary Cooper in “The Unconquered” movie, and audiences ate the film up.
While Goddard had a successful career in the 1940s, the fire started to sizzle out in the 1950s and 1960s. Her final acting performance was “The Female Instinct” in 1972, when she retired. Goddard passed away in 1990 at the age of 79.
5. Katharine Hepburn
Although Katharine Hepburn created a very successful career for herself, one of her most memorable performances was as Jo March in “Little Women.” Hepburn was born in 1907 in Connecticut. Her father was a doctor who encouraged her to always speak her mind. This, coupled with her growing up as a tomboy, meant she didn’t exactly fit the Hollywood mold.
During the 1930s, Hepburn landed excellent roles and even won her first Academy Award for her performance in “Morning Glory.” However, she refused to conform to how Hollywood wanted women to act. Instead, Hepburn dressed, spoke, and acted how she wanted. For this behavior, she lost her audience, and her career grew stagnant. However, in 1938, when she starred in “The Philadelphia Story” on Broadway, her career took a turn for the better. Throughout the 1940s, she starred in successful hits such as “Woman of the Year” and “Adam’s Rib.” Hepburn continued to work until the 1990s when she decided to retire because of her health. She passed away at the age of 96.
6. Irene Dunne
The First Lady of Hollywood, Irene Dunne, was born in 1898 in Kentucky. When she was still a child, her father passed away, and her family moved to Madison, IN. During this time, Dunne took lessons in both voice and piano. Dunne studied at the Chicago Music College in the 20s. While her career began with rejection and backsteps, she finally caught her big break in the 30s after performing in “Show Boat.”
Dunne’s contract was with RKO Pictures, and she starred in several prominent movies in the 30s. Her most favored movie, however, was “I Remember Mama” in 1948. She delivered a touching interpretation of Martha Hanson or Mama during this film. After her last film in 1957, Dunne dedicated her life to public matters, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed her as a special U.S. delegate to the United Nations. Dunne passed away in 1990.
7. Margaret Sullivan
Margaret Sullavan was born in 1909 in Virginia. She began her career with the University Players at Harvard and on Broadway, where she starred in Hello Lola. During the 1940s, Sullavan starred in movies such as “The Mortal Storm”, “So Ends Our Night,” “Cry ‘Havoc,” and “Appointment for Love.”
In 1931, Sullavan married Henry Fonda on Christmas Day. However, the marriage only lasted 15 months. During her short life, Sullavan experienced plenty of turmoil, including three rough marriages and two children who committed suicide. At the age of 51, Margaret was found dead in a hotel room, and the coroner ruled her death an accidental overdose. (These are 20 movies and TV stars who died far too young.)
8. Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda was born in 1905. During the early years, he had his eyes on becoming a journalist. However, when this path didn’t pan out, he worked in various areas such as mechanic, window dresser, and scenic design. In 1928, Fonda joined the University Players, where he met Margaret Sullavan, his first wife, whom he was married to for 15 months.
At 29, Henry starred in “The Farmer Takes a Wife.” Throughout the 30s, Fonda’s career took off at lightning speed, and in 1940, he starred in “The Grapes of Wrath.” More films Fonda starred in during the 40s were “The Return of Frank James,” “My Darling Clementine,” and “The Ox-Bow Incident.” Fonda’s trademarks were strong, commanding, and convincing during his performances. Additionally, Fonda was married five times and had two children, Peter and Jane Fonda. Fonda passed away in 1982 from cardiorespiratory arrest.
9. Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell was born in 1907 in California. Her father and mother named her after the S.S. Rosalind. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York during college. She then went on to test with both Universal and MGM and received two offers. Russell went with MGM, and in the 1930s, she starred in films such as “The Women.”
Russell began the 40s starring in “His Girl Friday,” “The Feminine Touch,” “Take a Letter, Darling,” and “My Sister Eileen.” After a battle with breast cancer, Russell passed away at the age of 69, surrounded by family.
10. Vivien Leigh
Without Vivien Leigh, no list of the top movie stars of the 40s would be complete. The iconic “Gone With the Wind” actress delivered the line “After all, tomorrow is another day,” which is forever emblazoned in the minds of audiences. After watching Leigh on the screen as Scarlett O’Hara, it is hard to believe that casting her was a risky move on George Cukor’s part. Yet, she was a virtual unknown, and many top names, such as Katharine Hepburn, had their eyes on the part.
Vivien Leigh was a perfect choice, and “Gone With the Wind” was the film that thrust her toward success in the 1940s. During this time, she married Laurence Olivier. However, with her success, Leigh struggled with mental illness, miscarriages, and an addiction to drinking. Throughout the 40s, Leigh continued to star in movies, but they were all less successful than “Gone With The Wind.” That was until 1949, when she was cast as Blanche Du Bois in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Leigh later went on to star in the movie adaptation opposite Marlon Brando. While the role of Blanche won her the award of second Best Actress Oscar, she later stated this role was not good for her mental health. Leigh passed away in 1967 at 53 from tuberculosis.