# Tyrone Power was the handsomest actor of old Hollywood **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 6, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270 "2019-08-06T19:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/21 "2019-08-08T05:03:07Z")
No one will ever beat Cary Grant. I think he was at his peak at around age 50, the “To Catch A Thief” era. A dazzling movie star, another creature on the extinct species list. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/22 "2019-08-08T05:15:32Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > How about Boris Karloff smoking? > > [http://www.moviepostersetc.com/MoviePostersEtc/boris-karloff-print-frankenstein-tea-32x26-fine-art-reproduction-40288bca61d1745a01639e67019d062d-p.html](http://www.moviepostersetc.com/MoviePostersEtc/boris-karloff-print-frankenstein-tea-32x26-fine-art-reproduction-40288bca61d1745a01639e67019d062d-p.html) Well, if that’s what you consider the handsomest of them all, you do you. In less, um, idiosyncratic choices, though, as long as we’re going back as far as the silent-film era, there’s a reason [Rudolph Valentino](https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/11/27/valentino/) became essentially the first male sex symbol of the movies. Wow. If you like them a bit more British-quirky-looking, though, then before there were the Day-Lewises and the Cumberbatches there was [Leslie Howard](http://eclecticephemera.blogspot.com/2012/06/leslie-howard-style-icon.html). ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/23 "2019-08-08T06:07:57Z")
[Clark Gable.](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a9/f0/9e/a9f09ed70180b61f54dd376c7969a822--clark-gable-clarks.jpg) [Definitely.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Clark_Gable_-_publicity.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/24 "2019-08-08T08:42:46Z")
Valentino gets my vote for what it’s worth. Some pretty tough competition though. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/25 "2019-08-08T12:20:26Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > If you like them a bit more British-quirky-looking, though, then before there were the Day-Lewises and the Cumberbatches there was [Leslie Howard](http://eclecticephemera.blogspot.com/2012/06/leslie-howard-style-icon.html). [Leslie Howard](http://68.media.tumblr.com/edfe921f669927ab68ecac3258cc1e6d/tumblr_nz64z1qfoL1rwq44lo1_1280.jpg) has always gotten my pulse racing. Too bad he died way, way, way too young. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/26 "2019-08-08T13:15:22Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Well, if that’s what you consider the handsomest of them all, you do you. Hey! I’m allowed to have a “type!” (Young Boris was A looker, if you like rugged dudes. Scroll down to the second photo.) [http://www.radiospirits.info/2013/11/23/happy-birthday-boris-karloff/](http://www.radiospirits.info/2013/11/23/happy-birthday-boris-karloff/) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/27 "2019-08-08T13:58:22Z")
[Danny Kaye](https://images.app.goo.gl/t3si3y4mpqLTFPJX9) for me. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/28 "2019-08-08T14:04:13Z")
But, really, Humphrey Bogart is hard down ugly. I’m not sure how he got into the movies. Oh, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/29 "2019-08-08T14:06:33Z")
Agreed! ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/30 "2019-08-08T14:07:35Z")
My old-time Hollywood crushes - These guys were gorgeous when they first started out. Cary Grant Gary Cooper Gregory Peck Robert Taylor ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/31 "2019-08-08T14:23:50Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Agreed! Bacall made him look better. A little. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/32 "2019-08-08T19:05:10Z")
OMG people!! Errol Flynn!!! Hands down! ---
**Author:** ![Southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southpaw)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/33 "2019-08-09T16:16:10Z")
[John Garfield](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002092/mediaviewer/rm1628269312) [William Holden](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000034/mediaviewer/rm3215985664) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/34 "2019-08-10T02:57:06Z")
[Gary Cooper](https://ryceskytower.blogspot.com/2016/05/real-life-hunk-film-legend-gary-cooper.html?zx=194df9f22b33d08a) (not the top image). Perfection. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/35 "2019-08-10T03:16:50Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Errol Flynn had his issues but gee whiz, he was a good-lookin’ man. I was about 20 when cable tv started finally showing classic movies, and I loved them. And when they showed ‘Captain Blood’, omg, I fell so in love withe Errol Flynn, GORGEOUS! Charlie Chaplin, in some of his early photos, was not bad! ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/36 "2019-08-10T03:45:15Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I forgot - I only recently saw Gary Cooper in a silent film. I didn’t realize he started acting so young, and he was pretty jaw-dropping. This [image](https://media.gq.com/photos/55833d1509f0bee564416acc/master/w_400%2Cc_limit/copilot-style-201505-1431012380028_garycooper_0002_160166897.jpg) is from about the same era, I think. Yup on Gary Cooper, but Nope, that image is at least 10 years after silents were over. > [@panache45](#): > > [Gary Cooper](https://ryceskytower.blogspot.com/2016/05/real-life-hunk-film-legend-gary-cooper.html?zx=194df9f22b33d08a) (not the top image). Perfection. Yup. You should note that part of that link (the first image) might be not safe for work. But if you click, scroll down to the second photo. And then keep scrolling, it only gets better. Even when he was much older he was dazzling in romantic roles. Look at “Love in the Afternoon” if you have any doubts. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270/37 "2019-08-10T11:45:09Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Look at “Love in the Afternoon” if you have any doubts. Just watched that. Cooper actually took my eyes off Audrey Hepburn. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tyrone-power-was-the-handsomest-actor-of-old-hollywood/838270.md?page=1)