# What is "Permanent A-List" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120 "2014-12-02T14:36:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/21 "2014-12-03T15:27:20Z")
In French cinema, I’d say **Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Gérard Depardieu, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve** and **Isabelle Adjani**. When they were alive, **Romy Schneider** , **Michel Serrault** and **Philippe Noiret** probably deserved the status. As far as French singers are concerned: **Charles Aznavour** , **Johnny Hallyday** :rolleyes:, **Eddy Mitchell** , **Serge Gainsbourg** , **Francis Cabrel** , **Jean-Jacques Goldman** and **Françoise Hardy**. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/22 "2014-12-03T17:06:04Z")
Tom Hanks ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/23 "2014-12-03T17:14:38Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I’ve never heard singers, just actors, described as “A-List.” > > Maybe Sting or Elton John? See, here is the problem with your A-List versus mine. Elton? Yep. Sting? No way. Could Sting sell out a large arena in my city today? I don’t thinks so, but I could be wrong. I would submit Springsteen as a replacement for Sting. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/24 "2014-12-03T17:25:11Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I’ve never heard singers, just actors, described as “A-List.” > > Maybe Sting or Elton John? I don’t think you could argue Elton John isn’t permanent A-list. Surely, that is a perk of being knighted I would think. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/25 "2014-12-03T18:33:40Z")
Actors on the permanent A-List act like they’re impersonating themselves. Or they’re famous long after their death. Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Clark Gable. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/26 "2014-12-03T19:19:24Z")
I would just like to record that the Permanent A-list will only interest me while I am alive. After I’m dead, feel free to give my place to someone else. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/27 "2014-12-03T21:28:02Z")
In the world of pro wrestling, sometimes people refer to this as being on “Mt. Perpetually Over.” Ric Flair sits on the summit of that mountain. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/28 "2014-12-03T23:29:06Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Mel Gibson was a contender, but he blew it. Mel Gibson is on a **different** A-List. Permanently. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/29 "2014-12-04T00:04:20Z")
Float like a butterfly Sting like a bee Dodgin’ the draft with \*\*Muhammed Ali \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/30 "2014-12-04T00:50:08Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > To me, “permanent A-list” denotes those people who are still considered A-list for historical reasons. Their recent output generally not deserving of the term. I agree. If you’ve made a truly iconic, classic movie that has so far stood the test of time, you’re permanent A-list in my book, even if you’ve made nothing but clunkers since then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120.md?page=1)