# Who do you think of when I say "biggest movie star of all time"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2009, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567 "2009-01-02T06:28:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/1 "2009-01-02T06:28:29Z")
I was reading a book and the author mentioned this and one name almost involuntarily popped into my head. A few paragraphs later he mentioned the person by name, and I had been right. I’m curious how many others would think the same thing. I’ll post the name after a few responses. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/2 "2009-01-02T06:37:12Z")
Paul Newman ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/3 "2009-01-02T06:39:22Z")
…Christopher Lee? Nobody in particular comes to mind, but he’s the closest. ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/4 "2009-01-02T06:53:11Z")
John Wayne would be the first to come to mind. Maybe Clark Gable or Jimmy Stewart? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/5 "2009-01-02T06:54:01Z")
Marlon Brando? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/6 "2009-01-02T07:03:38Z")
Douglas Fairbanks ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/7 "2009-01-02T07:04:10Z")
Richard Kiel? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/8 "2009-01-02T07:04:41Z")
Possibly Clark Gable, or maybe even Greta Garbo. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/9 "2009-01-02T07:07:07Z")
Maybe also Charlie Chaplin. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/10 "2009-01-02T07:10:10Z")
In googling it up it’s hilarious how many different names are put forward for this. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/11 "2009-01-02T07:11:38Z")
Nic Cage? ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/12 "2009-01-02T07:17:53Z")
Marilyn Monroe. She’s not my favorite, but even now, however many years later, it seems like everyone recognizes her name. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/13 "2009-01-02T07:19:55Z")
Keiko? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/14 "2009-01-02T07:20:52Z")
Greta Garbo was the first name that popped into my mind. But I agree that Marilyn is more likely. ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/15 "2009-01-02T07:24:49Z")
Michael Clarke Duncan. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/16 "2009-01-02T07:29:32Z")
Who was that guy that got a jillion dollars to say like 4 lines in a superman movie? That guy. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/17 "2009-01-02T07:36:04Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Marlon Brando? This was my first thought. On reflection, though, I’m going to vote for Buster Keaton. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/18 "2009-01-02T07:50:06Z")
Humphrey Bogart ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/19 "2009-01-02T07:51:58Z")
Tom Hanks was my first thought. If not him, maybe Carey Grant or Jimmy Stewart. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567/20 "2009-01-02T07:55:56Z")
I thought of Humphrey Bogart by the time I finished reading “biggest movie star.” Not sure who I’d pick if had some time to think about it thought. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-of-when-i-say-biggest-movie-star-of-all-time/479567.md?page=2)