Modern era I’d think Tom Hanks. Overall my first thought was Jimmy Stewart. Then I thought about box office and revised my thought to Harrison Ford, though he doesn’t do the celebrity thing at all, so I’d probably strike him from my thinking. The other thought I had, because of the depth and breadth of her popularity at the time she was making films, was Shirley Temple.
The spoiled answer bothers me a lot because that particular actor is so well-established in one niche type of films which do not appeal to a large part of the American audience. Jimmy Stewart did a lot of work in that niche, but he also did comedy, drama and suspense. He was a very diverse performer who didn’t let himself get pigeonholed. I’m afraid in a head to head with the “correct” answer, Jimmy Stewart wins, for me.
Lawrence Olivier and Katherine Hepburn are the top actors, but for biggest movie stars, I would say Bette Davis, Cary Grant.
And John Wayne, James Dean, and Marilyn Monroe are Icons .
I saw Bette Davis on the tonight show when she was ancient. She wore a dazzling red dress and was riveting. She could act, but not as well as Kate, she did not have a great body, not with those bird legs of hers, and many actresses are more beautiful, but I have never seen a bigger star.
Spencer Tracy was good. But Gable personified the movie star. He was bigger than the pictures and his appeal went to his personal life too. He was a star wherever he went. You would not go to a saloon with Gable. He would be impeccably dressed and would have great manners. John Wayne would puke in your shoes.
The reason I can’t get behind the John Wayne idea is that his appeal was mostly limited to guys. Sort of like Schwartzenegger in more recent years. He was the action hero of his day, when action films were mostly westerns and war movies.
Now, being a dude, I love John Wayne movies. But I don’t think you can call someone the biggest star of all time when his appeal lay somewhere on the y chromosome. The “biggest star” needs to make movies that appeal to both genders.
For classic Hollywood I’d say Cary Grant.
For biggest living star, I’d go with either Tom Hanks or Brad Pitt.
Pitt has a huge body of work and before he became a huge star he could completely disappear into a role.
Five hundred years from now, when people talk about twentieth century movie actors, there are only two names anyone is going to know - Charlie Chaplin was the silents guy and John Wayne was the sound guy.
For a more modern take, I’d say Julia Roberts and Tom Cruise…both are very ‘movie star.’ Neither are the greatest actors of their generation, but, especially with Tom Cruise, exemplify the ‘movie star’ persona.
There cannot be a definitive winner. However, there are entertainment stars that are easily recognized worldwide just by their first names. A good measure of popularity and fame.
