# Who is the most handsome actor in TV or Movie history? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031 "2014-06-30T19:29:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/41 "2014-07-01T03:16:42Z")
[Robert Conrad](http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/27000000/Robert-Conrad-as-Jim-West-wild-wild-west-27022941-720-480.jpg) and [Glen Corbett](http://bonanzaboomers.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10478/normal_Mighty_Is_The_Word_Rev_Paul_Watson_28Glenn_Corbett29.jpg) were awfully handsome young men. And [Warren Beatty](https://gossipguysa.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/warren2bbeatty.jpg) in his Bonnie and Clyde days. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/42 "2014-07-01T03:47:37Z")
I saw [Lew Ayres](http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTY3ODM3MjQ2Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjg0OTY5Nw@@._V1_SY317_CR15,0,214,317_AL_.jpg) in _Holiday_ with Cary Grant and said, “Now that’s a handsome man, and funny.” And he stayed handsome to the end. My oldest has a thing for Pierce Brosnan, calling him a “silver fox even before he went silver.” I think she likes Josh Brolin. I may need to show her his dad, when she’s sitting down. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/43 "2014-07-01T03:59:56Z")
> [@Doyle](#): > > Hell, Robert Redford is better looking than Paul Newman. Well, yeah, now. Blond white men aren’t even my type and I still give it to Paul Newman. And Denzel Washington as an honorable mention. ---
**Author:** ![huitzilopochtli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e99b99/32.png) [@huitzilopochtli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/huitzilopochtli)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/44 "2014-07-01T04:02:01Z")
I agree with Marlon Brando. He had so much sex appeal especially in Julius Caesar. I just rewatched it and he made me swoon just like when I watched it in high school. So I guess his sex appeal kinda sways me. But he was incredibly handsome too. Kinda bothers me that he is so sexy in Streetcar, but try not to overthink it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/45 "2014-07-01T05:05:29Z")
Sam Elliot [then](http://pdxretro.com/2013/08/sam-elliott-is-69-today/). Sam Elliot [now](http://hairfee.com/sam-elliott-long-grey-hairstyle-and-handlebar-mustache-long/). \ ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/46 "2014-07-01T05:16:53Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > [Paul Newman](https://www.google.com/search?q=paul+newman&client=firefox-a&hs=BQj&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=i8CxU8OPFtCSyAS8qYGABQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ). > [Daniel Craig](https://www.google.com/search?q=daniel+craig&client=firefox-a&hs=ZRj&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=4cCxU5SYA8WvyATIuYDABw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1876&bih=1020&dpr=0.9). > > That’s all I’ve got. Mickey Rourke was gorgeous before he went the plastic surgery route. Tom Berenger too. Come to think of it, stars who didn’t screw with their appearance as they aged remain gorgeous. Stars who did, didn’t. As a gereral rule. IIRC Mickey Rourke didn’t go the plastic surgery route, but decided after his career took off that he wanted to become a professional boxer for some reason, and participated in some bouts with actual professional boxers who rearranged his face for him, but good. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/47 "2014-07-01T05:26:53Z")
Well I got that[partway right.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Rourke#Amateur_boxing) ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/48 "2014-07-01T05:27:03Z")
John Barrymore Ralph Fiennes Viggo Mortensen ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/49 "2014-07-01T05:31:26Z")
Paul Newman Marlon Brando Johnny Depp All almost too pretty—but they’ve got the devil in their eyes and I like it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/50 "2014-07-01T06:51:26Z")
Personally? Jimmy Smits in his LA Law days Brendan Fraser Nathan Fillion Jason Momoa [Michael Ealy](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3hCzOD4BSk/T9vu1n6CyKI/AAAAAAAAAh4/wyr-xPV2oA0/s1600/michaelealy3.jpg) and the aforementioned John Barrowman It’s a toss-up between Fillion and Ealy FTW. My criterion for “Most Handsome Actor” is, “If I _could_ look like any actor, who would I want to look like?” not “If I were going to sex up an actor…” - different list altogether (except for Ealy and Barrowman :)) ---
**Author:** ![franz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@franz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/franz)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/51 "2014-07-01T11:31:10Z")
Sean Connery Marlon Brando ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/52 "2014-07-01T11:57:10Z")
[Rodger Bumpass](http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11/111254/3657026-0655226201-Ultra.png) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/53 "2014-07-01T14:15:09Z")
I’ll throw in with the Newman/Brando crew. Newman edges out Brando due to lifetime achievements in handsomeness. > [@Sattua](#): > > This straight chick’s first thought was Cary Grant. He’s pretty much the straightforward tall dark & handsome. He is, but I’d give the win to Gregory Peck in the classic TD&H category. It’s a close race, though. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > Most handsome? [Sendhil](http://www.theplace2.ru/archive/sendhil_ramamurthy/img/Sendhil_Ramamurthy_2.jpg) [Ramamurthy](http://voxjoae.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/sendhil-ramamurthy.jpg). This guy is so ridiculously handsome that he’s almost hard to look at. With a couple decades of perspective, and hopefully more starring roles, he’s likely to join the ranks of Newman, Brando, Grant, and Peck. > [@bldysabba](#): > > Straight guy. I’ve always thought of Pierce Brosnan as good looking, but my opinion on men’s looks is rarely(never?) shared by straight women. I’ve never discussed the topic with a gay guy. Hmm. That might be interesting. Pierce Brosnan is indeed very handsome in a very standard handsome-guy way. He lacks that certain something, though. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/54 "2014-07-01T14:31:54Z")
No mention yet of George Clooney, Omar Shariff, or Harry Belafonte. I also must concur with those who said Paul Newman and Gregory Peck. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/55 "2014-07-01T14:47:50Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > That’s all I’ve got. Mickey Rourke was gorgeous before he went the plastic surgery route. Tom Berenger too. Come to think of it, stars who didn’t screw with their appearance as they aged remain gorgeous. Stars who did, didn’t. As a gereral rule. On that subject, I saw an ad on TV and was shocked at [Wayne](http://a4.files.biography.com/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_300,q_80,w_300/MTE5NTU2MzE2NDIxMTk1Mjc1.jpg) [Newton’s](http://www.reviewjournal.com/sites/default/files/field/media/web1_newtonnormweb_0.jpg) [appearance](http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/bg/Wayne+Newton+3HZKNveXAV3m.jpg). A textbook case of plastic surgery gone wrong. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/56 "2014-07-01T14:54:57Z")
I am male, and consider myself about 97.5% heterosexual. The other 2.5% is probably full of [Taye Diggs](https://www.google.com/search?q=taye+diggs&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=hcuyU8fYJ9TgoASnn4LgCA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1680&bih=989). ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/57 "2014-07-01T15:31:08Z")
I’ve always been ridiculously fixated on blond men. Peter O’Toole. Jesse Spencer (Dr. Chase on ‘House’. Especially the early shows, OMG. :eek:) Jason Lewis (Sex and the City) Sting (well, he was in a couple of movies. and he was gorgeous) I will generously give a few dark haired guys props for hotness :D. Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Tyrone Power, Charlie Chaplain, Robert Taylor, Valentino, and Alain Delon. All mentioned, and rightfully so. Neither Paul Newman nor Robert Redford ever did a thing for me. I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/58 "2014-07-01T16:46:51Z")
Another vote for Peter O’Toole. I haven’t seen Jude Law mentioned yet, so I’ll just throw him out there, too. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/59 "2014-07-01T16:49:13Z")
I have no opinion but my Mom and my wife both agree it’s Cary Grant. My Mom likes the young Cary in\*\*\* Gunga Din\*\*\*, but my wife likes the older, more debonair guy from\*\*\* Charade.\*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031/60 "2014-07-01T18:46:08Z")
Hands down, Cary Grant, no matter what age. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-handsome-actor-in-tv-or-movie-history/692031.md?page=4)