Kurt Russell is my favorite “actor-who-often-plays-macho-characters.” In Tombstone he stands tall in a sea of friggin’ macho dudes.
Semi-relevant Cracked article.
Don “Maxwell Smart” Adams:
World War 2 Marine veteran, fought on Guadalcanal, later a Marine Corps drill instructor.
John Wayne.
Of all the entries so far, I’d go with Toshiro Mifune. Second Place: Kurt Russell. Based on movie manliness rather than real-life.
None at Pristina airport. Well done him.
Sean Connery (Dr. No - Goldfinger era)
Arnold Vosloo.
On screen, Robert Mitchum. Honorable mention to Humphrey Bogart
Real life, Audie Murphy. Audie Murphy - Wikipedia There is no contesting this.
Plus one.
This is a little off topic but … I had no idea he used to be a hottie! I only saw fat and old Marlon Brando. Color me surprised when I recently found out he used to be unnfff.
Carry on.
Bea Arthur.
Come on.
She had little to any combat experience, and I don’t know that she ever killed one of the other Golden Girls.
I find your remark to be disingenuous sir.
She barely even has a penis.
Going only by movies and not real life, Sam Elliot.
Who is Samuel Jackson Jr.? 
Patrick McGoohan
Mark Valley, macho on TV in Human Target, graduated from West Point, and served in Operation Desert Storm.