American Entertainment Icons
These American icons lit up our screens and breathed innovation, creativity, athletic ability, and entertainment into our lives. Here are some of the greatest American entertainment icons that kept us moving, watching, and singing along throughout their careers.
Marilyn Monroe
There are few more iconic female entertainers in American history than Marilyn Monroe. Known for playing the "blonde bombshell" characters in movies such as Niagara (1953) and How To Marry A Millionaire (1953), her death in 1962 was a source of great controversy and conspiracy theories.
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn had one of the longest active careers in Hollywood and was well-known for her roles as a strong-willed, sophisticated, and outspoken woman—roles that matched her personality perfectly. Hepburn's best-known films are Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1939), and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967).
Hepburn was awarded four Academy Awards for Best Actress during her career—a record for any performer.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wikimedia Commons
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman is another actress most famous for her American film roles, but she was actually born in Stockholm, Sweden. Bergman came to fame in the United States for playing Isla Lund in Casablanca (1942). She would earn an Academy Award for Best Actress in Gaslight (1944) and would work with Alfred Hitchcock in Spellbound (1945) and Notorious (1946).
Bergman won three Academy Awards (bested only by Hepburn), two Primetime Emmys, and a Tony Award during her long and illustrious career.
Nordiska museet, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Elvis Presley
One of America's best-loved singers and the King of Rock And Roll, Elvis Presley was one of the most significant musicians of the 20th century and one of its greatest of all time. Some of his most famous hits are "Can't Help Falling In Love" (1961), "Hound Dog" (1956), "Jailhouse Rock" (1957) and "Love Me Tender" (1956).
He was also an actor, with film appearances in Jailhouse Rock (1957) and Viva Las Vegas (1964). Presley died suddenly at the age of 42, after many years of unhealthy habits and prescription use.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Dean Martin
Born Dino Paul Crocetti, Dean Martin was the "King of Cool". He achieved his breakthrough with comedian Jerry Lewis, the "King of Comedy", as one half of Martin and Lewis. After the pair split in the late 1950s, Martin struck out on his own in the acting world.
Among his most famous films are Ocean's 11 (1960), Bells Are Ringing (1960), and Rio Bravo (1958). He also recorded songs such as "That's Amore" and "Ain't That A Kick In The Head".
James Brown
One of the pioneers of American funk music in the mid-20th century was James Brown. Known as the "Godfather of Soul", Brown recorded hits such as "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me," along with "It's A Man's, Man's World".
One of the most influential figures in American music ever, Brown continued to perform until his death from pneumonia in 2006 at the age of 73.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash is one of the icons of American country music, and performed as part of the supergroup The Highwaymen from 1985 till 2003 alongside Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.
He also performed at prisons across the United States and wrote hit songs such as "Folsom Prison Blues", "I Walk The Line", "Ring Of Fire", and "A Boy Named Sue", among many others. Johnny Cash died in 2003 at the age of 71.
Heinrich Klaffs, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Frank Sinatra
One of the most iconic voices of the 1940s and 1950s, Sinatra was born to Italian immigrants in 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey. Beginning his career in music while in his 20s, Sinatra's easy-to-listen-to voice was compared to Bing Crosby.
Some of Sinatra's greatest hits are "Fly Me To The Moon", "Come Fly With Me", "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "My Funny Valentine", among many others.
Rutgers Neilson, Wikimedia Commons
James Dean
Perhaps the greatest personification of "Gone too soon" in American cinematic history, James Dean had a long life and a storied career ahead of him. He only starred in three major motion pictures: Rebel Without A Cause (1955), in which he expertly portrayed the rebellious teenager, East Of Eden (1955), where he displayed he could act with incredible emotional range, and Giant (1956), which was released posthumously.
He was killed in a car accident at the age of 24 in 1955, but his legacy remains almost unparalleled in today's Hollywood.
Barkin, Herman & Associates-publicity agency for Schlitz Brewing, Wikimedia Commons
Walt Disney
Walt Disney was the creator of the iconic Disney brand and company, as well as an incredible animator and film producer. He revolutionized the American film industry almost single-handedly and transformed it into something that anyone could watch—particularly children, with his Disney movies.
He's an icon of American filmography, earning 22 nominations and awards for his production work. His legacy lives on in his films, which have been named some of the greatest ever by the American Film Institute.
Fisher Alan, Wikimedia Commons
Humphrey Bogart
One of America's greatest-ever actors, Humphrey Bogart's performances would set the stage for others. He appeared in classic Hollywood cinema such as the great noir High Sierra (1941), The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Dead Reckoning (1947).
In the romance sphere, he starred in the iconic Casablanca (1942) alongside Ingrid Bergman. He also had an infamous relationship with Lauren Bacall, considered one of the greatest Hollywood romances of all time.
Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Will Rogers
Will Rogers was one of America's greatest entertainers. Known as a writer, comedian, and actor in 50 silent films, Rogers may have been one of the most on-point social commentators of his era. From gangsters to prohibition, politicians and government programs—nothing was safe from his comedic takes on life in America.
He died far too young, in a plane crash, at the age of just 55.
Underwood & Underwood, Wikimedia Commons
Marlon Brando
With a career that spanned 60 years, it's no wonder Marlon Brando is considered one of the greats of 20th century American acting. Credited with being one of the first to bring method acting to the mainstream, Brando's most iconic films include The Godfather (1972), A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Viva Zapata! (1952) and Apocalypse Now (1979), among dozens of other movies.
Finnish Heritage Agency, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ray Charles
Known as "The Genius" to his contemporaries, Ray Charles may have one of the most iconic voices in American music history and pioneered the soul music genre in the 1950s in the United States. Blinded as a child, possibly by glaucoma, Charles didn't let his lack of sight stop him from seeing the world (if differently) and expressing it through his music.
Among his iconic hits are "Hit The Road Jack", "Georgia On My Mind" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", "You Are My Sunshine" and "Seven Spanish Angels."
William Morris Agency, Wikimedia Commons
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood is one of American cinema's most iconic directors, producers, and retired actors. He received his big break as "The Man With No Name" in the Dollars Trilogy of the 1960s. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he played Harry Callaghan in the Dirty Harry film series of the 1970s.
He's achieved four Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. A cinematography icon that's still got it—even at 94.
Beat Albrecht, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bob Dylan
One of the greatest American songwriters of all-time, Bob Dylan, born Robert Allan Zimmerman, needs no introduction. Dylan has written iconic songs like "All Along The Watchtower", "To Ramona", "Chimes of Freedom" and hundreds of other songs.
Dylan continues to play music charged with political, social and philosophical messages that have allowed him to stand the test of time.
Chris Hakkens, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Aretha Franklin
"The Queen of Soul" is one of America's greatest soul singers and has twice been named by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all-time. Franklin was noticed as a child for her gospel singing capabilities and signed with Atlantic Records in 1966.
Her hits include "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman". She's widely considered one of the greatest female artists of all-time.
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain was the frontman of Nirvana—one of America's greatest rock bands. As its founder, lead singer and guitarist, Cobain's best-known music includes "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Heart-Shaped Box", along with many other Nirvana classics.
The heavy rock group became a symbol of anti-establishment sentiment and teenage angst in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unfortunately, just like many musical greats on our list, Cobain died too soon at the age of just 27.
Jimi Hendrix
Headlining Woodstock in 1969 was one of the pinnacles of Jimi Hendrix's all-too-short career. He also recorded incredible hits such as "Purple Haze", "Hey Joe", and "The Wind Cries Mary." Hendrix died in London in 1970 after an overdose of barbiturates, at just 27 years old.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Steve McQueen
Actor Steve McQueen was one of the most iconic figures of the 1960s in Hollywood. The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963), The Sand Pebbles (1966), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) and Bullitt (1968) are some of McQueen's best-known roles.
He was the highest-paid movie-star in the world in 1974, before his death from cancer in 1980.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Madonna
Madonna is one of the most versatile American singer-songwriters of all-time. Known as the "Queen Of Pop", she's renowned as being a woman of perpetual reinvention—never sticking with the same look, musical theme or style for too long.
From the eponymous studio album in 1983 that launched her career, to winning a Golden Globe For Best Actress for her role as Eva Peron in Evita (1996), Madonna has displayed the longevity and versatility of an icon.
Bruce Springsteen
Better known as "The Boss", Springsteen—like Bob Dylan—is widely considered one of the most forward-thinking, influential rock musicians of the 20th century. With hits like "Dancing In The Dark", "Born In The U.S.A", "Born To Run" and "The Promised Land", Springsteen may have been a little less shy on the patriotism front than Dylan, but his iconic hits continue to inspire the American heart and soul.
Stevie Wonder
Another icon of American entertainment is none other than Stevie Wonder. Wonder has been blind ever since he was a baby and was a child prodigy, even at the age of just 11, when he signed with Motown Records. He had his first #1 single at the age of 13.
Some of his major hits include: "Superstition", "Isn't She Lovely?", "I Believe When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever", and "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life".
Morgan Freeman
An American voice and cinema acting legend, Morgan Freeman has starred in over 100 movies since his career began in the early 1970s with the movie The Electric Company (1977). Freeman has one of the most iconic voices in Hollywood, too—he's credited with 49 voice appearances in movies and television.
Everett Collection, Shutterstock
Leonardo Di Caprio
Leonardo Di Caprio got his big break as a recurring cast member on Growing Pains (1991) and appeared alongside Robert De Niro in This Boy's Life about a young boy and his mother who must flee a bad family situation.
He received international acclaim for starring in Titanic (1997) alongside Kate Winslet and has gone on to perform in at least 60 movies spanning cinematic genres.
Robert De Niro
Speaking of Robert De Niro—this American cinema legend needs no introduction. He's the star of The Godfather (1972), Heat (1995), Taxi Driver (1976), Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023) and Martin Scorsese's epic, The Irishman (2019).
De Niro often stars in crime thrillers and seems to flourish in that genre, easily becoming one of the most recognizable faces in American cinema and an icon of the last half-century.
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson is best-known for his roles in The Shining (1980), One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Batman (1989), and A Few Good Men (1992). Nicholson's career has spanned 50 years and multiple genres, with The Shining being a stand-out performance.
Harrison Ford
Another American icon that came up with the likes of Nicholson and De Niro is Harrison Ford. After playing multiple smaller roles, Ford played Han Solo in the 1977 space epic Star Wars, which propelled him to international stardom.
Throughout the early 1980s and into the 1990s, he was the man of action, and then he became the mystery-thriller go-to. Ford's adaptability and longevity make him an iconic figure in American cinematic history.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington is another iconic force in the American action movie genre. From Training Day to The Equalizer, Denzel has a long career as a star that doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon.
John Wayne
John Wayne, or "The Duke" as he was better known, gained his iconic status during the Hollywood golden age. His career took off with Stagecoach (1939) and he went on to appear in 179 movies throughout his career. Among his most famous are Red River (1948), The Searchers (1956), and True Grit (1969), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
He was a posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1979, following his death that year from stomach cancer.
Lassie
Lassie is the iconic dog from the 1938 Eric Knight short story Lassie Come-Home, which became a full-length novel in 1940 and then a classic television series in 1954. Lassie would then go on to become a childhood-favorite movie in 1994 and then a 2005 adaptation.
There's perhaps no more an iconic American animal on television than Lassie.
Dell Mulmey, Wikimedia Commons
Michael Jackson
The "King of Pop" was one of the world's best-known musicians and one of the best-selling musical artists of all-time. Known for hits such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean", "Man In The Mirror" and "Earth Song" among many others, even with his controversy Jackson is widely considered to be one of the greatest musicians of all-time.
Larry Davis, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tom Hanks
With a career that runs the gambit between Forrest Gump (1994), Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Green Mile (1999), Cast Away (2000) and so many more, Hanks' versatility alone makes him an icon.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken is best-known for his roles in The Deer Hunter (1978), Pulp Fiction (1994), and Batman Returns (1992). Walken is widely regarded as one of the greats of American cinema, and has a unique voice that's propelled him to voice-acting stardom as well.
Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese may be one of Hollywood's greatest ever directors. The brains behind The Irishman (2019), Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023), Goodfellas (1990), and so many more American classics, Scorsese's directorship has steered many films to cinematic history and acclaim.
Scorsese himself has a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute, in recognition of his contribution to the arts.
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is one of the golden gals of the 1990s and early 2000s in Hollywood. Another actress with incredible versatility, Roberts' best-known works include Notting Hill (1999), Pretty Woman (1990), and Erin Brockovich (2000). She's become an icon of the big screen and inspired actresses like Kaitlyn Dever and Meghan Markle.
Viola Davis
Viola Davis is considered one of the greatest trailblazers in Hollywood for African-American women. She is best-known for her roles as Aibileen Clark in The Help (2011) and as Annalise Keating in How To Get Away With Murder (2014).
She's also recipient of an EGOT (Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscar and Tony Award) and was listed by the New York Times as the ninth greatest actress of the 21st century in 2020.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie's acting talents seem to know no bounds either, from action flicks like Salt (2010) and Mr And Mrs Smith (2005) to dramas like Girl, Interrupted (2000). She's even sat in the director's chair a few times, directing the romantic drama In The Land Of Blood And Honey (2011) and First They Killed My Father (2017).
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is one of Hollywood's most-respected actresses with a career that spans almost 50 years. She received her first Oscar nomination for The Deer Hunter (1978) and went on to win an Academy Award in Kramer Vs Kramer (1979). Her early success has set her up for a lifetime of memorable roles.
She's been called the "greatest actress of her generation", and rightly so.
Everett Collection, Shutterstock
Vivian Leigh
Despite being born in Darjeeling, India during British colonial rule and therefore being a British citizen, actress Vivian Leigh is most famous for her roles in American movies like Gone With The Wind (1939), playing Scarlett O'Hara, and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) where she played Blanche Dubois.
Leigh frequently ranks among the greatest actresses of all-time and her roles in American classics alone make her an icon.
Fawcett Publications, Wikimedia Commons
Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum may be best known for his anti-hero roles in Cape Fear (1962) and El Dorado (1966), but he was most famous for being the first Hollywood star to be arrested for possession. Mitchum also was famous for his fisticuffs—he once brawled with co-star Broderick Crawford and threw him off a second-storey balcony.
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