What makes someone cool? It’s not just the clothes, the shades, or the way they light a cigarette (back when those were still cool). Anyone can throw on a leather jacket and hop on a Harley – especially during a midlife crisis. But pulling it off effortlessly takes something you can’t fake. Some people are just born with it. To celebrate the actors who didn’t just act cool, but defined what cool is, here are the 10 coolest Hollywood stars ever to grace the big screen.
10. John Travolta
Thanks to Saturday Night Fever, everyone wanted to dance like Travolta, and disco became slightly more bearable. Tarantino elevated the actor’s coolness even further with his role as the smart-mouthed gangster Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction.
9. Robert Redford
Redford’s brand of coolness transcends time. Even now, nearing his nineties, Redford remains Hollywood’s golden boy, with an enviably laid-back attitude that earned him some iconic roles in movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
8. Clint Eastwood
When it comes to cowboy aesthetics, Clint Eastwood practically wrote the entire book on how to craft the look of the ideal Western legend. His Man with No Name character is what most people think of when they think of cowboys, and so is that iconic squint.
7. Idris Elba
Only a few actors have ever commanded the screen as effortlessly as Idris Elba. His suave persona and soothing voice have turned him into a veritable acting powerhouse, proving that you can be cool and a gentleman at the same time.
6. Marlon Brando
Before his drastic transformation for The Godfather, Brando was a famous motorcycle rebel and a heartthrob with charisma to spare. The fact that he was also a gifted performer was just the icing on the cake.
5. Denzel Washington
Washington is perfect for mentor roles, mostly because he commands every scene he’s ever been in. Whether he’s a hardened cop or a civil rights leader, Denzel says everything he has to say with just a look – and that’s about as cool as it gets.
4. Brad Pitt
Pitt is one of those actors whose mere presence doubles any movie’s cool factor. He can play cool guys as easily as he can embody complex characters, and somehow looks effortlessly stylish doing both.
3. Samuel L. Jackson
Sam L. Jackson turned profanities into an art form. No matter the role or the genre, nothing beats watching the original BAMF do what he does best: play himself, louder and cooler than anyone else.
2. James Dean
Hollywood’s most iconic rebel managed to hide the emotional complexity of his characters under the sheer coolness of his windbreakers and perfectly styled hair. His career was cut short, but his cool legacy is the stuff of legends.
1. Steve McQueen
The undisputed King of Cool, McQueen defined an era that worshipped rugged loners, fast cars, and motorcycles. His off-screen thrill-seeking proved that he wasn’t just “playing cool” – he was cool.
RELATED: 20 Famous Actors Who Didn’t Let Disabilities Hold Them Back
