LISTS

Top Actors of the 1940s

The 1940s turned out to be an important decade in Hollywood as it marked the advent of television and the decline of the studio system. Actors who thrived in this decade went on to leave an indelible mark in the history of Hollywood. Gregory Peck, for instance, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Cary Grant was among Hollywood’s most important leading men during the decade. Here is a list of the top actors who dominated the Hollywood in the 1940s.
Humphrey Bogart
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Also Known As: Humphrey DeForest Bogart, Bogie
Birthday: 25 December 1899
Born In: New York, New York, United States
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died On: 14 January 1957

Humphrey Bogart is considered one of the greatest Hollywood actors and a legend. His filmography includes classics such as Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, To Have and Have Not, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, In a Lonely Place and The Caine Mutiny. He won Academy Award for Best Actor for the 1951 film The African Queen

Cary Grant
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Also Known As: Archibald Alec Leach
Birthday: 18 January 1904
Born In: Horfield, Bristol, England
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died On: 29 November 1986

Considered one of the greatest actors ever, Cary Grant’s good looks, popular appeal and a knack for romantic comedy made him an enduring Hollywood star from the 1930s to the 1960s. Penny Serenade, An Affair to Remember, To Catch a Thief, North by Northwest and Charade are some of his classic films. He was bestowed an honorary Oscar in 1970.

John Wayne
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Also Known As: Marion Robert Morrison, Duke
Birthday: 26 May 1907
Born In: Winterset, Iowa, United States
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died On: 11 June 1979

Famous for his roles in Western films in the mid-20th century, actor John Wayne was among the top box office draws for three decades. In a career spanning over half a century, he starred in 142 motion pictures. Upon his death, he came to be recognized as “an enduring icon who symbolized and communicated American values and ideals.”

Clark Gable
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Also Known As: William Clark Gable
Birthday: 01 February 1901
Born In: Cadiz, Ohio, United States
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died On: 16 August 1960

Popularly known as The King of Hollywood, Clark Gable appeared as a leading man for 30 years in an acting career that spanned 37 years. One of the most bankable Hollywood stars in the history of American cinema, Clark Gable was named in the greatest male star of classic American cinema list published by the American Film Institute.

James Stewart
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Also Known As: James Maitland Stewart
Birthday: 20 May 1908
Born In: Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died On: 02 July 1997

Best known for his everyman screen persona, James Stewart was ranked third in the greatest American male actors list published by the American Film Institute (AFI) in 1999. During his 55-year acting career, he displayed strong morality both on and off the screen, as a result of which he epitomized the ideal American man of the 20th century.