"Cool" movie actors.

[Reservoir_Dog]

Let's talk about "cool" movie stars.

This subject is getting started in another thread, but I thought I'd start a new thread of it's own.
Being a HUGE movie buff, this is actually a favourite subject of mine.
Mostly, because I don't think a lot of people today understand what it takes to be a "cool" movie star. Most people these days judge the "coolness" of an actor by the movies they are in, not the persona they project over a career.
Johnny Depp is a great actor. But is he "cool"...................no.
Christopher Watkins is a cool actor. But is he "cool".........no.

Here's what you need to create "cool".

Cool is not necessarily suave - (Cary Grant)
Cool is not necessarily being angry or openly rebellious - (Dean / Brando)
Cool is not necessarily being the cocky dreamboat type - (Paul Newman)
Cool is not necessarily having anti-hero qualities. (De Niro / Nicholson)

For true coolness you need to add all of those together and then add some human toughness. He can give some, the can take some. But he's human, vulnerable. He can be hurt. He can win. He can lose. Not a Rambo type.

Take all those ingredients, mix well, and only a few names rise to the top:

Sean Connery
Michael Caine
Gene Hackman
Richard Harris
Daniel Day-Lewis
Peter O'Toole
Robert Mitchum
Kirk Douglas
Burt Lancaster
Denzel Washington
Harrison Ford
Richard Burton
Robert Shaw
Dean Martin


Well, that's my list anyway.
I'm sure some will differ.