Known for: Bolero and Tarzan, the Ape Man
Net worth: $50 million
Eighties American beauty Bo Derek epitomized the movie 10 . Besides, 10, Tarzan, the Ape Man was wildly popular. Her husband John Derek directed Tarzan and Ghosts Can’t Do It. But, sadly, he died in 1998, the year Ghosts came out.
Growing up in Long Beach, California, Bo Derek skipped out on school when she was 16 to chill at the beach. (Totally normal. It’s the Eighties, right?) After learning to surf and catching some rays, she got caught by her mom her for dropping out, and she was sent back. But then she quit school altogether as she got work filming a movie with her to-be husband in Greece.
Jack Nicholson
Known for: Easy Rider, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and The Shining
Net worth: $400 million
After appearing in a string of low budget horror movies, Jack Nicholson stepped into his own with Easy Rider, the revolutionary film which embodied ’60s counter-culture. Establishing his position on the pantheon of cinematic legends, he won his first Oscar for Best Actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest playing the memorable Randle McMurphy in that Oscar-winning Best Picture. He’s known for his many iconic roles in a wide variety of films. From A Few Good Men (“You can’t handle the truth!!”) to As Good As It Gets , his range in character portrayal astounds. Amassing a net worth of $400 million, he’s made bank on many roles, but none match his Batman windfall. As the insta-iconic Joker, Nicholson raked in $60 to $90 million.
Speculation and anticipation for his return to the big screen have been swirling since his 2013 retirement after 60 years in film. He won three Oscars during his career and holds the record for most Academy Award nominations. Although unconfirmed by Nicholson, one source claims the actor suffers memory issues and is unable to memorize a script. I’m sure he’s a great improviser. In fact, he improvised one of the most iconic lines of any film: “Here’s Johnny” from The Shining. Bring Jack back!
Tom Hanks
Known for: Big and Forrest Gump
Net worth: $350 million
Actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks rests high on the pantheon of cinematic gods and goddesses. As a titan of film, he’s starred in more box office smash hits that one can shake a stick at. Where to start? How about Splash . Splashing into his career starring opposite sea-goddess Daryl Hannah, one of the most beautiful models of the day, established Hanks as a Hollywood lead after television show Bosom Buddies popularized his personality. Success followed. Sleepless in Seattle is another enduring hit. Of course, his SNL work and voicing Woody on Toy Story is hilariously memorable. He won Oscars for more serious roles. He won Best Actor for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump .
Hanks, as a liberal and a celebrity, has been very active politically. Back when Myspace was a thing, he endorsed Barack Obama as a candidate. He’s for the environment, same-sex marriage, alternative fuels, and electric vehicles.
Clint Eastwood
Known for: The Good the Bad and the Ugly , Dirty Harry and “Go ahead, make my day”
Net worth: $375 million
Hollywood staple, Clint Eastwood, whose renowned career spans six decades, turned 89 this year. As an actor-turned-politician, he was mayor of Carmel in California for two years, but he never quit working in the entertainment industry. Throughout his career, he’s been awarded twelve Oscars for Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture. He’s directed 30 films. The Unforgiven (1992) was his peak achievement bringing in nine Academy Award nominations and four Oscars. Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby were also Oscar-winning and box-office smash, directorial feats.
After starring in TV series Rawhide, Eastwood came to prominence as a vigilante justice enforcer playing roles like Dirty Harry and the good guy with no name in The Good the Bad and the Ugly. He was so badass, President Ronald Reagan quoted his immortal Dirty Harry line, Go ahead, make my day,” at a speech to Congress. When Eastwood tired of playing the good guy vanquishing bad guys, he branched out into comedy and drama. Bridges of Madison County captured his sensitive side. Most of his career effectively defined American masculinity. The man’s a legend.
Tom Cruise
Known for: Risky Business and Top Gun
Net worth: $570 million
As one of the prettiest faces of the 1980s, Tom Cruise’s career kicked into high gear after filming The Outsiders and Taps . He turned down the lead role in Footloose to be in All the Right Moves and Risky Business . Mr. Cruise was well on his way to becoming the highest-paid actor ever. He was 18 when he moved to N.Y.C. to be a movie star. But first, he wanted to be a priest, having enrolled in a seminary at age 14. Today, as a Scientology spokesman of sorts, it seems he achieved both. And how! Cruise has worked with all the greats in Hollywood. From Stanley Kubrick to Steven Spielberg, and everyone in between, he’s a true Hollywood legend. He’s the only actor to have worked with each of these directing greats: Oliver Stone, Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, and Steven Spielberg.
He starred in top-grossing movies throughout the 1980s and ’90s. Films like Rain Man , The Color of Money , Born on the Fourth of July , Top Gun , Mission: Impossible , Jerry Maguire , and Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles were not only top-grossing but some of cinema’s best. Besides the support Cruise gives to Scientology, he’s a generous contributor to many causes. He supports the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, UNICEF, and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.