This is a list of male actors who are just outright cool. The actors were all picked from modern movies and they all have one thing in common: they have played the coolest people on film. From cool to coolest, here is the list:
10. Pierce Brosnan [IMDB | Wikipedia]
54 year old Pierce Brosnan was born in Ireland. He first shot to fame playing Remington Steele in the television series of the same name. Before his contract on the show was up, he was offered the role of James Bond in an up and coming film, but he was unable to break his contract. The suave actor finally played the role of Bond in Goldeneye, and he played Bond for a further four films (the last being Die Another Day). In 2004, Brosnan was voted “Best Dressed Environmentalist”.
9. Jack Nicholson [IMDB | Wikipedia]
70 yo Jack Nicholson is probably best known for his role in Stephen King’s The Shining in which he plays Jack Torrance, a writer who moves with his family to a hotel which is shut for the winter. While he is there he goes insane due to ghosts in the house. If you haven’t seen this film – you absolutely have to. It is one of the best thrillers ever made (probably because it is directed by Kubrick). Nicholson has been nominated for 12 Academy awards and has won three. He is considered to be one of the greatest actors of all time. It is alleged that he has had sex with over 2,000 women.
8. Brad Pitt [IMDB | Wikipedia]
43 year old Brad Pitt made it to this list because of one film: The Fight Club. Pitt plays an incredibly cool guy living in an abandoned house. In his spare time he makes soap from fat stolen from a liposuction clinic – so he can (ironically) sell the rich women their fat back. Another reason that Pitt is cool is that he is predicted to play the role of John Galt (the hero) in an upcoming trilogy of films aiming to bring Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged to the screen. His wife, Angelina Jolie is already signed to play the part of Dagny Taggart.
7. Johnny Depp [IMDB | Wikipedia]
44 year old Johnny Depp is well known for a diverse range of films, from dark movies like From Hell, and Sleepy Hollow, to childrens films like the Pirates of the Carribean and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Depp is a very diverse actor who spends half of him time living in France and the other half in the United States. He part owns a restaurant in Paris with Sean Penn, John Malkovich, and Mick Hucknall. He also plays the guitar and is very good friends with Marilyn Manson.
6. John Travolta [IMDB | Wikipedia]
53 year old Travolta shot to fame with his dance moves and singing in the 1970s through films such as Grease and Saturday Night Fever. After a series of flops in the 80s (following his last hit film Urban Cowboy), Travolta’s career had a downturn. Fortunately, in the 90s he made a comeback with his role as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction (the reason he is on this list). He was nominated for an Academy Award and he returned to the A-list. The only unfortunate aspect of John Travolta which keeps him lower down the list than he could be, is that he is a Scientologist.
5. Edward Norton [IMDB | Wikipedia]
37 year old Edward Norton is on this list for two reasons: American History X, and Fight Club. For both of these films Norton went from a puny whiny actor to a buff muscleman. He exuded hatred in American History X (which has one of the most gruesome scenes in a modern film – think sidewalk and teeth) in which he played a white supremacist. In the fight club he plays the alter-ego of Brad Pitt’s character and lives with him in the abandoned house. Norton refuses to embrace his celebrity status and he contributes to many charitable organisations, both money and time.
4. Christian Bale [IMDB | Wikipedia]
33 year old Christian Bale was born in Wales, Great Britain. He has an incredible cult status on the internet and in 2007 IMDB users voted him their favourite actor ages under 40. For his role in the Machinists, Bale lost sixty pounds (27 kilograms) taking his weight down to 120 lbs (54 kilograms). Bale is most well known for his roles in American Psycho and Batman Begins where his part saw the Batman Franchise take a turn toward a much darker side. The film was an enormous hit and he will reprise his role in 2008 in The Dark Knight. If he fulfils his contractual obligation to play the role for a third time, he will be the first actor to play Batman in three films.
3. Samuel L. Jackson [IMDB | Wikipedia]
58 year old Samuel Jackson makes this list for his character in Pulp Fiction. In the film he played Jules Winnfield. His character has some classic quotes such as: “Yolanda, I thought you said you were gonna be cool. Now when you yell at me, it makes me nervous. And when I get nervous, I get scared. And when motherfuckers get scared, that’s when motherfuckers accidentally get shot.” Jackson also appeared in two of the new Starwars films and a variety of other films in which he often plays a gangster. Jackson is bald in real life and usually wears wigs in films. He is an avid golfer.
2. Vinnie Jones [IMDB | Wikipedia]
Before you start reading, check out this picture. 42 year old Vinnie is the guy in front. Onscreen and off, Vinnie Jones takes no prisoners! That photo is taken from when he played Soccer for Wimbledon (they won the FA cup in 1988). Vinnie was born in Watford, London and is well known for his intimidating demeanour on screen. He has stared in films such as Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels, and Snatch. in 2006 he played Juggernaut in X Men: The Last Stand. Unfortunately Vinnie has had some difficulties with the law: in 2003 he was convicted of Air Rage and in 1998 was convicted of assaulting his neighbour. In 2005, he became president of the Hertfordshire Agricultural Society.
1. Bruce Willis [IMDB | Wikipedia]
Two words: Die Hard. For that reason alone 52 year old German-born Bruce Willis takes top spot. However, Willis has starred in an enormous number of highly popular films such as Sin City, Lucky Number Slevin, The Sixth Sense, and The Fifth Element. Willis was married to Demi Moore for thirteen years. Bruce is the ninth highest grossing movie star of all time. He is known as a keen supporter of the US military and is has been very public in his belief of various conspiracy theories and political views. On April 29, 2007 during a live broadcast of a Nets home playoff game vs. the Toronto Raptors on TSN Willis caused a furore by quoting a catch phrase from his Die Hard films, “Yipee-ki-yay motherfucker”.
That is the list! If you don’t agree with my selection, tell me about it in the comments.






























WHERE IS STEVE MCQUEEN? I cannot take ANY list of “cool guys” seriously without him included.
Steve McQueen was hands down the coolest actor ever both on and off-screen. And where is Paul Newman? “Cool Hand” Luke? “Fast Eddie” Felson? Butch Cassidy? Those are some pretty cool characters.
NO CHUCK NORRIS!? ***** YOU!
Wow totally agree with everything on here.
I don’t know what it is about Jack Nicholson but I have a weird crush on him too.
So the rumour of him sleeping with over 2000 women is actually quite understandable.
Then again you are talking to the girl who also has a crush on Jeremy Kyle…
omalawd
wheres mr reeves?!?!?!?!?!?!
A list of the coolest men in film that doesn’t mention paul newman is a list that disqualified itself. From Road to Perdition (a favorite of mine) to Cool Hand Luke (also a favorite), he has been one of the best actors around, so has Tom Hanks– yes I said it, Tom Hanks is a great actor. But Paul Newman is the coolest.
Matt Damon for the Bourne series..
Al Pacino for the Godfather…
Will Smith – i don’t know why but i find him cool in most of his movie.
Di Caprio for the Departed and Blood Diamond..
Denzel Washington – i love him and i think he’s one of the coolest actor..
and definitely
Clint Eastwood
^_^
Where’s my boy Denzel? He’s one of the best actors ever, period. He always makes his characters cool. Also, I like Willis but #1, hell no.
Brosnan is also kinda week too. The only cool movies he did were the James Bond films and even then only the 1st 2 movies were any good.
Sean Connery should have definitely been put on here. He’s looked to be about the same age for the past 30 years and he just eminates coolness!!
George Clooney is pretty cool. His movies are not always the best, but he looks like he’s having fun when he acts and he’s likeable.
Jason Stathom should be here to, at least on honorable mention. He’s got that sharp British sarcasm and his characters are always sharp and witty. He’s also not a bad action star as far as his fighting abilities, but honestly he needs to lay off the action flicks “cough” Transporter 1,2,& 3, WAR ugh.
Also, another vote for Alan Rickman. Can’t think of a movie where I did not like him. He also made on of the best villans ever as Hans Gruber in Die Hard and even managed to be better than the lead as the Sheriff in Robin Hood. (although I could teach a dog to do better acting than Kevin Costner).
Benicio Del Torro. He doesn’t star in a whole lot of movies, but the parts I have seen him in he always does a great job. He and Depp were arguably one of the best duo’s in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and even little small part’s he’s had like Franky 4 Fingers in Snatch he did a good job.
Finally hats off to Norton, that guy is a GREAT actor, one of my favorites and he definitely deserves either a 1 or 2 spot on this list.
Perfect List A+
Completly agree!
Where’s Clive Owen? Christ, his voice alone – pure velvet.
Cool is only cool when you don’t work at it. Take the example from Nicholson.
Street cred also helps – Steve McQueen and Jason Statham are good examples.
If dead people were allowed, Toshirô Mifune (like mentioned by Mutchew) would be #1.
I agree, Clive Owen should definitely be on there. Steve McQueen too.
And Samuel L. should be number one because he’s a bad ass you-know-what.
WHAT????? No Chuck Norris???? *Tongue in Cheek*
Chuck Norris is so cool he can fry ants with a magnifying glass. At night. hehehehe
I would include…
1) Paul Newman…Hombre
2) Clint eastwood…spaghetti westerns
3) Charles Bronson…hard times
4) Stallone…Rambo
5) Clark Gable…Gone with the wind
Sean Connery definitely deserves a mention, I think. I’d be hard pressed to find a role he played that he wasn’t a badass in.
First of all, the movie is “Fight Club,” not “The Fight Club.” He’s also not married to Angelina
christian bale is a baaaaaaaabe.
nuf’ said.
he was sick in American Psycho.
Notable omissions: Jason Stathom, Mark Wahlberg.
VINNIE JONES?
PIERCE BROSNAN?
BRUCE WILLIS?
Cool if you’re a computer nerd
The worst list ever…..
worst list…
ever…
Brad Pitt is pretty badass actually… why do people call him a pretty boy? I must admit, his role in Burn After Reading was *****ing pointless…
Eastwood needs to be on there for sure.
what about clint eastwood?
Pierce Brosnan is definitely a very well dressed man, and probably the best Bond ever…
where’s cage?
i met vinnie jones….. strangely enough he is pals with my grandma (they live near each other). he was very nice.
Ahem. 144 comments in, and I haven’t even seen a single mention of Christopher Walken?
Good list overall, but I’m not so sure about Travolta. Granted, Pulp Fiction IS incredibly excellent, but his dreck list is more than enough to negate that. You’ve got people knocking Clint off the list because of ONE movie – Paint Your Wagon. Look at the decidedly non-cool crap Travolta has forced us to sit through. Look Who’s Talking – ALL THREE of them? Battlefield Earth, the quintessential worst movie ever made? GREASE, for god’s sake?
Not to mention Michael, Phenomenon, Broken Arrow (one year = three crappy Travolta movies), Swordfish, Wild Hogs, and pretty much the rest of his filmography.
Now, I might change my tune if Tarantino goes ahead with the proposed prequel (it would have to be, for obvious reasons) to Reservoir Dogs/Pulp Fiction starring the Vega brothers.
*drools* for christian bale.
dangerous…
Hey.. Where the hell is will smith?
yippie ki yay mutha*****er
*****…….where is robert de niro.
scarface & casino.
al pacino
robert de niro
nicholas cage
tom cruise
richard gere
where are they???
guy pearce should have a place on this list (or, moreover, be at the top of this list). he exuded cool as andy warhole and “memento…” .. hello?? he’s second only to brad pitt who is probably the coolest actor, and not just for fight club!! kalifornia, too young to die, the original stoner in true romance. i disagree with all the other actors on the list. not because i don’t like them but because they are not “cool” in the sense of the word that i have in mind. samuel l jackson is NOT cool.. he just thinks he is. his head hasn’t deflated since pulp fiction
these two just occured to me also.. benicio del torro and sam rockwell. both very cool
the actual top ten “coolest” actors
1.brad pitt
2.guy pearce
3.benicio del torro
4.sam rockwell
5.daniel day lewis
6.josh harnett
7.river pheonix
8.heath ledger
9.rhys ifans
10.philip seymour hoffman
John Travolta was only cool for the duration of the Saturday Night Fever phenomenon.
Benicio Del Toro should have made this list.
it should be like this:1)christian bale 2)johnny depp 3)brad pit 4)ashton kutcher 5)kevin costner 6)bruce willis 7)mel gibson 8)josh hartnett 9)leonardo dicaprio 10)antonio banderas
My personal top 5:
1. Christian “God” Bale
2. Robert DeNiro
3. Denzel Washington
4. Jack Nicholson
5. Hugh Jackman
Wheres De Niro? Wheres Pacino? Wheres Harrison Ford?…and as i was scrolling down the name i was sure would be number 1 wasn’t even there…where the ***** is Clint Eastwood?
Will Smith and James Dean are simply two of the coolest people ever, never mind in films.
Clint Eastwood!
Half of these seem so…..unoriginal and mainstream…..it makes me sad.
Johnny Depp should be nr 1
Jeff Bridges- The Big Lebowski, I mean come on, his name was THE DUDE. Nothing can be cooler than that. haha.
oh come on these are old people from the 80s apart from brad pitt, my father agrees but i dont the top 10 cooooolllest people are people like matt dallas,zac efron, tylor lautner, edward in twilight, tom welling, jonney depp, the jonas brothers and chad michael murray.
Sean Connery is the coolest man alive.
IMO the list has a lot of poor choices. The list needs people like Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, and other old and good actors not people like Christian Bale and Brad Pitt.
these lists are AWFUL! clint eastwood?!??
Sean Connery? Dont tell me you think any of those people up there are even remotely cooler than Sean Connery. The man is ancient and still young women throw themselves at him. He even said he was not above smacking a woman if she needed it on tv. They still love him. I guess cause he is not a limp wristed metro*****ual like most of your list
Robert Mitchum? He invented cool and badass!
My first time posting on listverse, excellent site btw.
I have to say number 1 for me would be Kevin Spacey! The Usual Suspects! American Beauty! Se7en! L.A. Confidential!
Sean Connery and Michael Caine deserve spots too.
Dont know if its been mentioned but Jason Statham
I agree with everyone on this list mabey i would have included sean connery but i was so glad matt damon was not hear. Bruce Willis is so cool John McClane can rescue me anyday.
I’ll add DeNiro, Harvey keitel (mr wolf is tha man), Ray liotta (goodfellas deserved a damn oscar), Pacino, and Jason Statham.
where’s russel crowe?!?!?! are you telling me ANY of these characters in ANY of these films is as epic, badass andcool as Maximus?
sometimes i despair
I quite like the list, but, there are many other guys who deserve to be mentioned.
agree with the above named:
jason statham, this man is to cool to be real
jeff bridges, just “the dude” (or his dudness or el duderino…)
plus:
daniel craig, best bond ever! sean’s a pussy compared
joaquin phoenix, he actually IS johnny cash
completely agree with johnny depp!
but christian bale? the guy is an idiot! as is vinnie jones.
Gary Oldman – nothing beats playing Dracula.
Brad Pit isn’t married to Angelina Jolie officially, he refused to because he has such a twisted mind:”…if homo*****uals can’t marry then I don’t marry eiter…”. One word: Lame.
heyyyy and where is Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones is amazing and the coolest guy
Vinnie Jones are you serious?
will smith, come on ? highest paid actor not even here.. bad boys, i robot, i am legend…