Rare And Vintage Photos Of Celebrities When They Were Young (Hollywood Stars Before The Fame)

Charlie Golsley | November 11, 2024 6:00 am

There are some things that we all secretly assume and are shocked when we find out the truth. Do you remember the first time your parent's dug out their old yearbook, and you realized they used to be young, cool, and actually kind of hot?

Well, seeing celebrities in their young, cool, and hot version is just as mind-blowing. Baby Boomers and Gen X might remember these celebrities in their prime, but for Millennials and Gen Z, some of them will be unrecognizable.

Martha Stewart's First Career Was Modeling

Photo credit: Caesar100 / Reddit
Photo credit: Caesar100 / Reddit

Why did no one tell me that Martha Stewart used to be a smokeshow before she ended up on a cooking show? Snoop Dogg probably only agreed to their joint TV show after seeing Stewart looking this cool.

But let's also take a moment to acknowledge the fact she has repped in button-up tunic shirts all her life.

ADVERTISEMENT

Alec Baldwin's SNL Trump Impression Made Us All Forget How Smokin' He Used To Be

ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: CubbyRed / Reddit
Photo credit: CubbyRed / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Alec Baldwin's first major role for Millennials was in 30 Rock. And even though his character Jack Donaghy is suave, he's still older.

ADVERTISEMENT

This photo of young Alec explains why he's the most successful of the Baldwin Brothers. That chest hair combined with that jawline? We're feeling it.

ADVERTISEMENT

So You're Telling Me Jamie Lee Curtis Wasn't Always The Mom In Freaky Friday?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: RemiDallas / Reddit
Photo credit: RemiDallas / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Gen Xers are screaming at the top of their lungs right now because they grew up with Jamie Lee Curtis as the lead in Halloween. But for the rest of us, she didn't become relevant again until she starred in the Freaky Friday remake with Lindsay Lohan.

ADVERTISEMENT

So That's Why They Called Frank Sinatra 'The Sultan Of Swoon'

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: CrashAndBurn69 / Reddit
Photo credit: CrashAndBurn69 / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Frank Sinatra was mostly just the guy that everyone's mom was obsessed with. But seeing this mugshot from his 1938 arrest changes everything. Now I understand why all the ladies loved him so much.

ADVERTISEMENT

Oh, and if you're wondering, they arrest him for adultery and seduction. Yes, seduction.

ADVERTISEMENT

I Was Not Expecting Barbara Streisand In Leather On A Motorcycle

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: hellenwheels / Reddit
Photo credit: hellenwheels / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

I already knew that Barbara Streisand is a queen, and this photo of her from 1970 in a leather bikini top on a motorcycle just confirms it.

ADVERTISEMENT

She's the only woman who has ever won a Golden Globe for Best Director, she's released a #1 single every decade for six decades, and she is an absolute bombshell.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's Hard To Recognize This Artist Without His Perm

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: joeclark5 / Reddit
Photo credit: joeclark5 / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Would you believe me if I told you this was legendary soft-spoken painter Bob Ross? Yes, before The Joy Of Painting he was a member of the U.S. Air Force. He only got the iconic perm to save on money. He reportedly hated the hairdo but had to keep it because they already branded him with the perm.

ADVERTISEMENT

Clint Eastwood Before He Started Talking To Empty Chairs

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: MasterYoda7 / Reddit
Photo credit: MasterYoda7 / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Baby Boomers have been yelling at me for years for not understanding that Clint Eastwood was a babe back in the day, but now that I see this photo it all makes sense.

ADVERTISEMENT

I know of Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby and that weird speech at the Republican convention, but this version of Eastwood is so much better.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meryl Streep Doesn't Age

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: michaelconfoy / Reddit
Photo credit: michaelconfoy / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

So, apparently, this photo was taken in 1981. But I don't believe it because Meryl Streep looks exactly the same now as she did back then. Take away a few wrinkles and add a sunkissed glow.

ADVERTISEMENT

I must have been sleeping on Meryl because she's a certified bombshell.

ADVERTISEMENT

Helen Mirren Was Told She Was Too Hot For Hollywood

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: @ToddColeman / Twitter
Photo credit: @ToddColeman / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Millennials know Helen Mirren for playing older characters because she didn't break into mainstream Hollywood until her late 40s. She spent most of her early career modeling and in stage productions across Great Britain. She tried to break into Hollywood earlier, but directors told her she was too sexy. Is that even possible?

ADVERTISEMENT

Drew Carey's Time In The Marines Is Everything

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: CreatedbyAvocados / Reddit
Photo credit: CreatedbyAvocados / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

For a long time, most of us knew Drew Carey as an overweight sitcom actor and TV host. We were all shocked and impressed when he lost almost 100 pounds when he began hosting The Price Is Right.

ADVERTISEMENT

But underneath it all there was the Drew who is a veteran of the U.S. Marines.

ADVERTISEMENT

Don't Forget Susan Sarandon's Breakout Role Was In The Rocky Horror Picture Show

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: elee0228 / Imgur
Photo credit: elee0228 / Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

 

ADVERTISEMENT

We're used to seeing her play a mom or older character. But she got her big break playing Janet in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which included a full scene in just her underwear.

Once again, Baby Boomers and Gen X are screaming because Millennials didn't know Susan Sarandon was always a babe.

ADVERTISEMENT

We Need Justice For James Earl Jones

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: Alyeskas_ghost / Reddit
Photo credit: Alyeskas_ghost / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Why was James Earl Jones restricted to his voice? Most people know him for voicing Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King. But look at that face! It deserved hours of screen time! We need justice and retribution for the roles James Earl Jones never got.

ADVERTISEMENT

Diane Keaton Didn't Always Have Those Tiny Tinted Glasses On Her 24/7

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: tarballqc / Imgur
Photo credit: tarballqc / Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

I always assumed that Diane Keaton came out of the womb with grey hair, a middle part, and those tiny tinted glasses. Then I remembered she was the wife of Al Pachino in The Godfather.

ADVERTISEMENT

She ended up becoming a muse of director Woody Allen, and it's easy to see why.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lock Her Up? More Like Lock That Down. Good Job Bill

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: Vranak / Reddit
Photo credit: Vranak / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Let's set aside politics for just a second and appreciate young Hillary Clinton because, well, just look at her. It's no wonder Bill fell head over heels for her.

ADVERTISEMENT

Not only was she a total babe, but she was also on her way to an impressive career in law, politics, and eventually a run to become President of the United States.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bless Young Joe Biden

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: Billobatch / Reddit
Photo credit: Billobatch / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Back in 2016, this old photo of former Vice-President Joe Biden surfaced, and the internet went crazy. No one had any idea that under that goofy exterior was one of the hottest politicians any of us had ever seen. I'd vote Biden for President in 2020 just because of this photo.

ADVERTISEMENT

I'm Kind Of Diggin' Christopher Walken Without Wrinkles

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: rikroll666 / Reddit
Photo credit: rikroll666 / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Let's be honest, Christopher Walken looks exactly the same. And if you look at photos of him as a little kid, he looks like an adult. So that's a bit weird.

ADVERTISEMENT

But Walken without the wrinkles and sunken eyes is strangely appealing. Those cheekbones could cut through ice.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ian McKellan Came Out Of The Womb Looking Cool

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: stealshark / Reddit
Photo credit: stealshark / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

No matter what your age is, Ian McKellen will always be Magneto from X-Men and Gandalf from The Lord Of The Rings. Before landing those huge roles, he spent most of his time on the theatre stage.

ADVERTISEMENT

That level of sophistication and class that is required to deliver Shakespeare is evident in this colorized version of McKellen from the 1960s.

ADVERTISEMENT

I Never Thought I'd Think Stephen Colbert Was Hot, But Here We Are

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: Reddit
Photo credit: Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

I've been staring at this alleged photo of Stephen Colbert for ten minutes, and I can't see it. It's him, but I just can't believe the dorky political comedian that we all know and love is this hunky, bearded college student.

ADVERTISEMENT

He's like the guy you knew in college that studied engineering but read ancient philosophy for fun.

ADVERTISEMENT

Anthony Hopkins Was Cool Before He Was Creepy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: leave_it_to_beavers / Reddit
Photo credit: leave_it_to_beavers / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Anthony Hopkins' breakout role for any age group was when he played cannibal and serial killer Hannibal Lector in The Silence Of The Lambs. In that role, he was old, creepy, and gave me legitimate nightmares.

ADVERTISEMENT

But Hopkins in a leather jacket and ascot, I'm digging it. This photo might finally help me forget the scene where he bites that guard's face off.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jon Stewart Could Rock The Awkward College Kid Vibes

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo credit: edgar-is-my-real-dad / Reddit
Photo credit: edgar-is-my-real-dad / Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Jon Stewart in college would be Stephen Colbert's awkward best friend that Stephen brings to every party out of sympathy. There's so much potential under that strange puffy hair. We see that charming smile and bold brows, Jon.

ADVERTISEMENT

He just needed to chop off the fluff on top and own those awkward college kid vibes.