10 Greatest Classic Movie Actors Appearing on TCM’s Summer Under the Stars, Ranked

Since 2003, classic film fans have always looked forward to Turner Classic Movies’ special programming, Summer Under the Stars, which highlights a different star each day of August with a selection of their films. Each year, Turner Classic Movies picks a well-balanced lineup of stars and their finest films, but some, such as Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, and Henry Fonda, stand out from others for their timeless legacy, distinct talent, and overall influence on American cinema.

Of course, all the stars who are featured in TCM’s Summer Under the Stars are more than worthy of their day in the small-screen spotlight, and this year’s choices are guaranteed to entertain fans throughout the final month of summer. Nonetheless, major players, including Kirk Douglas, Hedy Lamarr, James Cagney, and Judy Garland, are just a few of the thirty-one stars who rank as some of the most beloved and iconic stars of classic Hollywood, making them the definitive best of the bunch of this year’s Summer Under the Stars.

10

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra was one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century, who initially rose to fame as a popular crooner and eventually graced the silver screen in classics such as Ocean’s 11, High Society, and Guys and Dolls opposite Marlon Brando. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, Sinatra became one of the top male performers of the 1940s, but by the early 1950s, his career had started to decline. In 1953, Sinatra won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his captivating performance in From Here to Eternity, which not only revived his career but also led to a successful acting career.

Today, Sinatra is remembered for his immense influence on the music world, ranking as one of the world’s best-selling musical artists of all time, as well as his impressive song-and-dance performances in some of the greatest films of the 1950s and 1960s. Fans can catch Ol’ Blue Eyes on Friday, August 22nd, in some of his best films, including Anchors Aweigh with Gene Kelly, The Man with the Golden Arm, The Tender Trap, and Robin and the 7 Hoods, which stars Sinatra alongside fellow Rat Pack members, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.

9

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn is a fashion and cinematic icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age who starred in a slew of classics such as Sabrina, My Fair Lady, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Hepburn was born into a well-to-do family in Belgium and started her professional career performing as a chorus girl in various West End theater productions and appearing in minor film roles. In 1953, she earned her breakthrough role starring in the classic romantic comedy, Roman Holiday, with Gregory Peck, and became the first actress to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award for a single performance.

Later in life, Hepburn devoted much of her time to her work with UNICEF, which she had started contributing to in 1954, and was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF in 1989. In 1999, Hepburn was named the third-greatest female screen legend of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute. TCM puts a deserving spotlight on Hepburn on Sunday, August 3rd, showing an array of her essential films, including William Wyler‘s groundbreaking classic, The Children’s Hour, Charade with Cary Grant, Wait Until Dark, and alongside Gary Cooper in Love in the Afternoon.

8

Hedy Lamarr

Known as the most beautiful woman in the world, Hedy Lamarr was one of Hollywood’s most popular leading ladies of the 1940s, who starred in various classics, including Comrade X, White Cargo, and Samson and Delilah. Born in then Austria-Hungary, Lamarr showed star potential at a young age and found initial success appearing in various European films and stage productions. After signing a contract with MGM Studios in 1937, Lamarr earned her breakthrough performance in the 1940 Neo-western classic, Boom Town, providing the first crucial stepping stone to Lamarr becoming one of the biggest box office draws of the decade.

While Lamarr’s career was built on her beauty, she was also a primarily self-taught and highly intelligent inventor. During World War II, Lamarr and composer George Antheil developed frequency-hopping technology that was designed to prevent enemy forces from jamming the guidance system of U.S. and Allied torpedoes. Despite being rejected by the U.S. Navy, their patent eventually led to the invention of wireless technology such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS. TCM honors Lamarr on Tuesday, August 19th, with some of her best films, including The Strange Woman, Lady of the Tropics, and Algiers with Charles Boyer.

7

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas was one of the most popular leading men of the 1950s, who starred in a variety of classics, including Spartacus, Paths of Glory, and Lust for Life. The New York-born star first started performing in high school and college plays, which earned him a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. After serving in World War II, Douglas returned to New York City, where he worked in both radio and theater. He had initially planned to remain a stage actor until his friend and classmate, Lauren Bacall, helped him land his first film role in the 1946 noir, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Van Heflin.

Critics took note of Douglas’ performance in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, and many acknowledged him as a natural actor with immense star potential. In addition to his successful film career, Douglas played a pivotal role in ending the industry’s Blacklist when he insisted that Dalton Trumbo, one of the Hollywood Ten, be given screen credit for his screenplay for Douglas’ career-defining film, Spartacus. TCM will spend all of Saturday, August 30th, showing some of Douglas’ greatest films, such as Ace in the Hole, Out of the Past, and Champion, which earned the actor his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

6

Judy Garland

Judy Garland is one star who doesn’t need an introduction and is widely known for her performance as Dorothy Gale in the iconic classic film, The Wizard of Oz, as well as several other popular films from Hollywood’s Golden Age, including Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, and A Star is Born. Garland started performing at the age of two with her sisters in a vaudeville act, The Gumm Sisters, and eventually signed a contract with MGM in 1935. After appearing in minor musical roles, Garland’s performance in The Wizard of Oz elevated her to leading lady status, making her one of the studio’s most popular young starlets.

Garland also had a distinguished career as a live performer and recording artist who earned several honors and awards, including a Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Best Female Vocal Performance of the Year in 1961 for her album, Judy at Carnegie Hall, which topped the Billboard charts for ninety-five weeks, thirteen at number one. Today, Garland is recognized as one of the greatest musical film stars of all time, who continues to gain fans and notoriety around the world. Fans can spend Wednesday, August 6th, with TCM as they show an array of Garland’s finest films, such as Summer Stock, The Clock, and The Harvey Girls.

5

Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda is a renowned star of classic Hollywood who gained notoriety for his everyday man roles in notable films such as The Grapes of Wrath, 12 Angry Men, and Alfred Hitchcock‘s The Wrong Man. Born and raised in Nebraska, Fonda initially established himself on the Broadway stage and gained recognition for his performance in the Broadway hit, The Farmer Takes a Wife. In 1935, Fonda made his feature film debut, reprising his role in 20th Century Fox’s film adaptation of the play with Janet Gaynor. Fonda went on to star in several box office hits, including Jezebel with Bette Davis, who personally picked him as her leading man, and John Ford‘s Young Mr. Lincoln.

Later in his career, Fonda stepped out of his comfort zone, taking on against-type roles, most notably as the ruthless villain, Frank, in Sergio Leone‘s Once Upon a Time in the West. Fonda had a steady career for over five decades on both Broadway and the silver screen, and, during the 1970s, he appeared in a string of popular television shows and movies. In 1981, Fonda won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in On Golden Pond, in which he starred alongside Katharine Hepburn and his daughter, Jane Fonda. TCM will be showing a variety of Fonda’s films, including The Lady Eve, The Rounders, and Mister Roberts, all day on Sunday, August 24th.

4

James Cagney

James Cagney was one of Warner Bros. top stars and a highly versatile performer of Hollywood’s Golden Age who was known for hit classics such as The Strawberry Blonde, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and White Heat. Born in New York City, Cagney started tap dancing as a kid before making his way onto the vaudeville circuit and Broadway stage, where he was discovered by film star, Al Jolson, who, after seeing his performance in the play Penny Arcade, sensed a certain star quality in the young actor. Cagney signed a three-week contract with Warner Bros. and earned minor roles in hit films that led the studio to extend his contract.

In 1931, Cagney delivered his breakthrough performance in the classic gangster film, The Public Enemy, making him an influential figure in the future of the film genre. While Cagney continued to find success in a collection of gangster movies such as Angels with Dirty Faces and The Roaring Twenties, he had also taken on roles in comedies and musicals, including Blonde Crazy and Footlight Parade, to avoid being typecast. In 1942, Cagney proved his worth as a first-rate triple threat with his performance in the classic musical film, Yankee Doodle Dandy, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Fans can spend all of Wednesday, August 20th, watching one of Hollywood’s most multifaceted stars in some of his best films, including The Doorway to Hell, Lady Killer, and Love Me or Leave Me with Doris Day.

3

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was one of the most prolific stars of classic Hollywood, captivating audiences with her flawless beauty and powerful performances in classics such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and George Stevens‘ epic drama, Giant. Born in London, Taylor and her family moved to Los Angeles in 1939, where she began her acting career and eventually signed a contract with MGM. In 1944, Taylor delivered her breakthrough performance in National Velvet and went on to become one of the studio’s most popular teen stars.

Taylor eventually moved into more mature and leading roles, appearing in a collection of notable films, including Father of the Bride with Spencer Tracy, A Place in the Sun, and Suddenly, Last Summer. By the 1960s, Taylor was the world’s highest-paid actress and the winner of two Oscars for Best Actress for her performances in BUtterfield 8 and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Taylor is also recognized for being one of the first major celebrities to participate in activism for HIV/AIDS during the mid-1980s, and helped in raising over two hundred and seventy million dollars for the cause. Fans can tune in to TCM on Saturday, August 9th, for their line-up of films starring Taylor, such as Raintree County, The Taming of the Shrew, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

2

Claude Rains

Claude Rains was one of the best character actors during Hollywood’s Golden Age and is generally remembered for his roles as sophisticated villains in popular classics such as The Adventures of Robin Hood, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious. The London-born actor initially established himself in the theater and eventually became a lead performer on the West End theater circuit. In 1927, Rains moved to the United States, where he became a rising star on Broadway, starring in a series of hits that eventually caught Hollywood’s eye. Rains made his American film debut in Universal Pictures’ pre-code horror classic, The Invisible Man.

After signing a contract with Warner Bros., Rains starred in some of the studio’s greatest films, including Now, Voyager, Mr. Skeffington, and the Oscar-winning classic, Casablanca. Throughout his film career, Rains earned four Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, and while he maintained a solid career in movies, he also continued to work in the theater and won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in Darkness at Noon in 1951. Fans can spend all of Tuesday, August 5th, with TCM and their stellar line-up of some of Rains’ best work, including Caesar and Cleopatra with Vivien Leigh, Notorious, Passage to Marseille, and The Unsuspected.

1

Clark Gable

Clark Gable was one of the greatest stars during Hollywood’s Golden Age, who starred in some of the best classic films of all time, including Manhattan Melodrama, It Happened One Night, and Red Dust. Known as the King of Hollywood, Gable was born in Cadiz, Ohio, and initially aspired to be an actor after seeing the play, The Bird of Paradise, at the age of seventeen. Gable started working with different stock companies before moving to Hollywood in 1924, where he appeared as an extra in several silent films as well as performing in popular stage shows. By 1930, Gable had achieved some minor film success, but his career gained immense traction after signing a contract with MGM Studios.

In 1934, Gable starred in Frank Capra‘s It Happened One Night with Claudette Colbert, which not only skyrocketed him to instant stardom but also earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Gable soon became one of the most popular leading men in Hollywood and starred in some of MGM’s finest films, notably Mutiny on the Bounty and the epic classic, Gone With the Wind. With a career spanning over three decades, Gable only received two additional Oscar nominations for Best Actor, but he left behind a timeless legacy and, today, is considered to be the quintessential movie star of classic Hollywood. Fans can spend Sunday, August 10th, watching the King of Hollywood in an array of his best films, including Mogambo, It Happened One Night, Wife vs. Secretary, and his final feature film, The Misfits.

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