By Eric Kohanik, ReMIND Magazine
Humphrey Bogart
Whether he played a hero or a bad guy, Humphrey Bogart always exuded a gritty toughness, often with a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other. One of Hollywood’s original tough guys, Bogie’s image became epochal, with credits ranging from film noir pieces like The Maltese Falcon (1941) and The Big Sleep (1946) to such venerable classics as 1942’s Casablanca and Bogart’s Oscar-winning stint in 1951’s The African Queen.
James Cagney
When it came to sociopathic characters, perhaps the most memorable were portrayed by Jimmy Cagney. Raised in a working-class New York neighborhood, Cagney had been a street fighter in real life before he turned to acting. That helped him walk the walk and talk the talk convincingly as an onscreen gangster. And, as he demonstrated in 1931’s The Public Enemy, he knew what to do with a grapefruit as well.
Robert Mitchum
Always an intimidating presence, Robert Mitchum had a stare that sent chills down anyone’s spine, both on and off the screen. His aura added a menacing vibe to the world of film noir and psychological thrillers. Among his most famous efforts in those genres were his roles as a murderous preacher in The Night of the Hunter (1955) and a psychotic rapist in Cape Fear (1962).
Charlton Heston
When it came to a larger-than-life screen presence, Charlton Heston had all the ingredients to make it work, not to mention a booming voice that amplified it. His filmography included such classics as The Ten Commandments (1956), Ben-Hur (1959) and Planet of the Apes (1968). Even Heston’s stint as Jason Colby on TV’s Dynasty spinoff, The Colbys (1985-87), showed that his tough-guy image wasn’t about to waver.
John Wayne
His swagger was one that no one could match. And, as far as onscreen cowboys go, none have come close to the rugged manner of John Wayne. A fixture in many memorable Westerns, Wayne’s breakthrough role came in director John Ford’s 1939 classic Stagecoach. His tough-guy image kept growing through other films, including 1962’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, 1969’s True Grit and his final effort, 1976’s The Shootist.
Steve McQueen
One of the coolest dudes among Hollywood’s tough guys, Steve McQueen always brought a quiet intensity to the screen. Hailed as the classic “anti-hero,” McQueen had the right moves when it came to guns, women, motorcycles and cars. He even did some of his own stunt driving. His action-packed screen adventures included 1963’s The Great Escape, 1972’s The Getaway and, of course, 1968’s Bullitt.
Charles Bronson
The rugged, weather-beaten features of his face made Charles Bronson a stereotypical tough guy. Although he had significant roles in such Westerns as The Magnificent Seven (1960) and Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), as well as in war movies like The Great Escape (1963) and The Dirty Dozen (1967), Bronson’s most famous presence came as a vigilante crime-fighter in a series of five Death Wish movies from 1974 to 1994.
Clint Eastwood
“Go ahead, make my day.” Although Clint Eastwood had appeared in dozens of spaghetti Westerns and action/adventure films by the time he made Sudden Impact, those five words from the 1983 film make up one of his most famous lines. The movie was the fourth of five productions in which he played that iconic police inspector known as “Dirty Harry” Callahan. Eastwood’s tough-guy image is still strong and still has that hard edge.
Edward G. Robinson
One of the most famous portrayers of movie gangsters in history, Edward G. Robinson always had a look about him that seemed evil and threatening. His roles in such films as 1931’s Little Caesar and 1948’s Key Largo firmly burned that gangster image into moviegoers’ minds. It never faded.
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