AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars

AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars is the American Film Institute's list ranking the top 25 male and 25 female greatest screen legends of American film history and is the second list of the AFI 100 Years... series.

AFI 100 Years... series

1998	100 Movies
1999	100 Stars
2000	100 Laughs
2001	100 Thrills
2002	100 Passions
2003	100 Heroes & Villains
2004	100 Songs
2005	100 Movie Quotes
2005	25 Scores
2006	100 Cheers
2006	25 Musicals
2007	100 Movies (Updated)
2008	AFI's 10 Top 10
v t e

The list was unveiled through a CBS special on June 15, 1999, hosted by Shirley Temple (who is herself honored on the female legends list), with 50 then-current actors making the presentations.^[1]

AFI defines an "American screen legend" as "an actor or a team of actors with a significant screen presence in American feature-length films (films of 40 minutes or more) whose screen debut occurred in or before 1950, or whose screen debut occurred after 1950 but whose death has marked a completed body of work." In other words, the list generally honors actors recognized for their contributions to classical Hollywood cinema.^[1] Jurors selected the final lists from 250 male and 250 female nominees.^[2]

Twenty-one male stars were born in the United States; the other four are Cary Grant, Charlie Chaplin, and Laurence Olivier, who were born in England, and Edward G. Robinson, born in Romania.

Sixteen female stars were born in the United States; the other nine are Audrey Hepburn, born in Belgium; Ingrid Bergman and Greta Garbo, who were born in Sweden; Elizabeth Taylor, England; Marlene Dietrich, Germany; Claudette Colbert, France; Vivien Leigh, India; Sophia Loren, Italy; and Mary Pickford, Canada.

When the lists were unveiled, Gregory Peck, Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple, Lauren Bacall, Kirk Douglas (the longest-lived star at 103) and Sidney Poitier were alive, but have since died. At 89 in 2023, Sophia Loren is the sole surviving star.

The AFI's 50 greatest screen legends

No.	Female legends		Male legends
1	Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003)		Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957)
2	Bette Davis (1908–1989)		Cary Grant (1904–1986)
3	Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993)		James Stewart (1908–1997)
4	Ingrid Bergman (1915–1982)		Marlon Brando (1924–2004)
5	Greta Garbo (1905–1990)		Fred Astaire (1899–1987)
6	Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)		Henry Fonda (1905–1982)
7	Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011)		Clark Gable (1901–1960)
8	Judy Garland (1922–1969)		James Cagney (1899–1986)
9	Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992)		Spencer Tracy (1900–1967)
10	Joan Crawford (190?^[Note 1] – 1977)		Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977)
11	Barbara Stanwyck (1907–1990)		Gary Cooper (1901–1961)
12	Claudette Colbert (1903–1996)		Gregory Peck (1916–2003)
13	Grace Kelly (1929–1982)		John Wayne (1907–1979)
14	Ginger Rogers (1911–1995)		Laurence Olivier (1907–1989)
15	Mae West (1893–1980)		Gene Kelly (1912–1996)
16	Vivien Leigh (1913–1967)		Orson Welles (1915–1985)
17	Lillian Gish (1893–1993)		Kirk Douglas (1916–2020)
18	Shirley Temple (1928–2014)		James Dean (1931–1955)
19	Rita Hayworth (1918–1987)		Burt Lancaster (1913–1994)
20	Lauren Bacall (1924–2014)		Marx Brothers Chico (1887–1961) Harpo (1888–1964) Groucho (1890–1977)
21	Sophia Loren (born 1934)		Buster Keaton (1895–1966)
22	Jean Harlow (1911–1937)		Sidney Poitier (1927–2022)
23	Carole Lombard (1908–1942)		Robert Mitchum (1917–1997)
24	Mary Pickford (1892–1979)		Edward G. Robinson (1893–1973)
25	Ava Gardner (1922–1990)		William Holden (1918–1981)

Nominees

The legends were chosen out of a list of 250 male and 250 female nominees. The adjoining reference gives the lists of the original selection.^[3]

With the death of Sidney Poitier in January 2022, all male living legends and nominees have now died. There is one surviving female living legend, Sophia Loren (89), and 5 remaining female nominees: Ann Blyth (95), Claire Bloom (92), Mitzi Gaynor (92), Rita Moreno (91), and Margaret O'Brien (86). The most recent nominee to pass away is Piper Laurie, aged 91, in October 2023.

The 250 male nominees

The Actors that are part of the complete list of nominees are:

• Abbott and Costello
  • Bud Abbott (1897–1974)
  • Lou Costello (1906–1959)
• Brian Aherne (1902–1986)
• Don Ameche (1908–1993)
• Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (1905–1977)
• Broncho Billy Anderson (1880–1971)
• Dana Andrews (1909–1992)
• Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (1887–1933)
• George Arliss (1868–1946)
• Louis Armstrong (1901–1971)
• Edward Arnold (1890–1956)
• Gene Autry (1907–1998)
• Lew Ayres (1908–1996)
• King Baggot (1879–1948)
• John Barrymore (1882–1942)
• Lionel Barrymore (1878–1954)
• Richard Barthelmess (1895–1963)
• Freddie Bartholomew (1924–1992)
• Warner Baxter (1889–1951)
• Noah Beery (1882–1946)
• Wallace Beery (1885–1949)
• Ralph Bellamy (1904–1991)
• John Belushi (1949–1982)
• William Bendix (1906–1964)
• Jack Benny (1894–1974)
• Edgar Bergen (1903–1978) and Charlie McCarthy
• Milton Berle (1908–2002)
• Ray Bolger (1904–1987)
• Ward Bond (1903–1960)
• William Boyd (1895–1972)
• Charles Boyer (1899–1978)
• Eddie Bracken (1915–2002)
• Walter Brennan (1894–1974)
• Lloyd Bridges (1913–1998)
• Joe E. Brown (1891–1973)
• Yul Brynner (1920–1985)
• George Burns (1896–1996)
• Richard Burton (1925–1984)
• Francis X. Bushman (1883–1966)
• Eddie Cantor (1892–1964)
• John Carradine (1906–1988)
• Leo G. Carroll (1886–1972)
• Jack Carson (1910–1963)
• John Cassavetes (1929–1989)
• Lon Chaney (1883–1930)
• Lon Chaney Jr. (1906–1973)
• Maurice Chevalier (1888–1972)
• Montgomery Clift (1920–1966)
• Lee J. Cobb (1911–1976)
• Charles Coburn (1877–1961)
• Ronald Colman (1891–1958)
• Jackie Coogan (1914–1984)
• Jackie Cooper (1922–2011)
• Joseph Cotten (1905–1994)
• Buster Crabbe (1908–1983)
• Broderick Crawford (1911–1986)
• Hume Cronyn (1911–2003)
• Bing Crosby (1903–1977)
• Robert Cummings (1910–1990)
• Tony Curtis (1925–2010)
• Dan Dailey (1915–1978)
• Ossie Davis (1917–2005)
• Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990)
• Divine (1945–1988)
• Richard Dix (1893–1949)
• Robert Donat (1905–1958)
• Brian Donlevy (1901–1972)
• Melvyn Douglas (1901–1981)
• Jimmy Durante (1893–1980)
• Buddy Ebsen (1908–2003)
• Nelson Eddy (1901–1967)
• Douglas Fairbanks (1883–1939)
• Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (1909–2000)
• William Farnum (1876–1953)
• José Ferrer (1912–1992)
• W.C. Fields (1880–1946)
• Peter Finch (1916–1977)
• Barry Fitzgerald (1888–1961)
• Errol Flynn (1909–1959)
• Glenn Ford (1916–2006)
• John Garfield (1913–1952)
• John Gielgud (1904–2000)
• John Gilbert (1897–1936)
• Jackie Gleason (1916–1987)
• Farley Granger (1925–2011)
• Stewart Granger (1913–1993)
• Sydney Greenstreet (1879–1954)
• Sir Alec Guinness (1914–2000)
• Edmund Gwenn (1877–1959)
• Jack Haley (1897–1979)
• Rex Harrison (1908–1990)
• William S. Hart (1864–1946)
• Laurence Harvey (1928–1973)
• Sessue Hayakawa (1886–1973)
• Sterling Hayden (1916–1986)
• George "Gabby" Hayes (1885–1969)
• Van Heflin (1908–1971)
• Paul Henreid (1908–1992)
• Charlton Heston (1923–2008)
• Bob Hope (1903–2003)
• Edward Everett Horton (1883–1970)
• John Houseman (1902–1988)
• Leslie Howard (1893–1943)
• Trevor Howard (1913–1988)
• Rock Hudson (1925–1985)
• Tab Hunter (1931–2018)
• John Huston (1906–1987)
• Walter Huston (1883–1950)
• Rex Ingram (1895–1969)
• Burl Ives (1909–1995)
• Emil Jannings (1884–1950)
• Ben Johnson (1918–1996)
• Van Johnson (1916–2008)
• Al Jolson (1886–1950)
• Louis Jourdan (1921–2015)
• Raul Julia (1940–1994)
• Boris Karloff (1887–1969)
• Danny Kaye (1911–1987)
• Howard Keel (1919–2004)
• Arthur Kennedy (1914–1990)
• Alan Ladd (1913–1964)
• Bert Lahr (1895–1967)
• Harry Langdon (1884–1944)
• Mario Lanza (1921–1959)
• Charles Laughton (1899–1962)
• Laurel and Hardy
  • Stan Laurel (1890–1965)
  • Oliver Hardy (1892–1957)
• Peter Lawford (1923–1984)
• Oscar Levant (1906–1972)
• Jerry Lewis (1926–2017)
• Harold Lloyd (1893–1971)
• Peter Lorre (1904–1964)
• Bela Lugosi (1882–1956)
• Keye Luke (1904–1991)
• Fred MacMurray (1908–1991)
• Gordon MacRae (1921–1986)
• Karl Malden (1912–2009)
• Fredric March (1897–1975)
• Herbert Marshall (1890–1966)
• Dean Martin (1917–1995)
• Lee Marvin (1924–1987)
• James Mason (1909–1984)
• Raymond Massey (1896–1983)
• Victor Mature (1913–1999)
• Joel McCrea (1905–1990)
• Roddy McDowall (1928–1998)
• Victor McLaglen (1886–1959)
• Steve McQueen (1930–1980)
• Adolphe Menjou (1890–1963)
• Burgess Meredith (1907–1997)
• Ray Milland (1907–1986)
• Sal Mineo (1939–1976)
• Thomas Mitchell (1892–1962)
• Tom Mix (1880–1940)
• Ricardo Montalbán (1920–2009)
• George Montgomery (1916–2000)
• Robert Montgomery (1904–1981)
• Mantan Moreland (1902–1973)
• Frank Morgan (1890–1949)
• Zero Mostel (1915–1977)
• Paul Muni (1895–1967)
• George Murphy (1902–1992)
• The Nicholas Brothers
  • Fayard Nicholas (1914–2006)
  • Harold Nicholas (1921–2000)
• David Niven (1910–1983)
• Ramon Novarro (1899–1968)
• Jack Oakie (1903–1978)
• Edmond O'Brien (1915–1985)
• Pat O'Brien (1899–1983)
• Donald O'Connor (1925–2003)
• Jack Palance (1919–2006)
• Larry Parks (1914–1975)
• George Peppard (1928–1994)
• Anthony Perkins (1932–1992)
• Slim Pickens (1919–1983)
• Walter Pidgeon (1897–1984)
• Dick Powell (1904–1963)
• William Powell (1892–1984)
• Tyrone Power (1914–1958)
• Elvis Presley (1935–1977)
• Robert Preston (1918–1987)
• Vincent Price (1911–1993)
• Anthony Quinn (1915–2001)
• George Raft (1901–1980)
• Claude Rains (1889–1967)
• Basil Rathbone (1892–1967)
• Charles Ray (1891–1943)
• Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)
• Wallace Reid (1891–1923)
• Ralph Richardson (1902–1983)
• Paul Robeson (1898–1976)
• Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878–1949)
• Charles "Buddy" Rogers (1904–1999)
• Roy Rogers (1911–1998)
• Will Rogers (1879–1935)
• Gilbert Roland (1905–1994)
• Cesar Romero (1907–1994)
• Mickey Rooney (1920–2014)
• Charles Ruggles (1886–1970)
• Harold Russell (1914–2002)
• Robert Ryan (1909–1973)
• Sabu (1924–1963)
• George Sanders (1906–1972)
• Randolph Scott (1898–1987)
• Peter Sellers (1925–1980)
• Robert Shaw (1927–1978)
• Frank Sinatra (1915–1998)
• Red Skelton (1913–1997)
• Dean Stockwell (1936–2021)
• Woody Strode (1914–1994)
• Robert Taylor (1911–1969)
• The Three Stooges
  • Larry Fine (1902–1975)
  • Curly Howard (1903–1952)
  • Moe Howard (1897–1975)
• Franchot Tone (1905–1968)
• Ben Turpin (1869–1940)
• Peter Ustinov (1921–2004)
• Rudolph Valentino (1895–1926)
• Rudy Vallée (1901–1986)
• Conrad Veidt (1893–1943)
• Erich von Stroheim (1885–1957)
• Max von Sydow (1929–2020)
• Robert Walker (1888–1954)
• Clifton Webb (1889–1966)
• Johnny Weissmuller (1904–1984)
• Richard Widmark (1914–2008)
• Cornel Wilde (1912–1989)
• Chill Wills (1902–1978)
• Gig Young (1913–1978)
• Robert Young (1907–1998)

The 250 female nominees

The Actresses that are part of the complete list of nominees are:

NOTE: Those listed in bold indicate that the star is still living.

• Gracie Allen (1895–1964)
• June Allyson (1917–2006)
• Dame Judith Anderson (1897–1992)
• Annabella (1907–1996)
• Eve Arden (1908–1990)
• Jean Arthur (1900–1991)
• Mary Astor (1906–1987)
• Pearl Bailey (1918–1990)
• Lucille Ball (1911–1989)
• Tallulah Bankhead (1902–1968)
• Vilma Bánky (1901–1991)
• Theda Bara (1885–1955)
• Ethel Barrymore (1879–1959)
• Anne Baxter (1923–1985)
• Louise Beavers (1900–1962)
• Barbara Bel Geddes (1922–2005)
• Constance Bennett (1904–1965)
• Joan Bennett (1910–1990)
• Joan Blondell (1906–1979)
• Claire Bloom (born 1931)
• Ann Blyth (born 1928)
• Beulah Bondi (1889–1981)
• Shirley Booth (1898–1992)
• Clara Bow (1905–1965)
• Alice Brady (1892–1939)
• Helen Broderick (1891–1959)
• Betty Bronson (1906–1971)
• Louise Brooks (1906–1985)
• Virginia Bruce (1910–1982)
• Billie Burke (1884–1970)
• Spring Byington (1886–1971)
• Kitty Carlisle (1910–2007)
• Madeleine Carroll (1906–1987)
• Cyd Charisse (1922–2008)
• Ruth Chatterton (1892–1961)
• Mae Clarke (1910–1992)
• Dolores Costello (1903–1979)
• Jeanne Crain (1925–2003)
• Viola Dana (1897–1987)
• Dorothy Dandridge (1922–1965)
• Bebe Daniels (1901–1971)
• Linda Darnell (1923–1965)
• Danielle Darrieux (1917–2017)
• Jane Darwell (1879–1967)
• Marion Davies (1897–1961)
• Joan Davis (1907–1961)
• Doris Day (1922–2019)
• Laraine Day (1920–2007)
• Yvonne De Carlo (1922–2007)
• Ruby Dee (1922–2014)
• Gloria DeHaven (1925–2016)
• Dame Olivia de Havilland (1916–2020)
• Dolores del Río (1904–1983)
• Louise Dresser (1878–1965)
• Marie Dressler (1868–1934)
• Margaret Dumont (1882–1965)
• Irene Dunne (1898–1990)
• Deanna Durbin (1921–2013)
• Jeanne Eagels (1890–1929)
• Dale Evans (1912–2001)
• Frances Farmer (1913–1970)
• Glenda Farrell (1904–1971)
• Alice Faye (1915–1998)
• Betty Field (1916–1973)
• Gracie Fields (1898–1979)
• Geraldine Fitzgerald (1913–2005)
• Rhonda Fleming (1923–2020)
• Nina Foch (1924–2008)
• Joan Fontaine (1917–2013)
• Kay Francis (1905–1968)
• Peggy Ann Garner (1932–1984)
• Betty Garrett (1919–2011)
• Greer Garson (1904–1996)
• Janet Gaynor (1906–1984)
• Mitzi Gaynor (born 1931)
• Hermione Gingold (1897–1987)
• Dorothy Gish (1898–1968)
• Paulette Goddard (1910–1990)
• Ruth Gordon (1896–1985)
• Betty Grable (1916–1973)
• Gloria Grahame (1923–1981)
• Bonita Granville (1923–1988)
• Kathryn Grayson (1922–2010)
• Jane Greer (1924–2001)
• Corinne Griffith (1894–1979)
• Jean Hagen (1923–1977)
• Barbara Hale (1922–2017)
• Margaret Hamilton (1902–1985)
• Ann Harding (1902–1981)
• June Haver (1926–2005)
• Helen Hayes (1900–1993)
• Susan Hayward (1917–1975)
• Sonja Henie (1912–1969)
• Judy Holliday (1921–1965)
• Celeste Holm (1917–2012)
• Miriam Hopkins (1902–1972)
• Lena Horne (1917–2010)
• Marsha Hunt (1917–2022)
• Kim Hunter (1922–2002)
• Ruth Hussey (1911–2005)
• Betty Hutton (1921–2007)
• Jennifer Jones (1919–2009)
• Ruby Keeler (1909–1993)
• Madge Kennedy (1891–1987)
• Deborah Kerr (1921–2007)
• Veronica Lake (1922–1973)
• Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000)
• Dorothy Lamour (1914–1996)
• Elsa Lanchester (1902–1986)
• Priscilla Lane (1915–1995)
• Dame Angela Lansbury (1925–2022)
• Piper Laurie (1932–2023)
• Florence Lawrence (1886–1938)
• Janet Leigh (1927–2004)
• Joan Leslie (1925–2015)
• Viveca Lindfors (1920–1995)
• Gina Lollobrigida (1927–2023)
• Bessie Love (1898–1986)
• Myrna Loy (1905–1993)
• Ida Lupino (1918–1995)
• Jeanette Macdonald (1903–1965)
• Anna Magnani (1908–1973)
• Marjorie Main (1890–1975)
• Dorothy Malone (1924–2018)
• Jayne Mansfield (1933–1967)
• Mae Marsh (1894–1968)
• Mary Martin (1913–1990)
• Virginia Mayo (1920–2005)
• May McAvoy (1899–1984)
• Mercedes McCambridge (1916–2004)
• Hattie McDaniel (1893–1952)
• Dorothy McGuire (1916–2001)
• Nina Mae McKinney (1912–1967)
• Butterfly McQueen (1911–1995)
• Una Merkel (1903–1986)
• Ethel Merman (1908–1984)
• Ann Miller (1923–2004)
• Carmen Miranda (1909–1955)
• Maria Montez (1912–1951)
• Colleen Moore (1899–1988)
• Agnes Moorehead (1900–1974)
• Rita Moreno (born 1931)
• Mae Murray (1885–1965)
• Mildred Natwick (1905–1994)
• Alla Nazimova (1879–1945)
• Dame Anna Neagle (1904–1986)
• Patricia Neal (1926–2010)
• Pola Negri (1897–1987)
• Anna Q. Nilsson (1888–1974)
• Mabel Normand (1893–1930)
• Margaret O'Brien (born 1937)
• Maureen O'Hara (1920–2015)
• Maureen O'Sullivan (1911–1998)
• Merle Oberon (1911–1979)
• Seena Owen (1894–1966)
• Geraldine Page (1924–1987)
• Lilli Palmer (1914–1986)
• Eleanor Parker (1922–2013)
• Gail Patrick (1911–1980)
• Zasu Pitts (1894–1963)
• Eleanor Powell (1912–1982)
• Jane Powell (1929–2021)
• Marie Prevost (1896–1937)
• Edna Purviance (1895–1958)
• Luise Rainer (1910–2014)
• Vera Ralston (1919–2003)
• Martha Raye (1916–1994)
• Donna Reed (1921–1986)
• Lee Remick (1935–1991)
• Anne Revere (1903–1990)
• Debbie Reynolds (1932–2016)
• Thelma Ritter (1902–1969)
• Dame Flora Robson (1902–1984)
• Ruth Roman (1922–1999)
• Gail Russell (1924–1961)
• Jane Russell (1921–2011)
• Rosalind Russell (1907–1976)
• Ann Rutherford (1917–2012)
• Lizabeth Scott (1921–2015)
• Martha Scott (1912–2003)
• Jean Seberg (1938–1979)
• Norma Shearer (1902–1983)
• Ann Sheridan (1915–1967)
• Dinah Shore (1916–1994)
• Sylvia Sidney (1910–1999)
• Jean Simmons (1929–2010)
• Simone Simon (1910–2005)
• Penny Singleton (1908–2003)
• Alexis Smith (1921–1993)
• Gale Sondergaard (1899–1985)
• Ann Sothern (1909–2001)
• Gloria Stuart (1910–2010)
• Margaret Sullavan (1909–1960)
• Gloria Swanson (1899–1983)
• Blanche Sweet (1896–1986)
• Constance Talmadge (1898–1973)
• Norma Talmadge (1894–1957)
• Jessica Tandy (1909–1994)
• Gene Tierney (1920–1991)
• Ann Todd (1907–1993)
• Thelma Todd (1906–1935)
• Claire Trevor (1910–2000)
• Lana Turner (1921–1995)
• Helen Twelvetrees (1907–1958)
• Lupe Vélez (1908–1944)
• Evelyn Venable (1913–1993)
• Vera-Ellen (1926–1981)
• Ethel Waters (1896–1977)
• Pearl White (1889–1938)
• Esther Williams (1921–2013)
• Lois Wilson (1894–1988)
• Marie Wilson (1916–1972)
• Marie Windsor (1919–2000)
• Shelley Winters (1920–2006)
• Estelle Winwood (1883–1984)
• Jane Withers (1926–2021)
• Anna May Wong (1905–1961)
• Natalie Wood (1938–1981)
• Irene Worth (1916–2002)
• Fay Wray (1907–2004)
• Teresa Wright (1918–2005)
• Jane Wyatt (1910–2006)
• Jane Wyman (1917–2007)
• Clara Kimball Young (1890–1960)
• Loretta Young (1913–2000)

Notes

1. Either 1904, 1905, 1906, or 1908, according to various sources (see biographical entry).

References

1. "AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars: The 50 Greatest American Screen Legends". American Film Institute. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
2. List of the 500 nominated star legends ()
3. List of the 500 nominated star legends [1]

External links

• "AFI Recognizes the 50 Greatest American Screen Legends" (Press release). American Film Institute. June 16, 1999. from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
• List of the 500 nominated star legends (PDF) ( 19 August 2020)
• List of the 50 winning legends (PDF)